Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

unhappy lives and dreadful end of those who had been guilty of such heinous offences against the laws of God and man. Though Christian, when fixed at Pitcairn, often wore a cheerful countenance and manner, there is reason to believe that the remembrance of the past was deeply painful to him, and that shame and remorse, mingled with the fear of detection, weighed heavily on his mind.

On the top of a high rock, is a spot which he called his "look-out." While many hearts, thousands of miles off, were wounded, if not broken, by suspense and uncertainty respecting the fate of himself and his companions, he was either employed in surveying the ocean around him, under the apprehension of the approach of the officers of justice, or in endeavouring to control the turbulent community among whom he had irrevocably cast his lot.

It may be observed, that punishment in this life often bears a startling likeness to the sin which has been committed, and which not only thus finds the offender out, but shows him that it has done so.

FE

Within the narrow limits of the island,
as in the confines of a ship, Christian had
enemies at hand, who harassed, and at
length took away his life; and it is a re-
markable fact, that he who had raised his
hand in a criminal manner against his su-
perior in command, should have suffered
death from those whom he looked upon
as under his authority.

"THE WAY OF TRANSGRESSORS IS HARD."
"Oh that men were wise! that they understood
this! that they would consider their latter
end!"

CHAPTER V.

JOHN ADAMS TURNS TO GOD-INSTRUCTS THE CHILDRENTHE STATE OF PITCAIRN IN 1814 DESCRIBED-ACCOUNT GIVEN BY SIR THOMAS STAINES AND CAPTAIN PIPONCAPTAIN BEECHEY-DEATH OF JOHN ADAMS.

DRUNKENNESS, murder, and death had swept away the mutineers of the Bounty one after another, until now only a single male remained! In the year 1800, John Adams, having then reached his thirtysixth year, found himself the only man on the island. Some of the Tahitian women still lived, and twenty children of the deceased mutineers. These all looked up to him with reverence and affection as the father of the island family. It pleased God to touch his heart, and to make him. an instrument of good to those around him. The families of his comrades had been brought up in ignorance of their God and Saviour. Their fathers were muti

neers and murderers, and their mothers heathen idolaters. A treasure of inestimable price had been saved from the Bounty—it was a BIBLE. One Bible, and one only, was, as it were, given by God to this survivor of that guilty band, that he might be guided in the way of life, and also that he might lead this little flock of semi-pagans in their journey through life to the gates of the celestial city.

There was also bound up with this Bible the English Book of Common Prayer, which greatly aided this poor and ignorant man, after his conversion, in teaching the children and conducting religious

services.

In the year 1810, John Adams had two remarkable dreams, which presented to him in vivid colours his past transgressions, and the awful nature of the punishment

[ocr errors]

This book is now in the hands of an eminent merchant of the city of New York, the president of the American Seamen's Friend Society, by whom it is greatly valued on account of its deeply interesting history. The compiler of this little volume has had the privilege of seeing it, and that with the most lively interest.

awaiting them. These dreams produced in him a lasting and wholesome impression, and effectually moved his conscience. May we not believe this to have been the influence of the Holy Spirit, whose merciful design it was to give him a better knowledge of himself, and of the justice and goodness of God, and to bring him, an humble suppliant, to the throne of grace, for the pardon of his sins, through the merits of a crucified Saviour? 66 Behold," says our Lord, "I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." God was now knocking at the door of his heart, both by his word and his providence, and we have reason to believe that he heard the voice of God, and opened the door of his heart, and was made a new creature by the Spirit of God.

Let no one say that there is any encouragement to superstition in these remarks. That which is uppermost in the thoughts, though it may not have ripened into good resolutions, much less into right

« ForrigeFortsæt »