MY NOTE-BOOK.-NO. II. PLAINNESS OF SPEECH IN THE PULPIT. "When a man gets into the pulpit, he should not attempt to utter fine things; but to exhibit great truths in a plain manner." Old Writer. 66 GOING into a place of worship, some period since, I was astonished, and deeply grieved, when hearing the minister utter the following expressions-"The feculence of morbid inanition ;" converging towards a totality;" "the inexplicable meshes of metaphysical subtlety and abstraction;" and many other phrases and sentences, equally singular, inappropriate, and unwarrantable. I looked around me, and narrowly surveyed the congregation assembled. It was comparatively plain, and apparently unlettered, and the utmost mortification, and even disgust, seemed to be depictured in the countenances of several estimable and pious individuals. I was so much hurt, and felt so indignantly, with the character of the discourse altogether, that I could scarcely refrain from weeping, to think that the souls of men should be so shamelessly trifled with, as they unquestionably were by this pulpit orator. A short period after, I took up "My Note-book," and inserted in it the following unpretending observations. Cowper observes, very justly, "I seek divine simplicity in him Who handles things divine;" and it must uniformly appear to every just thinker, to every man who desires the happiness and salvation of his brethren, that, if an individual be plain in his mode of expression, simple and luminous in his style of thinking, any where, or under any circumstances, this beautiful and trans. parent simplicity ought to be discovered in the pulpit. The great business of a minister of Christ is, or, at least, should be, to preach the truth, so that all may understand what he advances, and be sensible of the force and conclusiveness of the principles which he lays down, of the affirmations he makes, of the illustrations he furnishes, and of the deductions he wishes to establish. The supreme object of an estimable and devoted minister of the gospel is, not to be admired as the finished gentleman, as the man of refined and classic taste, as an orator of consummate beauty and power, or as a profound and vigorous thinker; the object of his devout and unceasing solicitude is, to pour a stream of radiance on the doctrines, the principles, the precepts, the admonitions, the invitations, the encou 2D. SERIES, No. 17.-VOL. II. ragements, of the inspired volume, in order that his auditory may perceive the matchless beauty, properly appreciate the value, and sensibly feel the commanding importance of that, which is finely designated, "the truth as it is in Jesus." Every thing associated with the ministry of the gospel is of such ineffable magnitude and moment, that the utmost plainness and simplicity are absolutely requisite. It is not merely desirable that a man should speak plainly to the people, it is essential, for his own justification, and their permanent and immortal happiness. The slightest mistakes or errors may prove so hazardous and pernicious; the period of man's continuance and probation here is so fleeting and evanescent; the heedlessness discovered in relation to "the greatest of all great things," is so general; and numbers of mankind are involved in ignorance so profound and entire, with regard to some of the most interesting, sublime, and awful subjects; that, unless a minister be plain in the pulpit, he is chargeable with a gross dereliction of duty, he is acting quite inappropriately and unwisely, and is most wantonly and criminally trifling with the dearest interests of man; thus he dishonours his Master, prostitutes his sacred office, opens a wide door for remark, castigation, as well as ridicule, and fails in accomplishing those momentous ends, to secure which the gospel ministry has been instituted. Plain sermons are what we all most obviously require; not elaborate, showy, gaudy nothings." Intelligence, taste, classical research, vigorous fancy, elaborate argument, superior and splendid intellect, are all very well in their place; but let a minister shew the people intrusted to his care, in the first instance, that it is not his supreme desire to exhibit his attainments, or his mind, but to "make all things plain." This is the reason why I estimate so highly the discourses of the Rev. Wm. Jay; they are so unaffected and beauteous in "their own simplicity." Fine, useful, scriptural thoughts, not finely, but plainly and energetically expressed, characterize his pulpit efforts and his published sermons; and this, unquestionably, is the great secret of his popularity and usefulness. If ministers wish to produce a powerful and indelible impression on the minds and hearts of their auditory, they must form the habit of speaking plainly to the people. Let language be unaffected, obvious, and, sometimes, even colloquial, in a certain degree, so that a congregation may more sensibly feel what the minister delivers; and let great 161.-VOL. XIV. 2 D simplicity and artlessness of thought be rigidly studied; else, sermons, however accurate, philosophical, and excellent, will not tell energetically on the heart and conscience. "I never heard my minister to greater advantage," said a good woman to the writer, a few months since, "than when he was obliged to preach unexpectedly. He had little opportunity for preparation, no time for elaborate study, and I never enjoyed a sermon more in my life, it was so plain and unaffected. It made me feel, because I knew that what the minister said was expressed as he felt it." Thus I have frequently heard it remarked, that ministers are never liked so well by their own people, especially among the dissenters, as on the week-day evenings, when their discourses are generally more simple and unpretending, and less laboured; all this shews the necessity of aiming at simplicity and plainness, in order that ministerial efforts may not prove nugatory or useless. It is affecting, indeed overwhelming, to think, that the poorest or the most unlettered person in our respective congregations, should depart from the house of God, observing, that, "the minister was quite beyond her comprehension." The common people, those who enjoyed few literary and intellectual advantages, as well as secular resources, heard Jesus Christ gladly, because he spoke plainly to the people. There was a sweet and winning simplicity in his discourses, which powerfully and resistlessly attracted them, and made them sensibly feel the announcements which he made to them. Why should ministers consider it a mark of folly, or of degradation, to imitate Him who spake as never man spake? My views perfectly harmonize with the sentiments embodied in the following passage. "Were I called upon to express, in one word, the most important requisite in those discourses designed to produce a powerful effect, equally on the judgment and the passions, I would say, that word is simplicity; without it nothing can be distinctly perceived; nothing can be deeply felt. The thoughts presented are encompassed by a mist. Their real shape, and magnitude, and colouring, and other properties, are not known and understood ; it is, therefore, absurd to expect that the view of them should make any, either correct, or strong impressions." Elegant simplicity in an oration, on any subject, is one of its most fascinating charms; and this is the case pre-eminently with all pulpit compositions. They never shine out so clearly, appear so attractive, or produce so powerful an impression, as when a chaste, manly, and dignified simplicity pervades and beautifies them. Ministers, as well as private individuals, should, then, uniformly remember, that nothing is lost by preserving, at all times, unstudied and unborrowed simplicity; it will impart a grace and loveliness, which nothing else can communicate. On this subject, the exquisite lines of Collins must not be forgotten. "O Sister meek of truth! To my admiring youth, Thy sober aid, and native charms infuse ! Still ask thy hand to raise their order'd hues." CANNIBALISM IN NEW ZEALAND, STATE OF THE COUNTRY, AND GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE NATIVES. THE following horrible story is extracted from the Tasmanian, a paper, published in Hobart Town, of the 28th of Jan. 1831. are "At the northern part of New Zealand two chiefs, Hecho, and Robulloh. Hecho is the son of a chief who is spoken of as 'the Payie,' who was taken to England some years ago, where, having received great attention, upon his return he declared himself the enemy of all those of his country who should attack any English vessel, or injure any Englishman-of course, beyond the mere practice of thieving, which is the vocation of these islanders. A few years since, a chieftain of the south-eastern coast had killed and eaten Captain Downie and the crew of the brig Samuel. The same people had succeeded in taking a midshipman and a boat's crew of his Majesty's ship Warspite, commanded by the late Sir J. Brisbane, who were killed, and afterwards eaten, as mere matter of course. "To avenge these atrocities, the Payie and the Robulloh, went in 1822, with a strong body of their people, and, taking the former by surprise, they killed and ate all they could find, destroying all before them of the unfortunate clan, who, in their turn, furnished food for their cannibal appetite. Glutted with blood, but still hankering for more, they landed upon Banks's Island with the same horrible intent. But there they met with a check. The chieftain, who was called the Marinewie, was prepared for their reception; a battle ensued, in which the invaders were defeated, with the loss of the Payie, who being taken by the Marinewie, was by that chief killed and eaten, as was also an Englishman named Smith, who had joined the allies in their predatory excursion. The Robulloh escaped, and, on his return to his native place, united with the Hecho, the son of the Payie, who had succeeded to his eaten father's throne, in the determination to avenge the former disasters. "Thus matters stood until about the middle of last year, when Captain Briggs, in the Dragon, arrived at the territory of these allied chieftains. Their first attempt was to endeavour to induce him to accompany them in an expedition which they had been for some time preparing, against the Marinewie. They did not, however, succeed. Captain Briggs peremptorily refused to be associated in the horrid enterprise. Not so, however, the commander of another British vessel, which happened just then to arrive upon a trading voyage. The two chiefs agreed with this person, that his ship should convey them and their people to the country of the Marinewie, where the war was to be carried on to utter extermination. "On the 29th of October, of the last year, the expedition sailed; there was a fine fleet of war canoes, and the two chiefs, with about one hundred picked warriors, were on board the English brig. Captain Briggs remained at the anchorage. On the 11th of November the expedition returned, having been entirely successful: the Marinewie had been taken by surprise, his whole people destroyed, except such as fled into the interior beyond the reach of pursuit, and himself, his wife, and his daughter, a beautiful girl of fifteen, taken prisoners. The captain of the English vessel stated, that on their arrival at Banks's harbour, the Payie and the Robulloh had caused all their people to conceal themselves below; that the Marinewie sent immediately on board to negotiate for the trading, which he, of course, supposed was the object of the Englishman's arrival. He demanded two double guns, by way of tribute to himself, for permission to open the trade. This was granted. The trade commenced, and the Marinewie, not suspecting the fate which awaited him, confiding fully in the Englishman's honour, went himself on board to visit him. After he had been seated in the cabin a short time, the Hecho and the Robulloh jumped upon him, from their place of concealment, as did their people upon all those who had attended him on board, and, seizing him by the hair, explained to him his situation. The scene which followed is too dreadful to be described. "Under the cover of night, the Robulloh, the Payie, and their men, landed from the ship, and having succeeded in capturing the wife and daughter of the Marinewie, they sent them on board, and a work of death ensued, utterly indescribable, for the horrible cruelties which were perpetrated. The whole population of the place who did not escape, were killed, except about fifty reserved to be taken back to be sacrificed at the bloody feast of triumph which awaited their return. At day-light in the morning, the victors were seen actively employed in cutting up and preparing for the steam-kettle the dead bodies of the slaughtered victims of the night. The crew of the vessel described the horrors which they witnessed as beyond every thing dreadful. The whole of the day was occupied in salting and packing in baskets, heads and bodies to be conveyed back. Amongst the victims was a fine young woman, near her accouchement, whose head and part of her body were salted, and the remainder, in the presence of the captain, officers, and the whole crew of the British ship, given to the pigs! "On the 11th of November, in the morning, the brig having arrived with her cargo of human flesh, living and dead, a t about 11 A. M. preparations were made for the triumphal landing. And here a peculiar feature in the character of the New Zealanders was exhibited. Ferocious as appears to be the male character, that of the female appears in strong contrast thereto. Not a single woman was on the beach to receive either husband or lover, not a child to welcome its parent, not a father to welcome his son. All was silence, and-except as respected the cannibal warriors, and the dead mutilated remains of their slaughtered victims-solitude. The prisoners were landed and ranged, seated on the beach; the conquerors having brought on shore the salted bodies of the victims of their ferocity. Each basket is of sufficient size to hold a human body cut up into pieces of these there were, according to Captain Briggs' calculation, about one hundred. The war dance then commenced, the warriors being naked-their long black hair, although matted with gore, yet flowing partially in the wind, in the left hand, a human head; in the right, a bayonetted musket, held by the middle of the barrel. Thus, with a song, the terrible expression of which can only be imagined by being heard, did they dance round their wretched victims, every now and again approaching them with gestures threatening death under its most horrid form of lingering torture! But they did not inflict it. None of them were killed. All were apportioned among the conquering warriors as slaves, one old man and a little boy excepted, who were sentenced to be sacrificed to their demon of vengeance. "The feast was then prepared, at which these two victims were to be killed and eaten. It consisted of about one hundred baskets of potatoes, and a sort of green vegetable of delicious flavour, and equal quantities of whale blubber and human flesh. Every thing being arranged, the poor old man was brought forth horribly accoutred for death, having affixed round his neck the head of his son, whose body formed part of the infernal banquet then exhibited. Here, for the first time, a few women appeared, Some few, wives or mothers, whose husbands or whose sons had been in their turn killed and eaten, ap. proached the poor old man, and, plucking the hair off his head and beard, pricking him with the teeth of some fish or other animal, inflicted upon him every possible bodily torture, while the inventions of their demoniacal countrymen were doing their utmost to agonize his mind! Captain Briggs, who witnessed all this, determined to save this poor man's life, and that of the boy, who was also to be sacrificed, if such could be done by either force or price. The boy was brought forth to die. A man had the axe extended over his head, and was about to cleave it in twain, when Captain Briggs, at a hazard which may be easily understood, seized him, and by threats and entreaties, the risk of which, at such a time, he cannot now contemplate without shuddering, obtained the life of the boy altogether, and that of the old man for a time! The next day he was taken to another place, where his doom was sealed with every circumstance of horror and atrocity. The boy still lives. Captain Briggs paid the ransom of his life in muskets and gunpowder. "New Zealand consists of two islands, lying westward of all the groups in the great Pacific Ocean, and nearly in the track of shipping from the Friendly and Society Islands to the British settlements in New Holland. From their original discovery by Tasman, in 1642, even to the present day, the character of the inhabitants has exhibited the most hostile features towards the occasional visitors of their coasts; and all the intercourse hitherto held with them, presents, in great boldness of relief, most of the vices and the virtues of savage life. From the time of Captain Cook's visits in 1769, and 1777, the shores of these islands have, with increasing frequency, been resorted to, for the purposes of trade, by the ships of the maritime nations of Europe and of America: local agents have been placed in convenient situations; grounds have been purchased, and settlements formed, and much casual trade carried on with the people on various parts of the coasts, but principally at the Bay of Islands and in the immediate vicinity of East Cape, which has already produced a sort of regular industry, not to be found elsewhere-from 150 to 200 acres of land being in a state of good cultivation in the Bay. In fact, the interior of these Islands, not withstanding the long residence of various Europeans, is as perfectly unknown to the civilized world as the interior of Africa. The whole country appears to be in the possession of numberless petty tribes; every one wearing the front of war and defiance against all the rest. They drink in the spirit of revenge and war from their earliest infancy. "Sudden and quick in quarrel," they know nothing of forgiveness without a recompense: even after a quarrel is made up, the injured party will calmly pursue the principles of the lex talionis, a fence for a fence, a pig for a pig, a life for a life, the pacification only implying it should stop there. Can it be matter of surprise that such a people should meet the aggressions of Europeans blow for blow? "If some of their retaliatory exploits astound us by their atrocity, and excite our horror and disgust, the little patches of New Zealand history exhibit abundant provocations to a people who do not choose to stand still and be knocked on the head! A New Zealander possesses an absolute passion for war; his slaughtered enemy he eats, that he may indulge in the full gluttony of revenge, while he gratifies to the utmost his voracious appetite; he is a cannibal from principle as well as taste, believing that as the blood of his adversary becomes incorporated with his own, all the estimable qualities, and all the good fortune that belonged to the conquered, will be thus transferred to the victor!* So long as their lex talionis principles prevail, their wars must prove interminable: they bequeath their quarrels from one generation to another; and the latest conquerors or their progeny have only to wait till the numbers and strength of their enemy shall * With all the horror and disgust we feel at cannibalism, it is but fair to mention, that it is not confined to New Zealand. Sir Stamford Raffles relates, respecting the Battas, an extensive and populous nation of Sumatra, that they have a regular government and deliberative assemblies,possess a written character, and have a talent for eloquence, acknowledge a God, are fair and honourable in their dealings, crimes amongst them are few, and their country is highly cultivated; yet this people are cannibals upon principle and system! be recruited, to be certain that retribution is at hand. Should no old quarrel be ripe enough for retaliation, such is the universal and incessant passion for the excitement found in war and bloodshed, that an assemblage of five hundred fighting men has been known to set out on an excursion of killing, eating, and plundering, and pursue their object with a merciless and resistless rapidity which made their progress resemble the thundering rush of an avalanche, or the gushing forth of a mighty river, bursting its ancient bounds, destroying at one fell swoop every inhabitant of a district equal in extent to one of our smaller counties. Acting thus among themselves, we may be assured of their carrying the same principles into their transactions with foreigners; of which, examples, in a series, have already commenced, without prospect of a termination. We will mention only one of these: "A son of one of their chiefs was flogged on board an English ship; the Zealander hid it in his memory; and, on arriving at the place of his tribe, he planned and executed a scheme of daring and horrible revenge with so much art, address, cunning, and ferocity, that the ship was destroyed, and the whole crew, with a trifling exception, massacred and eaten. Some time after, another English ship arrived upon another part of the coast, inhabited by a different tribe, and the captain and men on board, as if they had inhaled a New Zealand spirit, by breathing the air of the island, destroyed every man, woman, and child they could lay hands on, by way of revenge. The survivors of the families who suffered on that occasion have probably found an opportunity of returning the blow; for the great passion of savage life is revenge. The intensity and permanence of this unquenchable thirst for ample and special retribution is somewhat illustrated by a circumstance connected with the death of the individual we have just referred to, as inflicting such horrible vengeance upon the crew of the ship in which he had suffered the indignity of a flogging. When he came to die, he was visited with some deep compunctious relentings, not for what he had done on that occasion, but that he had made no adequate satisfaction to the manes of his father, who was killed in the conflict, by some audacious act of atrocity and bloodshed, worthy of his name, and particularly designed and perpetrated for that especial purpose. therefore gave directions to his friends, that instantly after his decease they should kill the missionaries and seize their property, He that his father's death might not remain unrevenged. If we often stand aghast with horror at the character of their vengeance, we should take into the account the number and nature of its provocations. The members of civilized communities (so called!) have never been remarkable for any very strict regard to propriety, right, or justice, in their treatment of those whom they are pleased to call savages. It is even on record, that above a hundred of the natives of New Zealand have been slain by Europeans, in the vicinity of the Bay of Islands only. This sort of retaliating war, sustained and accompanied by incessant wrongs and injustice of every description, of which these islanders are extremely sensible, had long since extended itself so widely, and with such diffused mischiefs, that a Society was formed at Port Jackson "for the Protection of the Native Inhabitants of New Zealand." "The chiefs of these islands, who are pretty numerous, exercise a pure despotism over the cookees or slaves of their respective tribes, being restricted only by their peculiar customs, not very explicitly understood, and seldom regarded in times of passionate excitement. Provisions form a common stock, under the care of the rangatiras, and at the disposal of the chief. Theft from a chief is punished with instant death; though when one cookee steals from another, it is little noticed, except by a laugh, if dexterously performed. Indeed, private property, of which, however, the possessors are extremely jealous, is held only by strength; and even the life of any of the lower class is sacrificed on the slighest pretences. For example, should a chief take a journey which detains him from home a few weeks, a grand feast is held in honour of his return; pigs and potatoes are provided for such Europeans as happen to be present; but a slave girl, among the attendants, is suddenly killed by a blow on the head, without a moment's previous notice, and cooked in a pit made in the ground, amid the general uproarious joy of the occasion, which is indulged and increased by devouring the victim. Between the chiefs and the lower order, the rangatiras are a numerous class, whose attendance on the chief forms the basis of his power; and, as the men of this class do no work, they may be termed the gentlemen of the community; a title which they are ready enough to assume, with all the imagined importance belonging to it. "The climate of New Zealand is a happy medium between the torrid and frigid zones, the healthiness whereof is testified by the size, the sturdy vigour and strength, |