everything converges to the Person of Christ. I wish them to see
clearly the great points--first, God's infinite love, and the great
facts by which He has manifested His Love from the very first, till
the coming of Christ exhibited most clearly the infinite wisdom and
love by which man's return to Paradise has been effected.

'Significant is that one word to the thief on the Cross "Paradise."
The way open again; the guardian angel no longer standing with
flaming sword in the entrance; admission to the Tree of Life.'

'The services were much shorter than usual, chiefly because I don't
stammer and bungle, and take half an hour to read twenty verses of
the Bible, and also because I discarded all the endless repetitions
and unmeaning phrases, which took up half the time of their unmeaning
harangues. About an hour sufficed for the morning-service; the
evening one might have been a little longer. I feel quite at my ease
while preaching, and John told me it was all very clear; but the
prayers--oh! I did long for one of our Common Prayer-books.'

One effect of the Independent system began to reveal itself strongly.
How could definite doctrines be instilled into the converts by
teachers with hardly any books, and no formula to commit to memory?
What was the faith these good Samoans knew and taught?

'No doctrinal belief exists among them,' writes Patteson, in the
third month of his stay. 'A man for years has been associated with
those who are called "the people that seek Baptism." He comes to
me:--

'J. G. P. 'Who instituted baptism?