Martin 
 
 No 
 
 V 
 Division 
 
N 
 
 ."V 
 
 

I 
 
 THE LIFE 
 
 OP 
 
 REV. HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 WRITTEN FOR THE AMERICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION, 
 
 BY JOHN HALL. 
 
 WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF ABDOOL MESSEEH, 
 A HINDOO CONVERT. 
 
 REVISED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION. 
 
 AMERICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 
 NO. 316 CHESNTJT STREET. 
 
according to the &ct of Congress in the year 
 1831, by PAUL BECK, Jr. Treasurer, in trust for the American 
 Sunday School Union, in the Clerk's Office of the District 
 Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THIS volume has been principally compiled from 
 the tenth English edition of the Memoirs of MR. 
 MARTYN, by the REV. JOHN SARGENT. 
 
 The author of the present publication has endea- 
 voured to present his subject in a manner which 
 may not mislead the young, in forming their esti- 
 mate of Christian character, and to propose the 
 humble missionary, as an imitable example, rather 
 than an object of vague and curious admiration. 
 To effect this design, he has avoided, as much as 
 possible, the use of terms of personal eulogy ; in 
 hopes that the perusal of the biography will leave 
 upon the youthful reader a deeper impression of 
 the indispensable need of Divine power, to enable 
 any creature to lead a useful and holy life. Chil- 
 dren are taught, at least by implication, to believe, 
 that the eminent instances of piety and zeal, which 
 are recorded both in sacred and ordinary history, 
 are exceptions to the doctrine of Christ, who 
 directed his disciples to say even after they should 
 have done " all those tilings which were com- 
 
 3 
 
4 PREFACE. 
 
 manded we are unprofitable servants ; we have 
 done that which was our duty to do." This 
 course is likely not only to create an illusion which 
 more mature knowledge will but imperfectly dissi- 
 pate, but to diminish the splendor of the single 
 example of perfect righteousness which has blessed 
 our world. Its tendency, moreover, is to foster 
 that hidden corruption of religious vanity in the 
 heart of the young Christian, which usually needs 
 no extraneous aid to assist it in impeding the 
 growth of grace. 
 
 It would seem, that the Memoirs of a Christian 
 should be rather adapted to instruct the living, than 
 to applaud the dead ; and it is surprising that so 
 few works of the kind are extant, prepared with 
 evangelical discrimination. It is especially im- 
 portant that this principle should be regarded in 
 biographies designed for pupils in Sunday schools 
 and it would be a new honor to the institution, if 
 the productions in this department, which claim 
 their patronage, should be marked by this rare 
 moral distinction. 
 
THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 IrA 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE father of Henry Martyn was a workman in 
 the tin mines of Cornwall, in England. As the 
 miners worked very deep in the earth, shut 
 out from the light of the sun, and breathing an 
 unwholesome air, it was their custom to labour 
 four hours, and then to spend the same length of 
 time in resting. During these hours of rest, John 
 Martyn devoted himself to improving his education, 
 which had been very slight ; and by his industrious 
 application, he soon became so well acquainted 
 with arithmetic, that he was at length engaged as 
 clerk, by a merchant in the town of Truro, in the 
 county of Cornwall. The conduct of this man is 
 an example to all persons whose occupations afford 
 them any leisure. There is scarcely any one who 
 is so constantly occupied, as not to have some time 
 in the week, for the improvement of his mind. 
 Had John Martyn made no exertion to supply his 
 want of early instruction, he would probably 
 A2 5 
 
6 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 have wasted his life in the miserable toil of 
 digging ore, in the unwholesome depths of the 
 mines. But by employing his spare time in learn- 
 ing, instead of wasting it in idleness and intemper- 
 ance, he was' soon enabled to maintain his family 
 respectably, and to save his children from the evils 
 of ignorance, by giving them a good education. 
 
 Henry, his third child, the subject of this 
 volume, was born at Truro, on the 18th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1781, and before he was eight years old, 
 was put under the charge of an excellent school- 
 master. At school he was remarkable for the gen- 
 tleness of his disposition ; yet he was not a general 
 favourite with his school-fellows, as, owing to the 
 mildness of his spirit, he was not inclined to engage 
 in their sports, and was fond of quiet. After spend- 
 ing seven years at this school, his father sent him 
 to the city of Oxford, hoping that he would be 
 admitted as a student in one of the colleges of the 
 celebrated university at that place, and be supported 
 by funds which are raised for that purpose, called 
 scholarships. From the boys who apply for ad- 
 mission on these terms, the most promising scholars 
 are selected ; but Henry had not been very studious, 
 and, though some of his examiners were in favour of 
 electing him, he did not succeed. He afterwards 
 considered this failure as a great mercy ; for had he 
 been thrown, when not fifteen years of age, into the 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 7 
 
 evil company which he would then have met with 
 at college, he might have become dissolute beyond 
 recovery. He returned to his school, and remained 
 under the same teacher, until he entered St. John's 
 college, in the university of Cambridge, in October, 
 1797. 
 
 Ambitious to be distinguished, and anxious to 
 gratify his father, he applied himself diligently 
 to study during his stay in college. He was 
 moral and amiable in his conduct, excepting that 
 his temper, which was usually very mild, was 
 sometimes irritated to an improper degree, and 
 led him, as unrestrained passions always lead 
 those who indulge them, to hasty and dangerous 
 conduct. Excellent as his outward character was, 
 it was not so because he was anxious to fulfil his 
 duty to God, who requires purity of heart and life 
 from all his intelligent creatures. And he was so 
 insensible, at this time, to the fact, that God most 
 justly claims that every being should live to his 
 glory, that he thought it a very strange doctrine, 
 when a pious friend told him that he ought to attend 
 to his studies, not for the sake of gaining praise 
 from man, but that he might be the better qualified to 
 promote the glory of God. He could not, however, 
 but acknowledge that it was entirely reasonable, 
 and determined that he would hold and maintain 
 this opinion, but never once meant that it should 
 
8 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 govern his conduct. Of course, his holding a cor- 
 rect opinion, without acting accordingly, was worth 
 nothing, and only increased his sinfulness ; as he 
 continued to follow his own ambition, after he was 
 convinced that God rightfully claimed all his ser- 
 vices. Thus, many persons are well acquainted 
 with the history, doctrines, and commands of the 
 holy scriptures, who do not live according to what 
 they require, and aggravate their guilt, because 
 they sin wilfully, after knowing the truth. And 
 thus many believe all that is in the scriptures, 
 as they believe what is written in other books ; but 
 that belief or faith, only, is of any value to a man, 
 which causes him to receive the truth in his heart, 
 as well as in his memory ; to live according to its 
 requirements, and to obey the commandment, " re- 
 pent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ;" which 
 is just as binding on the whole human family, as any 
 of the ten commandments which were given at 
 Sinai. 
 
 The great desire of Martyn's heart was to excel 
 at college, and to be foremost in his class, and this 
 ambition .occupied his mind so entirely, that he 
 lived without God, and as if the world had been 
 created for his honor, instead of the Maker's. His 
 wishes and aims were all selfish ; he envied and 
 even hated those who, by greater industry or talents, 
 attained to more distinction than he could reach, 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 9 
 
 whilst, in his pride, he considered himself superior 
 to all, and professed to regard them with contempt. 
 These unholy feelings were so much increased by 
 his disappointment in not gaming as high honours 
 as he aspired to, that upon a visit to his home 
 during a vacation, he used disrespectful language to 
 his father, when he would express opinions differ- 
 ing from his own. When he became a penitent, 
 and looked back to this period, he exclaimed, " Oh 
 what an example of patience and mildness was he ! I 
 love to think of his excellent qualities, and it is fre- 
 quently the anguish of my heart, that I ever could be 
 so base and wicked, as to pain him by the slightest 
 neglect. Oh my God and Father, why is not my 
 heart doubly agonized at the remembrance of all 
 my transgressions against Thee, ever since I have 
 known Thee as such !" During this same visit, 
 which was the last time he saAV his father, his pious 
 sister often spoke to him on the subject of reli- 
 gion ; but he confessed, that the sound of the gospel, 
 thus tenderly accompanied with the admonitions 
 of a sister, was grating to his ears. Yet he could 
 not escape the conviction that she spoke the truth, 
 when she urged its claims upon him ; but then it 
 required him to sacrifice his selfish ambition, and 
 this was too dear an object to give up. He pro- 
 mised to read the Bible, but when he reached col- 
 lege, his studies filled all his thoughts. 
 
10 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 Notwithstanding the fact, which he afterwards 
 acknowledged, that during his stay at home the 
 wickedness of his heart rose to a greater height than 
 at any other time, yet the change which soon after- 
 wards took place in him, seems to have been con- 
 nected with the peculiar state of his circumstances 
 and feelings at that period. At an examination 
 after his return to college, his ambition attained its 
 object, and he was pronounced first in his class 
 A few weeks afterwards, he received information 
 of the sudden death of his father. This was a great 
 affliction to him, and was more severe, as it hap- 
 pened in the midst of his triumph, and brought to 
 his remembrance the acts of filial disrespect which 
 his evil passions had led him so lately to commit. 
 Finding that in this state of mind, he could take no 
 pleasure in his usual studies, he resorted to his 
 Bible, under the impression that its perusal would 
 be more suitable to his present feelings. In this 
 new direction of his inquiries he was encouraged 
 by his pious friend at college, and commenced 
 reading Luke's narrative of the Acts of the Apostles, 
 as the most entertaining part of the New Testa- 
 ment. This led him gradually to examine the 
 doctrines of those holy men ; and the duty of 
 religion, in the circumstances of his affliction, made 
 this much of an impression, that he began to use 
 prayers, and to ask formally for pardon, though he 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 11 
 
 had little sense of his sinfulness. His heart was 
 evidently softened by the occurrence of his father's 
 death ; and the admonitions and prayers of his sis- 
 ter, with the convictions of his own judgment, dis- 
 posed him to pay attention to the subject, from which 
 he was not violently drawn away, as formerly, by 
 his pursuit of fame, having now reached the high- 
 est station to which he could attain in his class. 
 But his pride caused him to shrink from the hu- 
 mility which every sinner must feel before he can 
 come to the Saviour : so little did he yet know his 
 own heart ; for the man who truly feels the condi- 
 tion in which he stands in the sight of a Supreme 
 Being, infinitely great, infinitely holy, infinitely 
 just, against whose laws, and mercy, and goodness, 
 he has sinned without excuse, cannot but be hum- 
 ble when he becomes acquainted with his true 
 character. 
 
 Such was the apparent commencement of the 
 influence of the Holy Spirit on Martyn's heart ; and 
 although on his return to Cambridge, those sacred 
 impressions were in danger of being destroyed by 
 his diligent application to the study of mathematics, 
 which once more threatened to engage his whole 
 attention, yet the divine mercy preserved him in 
 the trial. Some passages in a letter written to 
 his sister at this period, show that religion 
 must have entered into his daily thoughts, and that 
 
12 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 he was already brought to see the reasonableness 
 and beauty of spiritual devotion. 
 
 " What a blessing it is for me, that I have such 
 a sister as you, my dear S , who have been so 
 instrumental in keeping me in the right way. When 
 I consider how little human assistance you have 
 had, and the great knowledge to which you have 
 attained on the subject of religion, especially ob- 
 serving the extreme ignorance of the most wise and 
 learned of this world, I think this is itself a proof 
 of the wonderful influence of the Holy Ghost on 
 the minds of well-disposed persons. It is certainly 
 by the Spirit alone that we can have the will, or 
 power, or knowledge, or confidence to pray ; and 
 by Him alone we come unto the Father through 
 Jesus Christ. * Through Him we both have access 
 by one Spirit unto the Father.' How I rejoice to 
 find that we disagreed only about words ! I did 
 not doubt, as you suppose, at all about that joy 
 which true believers feel. Can there be any one 
 subject, any one source of cheerfulness and joy, at 
 all to be compared with the heavenly serenity and 
 comfort which such a person must find in holding 
 communion with his God and Saviour in prayer ; 
 in addressing God as his Father, and more than all, 
 in the transporting hope of being preserved unto 
 everlasting life, and of singing praises to his Re- 
 deemer when time shall be no more ? Oh ! I do 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 13 
 
 indeed feel this state of mind at times ; but at 
 other times 1 feel quite humbled at finding myself 
 so cold and hard-hearted That reluctance to 
 prayer, that unwillingness to come unto God, who 
 is the fountain of all good, when reason and experi- 
 ence tell us, that with him only true pleasure is to 
 be found, seem to be owing to Satanic influence." 
 
 After mentioning that his mathematical studies 
 required such deep thought as to exclude, for the 
 time, every other subject from the mind, and that 
 they were, on this account, very dangerous to him, 
 he speaks in the same letter of the beginning of his 
 religious feelings. 
 
 " After the death of our father, you know I was 
 extremely low-spirited ; and, like most other peo- 
 ple, began to consider seriously, without any par- 
 ticular determination, that invisible world to which 
 he was gone, and to which I must one day go. 
 Yet I still read the Bible unenlightened ; and said 
 a prayer or two rather through terror of a superior 
 power than from any other cause. Soon, however, 
 I began to attend more diligently to the words of 
 our Saviour in the New Testament, and to devour 
 them with delight ; when the offers of mercy and 
 forgiveness were made so freely, I supplicated to 
 be made partaker of the covenant of grace with 
 eagerness and hope : and thanks be to the ever- 
 blessed Trinity for not leaving me without comfort. 
 B 
 
14 LIFE OF HENRY MARTVN. 
 
 Throughout the whole, however, even when the 
 light of divine truth was beginning to dawn on my 
 mind, I was not under that great terror of future 
 punishment, which I now see plainly I had every 
 reason to feel : I look back now upon that course 
 of wickedness which, like a gulf of destruction, 
 yawned to swallow me up, with a trembling delight, 
 mixed with shame at having lived so long in igno- 
 rance, and error, and blindness. I could say much 
 more, but I have no more room. I have only to 
 express my acquiescence in most of your opinions, 
 and to join with you in gratitude to God for his 
 mercies to us : may he preserve you and me and 
 all of us to the day of the Lord !" 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 STILL the desire of applause, and the ambition 
 of distinction as a scholar, that great temptation of 
 irdent youth, kept him from making much progress 
 in the infinitely more important study of divine 
 truth. His heart was still destitute of humility, 
 wid he was not yet sensible of the real vanity 
 of human pursuits. This lesson, however, the 
 providence of God taught him in the manner which, 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN 15 
 
 of all others, would make the deepest impression 
 on such a mind as his. It was not until he received 
 the highest honours of college, in January 1801, 
 that he felt that temporal gratifications cannot satisfy 
 the desires of the soul. " I obtained my highest 
 wishes," he said, " but was surprised to find that I 
 grasped a shadow." He felt a disappointment 
 which astonished himself, that the great object for 
 which he had laboured so hard, and sacrificed so 
 much, and which had caused him even to neglect the 
 interest which he had in eternity, should now seem 
 as vain and unsatisfying, as if he had been toiling 
 to pursue a shadow ! Happy is the youth who will 
 not wait for experience to convince him that this is 
 a truth, and will believe what the word of God 
 asserts to be the end of all such hopes and efforts ; 
 who will trust the declarations of those men who 
 have tried for themselves, and, like Martyn, have 
 been obliged, in the midst of their triumph, honestly 
 to confess that they were disappointed of the happi- 
 ness which they calculated on as sure. Martyn 
 had been so diligent in order to gain this supposed 
 reward, that his fellow-students called him ' the man 
 who had not lost an hour ;' he found too late that 
 he had for ever lost many hours of opportunity 
 of acquiring the knowledge of divine truth, and 
 of his own duty, and many hours of happiness, 
 such as all the honours, and even all the pleasures 
 
16 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 of learning, can never confer, or compensate a man 
 for its loss. 
 
 Martyn spent the vacation of the next summer 
 at college, and had the opportunity of being much 
 alone ; and his attention not being absorbed by his 
 studies as formerly, he was able to give a more se- 
 rious and deep attention to the condition of his soul. 
 He devoted much time to meditation upon his past 
 life, the wandering of his affection from God, and 
 the necessity of some great change in his heart, to 
 bring him to make that willing devotion of himself 
 to his service, which he saw was reasonably requir- 
 ed of him, and which he felt ought to be his highest 
 happiness. 
 
 " God," he observes, " was pleased to bless the 
 solitude and retirement I enjoyed this summer, to 
 my improvement: and not until then had I ever 
 experienced any real pleasure in religion. I was 
 more convinced of sin than ever, more earnest in 
 fleeing to Jesus for refuge, and more desirous of 
 the renewal of my nature." 
 
 His friendship with the Rev. Mr. Simeon, of 
 Cambridge, and several pious young men, was a 
 great advantage in winning his affections to religion, 
 and giving him a correct view of the Christian cha- 
 racter. He had determined to apply himself to the 
 study of law, chiefly, as he confessed, " because he 
 could not consent to be poor for Christ's sake," 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 17 
 
 but he now felt willing to cut off all prospect of 
 temporal distinction, and resolved to prepare for the 
 ministry. The influence of the Spirit seemed to at- 
 tend the use of the means of spiritual knowledge, 
 so that he could write to a friend in September 
 1801, " blessed be God, I have now experienced 
 that Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom 
 of God. What a blessing is the gospel ! No 
 heart can conceive its excellency, but that which 
 has been renewed by divine grace." About the 
 same time he wrote thus to his sister: 
 
 " When we consider the misery and darkness of 
 the unregenerate world, oh ! with how much rea- 
 son should we burst out into thanksgiving to God, 
 who has called us in his mercy through Christ 
 Jesus ! Who that reflects upon the rock from 
 which he was hewn, but must rejoice to give him- 
 self entirely and without reserve to God, to be 
 sanctified by his Spirit. The soul that has truly 
 experienced the love of God, will not stay meanly 
 inquiring how much he shall do, and thus limit his 
 service ; but will be earnestly seeking, more and 
 more, to know the will of our heavenly Father, that 
 he may be enabled to do it. O may we be both 
 thus minded ! may we experience Christ to be our 
 all in all, not only as our Redeemer, but as the 
 fountain of grace. Those passages of the word of 
 God which you have quoted on this head, are n- 
 B2 
 
18 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 deed awakening ; may they teach us to breathe 
 after holiness, to be more and more dead to the 
 world, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ: 
 We are lights in the world ; how needful then 
 that our tempers and lives should manifest our 
 high and heavenly calling. Let us, as we do, 
 provoke one another to good works, not doubting 
 but that God will bless our feeble endeavours to 
 his glory." 
 
 Happening to call at a house where a gentleman, 
 with whom he had a slight acquaintance, was lying 
 ill, he found his wife in great agony, on account of 
 the unprepared state of her husband to enter eter- 
 nity, and in expectation of being left with her family 
 entirely destitute of maintenance, if he should die. 
 He found it in vain to direct her thoughts to God, 
 whom they both had probably neglected to serve in 
 their prosperity, and he went to visit her daughters, 
 who had removed to another house, that their ap- 
 pearance of grief might not disturb the dying man. 
 Upon entering the room, he found a member of 
 college diverting their thoughts by reading a play to 
 them. He was so astonished and indignant at the 
 sight, that he rebuked the young man in such a 
 manner that he thought it would produce a quarrel 
 between them. But he was joyfully surprised after- 
 wards, when he came to thank him lor the reproof, 
 and acknowledge that it had made a serious im- 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 19 
 
 pression on his mind, which proved to be perma- 
 nent; and Mr. Martyn was afterwards associated 
 with him as a missionary in India. 
 
 In March 1802, Mr. Martyn was successful in 
 being elected to a fellowship in the college a 
 privilege granted to a select number of the best 
 scholars, who are, on certain conditions, supported 
 by the funds of the college, and have the privi- 
 lege of residing there. Soon afterwards he ob- 
 tained the first prize, for having produced the best 
 Latin composition. Thus he was rising rapidly 
 to distinction, .and his prospects of success in life 
 were brilliant. His talents and acquirements would 
 no doubt have easily procured him honourable and 
 profitable employment. His strong natural passion 
 of ambition had every thing that is tempting in 
 success, to allure him in its path : the prospect of 
 a distinguished career was opening most favourably 
 before him. The sincerity of his resolution to seek 
 first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, 
 was put to the strongest trial ; yet, through the Di- 
 vine grace, he was enabled to overlook all these 
 temporal advantages, and made willing to conse- 
 crate his powers to the promotion of the glory of 
 God. He had resolved to enter the ministry : but 
 even in that profession, in England, there is a large 
 field open for ambition, and the learning and talents 
 of Martyn might have gained him some of the 
 
20 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 highest stations in the church, where wealth, ease, 
 and eminence could be enjoyed. But his great de- 
 sire was to be employed in the manner in which 
 he could do the most good to his fellow men, and 
 promote the glory of God, by extending the know- 
 ledge of Jesus Christ and his gospel. He knew, too, 
 that in the humblest station he would be most likely 
 to increase in spiritual piety, as he would be ex- 
 posed to fewer of those temptations, by which he 
 had already been so much endangered. He there- 
 fore determined to become a foreign missionary, 
 and offered himself as such to the English society, 
 now called " The Church Missionary Society for 
 Africa and the East." 
 
 It is too often the case, that in perusing the life 
 of an eminent disciple of Christ, the reader is led 
 to suppose that the person who is spoken of in 
 such terms of praise by the author, was so excellent 
 that he went beyond the holiness and duty that are 
 required of men generally, and that his devotedness 
 must be a ground of worth in the sight of God. 
 This manner of writing should be carefully avoided, 
 as it encourages human presumption, by leading 
 men to trust much in the amount of good that they 
 may do, and flatters their pride by persuading them 
 that great sacrifices in the cause of Christianity en- 
 title them to distinction, not only in this world, but 
 in the eve of heaven. Alas ! it is because so few 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 21 
 
 persons make any self-denial, to promote the honour 
 of the Redeemer, that such consequences result. 
 If every Christian were to give up all his property, 
 and leave home and family for ever, and go to dwell 
 amongst the most degraded nations of the furthest 
 lands, it would not reach the amount of obligation 
 they are under ; it would not equal, by ten thou- 
 sand degrees, the favours of Jesus Christ to this 
 world. Man can never, by all his good deeds, 
 have a claim to the rewards of heaven. Even 
 after a long life thus spent in wretchedness and 
 banishment, for the sake of doing good and convert- 
 ing souls, it is an act of God's mere mercy, and 
 that for Christ's sake, that any one is accepted as a 
 faithful servant, and in this sense, counted worthy 
 of the kingdom of heaven. But the usefulness of 
 such writings consists in showing how much good 
 an individual, under the blessing of God, may per- 
 form ; and thus encouraging other men to undertake 
 great plans of usefulness, by the proof that He con- 
 descends to make use of human creatures in accom- 
 plishing his great purposes of mercy to the world. 
 An instance of such devotedness to the service of 
 God, is often more powerful in inducing others to 
 follow the example, than even the fact which is so 
 clear from scripture, that God effects his purposes 
 by human agency, and that it is therefore men's 
 duty to do their utmost, at all hazards, to promote 
 
22 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 the divine designs. So it was in the case of Martyn 
 himself, whose thoughts were led to a missionary 
 life, by the accounts of the great success which had 
 attended the labours of Dr. Carey in India, and of 
 David Brainerd among the American Indians. And 
 the object of preparing this life of Henry Martyn, is 
 not to praise him, for he only did his duty ; and even 
 this, as he acknowledged, he did not do, (as no 
 Christian in this life does,) with that entire devot- 
 edness to Christ, and freedom from all sinful and sel- 
 fish motives which the service of our Divine mastei 
 requires. But our great design is to encourage our 
 young readers to aim at doing much for Christ ; and 
 to show the power of Divine grace which overcame 
 the worldly ambition, and love of wealth and com- 
 fort, which were natural to Martyn, and induced 
 him to leave all prospect of happiness from these 
 sources, and to give himself up wholly to the em- 
 ployment of carrying the knowledge of the way 
 of salvation to nations who were in all the darkness 
 of idolatry. 
 
 Nor are we to suppose that it cost Martyn no 
 struggle, to give up all these prospects. Men are 
 seldom so much sanctified, as to make great sacri- 
 fices with entire cheerfulness. He had still to strive 
 with his pride, his love of the world, his indisposi- 
 tion to toil amongst a wretched and ignorant people ; 
 but he found strength to sustain these trials by per- 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 23 
 
 severing, earnest prayer ; by meditating more on 
 the duty he owed his Maker, and the return which 
 the atonement that Christ had made for his sins, 
 called for from him. Thus, through God's favour, 
 not through any ability of his own, he became 
 the useful man he afterwards was in India. 
 
 The nature of the temptations he underwent at 
 times, may be understood from his own candid 
 statement of them to his pious sister. 
 
 " I received your letter yesterday, and thank God 
 for the concern you manifest for my spiritual wel- 
 fare. O that we may love each other more and 
 more in the Lord. The passages you bring from 
 the word of God, were appropriate to my case, 
 particularly those from the first Epistle of St. Peter, 
 and that to the Ephesians ; though I do not seem 
 to have given you a right view of my state. The 
 dejection I sometimes labour under seems not to 
 arise from doubts of my acceptance with God, 
 though it tends to produce them ; nor from despond- 
 ing views of my own backwardness in the divine 
 life, for I am more prone to self-dependence and 
 conceit ; but from the prospect of the difficulties I 
 have to encounter in the whole of my future life. 
 The thought that I must be unceasingly employed 
 in the same kind of work, amongst poor ignorant 
 people, is what my proud spirit revolts at. To be 
 obliged to submit to a thousand uncomfortable 
 
24 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 things that must happen to me, whether as a minis* 
 ter or a missionary, is what the flesh cannot endure. 
 At these times I feel neither love to God, nor love 
 to man ; and in proportion as these graces of the 
 Spirit languish, my besetting sins, pride, and dis- 
 content, and unwillingness for every duty, make 
 me miserable. 
 
 " You will best enter into my views by considering 
 those texts which serve to recall me to a right aspect 
 of things. I have not that coldness in prayer you 
 would expect, but generally find myself strength- 
 ened in faith and humility and love after it: but 
 the impression is so short. I am at this time 
 enabled to give myself, body, soul, and spirit, to 
 God, and perceive it to be my most reasonable 
 service. How it may be when the trial comes, I 
 know not, yet I will trust and not be afraid. In 
 order to do his will cheerfully, I want love for the 
 souls of men ; to suffer it, I want humility : let 
 these be the subjects of your supplications for me. 
 I am thankful to God that you are so free from 
 anxiety and care : we cannot but with praise 
 acknowledge his goodness. What does it signify 
 whether we be rich or poor, if we are sons of God ? 
 How unconscious are they of their real greatness, 
 and will be so till they find themselves in glory ! 
 When we contemplate our everlasting inheritance, 
 it seems too good to be true ; yet it is no more 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 25 
 
 than is due to the kindred of ' God manifest in 
 the flesh.' 
 
 " A journey I took last week into Norfolk seems 
 to have contributed greatly to my health. The 
 attention and admiration shown me are great and 
 very dangerous. The praises of men do not now, 
 indeed, flatter my vanity as they formerly did ; I 
 rather feel pain, through anticipation of their 
 consequences : but they tend to produce, imper- 
 ceptibly, a self-esteem and hardness of heart. How 
 awful and awakening a consideration is it, that God 
 judge th not as man judge th ! Our character before 
 him, is precisely as it was before or after any 
 change of external circumstances. Men may ap- 
 plaud or revile, and make a man think differently 
 of himself; but He judgeth of a man according to 
 his secret walk. How difficult is the work of self- 
 examination ! Even to state to you, imperfectly, 
 my own mind, I found to be no easy matter. Nay, 
 St. Paul says, * I judge not mine own self, for he 
 that judgeth me is the Lord.' That is, though he 
 was not conscious of any allowed sin, yet he was 
 not thereby justified, for God might perceive some- 
 thing of which he was not aware. How needful 
 then, the prayer of the Psalmist, ' Search me, O 
 God, and try my heart, and see if there be any 
 evil way in me.' May God be with you, and 
 bless you, and uphold you with the right hand of 
 C 
 
26 LIFE OP HENUY MARTYN. 
 
 his righteousness : and let us seek to love ; for * he 
 that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, for God is 
 love.' " 
 
 His diary furnishes a farther insight into his 
 experience, and the resoluteness with which he 
 opposed the wavering of his faith by continual 
 application to the promises of God in Christ. 
 
 " Since I have endeavoured to divest myself of 
 every consideration independent of religion, I see 
 the difficulty of maintaining a liveliness in devotion 
 for any considerable time together ; nevertheless, 
 as I shall have to pass the greater part of my future 
 life, after leaving England, with no other source of 
 happiness than reading, meditation, and prayer, I 
 think it right to be gradually mortifying myself to 
 every species of worldly pleasure." " In all my 
 past life I have fixed on some desirable ends, at 
 different distances, the attainment of which was to 
 furnish me with happiness. But now, in seasons 
 of unbelief, nothing seems to lie before me but one 
 vast uninteresting wilderness, and heaven appear- 
 ing but dimly at the end. Oh ! how does this show 
 the necessity of living by faith ! What a shame 
 that I cannot make the doing of God's will my ever 
 delightful object, and the prize of my high calling 
 the mark after which I press !" 
 
 " I was under disquiet at the prospect of my 
 future work, encompassed, as it appeared, will. 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 27 
 
 difficulties ; but I trusted I was under the guidance 
 of infinite wisdom, and on that I could rest. Mr. 
 Johnson, who had returned from a mission, observ- 
 ed that the crosses to be enduied were far greater 
 than could be conceived ; but ' none of these things 
 move me, neither count I my life dear unto me, 
 so that I might finish my course with joy.' Had 
 some disheartening thoughts at night, at the pro- 
 spect of being stripped of every earthly comfort ; 
 but who is it that maketh my comforts to be a 
 source of enjoyment ? Cannot the same hand 
 make cold, and hunger, and nakedness, and peril, 
 to be a train of ministering angels conducting me 
 to glory ?" " O my soul, compare thyself with St. 
 Paul, and with the example and precepts of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ. Was it not his meat and drink 
 to do the will of his heavenly Father?" 
 
 " What is the state of my own soul before God ? 
 I believe that it is right in principle : I desire no 
 other portion but God : but I pass so many ho\irs 
 as if there were no God at all. I live far below 
 the hope, comfort, and holiness of the Gospel: 
 but be not slothful, O my soul ; look unto Jesus 
 the author and finisher of thy faith. For whom 
 was grace intended, if not for me ? Are not the 
 promises made to me ? Is not my Maker in earnest, 
 when he declareth that he willeth my sanctifica- 
 tion, find hath laid help on one that is mighty ? 
 
28 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 I will therefore have no confidence in the flesh, 
 but will rejoice in the Lord, and the joy of the 
 Lord shall be my strength. May I receive from 
 above a pure, a humble, a benevolent, a heavenly 
 mind !" 
 
 " Learnt by heart some of the first three chapters 
 of Revelations. This is to me the most searching 
 and alarming part of the Bible ; yet now with 
 humble hope I trusted, that the censures of my 
 Lord did not belong to me : except that those 
 words, Rev. ii. 3. For my name's sake thou 
 hast laboured and hast not fainted,' were far too 
 high a testimony for me to think of appropriating 
 to myself; nevertheless I besought the Lord, that 
 whatever I had been, I might now be perfect and 
 complete in all the will of God." " Men frequently 
 admire me, and I am pleased ; but I abhor the 
 pleasure I feel ; oh ! did they but know that my 
 root is rottenness !" " Heard Professor Parish 
 preach at Trinity Church, on Luke xii. 4, 5, and 
 was deeply impressed with the reasonableness and 
 necessity of the fear of God. Felt it to be a light 
 matter to be judged of man's judgment ; why have 
 I not awful apprehensions of the glorious Being at 
 all times ? The particular promise ' him that 
 overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of 
 my God, and he shall go no more out,' dwelt a 
 long time in my mind, and diffused an affectionate 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 29 
 
 reverence of God." " I see a great work before 
 me now, namely, the subduing and mortifying 
 of my perverted will. What am I that I should 
 dare to do my own will, even if I were not a sinner ; 
 but now how plain, how reasonable to have the 
 love of Christ constraining me to be his faithful 
 willing servant, cheerfully taking up the cross he 
 shall appoint me." " Read some of Amos. The 
 reading of the Prophets is to me one of the most 
 delightful employments. One cannot but be charm- 
 ed with the beauty of the imagery, while they 
 never fail to inspire me with awful thoughts of God 
 and of his hatred of sin. The reading of Baxter's 
 
 o 
 
 Saint's Rest, determined me to live more in heavenly 
 meditation." " Walked by moonlight, and found 
 it a sweet relief to my mind to think of God and 
 consider my ways before him. I was strongly 
 impressed with the vanity of the world, and could 
 not help wondering at the imperceptible operation 
 of grace, which had enabled me to resign the ex- 
 pectation of happiness from it." " How frequently 
 has my heart been refreshed, by the descriptions 
 in the Scriptures of the future glory of the Church, 
 and the happiness of man hereafter." " I felt 
 the force of Baxter's observation, that if an angel 
 had appointed to meet me, I should be full of 
 awe ; how much more when I am about to meet 
 God," 
 
 c2 
 
30 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 " Ah ! what a heart is mine ! The indistinctness 
 of my view of its desperate wickedness is terrible 
 to me, that is, when I am capable of feeling any 
 terror. But now my soul ! rise from earth and 
 hell, shall Satan lead me captive at his will, when 
 Christ ever liveth to make intercession for the 
 vilest worm ? O thou ! whose I am by creation, 
 preservation, redemption, no longer my own, but, 
 his who lived and died and rose again, once more 
 would I resign this body and soul, mean and 
 worthless as they are, to the blessed disposal of 
 thy holy will ! May I have a heart to love God 
 and his people, the flesh being crucified ! May 
 grace abound, where sin has abounded much ! May 
 I cheerfully and joyfully resign my ease and life in 
 the service of Jesus, to whom I owe so much ! 
 May it be sweet to me to proclaim to sinners like 
 myself, the blessed efficacy of my Saviour's blood ! 
 May he make me faithful unto death ! The greatest 
 enemy I dread is the pride of my own heart. 
 Through pride reigning, I should forget to know a 
 broken spirit : then would come on unbelief, weak- 
 ness, apostacy." 
 
 " Let then," he wrote to a friend, " no obstacle 
 intervene, to prevent the increase of my self-know- 
 ledge, in which I am lamentably deficient. Let us 
 both bend our minds to the discipline necessary to 
 obtain it, and communicate our discoveries for out 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 31 
 
 mutual benefit. How strongly is the importance 
 of self-knowledge, and the difficulty of obtaining it, 
 marked by these words ; ' Keep thy heart with all 
 diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.' And 
 to those who cannot keep their hearts for want of 
 knowing any thing about them, very compassionate 
 are the words of our Lord ; ' Because thou knowest 
 not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, 
 and blind, and naked, I counsel thee to buy of me 
 gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich ; and 
 white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and 
 that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear ; 
 and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou 
 mayest see.' You put me in mind, in your last 
 letter, of former days. What fruit had we then in 
 those things, whereof we are now ashamed ? But 
 those days have passed away for ever. And when 
 glory shall open upon our view, neither sorrow 
 nor sin, shall again interrupt our joys for ever. I 
 will echo your words, and say, ' What manner of 
 love is this, that we should be called the sons of 
 God !' We may look upon one another, and re- 
 member our former selves, and say, ' What hath 
 God wrought !' ' Not by works of righteousness 
 which thou hast done, but according to his mercy 
 he saved thee.' Now then, my dear brother, let 
 all the rest of our life be cheerfully devoted to God. 
 We are no longer ourown, but are bought with a 
 
32 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 price with what a price ! Let us adore him also, 
 that we are called in our youth ; that while our 
 hearts are susceptible of warm emotions, they are 
 taught the glow of Divine affections. Let us glorify 
 him on the earth, if many years are assigned us, 
 and finish the work which he hath given us to do. 
 And may we come to our graves in a full age, as a 
 shock of corn cometh in his season." 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 MR. MARTYN was ordained to the ministry on 
 the 22d of October, 1803. He complained to a 
 friend that " this occasion, so solemn in itself, 
 through want of retirement, was not so to me." 
 
 He passed the time, which, by the rules of the 
 English Episcopal church, is required before min- 
 isters can be admitted to the full exercise of the 
 sacred office, as assistant to his friend, the Rev 
 Mr. Simeon, in his church at Cambridge, and as 
 pastor in a small village at a short distance from the 
 town. In this capacity he laboured constantly in 
 preaching, and in making religious visits to the 
 houses of the poor, and to hospitals. 
 
 After speaking of his preparations for the pulpit, 
 he says, " Another part of my stated ministrations, 
 is to visit one part of Mr. Simeon's people ever^ 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 33 
 
 week. Unless the mind be in a spiritual and hea- 
 venly frame, it is difficult to go through this service 
 with any degree of satisfaction. However, though 
 I have often gone to them cramped with sinful fear, 
 I have been enabled to go through with ease and 
 comfort, thanks be to God. I have been generally 
 in great depression of spirits ever since my ordina- 
 tion ; for, having at that time not a single sermon, 
 my hands and head have been constantly employed 
 in that business, while my heart has not had its 
 due share of exercise. I am now recovering from 
 my cowardly despondency on that head ; but lately 
 I have been in heaviness again, through the preva- 
 lence of self-will, and the prospect of incessant self- 
 denial. God help me to endure hardness, as a 
 good soldier of Christ Jesus ; to fight the good fight 
 of faith ; and to be a partaker of the afflictions of 
 the Gospel, according to the power of God. My 
 chief comfort is to meditate on the world to come, 
 though it is a happiness which I can seldom steadily 
 enjoy, the train of one's thoughts is so influenced 
 and directed by the empty concerns of human life. 
 Another evil with me is great childish levity, and 
 want of serious conviction of the awful work of the 
 ministry. In the pulpit I have hitherto been think- 
 ing only of the sermon before me, unconscious of 
 the presence of God or the people. Deliver me 
 from blood-guiltiness, God !" 
 
34 LIFE OF HENRY MA.RTYN. 
 
 During this interval, the estate which his sistej 
 and himself inherited from their father, was lost ; 
 and instead of being able to go out as a missionary, 
 at his own expense, as appears to have been his 
 original design, he now sought an appointment as 
 a chaplain of the East India Company, to be em- 
 ployed at some of their stations ; which he thought 
 would give him great advantages in preaching to 
 the heathen. We copy here another of his let- 
 ters : 
 
 " I am glad to hear that the Gospel spreads 
 among you, for the sake of my poor fellow-sinner^. 
 
 that I had the glory of Christ more at heart ! 
 Most of us have far tqo little earnestness ; and I 
 for one. Wall's Lane is in my parish here. Its 
 well known character will give you to understand 
 that I have abundant room for the exercise of zeal. 
 
 1 have as yet visited only the two alms-houses and 
 the poor-house, in which I meet the people once a 
 week, and two or three other houses. To cleanse 
 these stables of Augeas, I may well be taught a 
 useful lesson from the fabled hero not to attempt 
 the work in my own strength, but to turn the river 
 of grace into it. In my country parish, religion is 
 at a low ebb. The school, however, is re-esta- 
 blished ; and the benefit of it will, I trust, be of 
 eternal consequence. With respect to my own 
 heart, my dear friend, what shall I say ? I have 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 35 
 
 been visited, of late, with some very severe trials ; 
 of which the loss of the fortunes of myself and two 
 sisters is the least. As often as the pride and 
 arrogance of my heart are brought down into the 
 dust, and 1 am able to walk softly before the Lord, 
 I am peaceful and happy enough. My present 
 desire is to walk alone with God.' I have lived too 
 much in public ; going to God in prayer as if 1 
 were coming out of a crowd, and about to be tossed 
 into it again. But to walk with God is surely to 
 be with him always ; to preach as one delivering 
 the message in his presence ; to plead with souls 
 as in the stead of the invisible God near us. Ah, my 
 brother, we die alone. If we have not lived in 
 solitary communion with God, we shall start at 
 finding ourselves, in the solemn silence of death, 
 about to launch forward where no friends, no ordi- 
 nances, can accompany us." 
 
 We cannot help observing, how the impressive 
 thought, contained in the last sentences, was strik- 
 ingly and literally exemplified, in the circumstances 
 of his own decease. He shortly wrote again : 
 
 " I am about to alter my plan of preaching to 
 my country congregation. They have been hear- 
 ing from me the Gospel, for which they are by no 
 means prepared : for I have discovered, to my sur- 
 prise and grief, that they do not know the difference 
 between sin and duty. It is now my design to 
 
36 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 explain to them the Commandments, Sermon on 
 the Mount, &c." " Through the tender mercy of 
 God, I begin to feel a little more zeal and earnest- 
 ness than formerly. O, my brother, how great the 
 honour that in our office, at least, we are like to 
 Christ ; that, in this respect, as he was, so are we 
 in this world ! May love carry forward -our feet in 
 swift obedience ; and may we continue in our work, 
 with all firmness, and patience, and tenderness for 
 the souls of men !" 
 
 Martyn spent much of his time in devotion, and 
 in reading the scriptures. He committed large por- 
 tions to memory, that he might always have a sub- 
 ject for meditation; and whenever he became so 
 interested in any other book, as to have reason to 
 fear that it was more pleasing to him than the 
 Bible, he would at once lay it aside ; until, by re- 
 turning to the sacred volume, his mind was restored 
 to feel the value and interest of its truths above all 
 others. He was in the habit of setting apart whole 
 days for secret religious services, examining his 
 heart, searching the scriptures, and imploring the 
 mercy and direction of God. And that he might 
 do this with the least interruption, he was accus- 
 tomed to abstain from his usual food at such seasons ; 
 as devout men, from very ancient times, have ob- 
 served fasts. He thus speaks in his diary of the 
 reasons and effect of these occasions : 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 37 
 
 " I felt the need of setting apart a day for the 
 restoration of my soul by solemn prayer : my views 
 of eternity are becoming dim and transient. I 
 could live for ever in prayer, if I could always 
 speak to God. I sought to pause, and to consider 
 what I wanted, and to look up with fear and faith, 
 and I found the benefit ; for my soul was soon com- 
 posed to that devout sobriety which I knew by its 
 sweetness to be its proper frame. I was engaged 
 in prayer in the manner I like, deep seriousness ; 
 at the end of it, I felt great fear of forgetting the 
 presence of God, and of leaving him as soon as I 
 should leave the posture of devotion. I was led 
 through the mists of unbelief, and spake to God as 
 one that was true ; and rejoiced exceedingly that 
 he was holy and faithful. I endeavoured to con- 
 sider myself as being alone on the earth with him, 
 and that greatly promoted my approach to his pre- 
 sence. My prayer for a meek and holy sobriety 
 was granted. O how sweet the dawn of heaven !"' 
 As there was every prospect of succeeding in the 
 application he had made for an Indian chaplaincy, 
 he began to prepare for his departure, by taking 
 leave of his friends in Cornwall. This was, of 
 course, a severe trial. He was to bid farewell to 
 country and friends, to sisters, and a lady to whom 
 he was still more tenderly attached, with the pro 
 spect of never again seeing them in this world. T< 
 D 
 
38 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 a person of his amiable and domestic disposition, 
 such a separation was full of distress. Besides, 
 he was going to reside in another, and far distant 
 continent, in a climate so hot, that it always weak- 
 ens, and is often fatal to the constitutions of natives 
 of cooler countries. The people with whom he ex- 
 pected to live, were uneducated, poor, vicious, and 
 idolatrous. Having never been instructed in Chris- 
 tianity, his task would be to overcome, if possible, 
 the prejudices in favour of their own superstitions, 
 which they and their ancestors had cherished for 
 centuries ; and to persuade them to adopt a religion 
 which would oblige them to give up their dearest sin- 
 ful enjoyments. Ignorant of each other's language, 
 he would be obliged to study theirs, although one 
 little known to Europeans, and extremely difficult to 
 be acquired. These discouragements are mentioned, 
 not to exalt the praises of Martyn ; for had he been 
 a perfect man, they would have appeared too in- 
 significant to affect him at all, but to show that God 
 gives strength to those who serve Him, and depend 
 upon Him, proportionate to their trials and neces- 
 sities ; that his grace can enable a man to do actions 
 of benevolence, which no other influence could ; 
 and that the sacrifices which Martyn made, are a 
 proof of the reality of religion, as well as of the 
 sincerity of his own profession. Let the person 
 who is now reading this page, stop here, and ask 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 39 
 
 whether he would be willing to leave his parents, 
 fi iends, and home to-morrow, and go to live 
 amongst a population cf half-savage people, six- 
 teen thousand miles from his home, and spend the 
 whole of his life in teaching them to read, and per- 
 suading them to believe the gospel ; to be all this 
 time subject to abuse and ridicule, from most of 
 these people ; to be exposed to weak health and 
 early death, and to do all this, merely and solely 
 because, if a single one is converted, it would 
 promote the glory of God by bringing one more 
 soul to acknowledge Him, and make that soul 
 happy for ever. Let the reader, who has now his 
 eye upon these words, seriously ask what would 
 induce him or her to do this ; and then think, if you 
 are not willing at once to act thus, what it is that is 
 wanting in you. You will find that religion is in- 
 deed a reality : that the Bible is indeed true, which 
 declares that God will surely make willing and able, 
 all who put their trust in Him, to perform whatever 
 his providence calls them to do. If you profess 
 to be a follower of Christ and to seek the advance- 
 ment of his kingdom, are you doing all you can for 
 this object, or are you waiting for the judgment, 
 supposing that Christ will acknowledge a professed, 
 but unprofitable servant ? 
 
40 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN*. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 FROM Cornwall, Mr. Martyn returned to Cam- 
 bridge, where he continued to assist Mr. Simeon in 
 his church. Although distressed with the conscious- 
 ness of his sinfulness, and un worthiness to be a min- 
 ister of Christ, he had comforts also, which assured 
 him that he had an interest in his Divine Redeemer : 
 so that he could confidently say, " I wish for no ser- 
 vice but the service of God ; to labour for souls on 
 earth, and to do his will in heaven ;" and at another 
 time, " hasten the day when I shall come to thee ; 
 when I shall no more be vexed, and astonished, 
 and pained, at the universal wretchedness of this 
 lost earth. But here would I abide my time, and 
 spend and be spent for the salvation of any poor 
 soul ; lie down at the feet of sinners, and beseech 
 them not to plunge into an eternity of torment." 
 It will be instructive to copy here some pages from 
 his letters and diary, in which he wrote down the 
 state of his feelings at this period. 
 
 " We should consider it as a sign for good, my 
 
 dearest S- , when the Lord reveals to us the 
 
 almost desperate corruption of our hearts. For, if 
 he causes us to groan under it, as an insupportable 
 burden, he will, we may hope, in his own time 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 41 
 
 give us deliverance. The pride which I see dwell- 
 ing in my own heart, producing there the most 
 obstinate hardness, I can truly say my soul abhors. 
 I see it to be unreasonable, I feel it to be torment- 
 ing. When I sometimes offer up supplications, 
 with strong crying to God, to bring down my spirit 
 into the dust, I endeavour calmly to contemplate the 
 infinite majesty of the most high God, and my own 
 meanness and wickedness. Or else I quietly tell 
 the Lord, who knows the heart, that I would give 
 him all the glory of every thing, if I could. But the 
 most effectual way I have ever found, is to lead away 
 my thoughts from myself and my own concerns, 
 by praying for all my friends ; for the church, the 
 world, the nation ; and especially by beseeching, 
 that God would glorify his own great name, by 
 converting all nations to the obedience of faith ; 
 also by praying that he would put more abundant 
 honour on those Christians whom he seems to have 
 honoured especially, and whom we see to be mani- 
 festly our superiors. This is at least a positive act 
 of humility, and it is certain that not only will a 
 good principle produce a good act, but the act will 
 increase the principle. But even after doing all 
 this, there will often arise a certain self-complacen 
 cy which has need to be checked; and in conver- 
 sation with Christian friends, we should be careful, 
 I think, how self is introduced. Unless we think 
 
 D2 
 
42 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYIV. 
 
 that good will be done, self should be kept in the 
 back ground, and mortified. We are bound to be 
 servants of all, ministering to their pleasure as far 
 as will be to their profit. We are to * look not at 
 our own things, but at the things of others.' Be 
 
 assured, my dear S that night and day, making 
 
 mention of you in my prayers, I desire of God to 
 give you to see the depth of pride and iniquity in 
 your heart, yet not to be discouraged at the sight 
 of it : that you may perceive yourself deserving to 
 be cast out with abhorrence from God's presence ; 
 and then may walk in continual poverty of spirit, 
 and the simplicity of a little child. Pray, too, that 
 I may know something of humility. Blessed grace ! 
 how it smooths the furrows of care, and gilds the 
 dark paths of life ! It will make us kind, tender- 
 hearted, Affable, and enable us to do more for God 
 and the gospel, than the most fervent zeal without 
 it." 
 
 " Sept. 30/i, 1804. My mind, this morning, 
 easily ascended to God, in peaceful solemnity. 1 
 succeeded in finding access to God, and being alone 
 with him. Could I but enjoy this life of faith more 
 steadily, how much should I < grow in grace,' and 
 be renewed in the spirit of my mind. At such sea- 
 sons of fellowship with the Father, and his Son 
 Jesus Christ, when the world, and self, and eternity, 
 are nearly in their right places, not only are my 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 43 
 
 X'iews of duty clear and comprehensive,, but the 
 proper motives have a more constraining influence.' 
 
 " Oct. 28th. This has been in general a happy 
 day. In the morning, through grace, I was enabled 
 by prayer to maintain a calm recollection of my- 
 self, and what was better, of the presence of my 
 dear Redeemer. From the church I walked to our 
 garden, where I was above an hour, I trust with 
 Christ, speaking to him chiefly of my future life in 
 his service. I determined on entire devotedness, 
 though with trembling ; for the flesh dreads cruci- 
 fixion. But should I fear pain, when Christ was 
 so agonized for me ? No, come what will, I am 
 determined, through God, to be a fellow worker 
 with Christ. I recollected with comfort, that I was 
 speaking to the great Creator, who can make such 
 a poor weak worm as myself ' more than conqueror.' 
 At church I found by the attention of the people, 
 that the fervour of my spirit yesterday had been 
 conveyed into my sermon. I came to my room, 
 rejoicing to be alone again, and to hold communion 
 with God." 
 
 " Dec. 9th. This has been in general a sweet 
 and blessed day, a foretaste of my eternal sabbath. 
 Preached on the third commandment : in the after- 
 noon on the tenth. Rode back to Cambridge, feeling 
 quite willing to go any where, or to suffer any 
 thing for God. Preached in Trinity church, on 
 
44 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 Ezek. xxxiii. 11. 'Say unto them, As I live 
 saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death 
 of the wicked : but that the wicked turn from his 
 way and live : turn ye, turn ye from your evil 
 ways ; for why will ye die, O house of Israel ?' It 
 xvas pleasant to me to think of being alone again 
 with God." 
 
 66 Jan. 1, 1805. Hitherto hath the Lord helped 
 me. It is now about five years since God stopped 
 me in the career of worldliness, and turned me from 
 the paths of sin : three years and a half since I 
 turned to the Lord with all my heart : and a little 
 more than two years since he enabled me to devote 
 myself to his service as a missionary. My progress 
 of late has become slower than it had been : yet I 
 can truly say, that in the course of this time, every 
 successive year, every successive week, has been 
 happier than the former. From many dangerous 
 snares hath the Lord preserved me : in spite of all 
 my inward rebellion, he hath carried on his work 
 in my heart ; and in spite of all my unbelieving 
 fears, he hath given me a hope full of immortality ; 
 ' he hath set my foot on a rock, and established 
 my goings, and hath put a new song in my mouth, 
 even praises to my God.' It is the beginning of a 
 critical year to me : yet I feel little apprehension. 
 The same grace and long suffering, the same wis- 
 dom and power, that have brought me so far, will 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 45 
 
 bring me on, though it be through fire , and water, 
 to a goodly heritage. I see no business in life but the 
 work of Christ, neither do I desire any employment 
 to all eternity but his service. I am a sinner saved 
 by grace. Every day's experience convinces me 
 of this truth. My daily sins and constant corrup- 
 tion leave me no hope, but that which is founded 
 on God's mercy in Christ. His spirit, I trust, is 
 imparted, and is renewing my nature ; as I desire 
 much, though I have attained but little. Now to 
 God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, would I 
 solemnly renew my self-dedication, to' be his ser- 
 vant for ever." 
 
 " I could not help reflecting on the almost super- 
 natural fervour and deep devotion whteh came upon 
 me, whilst I declared that I had rightfully no other 
 business each day but to do God's work as a ser- 
 vant, constantly regarding his pleasure." " My 
 thoughts were full of what God would do for his 
 own glory, in the conversion of multitudes to him- 
 self in the latter day. I did not wish to think 
 about myself in any respect, but found it a precious 
 privilege to stand by, a silent admirer of God's 
 doings." 
 
 In March 1805, he completed the time required, 
 before he could be sent out as a minister, and there 
 was nothing more to detain him from proceeding 
 on his mission. " I rejoice to say," (he wrote at 
 
46 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 this time to his sister,) "that I never had so clear 
 a conviction of my call as at present, as fat as it 
 respects the inward impression. Never did I see 
 so much the exceeding excellency, and glory, and 
 sweetness of the work, nor had so much the favour- 
 able testimony of my own conscience, nor perceived 
 so plainly the smile of God. I am constrained to 
 say, what am I, or what is my father's house, 
 that I should be made willing ; what am I, that 1 
 should be so happy, so honoured?" In his Journal, 
 likewise, he expresses himself to the same effect : 
 " I felt more persuaded of my call than ever : there 
 was scarcely the shadow of a doubt left; rejoice. 
 O my soul, thou shalt be the servant of God in 
 this life, and in the next, for all the boundless ages 
 of eternity." 
 
 In April he went to London, where he remained 
 two months, principally employed in learning Hin- 
 doostanee, the language of a large part of India, 
 made up of the Sanscrit, Persian, and Arabic. 
 The entries of his diary during this interval will 
 best exhibit the state of his heart, in anticipation 
 of his employment. 
 
 " April 15th. O may God confirm my feeble 
 resolutions ! What have I to do but to labour, and 
 pray, and fast, and watch, for the salvation of my 
 own soul, and those of the heathen world. Ten 
 thousand times more than ever do I feel devoted to 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTVN. 47 
 
 that precious work. O gladly shall this base blood 
 be shed, every drop of it, if India can be benefited in 
 one of her children ; if but one of those children 
 of God Almighty might be brought home to his 
 duty." 
 
 " April IG'A. How careful should I, and all be, 
 in our ministry, not to break the bruised reed ! Alas ! 
 do 1 think that a schoolboy, a raw academic, should 
 be likely to lead the hearts of men ? what a 
 knowledge of men, and acquaintance with the 
 Scriptures, what communion with God, and study 
 of my own heart, ought to prepare me for the aw- 
 ful work of a messenger from God on the business 
 of the soul !" 
 
 " April 22d. I do not wish for any heaven 
 upon earth besides that of preaching the precious 
 Gospel of Jesus Christ to immortal souls. May 
 these weak desires increase and strengthen with 
 every difficulty." 
 
 " April 27th. My constant unprofitableness 
 seemed to bar my approach to God. But I con- 
 sidered that for all that was past, the blood of 
 Christ would atone ; and that for the future, God 
 would that moment give me grace to perform my 
 duty." 
 
 " May 9th. O my soul, when wilt thou live 
 consistently? When shall I walk steadily with 
 God ? When shall I hold heaven constantly in 
 
48 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 view ? How time glides away, how is death ap 
 preaching, how soon must I give up my account, 
 how are souls perishing, how does their blood 
 call out to us to labour and watch, and pray for 
 them that remain !" 
 
 " June 1. Memory has been at work to unnerve 
 my soul : but reason, and honour, and love to Christ 
 and souls shall prevail. Amen. God help me." 
 
 " June 2. My dear Redeemer is a fountain of 
 life to my soul. With resignation and peace can I 
 look forward to a life of labour and entire seclusion 
 from earthly comforts, while Jesus thus stands near 
 me, changing me into his own image." 
 
 " June 6th. God's interference in supporting 
 me continually, appears to me like a miracle." 
 
 " June 7th. I have not felt such heart-rending 
 
 pain since I parted with L in Cornwall. [The 
 
 'lady to whom he was attached.] But the Lord 
 brought me to consider the folly and wickedness 
 of all this. I could not help saying, Go, Hindoos, 
 go on in your misery, let Satan still reign over 
 you ; for he that was appointed to labour among 
 you, is consulting his ease. No, thought I, earth 
 and hell shall never keep me back from my work. 
 I am cast down, but not destroyed. I began to con- 
 sider why I was so uneasy, ' Cast thy care upon 
 him, for he careth for you.' ' In every thing by 
 prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 49 
 
 requests be made known to God ;' these promises 
 "were sweetly fulfilled, before long, to me." 
 
 " July 4th* Mr. Cecil showed me a letter in 
 Swartz's own hand writing. Its contents were of 
 a very experimental nature, applicable to my case. 
 The life of faith in Jesus is what I want. My soul 
 might almost burst with astonishment at its own 
 wickedness ! but at the same time, trusting to mer- 
 cy, rise and go, and try to make men happy. The 
 Lord go with me ! Let my right hand forget her 
 cunning, if I remember not Jerusalem above my 
 chief joy." 
 
 On the 8th of July 1805, Mr. Martyn proceeded 
 to Portsmouth, from which place he was to sail in a 
 ship of the East India Company, to Calcutta, there 
 to act as chaplain of the Company. His feelings 
 were so painful, that he fainted and fell into a fit 
 at a tavern on the road. He was met by a number 
 of friends at Portsmouth, who had come to bid him 
 a final farewell, for this life ; and he received there 
 a silver compass, sent by his congregation, as a 
 u>ken of remembrance, which he acknowledged in 
 the following letter : 
 
 Portsmouth, July 11, 1805. 
 
 " My dearest Brethren, I write in great haste 
 to thank you most affectionately for the token of 
 your love, which our dear brother and minister 
 E 
 
50 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 has given me from you. O may my God richly 
 recompense you for your great affection ! May he 
 reward your prayers for me, by pouring ten-fold 
 blessings into your own bosoms ! May he bless 
 you with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus ! 
 At the command of God, as I believe, I shall, in a 
 few hours, embark for those regions where your 
 little present may be of use to me, in guiding my 
 way through the trackless desert. I pray that the 
 word of God, which is your compass, may, through 
 the Spirit, direct your path through the wilderness 
 of this world, and bring you in safety to the better 
 country above. I beg your prayers, and assure 
 you of mine. Remember me sometimes at your 
 social meetings, and particularly at that which you 
 hold on the Sabbath morning. Pray not only for 
 'my sinful soul, that I may be kept faithful unto 
 death ; but especially, for the souls of the poor 
 Heathen. Whether I live or die, let Christ be 
 magnified by the ingathering of multitudes to him- 
 self. I have many trials awaiting me, and so have 
 you ; but that covenant of grace in which we are 
 interested, provides for the weakest, and secures 
 our everlasting welfare. Farewell, dear Brethren ! 
 May God long continue to you the invaluable la- 
 bours of your beloved minister ; and may you, with 
 the blessing of his ministry, grow, day by day, in 
 all spirituality and humility of mind ; till God, in 
 
LIFE OF HEN 7 RY MARTYN. 51 
 
 nis mercy, shall call you, each in his own time, to 
 the eternal enjoyment of his glory." 
 
 On the 17th July the ship sailed, in company with 
 a fleet, taking an army to India. " It was a very 
 painful moment," he wrote to one of his friends, 
 " when I awoke, on the morning after you left us, 
 and found the fleet actually sailing down the chan- 
 nel. Though it was what I had anxiously been 
 looking forward to so long, yet the consideration 
 of being parted for ever from my friends, almost 
 x vercame me. My feelings were those of a man 
 who should suddenly be told, that every friend he 
 had in the world was dead. It was only by prayer 
 for them that I could be comforted ; and this was 
 indeed a refreshment to my soul, because by meet- 
 ing them at the throne of grace, I seemed to be 
 again in their society." 
 
 The vessel, however, unexpectedly stopped in 
 two days, at Falmouth, an English port, in sight of 
 Cornwall. It was a renewal of the pain of separa- 
 tion to be thus brought again, for a short time, upon 
 the shores which he had supposed he had left for 
 >ver. He appears, from his Journal, to have suf- 
 :'ered great struggles with his earthly affections : 
 but he was supported by Him who never leaves 
 his disciples to contend alone with the trials of 
 their faith. 
 
 " July 29th. I was much engaged, at intervals, 
 
52 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 in learning the hymn, ' The God of Abraham 
 praise ;' as often as I could use the language of it 
 with any truth, my heart was a little at ease. 
 
 1 The God of Abraham praise, 
 
 At whose supreme command 
 From earth I rise, and seek the joys 
 
 At his right hand. 
 
 * I all on earth forsake, 
 
 Its wisdom, fame, and power; 
 And him my only portion make, 
 
 IVJy shield and tower.' 
 
 " There was something peculiarly solemn and 
 affecting to me in this hymn, and particularly at 
 this time. The truth of the sentiments I knew 
 well enough. But alas ! I felt that the state of 
 mind expressed in it was above mine at the time ; 
 and I felt loth to forsake all on earth." 
 
 " I went on board in extreme anguish, and found 
 an opportunity in the sloop by which I passed to 
 the ship, to cry, with brokunness of spirit, to the 
 Lord. The words, ' Why sayest thou, Jacob, 
 and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the 
 Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my 
 God?' were brought to my mind with such force, 
 that I burst into a flood of tears, and felt much re- 
 lieved in my soul, by the thought that God was 
 thus compassionate, and the blessed Lord Jesus a 
 merciful and compassionate High Priest, who con- 
 descended to sympathize with me. In the afternoon, 
 it pleased God to give me a holy and blessed sea- 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 53 
 
 son in prayer, in which my soul recovered much 
 of its wonted peace." 
 
 Orders for the sailing of the fleet with which his 
 ship was connected, were given on the 10th of Au- 
 gust, whilst Martyn was twenty miles in the coun- 
 try. An express was sent after him ; but had not 
 an accident happened to the ship in clearing from 
 the harbour, he would have been too late. On the 
 14th, the fleet anchored again for two weeks, at 
 Cork, in Ireland. He had suffered much from 
 despondence and weakness of health, and speaks in 
 his Journal of the trials of his lot as being far greater 
 than he had expected. But he was blessed also 
 with spiritual consolation, -in proportion as he plac- 
 ed his confidence on Him who called him to the 
 service. On one occasion he says, 
 
 " After a long and blessed season in prayer, I felt 
 the spirit of adoption drawing me very near to God, 
 and giving me the full assurance of his love. My 
 fervent prayer was, that I might be more deeply 
 and habitually convinced of his unchanging ever- 
 lasting love, and that my whole soul might be alto- 
 gether in Christ. I scarcely knew how to express 
 the desires of my heart. I wanted to be all in 
 Christ, and to have Christ for my ' all in all ;' 1& 
 be encircled in his ^everlasting arms, and to be 
 swallowed up altogether in his fulness. * I wished 
 for no created good, nor for men to know my ex 
 
54 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 perience : but to be one with thee, and live for 
 thee, God, my Saviour and Lord. may it be 
 my constant care to live free from the spirit of bon- 
 dage, ut all times having access to the Father. This 
 I feel should be the state of the Christian : perfect 
 reconciliation with God, and a perfect appropriation 
 of him in all his endearing attributes, according to 
 all that he has promised : it is this that shall bear 
 me safely through the storm." 
 
 And some weeks afterwards : 
 
 " Sept. 23. We are just to the south of all Eu- 
 rope, and I bid adieu to it for ever, without *a wish 
 of ever revisiting it, and still less with any desire 
 of taking up my rest in the strange land to which 
 I am going. Ah ! no, farewell, perishing world ! 
 4 To me, to live shall be Christ.' I have nothing 
 to' do here, but to labour as a stranger, and by secret 
 prayer and outward exertion, do as much as possi- 
 ble for the church of Christ and my own soul, till 
 my eyes close in death, and my soul wings its way 
 to a brighter world. Strengthen me, O God my Sa- 
 viour ! that, whether living or dying, I may be thine." 
 
 He preached once every Sunday on board the 
 ship, the captain not permitting it more frequently. 
 To make up for this loss, he almost daily read re- 
 ligious books, with remarks of his own, to as many 
 as would assemble to hear him ; but he could gain 
 the serious attention of very few. 
 
LIFE OF HENfcY MARTYN. 55 
 
 " Sept. 1 Oth. Endeavoured to consider what 
 should be my study and preparation for the mis- 
 sion ; but could devise no particular plan, but to 
 search the Scriptures, what are God's promises 
 respecting the spread of the gospel, and of the 
 means by which it shall be accomplished. Long 
 seasons of prayer in behalf of the heathen, I am 
 sure, are necessary ; Isaiah Ixii. I began Isaiah, 
 and learnt by heart the promises scattered through 
 the first twelve chapters, hoping it may prove pro- 
 fitable matter for meditation as well as prayer. 
 Read the Pilgrim's Progress, below, amidst the 
 greatest noise and interruption. Notwithstanding 
 the clamour, I felt as if I could preach to a million 
 of noisy persons with unconquerable boldness. We 
 have been becalmed the whole day. I fear my soul 
 has been much in the same state : but I would not 
 that it should be so any longer." 
 
 "Sept. 15^. -Sunday. 'He that testifieth these 
 things, saith, behold I come quickly Amen 
 even so come quickly, Lord Jesus !' Happy 
 John ! though shut out from society and the ordi- 
 nances of grace : happy wast thou in thy solitude, 
 when by it thou wast induced thus gladly to wel- 
 come the Lord's words, and repeat them with a 
 prayer. Read and preached on Acts xiii. 38, 39 
 In the latter part, when I was led to speak, without 
 preparation, on the all-sufficiency of Christ to save 
 
56 LIFE OF HlfsRY MARTYX. 
 
 sinners, who come to him with all their sins with- 
 out delay, I was enabled by divine aid, to speak 
 with freedom and energy : my soul was refreshed, 
 and I retired, seeing reason to be thankful. The 
 weather was fair and, calm, inviting the mind to 
 tranquillity and praise : the ship just moved upon 
 the face of the troubled ocean. I went below in 
 hopes of reading Baxter's Call to the Unconverted : 
 but {here was no getting down, as they were taking 
 out water : so I sat with the seamen on the gun- 
 deck. As I walked in the evening at sunset, I 
 thought with pleasure, but a few more suns, and I 
 shall be where my sun shall no more go down." 
 
 " Sept. 16th. Two things were much in my 
 mind this morning in prayer ; the necessity of en- 
 tering more deeply into my own heart, and labour- 
 ing after humiliation, and, for that reason, setting 
 apart times for fasting : as also to devote times for 
 solemn prayer for fitness in the ministry ; especial- 
 ly love for souls ; and for the effusion of the Spirit 
 on heathen lands ; according to God's command." 
 
 The study of the Hindoostanee language was part 
 of his employment during the voyage. He also 
 instructed some of the young soldiers in mathe- 
 matics, and read French with a passenger. As they 
 entered the warm latitudes, he found his strength 
 diminishing very fast, and he began to fear he could 
 never be useful, as a preacher, in India. "But 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 57 
 
 what means this anxiety?" he said ; " Is it not of 
 God that I am led into outward difficulties, that my 
 faith may be tried? Suppose," (addressing himself,) 
 " you are obliged to return, or that you never see 
 India, but wither and die here, what is that to you ? 
 Do the will of God where you can, and leave the 
 rest to him." About this time he was much im- 
 pressed with this sentence in Milner's Church His- 
 tory ; "to believe, to suffer, and to love, was the 
 primitive taste ;" and he received great encourage- 
 ment by being thus led to contemplate the examples 
 of those who had been more bold in serving Christ. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE fleet touched at several ports on their way. 
 Some portions of his Journal at St. Salvador, in 
 South America, will give an interesting variety to 
 our pages. 
 
 " I continued my walk in quest of a wood, or 
 some trees where I might sit down ; but all was 
 appropriated : no tree was to be approached except 
 through an enclosure. At last I came to a magnifi- 
 cent porch, before a garden gate, which was open , 
 I walked in, but finding the vista led straight to the 
 house, I turned to the right, and found myself in a 
 
58 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 
 
 grove of cocoa-nut trees, orange trees, and several 
 strange fruit trees ; under them was nothing but 
 rose trees, but no verdure on the ground : oranges 
 were strewed like apples in an orchard. Perceiv- 
 ing that I was observed by the slaves, I came up 
 to the house, and was directed oy them to an old 
 man sitting under a tree, apparently insensible from 
 illness. I spoke to him in French and in English, 
 but he took no notice. Presently a young man 
 and a young lady appeared, to whom I spoke in 
 French, and was very politely desired to sit down 
 at a little table, which was standing under a large 
 space before the house like a veranda. They 
 then brought me oranges, and a small red acid 
 fruit, the name of which I asked, but cannot recol- 
 lect. The young man sat opposite, conversing 
 abotft Cambridge ; he had been educated in a Por- 
 tuguese University. Almost immediately on find- 
 ing I was of Cambridge, he invited me to come 
 when I liked to his house. A slave, after bringing 
 the fruit, was sent to gather three roses for me ; 
 the master then walked with me round the garden, 
 and showed me, among the rest, the coffee-plant : 
 when I left him he repeated his invitation. His 
 name was Antonio Corre." 
 
 " Nov. I4lh. Sennor Antonio received me with 
 the same cordiality : he begged me to dine with 
 him. In the cool of the evening, we walked out 
 
LIFE 01? HENRY BtAHTYN. 59 
 
 to see his pla,ntation ; here every thing possessed 
 the charm of novelty. The grounds included two 
 hills, and a valley between them. The hills were 
 covered with cocoa-nut trees, bananas, mangoes, 
 orange and lemon trees, olives, coffee, chocolate, 
 and cotton plants, &c. In the valley was a large 
 plantation of a shrub or tree, bearing a cluster of 
 small berries, which he desired me to taste ; I did, 
 and found it was pepper. It had lately been in- 
 troduced from Batavia, and answered very well. 
 It grows on a stem about the thickness of a finger, 
 to the height of about seven feet, and is supported 
 by a stick, which, at that height, has another across 
 for the branches to spread upon. Slaves were 
 walking about the grounds, watering the trees, and 
 turning up the earth : the soil appeared very dry 
 and loose. At night I returned to the ship in 
 one of the country boats, which are canoes made 
 of a tree hollowed out, and paddled by three 
 men." 
 
 "Nov. 18th. Went ashore at six o'clock, and 
 found that Sennor Antonio had been waiting for me 
 two hours. It being too late to go into the country, 
 I staid at his house till dinner. He kept me too 
 much in his company, but 1 found intervals for re- 
 tirement. In a cool and shady part of the gar- 
 den, near some water, I sat and sang ' O'er the 
 gloomy hills of darkness.' I could read and pray 
 
60 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 aloud, as there was no fear of any one understand 
 ing me. 
 
 " A slave, in my bed-room, washed my feet. 1 
 was struck with the degree of abasement expressed 
 in the act,, and as he held the foot in the towel, 
 with his head bowed down towards it, I remember- 
 ed the condescension of the blessed Lord. May I 
 have grace to follow such humility !" 
 
 " Nov. 19//Z. Early after breakfast went in a 
 palanquin to Sennor Dominigo's, and from thence 
 with him two or three miles into the country : at 
 intervals I got out and walked. I was gratified 
 with the sight of what I wanted to see ; namely, 
 some part of the country in its original state, cov- 
 ered with wood ; it was hilly, but not mountainous 
 The luxuriance was so rank, that the whole space, 
 even to the tops of the trees, was rilled with long 
 stringy shrubs and weeds, so as to make them im- 
 pervious and opaque. The road was made by cut- 
 ting away the earth on the side of the hill, so that 
 there were woods above and below us. The object 
 of our walk was to see a pepper plantation, made 
 in a valley,- on a perfect level. The symmetry of 
 the trees was what charmed my Portuguese friend ; 
 but to me, who was seeking the wild features of 
 America, it was just what I did not want. The 
 person who showed us the grounds, was one that 
 had been a major in the Portuguese army, and had 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 61 
 
 retired on a pension. The border consisted of 
 pine apples, planted between each tree ; the inte* 
 rior was set with lemon trees, here and there, be- 
 tween the pepper plants. We were shown the root 
 of the mandioc, called by us tapioca ; it was like a 
 large horse radish ; the mill for grinding it was 
 extremely simple ; a horizontal wheel, turned by 
 horses, put in motion a vertical one, on the circum- 
 ference of which was a thin brazen plate, furnish- 
 ed on the inside like a nutmeg grater ; a slave held 
 the root to the wheel, which grated it away, and 
 threw it in the form of a moist paste, into a recep- 
 tacle below : it is then dried in pans, and used as 
 a farina with meat. At Sennor Antonio's, a plate 
 of tapioca was attached to each of our plates. Some 
 of the pepper was nearly ripe, and of a reddish ap- 
 pearance ; when gathered, which it is in April, it 
 is dried in the sun." 
 
 " Nov. 23. In the afternoon took leave of my 
 kind friends Sennor and Sennor a Corre. They and 
 the rest came out to the garden gate, and continued 
 looking, till the winding of the road hid me from 
 their sight. The poor slave Raymond, who had 
 attended me and carried my things, burst into a 
 flood of tears, as we left the door ; and when I 
 parted from him, he was going to kiss my feet ; 
 but I shook hands with him, much affected by such 
 extraordinary kindness, in people to whom I had 
 F 
 
62 me OF HENRY 
 
 been a total stranger, till within a few days* 
 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his 
 mercies ?" 
 
 It had lately been announced to the army which 
 was carried in the fleet, that they were to be led to 
 attack the cape of Good Hope, then held by the 
 Dutch. This intelligence, which had been kept 
 secret, until they were approaching the cape, ex- 
 cited Mr, Martyn to be more active in the service 
 of these men, who were soon to be exposed to the 
 dangers of warfare, and many of whom would, pro* 
 bably, be sent to eternity. He observed a day of 
 fasting and prayer in their behalf, addressed them 
 from the scriptures whenever he had opportunity, 
 and several were induced to kneel publicly in 
 prayer with him, notwithstanding the ridicule and 
 carelessness of the greater part of the crew and 
 soldiers. During a season of great sickness on 
 board his ship, at which time the captain died, he 
 was very useful in attending to the wants of the 
 sick, and leading their minds to consider the neces- 
 sity of preparation for eternity. On the last Sunday 
 of this year he preached a sermon, adapted to their 
 circumstances, from 2 Pet, iii, 11. "Seeing then 
 that all these things shall be dissolved, what man- 
 ner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversa- 
 tion and godliness :" in which he endeavoured to 
 impress his hearers with a sense of the importance 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 63 
 
 of religion, reminding them of the ways by which 
 Providence had been calling them to reflection, by 
 the prevalence of disease, the death of their captain, 
 the dangers of the voyage, and the prospect of being 
 engaged in battle. His own mind enjoyed great 
 peace at this time, as is evident from his diary. 
 
 " Separated from my friends and country for 
 ever, there is nothing to distract me from hearing 
 4 the voice of my beloved,' and coming away from 
 this world, -and walking with him in love, amidst 
 the flowers that perfume the air of paradise, and 
 the harmony of the happy, happy saints who are 
 singing his praise. Thus hath the Lord brought 
 me to the conclusion of the year ; and though I have 
 broken his statutes, and not kept his command- 
 ments, yet he hath not utterly taken away his 
 loving kindness, nor suffered his truth to fail. I 
 thought, at the beginning of the year, that I should 
 have been in India at this time, if I should have 
 escaped all the dangers of the climate. These 
 dangers are yet to come ; but I cm leave all cheer- 
 fully to God. If I am weary of any thing, it is of 
 my life of sinfulness. I want a life of more devo- 
 tion and holiness ; and yet am so vain, as to be ex- 
 pecting the end without the means. I am fat 
 from regretting that I ever came on this delightful 
 work ; were I to choose for myself, I could scarce- 
 ly find a situation more agreeable to my taste. On, 
 
64 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 therefore, let me go, and persevere steadily in this 
 blessed undertaking : through the grace of God, 
 dying daily to the opinions of men, and aiming, 
 with a more single eye, at the glory of the ever- 
 lasting God." 
 
 On the third of January 1806, the fleet anchored 
 it the cape, and the army was landed, and led to 
 he attack, which commenced early the next morn- 
 ng. As soon as the battle was over, Mr. Martyn 
 went on shore, in hopes of being useful to the suf 
 "erers. His own account of the scene, in a letter 
 to a friend in England, gives a terrible picture of a 
 field of battle. 
 
 " I embraced the opportunity of getting to the 
 wounded men, soon after my landing. A party of 
 the company's troops were ordered to repair to the 
 field of battle, to bring away the wounded, under 
 
 the command of Major , whom I knew. By 
 
 his permission,. I attached myself to them, and 
 inarched six miles over a soft burning sand, till we 
 reached the fatal spot. We found several but 
 slightly hurt ; and these we left for a while, after 
 seeing their wounds dressed by a surgeon. A lit- 
 tle onward were three mortally wounded. One of 
 them, on being asked where he was struck, opened 
 his shirt and showed a wound in his left breast. 
 The blood which he was spitting, showed that he 
 had been shot through the lungs. As I spread my 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 65 
 
 great coat over him, by the surgeon's desire, who 
 passed on without attempting to save him, I spoke 
 of the blessed gospel, and besought him to look to 
 Jesus Christ for salvation. He was surprised, but 
 could not speak ; and I was obliged to leave him, 
 in order to reach the troops, from whom the of- 
 ficers, out of regard to my safety, would not allow 
 me to be separated. Among several others, some 
 
 wounded, and some dead, was Captain ; who 
 
 was shot by a rifleman. We all stopped for a 
 while, to gaze, in pensive silence, on his pale body, 
 and then passed on, to witness more proofs of the 
 sin and misery of fallen man. Descending into 
 the plain, where the main body of each army had 
 met, I saw some of the fifty-ninth, one of whom, a 
 corporal, who sometimes had sung with us, told 
 me that none of the fifty-ninth were killed, and 
 none of the officers wounded. Some farm-houses, 
 which had been in the rear of the enemy's army, 
 had been converted into an hospital for the wound- 
 ed, whom they were bringing from all quarters. 
 The surgeon told me that there were already in the 
 houses two hundred, some of whom were Dutch. 
 A more ghastly spectacle than that which present- 
 ed itself here, I could not have conceived. They 
 were ranged without and within the house, in rows, 
 covered with gore. Indeed, it was the blood, which 
 they had not had time to wash off, that made their 
 
 F2 
 
66 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 
 
 appearance more dreadful than the reality : for few 
 of their wounds were mortal. The confusion was 
 very great : and sentries and officers were so strict 
 in their duty, that I had no fit opportunity of speak- 
 ing to any of them, except a Dutch captain, with 
 whom I conversed in French. After this, I walked 
 out again with the surgeon to the field, and saw 
 several of the enemy's wounded. A Hottentot, 
 who had had his thigh broken by a ball, was lying 
 in extreme agony, biting the dust, and uttering hor- 
 rid imprecations upon the Dutch. I told him that 
 he ought to pray for his enemies ; and after telling 
 the poor wretched man of the gospel, I begged him 
 to pray to Jesus Christ. But our conversation was 
 soon interrupted ; for, in the absence of the sur- 
 geon, who was gone back for his instruments, a 
 highland soldier came up, and challenged me with 
 the words, 'Who are you?' 'An Englishman/ 
 ' No,' said he, ' you are French,' and began to pre 
 sent his piece. As I saw that he was rather in 
 toxicated, and did not know but that he might ac- 
 tually fire, out of mere wantonness, I sprang up 
 towards him, and told him, that if he doubted my 
 word, he might take me as his prisoner to the 
 English camp, but that I certainly was an Eng- 
 lish clergyman. This pacified him, and he behaved 
 with great respect. The surgeon, on examining 
 the wound, said the man must die, and so left him. 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 67 
 
 At length, I found an opportunity of returning, as 
 I much wished, in order to recover from distraction 
 of mind, and to give free scope to reflection. I lay 
 down on the border of a clump of shrubs or bushes, 
 with the field of battle in view, and there lifted up 
 my soul to God. Mournful as the scene was, I 
 yet thanked God that he had brought me to see a 
 specimen, though a terrible one, of what men by 
 nature are. May the remembrance of this clay ever 
 excite me to pray and labour more for the propa- 
 gation of the gospel of peace. Then shall men love 
 one another : nation shall not lift up sword against 
 nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 
 The blue mountains, to the eastward, which form- 
 ed the boundary of the prospect, were a cheering 
 contrast to what was immediately before me ; for 
 there I conceived my beloved and honoured fellow 
 servants,* companions in the kingdom and patience 
 of Jesus Christ, to be passing the days of their 
 pilgrimage, far from the world, imparting the truths 
 of the precious gospel to benighted souls. May I 
 receive grace to be a follower of their faith and pa- 
 tience ; and do you pray, my brother, as I know 
 that you do, that I may have a heart more warm, 
 and a zeal more ardent in this glorious cause." 
 
 * The Moravian missionaries at Gromekloof and Gnadenthal, 
 and those belonging to the London Missionary Society at 
 Bethelsdorp. 
 
68 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 On the tenth, the fort and town were taken from 
 the Dutch. Whilst the fleet was delayed, Martyn 
 visited Dr. Vanderkemp, and the other missionaries 
 at the cape, and his meeting with them was a 
 source of great joy. 
 
 " From the first moment I arrived, I had been 
 anxiously inquiring about Dr. Vanderkemp. I 
 heard at last, to my no small delight, that he was 
 now in Cape Town. But it was long before I 
 could find him. At length I did. He was standing 
 outside of the house, silently looking up at the 
 stars. A great number of black people were sitting 
 around. On my introducing myself, he led me in, 
 and called for Mr. Read. I was beyond measure 
 delighted at the happiness of seeing him too. The 
 circumstance of meeting with these beloved and 
 highly honoured brethren, so filled me with joy 
 and gratitude for the goodness of God's providence, 
 that I hardly knew what to do." 
 
 "January 14th. Continued walking with Mr. 
 Read till late. He gave me a variety of curious 
 information respecting the mission. He told me 
 of his marvellous success amongst the heathen ; 
 how he had heard them amongst the bushes pouring 
 out their hearts to God. At all this my ' soul did 
 magnify the Lord, and my spirit rejoiced in God 
 my Saviour.' Now that I am in a land where the 
 Spirit of God appears, as in the ancient clays, as 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 69 
 
 in ihe generation of old, let a double portion of that 
 Spirit rest upon this unworthy head, that I may go 
 forth to my work rejoicing like a strong man, to 
 run my race.' ' 
 
 " January 20th. Walking home, I asked Dr. 
 Yanderkemp if he had ever repented of his under- 
 taking, No, said the old man, smiling, and I 
 would not exchange my work for a kingdom. 
 Read told me some of his trials ; he has often been 
 so reduced, for want of clothes, as scarcely to have 
 any to cover him. The reasonings of his mind 
 were, I am here, Lord, in thy service ; why am 
 I left in this state ? It seemed to be suggested to 
 him, If thou wilt be my servant, be contented to 
 fare in this way ; if not, go, and fare better. His 
 mind was thus satisfied to remain God's mission- 
 ary, with all its concomitant hardships. At night, 
 my sinful soul .enjoyed a most reviving season in 
 prayer ; I rejoiced greatly in the Lord, and pl6ad- 
 ed with fervour for the interests of his church." 
 
 " January Wth. Rose at five, and began to as- 
 cend Table mountain at six, with S and 
 
 M ; I went on chiefly alone. I thought of 
 
 the Christian life, what uphill work it is, and 
 yet there are streams flowing down from the top, 
 just as there was water coming down by the Kloof, 
 by which we ascended. Towards the top it was 
 very steep, but the hope of being soon at the sum- 
 
70 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 mit, encouraged me to ascend very lightly. As the 
 kloof opened, a beautiful flame-coloured flower ap- 
 peared in a little green hollow, waving in the 
 breeze. It seemed to be an emblem of the beauty 
 and peacefulness of heaven, as it shall open upon 
 the weary soul, when its journey is finished, and 
 the struggles of the death-bed are over. We walk- 
 ed up and down the whole length, which might be 
 between two and three miles, and one might be 
 said to look round the world from this promontory. 
 I felt a solemn awe at the grand prospect, from 
 which there was neither noise nor small objects to 
 draw off my attention. I reflected, especially when 
 looking at the immense expanse of sea on the east, 
 which was to carry me to India, on the certainty 
 that the name of Christ should, at some period, re- 
 sound from shore to shore. I felt commanded to 
 wait in silence, and see how God would bring his 
 promises to pass. We began to descend at half 
 past two. Whilst sitting to rest myself, towards 
 night, I began to reflect, with death-like despon- 
 dency, on my friendless condition. Not that I 
 wanted any of the comforts of life, but I wanted 
 those kind friends who loved me, and in whose 
 company I used to find so much delight after my 
 fatigues. And then, remembering that I should 
 never see them more, I felt one of those keen 
 pangs of misery, that occasionally shoot across my 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 71 
 
 breast. It seemed like a dream, that I had actually 
 undergone banishment from them for life ; or rath- 
 er like a dream, that I had ever hoped to share 
 the enjoyments of social life. But, at this time, I 
 solemnly renewed my self-dedication to God, pray- 
 ing that I might receive grace to spend my days 
 for his service, in continued suffering, and separa- 
 tion from all I held most dear in this life : Amen 
 How vain and transitory are those pleasures which 
 the worldliness of my heart will ever be magnifying 
 into real good ! The rest of the evening, I felt 
 \veaned from the world and all its concerns, with 
 somewhat of a melancholy tranquillity." 
 
 " January 31. From great fatigue of body, was 
 in doubt about going to the hospital, and very un- 
 willing to go. However, I went, and preached 
 with more freedom than ever I had done there. 
 
 Having some conversation with Colonel H , I 
 
 asked him whether, if the wound he had received 
 in the late engagement had been mortal, his pro- 
 faneness would have recurred with any pleasure to 
 his mind on a death-bed. He made some attempts 
 at palliation, though in great confusion ; but bore 
 the admonition very patiently." 
 
 " February 5th. Rose early ; walked out, dis- 
 couraged at the small progress I make in the eastern 
 \anguages. My state of bodily and mental indo- 
 icnce was becoming so alarming, that I struggled 
 
72 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 hard against both, crying to God for strength. Not- 
 withstanding the reluctance in my own heart, I 
 went to the hospital, and preached on Matt. xi. 28 ; 
 from this time I enjoyed peace and happiness. 
 Dr. Vanderkemp called to take leave. I accom- 
 panied him and brother Smith out of the town, 
 with their two wagons. The dear old man showed 
 much affection, and gave me advice, and a blessing 
 at parting. While we were standing to take leave, 
 Koster, a Dutch missionary, was just entering the 
 town with his bundle, having been driven from his 
 place of residence. Brother Read, also, appeared 
 from another quarter, though we thought he had 
 gone to sea. These, with Yons,* and myself, 
 made six missionaries, who, in a few minutes, all 
 parted again." 
 
 Besides visiting and preaching at the hospital, 
 among the wounded English, he held public ser- 
 vice at the house in which he lodged. In February 
 the fleet again sailed : on the 22d of April anchored 
 before Madras, and in the middle of May, he land- 
 ed at Calcutta. 
 
 * Probably the missionary destined for Madagascar. 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 73 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 MARTYN was much dejected, in contemplating 
 the vast multitude of idolaters amongst whom he 
 was now placed. 
 
 " Every thing presented the appearance of wretch- 
 edness. I thought of my future labours among 
 them with some despondency ; yet I am willing, I 
 trust, through grace, to pass my days among them, 
 if by any means these poor people may be brought 
 to God. - The sight of men, women, and children , 
 all idolaters, makes me shudder, as if in the do- 
 minions of the prince of darkness. I fancy the 
 frown of God is visible ; there is something pe- 
 culiarly awful in the stillness that prevails. Whe- 
 ther it is the relaxing influence of the climate, or 
 what, I do not know ; but there is every thing 
 here to depress the spirits all nature droops." 
 
 Whilst he almost despaired of the possibility of 
 ever accomplishing any good himself, he rejoiced 
 in the promises and prophecies which make it sure, 
 that at some day, the true God shall be worshipped 
 there, and in every other place ; and the gospel of 
 Jesus Christ be proclaimed to 4 every nation under 
 heaven.' He was animated by the thought, that even 
 should he never see a native converted, yet it might 
 be God's design to encourage future missionaries, 
 G 
 
74 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 
 
 by giving them his example of patience and con- 
 tinuance in the work. He took up his residence 
 at Aldeen, near Calcutta, in the house of an English 
 clergyman ; where, after recovering from a dan- 
 gerous attack of fever, he experienced great en- 
 joyment in the company of several Christians, 
 missionaries and others, established in the neigh- 
 bourhood. Strong persuasions were used to induce 
 him to remain in Calcutta, but that city was sup- 
 plied in some measure with the gospel, and it was 
 his intention to devote himself to more remote hea- 
 thens. The celebrated Dr. Buchanan had left 
 Calcutta on a journey to Syria, at the very time 
 of Martyn's arrival, and too soon to know that 
 God had thus answered the prayers which he and 
 his brethren had been for some time addressing to 
 heaven, for the sending of more missionaries to 
 India. 
 
 On the fifteenth of October, Mr. Martyn left 
 Aldeen and Calcutta for Dinapore, a town on the 
 Ganges, more than three hundred miles distant. 
 He went in a boat called a budgerow, with a cabin 
 fitted for travelling; which, as it is moved principal- 
 y by towing with poles, does not go farther than 
 about twenty miles in a day, stopping in the even- 
 ing. He employed his time in studying the eastern 
 languages, in which he was assisted by a native 
 teacher, called a moonshee, who accompanied him. 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 75 
 
 He several times witnessed the idolatrous cere- 
 monies of the people, and made some attempts to 
 convince them of the sinfulness and folly of the 
 devotion they paid to idols of their own carving, 
 and to the river Ganges itself. At several villages 
 on the route he attempted to speak to the people, 
 and distributed tracts. Some parts of his own nar- 
 rative of this tour, will show how he employed 
 himself, and how he was upheld in his purpose 
 amidst all discouragements. 
 
 "Oct. 19th. Sunday. The first solitary Sab- 
 bath spent among the heathen : but my soul not 
 forsaken of God. The prayers of my dear friends 
 were instant for me this day, I well perceive : and 
 a great part of my prayer was occupied in delight- 
 ful intercession for them. The account of the fall 
 of man, in the third chapter of Genesis, and of his 
 restoration by Christ, was unspeakably affecting to 
 my soul. Indeed, every thing I read seemed to 
 be carried home to my soul with ineffable sweet- 
 ness and power by the Spirit ; and all that was 
 within me blessed His holy name. In the after- 
 noon, sent to the moonshee, that he might hear the 
 gospel read, or read it himself. Began St. Mark ; 
 but our conversation turning from Christian- 
 ity to Mohammedism, became deadening to my 
 spirit. Our course to-day was along the eastern 
 bank, which seems to have been lately the bed of 
 
76 XJFE OF HENRY MARTY X. 
 
 the river, and is bare of trees for a considerable 
 distance from the water. The western bank is 
 covered with wood. In my evening walk saw three 
 skeletons." 
 
 " Oct. 20th. Employed all the day in translat- 
 ing the first chapter of the Acts into Hindoostanee. 
 I did it with some care, and wrote it all out in the 
 Persian character ; yet still I am surprised I do so 
 little. I walked into the village where the boat 
 stopped for the night, and found the worshippers 
 of Call by the sound of their drums and cymbals. 
 I did not think of speaking to them, on account of 
 their being Bengalees. But, being invited by the 
 Brahmins* to walk in, I entered within the railing, 
 and asked a few questions about the idol. The 
 Brahmin, who spoke bad Hindoostanee, disputed 
 with great heat, and his tongue ran faster than I 
 could follow ; and the people, who were about one 
 hundred, shouted applause. But I continued to 
 ask my questions, without making any remarks 
 upon the answers. I asked, among other things, 
 whether what I had heard of Vishnu and Brahma 
 was true ; which he confessed. I forbore to press 
 him with the consequences, which he seemed to 
 feel ; and then I told him what was my belief. 
 The man grew quite mild, and said it was chula 
 bat (good words ;) and asked me seriously, at last, 
 * Hindoo priests. 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 77 
 
 what I thought * was idol worship true or false ?' 
 I felt it a matter of thankfulness that I could make 
 known the truth of God, though but a stammerer ; 
 and that I had declared it in the presence of the 
 devil. And this also I learnt, that the power of 
 gentleness is irresistible. I never was more aston- 
 ished than at the change in deportment of this hot- 
 headed Brahmin." 
 
 " Oct. 21. Afternoon, with my moonshee, cor- 
 recting Acts i., and felt a little discouraged at finding 
 I still wrote so incorrectly, though much pleased 
 at this great apparent desire of having it perfectly 
 accurate. Though not joyful in my spirit, as when 
 my friends left me, I feel my God to be an all- 
 satisfying portion, and find no want of friends. 
 Read Genesis and Luke ; at night in the Septu- 
 agint and Hindoostanee." 
 
 " Oct. 22. A Brahmin of my own age was per- 
 forming his devotions to the Ganges early this 
 morning, when I was going to prayer. My soul 
 was struck with the sovereignty of God, who, out 
 of pure grace, had made such a difference in all 
 the external circumstances of our lives. O let not 
 that man's earnestness rise up in judgment against 
 me at the last day ! In the afternoon, they were 
 performing the ceremony of throwing the images 
 of Cali, collected from several villages, into the 
 river. In addition to the usual music, there were 
 
78 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 trumpets. The objects of worship, which were 
 figures most gorgeously bedecked with tinsel, were 
 kept under a little awning in their respective boats. 
 As the budgerow passed through the boats, they 
 turned, so as to present the front of their goddess 
 to me ; and at the same time, blew a blast with 
 their trumpet, evidently intending to gratify me 
 with a sight of what appeared to them so fine. Had 
 their employment been less impious, I should have 
 returned the compliment by looking ; but I turned 
 away." 
 
 " Came-to on the eastern bank, below a village 
 called Ahgadeep. Wherever I walked, the women 
 fled at the sight of me. Some men were sitting 
 under the shed dedicated to their goddess ; and a 
 lamp was burning in her place. A conversation 
 soon began ; but there was no one who could 
 speak Hindoostanee ; so all I could say was by the 
 medium of my mussulman interpreter. They said 
 that they only did as others did ; and that, if they 
 were wrong, then all Bengal was wrong. I felt 
 love for their souls, and longed for utterance to de- 
 clare unto these poor simple people, the holy gos- 
 pel. I think that when my mouth is opened, T 
 shall preach to them day and night. I feel that 
 they are my brethren in the flesh ; precisely on a 
 level with myself." 
 
 " Oct. 25th. Had a very solemn season of 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 79 
 
 prayer, by the favour of God, over some of the 
 chapters of Genesis ; but especially at the conclu- 
 sion of the 119th Psalm. O that these holy reso- 
 lutions and pious breathings were entirely my own ! 
 Adored be the never-failing mercy of God ! He 
 has made my happiness to depend, not on the un- 
 certain connexions of this life, but upon his own 
 most blessed self, a portion that never faileth. 
 Came -to on the eastern bank. The opposite side 
 was very romantic ; adorned with a stately range 
 of very high forest trees, whose deep dark shade 
 seemed impenetrable to the light. In my evening 
 walk enjoyed great solemnity of feeling, in the 
 view of the world as a mere wilderness, through 
 which the children of God are passing to a better 
 country. It was a comforting and a solemn thought, 
 and was unspeakably interesting to me at the time, 
 that God knew whereabouts his people were in 
 the wilderness, arid was supplying them with just 
 what they wanted." 
 
 " Oct. 26th. Sunday. Passed this Lord's day 
 with great comfort, and much solemnity of soul. 
 Glory to God for his grace ! Reading the scrip- 
 tures and prayer took up the first part of the day. 
 Almost every chapter I read was blest to my soul ; 
 particularly the last chapter of Isaiah : ; It shall 
 come, that I will gather all nations and tongues ; 
 and they shall come, and see my glory,' &c. Re- 
 
80 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 joice, my soul, in the sure promises of Jehovah, 
 How happy am I, when, in preparing for the work 
 of declaring his glory among the Gentiles, I think, 
 that many of the Lord's saints have been this day 
 remembering their unworthy friend. I felt as if I 
 could never be tired with prayer. In the afternoon, 
 read one of Gilbert's French Sermons ; Bates on 
 Death ; and some of the Nagree Gospels. In the 
 evening, we came-to on the eastern bank. I walk- 
 ed into a neighbouring village, with some tracts. 
 The children ran away in great terror ; and though 
 there were some men here and there, I found no 
 opportunity or encouragement to try if there were 
 any that could speak Hindoostanee : however, I 
 felt vexed with myself for not taking more pains to 
 do them good. Alas ! while Satan is destroying 
 their souls, does it become the servants of God to 
 be lukewarm ?" 
 
 " Oct. 27th. Arrived at Berhampore. In the 
 evening, walked out to see the cantonments at the 
 hospital, in which there were one hundred and fifty 
 European soldiers sick. I was talking to a man, 
 said to be dying, when a surgeon entered. I went 
 up, and made some apology for entering the hos- 
 pital. It was my old school-fellow and townsman, 
 
 . The remainder of the evening he spent 
 
 with me in my budgerow. He pressed me much 
 to stay longer with him, which I refused ; but af 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 81 
 
 ter wards, on reflection, I thought it my duty to stay 
 a little longer ; thinking I might have an opportu- 
 nity of preaching to the soldiers." 
 
 " Oct. 28th. Rose very early, and was at the 
 hospital at day-light. Waited there a long time, 
 wandering up and down the wards, in hopes of in- 
 ducing the men to get up and assemble ; but it was 
 in vain. I left three books with them, and went 
 away amidst the sneers and titters of the common 
 soldiers. Certainly it is one of the greatest crosses 
 I am called to bear, to take pains to make people 
 hear me. It is such a struggle between a sense 
 of propriety and modesty, on the one hand, and a 
 sense of duty, on the other, that I find nothing 
 equal to it. I could force my way any where, 
 in order to introduce a brother minister: but for 
 
 myself, I act with hesitation and pain. Mr. 
 
 promised to ask the head surgeon's permission for 
 me to preach, and appointed the hour at which I 
 should come. I went there : but after waiting two 
 hours, was told that the surgeon was gone without 
 being spoken to, and many other excuses \vere 
 made. So, as it was now the heat of the day, I 
 saw it was of no use to make any more attempts ; 
 and therefore I went on my way." 
 
 " Nov. 2. Sunday. My mind was greatly op- 
 pressed, that I had done, and was doing nothing in 
 the way of distributing tracts. To free my con- 
 
82 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 science from the charge of unprofitableness and 
 neglect, I wished to go ashore in the middle of the 
 day, wherever I thought I might meet people ; but 
 did not land till we came -to, on the banks of the 
 Ganges, which we entered just before sunset. 
 Walking on shore, I met with a very large party ; 
 and entering into conversation, I asked if any of 
 them could read. One young man, who seemed 
 superior in rank to the rest, said he could, and 
 accordingly read some of the only N agree tract 
 that I had. I then addressed myself boldly to 
 them, and told them of the gospel. When speak- 
 ing of the inefficacy of the religious practices of 
 the Hindoos, I mentioned as an example, the re- 
 petition of the name of Ram. The young man 
 assented to this ; and said ' of what use is it !' 
 As he seemed to be of a pensive turn, and said 
 this with marks of disgust, I gave him a Nagree 
 Testament ; the first I have given. May God's 
 blessing go along with it, and cause the eyes of 
 multitudes to be opened ! The men said they 
 should be glad to receive tracts ; so I sent them 
 back a considerable number by the young man. 
 The idea of printing the Parables, in proper order, 
 with a short explanation subjoined to each, for the 
 purpose of distribution, and as school-books, sug- 
 gested itself to me to-night, and delighted me pro- 
 digiously." 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYtf. 83 
 
 " Nov. 8th. Early this morning reached Raje- 
 mahl, and walked to view the remains of its ancient 
 splendour. Gave a tract or two to a Brahmin ; but 
 the Dak moonshee, a Mussulman, when he receiv- 
 ed one of the Hindoostanee tracts, and found what 
 it was, was greatly alarmed : and after many awk- 
 ward apologies, returned it, saying that < a man who 
 had his legs in two different boats, was in danger 
 of sinking between them.' Went on, much dis- 
 couraged at the suspicion and rebuffs I met with, 
 or rather pained / for I feel not the less determined 
 to use every effort to give the people the gospel. 
 Oh ! that the Lord would pour out upon them a 
 spirit of deep concern for their souls ! In a walk, 
 at Rajemahl, met some of the hill people. Wrote 
 down from their mouth some of the names of things. 
 From their appearance, they seemed connected with 
 the Hottentots and Chinese. Passed the day in 
 correcting Acts, chapter iii. with the moonshee. 
 At night walked with Mr. G , into a village, 
 where we met with some more of the hill people. 
 With one of them, who was a manghee, or chief 
 of one of the hills, I had some conversation in 
 Hindoostanee ; and told him that wicked men, after 
 death, go to a place of fire ; and good men, above, 
 to God. The former struck him exceedingly. He 
 asked again, ' What ? do they go to a place of great 
 pain and fire ?' These people, he said, sacrifice 
 
84 LIFE OF HENRY MAETYX. 
 
 oxen, goats, pigeons, &c. I asked him if he knew 
 what this was for, and then explained the design 
 of sacrifices ; and told him of the great sacrifice , 
 but he did not seem to understand me, and ap- 
 peared pensive, after hearing that wicked men go 
 to hell. He asked us, with great kindness, to have 
 some of his wild honey ; which was the only 
 thing he had to offer. How surprising is the uni- 
 versal prevalence of sacrifices !. This circumstance 
 will, perhaps, be made use of for the universal 
 conversion of the nations. How desirable that 
 some missionary should go among these peo- 
 ple ! No prejudices none of the detestable pride 
 and self-righteousness of their neighbours in the 
 plains." 
 
 " Nov. 9th. Passed the Sabbath rather uncom- 
 fortably. With Mr. , I read several portions 
 of the sacred scriptures, and prayed in the after- 
 noon. We reached Sicily gully, a point where 
 the Rajemahl hills jut out into the Ganges. It 
 was a romantic spot. We went ashore, and as- 
 cended an eminence to look at the ruins of a 
 mosque. The grave, and room over it, of a Mus- 
 sulman warrior, killed in battle, were in perfect 
 preservation ; and lamps are still lighted there 
 every night. We saw a few more of the hill 
 people ; one of whom had a bow and arrows ; 
 they were in a hurry to be gone ; and went 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 85 
 
 off, men, women, and children, into their native 
 woods. As I was entering the boat, I happened 
 to touch with my stick the brass pot of one of 
 the Hindoos, in which rice was boiling. So de- 
 filed are we in their sight, that they thought the 
 pollution passed from my hand, through the stick 
 and the brass, to the meat. He rose and threw it 
 all away." 
 
 " Nov. 13th. This morning we passed Col- 
 gong. I went ashore and had a long conversation 
 with two men. As I approached more and more 
 to religion, they were the more astonished ; and 
 when I mentioned the day of judgment, they 
 looked at each other in the utmost wonder, with 
 a look that expressed, ' how should he know any 
 thing about that ?' I felt some satisfaction in 
 finding myself pretty well understood in what I 
 said : but they could not read : and no people 
 came near us, and so I had the grief of leaving 
 this place without supplying it with one ray of 
 light. Looking around this country, and reflect- 
 ing upon its state, is enough to overwhelm the 
 mind of a minister or missionary. When once 
 my mouth is opened, how shall I ever dare to be 
 silent? Employed as yesterday. At night met 
 some boatmen on the bank, and a Fakir with 
 them : I talked a good deal, and some things they 
 understood. The Fakir's words I could scarcely 
 H 
 
86 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 understand. As he said he could read, and pro- 
 mised to read a Testament, I gave him one, and 
 several tracts." 
 
 " Nov. Vlth. Early this morning they set me 
 ashore to see a hot spring. A great number of 
 Brahmins and Fakirs* were there. Not being 
 able to understand them, I gave away tracts. 
 Many followed me to the budgerow, where I gave 
 away more tracts and some Testaments. Arrived 
 at Monghir about noon. In the evening some 
 came to me for books ; and, among them, thcrse 
 who had travelled from the spring, having heard 
 the report that I was giving away copies of the 
 Ramayuna.t They would not believe me when 
 I told them that it was not the Ramayuna ; I 
 gave them six or eight more. In the morning 
 tried to translate, with the moonshee, one of the 
 Nagree papers." 
 
 " Nov. 18th. A man followed the budgerow 
 along the walls of the fort; and finding an op- 
 portunity, got on board with another, begging for 
 a book not believing but that it was the Rama- 
 yuna. As I hesitated, having given as many as I 
 could spare for one place, he prostrated himself to 
 the earth, and placed his forehead in the dust ; at 
 which I felt an indescribable horror. I gave them 
 
 * Men, professing to be religious, who live upon charity, 
 t A poem called sacred by the Hindoos. 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 87 
 
 each a testament. Employed in writing out the 
 parables, and translating. In the evening met with 
 two villagers, and finding they could read, I brought 
 them to the boat, and gave them each a Testament, 
 and some tracts." 
 
 " Nov . 19l/i. Employed in translating the para- 
 bles, all the day. Finished reading the first book 
 of the Ramayuna. Came-to at a desert place on 
 the north side ; where, in my walk, I met with a 
 man with whom I conversed ; but we could under- 
 stand each other but very little. To a boy with 
 him, who could read, I gave some tracts. Felt 
 extraordinarily wearied with my labour these twc 
 or three last days ; and should have been glad of 
 some refreshing conversation." 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MR. MARTYN arrived at Dinapore, on the 26th 
 November: his principal objects, besides discharg- 
 ing his duties as chaplain to the English residents 
 there, were to establish schools for the children of 
 the natives ; to learn to speak Hindoostanee ; and to 
 translate the scriptures and religious tracts into 
 that language, for distribution among the people. 
 
88 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 There are so many dialects in India, that it is a 
 great labour to study the language, so as to be un- 
 derstood by the inhabitants of different parts of the 
 country. In these employments he persevered, 
 though meeting with ridicule and opposition, not 
 only from the natives, but even from his own irre- 
 ligious countrymen, who formed his congregation. 
 " Let me labour," he said " for fifty years, amidst 
 scorn, and without seeing one soul converted ; still 
 it shall not be worse for my soul in eternity, nor 
 even worse for it in time." He continued to trans- 
 late the parables, with explanations, and devoted 
 his whole time to preparations for his missionary 
 work ; excepting when he had an opportunity of 
 personally addressing the natives, who could un- 
 derstand him, and excepting the time spent with 
 his English congregation, and the sick at the 
 hospital. 
 
 We have another proof of the reality of religion, 
 and the truth of the Divine promises, in the manner 
 in which Martyn was enabled to persist in his 
 object, in circumstances which would have induced 
 any other person, than a Christian, to abandon it in 
 despair. There he stood almost alone, surrounded 
 by idolaters and Mohammedans, who ridiculed his 
 attempts to enlighten them ; and were not moved 
 by all his arguments for the religion of Christ. 
 The English who were settled there, were engaged 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 89 
 
 in trade : and it was a great object with them, that 
 the natives should be kept ignorant, that they might 
 be more easily managed in business concerns. Of 
 course, they would not countenance the plans of 
 Mr. Martyn, and scarcely treated him with respect. 
 So solitary was he, amidst persons so different in 
 feeling from himself, that happening to meet a poor 
 Jew from Babylon, he said he " felt all the tender- 
 ness of a kinsman towards him, and found himself, 
 as it were, at home with an Asiatic, who acknow- 
 ledged the God of Abraham." Another source of 
 consolation, known only to the true follower of 
 Christ, is thus intimated by him : " O how shall 
 I sufficiently praise my God, that here in this 
 solitude, with people enough, indeed, but with- 
 out a saint, I yet feel fellowship with all those 
 who, in eyeiy place, call on the name of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. I see myself travelling on with 
 them, and I hope I shall worship with them in His 
 courts above !" 
 
 Notwithstanding these obstacles, such was his 
 conviction of the truth of the gospel, and that it was 
 his duty to persevere, that the time passed away 
 rapidly. The nature of the support and consola- 
 tions, which he received, may be judged of from 
 his own expressions, such as these : 
 
 " I felt more, entirely withdrawn from the world, 
 than for a long time past : what a dark atheistical 
 
 H2 
 
90 LIFE OF HENRY MARTY N T . 
 
 state do I generally live in ! Alas ! that this crea- 
 tion should so engross my mind, and the author of 
 it be so slightly and coldly regarded. I found 
 myself, at this time, truly a stranger and a pilgrim 
 in the world ; and I did suppose that not a wish 
 remained for any thing here. The experience of 
 my heart was delightful. I enjoyed a peace that 
 passeth all understanding; no desire remained, but 
 that this peace might be confirmed and increased. 
 O why should any thing draw away my attention, 
 whilst Thou art ever near, and ever accessible 
 through the Son of Thy love ? O why do I not 
 always walk with God, forgetful of a vain and per- 
 ishable world ? Amazing patience ! He bears with 
 this faithless, foolish heart, and suffers me to 
 come, laden with sins, to receive new pardon, new 
 grace, every day. Why does not such love make 
 me hate those sins which grieve him, and hide him 
 from my sight ? I sometimes make vain resolutions, 
 in my own strength, that I will think of God. 
 Reason, and scripture, and experience, teach me 
 that such a life is happiness and holiness ; that by 
 4 beholding his glory,' I should be changed ' into 
 his image, from glory to glory,' and be freed from 
 those anxieties which make me unhappy : and that, 
 every motive to duty being strong, obedience would 
 be easy." 
 
 He established, at his own expense, five schools 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 91 
 
 for the children of the natives, in Dinapore, and 
 some neighbouring places. We suppose that these 
 schools were intended to enable the children to read 
 and write their own language, and to receive in- 
 struction in the Christian religion, so that they 
 might not grow up in ignorance and idolatry like 
 their parents. There are two great reasons why 
 this course is, in all cases, the most proper. First, 
 because, if the mind is enlightened by education, it 
 is hard to persuade a person to believe in supersti- 
 tions. And the second reason is, that almost all 
 the feelings and beliefs that men have, are the same 
 that have been impressed on them in youth, and 
 have been established in some degree by the power 
 of habit. It is, therefore, of the highest importance, 
 that the earliest habits of a child should be good ; 
 and that its instructions should be in the truth ; for, 
 in almost all cases, such a child will, by the bless- 
 ing of God, retain his good habits and instructions, 
 and have them, at length, eternally fixed by religion. 
 This is the sense of the saying of Solomon " Train 
 up a child in the way he should go, and when he 
 is old he will not depart from it." 
 
 We find the following reflections in Martyn's 
 diary of the 1st of January, 1807 : 
 
 " Seven years have passed away since I was first 
 called of God. Before the conclusion of another 
 seven years, how probable is it, that these hands 
 
92 x LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 will have mouldered into dust ! But be it so : my 
 soul, through grace, hath received the assurance of 
 eternal life, and I see the days of my pilgrimage 
 shortening, without a wish to add to their number. 
 But O, may I be stirred up to a faithful discharge 
 of my high and awful work ; and, laying aside, as 
 much as may be, all carnal cares and studies, may 
 I give myself to this ' one thing.' The last has 
 been a year to be remembered by me, because the 
 Lord has brought me safely to India, and permitted 
 me to begin, in one sense, my missionary work. 
 My trials in it have been very few : every thing 
 has turned out better than I expected ; loving- 
 kindness and tender-mercies, have attended me at 
 every step : therefore, here will I sing his praise. 
 I have been an unprofitable servant but the Lord 
 hath not cut me off: I have been wayward and 
 perverse, yet he has brought me further on the way 
 to Zion : here, then, with seven-fold gratitude and 
 affection, would I stop and devote myself to the 
 blissful service of my adorable Lord. May he 
 continue his patience, his grace, his direction, his 
 spiritual influences, and I shall at last surely come 
 off* conqueror ! May he speedily open my mouth, 
 to make known the mysteries of the gospel, and in 
 great mercy grant that the heathen may receive it 
 and live !" 
 
 In February 1807, Mr. Marty n finished the 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 93 
 
 translation of the Episcopal Prayer-book into the 
 Hindoostanee ; and on Sunday, March 15th, used 
 it in public worship for the first time, concluding 
 with a short address in that language. About this 
 time, he- also completed his translation and ex- 
 planation of the Parables of our Saviour, which he 
 intended, principally, for the use of the schools, but 
 postponed for a while, lest it should excite so much 
 prejudice as to break up the schools entirely. 
 Every Sunday, he held divine service at seven in 
 the morning for the English people, and at two in the 
 afternoon for the natives ; after which he visited the 
 sick in the hospital, and held a prayer-meeting at 
 his own house in the evening, for some soldiers of 
 the army, who were willing to attend. These plans 
 were pursued under much discouragement ; the 
 following is the diary of one Sunday : 
 
 " The English service, at seven in the morning. 
 1 preached on Luke xxii. 22. As is always the- 
 case when I preach about Christ, a spiritual influ- 
 ence was diffused over my soul. The rest of the 
 morning, till dinner time, I spent, not unprofitably, 
 in reading scripture, and David Brainerd, and in 
 prayer. That dear saint of God, David Brainerd, 
 is truly a man after my own heart. Although I 
 cannot go half-way with him in spirituality and 
 devotion, I cordially unite with him in such of his 
 holy breathings as I have attained unto. How 
 
94 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 sweet and wise, like him and the saints of old, to 
 pass through this world as a serious and consider 
 ate stranger. I have had more of this temper to-day 
 than of late, and every duty has been in harmony 
 with my spirit. The service in Hindoostanee was 
 at two o'clock. The number of women not above 
 one hundred. I expounded chapter iii. of St. 
 Matthew. Notwithstanding the general apathy with 
 which v they seemed to receive every thing, there 
 were two or three who, I was sure, understood and 
 felt something. But, beside the women, not a single 
 creature, European or native, was present. Yet 
 true spirituality, with all its want of attraction for 
 the carnal heart, did prevail over the splendid shows 
 of Greece and Rome, and shall again here. A 
 man at the hospital much refreshed me, by ob- 
 serving, that if I made an acquisition of but one 
 convert in my whole life, it would be a rich re- 
 ward ; and that I was taking the only possible way 
 to this end." 
 
 There were, however, some of the officers, who 
 evinced serious feelings ; and one was brought to 
 embrace the offers of salvation. Martyn longed 
 for the time when he should be qualified to go into 
 the midst of the Hindoos with the gospel. " O," 
 said he, in a letter to Mr. Corrie, missionary at 
 another station, " that the time were come that I 
 should be able to carry the war into the enemy's 
 
LIFE OP HENRY MARTYN. 95 
 
 territory. It will be a severe trial to the flesh, my 
 dear brother, for us both ; but it is sufficient for 
 the disciple to be as his master, and the servant as 
 his Lord. We shall be 4 accounted as the filth of 
 the world, and the off-scouring of all things.' But 
 glory be to God, if we shall be accounted wor- 
 thy to suffer shame for the name of the Lord 
 Jesus." 
 
 His journal of a trip to Monghir, about a hun- 
 dred miles distant, shows the distress he felt, 
 because his zeal was not greater, and because he 
 was not so holy and spiritual as he desired to be. 
 He had, no doubt, just reasons for lamenting many 
 neglected opportunities for doing good, and for de- 
 ploring the many wanderings of his heart from 
 God ; but we are not to understand that he was 
 outwardly wicked or careless, when he speaks of his 
 condition in such strong language. 
 
 " After finishing the correction of the parables, I 
 left Dinapors to go to Manghir. Spent the even- 
 ing at Patna, with Mr. G , in talking on literary 
 
 subjects: but my soul was overwhelmed with a 
 sense of my guilt, in not striving to lead the 
 conversation to something that might be for his 
 spiritual good. My general backwardness to speak 
 on spiritual subjects before the unconverted, made 
 me groan in spirit at such unfeelingness and unbe- 
 lief. May the remembrance of what I am made to 
 
96 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 suffer for these neglects, be one reason for greater 
 zeal and love in time to come." 
 
 " April 19//t. A melancholy Lord's day ! In 
 the morning, at the appointed hour, I found some 
 solemnity and tenderness : the whole desire of my 
 soul seemed to be, that all the ministers in India 
 might be eminently holy ; and that there might be 
 no remains of that levity or indolence, in any of 
 us, which I found in myself. The rest of the day 
 passed heavily ; for a hurricane of hot wind fast- 
 ened us on a sand-bank, for twelve hours ; while 
 the dust was suffocating, and the heat increased the 
 sickness which was produced by the tossing of the 
 boat, and I frequently fell asleep over my work. 
 However, the more I felt tempted to impatience 
 and unhappiness, the more the Lord helped me to 
 strive agains* it, and to look to the fulness of Jesus 
 Christ. Several hymns were very sweet to me 
 particularly, 
 
 ' There is a fountain filled with blood, 
 
 Drawn from Immanuel's veins ; 
 And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, 
 Lose all their guilty stains. 
 
 1 The dying thief rejoiced to see 
 
 That fountain in his day ; 
 O may [ there, though vile as he, 
 Wash all my sins away ! 
 
 ' Dear dying Lamb ! thy precious blood 
 
 Shall never lose its power, 
 Till all the ransomed church of God 
 Be saved, to sin no more. 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 97 
 
 ' E'er since by faith I saw the stream 
 
 Thy flowing wounds supply, 
 Redeeming love has been my theme, 
 And shall be till I die. 
 
 ' But when this lisping, stammering tongue 
 
 Lies silent in the grave, 
 Then, in a nobler, sweeter song, 
 I'll sing thy power to save. 1 
 
 " After all the acquisitions of human science, 
 what is there to be compared with the knowledge 
 of Christ, and him crucified ! Read much of the 
 scripture history of Saul, and the predictions in the 
 latter end of the Revelation." 
 
 " April 21 st. Again the love and mercy of the 
 Lord restored me to health and spirits. Began to 
 write a sermon on walking in Christ, and fqjund my 
 soul benefited by meditation on the subject. In the 
 afternoon went on with translations. Arrived at 
 sun-set at Monghir." 
 
 " April 22d. Spent the day at 's. Found 
 
 two or three opportunities to speak to him about 
 
 his soul. threw out some infidel sentiments, 
 
 which gave me an opportunity of speaking. But 
 to none of the rest was I able to say any thing. 
 Alas ! in what a state are mankind every-where 
 living without God in the world." 
 
 " April 23d. I left Monghir, and got on twenty- 
 three miles toward Dinapore : very sorrowful in 
 mind, both from the recollection of having done 
 nothing for the perishing souls I have been amongst, 
 I 
 
98 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 and from finding myself so unqualified to write 
 on a spiritual subject, which I had undertaken. 
 Alas ! the ignorance and carnality of my miserable 
 soul ! how contemptible must it be in the sight of 
 God !" 
 
 " Jlpril %4:th. Still cast down at my utter ina- 
 bility to write anything profitable on this subject; 
 and at my execrable pride and ease of heart. O 
 that I could weep in the dust, with shame and 
 sorrow, for my wickedness and folly ! Yet thanks 
 are due to the Lord for showing me, in this way, 
 how much my heart has been neglected of late. 
 I see by this, how great are the temptations of a 
 missionary to neglect his own soul. Apparently 
 outwardly employed for God, my heart has been 
 growing more hard and proud. Let me be taught 
 that the first great business on earth is to obtain 
 the sanctification of my own soul : so shall I be 
 rendered more capable also of performing the duties 
 of the ministry, whether amongst the Europeans or 
 heathen, in a holy and solemn manner. Oh ! how 
 I detest that levity to which I am so subject ! How 
 cruel and unfeeling is it ! God is my witness that 
 I would rather, from this day forward, weep day 
 and night, for the danger of immortal souls. But 
 my wickedness seems to take such hold of me, that 
 I cannot escape ; and my only refuge is to commit 
 my soul, with all its corruption, into the hands of 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 99 
 
 Christ, to be sanctified and saved by His almighty 
 grace. For what can I do with myself ? my heart 
 is so thoroughly corrupt, that I cannot keep myself 
 one moment from sin." 
 
 " J2pril2Qth. In prayer, at the appointed hour, 
 I felt solemnity of mind, and an earnest desire 
 that the Lord would pour out a double portion 
 of his Spirit upon us, his ministers in India ; that 
 every one of us may be eminent in holiness and 
 ministerial gifts. If I were to judge for myself, 
 I should fear that God had forsaken his church ; 
 for I am most awfully deficient in the knowledge 
 and experience requisite for a minister ; but my 
 dear brother Corrie, thanks be to God, is a man of 
 a better spirit :~ -may he grow more and more in 
 grace, and continue to be an example to us ! Passed 
 the day in reading and prayer, such as my prayers 
 are. My soul struggled with corruption, yet I found 
 the merit and grace of Jesus all-sufficient, and all- 
 supporting. Though my guilt seemed like moun- 
 tains, I considered it as no reason for departing 
 from Christ, but rather for clinging to him more 
 closely. Thus I got through the day, cast down, 
 but not destroyed." 
 
 " April 27th. Left Patna and arrived at Dina- 
 pore. The concourse of people in that great city 
 was a solemn admonition to me to be diligent in 
 study and prayer. Thousands of intelligent people 
 
100 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 
 
 together ; no Sabbath ; no word of God ; no one 
 to give them advice : how inscrutable the ways of 
 God !" 
 
 Martyn had made considerable progress in trans- 
 lating the scriptures into the language of India ; he 
 now, at the suggestion of Mr. Brown, a missionary 
 near Calcutta, applied himself diligently to finish- 
 ing the work, and to oversee, also, a translation 
 into Persian. This became a delightful employ- 
 ment, as his own expressions show. 
 
 " The time fled imperceptibly, while so delight- 
 fully engaged in the translations ; the days seemed 
 to have passed like a moment. Blessed be God 
 for some improvement in the languages ! May 
 every thing be for edification in the church ! What 
 do I not owe to the Lord, for permitting me to take 
 part in a translation of his word : never did I see 
 such wonder, and wisdom, and love in the blessed 
 book, as since I have been obliged to study every 
 expression ; and it is a delightful reflection, that 
 death cannot deprive us of the pleasure of studying 
 its mysteries." 
 
 " All day on the translations : employed a good 
 while at night in considering a difficult passage; 
 and being much enlightened respecting it, I went 
 to bed full of astonishment at the wonder oi 
 God's word : never before did I see any thing 
 of the beauty of the language and the importance 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 101 
 
 of the thoughts as I do now. I felt happy that 
 I should never be finally separated from the con- 
 templation of them, or of the things about which 
 they ar3 written. Knowledge shall vanish away, 
 but it shall be because perfection shall come. Then 
 shall I see as I am seen, and know as I am known." 
 " What a source of perpetual delight have I in 
 the precious book of God ! O that my heart were 
 more spiritual, to keep pace with my understand- 
 ing ; and that I could feel as I know ! May my 
 root and foundation be deep in love, and may I be 
 able to * comprehend, with all saints, what is the 
 breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to 
 know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge !' 
 And may I be filled with all the fulness of God ! 
 May the Lord, in mercy to my soul, save me from 
 setting up an idol of any sort in his place ; as I do 
 by preferring even a work professedly done for 
 him, to communion with him. How obstinate is 
 the reluctance of the natural heart to love God ! 
 But, O my soul, be not deceived ; thy chief work 
 upon earth is, to obtain sanctification, and to walk 
 with God. * To obey is better than sacrifice, and 
 to hearken than the fat of rams.' Let me learn 
 from this, that to follow the direct injunctions of 
 God, as to my own soul, is more my duty, than to 
 be engaged in other works, under pretence of doing 
 him service. 1 " 
 
 12 
 
102 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 " How sweet the retirement in which I here live. 
 The precious word is now my only study, in the 
 work of translation. Though, in a manner, buried 
 to the world, neither seeing nor seen by Europe- 
 ans, the time flows on here with great rapidity : it 
 seems as if life would be gone before any thing is 
 done, or even before any thing is begun. I some- 
 times rejoice that I am not twenty-seven years of 
 age ; and that, unless God should order it other- 
 wise, I may double the number in constant and 
 successful labour. If not, God has many, ma'ny 
 more instruments at command ; and I shall not 
 cease from my happiness, and scarcely from my 
 work, by departing into another world. Oh ! what 
 shall separate us from the love of Christ 1 Neither 
 death nor life, I am persuaded. Oh ! let me feel 
 my security, that 1 may be, as it were, already in 
 heaven ; that I may do all my work as the angels 
 do theirs ; .and oh ! let me be ready for every 
 work ! be ready to leave this delightful solitude, 
 or remain in it ; to go out, or go in ; to stay, or 
 depart, just as the Lord shall appoint. Lord, let 
 me have no will of my own ; nor consider my true 
 happiness as depending in the smallest degree on 
 any thing that can befall my outward man ; but as 
 consisting altogether in conformity to God's will. 
 May I have Christ here with me in this world ; 
 not substituting imagination in the place of faith ; 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 103 
 
 but seeing outward things as they really are, 
 and thus obtaining a radical conviction of their 
 
 vanity." 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 MR. MARTYN now received intelligence from 
 England of the death of his eldest sister, an event 
 which very deeply afflicted him ; but which caused 
 him to feel fresh confidence in God, and a new in- 
 terest in heaven. 
 
 " O great and gracious God ! what should I do 
 without Thee ! But now thou art manifesting 
 thyself as the God of all consolation to my soul : 
 never was I so near thee : I stand on the brink, 
 and long to take my flight. There is not a 
 thing in the world for which I could wish to 
 live, except the hope that it may please God 
 to appoint me some work. And how shall my 
 soul ever be thankful enough to thee, O thou 
 most incomprehensibly glorious Saviour Jesus ! O 
 what hast thou 4 done to alleviate the sorrows of 
 life ! and how great has been the mercy of God 
 towards my family, in saving 1 us all ! How dread- 
 ful would be the separation of relations in death 
 were it not for Jesus." 
 
104 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 " The European letter," he wrote to Mr. Brown, 
 " contained the intelligence of the death of my 
 eldest sister. A few lines received from herself 
 about three weeks ago, gave me some melancholy 
 forebodings of her danger. But though the Lord 
 thus compassionately prepared me for this affliction, 
 I hardly knew how to bear it. We were more 
 united in affection to each other, than to any of our 
 relations : and now she is gone, I am left to fulfil, 
 as a hireling, my day, and then I shall follow her. 
 She had been many years under some conviction 
 of her sins, but not till her last illness had she 
 sought in earnest for salvation. Some weeks be- 
 fore her death she felt the burden of sin, and cried 
 earnestly for pardon and deliverance, and con- 
 tinued in the diligent use of the appointed means 
 of grace. Two days before her death, when no 
 immediate danger was apprehended, my youngest 
 sister visited her ; and was surprised and delighted 
 at the change which had taken place. Her con- 
 victions of sin were deep, and her views clear ; her 
 only fear was on account of her own unworthiness. 
 She asked, with many tears, whether there was 
 mercy for one who had been so great a sinner ; 
 though in the eyes of the world she had been an 
 exemplary wife and mother ; and said that she 
 believed the Lord would have mercy upon her, 
 because she knew he had wrought on her mind 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 105 
 
 by His Spirit. Two days after this conversation, 
 she suddenly and unexpectedly left this world of 
 woe, while her sister was visiting a dying friend at 
 a distance. This, you will tell me, is precious 
 consolation ; indeed I am constrained to acknow- 
 ledge that I could hardly ask for greater ; for I had 
 already parted with her for ever in this life ; and, 
 in parting, all I wished for was, to hear of her 
 being converted to God, and, if it was his will, 
 taken away in due time, from the evil to come, and 
 brought to glory before me. Yet human nature 
 bleeds ; her departure has left this world a frightful 
 blank to me ; and I feel not the smallest wish to 
 live, except there be some work assigned for me to 
 do in the church of God." 
 
 And sometime afterwards he wrote, " My heart 
 is still oppressed, but it is not ' a sorrow that 
 worketh death.' Though nature weeps at being 
 deprived of all hopes of ever seeing this dear com- 
 panion on earth, faith is thereby brought the more 
 into exercise. How sweet to feel dead to all below ; 
 to live only for eternity ; to forget the short interval 
 that lies between us and the spiritual world ; and 
 to live always seriously. The seriousness which 
 this sorrow produces, is indescribably precious ; O 
 that I could always retain it, when these impres- 
 sions shall be worn away !" 
 
 In September he introduced Christ's Sermon on 
 
1 06 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN, 
 
 the mount as a lesson for the schools ; the first 
 time he had been privileged to hear the natives 
 reading and learning any portion of the sacred 
 scriptures. He declined the urgent request of his 
 friends in Calcutta, to establish himself there, saying, 
 that however delightful it would be, to be placed 
 in the society of the missionaries and their families, 
 he wished to remain more in the midst of the hea- 
 then, upon whom he desired to expend his labours. 
 His solitude was also rendered more painful, by 
 the disappointment of his hopes of marriage with 
 the lady at Cornwall, to whom he was engaged, 
 but who now felt obliged to decline the union, for 
 reasons which Mr. Martyn himself admitted to be 
 proper. He bore this trial with much meekness : 
 he said, " The Lord sanctify this : and since this 
 last desire of my heart is also withheld, may I turn 
 away for ever from the world, and henceforth live 
 forgetful of all but God. With thee, O my God, 
 is no disappointment. I shall never have to regret, 
 that I have loved thee too well. Thou hast said, 
 6 delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall give thee 
 the desires of thy heart.' ' 
 
 " At first I was more grieved," he wrote some 
 time afterwards, " at the loss of my gourd, than 
 for all the perishing Ninevehs around me ; but now 
 my earthly woes and earthly attachments seem to 
 be absorbing in the vast concern of communicating 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 107 
 
 the gospel to these nations. After this last lesson 
 from God on the vanity of the creature, I feel de- 
 sirous to be nothing, to have nothing, to ask for 
 nothing, but what he gives." 
 
 And at the close of the year, he thus spoke of 
 this event, and the death of his sister : 
 
 " On both these' afflictions I have seen love in- 
 scribed, and that is enough. What I think I want, 
 it is better still to want : but I am often wearied 
 with this world of wo. I set my affections on the 
 creature, and am then torn from it ; and from vari- 
 ous other causes, particularly the prevalence of sin 
 in my heart, I am often so full of melancholy, that 
 I hardly know what to do for relief. Sometimes 
 I say, ' O that I had wings like a dove, then would 
 I flee away and be at rest ;' at other times, in my 
 sorrow about the creature, I have no wish left for 
 my heavenly rest. It is the grace and favour 
 of God that have saved me hitherto : my igno- 
 rance, waywardness, and wickedness, would long 
 since have plunged me into misery ; but there 
 seems to be a mighty exertion of mercy and grace 
 upon my sinful nature, every day, to keep me from 
 perishing at last. My attainments in the divine 
 life, in this last year, seem to be none at all ; 1 
 appear, on the contrary, to be more self-willed 
 and perverse ; and more like many of my country- 
 men, in arrogance and a domineering spirit over 
 
108 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 the natives. The Lord save me from my wicked- 
 ness ! Henceforth let my soul, humbly depending 
 upon the grace of Christ, perfect holiness in the 
 fear of God, and show towards all, whether Euro- 
 peans or natives, the mind that was in Christ 
 Jesus." 
 
 Mr. Martyn had two assistants in his Indian and 
 Persian translations, one named Mirza, of Hindoos- 
 tan, the other Sab at, an Arabian. The latter of 
 these, for some time, professed to be a convert to 
 Christianity, but afterwards returned to Moham- 
 medism. Sabat's temper and behaviour were so 
 inconsistent with the spirit of the gospel, that he 
 gave Mr. Martyn great uneasiness ; but his expres- 
 sions of a desire to reform seemed so sincere, that 
 he was long regarded as a genuine Christian, whom, 
 it was hoped, more light, and knowledge, and 
 grace, would gradually lead aright. 
 
 In March, 1808, Martyn completed the New 
 Testament in Hindoostanee, and sent it to Calcutta 
 to be printed. The correcting of the sheets as 
 they came from the press, occupied much of his 
 time : besides which, he superintended and com- , 
 pared the Persian translation by Sabat, and studied 
 the Arabic, that he might have a translation made 
 into that language also. He received visits daily, 
 from such of his congregation as were serious, and 
 visited the hospital as usual. In consequence of 
 
L1FJB OF HENRY MARTYN. 109 
 
 the want of a proper place for public worship at 
 Dinapore, he held meetings at his own house. On 
 the first Sunday, he preached from Isaiah iv. 5 
 " The Lord will create upon every dwelling- 
 place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a 
 cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a 
 flaming fire by night : for upon all the glory shall 
 ue a defence." " In the afternoon," his diary re- 
 lates, " I waited for the women, but not one came : 
 perhaps, by some mistake, notice had not been given 
 them. At the hospital, and with the men at night, 
 I was engaged, as usual, in prayer : my soul panted 
 after the living God, but it remained tied and bound 
 with corruption. I felt as if I could have given 
 the world to be brought to be alone with God ; and 
 the promise that 4 this is the will of God, even our 
 sanctification,' was the right hand that upheld me 
 while I followed after Him. When low in spirits, 
 through an unwillingness to take up the cross, I 
 found myself more resigned in endeavouring to 
 realise the thought which had often composed me 
 in my trials on board the ship ; namely, that I was 
 born to suffer ; that suffering is my appointed daily 
 portion ; let this reconcile me to every thing ! To 
 have a will of my own, not agreeable to God's, is 
 a most tremendous wickedness. I own it is so, 
 for a few moments : but, Lord, write it on my 
 heart! In perfect meekness and resignation let 
 K 
 
110 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 me take whatever befalls me in the path of duty, 
 and never dare to think of being dissatisfied." 
 
 In June, the gospel of Matthew was finished in 
 Persian, and sent to Calcutta, where it was printed 
 at the expense of the British and Foreign Bible 
 Society. In the summer he suffered a severe 
 ittack of illness, his reflections on which show 
 the spirituality of his feelings, and the joy fulness 
 jf his prospects of eternity. 
 
 " I little thought to have had my faith brought 
 to a trial so soon. This morning, while getting up 
 I found a pain in the centre of my body, which in- 
 creased to such a degree, that fever and vertigo 
 came on, and I fainted. The dreadful sensation 
 was like what I once felt in England, but by no 
 means so violent or long-continued ; as then, also, 
 I was alone. After recovering my senses, and lying 
 in pain which almost made me breathless, I turned 
 iny thoughts to God ; and oh ! praise to his grace 
 and love, I felt no fear; but I prayed earnestly 
 that I might have a little relief to s-et my house in 
 order, and make my will. I also thought with 
 pain, of leaving the Persian gospels unfinished. By 
 means of some ether, the Lord gave me ease, and 
 I made my will. The day was spent in great weak- 
 ness, but my heart was often filled with the sweetest 
 peace and gratitude for the precious things God 
 hath done for me." 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. Ill 
 
 " I found delight at night in considering, from 
 the beginning, all that God had done in ^creation, 
 providence, and grace, for my soul. O God of 
 love, how shall I praise Thee ! happiness, bliss 
 for ever, lies before me. Thou hast brought me 
 upon this stage of life to see what sin and misery 
 'are ; myself, alas ! most deeply partaking in both. 
 But the days and the works of my former state, 
 fraught with danger and with death, are no more ; 
 and the God of benevolence and love hath opened 
 to me brighter prospects. Thine I am ; ' My 
 beloved is mine, and I am his ;' and now I want 
 none but Thee. I am alone with Thee in this 
 world ; and when I put off this mortal tabernacle, 
 I shall still be with Thee, whatever that unknown 
 change may be ; and I shall be before Thee, not to 
 receive honour, but to ascribe praise. Yes ! I shall 
 then have power to express my feelings ; I shall 
 then, without intermission, see and love ; and no 
 cloud of sorrow overcast my mind. I shall then 
 sing in worthy, everlasting strains, the praises of 
 that divine Redeemer, whose works of love now 
 reach beyond my conception." 
 
 Some portions of his letters to the Rev. Messrs. 
 Corrie and Brown, at Calcutta, during this year, 
 and part of 1809, will show his labours, trials, and 
 consolations, in a better manner than our narrative 
 eou'd. 
 
112 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 " 1 do not know how you find the heat, but here 
 it is dreadful: in one person's quarters yesterday 
 it was at 102 : perhaps it was on that account thai 
 scarcely any women came. Another reason I 
 assign is, that I rebuked one of them last Sunday, 
 yet very gently, for talking and laughing in the 
 church before I came ; so yesterday they showed 
 their displeasure by not coming at all. I spoke to 
 them on the parable of the Great Supper : the old 
 woman, who is always so exemplary in her atten- 
 tion, shed many tears ; I have sometimes endea- 
 voured to speak to her, but she declines conversa- 
 tion. I feel interested about her, there is so much 
 sorrow and meekness depicted in her countenance ; 
 but she always crosses herself after the service is 
 over. My Puropeans, this week, have not attend- 
 ed very well ; fifteen only, instead of twenty-five ; 
 some of them, indeed, are in the hospital ; and the 
 hospital is a town of itself; how shall I ever be 
 faithful to them all !" 
 
 " Among the events of the last week is the earth- 
 quake ; we were just reading the passage of the 
 24th of Matthew, on l earthquakes in divers places,' 
 when I felt my chair shake under me ; then some 
 pieces of the plaster fell ; on which I sprang up 
 and ran out; the doors had still a tremulous 
 motion." 
 
 " 1 groan at the wickedness and infidelity of 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 113 
 
 men, and seem to stretch my neck every way to 
 espy a righteous man. All at Dinapore treat the 
 gospel with contempt ; here there is nothing but 
 infidelity." 
 
 " A young civilian, who some time ago came to 
 me desiring satisfaction on the evidences of Chris- 
 tianity, and to whom I spoke very freely, and with 
 some regard, as I could not doubt his sincerity, now 
 holds me up to ridicule. Thus, through evil report, 
 we go on. Oh ! my brother ! how happy I feel, 
 that all have not forsaken Christ; that I am not 
 Mi alone even in India. ' Cast thy burden on the 
 Lord, and he shall sustain thee,' is the text I carry 
 about with me, and I can recommend it to any 
 body as an infallible preservative from the fever of 
 anxiety." 
 
 " The day after I wrote to you from Bankipore, 
 I called on the Nawaub,* Babir Ali Khan, cele^ 
 brated for his sense and liberality. I staid two 
 hours with him, conversing in Persian, but badly. 
 He began the theological discussion by requesting 
 me to explain necessity and free-will ; I instantly 
 pleaded ignorance. He gave his own opinion ; on 
 which 1 asked him for his proofs of the religion of 
 Mohammed. His first argument was the eloquence 
 of the Koran ; but he at last acknowledged that this 
 was insufficient. I then brought forward a passage 
 * Or Nabob, the name of an office. 
 K2 
 
114 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN* 
 
 or two in the Koran, containing sentiments mani- 
 festly false and foolish ; he flourished a good deal, 
 but concluded by saying, that I must wait till I 
 could speak Persian better, and had read their logic. 
 This was the first visit, and I returned highly de- 
 lighted with his sense, candour, and politeness. 
 Two days after I went to breakfast with him, and 
 conversed with him in Hindoostanee. He inquired 
 what are the principles of the Christian religion ; I 
 began with the atonement, the divinity of Christ, 
 the corruption of human nature, the necessity of 
 regeneration, and a holy life. He seems to wish 
 to acquire information, but discovers 'no spiritual 
 desire after the truth." 
 
 "I mentioned to you that I had spoken very 
 plainly to the women last Sunday, on the delusions 
 of the papists : yesterday only seven came. I as- 
 cribed it to what I had said ; but to-day Sabat tells 
 me that they pour contempt upon it all. Sabat, 
 instead of comforting and encouraging me in my 
 'disappointments and trials, aggravates my pain by 
 contemptuous expressions of the perfect inutility 
 of continuing to teach them. He may spare his 
 sarcastic remarks ; as I suppose, after another Sun- 
 day, none at all will come. I find no relief but in 
 prayer : to God I can tell all my griefs, ami find 
 comfort." 
 
 " One day this week, on getting up in the morn 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 115 
 
 ing, I was attacked with a very serious illness. I 
 thought I was leaving this world of sorrow ; and, 
 praised be the God of grace, I felt no fear. The 
 rest oi the day I was filled with sweet peace of mind, 
 and had near access to God in prayer. What a 
 debt of love and praise do we owe ! Yesterday I 
 attempted to examine the women who attended (in 
 number about thirty,) in Christian knowledge ; they 
 were very shy, and said that they could say no 
 prayers but in Portuguese. It appears that they 
 were highly incensed, and went away, saying to 
 Joseph, ' We know a great deal more than your 
 priest himself. 1 The services much weakened me 
 after my late attack." 
 
 " The men are fast dying in the hospital, yet 
 they would rather be sent to Patna for some holy 
 oil, than hear the word of eternal life. Two or 
 three of my evening hearers are in the hospital ; 
 one is prepared to die : blessed sight ! The Per- 
 sian of St. Mark is to be sent to-morrow, and five 
 chapters of Luke, corrected. There is no news 
 from down the stream ; but always glad tidings for 
 us from the world above." 
 
 The following is from a letter to his sister, in 
 England : 
 
 " I am sorry that I have not good accounts to 
 give of my health ; yet no danger is to be appre- 
 hended. My services on the Lord's day always 
 
116 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 leave me a pain in the chest, and such a great degree 
 of general relaxation, that I seldom recover from it 
 till Tuesday. A few days ago I was attacked with 
 a fever, which, by the mercy of God, lasted but two 
 dayo. I am now well, but must be more careful 
 for the future. In this debilitating climate, the 
 mortal tabernacle is frail indeed : my mind seems 
 as vigorous as ever, but my delicate frame soon 
 calls for relaxation ; and I must give it, though 
 unwillingly ; for such glorious fields for exertion 
 open all around, that I could with pleasure be 
 employed from morning to night. It seems a 
 providential circumstance, that the work at present 
 assigned me is that of translation ; for had I gone 
 through the villages, preaching, as my intention led 
 me to do, I fear that by this time I should have 
 been in a deep decline. In my last I gave you a 
 general idea of my employments. The society 
 still meet every night at my quarters, and though 
 we have lost many by death, others are raised up 
 in their room ; one officer, a lieutenant, is also given 
 to me ; and he is not only a brother beloved, but 
 a constant companion and nurse ; so you must feel 
 no apprehension that I should be left alone in sick- 
 ness ; neither on any other account should you be 
 uneasy. You know that we must meet no more 
 in this life : therefore, since we are, as I trust, both 
 children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, it becomes 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 117 
 
 a matter of less consequence when we leave this 
 earth. Of the spread of the gospel in India, I can 
 say little, because I hear nothing. Adieu, my 
 dearest sister : let us live in constant prayer, for 
 ourselves, and for the church." 
 
 The annexed extracts are from his correspond- 
 ence with Messrs. Corrie and Brown : 
 
 " I have just come out of my chapel, where, 
 with my little flock, I have once more resumed my 
 duties. The infrequency of my appearance among 
 them of late has thinned them considerably ; and 
 this effect, which I foresaw, is one of the most 
 painful and lamentable consequences of my with- 
 drawing from them ; but it is unavoidable, if I 
 wish to prolong my life. My danger is from the 
 lungs : though none of you seem to apprehend 
 it. One complete service at church does more to 
 consume my strength and spirits than six days 
 of the hardest study, or bodily labour. Pray for 
 me, my dear brother, that I may neither be rash 
 nor indolent." 
 
 " You mention a letter enclosed, but none came. 
 The intelligence, however, intended to be conveyed 
 by it, met my delighted eyes. Thomason is com- 
 ing ! This is good. Praise be to the Lord of the 
 harvest, for sending out labourers ! Behold how 
 the prayers of the society at Calcutta have been 
 heard. I hope they will continue their supplioa 
 
118 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYR. 
 
 tion ; for we want more yet, and it may please God 
 yet further to bless us. You cannot leave Calcutta 
 by the middle of November, and must therefore 
 apply for one month's extension of leave. But 
 you are unwilling to leave your flock ; and I do not 
 wonder, as I have seen my sheep grievously dis- 
 persed during my absence. Uncertain when I may 
 come amongst them, they seldom come at all, ex- 
 cept the ten or twelve who meet one another. My 
 morning congregation increases as the cold weather 
 advances, and yesterday there seemed to be a con- 
 siderable impression. I spoke in a low tone of 
 voice, and therefore, did not feel much fatigue ; 
 after the Hindoostanee service I was very weak ; 
 but at night tolerably strong again. On the whole, 
 my expectations of life return. May the days thus 
 prolonged be entirely His who continues them ! and 
 may my work not only move on delightfully, but 
 with a more devout and serious spirit !" 
 
 " Your letter from Buxar found me in much the 
 same spiritual state, as you describe yourself to be 
 in : though your description, no doubt, belongs 
 more properly to me. I no longer hesitate to 
 ascribe my stupor and formality, to its right cause : 
 unwatchfulness in worldly company. I thought 
 that any temptation arising from the society of the 
 people of the world, at least of such as vre hav* 
 had, was not worthy of notice : but I* find myself 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 119 
 
 mistaken. The frequent occasions of being among 
 them of late, have proved a snare to my corrupt 
 heart. Instead of returning with a more elastic 
 spring to severe duties, as I expected, my heart 
 wants more idleness, more dissipation. David 
 Brainerd in the wilderness, what a contrast to 
 Henry Martyn ! But God be thanked that a start 
 now and then interrupts the slumber. I hope to be 
 up and about my Master's business ; to cast off the 
 works of darkness, and to be spiritually-minded, 
 which alone is life and peace. But what a danger- 
 ous country it is that we are in ; hot weather or 
 cold, all is softness and luxury ; all a conspiracy to 
 lull us to sleep in the lap of pleasure. While we 
 pass over this enchanted ground, call, brother, ever 
 and anon, and ask ' is all well ?' We are shepherds 
 keeping watch over our flocks by night : if we fall 
 asleep what is to become of them !" 
 
 " Last Friday we had the happiness and honour 
 of finishing the four gospels in Persian. The same 
 evening I made some discovery respecting the 
 Hebrew verb, but was unfortunately so much de- 
 lighted, that I could not sleep ; in consequence of 
 which, I have had a head-ache ever since. Thus 
 even Intellectual joys are followed by sorrow : not 
 so spiritual ones. I pray continually that order 
 may be preserved in my heart ; that I may esteem 
 and delight most in that work, which is really most 
 
120 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 estimable and delightful, the work of Christ and 
 his apostles. When this is in any measure the 
 case, it is surprising how clear and orderly the 
 thoughts are on other subjects. I am still a good 
 deal in the dark respecting the objects of my pur- 
 suit ; but have so far an insight, that I read both 
 Hebrew and Arabic with increasing pleasure and 
 satisfaction." 
 
 " I scarcely know how this week has passed, 
 nor can I call to mind the circumstances of one 
 single day ; so absorbed have I been in my new 
 pursuit. I remember, however, that during one 
 night I did not sleep a wink. Knowing what 
 would be the consequence the next day, I struggled 
 hard, and turned every way, that my mind might 
 be diverted from what^was before it ; but all in 
 vain. One discovery succeeded another, in Hebrew, 
 Arabic, and Greek, so rapidly, that I was some- 
 times in almost ecstasy ; but after all, I have moved 
 but a step : you may scold me if you please, but i 
 am helpless. I do not turn to this study of myself, 
 but it turns to me, and draws me away almost irre- 
 sistibly. Still I perceive it to be a mark of a fallen 
 nature to be so carried away by a pleasure merely 
 intellectual ; and, therefore, while I pray for the 
 gifts of his Spirit, I feel the necessity of being still 
 more earnest for His grace. 4 Whether there be 
 tongues they shall cease ; whether there be know- 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 121 
 
 ledge, it shall vanish away ; but charity never 
 faileth.' Yesterday my mind was mercifully kept 
 free the whole day : and I ministered without dis- 
 traction, and moreover without fatigue. I do not 
 know when I have found myself so strong. The 
 state of the air affects me more than any thing else. 
 On Saturday, I completed my twenty-eighth year. 
 Shall I live to see another birth-day ? it will be 
 better ,to suppose not. I have not read Faber yet ; 
 but it seems evident to me that the Xlth of Daniel, 
 almost the whole of it, refers to future time. But 
 as the time of accomplishing the scriptures draws 
 on, knowledge shall increase. In solemn expecta- 
 tion we must wait, to see how our God will come. 
 How interesting are his doings ! We feel already 
 some of that rapture wherewith they sing above, 
 ' Great and wonderful are thy works, Lord God 
 Almighty ! just and true are thy ways, thou king 
 of saints!''' 
 
 " I did not write to you last week, because I was 
 employed night and day, on Monday and Tuesday, 
 with Sabat, in correcting some sheets for the press. 
 I begin my letter, now, immediately on receiving 
 yours of last week. T^he account of your com- 
 plaint, as you may suppose, grieves me exceed- 
 ingly ; not because I think that I shall outlive you, 
 but because your useful labours must be reduced to 
 one quarter of their present amount ; and that you 
 L 
 
122 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 may perhaps be obliged to take a voyage to E irope, 
 which involves loss of time and money. But, O 
 brother beloved ! what is life or death ? Nothing, 
 to the believer in Jesus. ' He that belie veth, 
 though he were dead, yet shall he live ; and he 
 that liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die. 
 The first and most natural effect of sickness, as I 
 have often found, is to cloud and terrify the mind. 
 The attention of the soul is arrested by the idea of 
 soon appearing in a new world ; and a sense of 
 guilt is felt, before faith is exercised in a Redeemer : 
 and for a time this will predominate ; for the same 
 faith that would overcome fear in health, must be 
 considerably strengthened to have the same ascend* 
 ency in sickness. I trust you will long live to do 
 the work of your Lord Jesus. My discoveries are 
 all at an end. I am just where I was ; in perfect 
 darkness, and tired of the pursuit. It is, however, 
 likely that I shall be constantly speculating on the 
 subject. My thirst after knowledge is very strong ; 
 but I pray continually that the Spirit of God may 
 hold the reins ; that I may mind the work of God 
 above all things ; and consider all things else as 
 merely occasional." 
 
 The preceding extracts show the progress of 
 Martyn and Sabat in their translations, the debility 
 of Martyn's health, and the new temptations of 
 study which were presented to his mind. In March 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 123 
 
 1809, a large place of worship was opened, but he 
 was not permitted to enjoy many services in it, as 
 he was sent by the East India Company to be 
 chaplain at Cawnpore, almost four hundred miles 
 from Dinapore, and seven hundred from Calcutta. 
 This journey he performed at the hottest season of 
 the year ; for two days and nights he travelled 
 without stopping, during which time the wind 
 seemed to him like flames, and he lay in his pa- 
 lanquin almost insensible. A lady of Cawnpore, 
 speaks as follows of his tour : 
 
 " The month of April, in the upper provinces of 
 Hindoostan, is one of the most dreadful months for 
 travelling throughout the year ; indeed, no Euro- 
 pean, at that time, can remove from place to place, 
 but at the hazard of his life. But Mr. Martyn had 
 that anxiety to be in the work which his heavenly 
 father had given him to do, that, notwithstanding 
 the violent heat, he travelled from Chunar to Cawn- 
 pore, the space of about four hundred miles. At 
 that time, as I well remember, the air was as hot and 
 dry as that which I have sometimes felt near the 
 mouth of a large oven ; no friendly cloud, or ver 
 dant carpet of grass, to relieve the eye from the 
 strong glare of the rays of the sun, pouring on the 
 sandy plains of the Ganges. Thus Mr. Martyn 
 travelled, journeying night and day, and arrived at 
 Cawnpore in such a state, that he fainted away 
 
124 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 as soon as he entered the house. When we charg- 
 ed him with the rashness of hazarding his life in 
 this manner, he always pleaded his anxiety to get 
 to the great work. He remained with us ten days, 
 suffering considerably at times from fever and pain 
 in the chest." 
 
 At Cawnpore there was no church, or regular 
 worship. Soon after his arrival, Marty n preached 
 to the soldiers in the open air, when, such was the 
 heat, although before sunrise, that many dropped 
 down as they stood around him in ranks. He 
 adopted the same course of public services as a* 
 Dinapore, and continued to superintend the Arabic 
 and a new Persian translation of the New Testa 
 ment, as the first one was found too imperfect for 
 publication. These duties occupied his whole time, 
 excepting when his duties occasionally required 
 him to take journeys to distant towns. 
 
 Having received intelligence of the fatal illness 
 of his only sister, the last tie to earthly objects 
 seems to have been broken. " What is there now," 
 he exclaimed, " that I should wish to live for? 
 what a barren desert, what a howling wilderness, 
 does this world appear ! But for the service of 
 God and his church, and the preparation of my 
 own soul, I do not know that I would wish to live 
 another day." It was this sister who first attempt- 
 ed to draw his attention to religion : and how must 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 125 
 
 he now have looked back upon the day, when, as 
 he confessed, the sound of the gospel from her lips 
 was grating to his ear ! 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 t 
 
 MR. MARTYN had been accustomed to give alms 
 to a number of the poor natives ; and to avoid the 
 frequent interruption of his studies, which their 
 calls occasioned, he fixed a time for them to come 
 to his door. As a great number of wretched be- 
 ings was thus collected, he determined to embrace 
 the opportunity of attempting to preach to them. 
 Of his first address to them he has left this ac- 
 count : 
 
 " I told them, after requesting their attention, 
 that I gave with pleasure the alms I could afford, 
 but wished to give them something better, namely, 
 eternal riches, or the knowledge of God, which 
 was to be had from God's word ; and then produc- 
 ing a Hindoostanee translation of Genesis, read the 
 first verse, and explained it word by word. In the 
 beginning, when there was nothing, no heaven, no 
 earth, but only God, he created without help, for 
 his own pleasure. But who is God ? One so 
 great, so good, so wise, so mighty, that none can 
 L2 
 
126 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 know him as he ought to know : but yet we must 
 know that he knows us. When we rise up, or sit 
 down, or go out, he is always with us. He created 
 heaven and earth ; therefore every thing in heaven 
 sun, moon, and stars. Therefore how should 
 the sun be God, or the moon be fcod ? He created 
 every thing on earth ; therefore Ganges also : there- 
 fore how should Ganges be God ? Neither are they 
 like God. If a shoemaker make a pair of shoes, are 
 the shoes like him ? If a man make an image, the 
 image is not like man, his maker. Infer secondly, 
 if God made the heavens and the earth for you, 
 and made the meat also for you, will he not also- 
 feed you ? Know also, that he that made heaven 
 and earth can destroy them ; and will do it ; there- 
 fore fear God, who is so great ; and love God, who 
 is so good." 
 
 " I bless God," said Mr. Marty n, " for helping 
 me, beyond my expectation. Yet still my corrupt 
 heart looks forward to the next attempt with some 
 dread." 
 
 On the Sunday after this, he preached to at least 
 five hundred of this class. 
 
 " I did not," he remarks, " succeed so well as 
 before ; I suppose because I had more confidence 
 in myself, and less in the Lord. I fear they did 
 not understand me well ; but the few sentences 
 that were clear, they applauded. Speaking to them 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 127 
 
 of the sea and rivers, I spoke to them again of the 
 Ganges, that it was no more than other rivers. 
 God loved the Hindoos, but he loved other peo- 
 ple too ; and whatever river, or water, or other 
 good thing he gave the Hindoos, he gave other 
 people also : for all are alike before God. Ganges 
 therefore, is not to be worshipped ; because, so far 
 from being a God, it is not better than other rivers. 
 In speaking of the earth and moon, as a candle in 
 the house, so is the sun,' I said, ' in the heavens.' 
 But would I worship a candle in my hand ? These 
 were nice points ; I felt as if treading on tender 
 ground, and was almost disposed to blame myself 
 for imprudence. I thought, that amidst the silence 
 these remarks produced, I heard hisses and groans : 
 but a few Mohammedans applauded." 
 
 The number of persons on these occasions, some- 
 times amounted' to eight hundred, composed of Mo- 
 hammedans and Pagans. And though it was na- 
 tural for them to be very respectful and attentive, 
 n the supposition that their ill behaviour might 
 cause Martyn to refuse them charity, yet it was 
 evident that many were really interested in the new 
 doctrines he taught them. They sometimes made 
 sensible remarks in assent to what he declared ; or 
 kept entire silence, as if deeply thinking on it. 
 They were very much moved, at one time, when, 
 after detailing the history of God's judgment on 
 
128 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 Sodom, the preacher suddenly applied the subject 
 to themselves 
 
 " Do you too," he said, " repent of your sins, 
 and turn to God. For though you are not like 
 the men of Sodom, God forbid ! you are never- 
 theless sinners. Are there no thieves, railers, 
 extortioners, among you ? Be you sure that God 
 is angry. I say not that he will bum your town, 
 but that he will bum you. Haste, therefore, out 
 of Sodom. Sodom is the world, which is full 
 of sinners and sin. Come out, therefore, from 
 amongst them ; forsake not your worldly business, 
 but your sinful companions. Do not be like the 
 world, lest you perish with them. Do not, like 
 Lot, linger ; say not, to-morrow we will repent, 
 lest you never see to-morrow ; repent to-day. 
 Then, as Lot, seated on the hill, beheld the flames 
 in safety, you also, sitting on the hills of heaven, 
 shall behold the ruins of the world without fear." 
 
 But his health beginning to suffer, from his la- 
 bours and the heat of the climate, he was, with 
 great reluctance, compelled to give up this portion 
 of his services. He wrote to his friend, Mr. 
 Simeon, " I read your letter, of 6th of July, 1809, 
 cautioning me against over-exertion, with the con- 
 fidence of one who had nothing to fear. This was 
 only three weeks ago. Since the last Lord's day, 
 your kind advice was brought home to my mind, 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 12$ 
 
 accompanied with painful regret that T had not paid 
 more attention to it. My work last Sunday was 
 not more than usual, but far too much for me, I can 
 perceive. First, service to his Majesty's fifty-third 
 regiment, in the open air ; then at head-quarters ; 
 in the afternoon, preached to eight hundred natives ; 
 at night, to my little flock of Europeans. Which 
 of these can I forego ? The ministration of the 
 natives might be in the week : but I wish to attach 
 the idea of holiness to the Sunday. My evening 
 congregation, on Sunday, is attended by twice as 
 many as in the week-day ; so how can I let this 
 go?" 
 
 He was assisted for some time by Mr. Corrie, 
 from Calcutta, and once more attempted to address 
 the beggars ; but his weakness, and other symp- 
 toms of declining health, increased so much, that it 
 became necessary for him to leave Cawnpore. At 
 first, he determined to visit England for a short 
 time, thinking that he could there best renew his 
 strength ; but he afterwards concluded to visit Per- 
 sia and Arabia, that he might collect the opinions 
 of the learned natives, respecting the accuracy of 
 the translation of the New Testament into those 
 tongues, the first of which w r as supposed to be 
 written in a style not likely to be understood by 
 the common people, and therefore not yet publish- 
 ed, and the last being still unfinished. 
 
130 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 Or the first of October, 1810, he left Cawnpore 
 for this purpose, thus connecting the pursuit of 
 health with his great missionary enterprise. As 
 at Dinapore, he left this station just as a new 
 church was completed, in which he had the hap- 
 piness of preaching the first sermon, the day be- 
 fore his departure. On his voyage down the 
 Ganges to Aldeen, he visited the part of the army 
 he had before served ; but most of those of whom 
 he had cherished the strongest hopes, had neglect- 
 ed his warnings, and were ashamed to see him. 
 Nine only came to his boat, where he sang, pray- 
 ed with, and exhorted them. At Aldeen and Cal- 
 cutta, he enjoyed the society of his dear friends, 
 the missionaries, and preached frequently, though 
 exceedingly weak. One of his sermons was an ap- 
 peal to the Europeans, on behalf of the nine hun- 
 dred thousand natives of India, who possessed 
 Christianity in some form, but were destitute of the 
 Scriptures ; " many of them," as he said, " relaps- 
 ing fast to idolatry, and already, indeed, little better 
 than heathens." 
 
 " Mention not their meanness ; it is yours to 
 raise them from degradation. Despise not their 
 inferiority, nor reproach them for their errors ; they 
 cannot get a Bible to read. Had they been blessed 
 with your advantages, they would have been, per- 
 haps, more worthy of your respect. It has been 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 131 
 
 said with too much truth, that they scarcely deserve 
 the name of Christians. How is it possible that it 
 should be otherwise, without the Bible, when it is 
 considered how little oral instruction they receive." 
 The sermon concluded with this address : 
 
 4 'Imagine the sad situation of a sick or dying 
 Christian, who has just heard enough of eternity 
 to be afraid of death, and not enough of a Saviour 
 to look beyond it with hope. He cannot call for a 
 Bible to look for something to support him, or ask 
 his wife or child to read him a consolatory chapter. 
 The Bible, alas ! is a treasure which they never 
 had the happiness to possess. pity their distress, 
 you that have hearts to feel for the miseries of your 
 fellow creatures ; you that have discernment to see, 
 that a wounded spirit is far more agonizing than any 
 earth-begotten woes ; you that know that you too 
 must one day die, give unto him what may com- 
 fort him in a dying hour. The Lord, who loves 
 our brethren, who gave his life for them and for 
 you, who gave you the Bible before them, and now 
 wills that they should receive it from you, he will 
 reward you. They cannot recompense you, but 
 you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the 
 just. The King himself will say to you, ' inas- 
 much as ye have done it unto one of the least oi % 
 these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." 
 
 This sermon was printed in Calcutta, and con 
 
132 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYff. 
 
 tributed essentially to the institution of the Calcut- 
 ta Bible Society, and the liberal support it received. 
 
 His last discourse was in January 1811, from 
 the words of our Saviour, " One thing is needful;" 
 after which he left India, never more to return, 
 though hoping to recover his health and spend the 
 remainder of his life there. 
 
 " I now pass," he wrote, " from India to Ar$ 
 bia, not knowing the things that shall befall me 
 there, but assured that an ever-faithful God and Sa- 
 viour will be with me in all places, whithersoever 
 I go. May he guide me and protect me, and after 
 prospering me in the thing whereunto I go, bring 
 me back again to my delightful work in India. I 
 am perhaps leaving it to see it no more ; but the 
 will of God be done ; my times are in his hand, 
 and he will cut them as short as shall be most for 
 my good : and with this assuraiite, I feel that no- 
 thing need interrupt my work or my peace." 
 
 His passage from the mouth of the river Hoogley, 
 on which Calcutta is shifted, to Shiraz, the capi- 
 tal of Persia, occupied five months. The particu- 
 lars, which are worthy of notice, are given in his 
 own words. 
 
 " Bay of Bengal, January, 1811. 
 
 " I took a passage in the ship Ahmoody, Cap- 
 tain Kinsay, bound to Bombay. One of my fellow 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTTN. 133 
 
 passengers was the Honourable Mr. Elphinstone 
 who was proceeding to take the Residency of 
 Poonah. His agreeable manners and classical ac- 
 quirements, made me think myself fortunate in- 
 deed, in having such a companion, and I found his 
 company the most agreeable circumstance in my 
 voyage. 
 
 " Our captain was a pupil of Swartz,* of whom 
 he communicated many interesting particulars. 
 Swartz, with KolhofF and Jcenicke, kept a school 
 for half-caste children, about a mile and a half from 
 Tanjore ; but went every night to the Tanjore 
 church, to meet about sixty or seventy of the king's 
 regiment, who assembled for devotional purposes : 
 after which he officiated to their wives and children 
 in Portuguese. At the school, Swartz used to read, 
 in the morning, out of the German ' Meditation for 
 every day in the year ;' at night, he had family 
 prayer. Jcenicke taught geography ; Kolhoff, writ- 
 ing and arithmetic. They had also masters in 
 Persian and Malabar. 
 
 " At the time when the present Rajah was in 
 danger of his life, from the usurper of his uncle's 
 throne i Swartz used to sleep in the same room 
 with him. This was sufficient protection, * for 
 (said the captain,) Swartz was considered by the 
 
 * The life of this missionary has been published by the 
 American Sunday School Union. 
 
 M 
 
134 LIFE OF H\RY MARTYN. 
 
 natives as something more than mortal.' The old 
 Rajah, at his death, committed his nephew to 
 Swartz." 
 
 "Jan. 27th to 31. Generally unwell. In pray- 
 er, my views of my Saviour have been inexpressi- 
 bly consolatory. How glorious the privilege that we 
 exist but in him ; without him I lose the principle 
 of life, and am left to the power of native corrup- 
 tion, a rotten branch, a dead thing, that none can 
 make use of. This mass of corruption, when it 
 meets the Lord, changes its nature, and lives 
 throughout, and is regarded by God as a member 
 of Christ's body. This is my bliss, that Christ is 
 all. Upheld by him, I smile at death. It is no 
 longer a question about my own worthiness. I 
 glory in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 " Feb. 18th. Anchored at Bombay. This day 
 I finished the thirtieth year of my unprofitable life ; 
 the age at which David Brainerd finished his 
 course. I am now at the age at which the Saviour 
 of men began his ministry, and at which John the 
 Baptist called a nation to repentance. Let me now 
 think for myself, and act with energy. Hitherto 
 I have made my youth and insignificance an excuse 
 for sloth and imbecility : now let me have a cha- 
 racter, and act boldly for God." 
 
 " Feb. 24th. Preached at the Bombay church." 
 
 " March 25th. Embarked on board the Be- 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 135 
 
 nares, Captain Sealy ; who, in company with the 
 Prince of Wales, Captain Hepburn, was ordered to 
 cruise in the Persian Gulf, against the Arab pirates. 
 We got under way immediately, and were outside 
 the land before night." 
 
 " March 31. The European part of the ship's 
 crew, consisting of forty-five sailors and twelve ar- 
 tillerymen, were assembled on the quarter-deck to 
 hear divine service. I wondered to see so many 
 of the seamen inattentive ; but I afterwards found 
 that most of them were foreigners, French, Span- 
 ish, Portuguese, &c. We had prayers in the cabin 
 every night. In the afternoon I used to read to a 
 sick man below, and two or three othf-rs would 
 come to hear." 
 
 " April 2\. Anchored at Muscat, in Arabia 
 
 " May 22. Landed at Bushire." 
 
 " On 30th of May, our Persian dresses were 
 ready, and we set out for Shiraz. The Persian dress 
 consists of, first, stockings and shoes in one ; next, 
 a pair of large blue trowsers, or else a pair of huge 
 red boots ; then the shirt, then the tunic, and above 
 it the coat, both of chintz, and a great coat. I have 
 here described my own dress, most of which I 
 have on at this moment. On the head is worn an 
 enormous cone, made of the skin of the black Tar 
 tar sheep, with the wool on. If to this description 
 of my dress, I add, that my beard and mustachios 
 
136 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 have been suffered to grow undisturbed ever since 
 I left India, that I am sitting on a Persian carpet, 
 in a room without tables or chairs, and that I bury 
 my hand in the dish, without waiting for spoon or 
 plate, you will give me credit for being already an 
 accomplished oriental." 
 
 " At sunrise we came to our ground at Ahmedee, 
 and pitched our little tent under a tree ; it was the 
 only shelter we could get. At first the heat was 
 not greater than we had felt in India, but it soon 
 became so intense as to be quite alarming. When 
 the thermometer was above 112, fever heat, I be- 
 gan to lose my strength fast; at last, it became 
 quite intolerable. I wrapped myself up in a blanket, 
 and all the warm covering I could get, to defend 
 myself from the external air ; by which means the 
 moisture was kept a little longer upon the body, and 
 not so speedily evaporated as when the skin was 
 exposed : one of my companions followed my ex- 
 ample, and found the benefit of it. But the ther- 
 mometer still rising, and the moisture of the body 
 being quite exhausted, I grew restless, and thought 
 I should have lost my senses. The thermometer 
 at last stood at 126 ; in this state I composed my- 
 self, and concluded that though I might hold out a 
 
 day or two, death was inevitable. Captain , 
 
 who sat it out, continued to tell the hour and height 
 of the thermometer : and with what pl*aurr did 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 137 
 
 we hear of its sinking to 120, 118, &c. At last 
 the fierce sun retired, and I crept out, more dead 
 than alive. It was then a difficulty how I could 
 proceed on my journey ; for besides the immediate 
 effects of the heat, I had no opportunity of making 
 up for the last night's want of sleep, and had eaten 
 nothing. However, while they were loading the 
 mules I got an hour's sleep, and set out, the mule- 
 teer leading my horse, and Zachariah, my servant, 
 an Armenian, of Isfahan,, doing all in his power to 
 encourage me. The cool air of the night restored 
 me wonderfully, so that I arrived at our next stop- 
 ping place, with no other derangement than that 
 occasioned by want of sleep. Expecting another 
 such day as the former, we began to make prepara- 
 tion the instant we arrived on the ground. I got a 
 shelter made of the branches of the date tree, and 
 a Persian peasant to water it ; by this means the 
 thermometer did not rise higher than 114. But 
 what completely secured me from the heat, was a 
 large wet towel, which I wrapped round my head 
 and body, muffling up the lower part in clothes. 
 How could I but be grateful to a gracious Provi- 
 dence, for giving me so simple a defence against 
 what, I am persuaded, would have destroyed my 
 life that day. We took care not to go without 
 nourishment, as we had done ; the neighbouring 
 village supplied us with curds and milk. At sunset, 
 
 Mi 
 
138 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 rising up to go out, a scorpion fell upon my clothes ; 
 not seeing where it fell, I did not know what it 
 
 was ; but Captain pointing it out, gave the 
 
 alarm, and I struck it off, and he killed it. The 
 night before, we found a black scorpion in our tent ; 
 this made us rather uneasy ; so that, although we 
 did not start till midnight, we got no sleep, fearing 
 we might be visited by another scorpion. 
 
 " The next morning we arrived at the foot of the 
 mountains. A strong suffocating smell of naphtha,* 
 announced something more than ordinarily foul in 
 the neighbourhood. We saw a river ; what flowed 
 in it, it seemed difficult to say, whether it was wa- 
 ter, or green oil ; it scarcely moved, and the stones 
 which it laved, it left of a greyish colour, as if its 
 foul touch had given them the leprosy. Our place 
 of encampment this day was f a grove of date trees. 
 I threw myself down on the burning ground, and 
 slept : when the tent came up, I awoke, as usual, 
 in a burning fever. All this day, I had recourse to 
 a wet towel, which kept me alive, but would alloAV 
 of no sleep. It was a sorrowful sabbath ; but Cap- 
 tain read a few hymns, in which I found great 
 
 consolation. At nine in the evening we decamped. 
 The ground and air were, so insufferably hot, that 
 I could not travel without a wet towel round my 
 
 * A substance like liquid pitch, supposed to be produced by 
 subterranean fire. 
 
LIFE OF HEXRY MARTYN. 139 
 
 face and neck. This night, for the first time, we 
 began to ascend the mountains. The road often 
 passed so close to the edge of the tremendous pre- 
 cipices, that one false step of the horse would have 
 plunged his rider into inevitable destruction. In 
 such circumstances, I found it useless to attempt 
 guiding the animal, and therefore gave him the rein. 
 These poor animals are so used to jpurneys of this 
 sort, that they generally step sure. There was 
 nothing to mark the road, but the rocks being a 
 little more worn in one place than in another. 
 Sometimes my horse, which led the way, as being 
 the muleteer's, stopped, as if to consider about the 
 way : for myself, I could not guess, at such times, 
 where the road lay ; but he always found it. The 
 sublime scenery would have impressed me much, 
 in other circumstances : but my sleepiness and fa- 
 tigue rendered me insensible to every thing around 
 me. At last we- emerged, not on the top of a moun- 
 tain, to go down again, but to a plain, or upper 
 world." 
 
 " We rode briskly over the plain, breathing a 
 purer air, and soon came in sight of a fair edifice, 
 built by the king of 'the country for the refreshment 
 of pilgrims. In this caravansera we took up our 
 abode for the day. It was more calculated for 
 eastern, than European travellers, having no means 
 of keeping out the air and light. We found the 
 
140 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 thermometer at 110. At the passes we met a man 
 travelling down to Bushire, with a load of Ice, 
 which he willingly disposed of to us. The next 
 night we ascended another range of mountains, 
 and passed over a plain, where the cold was so 
 piercing, that with all the clothes we could muster, 
 we were shivering. At the end of this plain, we 
 entered a dark valley, contained by two ranges of 
 hills, approaching one another. The muleteer gave 
 notice that he saw robbers. It proved to be a false 
 alarm ; but the place was fitted to be a retreat for 
 robbers ; there being on each side caves and fast- 
 nesses from which they might have killed every 
 man of us. After ascending another mountain, we 
 descended by a very long and circuitous route into 
 an extensive valley, where we were exposed to the 
 sun till eight o'clock. Whether from the sun, or 
 from continued want of sleep, I could not, on my 
 arrival at Carzeroon, compose myself to sleep ; 
 there seemed to be a fire within my head, my skin 
 like a cinder, and the pulse violent. Through the 
 day it was again too hot to sleep, though the place 
 we occupied was a sort of summer-house, in a gar- 
 den of cypress-trees, exceedingly well fitted up 
 with mats and coloured glass. Had the caravan 
 gone on that night, I could not have accompanied 
 it ; but it halted here a day, by which means I got 
 a sort of night's rest, though I woke twenty times 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 141 
 
 to dip my burning" hands in water. Though Gar- 
 zeroon is the second greatest town in Fars, we 
 could get nothing but bread, milk, and eggs, and 
 those with difficulty." 
 
 " June 7th. The hours we were permitted to 
 rest, the musquitoes had effectually prevented me 
 from using ; so that I never felt more miserable 
 and disordered ; the cold was very severe ; for fear 
 of falling off, from sleep and numbness, I walked a 
 good part of the way. We pitched our tent in the 
 vale of Dustarjan, near a crystal stream ; the 
 whole valley was one green field, in which large 
 herds of cattle were browsing. The temperature 
 was about that of spring in England. Here a few 
 hours sleep recovered me, in some degree, from 
 the stupidity in which I had been for some days. 
 I awoke with a light heart, and said, ' He knoweth 
 our frame, and remembereth we are dust. He re- 
 deemeth our life from destruction, and crowneth 
 us with loving kindness and tender mercies. He 
 maketh us to lie down on the green pastures, and 
 leadeth us beside the still waters. And when we 
 have left this vale of tears, there is no more sorrow, 
 nor sighing, nor any more pain. The sun shall 
 not light upon thee, nor any heat ; but the Lamb 
 shall lead thee to living fountains of waters.' 
 
 " June 8th. Went on to a caravansera, where 
 we passed the day. At night set out upon our last 
 
142 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 march for Shiraz. Sleepiness, my old companion 
 and enemy, again overtook me. I was in perpetual 
 danger of falling off my horse, till at last I pushed 
 on to a considerable distance, planted my back 
 against a wall, and slept, I know not how long, till 
 the good muleteer came up, and gently waked me." 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 HE arrived the next morning at Shiraz, the capi- 
 tal of the Persian empire. His first object was to 
 ascertain from those best skilled in the language, 
 how well Sabat's Persian translation would be un- 
 derstood by the people. Finding that their opinion 
 was against it, he, in a little more than a week af- 
 ter his arrival, undertook the task anew, with the 
 assistance of Mirza Seid Ali Khan, who belonged 
 to the sect called Soofees. Whilst engaged in this 
 work, he was visited constantly by learned Per- 
 sians, who argued with him respecting the Christian 
 religion and Mohammedism. But their prejudices 
 in favour of their sensual creed were too strong to 
 yield to mere arguments. Some of them were Jews 
 who had become Mussulmans ; a very frequent 
 change, as every such convert is rewarded with a 
 new dress, by the prince. The condition of these 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 143 
 
 wandering descendants of Abraham, greatly excited 
 nis sympathy. On one occasion " while walking 
 in the garden, in some disorder from vexation, two 
 Mussulman Jews came up, and asked me what 
 would become of them in another world ? the Mo- 
 hammedans were right in their way, tney supposed, 
 and we in ours ; but what must they expect ? After 
 rectifying their mistake as to the Mohammedans, I 
 mentioned two or three reasons for believing that 
 we are right : such as their dispersion, and the ces- 
 sation of sacrifices, immediately on the appearance 
 of Jesus. ' True, true,' they said, with great feeling 
 and seriousness ; indeed, they seemed disposed to 
 yield assent to any thing I said. They confessed 
 they had become Mohammedans only on compul- 
 sion; and that Abdoolghunee wished to go to Bag- 
 dad, thinking he might throw off the mask there with 
 safety ; but asked, what I thought? I said that 
 the governor was a Mohammedan. ' Did I think Sy- 
 ria safer ?' ' The safest place in the east,' I said, 
 ' was India.' Feelings of pity for God's ancient 
 people, and having the awful importance of eternal 
 things impressed on my mind, by the seriousness 
 of their inquiries as to what would become of them, 
 relieved me from the pressure of my comparatively 
 insignificant distresses. I, a poor Gentile, blest, 
 honoured, and loved, secured for ever by the ever- 
 lasting covenant, whilst the children of the king- 
 
144 LIFE OF HENRY MARTY3S. 
 
 dom are still lying in outward darkness ! Well 
 does it become me to be thankful." 
 
 Mr. Martyn did not discourage the love of dispu- 
 tation manifested by the natives, hoping it might 
 open the way for impressing the truth, and finding 
 that his assistant had already become interested in 
 the gospel history. But in consequence of his re- 
 moving from the city to the suburbs, that he might 
 enjoy a pleasant garden and a purer air, he was not 
 so much in the way of interruption, and his visiters 
 became less numerous. In that retirement, by the 
 side of a clear stream, and amidst vines and orange 
 trees, he devoted himself constantly to the com- 
 pletion of his important task. 
 
 The curiosity and interest with which the mis- 
 sionary was regarded, was not confined to a few 
 private individuals of Shiraz. The Professor of 
 Mohammedan law agreed to hold a public dispute 
 with him, and we abridge the account of the meet- 
 ing as given by Mr. Martyn, that our readers may 
 have an idea of the kind of arguments used in fa- 
 vour of the imposture of Mohammed, and against 
 the truth of the gospel. 
 
 " He talked for a full hour about the soul : its be- 
 ing distinct from the body, superior to the brutes, 
 &c. ; about God, his unity, invisibility, and other ob- 
 vious and acknowledged truths. After this follow- 
 ed another discourse. At length, after clearing his 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 145 
 
 way for miles around, he said, ' that philosophers 
 had proved, that a single being could produce but 
 a single being ; that the first thing God had created 
 was Wisdom, a being perfectly one with him ; af- 
 ter that, the souls of men, and the seventh heaven ; 
 and so on, till he produced matter, which is merely 
 passive.' He illustrated the theory, by comparing 
 all being to a circle : at one extremity of the diame- 
 ter is God, at the opposite extremity of the diame- 
 ter is matter, than which, nothing in the world is 
 meaner. Rising from thence, the highest stage of 
 matter is connected with the lowest stage of vege- 
 tation; the highest of the vegetable world, with 
 the lowest of the animal, and so on, till we ap- 
 proach the point from which all proceeded. ' But,' 
 said he, ' you will observe, that next to God, some- 
 thing ought to be, which is equal to God ; for since 
 it is equally near, it possesses equal dignity. What 
 this is, philosophers are not agreed upon. You,' 
 said he, ' say it is Christ : but we, that it is the 
 Spirit of the Prophets. All this is what the phi- 
 losophers have proved, independently of any par- 
 ticular religion.' There were a hundred things in 
 the Professor's harangue, that might have been 
 excepted against, as mere dreams, supported by no 
 evidence ; but I had no inclination to call in ques- 
 tion dogmas, on the truth or falsehood of which, 
 nothing in religion depended. 
 N 
 
146 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 
 
 " The Professor, at the close of one of his long 
 speeches, said to me, ' You see how much there is 
 to be said on these subjects ; several visits will be 
 necessary ; we must come to the point by degrees.' 
 Perceiving how much he dreaded a close discus- 
 sion, I did not mean to hurry him, but let him talk 
 on, not expecting we should have any thing about 
 Mohammedism the first night. But at the instiga- 
 tion of the Jew, I said, ' Sir, you see that Abdool- 
 ghunee is anxious that you should say .something 
 about Islam.'* He was much displeased at being 
 brought so prematurely to the weak point, but 
 could not decline accepting so direct a challenge. 
 * Well,' said he to me, * I must ask you a few 
 questions. Why do you believe in Christ?' He 
 then enumerated the persons who had spoken of the 
 miracles of Mohammed, and told a long story about 
 Salmon, the Persian, who had come to Mohammed 
 1 asked, whether this Salmon had written an ac- 
 count of the miracles he had seen ?' He confessed 
 that he had not. ' Nor,' said I, ' have you a single 
 witness to the miracles of Mohammed.' He then 
 tried to show, that though they had not, there was 
 still sufficient evidence. ' For,' said he, * suppose 
 five hundred persons should say that they heard 
 some particular thing of a hundred persons who 
 
 * Another name for Mohammedism, signifying the state of sal' 
 vatiun 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 147 
 
 were with Mohammed, would that be sufficient 
 evidence, or not ?' ' Whether it be or not,' said I, 
 ' you have no such evidence as that, nor any thing 
 like it ; but if you have, as they are something like 
 witnesses, we must proceed to examine them, and 
 see whether their testimony deserves credit.' 
 
 " After this, the Koran was mentioned ; but as 
 the company began to thin, and the great man had 
 not a sufficient audience before whom to display 
 his eloquence, the dispute was not so brisk. He 
 did not, indeed, seem to think it worth while to 
 notice my objections. He mentioned a well known 
 sentence in the Koran, as being inimitable. I pro- 
 duced another sentence, and begged to know why 
 it was inferior to the Koranic one. He declined 
 saying why, under pretext that it required such 
 a knowledge of rhetoric, in order to understand 
 his proofs, as I probably did not possess. A 
 scholar afterwards came to Seid Ali, with twenty 
 reasons for preferring Mohammed's sentence to 
 mine." 
 
 " It was midnight when dinner, or rather supper, 
 was brought in : it was a sullen meal. The great 
 man was silent, and I was sleepy. Seid Ali, how 
 ever, had not had enough. While burying hia 
 hand in the dish of the professor, he softly men- 
 tioned some more of my objections. He was so 
 vexed, that he scarcely answered any thing; but 
 
148 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 after supper, told a very long story, all reflecting 
 upon me." 
 
 His account of a subsequent appearance before a 
 celebrated Soofie, will further exemplify the cha- 
 racter of the learned men of India, who persist in 
 rejecting the truth. 
 
 " In the evening we went to pay a long-promised 
 visit to Mirza Abulcasim, one of the most re- 
 nowned Soofies in all Persia. We found several 
 persons sitting in an open court, in which a few 
 greens and flowers were placed ; the master was in 
 a corner. He was a very fresh-looking old man, 
 with a silver beard. I was surprised to observe 
 the downcast and sorrowful looks of the assembly, 
 and still more at the silence which reigned. After 
 sitting some time in expectation, and being not at 
 all disposed to waste my time in sitting there, I 
 said softly to Seid Ali, ' What is this ?' He said, 
 4 It is the custom here, to think much, and speak 
 little.' * May I ask the master a question ?' said 
 I. With some hesitation he consented to let me : 
 so I begged Jaffier Ali to inquire, ' Which is the* 
 way to be happy ?' 
 
 " This he did in his own manner : he began by 
 observing, that ' there was a great deal of misery in 
 the world, and that the learned shared as largely 
 in it as the rest ; that I wished, therefore, to know 
 what we must de to escape it.' The master re- 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. . 149 
 
 plied, that * for his part, he did not know, but that 
 it was usually said that the subjugation of the pas- 
 sions was the shortest way to happiness.' 
 
 " After a considerable pause, I ventured to ask, 
 1 what were his feelings in the prospect of death ; 
 hope, or fear ; or neither ?' * Neither,' said he ; 
 and that ' pleasure and pain were both alike.' I 
 asked. ' whether he had attained this apathy ?' He 
 said, * No.' ' Why do you think it attainable ?' He 
 could not tell. ' Why do you think that pleasure 
 and pain are not the same ?' said Seid AH, taking 
 his master's part. ' Because,' said I, ' I have the 
 evidence of my senses for it. And you also act as 
 if there was a difference. Why do you eat, but that 
 you fear pain ?' These silent sages sat unmoved." 
 A defence of the religion of the Koran was also 
 published in Arabic, by the principal theological 
 professor, or instructer of Mohammedan priests, 
 upon which much labour had been spent, and 
 which was pronounced to be the best work on 
 the subject that had ever appeared. The work 
 concluded with an appeal to Mr. Martyn, to con- 
 sider the subject, and confess the truth of Moham- 
 medism. He immediately wrote a reply to it in 
 Persian, exposing the heresy and evil of the false 
 faith, and showing the evidences of the Christian re- 
 ligion ; appealing, in turn, to the Mussulman author 
 'to view the subject impartially, and to embrace the 
 
150 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 truth without fear of the contempt, or even death it 
 might cost him. The learned men of the sect were 
 very fond of arguing with Mr. Martyn on the sub- 
 ject ; but as their desire was not humbly to seek 
 the way of God, but to indulge their love of debate, 
 and to display their skill in it, there was little good 
 effected by their conversations. The nephew of 
 the prince said, in the true spirit of Mohammed, 
 that the proper answer to the missionary was the 
 sword ; but the prince himself acknowledged that 
 his faith in the false prophet was shaken, and 
 greatly praised the reply of Mr. Martyn, who, 
 when he was asked by the prince, what were the 
 laws of Christianity, (meaning how often it requir- 
 ed its believers to pray, wash, &c.,) said, that it had 
 two commandments "Thou shalt love the Lord 
 thy God, with all thy heart, and all thy soul, and aF. 
 thy strength ; and thy neighbour, as thyself." In 
 these debates he had to endure great contempt from 
 his opponents, which is one of the severest trials 
 a man of honourable feeling, and a minister of the 
 gospel, can be called to suffer. It must have been 
 a great aggravation of the sorrows of our Redeemer, 
 after he had come from Heaven, out of pure mercy to 
 men, to find himself disbelieved, and his affectionate 
 entreaties, and the proofs of his doctrine, treated 
 with ridicule and scorn, by the very persons he^ 
 iiad come to seek and to save. 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 151 
 
 It was the recollection of what Christ had suf- 
 fered in this respect, that supported Mr. Martyn 
 amidst the scoffs of the proud Mohammedans ; and 
 he often repeated the verse, 
 
 " If on my face, for thy dear name, 
 
 Shame and reproaches be ; 
 All hail reproach, and welcome shame, 
 If thou remember me." 
 
 Although these men pass for sages amongst their 
 own people, they were very ignorant, in compari- 
 son with well-educated Europeans. One of the 
 sectaries, for instance, maintained against Mr. 
 Martyn, that there was no difference between 
 pleasure and pain ; and he was once called upon 
 in a large company, assembled at the house of the 
 prime minister of the territory, to prove that the 
 earth moves : but no one understood his expla- 
 nations. Sometimes he would be questioned on 
 great principles which naturally led him to speak 
 of the gospel ; but as soon as he mentioned any of 
 its doctrines, they would divert the conversation 
 to some of the ridiculous ideas, upon which they 
 were accustomed to waste their thoughts. For 
 instance, one of the men who accompanied him 
 as a guard to visit the ruins of Persepolis, a cele- 
 brated ancient city, not far from Shiraz, " often 
 broke a long silence," he says, " by a sudden ques- 
 tion of this sort : ' Sir, what is the chief good of 
 life ?' I replied, 4 The love of God :' ' What 
 
152 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 next?' ' The love of man.' That is,' said he, to 
 have men love us, or to love them ?' ' To love 
 them.' He did not seem to agree with me. Another 
 time he asked, ' Who were the worst people in the 
 world ?' I saidj * Those who know their duty, 
 and do not practise it.' At the house where I was 
 entertained, they asked me the question which the 
 Lord once asked, ' What think ye of Christ ?' I 
 generally tell them at first, what they expect to 
 hear, i The Son of God ;' but this time I said, 
 ' The same as you say, the word of God.' ' Was 
 he a Prophet ?' ' Yes, in some sense, he was a 
 Prophet ; but, what it chiefly concerns us to know, 
 he was an Atonement for the sins of men.' Not 
 understanding this, they made "no reply. They 
 next asked, ' What did I think of the soul ? was it 
 out of the body or in the body ?' I supposed the 
 latter. ' No,' they said, ' it was neither the one 
 nor the other ; but next to it, and the mover of the 
 body.' " 
 
 We have some other specimens of these discus- 
 sions. 
 
 " Aga Ali, of Media, came, and with him and 
 Mirza Ali, I had a long and warm discussion about 
 the essentials of Christianity. The Mede seeing 
 us at work upon the epistles, said, ' he should be 
 glad to read them ; as for the gospels, they were 
 nothing but tales, which were of no use to him 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 153 
 
 for instance,' said he, ' if Christ raised four hundred 
 dead to life, what is that to. me ?' I said, ' It cer- 
 tainly was of importance ; for his works were a 
 reason for our depending upon his words.' ' What 
 did he say,' asked he, ' that was not known before : 
 the love of God, humility, who does not know 
 these things ?' * Were these things,' said I, ' known 
 before Christ, either among Greeks or Romans, 
 with all their philosophy ?' They averred that 
 the Hindoo book Juh contained precepts of this 
 kind. I questioned its antiquity ; < but however 
 that may be,' I added, ' Christ came not to teach, 
 so much as to die; the truths I spoke of, as con- 
 firmed by his miracles, were those relating to his 
 person, such as, * Come unto me, all ye that labour 
 and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' 
 Here Mirza Seid Ali told him that I had professed 
 to have no doubt of my salvation. He asked what 
 I meant? I told him, ' that though sin still re- 
 mained, I was assured that it should not regain 
 dominion ; and that I should never come into con- 
 demnation, but was accepted in the Beloved.' Not 
 a little surprised, he asked Mirza Seid Ali whether 
 he comprehended this ? ' No,' said he, ' nor Mirza 
 ibraheem, to whom I mentioned it.' The Mede 
 again turning to me, asked, ' how do you know 
 this ? how do you know you have experienced the 
 second birth ?' ' Because,' said I, ' we have the 
 
154 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN 
 
 Spirit of the Father ; what he wishes, we wish ; 
 what he hates, we hate.' Here he began to be a 
 little more calm and less contentious, and mildly 
 asked, how I had obtained this peace of mind ; 
 ' Was it merely those books ?' said he, taking up 
 some of our sheets. I told him * These books, 
 with prayer.' ' What was the beginning of it,' said 
 he, ' the society of some friends ?' I related to him 
 my religious history, the substance of which was, 
 that I took my bible before God, in prayer, and 
 prayed for forgiveness through Christ, assurance 
 of it through his Spirit, and grace to obey his com- 
 mandments. They then both asked whether the 
 same benefit would be conferred on them ? I re- 
 plied ; ' I bring you this message from God, that 
 he who, despairing of himself, rests for righteous- 
 ness on the Son of God, shall receive the gift of the 
 Holy Ghost ; and to this I can add my testimony, 
 if that be worth any thing, that I have found the 
 promise fulfilled in myself ; but if you should not 
 find it so in you, accuse not the gospel of falsehood ; 
 it is possible that your faith might not be sincere ; 
 indeed, so fully am I persuaded that you do not 
 believe on the Son of God, that if you were to 
 entreat ever so earnestly for baptism, I should not 
 dare to administer it at this time, when you have 
 shown so many signs of an unhumbled heart/ 
 6 What ! would you have me believe,' said he, ' as 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 155 
 
 a child ?' ' Yes,' said I. True,' said he, 1 think 
 that is the only way.' Aga Ali said no more but 
 * Certainly he is a good man !' " 
 
 11 Aga Neeser came, and talked most captiously 
 and irrelevantly against all revealed religion. Three 
 years ago, he had thrown off the shackles of Mo- 
 hammed, and advised me to do the same with my 
 yoke. I told him, that I preferred my yoke to his 
 freedom. He was for sending me naked into a 
 wilderness ; but I would rather be a child under 
 the restraints of a parent, who would provide me 
 with food and clothing, and be my protector and 
 guide. To every thing I said, he had but one 
 answer. ' God is the sole agent ; sin and holiness, 
 happiness and misery, cause and effect, are all per- 
 fectly one.' Finding him determined to amuse 
 himself in this way, I said, These things will do 
 very well for the present, while reclining in gardens 
 and smoking pipes ; but not for a dying hour. How 
 many years of life remain ? You are about thirty, 
 perhaps thirty more remain. How swiftly have 
 the last thirty passed : how soon will the next 
 thirty be gone : and then we shall see. If you are 
 right, I lose nothing ; if I am right, you lose your 
 soul. Leaving out the consideration of all religion, 
 it is probable that the next world may be akin to 
 this, and our relation to both not dissimilar. But 
 nere we see that childhood is a preparation for 
 
156 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 manhood, and that neglect of the proper employ- 
 ments of childhood entails miseries in riper years. 5 
 The thought of death, and of separation from 
 his pleasures, made him serious ; or perhaps he 
 thought it useless to press me with any more of his 
 opinions." 
 
 Such was the state of the minds of the people 
 whom he hoped to bring to a reception of the 
 gospel, to renounce Mohammed, and " confess that 
 Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the 
 Father !" We may learn more of the nature of 
 their religion, by his account of the manner in 
 which their principal fast is observed. It is called 
 the fast of Ramazan, and is directed by the Koran 
 to be kept during the month called by that name. 
 
 " Sept. 20th. First day of the fast of Ramazan. 
 All the family had been up in the night, to take an 
 unseasonable meal, in order to fortify themselves 
 for the abstinence of the day. It was curious to 
 observe the effects of the fast in the house. The 
 master was scolding and beating his servants ; they 
 equally peevish and insolent ; and the beggars more 
 than ordinarily importunate and clamorous. At 
 noon, all the city went to the grand mosque.* My 
 host came back with an account of new vexations 
 there. He was chatting with a friend, near the 
 door, when a great preacher, Hagi Mirza, arrived, 
 * The place of Mohammedan worship. 
 
LIFE HENRY MARTYN. 157 
 
 hundreds of followers. Why do you not 
 say your prayers ?' waid the new comers to the 
 two friends. ' We have finished,' said they. ' Well,' 
 said the other, ' if you cannot pray a second time 
 with us, you had better move out of the way.' 
 Rather than join such turbulent zealots, they re- 
 tired. The reason of this unceremonious address 
 was, that these loving disciples had a desire to pray 
 all in a row with their master, which, it seems, is 
 the custom. There is no public service in the 
 mosque ; every man there prays for himself." 
 
 " Sept. 22d. Sunday. My friends returned 
 from the mosque, full of indignation at what they 
 had witnessed there. The former governor of 
 Bushire complained to the vizier, in the mosque, 
 that some of his servants had treated him brutally. 
 The vizier, instead of attending to his complaint, 
 ordered them to do their work a second time j 
 which they did, kicking and beating him with 
 their slippers, in the most ignominious way, before 
 all the mosque. This unfiappy people groan 
 under the tyranny of their governors ; yet nothing 
 subdues or tames them. Happy Europe ! how 
 has God favoured the sons of Japheth, by causing 
 them to embrace the gospel ! How dignified are 
 all the nations of Europe compared with this 
 nation ! Yet the people are clever and intelligent, 
 and more calculated to become great and powerful 
 O 
 
158 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN, 
 
 than any of the nations of the east, had they a good 
 government, and the Christian religion." 
 
 " Oct. ls. Thousands every day assemble at 
 the mosque ; it is quite a lounge with them. Each, 
 as soon as he has said his prayers, sits down and 
 talks to his friend. The multitude press to hear 
 Hagi Mohammed Hasan. One day they thronged 
 him so much that he made some error in his pros* 
 trations. This put him into such a passion, that 
 he wished that Omar's* curse might come upon 
 him, if he preached to them again. However, a 
 day or two after, he thought better of it. This 
 preacher is famous for letting out his money for 
 interest; and therefore, in spite of his eloquence, 
 he is not very popular." 
 
 " Oct. 7th. I was surprised by a visit from the 
 great Soofie doctor, who, while most of the people 
 were asleep, came to me for some wine. I plied 
 him with questions innumerable ; but he returned 
 nothing but incoherent answers, and sometimes no 
 answer at all. Having laid aside his turban, he 
 put on his night-cap, and soon fell asleep upon the 
 carpet. Whilst he lay there, his disciples came, 
 but would not believe, when I told them who was 
 there, till they came and saw the sage asleep. 
 When he awoke, they came in and seated them- 
 
 * Omar was the second of the Caliphs, or successors of Mo- 
 hammed 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 159 
 
 selves at the greatest possible distance, and were 
 all as still as if in a church. 
 
 " The real state of this man seems to be despair, 
 and it is well if it do not end in madness. I 
 preached to him the kingdom of God : mentioning 
 particularly how I had found peace from the Son 
 of God and the Spirit of God : through the first, 
 forgiveness ; through the second, sanctification. 
 He said it was good, but said it with the same 
 unconcern with which he admits all manner of 
 things, however contradictory. Poor soul! he is 
 sadly bewildered. 
 
 " At a garden called Shah Chiragh, in which is 
 the tomb of the brother of one of the Imans, who 
 \vas killed on the spot, a miracle is wrought every 
 Ramazan. The proprietor of the garden, in whose 
 family it has been for ages, finds its supposed 
 sanctity abundantly profitable, as he is said to 
 make $9,000 a year of it. To keep alive the zeal 
 of the people, who make their offerings there every 
 day, he procures a villager, who pretends to be 
 sick, and crying to Ali* for help ; and then, on the 
 appointed day, recovers. Though this farce is 
 played off every year, the simpletons are never 
 undeceived. Presents of sheep, fowls, sweetmeats, 
 money, flowed in upon the proprietor, who skil- 
 fully turned all to the best advantage. Those who 
 * A cousin of Mohammed, and head of a religious sect. 
 
. 60 LIFE OF HENRf MAR f TV. 
 
 wished to see the man's face, were to p*\y so much , 
 those who were anxious to touch him, were to pay 
 so much more ; and so on. 
 
 " On two days in the Ramazan, t^$edies were 
 acted at our house, in the women's ccrirt. Two 
 or three men, dressed in the Khan's co'\rt-robes, 
 spouted ^nd sung for an hour, before an immense 
 concourse of women, all veiled. The subject on 
 the first day was the death of Mohammed ; on the 
 second, that of Iman Hosyn." 
 
 " Oct. 18th. " The Ramazan ended, or ought 
 to have ended, but the moon disappointed them. 
 The Moollahs not having seen the new moon, 
 would not allow the fast to be over, and the people 
 were, in consequence, all in confusion ; for not 
 having eaten in the night, they were not at all 
 disposed to go through the day fasting. At last 
 some witnesses appeared, who vowed that they had 
 seen the silver bow. These were from the prince ; 
 but the Moollahs refused to admit them till seventy- 
 two of the same kind bore the same testimony. 
 This was no great number for a prince to produce ; 
 so the seventy-two appeared, and the feast was 
 proclaimed." 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 161 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 THE Persian version of the New Testament 
 being now nearly finished, Mr. Martyn, with his 
 native assistant, commenced the translation of the 
 Psalms of David into Persian, from the Hebrew. 
 From his diary in the beginning of 1812, it appears 
 that he was not satisfied with his Persian New 
 Testament. 
 
 " The last has been, in some respects, a memora- 
 ble year. I have been led, by what I have reason 
 to consider as the particular providence of God, to 
 this place, and have undertaken an important work, 
 which has gone on without material interruption, 
 and is now nearly finished. I like to find myself 
 employed usefully, in a way I did not expect 01 
 foresee, especially if my own will is in any degree 
 crossed by the work unexpectedly assigned me ; 
 as there is then reason to believe that God is act- 
 ing. The present year will probably be a perilous 
 one; but my life is of little consequence, whether 
 I live to finish the Persian New Testament, or do 
 not. I look back with pity and shame upon my 
 former self, and on the importance I then attached 
 to my life and labours. The more I see of my 
 own works, the more I am ashamed of them. 
 Coarseness and clumsiness mar all the works of 
 
162 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 
 
 man. I am sick when I look at man, and his 
 wisdom, and his doings ; and am relieved only by 
 reflecting, that we have a city whose builder and 
 maker is God. The least of His works it is 
 refreshing to look at. A dried leaf, or a straw, 
 makes me feel myself in good company : compla- 
 cency and admiration take place of disgust. 
 
 " I compared, with pain, our Persian translation 
 with the original ; to say nothing of the precision 
 and elegance of the sacred text, its perspicuity 
 is that which sets at defiance all attempts to equal 
 it." 
 
 But the more he read and studied the sacred scrip- 
 tures, the stronger attachment he felt towards them, 
 and so far from becoming tired of them, from hav- 
 ing them so constantly in his hands, he used to 
 turn to them for comfort in all his sorrows. 
 
 " Feb. 2d. From what I suffer in this city, I 
 can understand the feelings of Lot. The face of 
 the poor Russian appears to me like the face of an 
 angel, because he does not tell lies. Heaven will 
 be heaven, because there will not be one liar there. 
 The word of God is more precious to me at this 
 time than I ever remember it to have been ; and 
 of all the promises in it, none is more sweet to me 
 than this ' He shall reign till he hath put all ene- 
 mies under his feet.' ' 
 
 " Feb. 3d. A packet arrived from India, without 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 163 
 
 a single letter for me. It was some disappoint* 
 ment to me ; but let me be satisfied with my God ; 
 and if I cannot have the comfort of hearing from 
 my friends, let me return with thankfulness to his 
 word, which is a treasure of which none envy me 
 the possession, and where I can find what will 
 more than compensate for the loss of earthly enjoy- 
 ments. Resignation to the will of God is a lesson 
 which I must learn, and which I trust he is teach- 
 ing me." 
 
 In the earlier part of his life he felt a great in- 
 crease of spiritual feeling and enjoyment, in conse- 
 quence of having for a time scarcely any other 
 book to read than the Bible. 
 
 Mr. Martyn was sometimes encouraged to be- 
 lieve that the constant perusal of the scriptures had 
 made a serious impression on the mind of Mirza 
 Seid Ali, his assistant in translation. He was evi- 
 dently interested in his employment, and even went 
 so far as to acknowledge his belief in Christ, as the 
 Son of God, and to express his willingness to trust 
 in him for salvation, and make a public profession 
 of his faith. But his conduct at other times mani- 
 fested, that he had only a belief in these truths as 
 facts, and that he did not really submit himself to God 
 by faith and repentance. His candour was evinced 
 in a confession which he made, on a point in which 
 the natural disposition of his countrymen inclines 
 
!64 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 them to be very perverse. He had been boasting 
 of the humility and simplicity of his sect, the 
 Soofies ; upon which Mr. Marty n remarked, that if 
 he was really humble, he would not dispute so 
 boldly as he did, but would be like a child. Upon 
 hearing this he did not speak, except to acknow- 
 ledge, k< True, I have no humility;" and afterwards, 
 in a tone of distress, said, " The truth is, we are in a 
 state of compound ignorance ; ignorant, yet igno 
 rant of our ignorance." When their translation 
 was finished, Mr. Martyn remarked, " Mirza Seid 
 Ali never now argues against the truth, nor makes 
 any remarks but of a serious kind. He speaks of 
 his dislike to some of the Soofies, on account of 
 their falsehood and drunken habits. This approach 
 to the love of morality, is the best sign of a change 
 for the better, which I have yet seen in him. As 
 often as he produces the New Testament, which 
 he always does when any of his friends come, his 
 brother and cousin ridicule him ; but he tells them 
 that, supposing no other benefit to have been de- 
 rived, it is certainly something better to have 
 gained all this information about the religion of 
 Christians, than to have loitered away the year in 
 the garden." 
 
 The Persian New Testament was completed in 
 February, 1812, and the Psalms in March ; and on 
 the 24th May, Mr. Martyn left Shiraz, in company 
 
' btf Lfic 
 Dtp? stony JT'y 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 165 
 
 with an English clergyman, for the purpose of pre- 
 senting a written copy of the Testament to the 
 king of Persia, who was encamped between Shiraz. 
 and Tebriz. Before he left Shiraz, he maintained 
 the doctrine that Christ was God and the Creator, 
 before a large company of Moollahs, in the palace 
 of one of the princes. 
 
 On arriving at the camp about |Jie 9th of June, 
 he waited on the prime minister, to learn how he 
 should be able to lay the book before the king. 
 The minister detained him two hours in a debate 
 respecting the Christian religion, mixed, as usual, 
 with ridiculous opinions on all subjects. At \he 
 house of the vizier, some days afterwards, he was 
 attacked on the same subject, before a large com- 
 pany. Towards the close of the discussion the 
 vizier told him, " You had better say, God is God, 
 and Mohammed is the prophet of God ;" Mr. 
 Martyn at once replied, " God is : God, and Jesus 
 is the Son of God," which excited their anger, and 
 they left him with great contempt. " Thus," said 
 he, " I walked away alone to my tent, to pass the 
 rest of the day, in heat and dirt. What have I 
 done, thought I, to merit all this scorn ? Nothing, 
 I trust, but bearing testimony to Jesus. I thought 
 over these things in prayer, and my troubled heart 
 found that peace which Christ hath promised to his 
 disciples." 
 
166 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 The vizier having sent him word that no English- 
 man could be permitted to see the king, unless pre- 
 sented by the English ^ambassador, or having a 
 letter of introduction from him, Mr. Martyn pro- 
 ceeded towards Tebriz, his residence, in company 
 with the English clergyman, and some natives for 
 servants and guides. Tebriz or Tauris, is in the 
 northern part of Persia, seven hundred miles from 
 Shiraz, and- alfteast twenty-five hundred from Cal- 
 cutta. " As I sat down in the dust, on a shady* 
 side of a walled village, by which we passed, and 
 surveyed the plains over which our road lay, I 
 sighed at the thought of my dear friends in India 
 and England ; of the vast regions I must traverse 
 before I can get to either, and of the various and 
 unexpected hindrances, which present themselves to 
 my going forward ; I comfort myself with the hope 
 that my God has something for me to do, by thus 
 delaying my departure." They met with much 
 insulting treatment on the road, especially from the 
 various officers and servants of the king, who had 
 possession of the best accommodations, and seemed 
 to delight in an opportunity of ill-treating Europe- 
 ans. On the 25th of June, they were both seized 
 with fever, and unable to proceed. They were 
 afraid they would be unable to procure food and 
 lodging, as their money failed, and no one would lend 
 to them, until a poor mule-driver became security 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYtf. 167 
 
 for them. His journal is little else than a detail of 
 Bufferings. He appears to have joined a caravan of 
 travellers going the same route. 
 
 " We had now eaten nothing for two days. My 
 mind was much disordered from head-ache and 
 giddiness, from which I was seldom free ; but my 
 heart, I trust, was with Christ and his saints. To 
 live much longer in this world of sickness and pain 
 seemed no way desirable ; the most favourite pros- 
 ' pects of my heart seemed very poor and childish ; 
 and cheerfully would I have exchanged them all for 
 the unfading inheritance." 
 
 " June 27th. My Armenian servant was attack- 
 ed in the same way. The rest did not get me the 
 things that I wanted, so that 1 passed the third day 
 in the same exhausted state ; my head, too, was 
 tortured with shocking pains, such as, together with 
 the horror I felt at being exposed to the sun, showed 
 me plainly to what to' ascribe my sickness. To- 
 wards evening, two more of our servants were 
 attacked in the same way, and lay groaning from 
 pains in the head." 
 
 " June 2&th. All were much recovered, but in 
 the afternoon I again relapsed. During a high 
 
 fever, Mr. C read to me, in bed, the epistle to 
 
 the Ephesians, and I never felt the consolations of 
 that divine revelation of mysteries more sensibly 
 and solemnly. Rain in the night prevented our 
 setting off." 
 
168 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYrt. 
 
 " June 29th. My ague and fever returned, with 
 such a head-ache, that I was almost frantic. Again 
 and again I said to myself, Let patience have her 
 perfect work;' and kept pleading the promises, 
 ' When thou passest through the waters, I will be 
 with thee,' <fcc. ; and the Lord did not withhold 
 his presence. I endeavoured to repel all the dis- 
 ordered thoughts that the fever occasioned, and to 
 keep in mind that all was friendly ; a friendly Lord 
 presiding ; and nothing exercising me but what 
 would show itself at last friendly. A violent per- 
 spiration at last relieved the acute pain in my head, 
 and my heart rejoiced ; but as soon as that was 
 over, the exhaustion it occasioned, added to the 
 fatigue from the pain, left me in as low a state of 
 depression as ever I was in. I seemed about to 
 sink into a long fainting fit, and I almost wished it ; 
 but at this moment, a little after midnight, I was 
 summoned to mount my horse, and set out, rather 
 dead than alive. We had a thunder-storm with 
 hail." 
 
 " July 1st. A long and tiresome march to Sare- 
 hund : in twenty-eight miles there was no village. 
 They had nothing to sell but buttermilk and bread ; 
 but a servant of Abbas Mirza, happening to be at 
 the same caravansera, sent us some flesh of a 
 mountain cow, which he had shot the day before. 
 All day I had scarcely the right recollection of 
 myself, from the violence of the ague." 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 169 
 
 " July 2d. At two in the morning we set out 
 I hardly know when I have been so disordered. I 
 had little or no recollection of things, and what I 
 did remember, at times, of happy scenes in India 
 or England, served only to embitter my present 
 situation. Soon after removing into the air, I was 
 seized with a violent ague, and in this state I went 
 on till sun-rise. At fourteen miles, we found a fine 
 caravansera, apparently very little used, as the grass 
 was growing in the court. There was nothing all 
 round but the barren rocks, which generally 
 roughen the country before the mountain rears 
 its height. Such an edifice, in such a situation, 
 was cheering. Soon after, we came to a river, 
 over which was a high bridge ; I sat down in the 
 shade under it, with two camel-drivers. The 
 caravan, as it happened, forded the river, and 
 
 passed on, without my perceiving it. Mr. C , 
 
 seeing no signs of me, returned, and after looking 
 about for some time, espied my horse grazing ; he 
 concluded immediately that the horse had flung me 
 from the bridge into the river, and was almost 
 i-eady to give me up for lost. My speedy appear- 
 ance from under the bridge relieved his terror and 
 anxiety. The pass was a mere nothing to those 
 at Bushire ; in fact it was no part of the mountain 
 we climbed, but only a few hills. In a natural 
 opening in the mountains, on the other side, was a 
 P 
 
170 LIFE OP HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 river, with most of its bed dry ; and over it a bridge 
 of many arches, which led us to an unwalled village, 
 surrounded by corn-fields, which we reached at 
 ten o'clock. Half the people still continue ill ; 
 for myself, I am, through God's infinite mercy, 
 recovering." 
 
 " July 3d. Started at three, full three hours 
 after we ought, and, as was to be expected, we all 
 got ill again, from being exposed to the sun six 
 hours ; for we did not get to our ground, Turcoman, 
 till eleven o'clock. It was a poor village among 
 the hills, over which our whole way lay, from 
 Mianu. Ascending one, and descending another, 
 was the whole of the variety, so that I do not know 
 when we have had a more tiresome day." 
 
 " July 4th. T so far prevailed as to get the 
 caravan into motion at midnight. Lost our way in 
 the night, but arriving at a village were set right 
 again. At eight came to Kilk caravansera, but not 
 stopping there, went on to a village, where we 
 arrived at half-past nine. The baggage not coming 
 up till long after, we got no breakfast till one 
 o'clock. In consequence of all these things, want 
 of sleep, want of refreshment, and exposure to the 
 sun, I was presently in a high fever ; which raged 
 so furiously all the day, that I was nearly delirious, 
 and it was some time before I could get the right 
 recollection of myself. I almost despaired, and do 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 171 
 
 now, of getting alive through this unfortunate jour- 
 ney. Last night I felt remarkably well, calm, and 
 composed, and sat reflecting on my heavenly rest, 
 with more sweetness of soul, abstraction from the 
 world, and solemn views of God, than I have had 
 for a long time. Oh ! for such sacred hours ! 
 This short and painful life would scarcely be felt, 
 could I live thus at heaven's gate. It being im- 
 possible to continue my journey in my present 
 state, and one of the servants also being so ill that 
 he could not move with safety, we determined to 
 halt one day at the village, and sent on a messenger 
 to Sir Gore Ousely, the ambassador, who was at 
 Tebriz, informing him of our approach." 
 
 " July 5th. Slept all day, and at sun-rise pre- 
 pared to proceed all the way to Tebriz, or at least 
 to Seid Abad ; but we did not set out till one in the 
 morning. I was again dreadfully disordered with 
 head-ache and fever. We got into a wretched 
 hovel, where the raging fever almost deprived me 
 of reason. In the cool of the evening we set out 
 to go to Seid Abad, distant about twelve miles. 
 When the caravan arrived near Seid Abad, it was 
 a dark night, about eleven o'clock, and not one of 
 the party knew where it was, nor could we discover 
 it by the barking of the dogs, the usual sign. Once 
 we heard the bark, and made sure of having at- 
 tained our object ; but found only some shepherds 
 
172 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 keeping watch over their flocks by night. These 
 boors showed us which road to take, which we 
 soon found ended in nothing ; so returning, we tried 
 to induce one of them to serve as a guide, with the 
 promise of any sum of money he required : but all 
 in vain. The only thing that remained to be done 
 was to lie down on the spot, and wait patiently for 
 the day : which I did, and caught such a cold, as, 
 with all our other exposures, consummated my 
 disorders. As soon as it was day, we found our 
 
 way to the village, where Dr. was waiting 
 
 for us. Not being able to stay for us, he went on 
 to Tebriz, and we as far as Wasmuch, where he 
 promised to procure for us a fine upper room fur- 
 nished ; but when we arrived, they denied that 
 there was any such place ; at last, after an hour's 
 threatening, we got admittance to it. An hour 
 before break of day I left it, in hopes of reaching 
 Tebriz before sun-rise. Some of the people seemed 
 to feel compassion for me, and asked me if I was 
 not very ill. At last I reached the gate, and feebly 
 asked for a man to show me the way to the am- 
 oassador's." 
 
 At Tebriz he was confined two months by a fever, 
 from which he did not expect to recover. He 
 wrote to a friend " We who are in Jesus, have 
 the privilege of viewing life and death as nearly 
 the same, since both are ours ; and I thank a 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 173 
 
 gracious Lord that sickness never came at a 
 time when I was more free from apparent reasons 
 for living. Nothing, seemingly, remains for me to 
 do, but to follow the rest of my family to the tomb." 
 
 The New Testament, which he was thus prevent- 
 ed from giving, in person, to the Persian monarch, 
 was, after Mr. Martyn's death, presented by the 
 ambassador ; and the king acknowledged the gift 
 in the following letter : 
 
 " In the name of the Almighty God, whose glory 
 is most excellent. 
 
 " It is our august command, that the dignified and 
 excellent, our trusty, faithful, and loyal well-wisher, 
 Sir Gore Ousely, Baronet, his Britannic Majesty's 
 Ambassador Extraordinary, (after being honoured 
 and exalted with the expressions of our highest 
 regard and consideration,) should know, that the 
 copy of the Gospel, which was translated into Per- 
 sian, by the learned exertions of the late Rev. Henry 
 Martyn, and which has been presented to us by 
 your Excellency, on the part of the high, dignified, 
 learned, and enlightened Society of Christians,* 
 united for the purpose of spreading abroad the Holy 
 Books of the Religion of Jesus, (upon whom, and 
 upon all Prophets, be peace and blessings !) has 
 reached us, and has proved highly acceptable to our 
 august mind. 
 
 * The British and Foreign Bible Society. 
 
171 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 " In truth, through the learned and unremitting 
 exertions of the Rev. Henry Martyn, it has been 
 translated in a style most befitting sacred books ; 
 that is, in an easy and simple diction. Formerly, 
 the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and 
 John, were known in Persia ; but now the whole 
 of the New Testament is completed in a most ex- 
 cellent manner: and this circumstance has been 
 an additional source of pleasure to our enlighten- 
 ed and august mind. Even the four Evangelists, 
 which were Imown in this country, had never been 
 before explained in so clear and luminous a man- 
 ner. We therefore have been particularly delighted 
 with this copious and complete translation. Please 
 the most merciful God, we shall command the 
 select servants, who are admitted to our presence, 
 to read to us the above mentioned book, from the 
 beginning to the end, that we may, in the most 
 minute manner, hear and comprehend its contents. 
 
 " Your excellency will be pleased to rejoice the 
 hearts of the above mentioned dignified, learned, 
 and enlightened Society, with assurances of our 
 highest regard and approbation ; and to inform those 
 excellent individuals, who are so virtuously engaged 
 in disseminating and making known the true mean- 
 ing and intent of the holy gospel, and other points 
 in sacred books, that they are deservedly honoured 
 with our royal favour. Your excellency must 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 175 
 
 consider yourself as bound to fulfil this royal 
 request." 
 
 The ambassador afterwards took the translation 
 to St. Petersburg, in Russia, where it was printed. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 His principal design in visiting Persia being 
 thus accomplished, and the journey not having con- 
 tributed to his health, Mr. Martyn, as soon as he 
 had recovered from the attack of fever, determined 
 to return to England. Shortly before leaving 
 Tebriz, he wrote thus in a letter : 
 
 " It has pleased God to restore me to life and 
 health again : not that I have yet recovered my 
 former strength, but I consider myself sufficiently 
 restored to prosecute my journey. My daily 
 prayer is, that my late chastisement may have its 
 intended effect, and make me, all the rest of my 
 days, more humble and less self-confident. Sell- 
 ccnfidence has often let me down fearful lengths ; 
 and would, without God's gracious interference, 
 prove my endless perdition. I seem to be made 
 to feel this evil of my heart, more than any other, 
 at this time. In prayer, or when I write or con- 
 
176 LIFE OF HEXRY MARTTN. 
 
 verse on the subject, Christ appears to me my life 
 and strength ; but at other times, I am thoughtless 
 and bold, as if I had all life and strength in myself. 
 Such neglects on our part are a diminution of our 
 joys. I mentioned my conversing sometimes on 
 divine subjects. In these I am sometimes led on 
 by the Soofie Persians, and tell them all I know of 
 the very recesses of the sanctuary. But to give an 
 account of all my discussions with these mystic 
 philosophers, must be reserved to the time of 
 our meeting. Do I dream ! that I venture to 
 think and write of sucli an event as that ? Is it 
 possible that we shall ever meet again below ? 
 Though it is possible, I dare not indulge such a 
 pleasing hope. 
 
 " In three days I intend setting my horse's head 
 towards Constantinople, distant about one thousand 
 three hundred miles. Nothing, I think, will occa- 
 sion any further detention here, if I can procure 
 servants who know both Persian and Turkish. 
 Ignorant as I am of Turkish, should I be taken ill 
 on the road, my case would be pitiable indeed. 
 The ambassador and his suite are still here ; his 
 and Lady Ousely's attentions to me during my ill' 
 ness have been unremitted. The prince Abbas 
 Mirza, the wisest of the king's sons, and heir to 
 the throne, was here some time after my arrival. 
 I much wished to present a copy of the Persian 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 177 
 
 New Testament to him, but I could not rise from 
 my bed. The book, however, will be given him 
 by the ambassador. Public curiosity about the 
 gospel, now, for the first time in the memory of 
 the modern Persians, introduced into the country, 
 is a good deal excited here and at Shiraz, and in 
 other places ; so that, upon the whole, I am thank- 
 ful for having been led hither, and detained ; though 
 my residence in this country has been attended 
 with many unpleasant circumstances. The way 
 of the kings of the east is preparing : thus much 
 may be said with safety, but little more. The 
 Persians will also probably take the lead in the 
 march to Sion." 
 
 On the second of September he left Tebriz, on 
 horseback, with two Armenian servants, one of 
 whom spoke Turkish, and a little Persian. His 
 diary will best exhibit the hardships of the journey, 
 and the pious feelings with which he endured 
 them. 
 
 " Sept. 4th. At sun-rise mounted my horse, and 
 proceeded north-west, through a pass in the moun- 
 tains, towards Murun. By the way, I sat down 
 by the brook, and there ate my bread and raisins, 
 and drank of the crystal stream ; but either the 
 coldness of this unusual breakfast, or the riding after 
 it, did not at all agree with me. The heat oppress- 
 ' cd me much, and the road seemed intolerably 
 
178 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 tedious ; at last we got out from among the moun 
 tains, and saw the village of Murun, in a fine valley 
 on the right. It was about eleven o'clock when 
 we reached it. As the Mihmander could not im- 
 mediately find a place to put me in, we had a com- 
 plete view of this village. They stared at my 
 European dress, but no disrespect was shown. I 
 
 was deposited, at last, with Khan, who was 
 
 seated in a place with three walls. Not at all dis- 
 posed to pass the day in company, as well as ex- 
 posed, I asked for another room ; on which I was 
 shown to the stable, where there was a little place 
 partitioned off, but so as to admit a view of the 
 horses. The smell of the stable, though not in 
 general disagreeable to me, was so strong, that I 
 was quite unwell, and strangely dispirited and me- 
 lancholy. Immediately after dinner I fell fast asleep, 
 and slept four hours ; after which I rose and order- 
 ed them to prepare for the next journey. The 
 horses being changed here, it was some time 
 before they were brought, but by exerting myself, 
 we moved off by midnight. It was a most mild 
 and delightful night, and the pure air, after the 
 smell of the stable, was quite reviving. For once, 
 also, I travelled all the way without being sleepy * 
 and beguiled the hours of the night by thinking of 
 the 14th Psalm, especially the connection of the 
 last three verses with the preceding* 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 179 
 
 ** Sept. 5th. In five hours we were just on the 
 Kills which face the pass out of the valley of 
 Murun, and in four hours and a half more, emerged 
 from between the two ridges of mountains, into the 
 valley of Gurjur, This long march was far from 
 being a fatiguing one. The air, the road, and my 
 spirits were good. Here I was well accommo- 
 dated, but had to mourn over my impatient temper 
 towards my servants ; there is nothing that disturbs 
 my peace so much. How much more noble and 
 godlike to bear with calmness, and* observe with 
 pity, rather than anger, the failings and offences of 
 others. O that I may, through grace, be enabled 
 to recollect myself in the time of temptation ! 
 O that the Spirit of God may check my folly, 
 and, at such times, bring the lowly Saviour to my 
 view. 
 
 " Sept* 6th* Soon after twelve we started with 
 fresh horses, and came to the Arar, or Araxes, 
 distant eight miles, and about as broad as the Isis, 
 with a current as strong as that of the Ganges. 
 The ferry-boat being on the other side, I lay down 
 to sleep till it came, but observing my servants do 
 the same, I was obliged to get up and exert myself. 
 It dawned, however, before we got over. The 
 boat was a huge fabric. The ferryman had only a 
 stick to push with : an oar, I dare say, he had 
 never seen or heard of, and many of my train had 
 
180 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN 
 
 probably never floated before ; so alien is a Persian 
 from every thing that belongs to shipping. We 
 landed safely on the other side in about two minutes. 
 We were four hours in reaching Nackshan, and 
 for half an hour more I was led from street to 
 street, till at last I was lodged in a wash-house 
 belonging to a great man, a comer of which was 
 cleaned out for me. It was near noon, and my 
 baggage had not arrived ; so that I was obliged to 
 go without my breakfast ; which was hard after a 
 ride for four hours in the sun. The baggage was 
 delayed so long, that I began to fear ; at last, how- 
 ever, it arrived. All the afternoon I slept, and at 
 sun-set arose, and continued wakeful till midnight, 
 when I roused my people, and with fresh horses 
 set out again. We travelled till sun-rise. I 
 scarcely perceived that we had been moving, a 
 Hebrew word, in the 16th Psalm, having led me 
 gradually into speculations on the eighth conjuga- 
 tion of the Arabic verb. I am glad my philological 
 curiosity is revived, as my mind will be less liable 
 to idleness. 
 
 " Sept. 7th. Arrived at Khoock, a poor village 
 distant twenty-two miles from Nackshan, nearly 
 west. I should have mentioned, that on descend- 
 ing into the plain of Nackshan, my attention was 
 arrested by the appearance of a hoary mountain, 
 opposite to us at the other end, rising so high above 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 181 
 
 the rest, that they sunk into insignificance. It was 
 truly sublime, and the interest it excited was not 
 lessened, when, on inquiring its name, I was told 
 it was Agri, or Ararat. Thus I saw two remarka- 
 ble objects in one day, the Araxes, and Ararat. At 
 four in the afternoon we set out for Shurror. The 
 evening was pleasant ; the ground over which we 
 passed was full of rich cultivation and verdure, 
 watered by many a stream, and containing forty 
 villages, most of them with the usual appendage 
 of gardens. To add to the scene, the great Ararat 
 was on our left. On the peak of that hill the 
 whole church was once contained ; it has now 
 spread far and wide, even to the ends of the earth ; 
 but the ancient vicinity of it knows it no more. I 
 fancied many a spot where Noah perhaps offered 
 his sacrifices ; and the promise of God, ' that seed- 
 time and harvest should not cease,' appeared to me 
 to be more exactly fulfilled in the agreeable plain 
 in which it was spoken, than elsewhere ; as I had 
 not seen such fertility in any part of the Shah's 
 dominions. Here the blessed saint landed in a new 
 world ; so may I, safe in Christ, outride the storm 
 of life, and land at last on one of the everlasting 
 hills ! 
 
 " Night coming on, we lost our way, and got in- 
 tercepted by some deep ravines, into one of which 
 the horse that carried my trunks sunk so deep, that 
 Q 
 
182 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 the water got into one of them, wetted the linen, and 
 spoiled some books. We went to another village, 
 where after a long delay, two aged men with silver 
 beards opened their house to us. Though it was 
 near midnight, I had a fire lighted to dry my books, 
 took some coffee, and sunk into deep sleep ; from 
 which awaking at the earliest dawn of 
 
 " Sept. 8th. I roused the people, and had a 
 delightful ride to Shurror. Here I was accommo- 
 dated by the great man with a stable, or winter 
 room ; for they build it in such a strange vicinity, 
 in order to have it warm in winter. At present, 
 while the weather is still hot, the smell is at times 
 overpowering. At eleven at night we moved off, 
 with fresh horses, for Duwala; but though we 
 had guides in abundance, we were not able to extri- 
 cate ourselves from the ravines with which this 
 village is surrounded. Procuring another man 
 from a village we happened to wander into, we at 
 last made our way, through grass and mire, to the 
 pass, which led us to a country as dry as the one 
 we had left was wet. Ararat was now quite near : 
 at the foot of it is Duwala, twenty-four miles from 
 Nackshan, where we arrived at seven in the morn- 
 ing of 
 
 " Sept. 9th. As I had been thinking all night 
 of a Hebrew letter, I perceived little of the tedious- 
 ness of the way. I tried also some difficulties in 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 183 
 
 the 16th Psalm, without being able to master them. 
 All day on the 15th and 16th Psalms, and gained 
 some light into the difficulties. The villagers not 
 bringing the horses in time, we were not able to 
 go on at night ; but I was not much concerned, 
 as I thereby gained some rest. 
 
 " Sept. 10th. All day at the village, writing 
 down notes on the 15th and 16th Psalms. Moved 
 at midnight and arrived early in the morning at 
 Erivan. 
 
 " Sept. llth. I alighted at Hosyn Khan, the 
 governor's palace, as it may be called, for he 
 seems to live in a style equal to that of a prince. 
 After sleeping two hours, I was summoned to his 
 presence. He at first took no notice of me, but 
 continued reading his Koran. After a compliment 
 or two he resumed his devotions. The next cere- 
 mony was to exchange a rich shawl dress for a still 
 richer pelisse, on pretence of its being cold. The 
 next display was to call for his physician, who, 
 after respectfully feeling his pulse, stood on one 
 side : this was to show that he had a domestic 
 physician. His servants were most richly clad. 
 My letter from the ambassador, which till now had 
 lain neglected on the ground, was opened and read 
 by a moonshee. He heard with great interest 
 what Sir Gore had written about the translation 
 of the gospels. After this he was very kind an<\ 
 
184 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 attentive, and sent for Lieutenant M- of the 
 
 engineers, who was stationed, with two Serjeants, 
 at this fort. In the afternoon, the governor sent 
 for me again in private. A fountain, in a basin of 
 white marble, was playing before him, and in its 
 water grapes and melons were cooling ; two time- 
 pieces were before him, to show the approach of 
 the time of lawful repast : below the window, at a 
 great depth, ran a broad and rapid stream, over 
 rocks and stones, under a bridge of two arches, 
 producing an agreeable murmur : on the other side 
 of the river were gardens, and a rich plain ; and 
 directly in front, Ararat. He was now entirely 
 free from ceremony, but too much fatigued to con- 
 verse. I tried to begin a religious discussion, by 
 observing that' 4 he was in one paradise now, and 
 was in quest of another hereafter,' but this remark 
 produced no effect." 
 
 The next day he went to Ech-Miazin, where 
 there are three churches of Greek Christians, and 
 a monastery. The worship and creed of the 
 Greek church resemble, in some respects, those 
 of the Roman Catholic, but it does not acknow- 
 ledge the Pope. Mr. Martyn was very kindly 
 entertained here, until the 17th, when he again set 
 out with servants and a guard, as the woods in Tur- 
 key, on which they would soon enter, were much 
 beset with robbers. The route lay through a 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 185 
 
 deserted mountainous region, with an occasional 
 village, where the missionary was an object of 
 great curiosity. He seems to have enjoyed the 
 wild scenery, as much as a person travelling with 
 a company of ignorant and noisy companions could. 
 " The clear streams in the valley, the lofty trees 
 crowning the summit of the hills, the smooth 
 paths winding away and losing themselves in the 
 dark woods, and, above all, the solitude that reigned 
 throughout, composed a scene which tended to 
 harmonize and solemnize the mind. What displays 
 of taste and magnificence are found occasionally on 
 this ruined earth ! Nothing was wanting but the 
 absence of the Turks." 
 
 At a village, on the 29th, he was attacked with 
 fever and ague. He suffered the next day from 
 sickness and depression of spirits, but his soul 
 rested, as he said, " on Him who is as an anchor 
 of the soul, sure and steadfast, which, though not 
 seen, keeps me fast." 
 
 On the 1st of October, " Marched over a moun- 
 tainous tract : we were out from seven in the morn- 
 ing till eight at night. After sitting a little by the 
 fire, I was near fainting from sickness. My de- 
 pression of spirits led me^to the throne of grace, as 
 a sinful, abject worm. When I thought of myself 
 and my transgressions, I could find no text so 
 cheering as, 'My ways are not as your ways.' 
 g 2 
 
186 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 From the men who accompanied Sir William 
 Ousely to Constantinople, I learned that the plague 
 was raging at Constantinople, and thousands dying 
 every day. One of the Persians had died of it. 
 They added, that the inhabitants of Tocat were 
 flying from their town from the same cause. 
 Thus I am passing inevitably into imminent dan- 
 ger. O Lord, thy will be done ! Living or dying, 
 remember me !" 
 
 The principal guard and leader of the party was 
 a Tartar, named Hassan Aga. His treatment of 
 Mr. Martyn from this time, was inhuman, and the 
 journal of the next five days gives a deeply affect- 
 ing narrative of the sufferings to which the savage 
 conduct of his guide exposed him. 
 
 " Oct. 2d. Some hours before day, I sent to 
 tell the Tartar I was ready, but Hassan Aga was 
 for once riveted to his bed. However, at eight, 
 having got strong horses, he set off at a great rate, 
 and over the level ground he made us gallop as fast 
 as the horses would go, to Chiflick, where we 
 arrived at sun-set, I was lodged, at my request, 
 in the stables of the post-house, not liking the 
 scrutinizing impudence of the fellows who frequent 
 the coffee room. As soon as it began to grow a 
 little cold, the ague came on, and then the fever : 
 after which I had a sleep, which let me know too 
 plainly the disorder of my frame. In the night, 
 
LII'E OF HENRY MARTYN. 187 
 
 Hassan sent to summon me away, but I was quite 
 unable to move. Finding me still in bed at the 
 dawn, he began to storm furiously at my detaining 
 him so long ; but I quietly let him spend his ire, 
 ate my breakfast composedly, and set out at eight. 
 He seemed determined to make up for the delay, 
 for we flew over hill and dale to Sherean, where 
 he changed horses. From thence we travelled all 
 the rest of the day and all night ; it rained most 
 of the time. Soon after sun-set the ague came 
 on again, which, in my wet state, was very trying ; 
 I hardly knew how to keep my life in me. About 
 that time there was a village at hand ; but Hassan 
 had no mercy. At one in the morning we found 
 two men under a wain, with a good fire ; they 
 could not keep the rain out, but their fire was 
 acceptable. I dried my lower extremities, allayed 
 the fever by drinking a good deal of water, and 
 went on. We had little rain, but the night was 
 pitchy dark, so that I could not see the road 
 under my horse's feet. However, God being 
 mercifully pleased to alleviate my bodily suffering, 
 I went on contentedly to the next stage, where 
 we arrived at break of day. After sleeping three 
 or four hours, I was visited by an Armenian mer- 
 chant, for whom I had a letter. Hassan was in 
 great fear of being arrested here ; the governor 
 of the city had vowed to make an example of him 
 
188 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 for riding to death a horse belonging to a man 
 of this place. He begged that I would shelter 
 him in case of danger ; his being claimed by an 
 Englishman, he said, would be a sufficient security. 
 I found, however, that I had no occasion to inter- 
 fere. He hurried me away from this place without 
 delay, and galloped furiously towards a village, 
 which, he said, was four hours distant ; which was 
 afl I could undertake in my present weak state ; 
 but village after village did he pass, till night 
 coming on, and no signs of another, I suspected 
 that he was carrying me on to the next stage ; so 
 I got off my horse, and sat upon the ground, and 
 told him, ' I neither could nor would go any 
 further.' He stormed, but I was immovable ; till, 
 a light appearing at a distance, I mounted my 
 horse and made towards it, leaving him to follow 
 or not, as he pleased. He brought in the party, 
 but would not exert himself to get a place for 
 me. They brought me to an open verandah, but 
 Sergius* told them I wanted a place in which to be 
 alone. This seemed very offensive to them : ' And 
 why must he be alone ?' they asked ; ascribing 
 this desire of mine to pride, I suppose. Tempted, 
 at last, by money, they brought me to a stable- 
 room, and Hassan and a number of others planted 
 themselves there with me. My fever here in- 
 * One of Mr. Martyn's servants. 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 189 
 
 creased to a violent degree ; the heat in my eyes and 
 forehead was so great, that the fire almost made 
 me frantic. I entreated that it might be put out, 
 or that I might be carried out of doors. Neither 
 was attended to : my servant, who, from my sitting 
 in that strange way on the ground, believed me 
 delirious, was deaf to all I said. At last I pushed 
 my head in among the luggage, and lodged it on 
 the damp ground, and slept. 
 
 " Oct. 5th. Preserving mercy made me see the 
 light of another morning. The sleep had refreshed 
 me, but I was feeble and shaken ; yet the merciless 
 Hassan hurried me off. The stopping place, how- 
 ever, not being distant, I reached it without much 
 difficulty. I expected to have found it another 
 strong fort at the end of the pass ; but it is a poor 
 little village within the jaws of the mountains. I 
 was pretty well lodged, and felt tolerably well till 
 a little after sunset, when the ague came on with a 
 violence I had never before experienced ; I felt as 
 if in a palsy : my teeth chattering, and my whole 
 frame violently shaken. Aga Hosyn and another 
 Persian, on their way here from Constantinople, 
 going to Abbas Mirza, whom I had just before 
 been visiting, came hastily to render me assistance 
 if they could. These Persians appear quite bro- 
 therly after the Turks. While they pitied me, 
 Hassan sat in perfect indifference, ruminating on 
 
190 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 the further delay this was likely to occasion. The 
 cold fit, after continuing two or three hours, was 
 followed by a fever, which lasted the whole night, 
 and prevented sleep. 
 
 " Oct. 6th. No horses being to be had, I had 
 an unexpected repose. I sat in the orchard, and 
 thought, with sweet comfort and peace, of my God ; 
 in solitude, my company, my friend and comforter. 
 Oh ! when shall time give place to eternity ! When 
 shall appear that new heaven and new earth wherein 
 dwelleth righteousness ! There, there shall in no 
 wise enter in any thing that defileth : none of that 
 wickedness which has made men worse than wild 
 beasts, none of those corruptions which add still 
 more to the miseries of mortality, shall be seen or 
 heard of any more." 
 
 These were the last words that Marty n wrote ! 
 Nothing more is known of his fate than that he 
 reached the town of Tocat, in Turkey, nearly 
 six hundred miles from Tebriz, and about three 
 hundred from Constantinople, and that he died there 
 on the 16th of October, being in the thirty-second 
 year of his life. The plague was raging when he 
 arrived, and his sickness and fatigue made him 
 very liable to the disease ; and his weakness was 
 such, that he could not long sustain it. No par- 
 ticulars of his sickness and death have ever been 
 learned. 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 191 
 
 Two American missionaries, who passed through 
 Tocat in the year 1830, found his grave in an 
 Armenian bury ing-place, covered with a tomb-stone, 
 which had been erected by an English traveller, 
 the year after his interment. The only information 
 they could obtain was, that Mr. Martyn arrived 
 there sick, that some Armenians gave him medicine, 
 and that he died in four or five days. As hundreds 
 were dying daily of the plague, it was thought pro- 
 bable that he was not admitted into any private 
 house, and that he died at the post-house. On the 
 tombstone is a Latin inscription, of which the fol- 
 lowing is a translation : 
 
 IN MEMORY OF THE 
 
 REV. HENRY* MARTYN, OF ENGLAND, 
 
 A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL, AND A MISSIONARY ; 
 A PIOUS, LEARNED, AND FAITHFUL SERVANT OF 
 
 THE LORD, 
 
 WHO CALLED HIM TO A STATE OF FELICITY, 
 WHILST AT TOCAT, ON HIS RETURN TO HIS 
 
 NATIVE COUNTRY, A. D. 1812. 
 
 C. J. R. INSCRIBED THIS STONE TO HIS MEMORY, 
 A. D. 1813. 
 
 There he died, alone, in a land of strangers, with 
 not a Christian to attend him. But there can be 
 no doubt that, if his reason was preserved, he was 
 * On the stone the name is erroneously put William. 
 
192 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 happy in that illness, that his faith in Christ ena- 
 bled him to bear his sufferings, and to expect with 
 joy a speedy admittance to the presence of his God 
 and Saviour. To an unpardoned person it is incredi- 
 ble that a Christian can have so strong an assurance 
 that his sins have been forgiven for Christ's sake, 
 and that God has thus become reconciled to him, 
 as that he can be happy in the prospect of dying* 
 But it is certain that this is often the case, and that 
 Christians, even whilst suffering the most terrible 
 pain in their bodies, have felt a peace and joy in 
 the belief that they were near heaven, greater than 
 all the comforts of life have ever bestowed on them 
 or on others. Wherever the believer lives or dies, 
 Christ is with him. God is his Father, and he has 
 nothing to fear. It seems to us distressing, thai 
 Martyn should die so far away from his home, and 
 his friends, in a nation of idolaters ; but it is proba 
 ble these things did not affect him, and that the 
 dying missionary at Tocat was happier than he 
 would have been in health and peace, among his 
 friends in England. In his lonely journeys he 
 had often been able to quote the lines, 
 
 " In desert tracts, with Thee, my God, % 
 How happy could I be." 
 
 And he doubtless found Him still nearer in his 
 dying hour, when flesh and strength failed him ; 
 for the Saviour adapts his consolations to the cir- 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 193 
 
 cumstances of his people, and in proportion to their 
 necessities, he imparts more of the gifts of his 
 Holy Spirit, and they are enabled to say, " Though 
 I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 
 I will fear no evil : for Thou art with me ; thy rod 
 and thy staff comfort me." 
 
 When Mr. Martyn left England for India, it was 
 his expectation and desire to be employed princi* 
 pally in preaching to the natives. It is evident 
 that this was not the design of Providence, but that 
 he was sent to translate the scriptures into the lan- 
 guages of Asia, that the gospel might thus be put 
 into the hands of millions of persons who were 
 wholly ignorant of the existence of a divine revela* 
 tion. Mr. Martyn in this way did more for the 
 evangelizing of all those nations who speak the 
 Hindoostanee, Arabic, and Persian, during the six 
 years that he was in India, than he could have ac* 
 complished by preaching to them all his life. As 
 he himself observed of the Arabic alone, " we will 
 begin to preach to Arabia, Syria, Persia, Tartary 
 part of India and China, half of Africa, all the sea 
 coast of the Mediterranean, and Turkey, and one 
 tongue shall suffice for them all." The Hindoos- 
 tanee and Persian are understood by a large por- 
 tion of the rest of India, who do pot speak Arabic, 
 
 He has given them the Bible, and we cannot cal- 
 culate th& amount of good which will attend its cir- 
 R 
 
194 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 culation. Without it all the labours of mission- 
 aries would be in vain ; but with it, they are sure 
 of the success which God has promised to attend 
 his own word. Besides the importance of his ser- 
 vices in this great means of preparing the way of 
 the Lord, his ministry was blessed to the conver- 
 sion, as there is every reason to believe, of several 
 of the natives. One of these was the fruit of his 
 labours in Cawnpore, and was baptized at Calcutta, 
 in the fortieth year of his age, by the name of Ab- 
 dool Messeeh " servant of Christ." He was 
 employed eight years by the Church Missionary 
 Society, to instruct the young in the principles of 
 the Christian religion, and was ordained as a Lu- 
 theran minister in 1820, and as an Episcopal min- 
 ister by Bishop Heber, in 1825. He died in 
 1827. Through his instrumentality more than 
 forty adult Hindoos were brought to embrace 
 Christianity.* 
 
 Another instance of the success of his ministry, 
 is furnished by a writer in a foreign journal, who 
 states that, on a visit to Shiraz several years since, 
 he met a Persian named Rahem, who gave him the 
 following account. 
 
 ' There came to this city an Englishman, who 
 ta right the religion of Christ, with a boldness hith- 
 erto unparalleled in Persia, in the midst of much 
 * See a further account of this person in the Append*!. 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 105 
 
 scorn and ill treatment from our moollahs, as well 
 as the rabble. He was a beardless youth, and evi- 
 dently enfeebled by disease. He dwelt among us 
 for more than a year. I was then a decided enemy 
 to infidels, as the Christians are termed by the fol- 
 lowers of Mohammed, and I visited this teacher of 
 the despised sect, with the declared object of treat- 
 ing him with scorn, and exposing his doctrines to 
 contempt. Although I persevered for some time 
 in this behaviour towards him, I found that every 
 interview not only increased my respect for the in- 
 dividual, but diminished my confidence in the faith 
 in which I was educated. His extreme forbearance 
 towards the violence of his opponents, the calm and 
 yet convincing manner in which he exposed the 
 fallacies and sophistries by which he was assailed, 
 (for he spoke Persian excellently,) gradually inclin- 
 ed me to listen to his arguments, to inquire dispas- 
 sionately into the subject of them, and, finally, to 
 read a tract which he had written, in reply to a de- 
 fence of Islam by our chief moollahs. Need I 
 detain you longer ? The result of my examination 
 was a conviction that the young disputant wa*> 
 right. Shame, or rather fear, withheld me from 
 avowing this opinion ; I even avoided the society 
 of the Christian teacher, though he remained in the 
 city so long. Just before he quitted Shiraz, I could 
 not refrain from paying him a farewell visit. Our 
 
196 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 conversation, the memory of it will never fade 
 from the tablet of my mind, sealed my conversion. 
 He gave me a book it has ever been my constant 
 companion the study of it has formed my most 
 delightful occupation its contents have often con- 
 soled me." 
 
 " Upon this," continues the writer, " he put in- 
 to my hands a copy of the New Testament, in 
 Persian ; on one of the blank leaves it was writ- 
 ten, There is joy in heaven over one sinner that 
 repenteth. HENRY MARTYN." 
 
 In considering the life of Mr. Marty n as an ex- 
 ample to ourselves, we should view his devotedness 
 to the service of God. In this he stopped at no 
 sacrifices, but gave up his home, his prospects, his 
 health, that he might labour to promote the glory 
 of God, by bringing the heathen to acknowledge 
 him, and to receive the gospel of his blessed Son. 
 This he did willingly and cheerfully, because he 
 loved the service ; and because, as he once said to a 
 Persian, he " could not endure existence, if Jesus 
 was not glorified." Another motive was a desire 
 to bring men to salvation to persuade them to 
 come to the Saviour, and learn the way of eternal 
 life. In all this, he was but discharging his duty 
 as a disciple of Christ ; and especially as a minister 
 of the gospel, obeying the divine command, "Go 
 into all the world, and preach the gospel to ever) 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYX. 197 
 
 creature." Now, every Christian will be anxious 
 to be actively employed in the service of his Re- 
 deemer. He w r ill not be satisfied with the belief 
 that he is saved, and continue to live, without 
 making any effort and any self-denials, to promote 
 the cause of Christianity. Indeed, such a feeling 
 is a strong evidence that he has never been the 
 subject of grace, that he has never felt the love of 
 God in Christ, and seen from the scriptures that 
 he is required to be active in his Saviour's cause. 
 The Holy Spirit has declared, that as a tree is 
 known by its fruits, whether it be a good one or 
 not, so a true Christian is known by the service he 
 renders to God : and that an unprofitable servant, 
 a professed disciple who does not improve the 
 opportunities which he has of doing good, will be 
 rejected at the judgment day. The entire devotion 
 of ourselves, and all we have, to our Divine Mas- 
 ter, is required of every living being, as much 
 as it was of Henry Marty n : and although every 
 one is not called to be a missionary, yet every 
 one may find some field for active, zealous ser- 
 vice. 
 
 Reader, whether converted or unconverted, 
 have you ever thought that you were bound to serve 
 God thus ? have you ever believed that God has been 
 all your life claiming your service, as your crea- 
 tor, your preserver, your eternal Father ? If you are 
 
 R2 
 
198 LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 
 
 not inclined to love and serve him, " with all your 
 heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind," 
 ask yourself this moment why it is so, and what 
 excuse you will have to offer for your neglect, 
 when it shall be charged upon you at the day of 
 judgment. The commands of Christ, as has al- 
 ready been remarked, are as binding on you, as 
 any of the commandments of the moral law ; and 
 if you are not now an active, sincere disciple, living 
 by faith upon Him, and living to his glory, the 
 guilt of your natural sinfulness is awfully aggra- 
 vated. 
 
 The zeal and devotion of Mr. Martyn were not 
 beyond his duty. There is no such thing as a man 
 being more holy, or doing more good than God re- 
 quires of him. Had he done tenfold more, he could 
 not have, on that account, procured the pardon of 
 a single sin. So let not the Christian think that 
 he deserves credit and praise for any thing he may 
 do, or that he thus gains a right to heaven. God 
 does, indeed, condescend to accept our services, 
 and to use us as instruments of doing good, but it 
 is he who gives us both the inclination and the 
 ability to serve him ; therefore he deserves all the 
 praise. Not that this excuses us for being idle, 
 and waiting for him to compel us to be zealous for 
 him. Our duty is to pray, " Lord, what wilt thou 
 have us to do ?" and at the same time to be seek- 
 
LIFE OF HENRY MARTYN. 199 
 
 ing out ways of doing good. No person need be 
 idle or useless a moment, who has faculties, pro- 
 perty, or strength, which he can consecrate. Let 
 every one, then, fix upon something that will ab- 
 sorb his attention, and resolve, with reliance upon 
 the grace of God, to expend every effort in ac- 
 complishing it ; not to be put back by small dis- 
 couragements, but to exercise STRONG FAITH IN 
 CHRIST. That is the principle which will enable 
 us to do every thing. Every Christian may say, 
 and ought to feel, " I can do all things through 
 Christ, who strengtheneth me." 
 
 Thus let us act from the principles of love and 
 duty, and then we shall find that God has connect- 
 ed our duty with our happiness, and that the more 
 we sacrifice for him the more* danger and re- 
 proach, and hardships we may encounter, the 
 greater will be the peace and joy of our souls. In 
 infinite condescension, God speaks of rewards to 
 those who serve him. Oh, he would be just, after 
 all our labours, to cast us from his presence ; but 
 he graciously promises to give his blessing to those 
 who strive to do his will, though they do it imper- 
 fectly. And those who have humbly and zealous- 
 ly applied themselves to the single purpose of 
 living for God, have found that he has given 
 them happiness beyond what they had conceived. 
 
200 LIFE OF HENRY MARTVN. 
 
 This internal bliss is comprehended in the assertion 
 of the apostle Paul, when he says, " eye hath not 
 seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the 
 heart of man, the things which God hath prepared 
 for those who love him ; but God hath revealed 
 them unto us by his Spirit. 11 
 
201 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ABDOOL MESSEEH. 
 
 THE following interesting history of this convert 
 is given in a Report of the Church Missionary 
 Society : 
 
 " He was born at Delhi. His original name was 
 Shekh Salih. His father is considered a learned 
 man, and gains a livelihood by teaching children. 
 Shekh Salih was instructed by his father, and made 
 considerable proficiency both in the Persian and 
 Arabic languages. 
 
 " When he was about twenty-one years of age, 
 he came with his father to Lukhnow, in quest 
 of employment ; and after some time, became 
 moonshee, first to an English merchant, and then 
 to an officer in the East India Company's ser- 
 vice. At this time Abdool was so zealous a 
 Mussulman, that he induced a Hindoo servant of 
 the above officer to become a Mohammedan. The 
 master finding some fault with him for his of- 
 ficiousness, he was so offended as to leave his 
 employ, and return to Lukhnow, with a deter- 
 mination of having no more communication with 
 
 201 
 
202 APPENDIX. 
 
 the British. After this he engaged in a varie 
 ty of pursuits, and visited different parts of the 
 country, being always very attentive, and endea- 
 vouring to render others so, to the Mohammedan 
 observances. 
 
 " At length, after having been about a year in 
 some situation under the Nabob of Lukhnow, he 
 went into the Mahratta country, and engaged as a 
 trooper in the service of Ibrahim Ali Khan, one of 
 the chieftains of the Javudpore Rajah. While under 
 the command of this chief, Meer Khan, another 
 chieftain, at that time in the service of the same 
 Rajah, was sent to murder Rao Scivac Sing, the 
 rival of the Javudpore Rajah. This transaction is 
 well known in India. Meer Khan swore on the 
 Koran, that he came to mediate a peace between 
 his employer and the Rao, whom he no sooner de- 
 coyed into his tent, than, having gone out on some 
 pretence, he caused the cords of it to be cut, and 
 ordered his attendants to stab the visiters involved 
 in its folds. The ill-fated Rao cut his way through 
 the folds of the tent with a dagger, and bravely de- 
 fended himself until overpowered by numbers ; his 
 head was severed from his body, and after being 
 carried about in triumph, was sent to the Rajah. 
 This Scivac Sing, Abdool relates, was a young 
 man of very interesting appearance ; and pity for 
 his untimely death, with the horror excited by the 
 
APPENDIX. 203 
 
 sight of his head, exposed as a spectacle, raised a 
 feeling of disgust at the perfidy of mankind. Ab- 
 dool had hitherto been a stranger to such treachery ; 
 and considering, as he says, that he himself was 
 liable to be made the executioner of equally inhu- 
 man measures, he resolved on quitting the army, 
 and earning his bread in some peaceful way, by 
 any labour, however degrading. This determina- 
 tion he put in practice ; and returning to Lukh- 
 now, supported himself by preparing green paint. 
 <l At the end of about a year, Abdool went to 
 Cawnpore to visit his father, at that time engaged 
 as private tutor in the house of a rich native, who 
 lived in the premises next to those of the Rev. Henry 
 Martyn. He here heard of Mr. Martyn's preaching 
 to the poor natives, who assembled on the lawn be- 
 fore his house on Sundays. He determined to go, 
 as he expressed it, to see the sport. Mr. Martyn 
 was explaining the commandments to the people, 
 when Abdool went to hear; and he was struck 
 with the observations that were made, and consid- 
 ered them as both reasonable and excellent. He 
 had previously been perplexed about the contradic- 
 tions maintained by the different Mohammedan 
 sects, and this Christian instruction appeared to 
 him better than any he had as yet received. He 
 told his father what opinion he had formed, and 
 begged him to get him some employment at Cawn 
 
204 APPENDIX. 
 
 pore, where he might hear of more of these things 
 His father was acquainted with a friend of Sabat, 
 who was then living with Mr. Martyn ; and through 
 this friend, Abdool was engaged, in May 1810, to 
 copy Persian writings for Sabat. He obtained a 
 lodging on the premises, without making known 
 his wishes. Here he had many opportunities of 
 obtaining the information which he desired, par- 
 ticularly by inquiring of the native Christian chil* 
 dren the subjects of the lessons which they had 
 learned in school : and by this mode, he was 
 enabled to gain some insight into Divine Truth. 
 
 " When Mr. Martyn had finished his translation 
 of the New Testament into Hindoostanee, the book 
 was given Abdool to bind. This he considered as 
 a fine opportunity ; nor did he let it slip. On read- 
 ing the word of God, he discovered his state, and 
 perceived therein a true description of his own 
 heart. He soon decided in favour of the Christian 
 religion ; but still concealed what was passing 
 within him, till Mr. Martyn being about to leave 
 Cawnpore on account of his health, Abdool could 
 no longer refrain from asking his advice with re- 
 spect to his future conduct ; earnestly desiring at 
 the same time, to be baptized. It was agreed that 
 he should go down to Calcutta with Sabat and Mr. 
 Martyn, from whom he received a solemn warning 
 of the danger of a false profession* During the 
 
APPENDIX. 205 
 
 short period of Mr. Martyn's stay at Calcutta, he 
 was not entirely convinced of this man's real 
 change of heart : recommending him, therefore, to 
 the notice of the late Rev. David Brown, he de- 
 parted without gratifying Abdool's wish for bap- 
 tism. After five month's further delay, Mr. Brown, 
 having observed his conduct, and being satisfied 
 with it, baptized him in the old church, on Whit- 
 Sunday, 1811. 
 
 " On this occasion, Mr. Brown wrote to a friend : 
 ' On Sunday last, I publicly baptized Shekh Salih. 
 It was a most solemn and heart-affecting occasion. 
 Private notice was given, that it would be in the 
 afternoon. Good people of all ranks attended, and 
 in the evening, I preached on the subject. This 
 has made a very serious impression at Calcutta. I 
 have had great satisfaction in the event. The cir- 
 cumstances of his case were remarkable. May 
 we every Whit-Sunday witness similar wonders 
 of grace ! I made full investigation, and was 
 thoroughly satisfied with the Shekh's account 
 of his conversion. His Christian name is Ab- 
 dool Messeeh, Servant of Christ ;' a particu- 
 lar .circumstance leading to the selection of that 
 
 " From this period, he was noticed by some 
 among Mr. Brown's congregation, and gained from 
 their instruction a growing acquaintance with his 
 S 
 
206 APPENDIX. 
 
 own fallen state, and the remedy provided for it 
 through the Saviour. 
 
 "From Whit-Sunday 1811, till last July, Abdool 
 continued to reside in Calcutta. Much opposition 
 he met with from the Mohammedans, who made 
 him many offers of money, &c., if he would re- 
 nounce Christianity, or leave the place. Twice, 
 on frivolous pretences, he was summoned before 
 the British magistrate, and discharged with costs. 
 Under these circumstances, his temper has appear- 
 ed to great advantage, and invariably, such as one 
 should have wished. To put an end to these vexa- 
 tions, he was advised to remove to Chinsurah in 
 July; where his conversation and example produc- 
 ed a good effect on many, especially on a Roman 
 Catholic Portuguese, and the son of an Armenian 
 priest, who have both expressed an intention of 
 following him up the country, that they may enjoy 
 his company, and partake of his labours." 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Corrie accompanied Abdool on a 
 missionary tour in India; and from the journal 
 which he kept, the following extracts are made. 
 Whilst this narrative gives evidence of the zeal and 
 piety of the individual, and thus exemplifies the 
 power of religion, it is interesting as a specimen of 
 the method which missionaries have to pursue in Pa- 
 gan countries, and as proof of the great importance 
 of having native converts employed in this work. 
 
APPENDIX. 207 
 
 " 1812, Nov. 2Qth. We left the neighbourhood 
 of Calcutta, having two friends in company. There 
 was a large party of boatmen and servants." 
 
 " Nov. 29th. We rested in a lonely place. In 
 the afternoon, Abdool collected the boatmen and 
 others on the bank, to the number of about forty, 
 and preached to them. He began and ended with 
 a hymn, after the manner of the Asiatic religious, 
 in which he was joined by the Christian children 
 and servants. His discourse was from the latter 
 end- of the first chapter of St. Matthew. He spoke 
 of our sinful state by nature, adducing many proofs 
 observable in their own life and conversation, 
 which render a Saviour necessary ; enlarged on 
 the birth of Christ without sin, that he might be a 
 suitable surety for sinners ; the meaning of his 
 name Jesus, Immanuel ; bringing forward proofs 
 of his divine power, and pointing out the salvation 
 which he bestows. The latter part was very satis- 
 factory indeed, as an evidence of his acquaintance 
 with the change which passes in the Christian's 
 mind. His discourse was intermixed with exhor- 
 tations to embrace the religion of the only Saviour. 
 Some, it seems, set light by what they heard : 
 others approved, and said his book contained more 
 weighty truths than their Shasters." 
 
 " Dec. 5th. Saturday. We arrived in the neigh- 
 bourhood of a Christian friend, and our party went 
 
208 APPENDIX. 
 
 from the boats to pass the Sunday at his house 
 and found, literally, in the wilderness God present 
 in our little assembly. 
 
 " Abdoft could not get the boatmen to attend 
 him ; and therefore, taking the Christian children 
 with him, he went to a village at a little distance, 
 and began to sing his hymn. The whole village, 
 men, women, and children, soon gathered round 
 him ; he explained to them the ten commandments, 
 and enforced their obligation. They heard with 
 much attention." 
 
 " Dec. 29th. At Dinapore we were gratified 
 with the sight of a large school of native children, 
 kept by the Baptist missionaries. They have 
 another school in a neighbouring village. One of 
 the missionaries told me, that Mr. Martyn's name 
 is held in great esteem by the natives here ; and 
 that the schools which he had instituted \vhen here, 
 had rendered the way easier ; for the people now 
 send their children to school without scruple. I re- 
 member it was not so when Mr. Martyn began his 
 schools." 
 
 " 1813, Jan. 3. Sunday. Our boat staid at Rib- 
 bon Gunge. In the afternoon, Abdool went into 
 the bazar, and preached. At first, the people 
 showed no attention ; but gradually, one and ano- 
 ther stood, till a crowd collected, and more attention 
 seemed excited than at any place before. . After 
 
APPENDIX. 209 
 
 he had finished his discourse, the people gathered 
 round him, and asked many questions about the 
 names which he had mentioned. Three came 
 down to his boat with him, and passed a good deal 
 of the evening in conversation ; writing down from 
 his lips what he told them in brief of Christian 
 truth." 
 
 " Jan. 7th. At Baxar. Early in the morning 
 walked with Abdool toward the European barracks. 
 On drawing near, some of the native wives of the 
 soldiers recognized me, and several came out and 
 expressed their gladness to see me, and said they 
 should be happy to have public worship. These 
 had been of my congregation at Chunar. Abdool 
 expressed great satisfaction, and observed that this 
 was the first time he had seen native Christians 
 desire divine service. About ten, we had public 
 worship with the Europeans, the commanding of- 
 ficer attending. About twenty native Christians, 
 mostly women, assembled in another place, with 
 Abdool ; after reading prayers, he was led to dis- 
 jourse long on subjects which occurred at the time, 
 and says he never felt his heart so drawn out 
 during any exercise as here. Several, also, of the 
 congregation were affected, even to tears." 
 
 "Jan. 10th. Sunday. Rested at Ghazeepore. 
 In the afternoon, Abdool walked into the native 
 town. Met with the chief land-owner in the place 
 
210 APPENDIX. 
 
 and neighbourhood ; a man of wealth and of great 
 good nature, and much esteemed among his own 
 people, as a holy man. After some conversation, 
 he invited Abdool to his house, where about a 
 hundred people were assembled, before whom 
 much discussion took place about religion. The 
 above person showed more disposition to at- 
 tend than any of them ; and begged to have two , 
 copies of St. Matthew, and two of Persian, and 
 that all the translations should be sent him from 
 time to time." 
 
 " Jan. 14th. We reached Benares. On Friday, 
 Abdool went up to Secrole, to visit a native doctoi 
 there, of Portuguese origin. They had much con- 
 versation together, with which the above person 
 expressed himself greatly delighted. He thankful- 
 ly accepted a copy of the morning prayer and 
 litany, promising to begin worship in his family. 
 Abdool visited other native Christians there, with 
 less satisfaction. In returning to his boat, he had 
 a long discussion with a crowd of Mussulmans. 
 
 " On Saturday, Abdool went to Chunar ; and on 
 Sunday forenoon, held public worship there. On 
 that, but few attended ; but those were greatly af- 
 fected ; many of them even to loud sobbing and 
 tears. They earnestly requested that he would 
 preach again the next day, which he did to a large 
 assembly ; and on Tuesday also. They heard witft 
 
APPENDIX. 211 
 
 great attention, and detained him long afterwards 
 with inquiries on the subject on which he had ad- 
 dressed them. A party came down to his boat, 
 begging he would read the scriptures to them ; 
 and adding, Alas ! when master was here,' (mean- 
 ing Mr. Corrie, who had been chaplain at Chunar,) 
 ' we paid too little attention to his labours. Would 
 you were to remain among us !' " 
 
 " Jan. 22. At Mirzapore, a young man came 
 on board, who said he had followed from Chunar, 
 on purpose to hear more from Abdool, and to beg 
 a copy of the translation. He is the son of a Ze- 
 mindar, and appears serious, and full of inquiries. 
 He said he knew, that in the latter days, all shall 
 become of one religion ; and he supposed the time 
 to be at hand." 
 
 " Jan. 23. In the morning we arrived at Al- 
 lahabad. 
 
 " The concourse of people assembled to cele- 
 brate the annual bathing season, was unusually 
 great. Every one that bathes at the junction of 
 the Ganges and Jumma, pays to government a ru- 
 pee ; and from a calculation made two days before 
 the close of the festival, it was expected that 250,000 
 rupees would be collected. Those who drown 
 themselves pay an additional sum to government. 
 One poor wretch had drowned himself, with the 
 usual ceremonies, before our arrival. Several more 
 
212 APPENDIX. 
 
 had signified their intention of doing so, at the 
 eclipse of the sun, on February 1 ; and many, it 
 was expected, as is annually the case, would, from 
 the pressure of the crowd, be thrust beyond their 
 depth, and perish in the waters. The sight of such 
 a multitude, collected on so deplorable an occasion, 
 could not but affect a feeling mind. And is not the 
 error of Balaam chargeable on those, who, possess- 
 ing the vision of the Almighty, love and receive the 
 wages of such superstitious iniquity ?" 
 
 " In going to the house of a merchant, Abdool 
 passed by a mosque, where they were beginning 
 prayers. He went to the door, but did not go in, 
 lest they should raise a complaint against him for 
 defiling their place. The reader began : ' O God, 
 enlighten our hearts with the light of faith !' Ab- 
 dool said aloud, * Amen !' The reader looked 
 round with astonishment ; and after observing, be- 
 gan again the same sentence ; to which Abdool 
 again repeated aloud, * Amen !' The reader pro- 
 ceeded, and Abdool was silent the rest of the ser- 
 vice. When it was ended, some of them came 
 round him, and inquired, ' You said Amen to the 
 first sentence, but to no other ; why was this ?' 
 
 " Md. ' Because the first sentence was right, 
 and was the prayer of holy men of old ; but the 
 latter part is an invention of late date.' 
 
 44 Query. ' How do you make that appear?' 
 
APPENDIX. 213 
 
 < Md. 'You add the name of Aububeckar to 
 that of Mohammed so that, by your own confes- 
 sion, that is added since Mohammed's time.' 
 
 " Some of them now suspected, and inquired if 
 he were not such an one. This led to an under- 
 standing, and a long dispute, in which he explain- 
 ed to them many of our customs in worship, and 
 made appeals to their conscience. One asked, if 
 he were not affected by the contempt of his former 
 friends, and wondered he could be so hardened as 
 thus openly to contend for Christianity. 
 
 " tfbd.' I am, indeed, affected ; and my heart 
 by no means approves of your opposition ; and you 
 know, that at Lukhnow, had such things been said 
 to me, how I should have resisted ; but now I am 
 withheld. I am no longer in my own keeping, but 
 in the power of another.' 
 
 " These asked who that might be. He answer- 
 ed, * I am restrained, and enabled to bear your 
 reproach, by the power of the Holy Spirit.' They 
 were silent. 
 
 " He went last to the old merchant, who has a 
 house at Delhi, where he formerly resided, and 
 with some of whose children Abdool was educated. 
 He treated Abdool with more affection than any of 
 the others : and was much moved by his exhorta- 
 tions to seek salvation from Christ, at the eleventh 
 hour. He, and two others of the whole crowd as- 
 
214 APPENDIX. 
 
 sembled, took * copy of St. Matthew's Gospel. 
 Many might have been given away ; but where no 
 disposition appeared to read them, it was thought 
 best not to give them. 
 
 " In one company, Abdool had occasion to men- 
 tion his having been baptized by Mr. Brown. 
 Some one inquired, Where is Mr. Brown now ?' 
 
 " Md. ' He is where he has long intended to 
 go. He is no longer in this world.' They said, 
 * That is very well ! May you soon go after him, 
 and no longer make this ado about your religion !' 
 
 " McL ' I do, indeed, desire to be where Mr. 
 Brown is, and care not how soon I may be taken : 
 but think not this religion depends on Mr. Brown, 
 or on me : for if I were taken away, God can raise 
 up one from among your own selves, to supply my 
 place.' " 
 
 " Feb. 5th. An event occurred to day, which 
 Abdool related with great pleasure. At Monick- 
 pore resides an aged man, of venerable appearance, 
 with a flowing white beard, who is considered a 
 holy man. He is the proprietor of several villages, 
 and is a man of more than ordinary good nature 
 He has many servants, and many disciples, and 
 keeps open house for travellers. On these accounts 
 he is much venerated by his neighbours. His place 
 of worship is held very sacred, and many go 
 thither as on a kind of pilgrimage. On Abdool 
 
APPENDIX. 215 
 
 Booking in at the outer gate of the premises, one 
 who was going in said, * Come in, and pay your 
 devotions.' 
 
 " Md.< What place is this ?' 
 
 " * It is a holy place ; come in.' 
 
 " Md* ' What advantage will arise from my 
 going in ?' 
 
 " Stranger. * Why, every body goes.' 
 
 " Md. ' Though every body should act sense- 
 lessly, why should 1 ?' 
 
 " On this the old man came out, and asked Ab- 
 dool who he was ? 
 
 " Jlbd* 4 1 am one of mankind, a servant of 
 God,' 
 
 " The master of the house pressed him to go in ; 
 and ordered food to be brought for him, and for a 
 Christian lad who was with him. On the food be- 
 ing brought, he himself set it before them, and 
 begged them to eat. 
 
 " Jtbd. ' Excuse me ; I may not eat of your 
 dishes : not that I have any objection to eat with 
 you, or with any one : but I am a Christian ; and 
 should I eat with you, your disciples would say 
 you had lost caste.' 
 
 " ' You are, at all events, a good man, for 4 thus 
 explaining to me, and I am happy to see you. 
 ray, have the English any books beside histories 
 and books of amusement ?' 
 
216 APPENDIX. 
 
 ' Yes, surely ; they have the books of 
 Moses, of the Prophets, and the Gospel All the 
 ancient books are in their possession.' 
 
 " l Yes ! the law, the psalms, the gospel, and 
 the koran. I know there .are four divine books.' 
 
 " Md. ' Well ! all these are in the hands of 
 the English ; though of these there are many books 
 which you include under the name of the law ;' 
 mentioning Isaiah and Daniel, and saying that Da- 
 vid was the author of the Psalms. 
 
 " < Well,' said the old man, ' I never knew that 
 before ; and have the English any kind of worship 
 among them ?' 
 
 " Jlbd. ' Certainly they have : but they are 
 taught to shut their door, and to pray Jo their 
 Father who seeth in secret. They place no de- 
 pendence on outward observances for salvation. 
 Wliy, if you are to be judged according to your 
 Dpinions, by your works, you must be condemned. 
 You are required to have on clean clothes when 
 you worship ; and that is easily obeyed : but then 
 you are also to exclude the world from your mind, 
 and to worship with the heart intensely fixed on 
 God, (repeating a verse of the koran in proof.) 
 Now, do you thus fulfil the precept ?' 
 
 " The old man said, ' Oh no !' 
 
 " Md. ' Then are you not an offender ?' 
 
 "'Alas! yes.' 
 
APPENDIX. 217 
 
 . * Now the Christians are taught to be- 
 lieve in Jesus, as enduring the shame and pain of 
 death, on the cross, which they deserve ; and that, 
 through faith in his sufferings, they shall be saved 
 They do indeed obey God ; yet not of themselves, 
 but by his grace : and their obedience attends theii 
 salvation, though not as the price of it.' 
 
 " The old man expressed great thankfulness ? 
 said he had never heard such things before ; told 
 his disciples these were true words, and begged a 
 copy of the Gospel : for which, as Abdool had not 
 taken one with him, he walked down, attended by 
 his retinue. On parting, he begged Abdool would 
 give him a sentence to remember. This is a cus- 
 tom between spiritual guides, when they part after 
 a visit ; and the most absurd expressions are com- 
 mon among them on these occasions. Abdool said, 
 ' There is no such custom among Christians ; but 
 I can tell you one sentence, which, if you remem- 
 ber and believe, may be of service to you ; and that 
 is, The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, 
 cleanseth from all sin !' He requested Abdool 
 would write to him, from time to time, on such 
 subjects. 
 
 " Feb. 13th. Saturday, arrived at Cawnpore. 
 
 On Sunday, AbdooFs brother, and his nephew, 
 
 came from Lukhnow to meet him. They received 
 
 him with great affection, and wished to eat with 
 
 T 
 
218 APPENDIX. 
 
 him, and to be one with him in all things, Ab- 
 dool wisely would not suffer them, until they should 
 understand the grounds of his conversion, when 
 they might choose. They brought word that a 
 great stir had been made in Lukhnow, on the re- 
 port of his baptism reaching that place. One night 
 a crowd collected at his father's house, and de- 
 manded that he should openly renounce his apostate 
 son, or they should suspect him also of becoming 
 a Christian. He and the brothers declared they 
 would not renounce Abdool, who always behaved 
 kindly, and now wrote to them with great affection. 
 A tumult ensued, which required the interference 
 of the cutwal, or mayor ; and the report was car- 
 ried to the Nabob's sons, if not to the Nabob him- 
 self. The great men took the part of Abdool's 
 family, and threatened the other party. These 
 circumstances were partly known ; and it had been 
 determined as most advisable for Abdool, not to go 
 to Lukhnow for the present ; but on being told of 
 his family's continued good will and favourable 
 disposition to the gospel, as also that his father, 
 mother, brothers, and sisters, with their children, 
 had determined on coming to see him, if he would 
 not go over the sisters also resolving to risk the 
 displeasure of their husbands rather than not see 
 him Abdool thought he ought to go ; and we, 
 commending him to the Lord, sent him, with his 
 
APPENDIX. 219 
 
 brother and nephew, with one servant to bring us 
 word of his welfare. 
 
 " Abdool is well known here, and his return has 
 excited much talk about religion. It would occupy 
 too much time to record every part of the conver- 
 sation which he held the first day he went to the 
 Bazar. It would explain exactly what is recorded 
 of St. Paul's disputing daily in the market. Acts 
 xvii. 17. 
 
 " One circumstance seems worthy to be remem- 
 bered, as it shows that the natives are well aware 
 that Christianity requires diligence in business. A 
 Faqueer by trade, on seeing Abdool, cried out, 
 4 Ho ! you seller of (your) faith, will you give me 
 any thing ?' 
 
 " Jlbd. ' If you desire to purchase spiritual 
 blessings, I may, perhaps, be able to supply you ; 
 but, as to worldly things, I have little to give. 
 What I have, I labour for, and you are able to work 
 for your provision, as well as I.' 
 
 " The Faqueer replied, So I expected ; now 
 you are become English, you would be for setting 
 me to work. I know their way is, work for your 
 bread ! work for your bread !' 
 
 " On the evening of Sunday the 21st, we were 
 agreeably surprised by the return of Abdool from 
 Lukhnow. He found the ill-will of his former 
 friends so much excited, that he did not leave his 
 
220 APPENDIX. 
 
 father's house, during the day he staid there. In 
 the evening he went to a friend's house, and had 
 much discussion on the subject of religion. He 
 gave ten copies of St. Matthew to different persons 
 who desired them, and prudently withdrew private- 
 ly ; and praised God, he says, when he set foot on 
 British territory. 
 
 " Two days after his return, his father, two bro- 
 thers, and two nephews, came over. Their preju- 
 dices appear removed. They joined in prayer, 
 both in private and in church, and declared their 
 intention of embracing Christianity. Most of their 
 inquiries were on the subject of our Lord's divini- 
 ty, of which, after having seen the evidences from 
 the Old and New Testaments, they seemed con- 
 vinced. Their parting with Abdool was very af- 
 fecting. The old man threw his arms round his 
 son's neck, and wept plentifully. Abdool was 
 much moved, and said, * I pray, sir, forbear your 
 tears. My Lord hath said, He that loveth brother, 
 or sister, or father, or mother, more than me, is 
 not worthy of me.' 
 
 " Well, well,' said the old man ; ' but I am re- 
 turning to calamity; I know many will try to 
 trouble me ; but I will give up these,' turning to 
 his two grand-children, ' to be educated in Christi- 
 anity ; I commit them to Jesus Christ ! God grant 
 that that country (Lukhnow) may soon come inte 
 
APPENDIX. 221 
 
 the possession of the British ! Then we might 
 live in peace.' Abdool reminded him, that God 
 would deliver him, and that His peace is alone 
 worth caring for. ' True,' said the younger bro- 
 ther, ' and these lads we commit to Christ ! During 
 the rains I also will come and stay some months 
 with you.' " 
 
 " March 18th, 1813. Arrived at Agra. Abdool 
 had come on some days before, and related several 
 conversations with persons on the way, about re- 
 ligion. Many copies of St. Matthew given away. 
 
 " Sunday, March 21. About three P. M. six 
 native Christians, beside the children, &c. attended 
 Hindoostanee worship in the fort, with whom Ab- 
 dool read prayers, and expounded Luke v., it being 
 the chapter in order of reading. In the evening 
 many hundreds of the poor assembled near the fort, 
 to whom Abdool read and explained briefly the ten 
 commandments. Many cried out, These are true 
 words ; and the curse of God will be upon us if 
 we obey them not !' 
 
 " March 22. Set our native school in order, by 
 appointing six of the head boys to learn English 
 on the new British plan, that some or all of them 
 might, through the divine blessing, become trans- 
 lators. They all continue to learn the catechism 
 in the mornings, with Persian during the day ; and 
 attend morning and evening worship, in which Ab- 
 
 T2 
 
222 APPENDIX. 
 
 dool officiates, by reading a chapter, and 
 remarks upon it, using some prayers from the lit^ 
 urgy afterward. 
 
 " Sunday, March 28th. At three o'clock, the 
 native congregation of Christians consisted of about 
 forty persons. Abdool explained the Gospel of St. 
 Luke in order, and read and commented on the 
 fourteenth chapter. Some of the people staid to 
 inquire who he was, and said they felt their hearts 
 much affected whilst he was addressing them. In 
 the evening he went into the town. A great crowd 
 collected to receive charity. Before he distributed it, 
 he explained the original state and the fall of man. 
 Many sat quietly ; evidently more taken up with 
 the discourse, than with their own necessities. 
 Daily some of the Mohammedans come to converse 
 with Abdool. 
 
 " April 3. This evening he went to visit a very 
 old man, accounted by the Mohammedans a holy 
 man, and resorted to by many of them. He had been 
 a scholar of Abdool's grandfather, and had repeat- 
 edly expressed a desire to see Abdool. Many were 
 collected at the old man's house. Some asked, \vho 
 Abdool was. The old man told them, mentioning 
 many circumstances respecting the respectability 
 of his family : among others, that Abdool's mo- 
 ther's brother, is president of the Royal Moham- 
 medan College at Delhi. They then asked Adbool 
 
APPENDIX. 223 
 
 whence he now came ; and on being told that he 
 was a certain Englishman's disciple, they inquired 
 what he had learnt. He replied, he had gained 
 some valuable information in religion. One of 
 them said, ' What connexion has religion with the 
 English ? Their native country is a small island, 
 where they can know nothing ; and in this country, 
 what benefit in religion can you reap from them ?' 
 Abdool told him, that he spoke thus, for want of 
 information. The old man made a sign for Abdool 
 to desist. Abdool said, 4 If you are afraid 1 should 
 be disgraced before this company, pray understand 
 that I go into the Bazar to speak on these subjects, 
 and am not ashamed of Christianity, that I should 
 flatter, or deal in ambiguous language.' 
 
 " ' Well,' said the old man, 'but now leave off, 
 and come among us from time to time ; we shall 
 be happy to see you.' 
 
 " The discussion was thus interrupted, and no- 
 thing satisfactory could afterward be introduced ; 
 so Abdool rose to go. They again invited him to 
 frequent their society ; he replied, he had not time 
 to spare for mere visiting ; bat if they would allow 
 him to read a chapter in the gospel every time he 
 came, he would wait on them as often as they 
 pleased. They expressed a wish that this might 
 be the case. Time will prove their sincerity." 
 
 " Sunday, April ^th. In the afternoon, at three, 
 
f 
 
 224 APPENDIX. 
 
 fewer native Christians attended Hindoostanee wor 
 ship ; but a great many servants of the gentlemen 
 who live in the fort, came to hear, behaved very 
 orderly, and heard with much attention the expla- 
 nation of the parable of the prodigal son. In the 
 evening Abdool explained the Apostle's creed, to 
 multitudes of natives, collected outside the fort, 
 who all behaved respectfully to him. 
 
 *' April 5th. After morning worship Abdool 
 took the children, and went into the fort, to be 
 ready for the afternoon. When all the children 
 were collected, he read to them the story of ' Hen- 
 ry and his Bearer.' They all expressed great 
 delight. When he had finished, the eldest of 
 his nephews said, ' Now I must of necessity be 
 baptized.' 
 
 "Sunday, April \\tli. About nine o'clock, 
 while the native Christian children and servants 
 were at worship, a venerable old man, who says he is 
 ninety years of age, came from the Tage to Abdool's. 
 The tears began to roll down his cheeks, as they 
 proceeded in the service : toward the end, he re- 
 peated ' Amen' heartily, after each petition. When 
 prayers were ended, he went up to Abdool, and 
 embraced him ; who said, * Do you know that I 
 am a Christian ?' He answered, ' Yes : I heard 
 so yesterday. I have often seen the English at 
 worship, but never understood their language ; but 
 
APPENDIX. 225 
 
 your prayers are most excellent, and my soul has 
 been greatly refreshed by them.' 
 
 " May 5th. To-day a Mohammedan physician 
 sent to request that Abdool would visit him in the 
 evening. He accordingly went, and found him as 
 an attendant on the Royal Family at Jondpore. He 
 has leave to visit Agra, owing to sickness in his 
 family, which required change of air. He had 
 heard of AbdooPs conversion yesterday, and could 
 not believe he was the person he pretended to be. 
 He offered to bet 2000 rupees, that a person of the 
 family described, could not change his religion. 
 He moreover said, if he were such a one, he must 
 know him, for they were at school together ; and 
 he would send for this person, (viz. Abdool Mes- 
 seeh,) and prove him to be an impostor. On Ab- 
 dool's going to his house, nothing could exceed the 
 physician's astonishment, to find him the very per- 
 son described, and his own school-fellow. They 
 had a long and friendly conversation about their 
 former intercourse, and read several chapters in St. 
 Matthew, and other parts of the New Testament. 
 On Abdool's answering his objections, he said, 
 ' This is the way I understand you did yesterday, 
 silencing every body by reference to their own cus- 
 toms : and so I perceive Islam will not stand.' He 
 took a copy of St. Matthew, and desired to have 
 the whole New Testament 
 
226 APPENDIX. 
 
 " Sunday, May, 9th. In the evening, out of 
 the fort, a greater number than ever was collected, 
 with evident desire to hear the Word. They check- 
 ed one another, in order to preserve silence. One, 
 impatient at the noise around him, cried aloud, 
 4 Keep silence, ye accursed, and let us hear the 
 Word ! Ye have six days in the week, have ye 
 not, to babble and talk ?' The subject was, ' This 
 is a faithful saying' Several were in tears. One 
 man came forward, and declared he would be a 
 Christian. He was sick, had long been ill, did not 
 expect to live long, and these words comforted 
 him. He had never before heard such comfortable 
 words. 
 
 " One evening, during the preceding week, Ab- 
 dool went into the city. A number of people col- 
 lected round him, and entered into conversation ; at 
 length, they begged that he would sit down, and 
 read them a chapter. He did so, and read the 
 eleventh of John. One of them told him, * if you 
 would have us become Christians, you must come 
 among us, and teach us the gospel. Come and live 
 among us, and we will attend you daily.' 
 
 " Sunday, June 6th. The attendance in the 
 fort was as usual ; and in the evening, without the 
 fort, the crowd was beyond all former example. 
 Even the tops of some of the houses, were covered 
 with Mohammedans ; but those of the crowd who 
 
APPENDIX. 227 
 
 could not hear, by their pressing and eagerness to 
 get forward, prevented much of what Abdool said 
 from being heard. 
 
 "June 7th. The whole day was passed by 
 Abdool in the city ; and his house was like an ex- 
 change, from morning till night. More copies of 
 the scriptures were sought for ; and one moonshee 
 began to read St. Matthew with Abdool. Three 
 children were brought to school, and the people 
 speak with much admiration of the establishment 
 of a free school. 
 
 " June 9th. Numbers of people visited Abdool 
 again to-day, and many interesting conversations 
 took place. An old Mohammedan, uncle to one 
 of the principal men in the city, was asked, on go- 
 ing away, what he thought of Abdool. He an- 
 swered, ' What can I say ? He says nothing amiss ; 
 and nothing can be objected to the Gospel ; what 
 can I say ?' 
 
 " June 10th. To-day the doctrine of Christ 
 witnessed a triumph. For three weeks past, a fa- 
 queer, of the Jogi tribe, has come frequently to our 
 morning worship, in the school. On Tuesday the 
 chapter to be read in order was John xvii. The 
 subject of it, and our Lord's manner toward his 
 disciples, arrested the attention of the Jogi, and the 
 tears flowed plentifully down his cheeks. To-day 
 he brought his wife and child ; said he was a con- 
 
228 APPENDIX. 
 
 vert to Jesus, without reserve ; and began of him 
 self to take off his Faqueer's dress. He first took 
 the beads from off his neck ; then broke the string 
 to which the charm given him by his gooroo was 
 suspended ; then broke off an iron ring worn round 
 his waist, and to which an iron rod, about two feet 
 long, was attached. He then put on some,, old 
 clothes, which we had by us, and said, now he 
 wished to be instructed in the Gospel, and to get 
 employment. A rupee was given to procure food 
 for the family, with which the wife went and 
 bought a spinning wheel, saying, she would spin 
 and earn their livelihood. These are wonders in 
 the history of a Hindoo. The whole family after- 
 ward ate their dinner with Abdool, of their own 
 accord. 
 
 " To-day, also, an old woman who has constant 
 ly heard Abdool on Sundays, brought her little all 
 from the house of a Mohammedan, where she had 
 long lived, and took up her abode among the Chris- 
 tians, expressing a heart-affecting sense of her value 
 for the Gospel of Christ. 
 
 " A leper too, who has spent years in religious 
 observances, without finding rest to his mind, and 
 who has been some time in constant attendance on 
 the means of grace, took up his abode with us, 
 saying, Jesus would cure the inward leprosy of his 
 soul. 
 
APPENDIX. 229 
 
 "The old soldier also, and hi? wife and son, 
 have cast in their lot with us. 
 
 " The school to-day increased to ten, expressly 
 under the idea that it is a Christian institution. 
 
 "June 12th. The whole city seems moved 
 with this new thing which is come unto them ; but 
 not a tongue stirs in opposition. As a proof of 
 this, the Mooftee of the court, whose father is Kha- 
 zee ol Kazat, or Native Chief Justice of the Com- 
 pany's head court in Calcutta, sent to beg that 
 Abdool would forget the attempt that had been made 
 by his relatives in Calcutta, to procure his impri- 
 sonment, and would visit him, (the Mooftee,) and 
 be friends with him. 
 
 " It would be no easy task to record all the in- 
 teresting discussions which have taken place, during 
 these two days, between Abdool and the principal 
 Mohammedans in the city. One of them observed, 
 that Abdool was so provided with armour, that 
 none of their weapons (arguments) could reach 
 him. 
 
 "June 18th. To-day, Abdool was informed, 
 that the kazee (judge) is taking pains to prevent 
 the children from coming to school, and the people 
 from visiting him. Some of the children said to 
 him, on his forbidding them to go to school to 
 Abdool, * Will you then instruct us gratis, as he 
 does *' 
 
 U 
 
230 APPENDIX. 
 
 " June 25th. Yesterday, as Abdool was read- 
 ing and explaining Acts iv. at his house in the city, 
 an extraordinary instance of Divine power attend- 
 ing the Word, appeared. A youth about fifteen, a 
 Brahmin of the Gour caste, had come, among 
 others, to see and hear this new thing. Abdool 
 observed him very attentive ; and as he proceeded, 
 and was explaining verse 12, Neither is there sal- 
 vation in any other, for there is none other name 
 given among men, whereby we can be saved,' the 
 lad seemed greatly agitated, and breaking off his 
 Brahmin's cord, threw it away. All who were 
 present observed what he did, but no notice was 
 then taken. After the congregation went away, the 
 .ad remained ; said he would embrace the Christian 
 religion, and, in short, of his own accord ate with 
 Abdool, and came home with him in the evening." 
 
 "July 6th. To-day the Rajah Ram Narian 
 passed most of the day here. He is son of the 
 brother of the well known Cheyt Sing, Rajah of 
 Benares, who was finally set aside from the rajah- 
 ship by the Honourable Company, on the murder 
 of Mr. Cherry, and the present family placed on 
 the musnud, who are of the female line. On June 
 9th, this Rajah Ram Narian called upon me, (Rev. 
 Mr. Corrie.) He had passed the greatest part of 
 a day at Cawnpore, with the late Mr. Martyn, 
 with whom I was then an inmate. Since then, he 
 
APPENDIX. 231 
 
 has been visiting about among the Mahratta princes 
 and on arriving here, and hearing of my being here 
 he came to call upon me. After some time, he en- 
 tered into a detail of the misfortunes of his family. 
 I heard him out, and then endeavoured to show 
 him, that all worldly expectations were thus de- 
 luding; and that, though we should gain our end 
 in the world, we must leave it, and go to give ac- 
 count to God : whilst those, who know and love 
 the true God, have a never-failing portion. Abdool, 
 who was present, took up the subject. The young 
 man was roused to attention, came to see us day 
 after day, and expressed very freely in public his 
 approbation of the Gospel, becoming daily more 
 serious and earnest in his religious inquiries. At 
 length, he became suspected of an inclination to 
 Christianity. Crowds, both of Hindoos and Mus- 
 sulmans, visited him daily, to dissuade him from 
 associating with Abdool. On the 2d inst., he took 
 up his abode with Abdool, in the city ; and now, 
 the whole city seemed moved. Day and night, he 
 was beset by people, many of whom had never 
 seen him, or heard of him until now ; and the agi- 
 tation of mind occasioned thereby, made him quite 
 unwell. To-day he is much indisposed, yet came 
 out to see me. After some previous conversation, 
 I said to him, 4 If your intention of embracing 
 Christianity be sincere, I do most heartily invite 
 
232 APPENDIX. 
 
 you to occupy these rooms,' in which we were sit- 
 ting, ' and in all respects, to consider me as a bro- 
 ther : only I am anxious that no worldly motive 
 should enter into your resolutions, and that no one 
 should be able to say, you were influenced by tem- 
 poral considerations.' He answered, very distinctly 
 and deliberately, ' Sir, in respect of name, what 
 can I propose to myself by the change ? My fami- 
 ly is the chief among the Hindoos, being Brahmins, 
 and lords of the holy city. In respect to provision, 
 you know how I have lived, and could still live :' 
 he told me before, that he could collect 400 ru- 
 pees a month, and subsistence for three or four 
 hundred followers among the Mahratta princes : 
 4 What earthly end can I have in view ? But, 
 among the Hindoos or Mohammedans, I never 
 heard of any whose birth, life, death, resurrection, 
 and ascension, can be compared with Jesus. I per- 
 ceive he is the only Saviour, and I see I may ob- 
 tain remission of sins through him.' 
 
 " July 8th. In consequence of the above visit, 
 the friends and adherents of the Rajah became quite 
 violent with him, and threatened, by some means 
 or other, to put an end to his life. They threaten- 
 ed Abdool also, who quietly, but resolutely an- 
 swered, ' If you should accomplish my death, it 
 would be a cause of joy to me, as bringing me at 
 once to Him whose I am ; but, be assured, your 
 
APPENDIX. 233 
 
 lives would be forfeited to the law, and at the 
 throne of God, you would find Raim,* or any other 
 you depend upon, quite unable to save you from 
 the guilt of murder.' They were dismayed at his 
 resolution, and have kept aloof from him since ; 
 but have persuaded the Rajah to make a journey to 
 Gualier, where another widow of Cheyt Sing's is, 
 and of a brother of his own. He says he will come 
 back alone shortly ; appears in deep distress ; and 
 said to-day, * I go with them because I fear they 
 will otherwise murder me ; but I know, if I do not 
 become a Christian, I shall go to hell with my 
 eyes open. My faith is in Jesus Christ alone, and 
 beside him there is no Saviour. ' A Mohammedan 
 in the service of the Rajah has been the chief op- 
 poser, and has tried to get others to say that Ab- 
 dool wished to compel people to become Christians. 
 A Molwee, who lives near, and to whom he first 
 addressed himself, told him at once he lied, and 
 was an infidel for opposing an idolater who wished 
 to believe in revelation, though not in Mohammed. 
 The Hindoos to whom he applied, said he was mad ; 
 that they saw and heard all that passed in Abdool's 
 house, and saw no violence offered to any one. 
 One Hindoo said, ' I hear him forbid people to kill, 
 or to commit adultery, or to steal, or to tell lies ' 
 if this be Christianity, it is a good religion ; there 
 * An idol. 
 u2 
 
234 APPENDIX 
 
 are no such good words even in the Sanscrit 
 books.' 
 
 "July llth. A man from a neighbouring vil- 
 lage was present to-day, who has been a constant 
 attendant for some time. He was asked why he 
 had expressed a wish to become a Christian ? He 
 answered, For the sake of salvation.' What had 
 he heard, that should induce him to hope for salva- 
 tion in Christianity ? . He said, 4 He had never 
 heard of any whose birth corresponded with that 
 of Christ; that to raise the dead, and himself to 
 rise from the dead, proved him to be the Son of 
 God, and able to give remission of sins. He to-day 
 took his meal with the Christians, by which his 
 caste is gone. 
 
 " July 24/A. To-day a Mohammedan from Berth- 
 pore came, who is physician to the Rajah's family. 
 He had long ago perused the Pentateuch in Arabic, 
 lent him by a Roman Catholic priest, who lived 
 with General Duboin. About two years ago, it 
 came into his mind to search for truth. The 
 irreconcilable contradictions among the different 
 Mohammedan sects, struck him powerfully, and 
 convinced him that truth was not with them. He 
 read in the Koran, that Christ is the Spirit of God. 
 This gave him a high idea of our Saviour. He 
 took an opportunity of coming to Agra soon aftei 
 that time, when he visited Mr. C. the Baptist mis- 
 
APPENDIX. 235 
 
 sionary, who urged him to an immediate profession 
 of Christianity. This he was not prepared for, but 
 took a copy of St. Matthew and St. Mark, in Per- 
 sian, translated by Sabat, and went back to Berth- 
 pore. There he has been until the present time, 
 fully persuaded of the truth of Christianity, and 
 the divinity of Christ, from the perusal of the above 
 translation, but desirous of meeting with some of 
 his own countrymen, who could inform him fur- 
 ther ; he at length heard of Abdool, and of the kind- 
 ness and inoffensiveness of his manners. * This,' 
 said he, 'is the way of that religion.' And on 
 Monday, he came over on purpose to meet with 
 Abdool. He was led to the house of a Molwee, 
 who teaches our Christian boys Arabic, and who is 
 very favourable to the truth ; so that his introduc- 
 tion to Abdool was thus made easy. He now 
 wishes to be baptized ; seems less than any native 
 whom I have seen, to consult with flesh and blood ; 
 said he desired only to be great in the sight of God, 
 and, if it were his will, to be among the first fruits 
 of Hindoostan ; for he is sure that all the land will 
 become Christian, and he desires to give himself 
 to labour to spread the Gospel. He has a son 
 eighteen years old, whom he has made acquainted 
 with the change passing in his mind ; and who, he 
 says, is, equally with himself, disposed to embrace 
 the Gospel. He has gone back to bring this son, 
 
236 APPENDIX. 
 
 and what property he has, that he may give him- 
 self wholly to the work of the Lord. 
 
 " July 18th. This afternoon the above person 
 made his appearance, with his son, at worship in 
 the city. He had thought, he said, of sending his 
 son first : but afterward reflected, This is not a 
 work to be delayed, or trifled with.' He publicly 
 professed, before all the people assembled, that he 
 was come expressly to receive baptism. He laid 
 aside his turban, and knelt down to prayer with the 
 Christian part of the assembly. 
 
 " July 23. To-day, Abdool's eldest nephew, af- 
 ter many solicitations, was examined for baptism. 
 So long since as the beginning of May, he had 
 been observed diligent in secret duties ; and the 
 questions which he asked, discovered an awakened 
 conscience. On Monday last, he began to read 
 the Scriptures, and pray with the Catechumens. 
 This was after repeated requests to be allowed to 
 do so, and diligent application to private reading of 
 the Scriptures. To-day he was asked, Why do 
 you wish to be baptized ?' He said, * Because 1 
 am conscious of many and great sins, and I wish 
 to enter on the way of forgiveness.' 
 
 " Ques. 'But perhaps the English government 
 may not always remain in this land ; and you know, 
 in that case, the Hindoos and Mohammedans would 
 persecute you : what would you do ?' 
 
APPENDIX. 237 
 
 " J?ns. < Certainly, since they despised, and 
 persecuted, and ill-treated the Saviour, I can expect 
 no other ; but, through his help, I would remain 
 firm.' 
 
 " July 24th. During the whole of this week, 
 the Hugeem from Berthpore has attended daily with 
 his son. The Epistle to the Hebrews was appoint- 
 ed to be read, to show him the connexion between 
 the Old and New Testaments. As we went on, 
 his attention was evidently attracted by the pecu- 
 liar truths of the Gospel the divinity of Christ 
 his suitableness, as God, to be a Saviour the suf- 
 ficiency of his sacrifice, and the extent of it, as 
 reaching to sins under the former dispensation also. 
 The passages connected with these subjects, drew 
 from him many expressions indicative of a truly 
 enlightened mind. He has been daily also inquir- 
 ing about baptism ; and as the subject has been on 
 his mind above two years, and he is now evidently 
 decided in his choice, it was agreed to baptize him 
 to-morrow. After talking of his family, I asked 
 if he was aware of any thing in his own history 
 for which God might be justly displeased with 
 him. He answered, ' What have I done, that de- 
 serves the name of virtue, all my days ? If I have 
 done any thing good at all, it is this acceptance 
 of the truth.'" 
 
 Bishop Heber makes mention of Messeeh, in 
 
238 APPENDIX. 
 
 his Journal, near Agra, January 12th, 1825, as 
 follows : 
 
 " Abdool Messeeh breakfasted this morning at 
 Mr. Irving' s ; he is a very fine old man, with a 
 magnificent grey beard, and much more gentlemanly 
 manners, than any Christian native whom I have 
 seen. His rank, indeed, previous to his convex 
 sion, was rather elevated, since he was master of 
 the jewels to the court of Oude, an appointment of 
 higher estimation in eastern palaces, than in those 
 of Europe, and the holder of which has always a 
 high salary. Abdool Messeeh's present appoint- 
 ments, as Christian missionary, are sixty rupees a 
 month,* and of this, he gives away at least half. 
 Who can dare to say, that this man has changed 
 his faith from any interested motives ? He is a very 
 good Hindoostanee, Persian, and Arabic scholar, 
 but knows no English. There is a small congre 
 gation of native Christians, converted under Mr. 
 Corrie, when he was chaplain at Agra, and now 
 kept together by Abdool Messeeh. The earnest de- 
 sire of this good man is, to be ordained a clergyman 
 of the church of England ; and if God spares his 
 life and mine, I hope, during the next autumn, to 
 confer orders on him. He is every way fit for 
 them, and is a most sincere Christian, quite free, 
 so far as I could observe, from all conceit or enthu- 
 * A rupee is worth about fifty cents. 
 
APPENDIX. ' 239 
 
 siasm. His long eastern dress, his long grey beard, 
 and his calm, resigned countenance, give him al- 
 ready almost the air of an apostle." 
 
 In that year he was much afflicted by losing the 
 use of his limbs by the palsy ; ' but,' said he, ' I 
 can move about in a carriage, and God grants me 
 the faculty of speech. Through his blessing, I trust 
 I shell be permitted, until death, to declare the 
 truths of the gospel. When, at length, this sinful 
 body of mine is dead, and shall have put on im- 
 mortality, may I be found among the least of the 
 blessed !' 
 
 Thus he maintained a consistent Christian life, 
 and his closing hours were brightened with Chris- 
 tian hope. 
 
 " He became ill ; and Dr. Luxmore, finding him 
 in a dying condition, from mortification, had him 
 conveyed to his own house, where he was supplied 
 with suitable medicine, nourishment, and attend- 
 ance, to the last. He expressed his deep gratitude 
 for this change of residence ; for he said, that had 
 he died at home among his own relations, they per- 
 haps would have interred his remains according to 
 the ceremonies of their own erroneous faith : * But 
 now,' said he, ' Christian brethren will bury me.' 
 He expressed himself as perfectly resigned ; and 
 aid that death had no terrors for him, for that his 
 Saviour had deprived it of its sting. He expressed 
 
240 APPENDIX. 
 
 to a friend who attended on him, his gratitude for 
 the kind attention of Mr. Ricketts, the Resident, 
 saying, ' See the fruits of Christian love !' The 
 day before his death, he requested his friend to 
 write his will. A house which the Resident had 
 enabled him to purchase, he left to his mother ; his 
 books to the Bible. Society, and his clothes to a 
 nephew. After concluding these formalities, he 
 said, ' Thanks be to God, I have done with this 
 world ! and with regard to my mother,' putting his 
 hands in a supplicating posture, 'I commend her 
 to God :' then, laying his hand upon his nephew, 
 he said to his friend, * Speak to the Resident, that 
 no one be allowed to injure him :' then desiring his 
 friend to come near him, and putting his hands in 
 an attitude of prayer, he said, ' O Father, Son, and 
 
 Holy Ghost, be gracious to ' 
 
 " On one occasion he inquired after a man who 
 had been with him for some time for religious in- 
 struction ; and being told he was at hand, desired 
 he might be called. On his approach, he questioned 
 him on some points of religion, and explained to 
 him the Lord's Prayer throughout : he spoke of 
 his intention to baptize him, should he recover ; 
 and desired, that, in the event of his death, a cleri- 
 cal friend might be requested to do so. Shortly be- 
 fore he expired, being told that the New Testa- 
 ment was at hand, at his desire, the fourth chapter 
 
APPENDIX. 241 
 
 of St. John was read to him ; at the conclusion of 
 which, he said, ' Thanks be to God !' A hymn, 
 which he had composed a short time before, was 
 then sung, and of which the following is a para- 
 phrase : 
 
 Blest Saviour of the world ! who art 
 
 Beloved supremely still by me, 
 Now, in thy ever-loving heart, 
 
 Oh let me not forgotten be ! 
 
 , Of all that blooms in earthly bower, 
 
 Or in ethereal field that blows, 
 Of every sweet and fragrant flower, 
 Thou art the fairest, Sharon's rose ! 
 
 Long passed away youth's cheerful morn, 
 And age's closing hours come on 
 
 These grieve me not my soul is torn 
 By memory of my sins alone. 
 
 Blest Saviour of the world ! who art 
 
 Beloved supremely still by me, 
 Now, in thy ever-loving heart, 
 
 Oh let me not forgotten be ! 
 
 " He joined in singing this hymn, and desired 
 that it might be sung a second time : but he could 
 no longer articulate distinctly, and soon became in- 
 sensible to every thing around him. He lay, 
 seemingly in perfect ease, till the evening ; when 
 he raised his head from the pillow, and with his 
 left hand took hold of the hand of his friend then 
 gently withdrew it and breathed his last." 
 X 
 
242 APPENDIX 
 
 Hymn referred to on page 52. 
 
 THE God of Abraham praise, 
 Who reigns enthroned above ; 
 Ancient of everlasting days, 
 
 And God of love ! 
 Jehovah, great I AM ! 
 By earth and heaven confessed, 
 I bow and bless the sacred name, 
 For ever blessed. 
 
 The God of Abraham praise, 
 At whose supreme command, 
 From earth I rise, and seek the joys 
 
 At his right hand : 
 I all on earth forsake, 
 Its wisdom, fame, and power : 
 And him my only portion make, 
 My shield and tower. 
 
 The God of Abraham praise, 
 Whose all-sufficient grace 
 Shall guide me, all my happy days, 
 
 In all his ways : 
 
 He calls a worm his friend ! 
 
 He calls himself my God ! 
 
 And he shall save me to the end, 
 
 Through Jesus' blood. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 He by himself hath sworn ; 
 I on his oath depend ; 
 I shall, on eagles' wings upborne, 
 
 To heaven ascend ; 
 I shall behold his face, 
 I shall his power adore ; 
 And sing the wonders of his grace 
 For evermore ! 
 
 Though nature's strength decay, 
 And earth and hell withstand, 
 To Canaan's bounds I urge my way, 
 
 At God's command : 
 The watery deep I pass, 
 With Jesus in my view, 
 And through the howling wilderness 
 My way pursue. 
 
 The goodly land I see, 
 With peace and plenty blest ; 
 The land of sacred liberty, 
 
 And endless rest : 
 There milk and honey flow, 
 And oil and wine abound ; 
 And trees of life for ever grow, 
 With mercy crowned. 
 
 There dwells the Lord our King, 
 The Lord our righteousness ! 
 
 243 
 
244 APPENDIX. 
 
 Triumphant o'er the world and sin, 
 
 The Prince of Peace ! 
 On Sion's sacred height, 
 His kingdom still maintains ; 
 And glorious, with his saints in light, 
 For ever reigns. 
 
 The ransomed nations bow 
 Before the Saviour's face, 
 Joyful their radiant crowns they throw 
 
 Overwhelmed with grace : 
 He, shows his scars of love ; 
 They kindle to a flame, 
 And sound through all the worlds above, 
 " The atoning Lamb !" 
 
 The whole triumphant host 
 Give thanks to God on high, 
 " Hail Father, Son and Holy Ghost !" 
 
 They ever cry : 
 
 Hail Abraham's God and mine ! 
 I join the heavenly lays ; 
 All might and majesty are thine, 
 And endless praise ! 
 
APPENDIX. 245 
 
 Hymn referred to on page 59. 
 
 O'ER the gloomy hills of darkness, 
 Look, my soul, be still and gaze ; 
 
 All the promises do travail 
 With a glorious day of grace : 
 Blessed Jubilee, 
 
 Let thy glorious morning dawn ! 
 
 Kingdoms wide, that sit in darkness, 
 Grant them, Lord, the glorious light ; 
 
 And from eastern coast to western, 
 May the morning chase the night ; 
 And redemption, 
 
 Freely purchased win the day ' 
 
 Fly abroad, thou mighty gospel 
 
 Win and conquer, never cease ; 
 May thy lasting wide dominions, 
 Multiply, and still increase ! 
 
 Sway thy sceptre, 
 Saviour ! all the world around. 
 x2 
 
246 APPENDIX. 
 
 Verse alluded to on page 192 ; paraphrased by Mr 
 Newton, from the Latin. 
 
 In desert woods with thee, my God, 
 Where human footsteps never trod, 
 
 How happy could I be ! 
 Thou my repose from care, my light 
 Amidst the darkness of the night, 
 
 In solitude my company. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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VA 03714