soul. The first words he said to me were, 'I know that my Redeemer liveth; and in Him, as dying and interceding for me, is all my hope. I am much more comfortable than heretofore.' What can I wish for more than this, except that I myself may have the same blessed hope in a dying hour? Have I not reason to bless God for my own illness, which occasioned my long abode with him, and was accessory, I trust, to his eternal welfare? Yes, I bless God for it: and hope my own soul also shall not be without some benefit resulting from it. "Dear Mr. Martyn has been at death's door, at Tebriz, and is coming home for his health. O, that God may spare his valuable life. You may be well assured, that many hours will not intervene between his arrival on shore, and my most anxious endeavors to promote his welfare. In whatever place he shall judge best. for his complaint, I shall be most thankful to have the honor of ministering to him. "Our Anniversary at Cambridge was on Thursday last; and not a whit behind our last year's meeting. Mr. Cunningham came in the place of Mr. Owen, and was more judicious, and quite as eloquent. Mr. Steinkopff is returned from the Continent, whither he has been to visit the foreign societies; but was not with us, having arrived but a few days. "The letter of Mr. Martyn to Mr. Corrie, which you sent me, is one of the most interesting letters that was ever penned. I have shown it to many fellows of his college, Messrs. Wood, Catton, Hornbuckle, Whitfield, Fawcett, and it has caused much sympathy among them. Indeed, my correspondence with Mr. Martyn enables me from time to time to communicate to them some intelligence respecting him, and brings them much nearer to me than they would otherwise be." CHAPTER XV. Letters-To the Rev. T. Thomason, on the death of Henry Martyn-Diffusion of Chnstianity in India-Death of Mr. Robinson of Leicester-Tablet in memory of Martyn Season of May in London-Religious meetings-First stone of the Jews' ChapelConversion of two wealthy Jews-Martyn's Papers-Mr. Sargent his Biographer-Retirement at Sandgate-Death of Mr. Venn-Presentation to Clapham-Faithful discharge of his Trust-Bible Society at Oxford-Pleasant party afterwards-Dr. Ryder, Dean of Wells-Meeting at Shelford-Catechizing-The controversy with Dr. Marsh -Dr. Milner-Importance of accurate Translations-On religious depression. 1813. CORRESPONDENCE. To the Rev. T. THOMASON. "My beloved friend and Brother, "Feb. 12, 1813. "How will you be distressed to hear the afflictive intelligence which I have to communicate, respecting our beloved and honored brother, Mr. Martyn! The day before yesterday a letter arrived from Mr. Isaac Morier at Constantinople, announcing that on the 16th of October (or thereabouts) our beloved brother entered into the realms of glory, and rested for ever in the bosom of his God. "But what an event it is! How calamitous to his friends, to India, and to the world! Methinks I hear God say, 'Be still, and know that I am God.' Our rebellious spirits are ready to rise, and to charge God foolishly; but it becomes us, like Aaron, to hold our peace. I had been forming plans in my mind with a view to the restoration of his health in England, and should now have been able to carry into execution whatever might have been judged expedient: but I am denied the joy of ministering to him." To the Rev. T. THOMASON. "My very dear Friend and Brother, "April 2, 1813. "On the subject of facilitating the diffusion of Christian. light in India, there are going to be petitions from all quarters. Vast opposition is made to it: Lord Castlereagh is adverse to it: examinations are making in relation to it (as well as to the trade of India) at the bar of the House of Commons: Mr. Hastings, Lord Teignmouth, and others have given their evidence: Hastings is very adverse. "Lord Castlereagh's plan is to send out a bishop and three archdeacons but whether it will be approved in Parliament I cannot tell. "We are making collections for Mr. Martyn's brother's family, who in him have lost their main support. We have got about £400, and Mr. Thornton has sent you papers for the purpose of getting them some aid in India. On this account, by the advice of Mr. Wilberforce, I have not yet set on foot a subscription for Mrs. Brown. It was thought that both coming precisely at the same moment would injure both, and that Mrs. B.'s should be deferred till it was seen what the East India Company would do for her: when the proper time comes, I shall feel happy in exerting myself for her. Whilst death has been accomplishing its work with you it has not been idle amongst us. You will be grieved to hear that that honored servant of God, Mr. Robinson of Leicester, died suddenly about a week ago. He had been repeatedly attacked with a paralysis; and the last stroke removed him in a moment. Dr. Buchanan also is very poorly, and has lost his second wife. Everything says to us, 'Be ye also ready.' "I am doubtful whether some marble inscription should not be put up in St. John's College Chapel for our beloved Martyn. If it be approved, I think I shall get it done. But respecting the propriety of such a step at Dinapore and at Cawnpore, I can have little doubt. You, however, will judge and act in this as you see fit. I had thought of putting one in Trinity Church."* This was afterwards done: the tablet is in the chancel, on the south wall, and bears the following inscription: THIS TABLET is erected to the Memory of The Rev. HENRY MARTYN, B.D., and two years Curate of this Parish. He gained by his talents the highest Academical honors; he left his Native Country, and went into the East, The chief monuments which he left of his piety and talents are into the Hindostanee and Persian Languages; 'Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.' To the Rev. T. THOMASON. 66 My very dear Friend and Brother, "May 16, 1813. "There have been about 1500 petitions delivered to desire that some opportunity may be afforded to pious persons to diffuse the light of Christianity in India: but almost all feel the necessity of limiting it to persons recommended by some large society, and approved by the government at home. "The whole Christian world seems stirred up, almost as you would expect it to be in the Millennium. You remember the second week in May used to be a kind of sacred season for the London Missionary Society: now the first week also is holy and devoted to many different objects; all of which I have just attended. 6 "Tuesday. The Society for Missions to Africa and the East,' together with The African Institution.' Mr. Dealtry preached -and such a sermon, as to electrify the whole congregation. It was printed instantly, in order to be circulated among the members of both houses of Parliament. It is on the subject of evangelizing India. - "Wednesday. The Bible Society. Two of the royal dukes attended (Kent and Sussex,) and the Duke of York would, if he had been able. "Thursday. Two societies. That for the Conversion of the Jews,' and The Prayer Book and Homily Society.' "Friday.—The Jews' Society' Report. In the view of these things we are constrained to say, What hath God wrought! "I have a letter this day from Mr. Fry, saying that he expects the Bishop of London to consecrate the new chapel which is building for the Jews' Society' at Bethnal Green; and that the Archbishop of Canterbury has expressed regret at not having given them his countenance before. For this last society I am much interested, being one of the trustees for the chapel. The laying of the first stone about three weeks ago was a most interesting scene. The Duke of Kent laid it; and Lord Erskine, Lord Dundas, Mr. Wilberforce, &c., assisted with a silver trowel. We hope it will be ready in about fifteen months: other buildings will afterwards be added, for the lodging and employing both the children that have been baptized, and the adults that want employment. "A rich Jew on the Continent has been converted; and he is preaching among his brethren. He is a merchant who has five different concerns in five different cities, and from ten to twelve clerks in every one. With such influence, we cannot but hope that he may lead many to a consideration of the subject. As for the work of conversion, we know to whom that exclusively belongs, even though Paul should plant, or Apollos water.' This day brings me tidings of another rich Jew embracing the Christian 6 faith. O, that that whole nation might remember themselves, and turn unto the Lord! "In my last letter I mentioned the melancholy tidings of our beloved brother Martyn's death. I told you also of his Persian Testament being finished; and his controversy with the Mahometans being consigned to my care (though it has not yet arrived,) in order that it may be published in India. I shall (D. v.) act in this matter under the advice of Lord Teignmouth. The utmost care has been taken to secure the safe arrival of his writings. A life of him will be written by my dear friend Mr. Sargent (a man well qualified for the office,) and I am collecting all possible materials from England and Persia; and to you I look (with Mr. Corrie) to send me materials from India; Mrs. Young will furnish me with some. We shall proceed slowly; that it may be a work worthy of our beloved friend's character. How deeply will you be grieved, as will multitudes of others in India, at such a loss! Truly, it is a breach that will not readily be healed: but God has the residue of the Spirit;' and He can make even this tend to the furtherance of the Gospel. "My own health, through the goodness of God, is good; my voice tolerably strong; I can preach once with ease, and twice with difficulty: twice, if continued for any time, would bring me down. I am going to rest for three months in the summer: your dear mother and Esther are going with me to the sea-side, where we hope to spend a profitable time in quiet retirement. If this is wrong the fault is yours. You remember your parting charge, 'Son, behold thy mother!-so that if we obey your commands, you must bear all the blame. Truly, I find her to be a mother to me, nor do I believe it possible for a human being to manifest a maternal spirit to a greater extent towards her own offspring, than she does towards me. I pray God I may be permitted in my turn to minister in some measure to her happiness. "Mrs. James has been at the point of death. She was twentyeight days without taking half an ounce of solid food, or half a pint of liquid in the whole time. But such a state of soul I have rarely seen. God was with her of a truth; and Mr. Okes told me, that nothing but the surprising placidity of her mind had kept her from death; since without it she could not possibly have survived. These are sweet testimonies to the truth of our word, and to the power and grace of Christ. Blessed be God for them !" To the Rev. T. THOMASON. "July 16, 1813, Sandgate, near Folkstone. "My very dear Friend and Brother, 66 Sandgate! Sandgate! What can have carried him there? Whom is he visiting there? or whom has he with him |