Memoir of the Rev. Henry Martyn ...

Preface

Before the reader proceeds to the perusal of the •• '"'II owing Memoir, it may be proper to inform him — - hat the first and second parts of it hare been chiefly selected from various Journals, which Mr. Martyn ivas in the habit of keeping, for his own private jse, and which, beginning with the year 1803, comprehend a period of eight years. The third part is extracted from an account which he drew up of his visit to Shiraz in Persia; in which some occasional observations on the state of his own mind and feelings are interspersed. It is termed a Narrative by Mr. Martyn; and had his life been spared, it was probably his intention to have enlarged it, for the use of the public, or perhaps to have communicated it, nearly in its original shape, to his intimate friends. From the style and manner of it, at least, it may be presumed not to have been exclusively intended (as the Journals above-mentioned evidently were,) for his own recollection and benefit — The greater part of these papers were upon

IV PREFACE;

the point of being destroyed by the writer, upon his undertaking the voyage to Persia; but, happily, he was prevailed upon, by the Rev. D. Corrie, to confide them under a seal to his care, and by him they were transmitted from India, to the Rev. C. Simeon, and J. Thornton, Esq. Mr. Martyn's executors, in the year 1814. The Narrative, which was sent, by Mr. Morier, from Constantinople, came into their hands in the following year. Such are the materials from which I have compiled the present Memoir, — throughout the whole of which I have endeavored, as much as possible, to let Mr. Martyn speak for himself, and thus exhibit a genuine picture of his own mind.

In making a selection from a mass of such Values

able matter, it has been my anxious wish and sincere prayer, that it might prove subservient to the interests of true religion. A principal object with me has been to render it beneficial to those disinterested Ministers of the Gospel, who, "with the Bible in their hand, and their Savior in their hearts," devote themselves to the "great cause" in which Mr. Martyn lived and died; and, truly, if the example here delineated should excite any of those servants of Christ to similar exertion, or if it should animate and encourage them, amidst the multiplied difficulties of their arduous course, my labor will receive an eminent and abundant recompence.

JOHN SARGENT, Jin.

Graf ham, July 7, 1819.

Part I. Page

Early life of Mr. Marty n 12—19

His successful Academical course and first serious "impressions £0—30

He visits Cornwall and returns to Cambridge, when he

becomes entirely devoted to the service of Christ . . 31 — 36 Is admitted to a fellowship, and gains some prizes in

the University 37

His tour through Wales to Cornwall 37 — 40

Returns to Cambridge, and resolves to preach the

Gospel to the Heathen as a Missionary 40 — 43

The state of his mind between the period of determining to become a Missionary and his ordination ' 43—65 Is appointed to the curacies of Trinity Church in Cambridge and Lolworth 67 — 69

His difficulties and discouragements on first exercising

his ministry 69

Executes the office of Public Examiner in St. John's . 70

Reviews his life 71,72

Visits London respecting a Chaplainship to the East

India Company, in consequence of pecuniary losses 73,74 *1

IV

CONTENTS.

Returns to Cambridge — His diligence in the ministry— His supreme regard to personal religion — His feelings when calumniated and ridiculed and dehorted from his Missionary designs — His distress of mind after

metaphysical inquiries 75 — 84

Visits Cornwall as it appeared for the last time . . . 85—88

His grief on leaving Cornwall 89,90

His journey from Cornwall to Cambridge 91 — 93

His letter to his youngest sister 94—96

His great happiness and holy sensibility in the work of

the ministry 96 — 99

His joy on the Sabbath ' 100

Chosen again examiner at St. John's 101

His prospects and retrospect 102

Ordained Priest 103

His sorrow and support at leaving Cambridge . . . 104 — 106 Arrives in London — His occupations — trials — consolations 107— 109

A record of his feelings at this season 110 — 115

Leaves London for Portsmouth — sails from thence —

arrives at Falmouth 115 — 120

His mixed emotions at unexpectedly visiting Cornwall

— his departure from Falmouth 120 — 124

His acute mental misery — His arrival at Cork, and joyful state of mind there — His ministry on board the

He leaves Cork — A storm— Mr. Martyn's sensations 129—131 Journal of his voyage after the subsiding of the storm

tilt his arrival at Madeira 132 — 140

Extracts of letters from Funchal . 141

Sailed from Funchal for the Cape of Good Hope, after hearing that the army on board the fleet was destined to capture it— Mr. Martyn's anxiety for the spiritual welfare of the soldiers — His providential escape in sailing to St. Salvador .... 142 — 145

\ description of St. Salvador and of the events which happened there 145—157

He leaves St. Salvador for the Cape— The army lands— Mr. Martyn visits the field of battle— The enemy surrenders— Mr. Martyn's reflection's . . 157—166 contWts. vu

His journal from the time of the capture of the Cape

till that of his leaving it 166— 171

He is opposed in his ministry . 172

The death of a devout soldier 173

Mr. Martyn's sentiments on approaching India . . 174,175

Ceylon discovered - • *76

Farewell sermon to the ship's company— India first

Mr. Martyn's journal daring his stay at Madras . . 177— 179 Sails from Madras— Passes Juggernaut-Incurs danger from a hurricane— And another still greater from a

■sand-bank— He reaches Calcutta— His reflections 180—133

PART If.

Prayer of Christians in Calcutta answered in the arrival of Mr. Martyn — Having passed Dr. Buchanan in the Hoogley, he is affectionately received by Mr. Brown at Aldeen— His illness there 184—186

Mr. Martyn's vigilance as a Missionary — He will not

be detained at Calcutta 187

The scenes he witnessed near Aldeen 18S

He reads Hindoostanee incessantly— Preaches at Calcutta — The treatment he receives from some of his intemperate brother- chaplains — The wise conduct pursued by another chaplain 189 — 191

He chides himself for over-zealous, and (as it proved) mistaken censures of the government . . . 192

Receives his appointment at Dinapore — Leaves Calcutta for his station 192 — 195

The journal of his voyage up the Hoogley and Ganges 196 — 219

Reaches Dinapore — His plans — discouragements —

Ylll CONTENTS.

A trying conversation with a European, and triumphant reflections after it 222

Discomfort in the society at Dinapore — Joy at hearing

from Christian friends 223

Jealousy of natives — ignorance of Moonshee and Pundit 224

Commencement of ministry — Interference of his flock at Dinapore — Expectation of an attack from the

press at Calcutta 225,2:6

Meditation at the beginning of the year 1807 . . 227

Translation of parables into Hindoostanee in progress — That of part of the Church service into the same language commenced ........ 223

Jealousy and fears of the Europeans respecting Mr.

Martyn 229

Disputes with Moonshee and Pundit 230—232

Arrival of Mr. Corrie at Dinapore 232

•The effects of Mr. Martyn's ministry — His opinion respecting the conversion of the Hindoos, and feelings as to their condition — Resolves to interfere to

prevent acts of oppression 233 — 235

His journey to Buxar to marry a couple, with a previous account of the state of his mind 236 — 259

Returns to Dinapore — Embarrassment respecting the

schools 239,240

Translation of Prayer-Books and Parables completed— Public service in Hindoostanee ...... 241

Mr. Martyn's ministerial exertions 242 — 244

His success with some of the officers at Dinapore . 244

Mr. Martyn is restrained by prudence from preaching in Patna — Corresponds with Mr. Corrie — Pained on account of Mr. Corrie's iliness — Writes him a letter of advice respecting his health — His own health declines — but he does not desist from his

Ignorance of a Brahmin and a Ranee 249

Further disputes with Moonshee and Pundit . . . 250 — 254 Mr. Martyn summoned to Monghir — The state of his mind at this time — His voyage down the Ganges, and return to Dinapore 255—261

Applications from a Ranee to Mr. Martyn .... 262

CONTENTS, IX

Difficulties respecting the introduction of books into the schools — Other causes of disquietude— His faith

and patience and prudence 262,263

Mr. Martyn draws up arguments against the Koran, and is called to decide a question of great importance respecting Baptism 264,265

Mr. Martyn engaged by Mr. Brown in translating the

New Testament into Hindoosfanee — His happiness

and perseverance in the work of translation . . 266,267

Afflictive dispensation in the death of his eldest sister

— His exquisite suffering and entire resignation and

undeviating diligence in his work 268 — 271

Sermon on the Mount introduced into the schools . 272-

Mr. Martyn's wise and waiting spirit — His love for

the Heathen — His joy in retirement 273,274

Mr. Martyn is tried by a severe disappointment . . 275

Mirza and Sabat arrive at Dinapore to assist in the work of translation — Mr. Martyn's hopes and fears

and grief respecting Sabat . 276 — 279

Reflection on the commencement of the year 1808 280

Mr. Martyn's pain at losing the society of Christian

friends at Dinapore . 281

His anxiety and ineffectual endeavor to benefit the

native Christians 282

Public worship in Mr. Martyn's house 283

The version of the New Testament into Hindoostanee

completed 285

Correspondence between Mr. Martyn and Messrs. Corrie and Brown until Mr. Martyn's removal to

Cawnpore 286 — 310

The danger Mr. Martyn incurred in travelling to Cawnpore — A description of it, and of his arrival

at his new station 310 — 312

Mr. Martyn's labor at Cawnpore — His love of philology 313 314

He is summoned to Pretabjush 315

Mr. Martyn's deep affliction at the loss of his youngest sister 316,317

Me preaches to the mendicants 318,319

Reflections on entering the year 1809 — Mr. Martyn

continues to preach to the mendicants .... 320,321

X CONTENTS.

Is attacked by a severe pain in the chest — He is

obliged to remit his ministerial duty 322,323

Mr. Corrie arrives at Cawnpore — Mr. Brown's alarm respecting Mr. Martyn's health— His affectionate expression of his apprehensions 324

Mr. Martyn's health sinks so much, that he resolves to remove from Cawnpore — He determines to visit Arabia and Persia 325,326

Mr. Brown's letter on this determination being communicated to him 327

Mr. Martyn leaves Cawnpore, and arrives at Aldecn and Calcutta, from whence in three months he departs 329—335

Part III

The occurrences which transpired between Mr. Martyn's leaving India and his arrival at Shiraz . . 334 — 355

He commences a translation of the New Testament into Persian, and has many private discussions with the Mahometans 356 — 370

A public controversy between Mr. Martyn and the

professor of Mahometan law 371—376

Mirza Ibraheem, the preceptor of all the Mooliahs, writes a treatise in defence of Mahometanism — Mr. Martyn replies to it 376—379

Mr. Martyn exposed to some personal dagger and

much contempt 380—382

An interview with a Soofie sage 382 — 384

Mr. Martyn attends the levee of the Prime Minister,

when he is attacked by a Moollah 3S5,386

Candor of Mirza Ibraheem 386

Mr. Martyn visits Persepolis 387—390

CONTENTS. XI

His account of the fast of Ramazan 391—398

Mr. Martyn commences a version of the Psalms into

Persian 399

The events of the last month of the year 1811 . . . 399—404 Mr. Martyn's reflection on the commencement of the

last year of his life 404

The principal events of the early part of the year 1812 405 — 419 Mr. Martyn's bold confession of faith before numerous

Moollahs 420—422

The Journal of the remainder of his abode at Shiraz 423,424 Mr. Martyn leaves Shiraz for Tebriz, and arrives at

the King's camp 425 — 434

Mr. Martyn's intrepid conduct before the Prime Minister of Persia — His consolations under contemptuous

treatment 435 — 437

He proceeds to Tebriz 438 — 447

After an illness of nearly two months, Mr. Martyn leaves Tebriz for Constantinople — He is hospitably received at an Armenian monastery, and after much suffering, under which he possesses his soul in peace

and patience, he expires at Tocat 448 — 479

Mr. Martyn's character 479 et seq.