Journal and Letters of the Rev. Henry Martyn

No portion of the matter contained in this volume has been previously given to the American public. In preparing this edition for the press, the editor has omitted certain portions ol less interest, but has made no alterations in those retained. The entire contents are just as they came from the heart and pen of Henry Martyn.

There is no modern name dearer to the church than that of Henry Martyn. A volume from his pea on any subject could not fail to interest the Christian public, much more one like this, which contains the records of his heart. All those who have read his life, will earnestly desire to read his Letters and Journal.

The author of his life speaks of “the distracting riches of his journals,” of the “masses of ore” left behind, when he made the extracts which are woven into the narrative. Those reserved “riches” are now, for the first time, presented to the American public. We doubt not they will be eagerly appropriated and highly prized.

The reader of this volume will be admitted to a still nearer view of Martyn’s character than is given in his Memoir. He will become familiar with the processes by which Martyn’s eminent attainments in piety were made. He enjoyed no peculiar advantages for progress in the divine life. He had the same temptations to resist, the same difficulties to overcome, as other men. His temptations to anger, envy, evil speaking, and worldly mindedness were quite as great as those which beset the majority of men. His spiritual attainments were made by an earnest, diligent, and persevering use of the means within the reach of every professed follower of Christ.

This book is specially adapted to become a companion for the closet. We trust that, through it, Martyn will speak to the heart of many a Christian as he retires for self-examination and communion with God; that he will stimulate thousands to strive after that entire consecration of which he was so bright an example.

Books which, like this, appeal directly to the heart, which show, by example, how it can be kept with all diligence, are greatly needed at the present time, to aid in checking the tide of worldliness which is rising in consequence of our prosperity, and that conformity to the world so rapidly increasing, notwithstanding the declaration of Christ, “ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

We would earnestly commend this book to young men in our colleges and seminaries of learning.

Martyn was a scholar of varied and profound attainments, but he counted it his highest honor to lay his laurels at his Saviour’s feet. Oh, could all the young men in our colleges go forth in his spirit, the strongholds of error and sin would be speedily shaken, and from all parts of a redeemed world would there go up a shout, “Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”

NKW-YOKK, March 27, 1851.

Swansea, August 9, 1802.

DEAR SARGENT: You see by the date of my letter, that I have almost reached the end of my long pilgrimage. Our first resting-place was Wenlock in Shropshire, from whence we went on the Sunday to Madeley church. You must have heard of Mr. Fletcher, who was formerly Vicar of this place. We were introduced to Mrs. F.

Thus have I been preserved by the protecting providence of God. I have never once wished for a companion; even in the most gloomy moments I have found the Bible a never-failing source of interesting thought.

1803. JAN. 8 — 11. Often gave way to levity and arrogance in conversation, and was frequently assaulted by temptations to cowardly desires of the world: but, as God never suffered them to be of long continuance, my mind enjoyed considerable peace.

ST. JOHN’S, Jan. 17, 1803.

MY DEAR SARGENT: I find from that you really expect me to fulfil a promise I never made. However, as you allow me to send you even a skeleton of a letter, I sit down resolved to avail myself of the permission, if I find it necessary. * * * G — and H — seem to disapprove of my project much; and on this account I have been rather discouraged of late, though not in any degree convinced. It would be more satisfactory to go out with the full approbation of my friends, but it is in vain to attempt to please man. In doubtful cases, we are to use the opinions of others no further than as means of directing our own judgment. My sister has also objected to it, on the score of my deficiency in that deep and solid experience necessary in a missionary. You have taken rooms, I think, in the Temple, so that the providence of God seems to have called you irrevocably to the profession of the law. Though I cannot help regretting that one so well qualified to preach the glad tidings of salvation should be called off to labor in the business of this world, yet we may be sure, that whatever is undertaken according to his will, will be attended with his blessing. You will, I dare say, find a double degree of watchfulness necessary to preserve a proper state of mind. In the case of those who minister in the sanctuary, temporal and spiritual occupations are one; corresponding to the necessity of a superior degree of holiness in those who are to be examples. But in your case, even a common degree of spirituality can not be maintained without much attention. Many have found, that occasional aspirations after God have been made the channels of the communications of his grace in the midst of worldly business, and have left the mind not disqualified for the employments of heaven. Indeed, this seems to be a good criterion of our state. For surely the new-born soul never more truly acts according to its heavenly nature, than when it delights to shake off the clogs of earth, and to leave the world beneath it, and to rise exultingly to God. Though it is hard to be thus minded, yet it is undoubtedly our privi-

1803. J OF THE REV. HENRY MARTYtf. 9

lege. But nothing but almighty grace is sufficient for these tilings, as the coldness we all feel manifests.

JAN. 24. In my walk out, and during the remainder of the day, the sense of my own weakness and worthlessness called me to watchfulness and dependence upon the grace of

Christ. Lost much time at ’s in the evening, by joining

in trifling conversation. A little tract on eternity, and some of the book of Revelation, made a strong impression upon me this evening. Went to bed with a clear view of the infinite necessity of an ardent pursuit of holiness.

JAN. 25. Bore the pall at Parry’s funeral, but my heart

was cold and hard. With B in the evening, no one but

Foster being there. Ought I not to have introduced the subject of religion? How short-lived are right affections! WThat madness is it to be slothful in drawing nigh to the Lord!

JAN. 31. Had a kind of calmness, but little sweetness in divine things. I was vexed at finding I was not so forward in religion as my pride suggested. Oh the desperate wickedness of this heart! and yet the chief part lies concealed from my view.

Keep reading