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April, when he was removed from his station at Dinapore to Cawnpore. The following extracts are selected from the continuation of his correspondence with Mr. Corrie, in the interval that passed between the end of the year 1808 and the termination of his ministry at Dinapore.

To the Rev. D. Corrie.

"January 10, 1809.

"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 we have had, was not worthy of notice but I find myself mistaken. The late frequent occasions of being among them 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 dangerous country it

is 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!"

แ January 30, 1809.

"I have been seized with a sudden desire for reading Hebrew, chiefly from a wish of seeing language

in its simplest and purest state. It is my belief that language is from God; and therefore, as in his other works, so in this, the principles must be extremely simple. My present labour is to find a reason for there. being but two tenses in Hebrew. I have read, or rather devoured, the four first chapters in the Hebrew Bible in order to account for the apparently strange use of these two tenses, and am making hypotheses every moment, when I walk and when I wake in the night. One thing I have found, that there are but two tenses in English and Persian. I will go :-in that sentence the principal verb is I will, which is the present tense. I would have gone :-the principal verb is, I would or I willed. Should, also, is a preterite, namely, shalled from to shall. Another thing I observe is, that both in Persian and English the preterite is formed in the same way, viz. by the addition of ed; porsum, porsedum-ásk, asked. I should not

wonder if in the Saxon or some other ancient northern language from which the English comes, it is askedum. Thus you have a letter of philology. If I make any other GREAT discoveries, and have nothing better to write about, I shall take the liberty of communicating them. Scire tuum nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciat alter : —but this, I trust, is not my maxim; Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God,' is much better."

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"February 13, 1809.

"Last Friday we had the happiness and honour of finishing the four Gospels in Persian. The same evening made some discovery respecting the Hebrew verb, but was unfortunately so much delighted, that I could not sleep; in consequence of which I have had a headach ever since. Thus even intellectual joys are followed by sorrow: not so spiritual. 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 estimable and delightful-the work of Christ and the 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 object of my pursuit, but have so much in sight, that I read both Hebrew and Arabic with increasing pleasure and satisfaction."2

"February 20, 1809.

"Your attack proves the necessity of diminishing your Sabbath services. I scarcely know how this week has passed, nor can I call to mind the circum→ stances of one single day-so absorbed have I been in my new pursuit. I remember, however, that one night I did not sleep a wink. Knowing what would be the consequences 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 sometimes almost in an 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 irresistibly. 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 earnest for his Grace. Whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away ;'--but Charity never faileth." Yesterday my mind was mercifully kept free the whole day, and I ministered without distraction, and morever, 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. 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 11th 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 expectation we must wait to see how our God will come. How deeply inter

esting are his doings! We feel already some of that rapture wherewith they sing above, Great and wonderful are thy works, O Lord God Almighty: just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints.'"

"March 3, 1809.

"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. The account of your complaint, as you may suppose, grieves me exceedingly; not because I think I shall outlive you, but because your useful labours must be reduced to one quarter, and that you may be obliged, perhaps, to take a voyage to Europe, which is loss of time and money. But, O brother beloved, what is life or death? Nothing to the believer in Jesus. He that believeth, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and he that liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die.'. The first and 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 it will predominate; for the same faith that would overcome fear in health, must be considerably strengthened to have the same effect 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."

March 13, 1809.

"How delightful is it to me, at this moment, to commune with a dear brother, who is not of the

world, as the Lord was not of the world.' I am just come from mess of the *** This morning the regiment was reviewed, and I*, among the Staff, was invited to a public dejeuné and dinner. As I had no pretence for not going, I went. Yesterday our new place of worship was opened. It is a room eightyone feet long, with a veranda very large. It will be a very noble church; but I fear, will diminish somewhat of my strength. My text was, 'In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee and bless thee.' O may the promise be fulfilled to us !"

At Cawnpore, the hand of friendship and hospitality was stretched out to welcome Mr. Martyn, and to afford him those attentions, after a wearisome and perilous journey, which were not only most gratifying to his feelings, but almost indispensable to the preservation of his life. From the pen of the lady† of that friend who then received him-a pen which has been often and happily employed in the sacred cause for which Mr. Martyn lived and laboured-we have the following account of his arrival at the new station to which he was appointed. "The month of April, in the upper provinces of Hindoostan, is one of the most dreadful months for travelling throughout the year; indeed, no European, at that time, can remove from place to place, but at the hazard of his life. But Mr. Martyn had that anxiety to be at the work which his heavenly Father had given him to do, that, notwithstanding the violent heat, he travelled from Chunar to Cawnpore, the space of about four hundred miles. At that time, 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 verdant 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

* Mr. Martyn was Military Chaplain.

Mrs. Sherwood.

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