than a sceptre-bearing king. But I much fear that my services at so early a period will be weak and inadequate. It will be like taking a babe out of his cradle, to support the steps of his aged parent. But I am in God's hands: whatever he sees fit for me to do, I hope he will incline my heart, and enable me to do it. But as I cannot expect that he will work a miracle by qualifying me for his service at once, it is certainly my duty to resort to the means now, and pray for his blessing on his own studies. Surely I ought not to procrasti

nate.

You ask me whether I would prefer preaching the gospel to the fame of learning? Ay, that I would gladly. Were I convinced it was the will of God, that I should depart this night for Nova Zembla, or the Antipodes, to testify of Him, I would not wait for an audit, or a college exit. There is nothing to be found here, to satisfy my mind. There are, indeed, many gaudy vanities of specious appearance, pleasing to my carnal eye; but if I know my own heart, the Lord Jesus is at this moment more lovely to me than the loveliest object which the eye can see, or fancy paint. And though I know him not as I could wish, yet is he precious. He is that pearl which I would willingly buy at the price of all the laurels which science ever bore. But I speak this in his strength. I wish not to be tried with wealth, honour, or the applause of men. A laurel even in preaching the gospel might intoxicate my brain, and drown my humble dependence on God, in Lethe. Then, like

Lucifer, should I preach humility! Lord, my affections are now in thy possession. O keep them

there!

You ask me what are my views? Dear sir, what views can I have? God has his views concerning me: I have none. He best knows why he brought me hither: I know not. Once I used to think, that as He had wrought so wondrously for me, he surely meant me for an eminent preacher of the gospel. Pride dictated this. I have now no such high thoughts of myself. I am in some degree sensible, that if I ever serve Him at all, I shall be one of his weakest servants. Nor are these mere disqualifying speeches. I have reason to fear that I am much more deficient than you apprehend. Nevertheless, with all my defects, I know the divine power. I have laid my hand to the plough; he can make me useful.

You desire to know whether I would accept ordination before I take my degree, if it could be procured? Yes, without any hesitation, if I thought it was the will of God. Were I to submit it to our friends here, they would unanimously dissuade it; but I do not feel myself at liberty to consult them. In order to have it in my power to assist you as soon as possible, I would gladly receive ordination. before the prescribed time; but in that case I should desire immediately to alter my plan of study, and prepare myself a little, who need so much preparation.

If my purpose of beginning the studies of divinity be proper and practicable, could you give me

the outline of what you conceive to be best worthy my attention in primordio? Mr. S. I know, will also be glad to lend me every assistance.

A new desire of preaching the gospel has certainly sprung up in my heart, accompanied by ideas I do not recollect to have had before. I hope it is no delusion. As yet it has produced noble effects on my heart and views. But in a month's time I shall be better able to say whether it be of God or no.

LETTER CVIII.

REV. HENRY MARTYN to DR. CORRIE.-His labours on the Hindoostanee Testament.

It is a real refreshment to me to take up my pen to write to you. (1)—Such a week for labour I believe I never passed, not excepting even the last week before going into the Senate-house. I have read and corrected the manuscript copies of my Hindoostanee Testament so often, that my eyes ache. The heat is terrible, often at 98°: the nights insupportable.

HENRY MARTYN.

(1) Mr. Martyn wrote this to Mr. Corrie, just at the moment of sending off the first page of the Testament to Calcutta, in the beginning of April.

LETTER CIX.

REV. HENRY MARTYN to DR. CORRIE." His righteous soul was vexed."

Bankipore, June 23, 1808.

I groan at the wickedness and infidelity of 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. I am but just arrived, and am grieved to find in my old friend * * * less proofs of real acquaintance with the gospel than I used to hope.

A young civilian, who some time ago came to me, desiring satisfaction on the evidences of Christianity, 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. O, my brother! how happy I feel, that all have not forsaken Christ; that I am not left 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.

HENRY MARTYN.

LETTER CX.

REV. HENRY MARTYN to the REV. D. BROWN.-Missionary toils and pleasures.

July 2, 1808.

My work is very delightful in itself, but it is doubly so by securing me so much of your correspondence. My eyes seize your beloved handwriting with more eagerness than if the letter were from Europe. I rejoice with you, and praise God for one Gospel in Persian. With elegance enough to attract the careless and please the fastidious, it contains enough of eternal life to save the reader's soul; therefore, if we do no more, we may be happy that something is done. We are safe with the Hindoostanee: it wants but little correction, and in case of my death, could be easily prepared by any one. I am anxious to hear of the new plans you are about to propose to me: let them not be in the way of recreation: my only exertion, and that through indolence is small, is to keep my heart rightly disposed to minister to my congregation at night. I shrink from the idea of Sanscrit; the two or three months I spent in striving to penetrate its unwieldly grammar were more painful to me than any since the sorrowful days when I first began to learn Greek.

HENRY MARTYN.