him, he had not only a religious friend at college, but an eminently pious and affectionate sister in Cornwall. When he visited her and his other relations in 1799, she frequently addressed him on the subject of religion, but her admonitions were not very grateful to him; a conflict, however, took place in his mind between his conviction of the truth of what she urged, and his own love of the world; he even resented the efforts of his father and sister with harsh language; he promised, indeed, to read the Bible for himself, but on returning to College, Newton and the mathematics engrossed all his thoughts.

Soon, however, an afflicting event roused him to serious consideration; he received in the January following the unexpected and heart-rending intelligence of the death of his father. He took up his Bible; he perused the Acts, and was insensibly led to inquire into the doctrine of the apostles: he began to pray, and read Doddridge's Rise and Progress; but it was chiefly by attendance on the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Simeon, and the Lord's blessing thereon, that he acquired the true knowledge of the gospel.

Soon after this he endured a season of painful solicitude; he was to pass a public examination for a degree; when his decided superiority in mathematics was acknowledged, and the highest academical honour was adjudged to him before he had completed his twentieth year.

In the following summer he spent much of his time at Cambridge alone; when God was pleased greatly to bless, for his spiritual improvement, his solitude and retirement; and then it was that he began to experience the pure and exalted pleasures of evangelical religion. It was at this period also, that he enjoy ed the friendship of Mr. Simeon, and of the young Christian friends to whom he was introduced by him. Now he imbibed his first conceptions of the transcendent excellence of the Christian ministry above all other professions, and fully resolved to devote himself to it.

In the month of March, 1802, he was chosen fellow of St. John's, after which he again visited his sister and friends, with whom he spent some of the sweetest hours of his life.

In October, 1802, he returned to the university, when, by the conversation of Mr. Simeon, he turned his thoughts towards the office of a Christian missionary; and having read, with deep attention, the life of that apostolical man of God, David Brainerd, of America, he formed the resolution to imitate his example. This resolution, indeed, was not formed without the severest conflict in his mind; for he was endued with the truest sensibility of heart, and was susceptible of the warmest and tenderest attachments. But he was fully satisfied that the glory of the Redeemer would be promoted by his going forth to preach to the heathen; he considered their pitiable and perilous condition, and he remembered

the last injunction of his Lord, "go and teach all nations." Actuated by these motives, he offered his services to the Church Missionary Society; and from that time stood prepared, with a childlike simplicity of spirit, and an unshaken constancy of soul, to go to any part of the world, whither it might be deemed by the society expedient to send him.

On Sunday, Oct. 22, 1803, after much solemn preparation, Mr. Martyn was ordained deacon at Ely; and truly might he, on that serious occasion, affirm, "that he was inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost," to assume the sacred function. He commenced his ministry, as curate to Mr. Simeon, in Trinity church, and preached his first sermon, on the Sunday after his ordination, on Job xiv. 14. "If a man die, shall he live again," &c. Mr. M. also undertook the charge of Lolworth, a small village in the Beighbourhood of Cambridge.

Having received an appointment as one of the chaplains to the Hon. East India Company, and having been ordained priest, in London, he took leave of his native country and embarked for India, on board the Union, Sept. 10, 1805. His feelings on this occasion were indescribable. During the voyage he preached once every Sunday, (oftener was not permitted) and took much pains in the instruction of the crew and the soldiers.

On the 3d of Jan. 1806, the fleet anchored in the bay of the Cape of Good Hope, the army disembarked, and the colony was taken possession of by the English.

While at Cape Town, Mr. Martyn enjoyed the inexpressible pleasure of conversing with Dr. Vanderkemp and Mr. Read, of whom he writes in his journals with great delight. Here also he ascended Table Mountain. "I felt," said he, "a solemn awe at the grand prospect, from which there was neither noise nor small objects to draw off my attention. I reflected, especially when looking at the immense expanse of sea on the east, which was to carry me to India, on the certainty that the name of Christ should, at some future period, resound from shore to shore. I felt commanded to wait in silence, and see how God would bring his promise to pass.

Early in February, Mr. Martyn proceeded towards India, and on the 22d of April anchored in Madras roads. Here he had the pleasure of conversing with Dr. Kerr, Mr. Loveless, and others. After being detained a short time at Madras, the fleet sailed for Calcutta. On passing the great pagoda of Juggernaut, which was distinctly visible from sea, his soul was excited to sentiments of the deepest commiseration for the children of wretched India, "who had erected such a monument of her shame on the coast, and whose heathenism stared the stranger to his face."

A tremendous storm shortly ensued, and the danger was great, but the ship was mercifully preserved, and Mr. M. soon arrived at Calcutta. Writing to a friend, he says, "I am at last arrived

in the country where I am to spend my days in the work of the Lord. Scarcely can I believe myself to be so happy as to be ac tually in India; yet this hath God wrought!!!"'

Mr. Martyn's arrival in India was an occasion of much delight and thankfulness to Dr. Buchanan, Mr. Brown, and other pious persons, who had long been praying that the Lord would send forth more labourers into that part of his vineyard. Mr. M. rcceived a cordial welcome at the house of Mr. Brown, at Aldeen, near Calcutta ; but his friends were soon alarmed at a severe attack of fever which he experienced; he was however, mercifully restored, and enjoyed much pleasure in the society of his Christian brethren; yet the sight of the cruel rites and debasing idolatries of heathenism around him, excited his grief and horror! to use his own expression, "he shivered as if standing in the neighbourhood of hell. He was frequently called to preach in Calcutta, to which great city his talents were peculiarly fitted; but his heart was set upon the conversión of the heathen; "he had a spirit to follow the steps of Brainerd and Swartz," and to have been prevented, by any other engagement, from going to the heathen, "would almost have broken his heart."

*

In September he received his appointment, as chaplain to Dinapore, and in the close of that month prepared to leave the family in which he enjoyed so much delight. He left Aldeen in a boat (called a Budgerow), accompanied by Mr. Brown, Mr. Corrie, and other friends, who, the next day, were obliged to leave him to prosecute his voyage alone. The voyage occupied about five weeks, during which he was diligently employed in studying the oriental languages, translating part of the Acts into Hindoostance, and sometimes going ashore, conversing with Brahmins and Mahometans, distributing tracts, and embracing every opportunity of endeavouring to make himself useful to the souls of

men.

On the 26th of November, he reached Dinapore, which for a considerable time was to be his permanent residence. Here his objects were to establish native schools-to prepare translations of the scriptures and religious tracts; and to attain such readiness in speaking Hindoostanee, as might enable him to preach the gospel in that language to the heathen.

The commencement of Mr. Martyn's ministry among the Europeans at this place, was by no means encouraging; yet some there were, who afterwards became his joy, and will assuredly be his crown of rejoicing in the great day. Mr. M. in addition to his clerical duties as chaplain, proceeded steadily in the study of the languages, among which was the Sanscrit, and in translating the parables and parts of the Common Prayer. He was often engaged

*

Dinapore is a town in the province of Bahar, on the south bank of the Ganges, near Patua. Here are extensive cantonments for a brigade, of troops. See. C. H. Vol. VI. p. 207.

in painful disputes with his Moonshees and Pundits, who entertained strong prejudices against the truths of Christianity; in these disputes he found the necessity of watching.over his temper, which was naturally irritable; and he observes--"If any qualification is necessary for a missionary in India, it is wisdom, operating in the regulation of his temper, and in the improvement of opportunities." This may prove a useful hint to future missionaries.

In the month of March, 1808, that great work for which myriads in ages yet to come, will gratefully remember and revere his name-the version of the New Testament into Hindoostanee, was completed. In reference to this work, he thus wrote to a friend: "I have read and corrected the manuscript copies of my Hindoostanee New Testament so often, that my eyes ache. The heat is terrible, often at 98°, the night insupportable !"

Mr. Martyn now applied with great assiduity, and with the help of Sabat, (an able man, who unhappily became an apostate from Chritianity) to the translation of the New Testament into the Persian language.

Early in the year 1803, he was removed from his station at Dinapore to Cawnpore.* This arrangement was, in many respects, unpleasant to him; he had new acquaintances to form, and the same dficulties as at Dinapore to procure a suitable place of worship. Here we find him, at one time, preaching to a 1000 soldiers, drawn up in a hollow square, when the heat was so great, although the sun had not risen, that many actually dropped down, unable to support it.

The close of this year was distinguished by the commencement of his public labours among the heathen; they were chiefly mendicants. To the temporal and spiritual necessities of these wretched beings, Mr. M. continued to minister whilst his health permitted. But in the midst of his numerous exertions, an attack of a severer pain in the chest than he had ever before experienced, convinced him of the necessity of some quiet and remission. Whilst deliberating on this point, Mr. Corrie, then on his journey to Agra, providentially called, and undertook part of the duty. Yet such was the sinking state of his health, that a removal from this station, or a sea voyage, became a matter of urgent necessity. The adoption of the latter expedient, he at one time reluctantly determined upon, but other scenes were appointed for him by the holy providence of God. His help was wanted for a necessary improvement of the Persian Version of the New Testament, and he magnanimously resolved to go into Arabia and Persia, to effect this, as well as to finish the Arabic version.t

* Cawnpore is situated on the west side of the Ganges, in the upper part of that vast plain which extends from the Bay of Bengal to the northern mountains approaching Tibet. It is 49 miles S. W. of Lucknow. Here are barracks for a brigade of the company's troops.-See C. H. Vol. VI. p. 209.

1 When Mr. Brown was informed of Mr. Martyn's purpose, he thus wrote to him ;

On the 1st of October, he departed from Cawnpore, and sailing down the Ganges, he reached Aldeen, the residence of Mr. Brown, on the last day of the month. Restored after an absence of four years, to an intercourse with his friends, who, on beholding his pallid countenance, and enfeebled frame, knew not whether most to mourn or to rejoice. Mr. M. partook largely of that pure and refined happiness, which is peculiar to one of his vivid feelings, and heavenly affections, in that society where the name of the Redeemer is an ointment poured forth.

(To be concluded in our next.)

REVIEW.

Memoirs of the Rev. Samuel J. Mills, late Missionary to the southwestern section of the United States, and Agent of the American Colonization Society, deputed to explore the coast of Africa. By GARDINER SPRING, D. D. Pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church, in the city of New-York. New-York, published by the "New-York Evangelical Missionary Society," 1820. 8vo. pp. 247. $1.

(Continued from p. 748, of Vol. VI.)

The grand object to which Mr. Mills devoted his life, at the early age of (probably) 21 years, and which he pursued with singular wisdom, discretion, and success, till his death, was the salvation of the heathen. From the first, and as he pursued his object even in the earliest stages of pursuit, he seems to have exercised along with an ardent zeal, great maturity of judgment. Though he had attained to man's estate, he did not precipitate himself unprepared upon the work, but devoted himself to a preparation which required many years; and, as he pursued that preparation according to the dictates of his judgment, his heart still continued warm, his resolution firm. From the beginning, he was steadily and actively engaged in that cause to which he designed finally to be devoted. Our author has, therefore, very judiciously presented before us his example through his whole preparatory course, as no less important and interesting, than that which he exhibited after entering upon the public stage. During his collegiate life at William's college, he was, by the blessing of God, preparing the agents, by whose instrumentality afterwards, the great work might be commenced and carried on. Among them we know, were Mr. Hall, of Bombay, Mr. Rich

-"But can I then bring myself to cut the string and let you go? I confess I could not, if your bodily frame was strong, and promised to last for half a century. But as you burn with the intenseness and rapid blaze of heated phosphorus, why should we not make the most of you? Your flame may last as long, and perhaps longer in Arabia than in India. Where should the phoenix build her odoriferous nest but in the land prophetically called, 'the blessed;' and where shall we ever expect, but from that country, the true Comforter to come to the nations of the east? I contemplate your New Testament springing up, as it were, from dust and ashes, but beautiful as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers like yellow gold."