HENRY
MARTYN was a Cornishman, born in
1781.
He was of delicate constitution, shy, and
unob-
trusive, yet did mighty work for
God in India and Persia.
In January, 1801, when still under twenty, he became
Senior Wrangler at Cambridge. "seekest thou great
things for thyself? seek them not" (Jer. 45. 5), were words
which flashed across his memory as he entered the Senate
House to compete for this crowning academic distinction.
"I had obtained my highest wishes, but," he
adds, "was
surprised to find I had grasped a shadow."
Feeling depressed and sad at heart at the loss of his
father, and having no taste for his usual studies, Martyn
took up his Bible one day
thinking that the consideration
of religion was rather suitable to the solemn time. He
writes: "I began with the Acts, as being the most
amusing,
and whilst I was entertained with the narrative, I found
myself insensibly led to inquire more attentively into
the doctrine of the
Apostles." Light gradually broke on
his mind and spiritual truth by
degrees entered his heart.
In Charles Simeon, of Trinity College, he found
guide,
counsellor, and friend, and gradually acquired more and
more knowledge in Divine things.
After six and a-half years in Persia, during which his
life was "burned out for God," ague laid him low,
then
fever, but he wrote his last diary entry on Oct. 6, 1[8]12:
"I sat in the orchard, and thought with sweet comfort
and peace of my God--in solitude my
Company, my
Friend, my Comforter. Oh, when shall time give place to
Eternity; and when shall appear
the new Heaven and new
earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness? There shall
in no
wise enter in anything that defileth.
None of that wicked-
ness that has made men worse than wild beasts, none of
those corruptions that add still
more to the miseries of mor-
tality, shall be seen or heard any more" (Rev. 21. 22-27).