OF THE REV. HENRY MARTYN, B. D. LATE FELLOW OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE; AND CHAPLAIN TO THE HONOURABLE EAST INDIA COMPANY. EDITED BY THE REV. S. WILBERFORCE, M. A. RECTOR OF BRIGHSTONE. 6 NEMO DITIOR EO EST, QUI SCIT SESE ET OMNIA RELINQUERE.' IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. THOMAS A KEMPIS. PUBLISHED BY R. B. SEELEY AND W. BURNSIDE : AND SOLD BY L. AND G. SEELEY, FLEET STREET, LONDON. MDCCCXXXVII. INTRODUCTION. THE following volume consists of further, and often more continuous selections from the journals and letters of Mr. Martyn, than have yet been published. In compressing into one volume the biographical notice of this eminent servant of God, it was necessary to omit a great variety of interesting materials. So full indeed were his journals and letters, that it was not possible to insert nearly all which threw light upon his character and conduct. When, however, the deep interest of the Christian world, in the history of Henry Martyn, had been evidenced by the rapid sale of ten editions of his life, it seemed scarcely right to suppress for ever, all those stores of instruction which remained unemployed. Then it was that the preparation of a volume of the character of that now presented to the reader was first conceived: one which should not in any way interfere with the plan of the admirable work which relates his life: but should contain some of those portions of his letters and journals, which necessity had before excluded; and which throw new interest around those already published, by exhibiting them in their natural connection. One most interesting set of letters, which were deemed unfit for publication during the life-time of her to whom they were addressed, have been set free by her death, and were by her will bequeathed for this purpose, if it should be judged expedient so to use them. It was accordingly the intention of the narrator of Mr. Martyn's life, to have B published such a volume; its preparation was prevented by that sudden summons which called him into his master's presence. There need not, he trusts, be expressed by the Editor of this volume, any declaration of his deep sense of the comparative unfitness for the task, of him, upon whom its performance has devolved. He will say nothing upon this subject. There are some feelings which are wrought into the very texture of the mind, with too much vividness to bear expression. That the intimate friend of Henry Martyn should become his biographer; that one whose mind was distinguished by the same refined delicacy, and whose soul was equally penetrated with the same divine grace; should delineate his portraiture, was eminently fit: and the execution of the work attests this appropriateness. For it is impossible to separate in the reader's mind, the name of Martyn from that of his biographer; the author from his subject; the character he draws from that which he evinces ; in showing another he displays himself; and hence it were almost an unlawful action to attempt to dissever these names, united together in the reverend affection of Christian men's remembrance. From the possibility of such a thought, the Editor of the present volume would revolt, and he desires therefore to give it to the world merely as a supplement to Henry Martyn's memoir. He has endeavoured in these extracts, to adopt the tone maintained throughout the Life:' to exhibit the character of their writer, not to compose a eulogy upon him; he does not therefore necessarily approve of every sentiment contained in these journals, but he retains them in the volume, because they throw light upon the peculiar trials and dispositions of Henry Martyn. With these feelings on his mind, he cannot This is no less true of that volume, the Memoirs of Mr. Thomason,' which was the production of the two last years of his life; and which is prepared with even more skill and beauty than his first publication. Few materials indeed can be equal to those afforded by the Journals of Henry Martyn. |