The people of Calcutta are very desirous of keeping me at the
mission-church, and offer to any Evangelical clergyman a
chaplain's salary and a house besides. I am of course deaf to
such a proposal; but it is strange that no one in England is
_tempted_ by such an inviting situation. I am actually going to
mention it to Cousin T.H. and Emma--not, as you may suppose,
with much hope of success; but I think that possibly the chapel
at Dock may be too much for him, and he will have here a sphere
of still greater importance. As this will be sent by the
overland despatch, there is some danger of its not reaching you.
You will therefore receive a duplicate, and perhaps a triplicate
by the ships that will arrive in England a month or two after. I
cannot write now to any of my friends. I will therefore trouble
you, if you have opportunity, to say that I have received no
letters since I left England, but one from each of these--Cousin
Tom and Emma, Simeon, Sargent, Bates: of my own family I have
heard nothing. Assure any of them whom you may see of the
continuance of my affectionate regard, especially dear Emma. I
did not know that it was permitted me to write to you, or I fear
she would not have found me so faithful a correspondent on the
voyage. As I have heretofore addressed you through her, it is
probable that I may be now disposed to address her through
you--or, what will be best of all, that we both of us address
her in one letter from India. However, you shall decide, my
dearest Lydia. I _must_ approve your determination, because with
that spirit of simple-looking to the Lord which we both
endeavour to maintain, we must not doubt that you will be
divinely directed. Till I receive an answer to this, my prayers
you may be assured will be constantly put up for you that in
this affair you may be under an especial guidance, and that in
all your ways God may be abundantly glorified by you through
Jesus Christ. You say in your letter that _frequently every day_
you remember my worthless name before the throne of grace. This
instance of extraordinary and undeserved kindness draws my heart
toward you with a tenderness which I cannot describe. Dearest
Lydia, in the sweet and fond expectation of your being given to
me by God, and of the happiness which I humbly hope you yourself
might enjoy here, I find a pleasure in breathing out my
assurance of ardent love. I have now long loved you most
affectionately, and my attachment is more strong, more pure,
more heavenly, because I see in you the image of Jesus Christ. I
unwillingly conclude, by bidding my beloved Lydia adieu.
H. MARTYN.
Serampore: September 1, 1806.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account