He believed that he saw the glimmering of this day in the
exertions then making in Europe for the diffusion of the
Scriptures and the sending forth of missionaries. Influenced by
the belief that man's ministry was the instrumentality which, by
the Holy Spirit, would be made effectual to the work, we found
him labouring beyond his strength, and doing all in his power to
excite other persons to use the same exertions.
Henry Martyn was one of the very few persons whom I have ever
met who appeared never to be drawn away from one leading and
prevailing object of interest, and that object was the promotion
of religion. He did not appear like one who felt the necessity
of contending with the world, and denying himself its delights,
but rather as one who was unconscious of the existence of any
attractions in the world, or of any delights which were worthy
of his notice. When he relaxed from his labours in the presence
of his friends, it was to play and laugh like an innocent, happy
child, more especially if children were present to play and
laugh with him. In my Indian Journal I find this remark: 'Mr.
Martyn is one of the most pleasing, mild, and heavenly-minded
men, walking in this turbulent world with peace in his mind, and
charity in his heart.'
As the regiment was passing Chunar, after a night in 'the polluted
air' of Benares, the Sherwoods were met by a boat with fresh bread and
vegetables from Corrie. On their arrival at Cawnpore, Mrs. Sherwood at
once opened two classes for the 'great boys' and 'elder girls.' Many
of the former died in a few years, and not a few of the latter married
officers above their own birth. Such were the conditions of military
life in India at that time, notwithstanding the Calcutta Orphan
Schools which David Brown had first gone out to India to organise; for
Henry Lawrence and his noble wife, Honoria, with their Military Orphan
Asylums in the hills, belonged to a later generation.
When first ordered to Cawnpore, in the hottest months of 1809, Henry
Martyn resolved to apply to the Military Board for permission to delay
his departure till the rainy season. But, though even then wasted by
consumption and ceaseless toil, and tempted to spend the dreary months
with the beloved Corrie at Chunar, as he might well have done under
the customary rules, he could not linger when duty called. Had he not
resolved to 'burn out' his life? So, deluding himself by the intention
to 'stay a little longer to recruit' at Chunar, should he suffer from
the heat, he set off in the middle of April in a palanquin by Arrah,
afterwards the scene of a heroic defence in the great Mutiny; Buxar,
where a battle had been fought not long before, and Ghazipore, seat of
the opium manufacture, like Patna. Sabat was sent on in a budgerow,
with his wife Ameena and the baggage. This is Martyn's account, to
Brown, of the voyage above Chunar:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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