The man's reply was, that he thought the
Christian's a better religion than that of Mahomet; the
consequence of which declaration was that they stoned him until
he died. The other example which Sabat gave us was of a boy in
Baghdad, who was converted by an Armenian, and endeavoured to
escape, but was pursued, seized, and offered pardon if he would
recant; but he was preserved in steadfastness to the truth, and
preferred death to returning to Mahometanism. His life was
required of him.
From the time Mr. Martyn left our house he was in the constant
habit of supping with us two or three times a week, and he used
to come on horseback, with the sais running by his side. He sat
his horse as if he were not quite aware that he was on
horseback, and he generally wore his coat as if it were falling
from his shoulders. When he dismounted, his favourite place was
in the verandah, with a book, till we came in from our airing.
And when we returned many a sweet and long discourse we had,
whilst waiting for our dinner or supper. Mr. Martyn often looked
up to the starry heavens, and spoke of those glorious worlds of
which we know so little now, but of which we hope to know so
much hereafter. Often we turned from the contemplation of these
to the consideration of the smallness, and apparent
diminutiveness in creation, of our own little globe, and of the
exceeding love of the Father, who so cared for its inhabitants
that He sent His Son to redeem them.
On the occasion of the baptism of my second Lucy, never can I
forget the solemn manner with which Mr. Martyn went through the
service, or the beautiful and earnest blessing he implored for
my baby, when he took her into his arms after the service was
concluded. I still fancy I see that child of God as he looked
down tenderly on the gentle babe, and then looked upwards,
asking of his God that grace and mercy for the infant which he
truly accounted as the only gift which parents ought to desire.
This babe, in infancy, had so peculiar a gentleness of aspect,
that Mr. Martyn always called her Serena.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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