The life of Rev. Henry Martyn : $b Written for the American Sunday School Union, with some account of Abdool Messeeh, a Hindoo convertHall, John
History
The life of Rev. Henry Martyn : $b Written for the American Sunday School Union, with some account of Abdool Messeeh, a Hindoo convert
Hall, John
Abdool Messeeh, 1771 or 1772-1827; Martyn, Henry, 1781-1812
“_July 24th._—To-day a Mohammedan from Berthpore came, who is
physician to the Rajah’s family. He had long ago perused the
Pentateuch in Arabic, lent him by a Roman Catholic priest, who lived
with General Duboin. About two years ago, it came into his mind
to search for truth. The irreconcilable contradictions among the
different Mohammedan sects, struck him powerfully, and convinced
him that truth was not with them. He read in the Koran, that Christ
is the Spirit of God. This gave him a high idea of our Saviour. He
took an opportunity of coming to Agra soon after that time, when
he visited Mr. C. the Baptist missionary, who urged him to an
immediate profession of Christianity. This he was not prepared for,
but took a copy of St. Matthew and St. Mark, in Persian, translated
by Sabat, and went back to Berthpore. There he has been until the
present time, fully persuaded of the truth of Christianity, and
the divinity of Christ, from the perusal of the above translation,
but desirous of meeting with some of his own countrymen, who could
inform him further; he at length heard of Abdool, and of the kindness
and inoffensiveness of his manners. ‘This,’ said he, ‘is the way
of that religion.’ And on Monday, he came over on purpose to meet
with Abdool. He was led to the house of a Molwee, who teaches our
Christian boys Arabic, and who is very favourable to the truth; so
that his introduction to Abdool was thus made easy. He now wishes to
be baptized; seems less than any native whom I have seen, to consult
with flesh and blood; said he desired only to be great in the sight
of God, and, if it were his will, to be among the first fruits of
Hindoostan; for he is sure that all the land will become Christian,
and he desires to give himself to labour to spread the Gospel. He has
a son eighteen years old, whom he has made acquainted with the change
passing in his mind; and who, he says, is, equally with himself,
disposed to embrace the Gospel. He has gone back to bring this son,
and what property he has, that he may give himself wholly to the work
of the Lord.
“_July 18th._—This afternoon the above person made his appearance,
with his son, at worship in the city. He had thought, he said, of
sending his son first: but afterward reflected, ‘This is not a work
to be delayed, or trifled with.’ He publicly professed, before all
the people assembled, that he was come expressly to receive baptism.
He laid aside his turban, and knelt down to prayer with the Christian
part of the assembly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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