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
“I told them, after requesting their attention, that I gave with
pleasure the alms I could afford, but wished to give them something
better, namely, eternal riches, or the knowledge of God, which was to
be had from God’s word; and then producing a Hindoostanee translation
of Genesis, read the first verse, and explained it word by word. In
the beginning, when there was nothing, no heaven, no earth, but only
God, he created without help, for his own pleasure.—But who is God?
One so great, so good, so wise, so mighty, that none can know him as
he ought to know: but yet we must know that he knows us. When we rise
up, or sit down, or go out, he is always with us.—He created heaven
and earth; therefore every thing in heaven—sun, moon, and stars.
Therefore how should the sun be God, or the moon be God? He created
every thing on earth; therefore Ganges also: therefore how should
Ganges be God? Neither are they like God. If a shoemaker make a pair
of shoes, are the shoes like him? If a man make an image, the image
is not like man, his maker. Infer secondly, if God made the heavens
and the earth for you, and made the meat also for you, will he not
also feed you? Know also, that he that made heaven and earth can
destroy them;—and will do it; therefore fear God, who is so great;
and love God, who is so good.”
“I bless God,” said Mr. Martyn, “for helping me, beyond my
expectation. Yet still my corrupt heart looks forward to the next
attempt with some dread.”
On the Sunday after this, he preached to at least five hundred of
this class.
“I did not,” he remarks, “succeed so well as before; I suppose
because I had more confidence in myself, and less in the Lord. I
fear they did not understand me well; but the few sentences that
were clear, they applauded. Speaking to them of the sea and rivers,
I spoke to them again of the Ganges, that it was no more than other
rivers. God loved the Hindoos,—but he loved other people too; and
whatever river, or water, or other good thing he gave the Hindoos,
he gave other people also: for all are alike before God. Ganges
therefore, is not to be worshipped; because, so far from being a
God, it is not better than other rivers. In speaking of the earth
and moon, ‘as a candle in the house, so is the sun,’ I said, ‘in
the heavens.’ But would I worship a candle in my hand? These were
nice points; I felt as if treading on tender ground, and was almost
disposed to blame myself for imprudence. I thought, that amidst the
silence these remarks produced, I heard hisses and groans: but a few
Mohammedans applauded.”
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