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"July 29-Aber. Walked two miles into the coun try to see a waterfall. I followed the course of the stream, which soon brought me to it. The water falls three times from the top-the last fall appeared to be about seventy feet. While lingering about here, I was put into great terror by some huge stones rolling down the hill behind me. They were thrown down by some persons above, who could not approach near enough to the precipice to see me below. The slipperiness of the rocks, on which the spring is continually falling, put me in danger."

"The beautiful and retired situation of the inn at Aber, which commands an extensive view of the sea, made me unwilling to leave the house. However, I set off at eleven, and paced leisurely to Bangor. It was a remarkably clear day. The sun shone on every object around me, and the sea breeze tempered the air. I felt happy at the sight, and could not help being struck with the beauty of the creation and the goodness of the God of nature."

"July 31-Bethgelert. The descent after ascending Snowdon, was easy enough, but I cannot describe the horror of the ascent. The deep darkness of the night, the howling of the wind in the chasms of the rocks, the violence of the rain, and the sullen silence. of the guide, who was sometimes so far back that I could hardly see him, all conspired to make the whole appear a dream."

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nearer.

Pont Aberglasslen. I met a poor Welch pedlar, with a bundle of hats on his back, who, on my inquiring the distance to Tan-y-Bwlch told me he was going thither. He went by the old road, which is two miles It passes over the most dreary uncultivated hills I ever saw, where there is scarce any mark of human industry. The road in most places overgrown with grass. The poor man had walked from Carnarvon that day, with an enormous bundle; and pointed with a sorrowful look to his head, and indeed he did look very ill; he was, however, very cheerful: what difference in this man's temper and my own. The dif

ference was humbling to myself: when shall I learn in whatever state I am therewith to be content."

"August 5. My walk for ten miles was similar to that of the preceding evening, only still more beautiful, for the Dovey widened continually, and the opposite hills were covered with woods. At last the river fell into the sea, and the view was then fine indeed. The weather was serene, and the sea unruffled. I felt little fatigue; and so my thoughts were turned to God. But if I cannot be thankful to Him, and be sensible of his presence in seasons of fatigue, how can I distinguish the workings of the Spirit from the ebullitions of animal joy."

It is in scenes and seasons of solitude and relaxation, such as those here described, that the true bias of the mind is apt to discover itself; in which point of view the above account is important; for short as it is, it evinces an habitual devotedness to the fear of God, and great spirituality in the affections.

This tour terminated in bringing Mr. Martyn into the bosom of his family; and days more delightful than those which he then spent he never saw in this world. The affectionate reception he met with from his friends; the pious conversation he held with his sister on the things dearest to his heart; his sacred retirements; and the happy necessity imposed upon him of almost exclusively studying the word of God-all conspired to promote his felicity. These hours left for a long time a fragrancy upon his mind, and the remembrance of them was sweet."

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"As my sister and myself," he remarks, "were improved in our attainments, we tasted much agreeable intercourse. I did not stay much at Truro, on account of my brother's family of children;, but at Woodberry with my brother-in-law, I passed some of the sweetest moments of my life. The deep solitude of the place favoured meditation; and the romantic scenery around supplied great external source of pleasure. For want of other books, I was obliged to read my Bible almost

exclusively; and from this I derived great spirituality of mind compared with what I had felt before."

In the beginning of October 1802, all these tranquil and domestic joys were exchanged for the severer engagements of the University; and the conclusion of this year constituted a memorable era in Mr. Martyn's life. We have already seen him becoming the servant of Christ, dedicating himself to the ministry of the Gospel, experiencing the consolations of real religion, exhibiting its genuine fruits: now we are to behold him in a yet higher character, and giving the most exalted proofs of faith and love.

God, who has appointed different orders and degrees in his Church, and who assigns to all the members of it their respective stations, was at this time pleased, by the almighty and gracious influence of his Spirit, to call the subject of this Memoir to a work demanding the most painful sacrifices and the most arduous exertions,-that of a Christian Missionary. The immediate cause of his determination to undertake this office, was hearing the Rev. Mr. Simeon remark on the benefit which had resulted from the services of a Missionary* in India: his attention was thus arrested, and his thoughts occupied with the vast importance of the subject. Soon after which, perusing the life of David Brainerd, who preached with apostolical zeal and success to the North American Indians, and who finished a course of self-denying labours for his Redeemer, with unspeakable joy, at the early age of thirty-two, his soul was filled with a holy emulation of that extraordinary man: and, after deep consideration and fervent prayer, he was at length fixed in a resolution to imitate his example. Nor let it be conceived that he could adopt this resolution. without the severest conflict in his mind; for he was endued with the truest sensibility of heart, and was susceptible of the warmest and tenderest attachments. No one could exceed him in love for his country, or

* Dr. Carey,

:

in affection for his friends; and few could surpass him in an exquisite relish for the various and refined enjoyments of a social and literary life. How then could it fail of being a moment of extreme anguish, when he came to the deliberate resolution of leaving for ever all he held dear upon earth. But he was fully satisfied that the glory of that Saviour, who loved him, and gave himself for him, would be promoted by his going forth to preach to the Heathen he considered their pitiable and perilous condition: he thought on the value of their immortal souls: he remembered the last solemn injunction of his Lord, "Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" -an injunction never revoked, and commensurate with that most encouraging promise, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Actuated by these motives, he offered himself in the capacity of a Missionary* to the Society for Missions to Africa and the East; and from that time stood prepared, with a child-like simplicity of spirit, and an unshaken constancy of soul, to go to any part of the world, whither it might be deemed expedient to send him.

The following letter to his youngest sister, written not long after he had taken this resolution to devote himself to the life of a Missionary, and more particuJarly some passages copiously extracted from his private Journal, will strikingly exhibit the varied exercises of his mind at this interesting and most trying juncture. From thence it will be seen, that he steadily contemplated the sacrifices he must make, and the difficulties he might encounter-that though sometimes cast down, he was yet upheld in the prospect of his great work, by Him who had called him to it-that his notions of the character of a Missionary were elevated-his supplications for grace and mercy

* It is now called "The Church Missionary Society for Africa and the East," and eminently deserves the cordial support of every member of the Church of England.

incessant-his examination of his own heart, deep and sober and searching-in one word, that he was a man of God, eminently endued with the spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind.

"I received your letter yesterday, and thank God for the concern you manifest for my spiritual welfare. O that we may love each other more and more in the Lord. The passages you bring from the word of God were appropriate to my case, particularly those from the first Epistle of St. Peter, and that to the Ephesians, though I do not seem to have given you a right view of my state. The dejection I sometimes labour under seems not to arise from doubts of my acceptance with God, though it tends to produce them; nor from desponding views of my own backwardness in the divine life, for I am more prone to self-dependence and conceit; but from the prospect of the diffi-. culties I have to encounter in the whole of my future life. The thought that I must be unceasingly employed in the same kind of work among poor ignorant people, is what my proud spirit revolts at. To be obliged to submit to a thousand uncomfortable things that must happen to me, whether as a minister or a missionary, is what the flesh cannot endure. At these times I feel neither love to God or man; and in proportion as these graces of the spirit languish, mybesetting sins-pride and discontent, and unwillingness for every duty, make me miserable. You will best enter into my views by considering those texts which serve to recal me to a right aspect of things. I have not that coldness in prayer you would expect, but generally find myself strengthened in faith aad humility, and love after it; but the impression is so short. I am at this time enabled to give myself, body, soul, and spirit, to God, and perceive it to be my most reasonable service. How it may be when the trial comes I know not, yet I will trust, and not be afraid. In order to do his will cheerfully, I want love for the souls of men to suffer it: I want humility: let these be the subjects of your supplications for

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