the corruption of human nature, and drew the conclusion that, hence, till our hearts are changed, we are abominable in the sight of God, and our own works, however useful to men, are worthless in his sight. I think I never saw such a striking instance of the truth grappling with human nature: he seemed like a fish when he first finds the hook has hold of him: he was in a dreadful rage, and endeavored to escape from the conviction those truths produced, but seemingly in vain. At last, recovering himself, he said, he had a question to ask—which was—what would become of children, if the disposition they were born with, rendered them odious in the sight of God? I gave him the best answer I could, but he considered it as nothing, because founded on Scripture; and said, with great contempt, that this was mere matter of faith, the same sort of thing as when the Hindoos believed the nonsense of their Shasters."

How delightful must it have been to Mr. Martyn to turn, as he did at this time, from controversies with these unbelievers, to the enjoyment of Christian converse and communion with his beloved friend and brother Mr. Corrie, who, towards the end of January, visited him, on his way to his sta tion at Chunar. Many a happy hour did these servants of Jesus Christ then pass in fellowship one with another, for truly their fellowship was with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:-with one accord they often fell at the feet of their Re

deemer in supplication and thanksgiving-they read his holy word-they rejoiced together in its promises-they spake to one another of the glory of Christ's kingdom, and talked of his power, and they parted sorrowfully indeed, yet earnestly desiring, each to be employed in his proper work. "Our communion," said Mr. Martyn, respecting this interview, "has been refreshing, at least to me, and the Lord has sanctified our meeting by his presence and gra cious influences."

With respect to the Europeans, amongst whom Mr. Martyn ministered, he had much reason to be gratified by the reception he met with from those whom he attended in the hospital: but he had equal cause to be dissatisfied and grieved with the behavior which he witnessed too generally, in the houses of the wealthy:-can we be surprised, therefore, that he should prefer, as he did, the house of mourning, to that of feasting? In vain did he endeavor, amongst the upper ranks, to introduce religious topics into conversation. "I spoke," said he, after visiting some of these, "several times about religion to them, but the manner in which it was received, damped all farther attempt. 'Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? How awful does the thought sometimes appear to me, that almost the whole world are united against God and his Christ. O thou injured Sovereign! O Lord, how long will it be ere thou plead thine own cause, and make bare thine

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arm in the sight of the nations? Let me in patience possess my soul; and though iniquity abound, may I never wax cold, but be brought safely through all this darkness and danger to a happier world! To thousands my word will, perhaps, prove ‘a savor of death unto death.' Let me nevertheless go on steadily in the path which the Lord has marked out: perhaps some poor soul may be converted by what he shall hear from me; or, if not, I shall have done my work." In such society, as might be expected, he found his desires and endeavors for the conversion of the Heathen invariably discountenanced and opposed: having, on one occasion, referred to the Company's Charter, as not only permitting, but enjoining the communication of religious instruction to the natives, coldness and distance, on the part of those he was visiting, were the immediate consequence of his observations. But "his soul could rejoice in God, that if men were unkind, it was for Christ's sake, and he felt determined to go on with vigor, though the whole world of wretched men should oppose."

With respect to the conversion of the natives to the nominal profession of Christianity, in Mr. Martyn's opinion, the difficulty was by no means great. He was surprised at the laxity of principle which seemed to prevail among the natives, and could perceive that the idea of embracing the religion of the English, was very pleasant to the Pundit, and other natives. But he did not fail to explain to them,

"that it was no object of his to make them 'Feringees,' in the sense in which they understood it, and assured them, that if all the Brahmins and Rajahs of the country would come to him for baptism, he would not baptize them, except he believed that they repented, and would renounce the world."

With the condition of the natives, in a moral point of view, Mr. Martyn had but too much reason to be shocked and affected: and he was sometimes called upon to interfere, and that with some personal hazard, to prevent acts of the greatest turpitude and injustice among them. "My Surdar," he says, "was imprisoned by an unjust Cotwal. I sent word to him to give nothing for his release, and not to fear: the Cotwal was afraid and let the man go, and ceased his claim upon his relations. This has been a long and iniquitous business. I felt quite thankful that the Lord had thus shewn himself the Father of the fatherless. I could hardly believe such barefaced oppression. How much has the Gospel done in producing sentiments of justice and equity in all ranks of people in Christendom! The poor people here seem unable to comprehend it." "***" he adds; "developed a system of villainy carried on in the country, by the supineness of * * *, which astonished and grieved me beyond measure. I determined to go to *** myself, and tell him what I had heard: but thought it prudent to defer it till after my distant journey to Buxar, in which the Cotwal, who is the head of a gang of robbers, with which

the whole country is swarming, might easily procure my assassination, if by getting him turned out, I should provoke him. I thought it, however, a duty I owe to God, to him, to the poor oppressed natives, and to my country, to exert myself in this business; and I felt authorized to risk

my life."

This journey to Buxar, during which Mr. Martyn feared that, without prudence, he might possibly become a victim to the sudden revenge of one, whose daily oppressions caused many to weep without a comforter, was taken on the 16th of February: and it may surprise those, who are not aware of the very slender proportion of chaplains allotted to our empire in India, to be informed, that he travelled seventy miles for the purpose of performing part of his pastoral duty in the celebration of a marriage. But before we attend him on this journey, let us notice his abstraction from the world, his sacred peace, his holy aspirations, his deep contrition, at this period:-"I felt more entirely withdrawn from the world, than for a long time past: what a dark atheistical state do I generally live in! Alas! that this creation should so engross my mind. and the Author of it be so slightly and coldly regarded.-I found myself, at this time, truly a stranger and a pilgrim in the world; and I did suppose that not a wish remained for any thing here. The experience of my heart was delightful. I enjoyed a 'peace that passeth all understanding;' no desire remained, but that this peace be confirmed and in