whom, to prevent perpetual interruptions, he had appointed to meet on a stated day, for the distribution of alms, frequently assembled before his house in immense numbers, presenting an affecting spectacle of extreme wretchedness. To this congregation he determined to preach the word of the Saviour of all men, who is no respecter of persons. Of his first at

tempt at this new species of ministration, he thus speaks: "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 moon be God? 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 heaven and 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." Such was the substance of his first discourse, the whole of which was preached sentence by sentence, for at the end of each clause there were applauses and explanatory remarks from the wiser among them. "I bless my God," said Mr. Martyn, "for helping me beyond my expectations.

Yet still my corrupt heart looks forward to the next attempt with some dread."

The following Sunday he preached again to the beggars, in the number about five hundred, on the work of the first and second day, when all he said was received with great applause. And on the last day of the year he again addressed them, their number amounting to above five hundred and fifty; taking for his subject-the works of the third and fourth day. "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 un. derstand 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 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 Mahometans applauded."

With these new labours of love the year 1809 terminated. "Ten years have elapsed," observed Mr. Martyn on the last day of it, "since I was first called of God to the fellowship of the Gospel, and ten times greater than ever ought to be my gratitude to the tender mercy of my God, for all that he has done for me. The ways of wisdom appear more sweet and reasonable than ever, and the world more insipid and vexatious. The chief thing I have to mourn over is my want of more power and fervour in secret prayer, especially when attempting to plead for the Heathen.

Warmth does not increase with me in proportion to my light."

To the temporal and spiritual necessities of those wretched beings, who statedly assembled before his house, Mr. Martyn continued to minister assiduously in the early part of the year 1810, nor did he cease to do so, whilst his health permitted, during the remainder of his residence at Cawnpore. The satisfaction of seeing their numbers increase, (sometimes they amounted to as many as eight hundred persons) was exceeded by the more solid gratification of witnessing in them a growing attention to the instructions he delivered. By degrees tumultuous applauses were succeeded by pertinent remarks, or were lost in a serious and pensive silence. On one occasion particularly, the apparent effect produced by his discourse was highly encouraging. An extraordinary impression was made on his Mahometan and Pagan auditory, whom he had been addressing on the awful subject of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah with equal simplicity and solemnity. "After finishing," he observes, "the narrative of the fall of Sodom, I said, without further preparation, Do you too repent of your sins, and turn to God?" It was this simple sentence that seemed to come with great power, and prevented my proceeding for a time. For though you are not like the men of Sodom-God forbid! you are nevertheless sinners. Are there no thieves, fornicators, railers, extortioners, among you? Be you sure that God is angry. I say not that he will burn your town; but He will burn you. Haste, therefore, out of Sodom. Sodom is the world, which is full of sinners and sin. Come out, therefore, from among them: forsake not your worldly business, but your sinful companions. Do not be like the world, lest you perish with them. Do not like Lot, linger; say not, to-morrow we will repent, lest you never see to-morrow-repent to-day. Then, as Lot, seated on the hill, beheld the flames in safety; you also, sitting on the hills of heaven, shall behold the ruins of the world without fear." "

In the midst of these exertions, an attack of pain in the chest, of a severer kind than he had experienced before, forced upon Mr. Martyn's mind the unwelcome conviction of the necessity of some quiet and remission.

Upon the subject of his health (a subject which was becoming but too interesting and alarming to his friends in general) he thus wrote to Mr. Simeon, who long before had warmly urged him to the most watchful care and prudence. "I read your letter of 6th July, 1809, cautioning me against over exertion, with the confidence of one who had nothing to fear. This was only three weeks ago. Since the last Lord's day your kind advice was brought home to my mind, accompanied with painful regret that I had not paid more attention to it. My work last Sunday was not more than usual, but far too much for me, I can perceive. First, service to his Majesty's 53'd foot, in the open air; then at head-quarters; in the afternoon, preached to eight hundred natives; at night, to my little flock of Europeans. Which of these can I forego? The ministration to the Natives might be in the week: but I wish to attach the idea of holiness to the Sunday. My evening congregation, on Sunday, is attended by twice as many as in the week day; so how can I let this go?"

With what extreme reluctance Mr. Martyn "spared himself," we see from the above letter. The progress of his complaint, however, compelled him to overcome this reluctance; and to the Indian congregation, when they next assembled, he was obliged to declare that his ill health prevented him from addressing them; upon which hundreds of voices were heard invoking for him long life and health, and when he dispensed his alms among them, their thankfulness seemed to know no bounds. Shortly after, however, he ventured to finish with these mendicants the history of Joseph, upon which he had entered, and to resume also the whole of his duty on the Sabbath, with the exception of one service, and notwithstanding his extreme caution

on that point, he administered the rite of baptism to an old Hindoo woman, "who, though she knew but little, was (he said) lowliness itself."

Whilst Mr. Martyn was thus labouring in the very fire, sometimes yielding to the pressure of his complaint, and affording himself a little ease and relaxation; at others renewing it, either by private conversation or public services; providentially for the preservation of the remnant of his health, in the beginning of June, his friend and brother, Mr. Corrie, arrived at Cawnpore, on his journey to his new station at Agra. This proved a most seasonable refreshment and relief to Mr. Martyn, both in body and mind; for his friend, though himself in a weak state of health, by the permission of the Commander-in-Chief, who showed a kind consideration for Mr. Martyn in his drooping condition, undertook part of the duty, leaving to Mr. Martyn only the services of preaching to the Natives at noon, and to the soldiers in the evening, in the performance of which he persuaded himself that he ought to persevere.

How greatly his friends became alarmed at this juncture, will appear from the following animated and anxious letter from Mr. Brown :-"You will know, from our inestimable brother Corrie, my solicitude about your health. If it could make you live longer, I would give up any child I have, and myself into the bargain.-May it please the adorable unsearchable Being with whom we have to do, to lengthen your span!-Amidst the dead and the dying, nothing can be more apparently prosperous for the church of God, than the overwhelmings now taking place in the earth. Christ will find his way to the hearts of men, and there will be a great company to praise Him. I know not why we should wish to be saved, but for this purpose; or why, but for this purpose, we should desire the conversion of Heathens, Turks, and Infidels. To find them at the feet of Jesus will be a lovely sight. Our feeble voices cannot praise him much. We shall be glad to see them clapping