he had conceived a deeply fixed attachment for one there, of whom less ought not, and more cannot be said, than that she was worthy of him."

To the churches where he preached while in Cornwall, the common people crowded in numbers. At Kenwyn, where he preached from 2 Cor. v. 20, 21. the Church was so full that many could not enter. His youngest sister heard him with delight--and the eldest with the appearance of being impressed by what he said. In the company of the former he had much pleasure, and, with her, would rather have sat by the bed of the sick and the dying, than preached to the largest churches in his native country, crowded with multitudes eager to hear him.

At length it became necessary for him to bid adieu to his friends at Cornwall; and, to a heart of such sensibility, such a separation must have been, and was indeed, exquisitely painful; but that which most profoundly and poignantly affected him, was doubtless, the parting detail in the following extract:

"Rode before

to

to an old man

five miles off. Our conversation was such as

becometh saints, but it was too pleasant for me. I sighed at the thought of losing their company. When we arrived, the old man was out, but his sister, a blind woman of seventy was confined to her bed without any comfortable hope. and myself said every thing to cheer her, and I prayed. When the old man arrived, we formed a little circle before the door, under the trees, and he conversed with his young hearers concerning the things of God. I then read the 84th Psalm, Our ride home was delightful, our hearts being all devoutly disposed; only mine was unhappy. Parted with forever in this

life, with a sort of uncertain pain which I knew would increase to greater violence."

"These forebodings of Martyn were soon realized. On the evening of that day, and for many succeeding days, his mental agony was extreme-yet he could speak to God as to one who knew the great conflict within him; he was convinced that, as God willed his happiness, he was providing for it eventually by that bitter separation; and he resolved, through grace, to be his, though it should be through much tribulation.” The measure of

his sufferings was filled up in parting with his beloved sisters,

"They parted as if to meet no more."

And, overwhelmed with inexpressible grief, could find no consolation but in mutually commending each other to the grace of God, in prayer.

At Plymouth, where he passed the Sabbath day, he regained his former sweet serenity of spirit. There he preached twice, on Daniel v. 22, 23, and on Rev. xxii. 17.—"The Spirit and the bride say come," &c. Here, he said, "his soul longed for the eternal world; and he could see nothing on earth for which he would wish to live another hour."

From Plymouth he returned by Bath and London, to Cambridge, from whence he writes as follows, to his dear sister:-" We should consider it as a sign for good, my dearest when the Lord reveals to us the almost desperate corruption of our hearts. For, if he causes us to groan under it, as an almost insupportable burden, he will, we may hope, in his own time, give us deliverance

The pride which I see dwelling in my own heart, producing there the most obstinate hardiness, I can truly say my soul abhors: I see it to be unreasonable, and I feel it to be tormenting. When I sometimes offer up my supplications with strong crying to God, to bring down my spirit into the dust, I endea vour, calmly, to contemplate the infinite majesty of the most high God, and my own meanness and wickedness. Or else I quietly tell the Lord, who knows the heart, that I would give him all the glory of every thing, if I could. But the most effectual way I have ever found, is to lead away my thoughts from myself and my own concerns, by praying for all my friends, for the church, the world, the nation, and especially, by beseeching that God would glorify his own, great name, by converting all nations to the obedience of faith; also, by praying that he would put more abundant honour on those Christians, whom he seems to have honoured especially, and whom we see to be manifestly our superiors. This is at least a positive act of humility; and it is certain that, not only will a good principle produce a good

D

act, but the act will increase the principle. But even after doing all this, there will often arise a certain self-complacence, which has need to be checked; and, in conversation with Christian friends, we should be careful, I think, how self is introduced. Unless we think that good will be done, self should be kept in the back-ground and mortified. We are bound to be servants of all, ministering to their pleasure as far as will be to their profit. We are to look, not at our own things, but at the things of others. Be assured, my dear,, that, night and day making mention of you in my prayers, I desire of God to give you to see the depth of pride and iniquity in your heart, yet not to be discouraged at the sight of it; that you may see yourself to be deserving to be cast out with abhorrence from God's presence, and thus may walk in continual poverty of spirit and the simplicity of a little child. Pray, too, that I may know something of humility. Blessed grace, how it smooths the furrows of care, and gilds the dark paths of life! It will make us kind, tender-hearted, and affable: and enable us to do more for