Page images
PDF
EPUB

chosen fellow of St. John's. Soon after obtaining which situation, as honorable to the society in the appointment, as it was gratifying to himself, he employed some of his leisure hours, as he expresses it, in writing for one of those prizes, two of which are given to those who have been last admitted Bachelors of Arts: and although there were men of great classical celebrity, as it was well known, who contested the palm with him, the first prize was assigned to him for the best Latin prose composition; a distinction the more remarkable, as from his entrance at the University he had directed an unceasing and almost undivided attention to Mathematics. Having thus added another honor to those for which he had before been so signally distinguished, Mr. Martyn departed from Cambridge, on a visit to his relations in Cornwallmaking a circuit on foot through Wenlock, Liverpool, and the vale of Langollen. Of this tour, (on which he was at first attended by one of his friends,) he, has left a Journal, briefly and hastily written, from with, few extracts, as illustrative of his character, may not prove uninteresting.

July 9, 1802. We walked into Wenlock along a most romantic road. My mind, during these three days, has been less distracted than I expected; and I have had, at times, a very cheering sense of presence of my God."

the

"July 10. I went on board a little sloop, and began to beat down the Mersey. The Mersey is

here more than four miles broad, and the wind now increasing almost to a storm, the ship was a scene of confusion. One wave broke over us, and wetted me completely through. I think there was some danger, though the composure I felt did not arise, I fear, so much from a sense of my acceptance with God, as from thinking the danger not to be great. I had still sufficiently near views of death, to be uneasy at considering how slothful I had been in doing the Lord's work, and what little meetness I possessed for the kingdom of glory. Learn then, O my soul, to be always ready for the coming of thy Lord; that no disquieting fear may arise to perplex thee in that awful hour."

"July 23-Holywell. Found myself very low and melancholy. If this arises from solitude, I have little pleasure to expect from my future tour. I deserve to be miserable, and I wish to be so if ever I seek my pleasure in any thing but God."

"July 25-Carewys. I did not go to Church this morning as the service was in Welch, but went through the Church service at home-in the evening read Isaiah.”

"July 29-Aber. Walked two miles into the country 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."

"August 6-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."

"July 31-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 nearer. 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 difference 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 animat 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 de

lightful 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 ne cessity 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."

"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 favored 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 consclations of real religion, exhibiting its genuine fruits:

« PreviousContinue »