markable in the conduct of his missionary labours, that an instance of inattention to its dictates becomes doubly dangerous when it is found in a man of more than common judgement and discretion. It is also an useful lesson to observe how the best among the sons of men can sustain no comparison with Christ, either in the consistency of their whole character, or in the excellence of its particular features.

"*** coming in, said many had become more hostile than ever; they should come up to prayers, because they thought I was sincere; but not to the sermon, as they thought I did nothing but preach about hell: I hope this portends good.' Sept. 21. I seemed uneasy at the thoughts of calling forth the hatred of people to-morrow by preaching to them unpleasant truths. Sept. 22. Sunday. Was more tried by the fear of man, than I ever have been since God has called me to the ministry. The threats and opposition of these men made me unwilling to set before them the truths which they hated: yet I had no species of hesitation about doing it.

They had let me know that if I would preach a sermon like one of Blair's, they should be glad to hear it; but they would not attend if so much of hell was preached. This morning again, Capt. *** said, Mr. Martyn must not damn us today, or none will come again.' I was a little disturbed, but Luke, x. and, above all, our Lord's last address to his disciples, John, xiv. 16, strengthened me. I took for my text, Psalm ix. 17, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. The officers were all behind my back, in order to have an opportunity of retiring in case of dislike. B*** attended the whole time. H***, as soon as he heard the text, went back, and said he would hear no more about hell; so he employed himself in feeding the geese; *** said I had shut him up in hell, and the universal cry was, we are all to be damned 3.'"

A few pages farther on, his biographer notices the consequences of this mode of preach

3 Life of Martyn, pp. 130, 131.

ing. "The violent and increasing opposition he experienced from many of the more intelligent part of the passengers, and the discouraging inattention he too often perceived among the other class of his hearers, caused him to grieve on their account, and to humble himself before God. 'I go down,' he says, and stand in the midst of a few, without their taking the smallest notice of me; Lord, it is for thy sake I suffer such slights-let me persevere notwithstanding.' But though he mourned on their account, he was contented to be left without fruit, if such were the will of God. Conscious of having delivered the message faithfully, and trusting that with respect to both descriptions of auditors, he had commended himself to their consciences, if he had not reached their hearts, his own peace of mind was not affected, &c. &c."-" The Sunday after this, presuming it would be the last, Mr. Martyn addressed the ship's company in a farewell discourse. The occasion, it might have been conceived, was such as to preclude any disposition to ridicule, even with men pre-eminently disposed to scoffing and contempt. But

those who had reviled him at first, continued to revile him to the very last."

The same ill success attended his preaching at the New Church at Calcutta. His first discourse caused a great ferment, and was exceedingly offensive to many of his hearers. The consequence was, that a season of great irritation ensued, very warm personal attacks were directed against him, and another chaplain, one of Martyn's friends, found it expedient to adopt the plan of simply reading the Homilies to the congregation, in order to avoid the spirit of disputation and controversy which began to prevail universally.

It is not improbable that his opponents in the ship would have been equally unmoved, had he addressed them in a different manner. But the experiment should have been tried. The truth should have been spoken in love, and a way gradually opened for the introduction of

Life, pp. 169, 174.

topics which could not be heard with candour, or received with advantage by minds in a state of violent irritation against them.

2. The example of Christ seems to teach, that as every religious topic is not always opportune, and every time not the proper season of reproof, so every offender is not the proper subject of it. Speak not in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.' 'He that reproveth a scorner, getteth to himself shame, and he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot 5.'

Directions of this kind seem to refer principally to those who are notorious for profaneness or unbelief. The conduct of Paul and Barnabas at Antioch will show the sense in which the Apostles understood them. When they saw that the Jews were filled with envy, and spoke against their doctrine, contradicting and blaspheming,' they gave no farther excite

5 Prov. ix. 7. xxiii. 9.