Readings:
Psalm 56:8-12
Isaiah 49:1-6
Romans 1:8-15
John 4:22-26Preface of a Saint (2)
PRAYER (traditional language)
O God of the nations, who didst give to thy faithful servant Henry Martyn
a brilliant mind, a loving heart, and a gift for languages, that he might
translate the Scriptures and other holy writings for the peoples of India
and Persia: Inspire in us, we beseech thee, a love like his, eager to
commit both life and talents to thee who gavest them; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever.
PRAYER (contemporary language)
O God of the nations, who gave to your faithful servant Henry Martyn a
brilliant mind, a loving heart, and a gift for languages, that he might
translate the Scriptures and other holy writings for the peoples of India
and Persia: Inspire in us a love like his, eager to commit both life and
talents to you who gave them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Lessons reflect revisions made at GC 2009.
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HENRY MARTYN
MISSIONARY AND TRANSLATOR (19 OCT 1812)
Henry
Martyn was born in 1781, studied at Cambridge, and became Senior Wrangler.
(That is, he won the Cambridge University annual mathematics problem-solving
competition, and was accordingly recognized as the University's best undergraduate
mathematician. "Wrangling" is a British University expression
for solving mathematical problems.) He had, moreover, a considerable facility
in languages. Under the encouragement of Charles Simeon (see 12 Nov 1836),
he abandoned his intention of going into law and instead went to India
as a chaplain in 1806. In the six remaining years of his life, he translated
the New Testament into Hindi and Persian, revised an Arabic translation
of the New Testament, and translated the Psalter into Persian and the
Prayer Book into Hindi. In 1811 he left India for Persia, hoping to do
further translations and to improve his existing ones, there and in Arabia.
But travel in those days was not a healthy occupation, and he fell ill
and eventually died at Tokat on October 16, 1812. (The American Calendar
commemorates him on 19 October.) He was buried by the Armenian church
there, with the honors ordinarily reserved for one of their own bishops.
His
diary has been called "one of the most precious treasures of
Anglican devotion."
by James Kiefer
Note: clicking on the link above will take you to Amazon.com, where
you can buy the book if you wish.