Henry Martyn Quotations

I see no business in life but the work of Christ.

Do not suppose, dearest Sir, that I am so short-sighted as to destroy my life by English preaching, or any other preaching. St. Paul did much good by his preaching, but how much more by his writings.

How or by what magic is it, that we convey our thoughts to one another with such case and accuracy?

The state of things in India begins to assume somewhat of an alarming aspect. Englishmen taking up arms against Englishmen! Regiments arc called from Bengal, Bombay, and the Cape, to reduce the rebel army. Whereunto will this grow?

Seldom a day passes but I thank God for the freedom from earthly care which I enjoy.

The man who pauses in his honesty wants little of a villain.

It has always happened hitherto that whenever I have begun to feel an attachment to places, persons, or things, of a merely temporary nature, I have been carried away from them. Amen! May I live as a stranger and pilgrim upon the earth. May we be brought to that better country where painful changes are known no more.

The impious man, who sells his country's freedom Makes all the guilt of tyranny his own. His are her slaughters, her oppressions his; Just heav'n! reserve your choicest plagues for him, And blast the venal wretch.

God and eternal things are my only pleasure.

My soul, alas, needs these uneasinesses in outward things, to be driven to take refuge in God.

Now let me burn out for God.

Since I have known God in a saving manner, painting, poetry, and music have had charms unknown to me before. I have received what I suppose is a taste for them, or religion has refined my mind and made it susceptible of impressions from the sublime and beautiful. O, how religion secures the heightened enjoyment of those pleasures which keep so many from God, by their becoming a source of pride!

Even if I should never see a native converted, God may design by my patience and continuance in the Word to encourage future missionaries.

Let me burn out for God. After all, whatever God may appoint, prayer is the great thing. Oh, that I might be a man of prayer!

I have rightfully no other business each day but to do God's work as a servant, constantly regarding His pleasure. May I have grace to live above every human motive, simply with God and to God.

The power of gentleness is irresistible.

I am immortal until God's work for me to do is done. The Lord reigns.

If [God] has work for me to do, I cannot die.

I am born for God only. Christ is nearer to me than father, or mother, or sister - a near relation, a more affectionate Friend; and I rejoice to follow Him, and to love Him. Blessed Jesus! Thou art all I want - a forerunner to me in all I ever shall go through as a Christian, a minister, or a missionary. ...

Perhaps, some day, humanity can start afresh, a new world, a tabula rasa, a world with a mind without prior experiences. No memories and no pain. A day when the ones with abundance do not look down at the poor and the needy, a day when we learn to care for the victims, the fallen souls of civilization and advancement, a day when the world will be pure. When all of humanity becomes a clean sheet of parchment, without knowledge and prejudice, simple, hungry for knowing, tasting, and feeling; hungry for life and ready to absorb the ink of experience.

The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become.