REV. HENRY MARTYN, B.D. 61 



also your music book, and 27 Rupees, the difference of the teapots, 

 which I so often forgot. 



Make my kind remembrances to Capt. Dare and Miss Friend, and 

 believe me to be with sincere regard, truly yours, 



H. MARTYJ!^. 



Mrs. Dare, Gya, 



[Letter 3.] 



Danapore, September 23rd, 1808. 

 My dear Mrs. Dare, 



The day after I received your letter, which was Sunday, I was 

 attacked with a fever% that for some hours seemed to threaten my 

 life ; but, by the mercy of God, I am somewhat recovered, tho' not 

 sufficiently so to resume all my employments. It is one of my 

 first duties, however, to notice the subject of your last. 



The loss of such a sister is no common affliction ; but if her 

 virtues and piety were the qualities that endeared her to you, the 

 greater your loss, the richer is her gain. 



I know no real source of consolation to the survivors of 

 departed friends, but a well-grounded assurance that they are 

 happy in another world ; and this hope I think you have, for the 

 letter you showed me seemed evidently dictated by a heaven-born 

 soul. Nothing, therefore, need be added on the head of consolation. 

 It is of more importance that you should consider what lessons 

 God designs to teach you by this event. You hoped, no doubt, to 

 enjoy much pleasure in her company many years to come — perhaps 

 before your return many other friends will be removed. Does not 

 this teach you, my dear friend, the extreme vanity of our fondest 

 scheme of pleasures, and the necessity of looking forward chiefly 

 and habitually to that scene where there are no such vicissitudes, 

 no cruel disappointments ? 



A younger sister taken! How near to yourself has the shaft of 

 death passed ! Did it not say to you, — "Prepare to meet thy God"? 



My dear Mrs. Dare, attend to the call of God ; He never speaks 

 more to the heart, than by affliction. Such a season as this, so 



* 'Journal aud Letters,' Vol. II, p. 215. 



