The Life of Missionary Henry Martyn

Preface for, "The Life of Missionary Henry Martyn". From the 1831 edition that was written by John Hall. This volume has been primarily compiled from the tenth English edition of the Memoirs of Mr. Martyn by Rev. John Sargent. The author of this publication has aimed to present the subject in a way that helps young readers form a balanced view of Christian character. Instead of encouraging vague admiration, the goal is to offer the humble missionary as a practical example to follow. To achieve this, the author has intentionally avoided excessive praise, hoping the biography will leave a lasting impression on the reader about the essential need for God's power in leading a holy and useful life. Often, children are subtly taught to see the remarkable examples of piety and zeal recorded in both sacred and ordinary history as exceptions to Christ's teaching, where He instructed His disciples to say—even after fulfilling all commands—"We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were supposed to do." This approach can create an illusion that even mature understanding may not fully dispel, and it may also diminish the glory of the one perfect example of righteousness that has blessed our world. Moreover, it risks nurturing hidden religious pride in the heart of the young Christian, something that usually needs no extra encouragement to hinder the growth of grace. Memoirs of a Christian should be designed more to instruct the living than to praise the dead, and it is surprising that so few works of this nature are available, crafted with evangelical discernment. This principle is especially important in biographies intended for Sunday school students, and it would be a true honor to the institution if the materials endorsed in this area were distinguished by this rare moral clarity.