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.
In a culture that makes a virtual idol out of romance (as seen so prominently in the music, book, and film industry), it’s worth noting that not the least of the sacrifices that Henry Martyn made in accepting the call to be a missionary in foreign lands was that it cost him the love of his life. His fiance couldn’t bear the thought of such a hard life overseas, and broke off the engagement.
Martyn humbly accepted his fate, and served the Lord as a single man for the rest of his life, much like St. Paul.
David Handy+
The work of Henry Martyn, missionary and translator of the bible into Indian dialects and Persian continues at the Henry Martyn Centre in Cambridge. Links to their site information and resource papers are here. It is one of a number of institutions bearing his name and its founding director in its latest form was +Graham Kings. Among other things it aims to resource and encourage missionary vocations.
Thanks, Pageantmaster, for the link and the info, especially about the centre at Cambridge and its connection to Bp. Kings.
David Handy+