A History of Protestant missions in the near East

94 History of Protestant Missions in the Near East
failing health, he completed a new translation a heroic feat,
in spite of the evident traces it bears of haste. In his rare
hours of leisure he cultivated friendly intercourse with learned
Persian theologians, the mollahs and
,
mujtahids of Shiraz,
arguing half the night with them about the fundamental
truths of Christianity and the trustworthiness of the Bible.
Having finished his translation, he had a copy of it made and
then set out for Tabriz to present his work in person to the
Shah. But his delicate constitution was no longer able to
bear the hardships of travel in Persia. He arrived in Tabriz
more dead than alive, and needed the most careful nursing for
two months before he was able to continue his journey towards
Constantinople. The harsh treatment of his Turkish attendants,
and the fatigues of mountain travel over the snow-clad
passes of wild Kurdistan, were the last straw. He died in
Tokat on the 16th of October, 1812. The British Ambassador
in Teheran presented, in Martyn's stead, his manuscript
translation of the New Testament to the Shah, whom he induced
to issue so laudatory a notice of the work, that the
translation, after it had been printed in Eussia, found a widespread
circulation in Persia.
3. The "Mediterranean Mission" of the Church
Missionary Society
Soon after its institution the Church Missionary Society
had its attention drawn to the Christian Churches of the
Levant. Malta, since 1800 a British possession, seemed to be
the most suitable place in which to establish a mission, from
which to spread the knowledge of the Gospel over all the
countries bordering on the Mediterranean, especially among
the Oriental Churches on the one hand, and among Islamic
nations on the other. The hope was entertained that a
spiritual revival in the ancient Churches would exercise a
beneficial influence on the Islamic world surrounding them,
thus preparing the way for direct mission work among
Muhammadans. There was no thought of founding Protestant
Churches, the missionaries being particularly ad-