Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard!

JOHN PIPER How Few There Are Who Die So Hard!

JOHN PIPER Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard!

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For more biographies from John Piper, see Crossway’s series, The Swans Are Not Silent.

Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 1 - - - - - In what follows, I would like to give four points and a plea More andMore I am more persuadedfrom Scriptureand from plishthis purpose. dousmissionary effort and sacrifice. Godpurposes for the to spread to all peoples. Godplans to make suffering a crucialmeans to accom We are in historicala We position that cries for tremen out

zationthe of and world the consummation his of purposes fering his of ministers and is essential one means foreign , is strategic how was it that “died” he so that all you earnestlyof consider your in role completing the the history missions of that God’s design for the evangeli this and trace the life Adoniram of Judson, America’s first peoplesof the world. put it more plainly more it put and specifically, God designs that the suf an eternal life come from this: dying like a seed and hating and dies, remainsit alone; if but dies, it bears it much fruit” ly, I say to you, unlessly, a grain wheat of falls into the earth manytimes and in so many ways. your life in this world. What overwhelms me, as I ponder in the joyful, triumphant spread the of gospel among all the includes the sufferingof his ministers and missionaries. To it, and whoever hates his life in this will world keep for it eternal life” (John In other words, 12:25). fruitful a life and Our Lord Jesussaid to us in very solemn tru words, “Truly, Lord’sGreat Commission. 1.

(John 12:24). Thenhe adds this: “Whoeverloves his lifeloses 2. 4. Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 2 - -

before you. before tothe LORD, suffering. The pain of AdoniramJudson illustrates purpose the of I plead for you to be a part what of Judson and Christ died for.

It was It the final command of the risen, all-authoritative Christ: It was It the design God of in the cross: It was It the promise of to his disciples: therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the the in them baptizing nations, all of disciples make and therefore ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and peo whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will pleand (Revelation nation” 5:9). name of the Fatherand of the Son and of the HolySpirit, teach

come (Matthew 24:14). (Matthew come and to open its seals, for you were slain,and by your blood you andhe rules over the nations (Psalm 22:27–28). and all the families of the nations shall worship worship shall nations the of families the all and 6. For kingship belongs to the LORD, the to belongs kingship For 5. This was Testament:promise the of Old the 1. God purposes for the gospel to spread to all peoples. God spread to purposes all to for gospel the 1. They sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll Allauthority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the the throughout proclaimed be will kingdom the of gospel this And Allthe ends ofthe earth shall remember and turn Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 3 - - - So the Lord has commanded us, saying, “I have made you a becomes clear and powerful and compelling in pastors’ lives the and world takeroot in God-centered, Christ-exalting ry Christ” of Corinthians (2 4:4) spread to all the peoples of churches. This great global visionof the Christian movement call in but the Testament Old promise that is still valid today: HolySpirit: light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of It wasIt the divine purpose the of sending and fillingof the It wasIt his ambition, holy rooted just not ina unique apostolic It was It the divine aim Paul’s apostleship: of theearth” see (Acts Isaiah 13:47; 42:6). those who have never heard will understand (Romans 15:20–21; see the nations (Romans 1:5). (Romans nations the ready been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and ing them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, maria,and to the end ofthe earth (Acts 1:8).

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sa about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all all among name his of sake the for faith of obedience the about Isaiah52:15). I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has al I amI with you always, to the end of theage (Matthew 28:18–20). Butyou will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, The invinciblepurpose of God is that“the gospelof the glo Through[Christ] we have received grace and apostleship to bring Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 4 - - - -

forthe success his of mission. sword” That (Romans is whatPaul 8:35). expected, because thatis what Jesus promised. Jesus continues: trating, mission-advancing, church-planting missionaries. missionaries. church-planting trating, mission-advancing, there was among many in the first decadesof the 1800s when accomplish his purpose.accomplish his along with hundreds others of as the light and power truth of awakenedthe churches. whenever there is biblical awakening in Christ’s people—as of wolves. of AndPaul confirmed realitythe in Romans8:36: ent missions.ent I mean that suffering of one is Christ’s strategies long;we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” youin their synagogues, and18 you will be draggedbefore gover I don’t just mean thatI don’t suffering is the consequenceof obedi bewise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). turion autoi) and the Gentiles (Matthew 10:17). (Matthew Gentiles the and autoi) turion 2. God plans to make suffering a crucial means to to means a crucial suffering make to God2. plans Jesus knew this would be the portion his of darkness-pene Jesussaid to his disciples as sent he them out: nors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them mar (eis Adoniram Judsonwas converted and called into missions Beware of men, for they will deliver youover to courts and flog Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so There no doubt is what usually happens to a sheep in the midst As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day “Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine,nakedness, peril, Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 5 - - - - And lest we think this way saying of aligns it the suffering Martyrdom is the not mere consequence radical of love When the martyrs cried to Christ out from under the save the unreached peoples the of world, so some missionar bertheir of fellow servants and their brothers should be blood?” they were to rest told a little until longer, the num tyrs is complete who are to be killed.” Just as Christ died to heaven for a certain number: till “Wait the number mar of him the on Calvary road, to take up our cross, and to hate and obedience; is it the keeping an of appointment set in altar in heaven, long till “How you judge and avenge our and die, that others might are live. above not our We Master. a merea result consequence, or design.a but will “You be work of missionarieswork of too closely with the suffering-work of wasthe ground his of accomplishment. Jesus calls us to join Suffering wasjust not a consequenceof the Master’s obedi missions? Jesus answers: Jesus missions? iesare to die tosave the peoplethe of world. it is it deepera way doing of missions than we often realize. Notice that the witness before governors and kings is not our livesin this world, and fall into the ground like a seed ence and mission. was It the central strategy hisof mission. It dragged before… kings to bear witness.” Why this design for complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been more will they malign those of his household? (Matthew 10:24–25) household? (Matthew his of malign those they will more

(Revelation6:11). To be sure, our sufferingTo does sins, not atone for but anyone’s A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servantabove his master. . . If they. . If have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 6 ------that only in the Operation World Operation SosayI this very sobering word: God’s plan is that his gos ferings with and joy love, delivers, he as were, it those very for sin propitiate or wrathvindicate or divine justice in pass sufferingof his people, especially his ministers and missionar sufferings to ones the for whom Christ died.Paul’s missionary suffering is God’s design to complete the sufferings of Christ, sians 1:24: sians by making them visible more and personal and precious to thosefor died. whom he mendous missionary effort and sacrifice. populations—about 20 million billion the of people, 1.7 us peoples. the For first time we can see clearly what leftis to be pel-spreading,church-planting purpose triumph through the afflictionsNot the church.” for… Paul’sthat sufferings atone filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his world. About 3,500 of these of world. About 3,500 have, average, on Christian 1.2% world theworld sufferingsof Christ. PaulWhen shares Christ’s suf ies.And many not illustrate this better than Adoniram Judson. ing over sins, they but show the unreached peoples the of done. There are about 12,000 ethnolinguistic peoples in the PatrickJohnstone says in Inhis sufferings Paul “filling is up what is lacking in Christ’s body,that is, the church. Jesus, listento the decisive this on word from Paul inColos 3. We are in a historical position that cries out for out tre cries that position a historical are in We 3. 1990s did we get a reasonably complete listing the of world’s

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 7 - - - - World Most of 1 2 : “The largest Christian force in Bur 3 Judson was a Baptist when entered he Burma in 1813, even But JudsonBut there went with his 23-year-old wife 17 of When Adoniram Judsonentered Burma 1813 it in July, son in September on Patrick1812. 6, Johnstone Today some of oursome of children will be killed. though left he New England as a Congregationalist. His mind to the pioneering activity the of American Baptist missionary that fell into the ground and died. And the fruit God gave is told Judsontold in India a few months earlier to go not there. It these least reached peoples are 3,500 window in the 10/40 had changed during the 114-day voyage to India and Carey’s probably would have been considered a closed country to after years. 33 Theprice he paid was immense.He was a seed and are religiously unsympathetic to Christian missions. until his deathat age with 61, trip one to New home England was a hostile and utterly unreached place. William Carey had gospel,and will it be dangerous and costly. Some us of and mais the Burma Baptist Convention, which owesits origin months. was He 24 years and old worked he there for 38years ingthe broadest, nominal definition of Christian. raids, constant rebellion, religious no toleration. All the pre estimates the present-day (Burma’s name) Baptist day—with anarchic despotism, fierce war withSiam, enemy colleague, William baptized Ward, Adoniram and Ann Jud celebrated even in scholarly works like David Barrett’s viousmissionaries had died left. or

AdoniramJudson” ChristianEncyclopedia That means that thatmust we go to these peoples with the Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 8 - - - —thefruit this of dead seed. 4 MayGod use his powerfuland word thelife Adoniram of My questionMy is, if Christ delays his return another two Ofcourse there were others besidesAdoniram Judson— so long and so hard, persevering so that in two hundred years son. Theyonly serve to make the point. The astonishing fruit there willbe two million among the 10/40-win hundred years—a mere fraction a day of in his reckoning— hundreds others of over time. they But too came and gave a “seed that fell into the ground andIn died.” his sufferings away their lives. Most them of died much younger than Jud and 1,900,000 affiliates 1,900,000 and lives today it to enjoy and forever. would, He doubt, no say: of suffering. who are inthe same condition today that the Karen and which you will of have suffered and died so that the triumphs in Myanmar today has grown in the soil the of suffering and reached Burma. Therefore his life much bore fruit he and dow peoples who can scarcely recall their Muslim Hindu or Buddhist or roots? of graceof will be about told two or one peoples those of 3,500 deathmany of missionaries, especially Adoniram Judson. Chinand Kachins and Burmese were in 1813? Who will labor Convention to be 3,700 congregationsConvention to be 3,700 members with 617,781 It was It worth it. Judson to stir many you to give of your lives to this great cause!

4. The pain of Adoniram Judson illustrates the purpose purpose the illustrates Judson of Adoniram pain The 4. Adoniram Judson “hated his life in this world” and was “he filled up what was lacking in Christ’s afflictions” in un Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 9 - - - 7 Judson’s 6 . ByHis Grace and for His Glory

8 You can You see the evidence forhis Reformedconvictions 5 Whenher second child died, Ann Judson wrote: This was the unshakable confidence of all three of his father, who was a Congregationalist pastor in , sleeve. born dead just as they sailed from India to Burma. The sec two,and outlived her mother six by months and then died. tain that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and hadstudied with Jonathan Edwards’s student Joseph Bellamy, and Adoniram inherited a deep belief in the sovereignty God. of wives, Ann Nancy), Sarah, (or and example, Emily. For Ann, who married Judson February on 1812 5, and left with him mercy, I couldI mercy, have not survived accumulated my sufferings.” in God’s overarching providence through all calamity and mis inThomas Nettles, J. ond child,ond Roger Williams Judson, lived 17 months and died. on theon boat February on at age 19 23, bore three children to ery sustained him to the end. said, He “If I had felt not cer has done it. May we so improve it that he will stay his hand and land. But God saw it was necessary to remind us of our error, Judson was a Calvinist, did but wear not his Calvinism his on sayis ‘It enough.’

A Confidence In God’s Sovereignty And And Goodness Sovereignty In God’s A Confidence earthly all, our only source of innocent recreation in this heathen heathen this in recreation innocent of source all, only earthly our and to strip us of our only little all. O, may it not be vain that he Adoniram.All them of died. The first nameless,baby, was Ourhearts were bound up with this child; we felt he was our The third, Maria Elizabeth ButterworthJudson, lived to be The great importancehere is to stress that this deep confidence Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 10 - - 9 When was he entered he 16 Brown 10 Oncewhen Buddhista teacher said that could he be not father. whatThat’s he believed and what he that’s lived.A second source this of confidence was JudsonBible. the wasa threeyears later in 1807. he camehe from home a trip. providence God of was the way God saved him. is It a remark able story. He wasable He story. a brilliantHis mother boy. taught him to anddictionarya that all the later missionaries could use. lieve that Christ suffered the deathof the cross becauseno kingallows his son such indignity, Judson responded: lover of the Word of God. of thelover of The Word mainlegacy of his 38 years in was a rock-solid confidence that God is sovereign and God is good. And all things come from his hand for the good—the incrediblypainful good—of his children. read in week one when was he three to surprise his father when Burma wascomplete a translation the of into Burmese God’s goodnessand providence. One, course, of is Judson’s In other words, what sustained this man and his three wives University as and a sophomore graduated at the his of top class it is in the book. His pride has yielded to the divine testimony. not whether a fact isagreeable to his own reason, but whether

andyield to the word of God. Another source his of confidence in the goodness and detailed The Remarkable Salvation Of This Prodigal Son Prodigal Of This Salvation Remarkable The There are rootsof this missionary-sustaining confidencein Teacher, yourTeacher, pride isstill unbroken. Breakdown your pride, Therefore you are not a disciple of Christ. A true disciple inquires Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 11 - - - 11 Strange that 12 When was he leaving in the morning asked he if the man Thenext nighthe stayed in a small village inn wherehe That disgust with what he found there was the beginning It didn’t prove to be prove the didn’t life It his of dreams. attached He What his godly parents know didn’t was that Adoniram faithand that intended he and togo learn toNew York to sleep might be interrupted because there was a man critically bilkingthe landlord where found he opportunity.” broke their hearts with his announcement that had he no to think that the man next to him may be not prepared to die. tions without being “austere and dictatorial.” had never been before. The innkeeper apologized that his he should he find this young man there, instead of his uncle. himself to some strolling players, and, as said he lived later, “a hisfather gave him as part his of inheritance. his parents until his20th birthday, August 1808, 9, when he posedto havethese struggles. write for the theater—which did he six days later a horse on was being lured away from the faith by a fellow student name goings and voices low and groans and gasps. bothered It him man” who stunned him by being firm in his Christian convic next door was better. is “He dead,” said the innkeeper. Judson ill in the next room. Through the nightheardhe comings and ishedhad he Christianno faith. kept He this concealed from reckless, vagabond life, findinglodgings where he could, and own dying. felt He foolish because good deists sup weren’t of several of remarkable providences.to visit went He hisuncle He wondered He about himself and had terrible thoughts his of Ephraim in Sheffield,but insteadfound “pious youngthere a JacobEames who was Deist.a the By time Judson was fin

Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 12 - - 13 14 On June 28, 1810 Judson and others presented themselves Hisconversion was immediate. not was it now But sure. Judson could hardly stayed move. He therefor hours from the next bed—this could not, simply could not, be becomeand suitor, a wrote to her father the following letter: to the Congregationalists for missionary service in the East. purecoincidence.” pondering the death his of deist friend. If his friend Eames wereright, then this was meaningless a event. Judson But wasstruck with the finalityit of all. On his he out way asked, gust 1806, of near , and two from there had inn andsnatch Jacob Eames, his dearest friend and guide, road, andthere was escape. no There weremonths of struggle. cometo Andover). cembermade2 solemna dedication himself of to God. could believenot it: “That hell shouldopen in that country collegein Providence. Name was Eames, Jacob Eames.” He met He Ann thatsame day and fellin love. After knowing He enteredHe Andover Seminary in October, 1808 and De on Collegehaystack (the prayer meeting had taken place in Au God was his on trail, like the apostle Paul in the Damascus

An Awakening For Global Missions Global For An Awakening daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; I have now to ask, whether you can consentto part with your Ann Hasseltine month for one declared he his intention to The fire was burningfor missions atAndover and at Williams “Doknow you who was?” he yes. “Oh man Young from the Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 13

- - 17 16 15 divided among two ships in case went one 18 the 108-degree heat with cholera, malaria, dysentery, and un two single men arrivedthere July 1813. There13, began a life-long battle in and sailed for India 12 days later with two other couples and She wrote She to her friend Lydia Kimball: down.After timea in India they chose to risk Rangoon and Her father,Her amazingly, said she could make up her own mind. your daughter in the world of glory, with the crown of righteous, brightened with the acclamations of praise which shall redound shall which praise of acclamations the with brightened to her Savior from heathens saved, through her means, from from saved, her Savior heathens eter through her to the hardships and sufferings of missionary life; whether you can can you whether life; sufferingsmissionary and of hardships the violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of him who left is heavenly home, and died for her and for you; for the whether you can consent to her departure, and her subjection to glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting influence of the southern climateIndia; of to every kind of want nalwoe and despair? spendmy days in this world in heathen lands. Yes, Lydia, have I sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the enjoyments here, sacrifice my affection to relatives and friends, consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean, to the fatal andgo where God, in his Providence, shall see fit to place me. about,come to the determination to give up all my comforts and and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a I feel willing, and expect, if nothing in Providence prevents, to Their Sufferings On The Field They were married a year a and half laterFebruaryon 5, 1812, Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 14 - - - - . It had. It a huge influence in stir An Account of the American Baptist Through all the struggles with sickness and interruptions One of the of One joys was seeing some God’s of goodness in the Or it couldOr it be Eight longer. years into their mission Ann The first newshome from arrived two years later on Sep someone was sick enough the typical remedy to save life was sevenhis of children,13 and colleague after colleague in death. baptized their first convert, MaungNau. Thesowing was the States, she wrotebook, a tember 5, 1815. Theytember 1815. 5, had died to nearness the of family. Adon hold,so to speak, for three to six months. a sea voyage. So a marriage the or entire work could be on put longand hard. The reaping even harder years.for But in 1831 known miseries that would take wives two and Judson’s of was so ill that the only hope was a trip sailed home.She greatergood and greatera joy. most the of time the good purposes for pain were that not clear. years and four months later. And when she arrived had he youryou love wife, this is the way you die day after day for a not heardnot from months. her for 10 If you are married and iram would never see hismother fatheror brother or again. ring up recruits and prayer and finances. Thiswould have nev doevangelism the on streets. Six years after they arrived, they er happened without her sickness and two-year absence. But dark providences. example, For when Ann was recovering in on August on 21, 1821. returned She December on two 1823, 5, days was was very It difference of a world slow. If from today. He doesHe return not years. for 33 “Missionary time” in those Judsonlabored to learn the language, translate the Bible, and

Mission to the Burman Empire Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 15 - - - - 19 Ann was pregnant, walked but the two miles daily to the In Adoniram 1823 and Ann moved from Rangoon to Ava, shoulderand heads the of prisoners rested the on ground. thecapital, about 300 miles inland and further theup Ir therewas newa spirit in the land. Judson wrote: palace to plead thatJudson wasa spy not and that they should passed between the fettered legs and hoisted up till only the and 1824 June 8, on and in put prison. His feet were fettered and at night a long horizontal bamboo pole was lowered and and bombardedthe harbor. All westerners were immediately rawaddy River. was It risky to be that near the despotic emper or. In Maythe or. of next yearthe British fleet arrived in Rangoon convertin and 1819 this outpouring God’s of power in 1831. But thereBut had been an enormous price to pay between the first hear that there is an eternal hell. are We afraid of it. Do give us have been 6,000 applications at the house. Some come two or three viewed as spies, and Adoniram was dragged from his home length and breadth of the land.” [We have distributed] nearly the truth before we die.’ Others, from the interior of the country, the Others, of from interior the die.’ we truth before the tiers of Kathay, 100 miles north of Ava—’Sir, we have seen a writ where the name of Jesus Christ is a little known—’Are you Jesus ing that tells about an eternal God. Are you the man that gives months’ journey,months’ from the borders of Siam and China—’Sir, we

awaysuch writings? so, If pray give us one, for we want to know a writing that will tell us how to Others, escape it.’ from the fron 10,000 tracts, giving to none but those who ask. I presume there Christ’sman? Give us writinga that tells us about Jesus Christ.” The spirit of inquiry… is spreading everywhere, through the whole Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 16 - -

20 While was he suffering prisonin Adoniram had saida to On November Judson was 4, 1825 suddenly released. The The daughter, Maria, had been born now by and Ann fellowprisoner: forwomen to nurse his baby. tant village prison, gaunt, with hollow eyes, dressed in rags, their hair amid the rotting food, and had to be shaved bald. her baby to care for him as she could. health Ann’s was bro him with her baby to take care him of as she could. milk Her havegot She some relief mercy. for himso that could he come paddiesalmost drove them mad their on bloody feet. ken. Eleven months later she died (October 24, 1826). And six was almost as sick andthin as Adoniram, still but pursued government neededhim as a translator in negotiations with monthslater their daughter died (April 24, 1827). Now thatNow his wife and daughter were gone, darkness began on the on brink death, of with his wife sacrificing herself and dried and up, the jailer had mercy them on and actually let out intocourtout a yard. still But the prisoners got vermin in crippled from the torture. There mosquitoesthe from the rice Britain. Thelong ordeal wasover—17 months prisonin and Darkness Soul Settled Over His Judson take the baby each evening into the village and beg

openedfor others who would do the work better. It isIt possible my life will be spared; if so, with what ardor shall I pursue my work! not—his If will be done. The door will be Almost a year later they were suddenlymoved dis to a more Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 17 - - - - - He had 22 21 He wrote He in letter one relatives: to Ann’s home tears “My He refusedHe to eat outside the mission. destroyed He all The psychological effects oftheses losses were devastating. from “anything that might conceivably support pride pro or self-denying began love. He to read the Catholic mystics, Ma the stages the of dissolution. body’s ordered He all his letters tion. dropped He his Testament translation Old work, the to settle over his soul. three In July, months after the death he builthe in a hut the jungle some distance from the Moulmein promised to give to more missions himself. In October, 1828 and over the loathsome sepulcher own my of heart.” a grave dug beside the and hut sat beside contemplating it anniversarydeath, Ann’s of to live in total isolation. ary Doctor Divinity of that Brown University had given him letters commendation. of formally He renounced the honor love of his of love life, and retreated and more from more people and Self-doubtovertook his mind, and wondered he if had he be mission house and moved in October on 24, 1828, the second motehis pleasure.” monthsearlier. in New England destroyed condition on returning of a legal in by writing 1823 a letter tothe American BaptistMagazine. into solitary asceticismand various forms self-mortifica of dame Thomas Fenelon, Guyon, a Kempis, etc. led who him of hisof little girl, got he that word his fatherhad died eight come a missionaryfor ambition and fame, humility not and He gave He all his private wealth $6,000) to the (about Baptist Board. asked He that his salary be reduced quarter by one and flow at the same timeover the forsaken gravemy of dear love

Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 18 - - - 23 But 11But years later she was so sick that they both set sail If we had time we would tell his of remaining sufferings And you recall that was it 1831—the next year—when he His Elnathan, brother, died May at the 1829 8, age 35. of for America with the three oldest children. Theyleft the forspiritual breakthrough in darka and unreached place? further into the Tiger-infested jungle, and wrote in let one because had he reason to believe that the brother that had he the tip Africa of in Sarah September, 1845, died. The ship three youngest behind, whom of died one before Judson re turned. Judson had been not to America years for now 33 and theyear Adoniram 1830 was climbing his of out darkness. ter than felt he utter spiritual desolation. “God is to the me andknew the language better than any himself. but and joys. married He Sarah Boardman, a missionary widow, land. Isthat coincidence? a Orwas that God-ordained a pattern left in unbelief 17 years earlier had diedin faith. All through was only returning for the sake his of wife. As they rounded graveand bury wifea and mother and then sail on. dropped anchor at St. Helena Island long enough to dig a on Aprilon 1834, 10, eight years after Ann died. They had eight experienced the great outpouring spiritual of interest across the document his sister needed. retreated He for forty days alone children. survived Five childhood. was She gifted a partner Disengaged From Hoping In This World This In Hoping From Disengaged GreatUnknown. believeI in him, findI but himnot.” Ironically, this proved the turning recovery, point Judson’s of

This time Adoniram does not descend into the depths as be Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 19 - - - - bound for the Isle France of 24 Aristide Marie Aristide Onher first anniversary,June 2, 1847 she wrote: To everyone’s amazement,To Judson fell ina third love time, fore. has He his children. even But more, his sufferings have thehappiest years that either them of had every known. this time with and married June heron thelife knew he in New England was his sister. had She kept thatsame to the day she died. his room exactly as had it been years 33 earlier and would do his children settled and find a ship back. All that wasleft of perately ill Judson a voyage. on On April they 1850 3, carried left her fame and writing career to go with Judson to Burma. life for Burma. So his stay in the states was long enough to get with friend, one Thomas Ranney, to care for him. In his mis was learning to hate how his life in this without world bitter ing in vomiting. his of One last sentences was: few “How there ness depression. or had He passion: one to return and give his ery would he be roused from time to time by terrible pain end disengaged him from hoping for too much in this world. He happiest of his. . . I never met with any man who could talk so well, day after day, on every subject, religious, literary, scientific, political, and—nice baby-talk.” and—nice political, baby-talk.”

eyes still more important, my husband says it has been among the It hasIt been far the happiest year of mylife; and, what is in my Adoniram the onto Adoniram last one time.only The hope was to send the des 2, 1846. was She was She was he 29; famous a 57. writer and They had one child, but then old sicknesses the attacked They arrived 1846.November, in And God gave them four of Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 20 - - - - sailed on Aristide Marie 25 26 Many the of peoples the of are world without any indig The Bible TheBible was done. Thedictionary done. was Hundreds of At 15 minutesAt 15 after 4:00pm Friday on afternoon April 12, shepherded our flock, how well but we have obeyed the com Christ died for. died Christ theirorigin to this labors man’s love. of about 3,700 congregations about3,700 of in Myanmar who trace anddied tuberculosis of three years later at the age 37. of andBurmese Church. That evening the ship to. hove are whodie who… so hard!” was dead. returned She to New England that next January mandto make disciples all of nations. enous Christian Christ today. movement is enthroned not died at birth. learned She four months later that her husband count before Jesus Christ, only not as well to how we have converts were leading the church. And today there are close to 5. I plead for you to be a part for what Judson and be to for a part you and I plead Judson for5. what Life is fleeting. In a very short time, we will all give an ac towardthe Isle of France. through the port into the night. The location was latitude 13 de west of the mountains of Burma. The were no prayers.… The captaingave the order. The coffinslid grees North,longitude degrees 93 East, almost in the eastward 1850, Adoniram1850, Judson died at sea, away from all his family shadow of the Andaman Islands, and only a few hundred miles

Ten days later EmilyTen gave birth to their second child who The crew assembled quietly. The larboard port was opened. There Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 21 - 27 Judsonwrote tomissionary candidates in 1832: fall like a grain wheat of into some distant ground and die, to tier.And the Lord still says, there, his grace is unknown there, and people are perishing hate your life in this and world so to keep forever it and bear arehostile toChristian missions.this Today is thefinal fron willdie in waya that bears much fruit. with access no to the gospel. Most these of hopeless peoples muchfruit? you to fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ,to do not wantdo not you to come.At least they think Theythey don’t. comparatively church-saturated land? Or might be he calling tothe East die within five years after leaving their native land. name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish (Matthew someof you they will put to death. will You be hated by allfor my

10:16;Luke 21:16–18). Are you sure that God wants you to continue your life in this Remember, a large proportion of those who come out on a mission Behold, I amsending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves… The questionThe for us not is whether we will die, but whether we Walk softly, therefore; death is narrowly watching your steps. your narrowlywatching is death softly,therefore; Walk Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 22

- - - (New (Grand Operation Operation (: Scrip ,462. , 193. , World Christian Encyclopedia To the GoldenTo Shore: TheLife of Adoni ByHis Grace and for His Glory Operation World Operation Adoniram Judson and the Missionary Call Missionary the and Judson Adoniram Giants of the Missionary Trail Missionary the of Giants To the Golden To Shore (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 134. 1956), (Carlisle, UK: 15–16. Paternoster, 2001), ture Press Foundation, 1954), 73. 1954), Foundation, Press ture themimplicitly rather than by explicit exposition.” ilymembers recorded in , MemoirA of come to the doctrines grace of we find that he believed Rapids:Baker, 148–154. 1986), ram Judson ram Ibid.,42. Quoted in ThomasNettles, J. Ibid.,14. Courtney Anderson, Anderson, Courtney Ibid., 44. The sourceof this story oralis reports from fam PatrickJohnstone, Ibid.,240. Erroll Hulse, David Barrett, ed., Patrick Johnstone, Jason Mandryk, eds., Ibid.,41. (Leeds: Reformation Trust, 48. 1996), “When Today we York: Oxford York: University 202. Press, 1982), World

Anderson,

9 8 Notes 6 5 2 3 4 7 12 13 10 11 1 Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 23 ,398–399. ,45. To the Golden To Shore To the Golden To Shore strange providence God of overruled and his American support from the Missionary Society. Because of the war between Britain and France was he captured on the high seas and imprisoned in France. again But the the Life and Labors the of Adoniram Rev. Judson, D.D. he would he suffer a as missionary. and his release was purchased by a man from . Samueland Roxana Nott. He always He saw that time as cruciala preparation for what voice was heard crying during out prisoners’ one march, , , Samuel and , Ibid.,84. Ibid.,391. Ibid., 481. Ibid., Ibid.,83 Ibid.,334. Ibid.,387. In the meantime,Judson had sailed to England to raise Ibid.,388. Ibid.,504. Vol. 1 (:1 Phillips, Vol. Sampson, and 24–25. Co. 1854),

Anderson, Anderson,

25 23 24 21 22 20 19 18 16 17 14 15 Adoniram Judson How Few There Are Who Die So Hard 24 org/missions/bjudson4.html Maulmain, 1832, http://www.wholesomewords. June 25, Adoniram to Judson, Missionary “Advice Candidates,” Ibid.,505.

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