I fear that I have declined in religion the past week. Nothing do I dread so much as becoming cold and worldly-minded, and losing the life of religion in the soul. Though I have but few temptations, I find that the innate depravity of my heart is constantly showing itself, in some way or other. I find that it is just as necessary to watch and pray, and guard against easily besetting sins, in this heathen land, as in any other situation. O for a more holy heart, more fervent love to God, and more ardent longings for the promotion of his cause!

Wow. Ann Judson was concerned that she not become worldly-minded…while IN BURMA. How often do we think about being worldly-minded? I would imagine that since we are enjoying and relishing so many of the comforts of this world, we’d at the least pursue the same kind of consistent heart-examination and prayer that Ann did!

Sharon James, My Heart in His Hands (Durham: Evangelical Press, 2003; originally published 1998), 78.

Ann Judson tells of a converted Burman woman:

By her inquiries respecting the Christian religion, she evinced a mind, which, had it been early and properly cultivated, would have hardly been surpassed by females in our own country. And happy am I to add, that she not only became rationally and speculatively convinced of the truths of the Gospel, but was, I trust, taught to feel their power on her heart, by the influence of the Holy Spirit, embraced them, has become an ornament to her profession, and her daily walk and conversation would shame many professors of religion in Christian countries.

Sharon James, My Heart in His Hands (Durham: Evangelical Press, 2003; originally published 1998), 207.

I can’t describe how much it has encouraged my heart in reading about the life of Ann Judson to know how serious she and her husband were about the fruit of repentance and true saving faith.

For example, in April 1819, after 6 years on the mission field with no conversions, Ann did not settle for a profession of faith lacking evidence, but looked for regeneration. She wrote:

[One woman] said, she believed in Christ, prayed to him daily, and asked what else was necessary to make her a real disciple of Christ. I told her that she must not only say that she believed in Christ, but must believe with all her heart. I told her the manner of life would be changed; but one of the best evidences she could obtain would be when others came to quarrel with her and use abusive language, if, so far from retaliating, she felt a disposition to bear with, to pity, and to pray for them. The Burman women are particularly given to quarreling, and to refrain from it would be a most decided evidence of a change of heart.

Later in April they had their first convert: Mr. Moung Nau. Overjoyed, in June of 1819, Ann wrote in a letter:

Little did I think, when I last wrote, that I should so soon have the joyful intelligence to communicate, that one Burman has embraced the Christian religion, and given good evidence of being a true disciple of the dear Redeemer. This event, this single trophy of victorious grace, has filled our hearts with sensations, hardly to be conceived by Christians in Christian countries.

Mr. Nau was baptized in June, and Ann’s husband, Adoniram, wrote in July:

We have had the pleasure of sitting down, for the first time, at the Lord’s table, with a converted Burman; and it was my privilege,–a privilege to which I have been looking forward with desire for many years,–to administer the Lord’s supper in two languages.

Sharon James, My Heart in His Hands (Durham: Evangelical Press, 2003; originally published 1998), 101-04.

Ann Judson, upon entering the mission field, facing many, many obstacles, delivering a still-born child, and recovering from subsequent illness, writes:

Were it not for the support we derive from the Gospel of Jesus, we should be ready to sink down in despondency, in view of the dark and gloomy scenes around us. But when we recollect that Jesus has commanded his disciples to carry the Gospel to the heathen, and promised to be with them to the end of the world; that God has promised to give the heathen to his Son for an inheritance, we are encouraged to make a beginning, though in the midst of discouragement, and leave it to him to grant success, in his own time and way. I find here no dear female friends, with whom I can unite in social prayer, nor even one with whom I could converse. I have, indeed, no society at all, but that of Mr. J. [her husband]; yet I feel happy in thinking, that I give up this source of pleasure, as well as most others, for the sake of the poor heathen… O if it may please the dear Redeemer to make me instrumental of leading some of the females of Burmah to a saving acquaintance with him, my great object would be accomplished, my highest desires gratified; I shall rejoice to have relinquished my comforts, my country, and my home.

Sharon James, My Heart in His Hands (Durham: Evangelical Press, 2003; originally published 1998), 72-3.

What are your “highest desires”?

Refer to my previous post, entitled Christian Biographies, before reading the quotes below. Go here for the location from which I derived the quotes.

In case you’re not already familiar with this-

After missionary Adoniram Judson fell in love with Ann Hasseltine, he wrote the following in a letter to her father, communicating his intentions-

I have now to ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean, to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a 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 sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with the crown of righteous, brightened with the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Savior from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?

Her father turned the decision over to her. Ann wrote the following to a friend-

I feel willing, and expect, if nothing in Providence prevents, to spend my days in this world in heathen lands. Yes, Lydia, I have about, come to the determination to give up all my comforts and enjoyments here, sacrifice my affection to relatives and friends, and go where God, in his Providence, shall see fit to place me.

O how much we can learn from those who have gone before. My dear sisters, would we respond to such a call in such a way, not aiming to get by with the bare minimum of “sacrificial” service, but giving, joyfully and willingly, our time, comfort, leisure, convenience, our hands and feet and toil, yes, our very lives, for the unspeakable privilege of sharing and exulting in Christ glorified in all things for the joy of all peoples, in the end insisting, “I have made no sacrifice.” Whether at home or abroad, may our hearts yearn to love and sacrifice and to give of ourselves more, that Christ be honored and souls won.

2 Cor. 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

I love reading missionary biographies, or any Christian biography. I also love to listen to Piper’s biographical messages delivered each year at his pastor’s conference. Of the ones I’ve listened to thus far, Adoniram Judson’s and Charles Simeon’s are two of my favorites.

Certain parts of these messages I simply haven’t been able to get out of my mind. Even reading some of the statements these men (and also Judson’s wife, Ann) have written themselves- my jaw drops. Here’s one by Simeon-

Repentance is in every view so desirable, so necessary, so suited to honor God, that I seek that above all. The tender heart, the broken and contrite spirit, are to me far above all the joys that I could ever hope for in this vale of tears. I long to be in my proper place, my hand on my mouth, and my mouth in the dust. . . . I feel this to be safe ground. Here I cannot err. . . . I am sure that whatever God may despise . . . He will not despise the broken and contrite heart.

Wow. That last part especially struck me- I am sure whatever God may despise, He will not despise the broken and contrite heart.

And Judson wrote the following sentence-

“If I had not felt certain that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have survived my accumulated sufferings.”

Piper says of this-

“this deep confidence in God’s overarching providence through all calamity and misery sustained him to the end.”

And just for a glimpse into the kind of woman Ann was… This is what she wrote after their second child died (all three of their children died)-

“Our hearts were bound up with this child; we felt he was our earthly all, our only source of innocent recreation in this heathen land. But God saw it was necessary to remind us of our error, and to strip us of our only little all. O, may it not be vain that he has done it. May we so improve it that he will stay his hand and say ‘It is enough.’”

Piper says of this-

“I preach to produce mothers like that”

If you desire to do so, listening to these messages will give a more balanced look at these men’s lives, and perhaps give you a different look at suffering, but more importantly, may they spur you on in the cause of Christ.