ADONIRAM JUDSON'S VIEW OF THE MINISTRY.
By Stephen N. Haskell
MR. JUDSON'S view of the work of the gospel was very different from many of the present day, or even in the time which he lived. To be permitted to take a part in self-denial and suffering for the truth of the gospel was to him a privilege. Applause and censure both alike fell ineffective at his feet. His life in Burmah from the commencement to its close was one of deprivation and suffering scarcely equalled by any in modern times. The theme of Mr. Judson's study was Christ, his life, character, and manner of preaching. The height of his ambition was to exemplify Christ, as far as possible, in a life of toil and suffering. He often spoke of God's "having honored him, through the Saviour's worthiness, with a commission to the Burmans; of Christ's having permitted him to do a little work in his name, and be the means of saving a few souls; and he always prayed most fervently, both in his own behalf and that of his children, for a long life of labor and self-denial." In response to remarks occasioned by the death of Mr. and Mrs. James, who were drowned at sea, Mr. Judson gave utterance to the following sentiments: "Oh, when will Christians learn that their puny, polluted offerings of works are not necessary to God? He permits them to work as a favor, in order to do them good, personally, because he loves them, and desires to honor them, not because he needs them. I have thought for years that God in his dealings with us aims particularly at our individual development and growth, with the ultimate object of fitting each one of us personally for the life to come." As might be expected he spent but little of his time in social intercourse, beyond the limits of his own home. He considered his work of far too engrossing a nature to allow of it. He was always ready to attend a meeting for prayer among the Burmans of his church, or to visit any family that happened to be in affliction, but beyond this he did not go. Hence he was sometimes considered unsocial. When he could alleviate sorrow or bind up the broken in heart, no one in the mission was more prompt in his attentions, or more acceptable in his sympathy. Mrs. Judson, thinking to amuse him and divert his mind, called his attention, at one time, to two newspaper articles, in one of which he was compared to the apostle Paul and in the other to the beloved John; to which he exclaimed with a sorrowfulness which made her regret having shown them to him; "Oh, how little—how little do they know me." "It is very evident that they do not know you," remarked she carelessly. "One day you are Peter, or Paul, or Luthur, or the next gentle John, or mild Melancthon." "I do not want to be like any of them," he said energetically, "Paul, nor Apollos, nor Cephas, nor any other mere man. I want to be like Christ. We have a great many aids and encouragers along the Christian path; but only one perfectly safe Exampler—only One who, tempted like as we are in every point, is still without sin. I want to follow him only—copy his teachings, drink in his spirit; and place my feet in his foot-prints, Oh, to be more like Christ!" At one time while in this country after having addressed the congregation, it was apparent to his wife that most of the listeners were disappointed. On their way home she mentioned the matter to him. "Why, what did they want?" he inquired, "I presented the most interesting subject in the world, to the best of my ability." "But they wanted something different, a story." "Well, I am sure I gave them a story—the most thrilling one that can be conceived of." "But they had heard it before. They wanted something new of a man who had just come from the antipodes." "Then I am glad they have it to say that a man coming from the antipodes had nothing better to tell than the wondrous story of Jesus' dying love. My business is to preach the gospel of Christ, and when I can speak at all, I dare not trifle with my commission. When I looked upon those people to-day, and remembered where I shall next meet them, how could I stand up and furnish food for vain curiosity—tickle their fancies with amusing stories, however decently strung together on a thread of religion? That is not what Christ meant by preaching the gospel. And then, how could I hereafter meet the fearful charge 'I gave you one opportunity to tell them of me—you spent it in describing your own adventures!'" He acknowledged that the diffusion of missionary information was of great importance, but maintained that the standard of gospel preaching should not be lowered thereby. He used frequently to speak of the tendency of cultivated people to visit the house of God in search of intellectual gratification, rather than for the purpose of worship or the promotion of their spiritual good, and mentioned it as the most dangerous snare in the path of the rising ministry. When once asked, in private, how he liked a sermon that had just been eliciting warm praises from a parlor circle, he answered, "It was elegant, every word was chosen with care and taste, and many of the thoughts were exceeding beautiful. It delighted my ears so much, that I quite forgot I had a heart, and I am afraid all the other hearers did the same." At another time, when speaking in glowing terms of a sermon to which he had listened with evident interest, he suddenly broke off with "But such are not the sermons to arouse a dead sinner, or to feed the sheep, no man could say there to-day 'The poor have the gospel preached to them.'" Let the above spirit actuate our ministers of to-day and they will possess a power which will reach hearts. It is the true missionary spirit.