Judson, Adoniram, 1788-1850; Missionaries -- Burma -- Biography; Missionaries -- United States -- Biography
out our hearts in prayer to Him whose directions we so much wish and
need. We feel that we are alone in the world, with no real friend but
each other, no one on whom we can depend but God.”
_Mrs. Judson to her Parents._
“ISLE OF FRANCE, PORT LOUIS, _February_ 14, 1813.
“I will now, my dear parents and sisters, give you some account of our
change of sentiment, relative to the subject of baptism. Mr. Judson’s
doubts commenced on our passage from America. While translating the
New Testament, in which he was engaged, he used frequently to say that
the Baptists were right in their mode of administering the ordinance.
Knowing he should meet the Baptists at Serampore, he felt it important
to attend to it more closely, to be able to defend his sentiments.
After our arrival at Serampore, his mind for two or three weeks was so
much taken up with missionary inquiries and our difficulties with
Government, as to prevent his attending to the subject of baptism. But
as we were waiting the arrival of our brethren, and having nothing in
particular to attend to, he again took up the subject. I tried to have
him give it up, and rest satisfied in his old sentiments, and
frequently told him, if he became a Baptist, _I would not_. He,
however, said he felt it his duty to examine closely a subject on
which he had so many doubts. After we removed to Calcutta, he found in
the library in our chamber many books on both sides, which he
determined to read candidly and prayerfully, and to hold fast, or
embrace the truth, however mortifying, however great the sacrifice. I
now commenced reading on the subject, with all my prejudices on the
Pedobaptist side. We had with us Dr. Worcester’s, Dr. Austin’s, Peter
Edwards’s, and other Pedobaptist writings. But after closely examining
the subject for several weeks, we were constrained to acknowledge that
the truth appeared to lie on the Baptists’ side. It was extremely
trying to reflect on the consequences of our becoming Baptists. We
knew it would wound and grieve our dear Christian friends in
America—that we should lose their approbation and esteem. We thought
it probable the commissioners would refuse to support us; and, what
was more distressing than anything, we knew we must be separated from
our missionary associates, and go alone to some heathen land. These
things were very trying to us, and caused our hearts to bleed for
anguish. We felt we had no home in this world, and no friend but each
other. Our friends at Serampore were extremely surprised when we wrote
them a letter requesting baptism, as they had known nothing of our
having had any doubts on the subject. We were baptized on the 6th of
September, in the Baptist chapel in Calcutta. Mr. J. preached a sermon
at Calcutta, on this subject, soon after we were baptized, which, in
compliance with the request of a number who heard it, he has been
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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