OUT of darkness into light. Turned from the power of Satan unto God was true of Judson, as it is of every soul who really and truly accepts Christ. And it was no half-hearted or unwilling service the future missionary to Burmah longed to yield to the Master in heaven whom he so loved and wanted to please.
An important sphere of christian work very near the home of his boyhood had been offered him, and his resolution (if according to the will of God) to devote his life to preaching the gospel in heathen lands may have wavered for a moment when his sister, to whom he was greatly attached, laid her hand on his arm and begged him in low, earnest tones and with tear-filled eyes to give up the thought of going abroad and settle down near them.
But if so, it was only for a moment. Perhaps the Lord's own words, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:1515And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)), might have seemed to come with fresh power and meaning to his mind. His face was already turned towards far-off India, and he must not, would not, look back. So he told his much loved sister, and a few days after wrote to the London Missionary Society offering to go out to Burmah to preach the gospel, teach in a school, and do many other things.
Those were not the days of fast sailing mail steamers, and it took a long time, sometimes weeks or even months, before letters from America could be received in London. So as many things had to be arranged, it was decided that Judson should pay a visit to England.
But the times of which I am writing were neither quiet nor peaceable ones. France and England, though the two countries were just as near neighbors then as now, were far from being good friends. The ship in which Judson had sailed from New York was one carrying the English flag. It had been at sea little more than a fortnight when it was captured by a French frigate, its passengers and crew made prisoners of war and thrust into the hold of the vessel, a prison more dreary, dark and comfortless it would perhaps be difficult to picture to oneself.
There had been a good deal of fighting on deck, and several of the sailors were badly wounded. Judson lay among them very weary, sea-sick, and heart-sick too, we may say, and a little home-sick as well. Had his intended voyage to England been a mistake?
Would it not have been better to accept the work offered him in Boston? Many such questions passed through his mind. One only comfort remained to him, he could turn to God in prayer and say with the simple faith of a little child, "Lord, thou knowest.”
His Hebrew Bible seemed to him just like an old and very dear friend. There was not light enough in the ship's hold for him to read it by, still he did not feel so lonely when the precious volume was near him.
One day the ship's doctor, who could not speak a word of English, seeing the book, took it up and, carrying it to the gangway, read a few passages. He seems to have been a kind man, and as he had already begun to feel an interest in Judson, thought that a man who could read the scriptures in the language in which they were written would most likely understand Latin, returned the Bible and addressed the patient in that language.
Judson, who had a thorough knowledge of Latin, was much pleased at finding it was possible to make himself understood, and had soon told the doctor who he was and his object in wishing to go to England. Through the doctor's influence, Judson was removed from the crowded, ill-smelling hold and allowed on the upper deck to enjoy light and air. Better food, too, from the captain's table was often sent him, and during the remainder of the voyage he was treated with more kindness.
But he was still a prisoner, and his troubles as such were far from being at an end. All the delay and disappointment must have been very trying to the man who had so longed to go at once to Burmah. Still, it was one of the training-schools in which God was preparing His servant for work among the heathen day by day. Burmah's future missionary was learning lessons of trust in the love and wisdom of Him who had said, "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." (Psa. 1:15.)
The French frigate touched at a Spanish port and the prisoners were landed, Judson among the number. As they were marched through the streets toward the prison, Judson tried to arouse the sympathy of the onlookers by using what little French he knew. But nobody seemed to understand what he said, so he tried English, speaking very loudly in the hope of gaining a listener. At last, just when he began to think his efforts all in vain, a voice from the crowd said, "Don't talk so loud.”
A sudden ray of hope came like a sunbeam into the heart of the lonely youth as he replied, "I will be as quiet as you wish now that I have made myself heard." In a few words the stranger explained that he was an American merchant and quite willing to do all in his power to help his countryman. "But," he added, "You must go quietly to prison now. I have no power to take you out of the hands of your captors.”
In one of the back streets of that old Spanish town stood, in those days, the Government prison. Ernest and Willie are sure to ask what kind of place it was, so I must try to answer their question. It was just one large room underground and very damp and dirty. It had no windows, and so would have been quite dark but for the feeble light of a single lamp tied to a post in the center of the room.
There were no chairs, tables, or beds in the prison, only a little straw so wet and moldy that Judson, though very tired, could not make up his mind to lie down. Hour after hour he walked up and down feeling the time very long. His head ached badly, and he felt faint and ill, still he was not without hope that his new friend the American merchant would visit him, and perhaps be able to do something for his release.
He listened anxiously to every creak of the rusty iron gate that led to his dungeon. He was without any means of knowing the time, but thought it must have been about midnight when the stranger arrived. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man and wore a long, loose cloak.
Making a sign to Judson to remain quiet, he took down the lamp saying in English, "Let me see if I know any of these poor fellows." As he replaced it he was so near Judson that he was able to throw the folds of his ample cloak round him and whisper, "Keep close to me." The prisoner obeyed, though wondering greatly if the guard would allow him to pass.
But the merchant placed a golden dollar in the hand of the soldier who was on duty and he did not ask any questions. When they reached the street his guide said, "Now follow me, but you must run." Forgetting how tired he was he did so until they reached a very poor lodging where his friend told him he could hide in safety until an order for his release could be obtained from the Governor.
After about ten days' waiting he was again at sea and on his way to England. The week following he was in London, where he received a very kind welcome from many friends of the mission. It was decided that he should return to America and sail from one of its seaports for his beloved Burmah.
But I have lingered so long over his eventful voyage to England that I must not begin to tell you about his return journey or of all that came after it till our next chapter.