It Is Not Death to Die

A New Biography of Hudson Taylor

Jim Cromarty

• Publisher: Christian Focus Publication
• eBook ISBN:
  9781781914540
• Year: 2014

1

Heirs of Life Together

The Royston Anglican church was a hive of activity as two popular locals were to be married. The bell ringers were hard at work ringing out the announcement that it was time for the bridal party to arrive. However all was not well. Betty Johnson the lovely bride was ready, but the groom, James Taylor, a local stone mason, was nowhere to be seen.

The bell ringers played on as they anxiously gazed down the road hoping to see their friend appear.

However, events were taking place that would forever change the character of the man who would be the great grandfather of James Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission. That day God was establishing his covenant with a sinner who was about to enter the Kingdom of God.

James Taylor believed himself to be an upstanding Christian; after all he was a member of the Staincross Ridge Anglican Church choir, and one who with others rang the church bells each Lord’s Day to announce the time for public worship.

James, always the life of the party, was a very popular young man, who enjoyed dancing and musical activities.

In 1776 the Church of England was spiritually dead. Many of the men who occupied the pulpits did so because the ministry was a life of security and ease. The great doctrines of grace were largely forgotten, resulting in a marked decline in the morality of society. Drunkenness, with all its associated evils was widespread, and many godly men and women saw the nation’s only hope to be in a spiritual revival!

God in his mercy had raised up a group of men to preach the great Biblical doctrines of salvation in a risen Christ, through the new birth and the subsequent godly living.

George Whitefield and John and Charles Wesley commenced a vibrant ministry throughout the United Kingdom and America which resulted in hundreds of thousands of men, women, boys and girls coming to faith in Christ.

When those great evangelists were rejected by the established Church of England, they preached Christ in the open fields. Thousands came to hear the gospel preached with the result that society was changed. The Spirit of Christ touched sinners’ hearts and many began to live righteous lives.

With the kingdom of Satan under attack its members rose up in anger to oppose those who dared preach a risen Christ.

John Wesley had visited the Barnsley area where James Taylor lived with the result that some locals were won to Christ. His next door neighbours, Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw, had been converted and were now members of the new Methodist faith. Elizabeth, who suffered from rheumatic problems, had been a cripple for a long time, but when she and her husband attended a meeting of a visiting Methodist preacher, not only did they come to faith in Christ, but Elizabeth was miraculously healed of her physical disability. Now, instead of the groans of a sick woman next door, James heard songs of praise. He also noticed that the Shaws met with farmer Cooper and his family to study the Scriptures and worship God.

This way of life was not for James. He had a slight understanding of the Bible, but was unconverted and wanted nothing to do with the ‘Bible Bashers’ who were considered by the locals to be religious extremists.

It was not just in Barnsley that the Methodists were treated with contempt, but wherever the fearless preachers warned of God’s wrath upon sinners and the coming judgment when Christ returned, violence and persecution followed.

The courageous preaching of the evangelists was accompanied by the power of God and revival began to sweep through the countryside.

In 1760 a Wesleyan preacher had visited the Barnsley area where he was confronted by the godless young locals who shouted out their curses upon both God and the evangelist. When they had finished their mocking they took out the rotten eggs and manure they were carrying and took aim. In this way they made the preacher’s work a misery. But what more could be expected in an age where duelling, immorality, adultery, drunkenness, fornication, gambling, swearing and Sabbath-breaking were commonplace.

Despite the opposition and persecution, Christ was faithfully preached by the Wesleyan ministers who lived godly lives and cared for their converts.

John Wesley himself had visited the area staying overnight with the Shaws where he found a small group of Wesleyans worshipping God.

James was really unconcerned about the Methodists as his great joy was to be found in the fact that he was to marry his beloved Betty Johnson of Royston.

It was the morning of his wedding day but his mind was in turmoil. As he carried in some bundles of corn, the seed from which he would make flour for his new wife to bake bread, a passage of Scripture filled his mind. He simply couldn’t get the words out of his mind. He had no idea where he had read or heard the words, but it was possible that he’d heard them from John Wesley himself: ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’

That very day—his wedding day—the Holy Spirit commenced a work of grace in James’ heart that would produce fruit, a thousand fold through his witness and that of his descendants, especially James Hudson Taylor, his great-grandson and founder of the China Inland Mission.

For a time, all thoughts of his wedding were blotted out with more weightier matters, concerning his eternal welfare.

In the barn where the sheaves of wheat were being stacked, James dropped to his knees in prayer as his heart was overcome by thoughts of sin and judgment.

Kneeling upon the straw floor, the love of God flooded his heart and he surrendered his life to Christ. The words of Scripture: ‘As for me and my house we will serve the Lord’ which had so troubled his mind were now part of his life. Then and there, not only did he dedicate his life to Christ, but he also promised that his family would serve the Lord.

Suddenly James realised that the hours had flown. For a time eternity had reached down and invaded time, but now there was a wedding to be attended!

The sun was high in the sky, the bell-ringers were at their post and the bridal party was ready, but the groom was still missing!

Hurriedly James dressed and set off to catch up with the wedding party, while the bell ringers played a little longer, giving him the extra minutes he needed.

There in the old church at Royston, on 1 February, 1776 James and Betty were married, but Betty soon found out that the man she married was not the same one who had courted her. He was now a new creation and the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As he escorted Betty to their home he told her everything that had taken place that morning. Gone now were the days of dancing and other worldly activities that they both once loved.

Betty was shocked by what she heard. This was not the man to whom she had been engaged. Yet in his face she could see the change and in surprise exclaimed, ‘Surely I have not married one of those Methodists!’

Soon Betty found out that married life was not all she had expected with the once fun-loving, worldly James. He was now mixing with the Shaws and Coopers and others who were members of the Staincross Society which met in the Shaw’s home.

Frivolity and worldliness were no longer part of his life. Gone were the times when he entertained the crowds at the local fairs with his fiddle and singing. Now he used all of his gifts in the service of his Lord and Saviour. With his fiddle and lovely singing voice he now glorified the Lord Jesus Christ.

After their first evening meal together James took out his Bible and announced that in future ‘family worship’ would be conducted in the Taylor house. Betty, however, had made up her mind that she would have nothing to do with her new husband’s extremist ways.

No! She wasn’t going to take part in family worship, even though she felt that what he was doing was right.

When the Bible was brought out, Betty made herself busy with the household chores giving James a tongue lashing about his new way of life. She was unwilling to follow her new husband’s spiritual life and suffer the mocking of her friends!

Each night James read the Scriptures and prayed aloud, making sure that Betty heard every word spoken.

Betty continued to voice her complaints about her husband’s spiritual life until he could stand it no longer.

One night, he picked her up in his strong arms and carried her upstairs to their bedroom. Sitting her down, he knelt in front of her and confessed the deep feelings of his heart. Then, bowing his head and closing his eyes he prayed that God might touch Betty’s heart and save her from her sins by giving her a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

How he praised God when his prayer was answered, because the very next day Betty was deeply convicted of her sins. That night when the Bible was brought out for family worship, she knelt beside her husband while he prayed.

Now, the two young lovers were forever united in their love of God. They had become heirs of life together in the Lord Jesus Christ!

2

A Dirty Frying Pan

James and Betty knew what it was to suffer persecution for Christ’s sake. Daily they took up their cross to follow the Lord Jesus. At Staincross Ridge, they opened their home for meetings of the despised Methodists.

However, a serious accident meant that James was unable to continue the heavy work associated with being a stone mason. The only other work available in the country area was heavy manual labour so the family was obliged to pack their meagre belongings and look for employment in a larger town.

Nearby Barnsley was a manufacturing centre and it was there that James found work in a linen warehouse owned by the local magistrate, Joseph Beckett. There he earned thirteen shillings and six pence a week out of which he paid rent on a four roomed cottage in Old Mill Lane, as well as the usual government taxes.

With two sons and three daughters James and Betty found it difficult to make ends meet, particularly as the cost of living was much higher in Barnsley than in the country.

Before spending any money, they sacrificially tithed, putting aside one shilling and six pence for the work of the gospel and the help of the poor and needy. This sacred giving was put into a cup set aside for that holy offering to the Lord.

The citizens of Barnsley were spiritually dead as the Church of England and the nonconformist churches failed to preach Christ. This state of affairs upset the Taylor family, who continually heard the name of Christ blasphemed. Consequently Betty and James commenced spiritual meetings in their own home, where Christ was glorified in song and teaching. Soon this group became an official Methodist Society consisting of seven members. In time James proved his worth and was appointed the group leader.

Opposition to these meetings was so intense that often some of the local trouble makers gathered outside the Taylor home and did all they could to disrupt proceedings. They banged on pans and kettles and anything else on which they could lay their hands.

When attempts were made to set the front door alight, members of the congregation were pelted with ‘the foulest filth’ as they extinguished the flames.

Another practice was to cover the chimney with clumps of grass and dirt, causing the meeting room to be filled with clouds of smoke.

Loving Christ meant that James stood firm for spiritual truth. He preached in the streets and suffered the assaults of an ungodly community. Often he was the target of the local hoodlums who pelted him with stones and garbage. On other occasions he was dragged from his preaching place and rolled in the filthy mud.

But he was strong in faith and believed the encouraging words of Christ: ‘Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven…’ (Matt. 5:11, 12).

He considered it an honour to be knocked down in the market place, dragged through the streets and covered with stinking garbage. Each time, when he was rescued from the angry mob, he stood up and again fearlessly preached the gospel.

At times he faced very violent opposition. Once he was met by several men who pretended friendliness, but they were determined to cause trouble. While he was talking to one of the men the other rubbed a mixture of glass and mud into his face. He was saved from serious injury when Joseph Beckett appeared on the scene and the men escaped.

James refused to take any action against them because he was willing to suffer for the sake of his Saviour, telling Mr Beckett: ‘No, the Lord is well able to deal with them. I would rather leave it in his hands.’

When the injuries meant that he was unable to work for seven weeks his friend and employer, Mr Beckett decided he would take action through the courts on James’ behalf.

When the charges against one guilty man were read out he denied all knowledge of the assault and in an oath called upon God to strike him with blindness if he were lying.

Soon after he became blind and for the remainder of his life was forced to use a guide dog to get around. His accomplice felt the rod of God’s anger and never prospered in his work or life.

At Eastgate a godless woman saw James walking down the street wearing his good coat and having a dirty frying pan in her hand attacked him by rubbing the soot and fat over the back of his coat. Instead of rebuking the woman, he turned around and invited her to do the same to the front of his clothes.

Betty and James suffered greatly for the cause of Christ, but eventually much of the opposition ceased when the locals saw their gentleness, faithfulness and godliness.

They had the privilege of entertaining the great evangelist, John Wesley overnight—an honour the family never forgot. We can only imagine the joy and honour they felt when the great and godly leader of the Methodists sat at their table.

John Wesley recorded his visit to Barnsley in his diary: ‘Friday, June 30, 1786: I turned aside to Barnsley, formerly famous for all manner of wickedness. They were then ready to tear any Methodist preacher in pieces. Now not a dog wagged its tongue. I preached near the Market Place to a very large congregation, and I believe the truth sank into many hearts.’

James, who was thirty-seven years old when John Wesley visited his home, died nine years later.

It was then that his eldest son, John, assumed his father’s mantle, becoming the class leader of the Barnsley Methodist congregation.

This meant work!

Class leaders were expected to visit each member at least once each week to encourage, rebuke, counsel and receive gifts to be used helping the poor in the community. Leaders were to meet with the Minister to discuss local problems and make sure that stipends were paid.

John, who spent many hours distributing tracts, the Scriptures and other spiritual material, preached each night. This work was in addition to his normal daily trade.

He married Mary Shepherd and together they opened their home in the service of the Lord. Like John’s mother, Mary became a class leader.

Opposition to the Methodist movement was gradually dying out, but John suffered for his Saviour. On one occasion as he walked along the street an angry man ran to him and punched him.

‘Take that for Jesus Christ’s sake!’ his attacker shouted.

John calmly looked at his attacker and quietly replied, ‘I do take it for Jesus Christ’s sake.’

John and Mary Taylor were grandparents of Hudson Taylor, missionary to China.

3

Growing Up

John and Mary’s son James, wanted to study medicine, but despite his father’s successful business producing ‘reeds and stays’ for the linen looms, the family situation made this impossible. He was one of eight children so he commenced the study of pharmacy, little realising that he would become a well-to-do Barnsley chemist. He was apprenticed to a Rotherham pharmacist which meant he spent seven years away from his family. He loved his Saviour and spent many hours before an open Bible because the study of theology was his delight.

He was an inventive person who developed a shorthand scheme which proved very useful in his studies and later in sermon preparation.

When he was young his parents moved to a new home across the street which meant they were living very close to Benjamin Hudson, the Wesleyan minister. As a result the two families became close friends—especially James and Amelia. Many happy hours were spent worshipping, singing and playing together. It was said of John Taylor that he had ‘a very beautiful voice and a perfect musical ear’; and of Amelia, that she had the voice of a ‘nightingale’.

She was fifteen years old when her family moved to Barnsley but because of family financial difficulties she commenced work a year later as the governess of three youngsters—the children of a wealthy farmer at Castle Donnington.

During her holidays with her family at Barnsley everyone noticed that James Taylor also made his way home. After all it was only a ten mile walk to visit his parents—and the girl he loved!

There was great joy in both families when James and Amelia announced their engagement—he being twenty-two years of age and she just sixteen.

James studied hard, but always spent a lot of time bearing witness to the Lord he loved. Every Sunday, when he had the opportunity, he visited the surrounding villages preaching salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. The church leaders, recognizing his spiritual gifts, appointed him as one of the Barnsley preachers when he was just nineteen.

Following his successful apprenticeship he leased a pharmacy at 21 Cheapside, Barnsley. Then with financial help from his father and elder brother, he purchased the property.

He proved to be a good businessman who was totally honest in his dealings with other people. He worked in the pharmacy six days a week and devoted the Lord’s day to preaching and other spiritual activities. After several years he repaid his debt to his father and brother. As he was financially secure, on 5 April, 1831, he and Amelia were married.

Amelia had a pleasant, quiet personality and soon proved her worth in the family and the church, teaching a girls’ class where she was greatly loved and respected. She also gave valuable assistance to her husband in his work as a class leader of about fifty young men and boys.

It was during those early years that James developed a prayerful interest in China where he longed to do missionary work, if it ever proved possible.

Together he and Amelia conducted family worship, reading the Word, praying and praising God in song. They longed for a child, praying that God might give them a son who would take the gospel to the Chinese people.

The word spoken to Moses and recorded in Exodus 13:2 made such a deep impression upon their hearts that they covenanted to obey what their Lord had commanded his ancient people: ‘Sanctify [set apart] to Me all the firstborn,…both of man and animal; it is mine.’ Before their baby was born, they knelt down and gave him back to the Lord.

Hudson’s father, James Taylor, later in life

When James Hudson Taylor was born on 21 May, 1832, he was dedicated to the Lord who accepted their offering and set him apart to take the good news concerning Christ to the Chinese. Hudson knew nothing of this until he had spent many years as a missionary in China.

James Hudson Taylor was named after both parents, yet soon was called Hudson by everyone.

Two years after his birth another son, William, was born, but he only lived seven years.

Next came a sister, who became his dearest friend. She was named Amelia, after her mother. Another brother arrived, but he died when he was young. When Hudson was eight years old Louisa was born.

Hudson’s father was in some ways a strange man, who was extremely shy, even with his friends. He didn’t talk much and often went out of his way to avoid meeting people who visited his shop or home.

Yet he was a most efficient chemist who was sought out by people from all social classes, seeking his advice for their ...

Table of contents

• Title
• Indicia
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction
• 1. Heirs of Life Together
• 2. A Dirty Frying Pan
• 3. Growing Up
• 4. The Chinese Story
• 5. A Useful Tract
• 6. Studying to Become a Doctor
• 7. A Change of Address
• 8. Putting God to the Test
• 9. A Move to London
• 10. A Very Busy Student Life
• 11. Staring Death in the Face
• 12. Hudson’s Prayer-Answering God
• 13. Farewell England!
• 14. A Safe Arrival in China
• 15. Difficult Days
• 16. Inland Adventures
• 17. A Change of Direction
• 18. William Burns
• 19. Ningbo again
• 20. Political Unrest
• 21. A Romantic Interlude
• 22. Difficult Times
• 23. A Trip Home
• 24. A New Direction
• 25. Rough Seas (1866)
• 26. A Stay in Shanghai
• 27. Hangzhou—A new start
• 28. Trouble in the Camp
• 29. A Hard Year Concludes
• 30. A Taste of Rough Times
• 31. Difficult Days
• 32. Death of a Dear One
• 33. A New Year—1871.
• 34. Back in China
• 35. Home at Last
• 36. The Curse of Opium
• 37. Conferences and home
• 38. Home Again
• 39. Rest for the Weary
• 40. Women Members of the CIM
• 41. Time to go home
• 42. Overworked
• 43. CIM Re-organization
• 44. A Start in America
• 45. Some Time in Australia
• 46. A Clash of Cultures
• 47. A Busy Schedule
• 48. 1895.—A Difficult Year
• 49. Another Trip Home
• 50. Political Turmoil in China
• 51. Dark Days
• 52. Peace, Perfect Peace (1905)
• Photographs and Maps
• Bibliography
• Persons Index
• Subject Index
• Other Books by Christian Focus
• Christian Focus