Monday, August 17, 2009

William Carey



Great post today by Justin Taylor on William Carey.

Today is his (William Carey's) 284th birthday. He is called the "father of modern missions".

Taylor pointed to some facts John Piper shared many years ago on William Carey:
- For the first two years in India, Carey received no mail
- During his first seven years, there were no converts
- When he arrived, the British press said 'papists' had arrived instead of 'baptists'
- After nineteen years of labor a fire destroyed his precious manuscripts of a polyglot dictionary, a Sikh and Telugu grammar and ten versions of the Bible
- he lost two wives to death
- he never went home - for 41 years

From Piper:
What kept him going? Incredible faith in the sovereign goodness of God.

When I left England, my hope of India's conversion was very strong; but amongst so many obstacles, it would die, unless upheld by God. Well, I have God, and His Word is true. Though the superstitions of the heathen were a thousand times stronger than they are, the example of the Europeans a thousand times worse; though I were deserted by all and persecuted by all, yet my faith, fixed on that sure Word, would rise about all obstacles and overcome every trial. God's cause will triumph.


When he saw the smoldering fire that destroyed his work, tears filled his eyes and he said,

In one short evening the labours of years are consumed. How unsearchable are the ways of God! . . . The Lord has laid me low that I may look more simply to him.

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