After Adoniram Judson (who was to become the first overseas missionary from North America) and Nancy Hasseltine were married in her home- 'the very room where they had first met', they attended 'a great meeting' in the Haverhill church.
Parson Allen who knew Nancy from infancy, preached a sermon to the two who were days away from their departure to the Orient. Here I sense he speaks of the greatest motive for missions.
"My dear children, you are now engaged in the best of causes. It is that cause for which Jesus the Son of God came into the world and suffered and died....." (from To the Golden Shore)
The following day in Boston's Park Street Church, at their ordination Dr. Samuel Spring said the following: "No enterprise comparable to this has been embraced by the American Church. All others retire before it, like stars before the rising sun."
Later in the ordination Dr. Samuel Worcester also added: "You are but the precursors of many, who shall follow you in this arduous, glorious exercise; for the Gospel shall be preached to all nations..."
When I ponder the meaning of the portion in the Lord's prayer, "Your will be done on earth as it is heaven," among other things, I see His "will" as His "passion." I ask myself what reveals the passion of our God the most. It must be revealed at the "crux" of His history. His will and therefore passion is revealed at the cross. His passion at the cross reveals His passion for the salvation of mankind.
Should we not remember the 'founding words' of American missions? When we ponder "Christ and him crucified," our passion and action for the lost will increase also, not unlike the passion of Adoniram Judson, our first American missionary.
