In Love with Christ: The Narrative of Sarah Edwards:
Edited and Annotated by Jennifer Adams
Sarah Edwards was the wife of America’s greatest theologian, Jonathan Edwards. Her narrative took place in the year 1742. In it, she chronicled the grace of God in giving her an uncommonly clear sight of His love made manifest in Christ crucified. As she beheld Him in His beauty, she was melted into His image and transformed into His likeness. To use the words of King Solomon, she was “lovesick.” Her heart was lifted up to partake of the sweetest, most intimate communion with God. She experienced a holy intercourse with God which she described as a constant flowing back and forth of love. Everything on earth seemed inconsequential so long as she had Christ. The more she saw Him by faith, the more she saw her own sinfulness. She was grieved, humbled, and broken. Yet at the same time, she abounded in joy, for the more she saw her unworthiness in contrast to His great worth, the more she could comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth of His love in giving of Himself for her. O the praise that involuntarily springs up at such sights! These sights were what God used to free her from sin, wean her from the world, and grace her to surrender to His providence. Moreover, they enabled her to overflow with love for the brethren, be concerned for the lost, and be committed to His glory above all things.
A Basket of Summer Fruit
Edited and Annotated by Jennifer Adams
Susannah Spurgeon, wife of the “prince of preachers,” Charles Spurgeon, was a beautiful example of a completer to a contender for the faith. Originally published in 1901, Susannah Spurgeon’s "A Basket of Summer Fruit" is a collection of sweet vignettes bearing the fruit of her love for Christ. Written in widowhood, but revealing the heart of a true helpmate, Susannah’s devotions are not only for the wives of preachers, but for all daughters of the faith. Doctrinally sound, theologically rich, and devotionally deep, these essays cover topics such as: cultivating a heart of praise to God, love and devotion to Christ, the gospel of Christ, the grace of God in suffering, the sovereignty and providence of God, submission and surrender, cross-bearing, personal holiness, consecrated living, spiritual warfare, and the knowledge of God both as Father and Heavenly Bridegroom. These are subjects which are sure to hearten every woman in her call to deny herself and follow Christ—yet they are also ones specifically tailored to strengthen and fortify the wives of those called to the ministry. It is the prayer of the publisher that this book will go forth not only to bless and to encourage but also to spur Christians on to pursue the breadth, length, height, and depth of the love of God in Christ and to live lives worthy of His name. As a result, may God raise up many more daughters to be completers to “contenders for the faith,” just as Susannah was to Charles.
Ann Judson: Missionary Wife, Volume 1:
Revised, Edited and Expanded by Jennifer Adams
In the early nineteenth century, the idea of a man leaving his home to take the gospel to the “heathen” was radical, but the idea of a woman accompanying him in the call—absurd! Most people at the time were opposed to the idea altogether—they deemed it “wild and romantic in the extreme, and altogether inconsistent with prudence and delicacy.” Yet Ann believed that nothing could be more wise or “prudent” than to invest her life in eternity for the sake of Christ. After knowing Him in His redeeming love, it was unthinkable to Ann not to give her all for Him. Her life was not her own—she was bought with a price—therefore, she wanted to glorify God in her body. Ann displayed a feminine strength that was not absurd but precious in the sight of God. Ann left for the mission field confident and enthusiastic, but she finished meek and lamb-like. Her sufferings for Christ transformed her into the image of the Lamb and fitted her to join the ranks of “those of whom the world was not worthy.” For His sake she was put to death all day long. Following in His steps, she left for the mission field like a lamb to the slaughter. Yet she deemed Him worthy and did not shrink back. For His name’s sake she bore up, alone, under horrific torments of body and soul that no human could undergo apart from the sustaining grace of God. Her devotion to the Lamb and willingness to follow Him wherever He led made her radiate His beauty and display His worth.
Delighting in Her Heavenly Bridegroom: Edited and Annotated by Jennifer Adams
When missionary Samuel Newell asked for Harriet Atwood's hand in marriage, Harriet wrote, “Providence now gives me an opportunity to go myself to the heathen. Shall I refuse the offer? Shall I love the glittering toys of this dying world so well that I cannot relinquish them for God? Forbid it heaven! Yes, I will go. However weak and unqualified I am, there is an all-sufficient Savior ready to support me. In God alone is my hope. I will trust His promises and consider it one of the highest privileges that could be conferred upon me to be permitted to engage in His glorious service among the inhabitants of India.” Harriet left the shores of America with the certain expectation of death. Yet for Harriet, death was not loss, but gain. What makes death “gain” to a Christian teenager? The same thing that makes it gain to every believer—the full, unveiled presence of Christ. Harriet recognized death as the passageway to receiving the fullness of what she had longed for all her life—Christ. It was a price to pay that truly cost her nothing—it was gain! When Christ called, she was enabled to look death in the face with joy, and like a radiant bride, she hastened it, eager to be embraced by her Heavenly Bridegroom to “behold the light of His countenance.” Some of her dying words were: “Tell my dear brothers and sisters how much I love them. Tell them from the dying lips of their affectionate sister that the world is vain and worthless, and that there is nothing but religion worth living for. The eldest of them will be anxious to know my views of missions at this time. Tell them—assure them, that I approve on my dying bed the course I have taken. I have never repented leaving all for Christ.”
Following Her Beloved: Edited and Expanded by Jennifer Adams
The memoirs of Henrietta Shuck give the reader a glimpse into the life of a young lady who forsook all to accompany her husband in taking the gospel to China. However, while she loved her family, she loved Christ more. When missionary Lewis Shuck proposed to Henrietta, she wrote, “The life of a missionary is by no means an easy one—to the comfort and ease of this world she is a stranger—but she enjoys what in my estimation is far better—the presence of the Most High.” Her primary reason for accepting the call was to enjoy the manifest presence of Christ. She accompanied her husband to China not only to proclaim the gospel but to partake of it. She was America's first female missionary to China. As a pioneer missionary wife and mother, her primary ministry was in and through the home. After ten years of sowing, she and her husband witnessed the Lord raise up the first Baptist church in China! After her death, her husband said of her, “She was a most faithful, devoted, affectionate wife and mother, a laborious missionary, and a warm-hearted friend of all. Her prayers and anxious labors for her children and the Chinese will not be in vain. I never knew of one whose faith was stronger. She was a believer in minute providence—her devotions were punctual—her confidence in God unwavering. She was a being of love and a lovely being.” Henrietta labored with her husband and children in China for the sake of the gospel that she might manifest Christ's beauty and display His worth.
With Cords of Love: Edited and Expanded by Jennifer Adams
Elizabeth Dwight, and her husband Harrison, were among America’s first missionaries to Turkey. She accomplished what few women in her generation were able to do—model on the mission field how to be a godly wife and mother. She sought to raise her children for Christ in the midst of the same crooked and perverse generation that she and her husband were trying to reach. Her children’s conversion was her constant theme. Shortly after arriving on the mission field, she suffered physical complications that often left her bedridden. She attempted to instruct her children from her bed but struggled with feelings of failure and fear. She learned to rebuke her feelings and replace them with faith in God’s promises, trusting that as she employed the means of grace in her mothering, the Lord would make those means effectual unto their salvation. Her prayer was that as she raised her children for Christ, He would raise them up as missionaries. She encouraged others to do the same. She wrote, “Your daughter may, at some future period, be the sole companion and helpmeet of a man of God under labors most weighty and trials most severe. Life, under God, in some solemn hour, may hang on her skill and tenderness to sooth . . . . Will you then train [your children] wholly for God and give them up expressly to bear the glad tidings of salvation to those who sit in darkness if He shall see fit to use them?” Her perseverance in raising her children for Christ, in spite of her scars, manifests Christ’s beauty and displays His worth.