Adoniram Judson's Testimony

Adoniram was born August 9, 1788 in the quiet town of Malden, Massachusetts to Adoniram senior and Abigail Judson. He grew up in a devout Christian home filled with knowledge of the Scripture and a love for God. His father was a Congregational minister who believed his son would become a great man and hoped he would follow in his footsteps. When Judson was just three years old he learned to read, and was known for his mammoth brilliance. However, Judson was besotted of his intelligence and had his own idea of what he would do.

He attended Providence College a year early at the age of seventeen and graduated at nineteen as valedictorian of his class. Exorbitantly determined, he amused the most profligate ambitions and his mind ran wild as he considered his future prominence, fancying himself as an illustrious orator, or a renowned poem writer, such as the famous Homer. Not only was Judson passionately driven by his fancy ambitions; he was also a Deist.

His intimate friend and fellow peer, Jacob Eames, who nearly matched Judson’s brilliance and wit, was an audacious advocate of infidelity, which resulted in Judson losing his childhood faith. To the utter horror of his father and mother, he would not relent his new found atheistic belief even at his father’s frantic debate and his mother’s continuous tears. Shortly after his graduation he set out on horseback in seek of adventure but mostly to escape the bereavement of his parents.

In New York City he joined a band of reckless players, leaving him just weeks later further void and disheartened at his previous plans of adventure and fame. As he abandoned his short-lived excitement he found himself aimlessly settled at a rural country inn. Judson accepted the only room available, which happened to be, by no coincidence, next to a dying man. Thinking death was no fear of his he agreed to take the room only to find as he lay on his bed, sleep evaded him. The walls of the inn were very thin and so it was, that Judson endured the night agonizing over the dying groans and cries of despair. As he lay in terror with the covers pulled over his head, he questioned his new found Deist belief, finding comfort only by rationalizing what his intelligent, witty friend, Eames would say or do. After his sleepless night, Judson rose at dawn and inquired about the dying man to find he was indeed dead, and the man being his very own witty, brilliant friend, Eames! So overwhelmed and distraught with this news Judson could not deny that this was no coincidence and that the hand of divine Providence was indeed directing his steps. Judson’s conversion was not immediate, but he realized at that time God was on his trail and there was no escape.

Adoniram Judson became the first American overseas missionary.