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Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret
Discover Hudson Taylor, a pioneer missionary to China, who suffered tribulation, hardship, poverty, and misunderstanding. But at his heart, he loved the Chinese people and learned through his misfortunes to trust God completely. 'HUDSON TAYLOR'S SPIRITUAL SECRET' is a stirring biography that challenges you to live a life of faith.
RUNNING TIME ⇒ 7hrs. and 16mins.
Public Domain (P)2011 christianaudio.com
RUNNING TIME ⇒ 7hrs. and 16mins.
Public Domain (P)2011 christianaudio.com
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1932
About the author
F. Howard Taylor
12 books12 followersSee also: Mrs. Howard Taylor / Geraldine Guinness Taylor
Frederick Howard Taylor a.k.a. F. Howard Taylor (25 November 1862 – 15 August 1946), was a British pioneer Protestant Christian missionary to China, author, speaker and second son of James Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, and Maria Jane Dyer.
Howard Taylor was three when his father founded the China Inland Mission. He was born in London during his parents’ first furlough in England together. In 1866 at the age of four he was taken with his parents, 3 siblings and sixteen other missionaries to China aboard the Lammermuir (clipper) as part of the famous Lammermuir Party. During the 4-month long voyage the ship was nearly wrecked by 2 typhoons. His sister, Grace Dyer Taylor died of meningitis the first year. When he was six the family was nearly killed by a rioting mob during the Yangzhou riot in 1868. Finally in 1870 he was sent home with his surviving siblings with Emily Blatchley to live in London, separated from his parents. His mother died in China soon after they arrived home in 1870.
Like his father, he enrolled in the Royal London Hospital medical college, completing his diploma in 1888. Hudson Taylor lived to see his son, Howard follow in his footsteps to become a medical missionary to China. He received Doctor of Medicine from London University and subsequently became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons as well as a Member of the Royal College of Physicians. He was an extremely capable student and received three high honors in his postgraduate studies.
Howard Taylor always had a close relationship with his father. 1888 was a special year for both men. Hudson Taylor was on his first tour in North America sharing the missionary needs in China. Howard Taylor had taken three months leave to go along, having just ended his year of medical and surgical appointments. Howard Taylor showed a deep interest to go to China long term. Hearing his father speak at various meetings, particularly to young students, had a profound influence on Howard. On 15 October 1889, at a Missionary Convention organized by the Students Foreign Missionary Union more than 1500 students attended. Of these, 152 signed the pledge, "it is my earnest hope, if God permit, to engage in foreign missionary work." The first name in the book of members reads, " Taylor, F Howard, MD, MRCP, FRCS (England), the London Hospital."
Frederick Howard Taylor a.k.a. F. Howard Taylor (25 November 1862 – 15 August 1946), was a British pioneer Protestant Christian missionary to China, author, speaker and second son of James Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, and Maria Jane Dyer.
Howard Taylor was three when his father founded the China Inland Mission. He was born in London during his parents’ first furlough in England together. In 1866 at the age of four he was taken with his parents, 3 siblings and sixteen other missionaries to China aboard the Lammermuir (clipper) as part of the famous Lammermuir Party. During the 4-month long voyage the ship was nearly wrecked by 2 typhoons. His sister, Grace Dyer Taylor died of meningitis the first year. When he was six the family was nearly killed by a rioting mob during the Yangzhou riot in 1868. Finally in 1870 he was sent home with his surviving siblings with Emily Blatchley to live in London, separated from his parents. His mother died in China soon after they arrived home in 1870.
Like his father, he enrolled in the Royal London Hospital medical college, completing his diploma in 1888. Hudson Taylor lived to see his son, Howard follow in his footsteps to become a medical missionary to China. He received Doctor of Medicine from London University and subsequently became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons as well as a Member of the Royal College of Physicians. He was an extremely capable student and received three high honors in his postgraduate studies.
Howard Taylor always had a close relationship with his father. 1888 was a special year for both men. Hudson Taylor was on his first tour in North America sharing the missionary needs in China. Howard Taylor had taken three months leave to go along, having just ended his year of medical and surgical appointments. Howard Taylor showed a deep interest to go to China long term. Hearing his father speak at various meetings, particularly to young students, had a profound influence on Howard. On 15 October 1889, at a Missionary Convention organized by the Students Foreign Missionary Union more than 1500 students attended. Of these, 152 signed the pledge, "it is my earnest hope, if God permit, to engage in foreign missionary work." The first name in the book of members reads, " Taylor, F Howard, MD, MRCP, FRCS (England), the London Hospital."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
August 23, 2011
This book is valuable. It is not a page-turner. But it will get you thinking about the type of power (or weakness?) it takes to abide in the Almighty. The biography is truely remarkable... but as the title suggests, it is the understanding that Hudson Taylor arrived at that is worth more than just a recounting of events. He learned, as far as I can tell, to truely abide in Christ. The one line that stood out the most to me was this, written to his sister:
"How great seemed my mistake in wishing to get the sap, the fullness out of Him! ... The vine is not the root merely, but all- root, stem, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, and fruit."
When I pair that understanding with the scripture about Jesus as the vine (John 15:5) as well as the fruit of the Spirit (Galations 5:22), it is so valuable! Our relationship to Him and in Him takes on new meaning.
If you are wondering what it would look like to rest in the Lord, while being about His work, read this book.
"How great seemed my mistake in wishing to get the sap, the fullness out of Him! ... The vine is not the root merely, but all- root, stem, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, and fruit."
When I pair that understanding with the scripture about Jesus as the vine (John 15:5) as well as the fruit of the Spirit (Galations 5:22), it is so valuable! Our relationship to Him and in Him takes on new meaning.
If you are wondering what it would look like to rest in the Lord, while being about His work, read this book.
November 23, 2008
What a life! J. Hudson Taylor is one of my heroes. My wife and I were so moved by this life of faith as we read it in this particular book that we unanimously decided to name our first son after him. The fact that the book was written by his grandson just makes it that much more effective.
October 8, 2016
Another amazing story of a great saint who has gone before us. Hudson Taylor's life is an inspiration and wonderful example of what it means to follow the call of God and not look back. His story is also convicting. I fear this generation of believers, myself included, has prized comfort, entertainment, and safety far too greatly, perhaps at the cost of reaching the lost and to the jealousy of our loving, suffering Savior.
“There is a need for us to give ourselves for the life of the world - as He gave His flesh for the feeding of the lifeless and of living souls whose life can only be nourished by the same life-giving Bread. An easy-going non-self-denying life will never be one of power. Fruit-bearing involves cross-bearing. 'Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone.' We know how the Lord became fruitful - not by bearing His cross merely, but by dying on it. Do we know much of fellowship with Him in this? There are not two Christs - an easy-going one for easy-going Christians, and a suffering, toiling one for exceptional believers. There is only one Christ. Are you willing to abide in Him, and thus to bear much fruit?" - H.T.
“There is a need for us to give ourselves for the life of the world - as He gave His flesh for the feeding of the lifeless and of living souls whose life can only be nourished by the same life-giving Bread. An easy-going non-self-denying life will never be one of power. Fruit-bearing involves cross-bearing. 'Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone.' We know how the Lord became fruitful - not by bearing His cross merely, but by dying on it. Do we know much of fellowship with Him in this? There are not two Christs - an easy-going one for easy-going Christians, and a suffering, toiling one for exceptional believers. There is only one Christ. Are you willing to abide in Him, and thus to bear much fruit?" - H.T.
September 5, 2015
While Hudson Taylor's life was one to be commemorated and looked up to, I found this book difficult to get through. I read it between books for months and only finished it because I made myself. It was written by his son and daughter in law, but I felt they didn't do a good job explaining things or making it interesting. At one point someone important died and I didn't even realize it happened. Also as I am unfamiliar with Chinese history I would've liked more explanation. They mention the Boxer Rebellion in passing, but don't explain at all what happened. I enjoyed the diary excerpts and was moved by his life, but would read a biography written by someone else next time.
August 25, 2007
This book will persist in my book top 5 books for eternity. (I expect. I suppose there is somewhat of a recency bias.)
I started the book expecting to read a missionary biography of a major missionary of China. What I read was account after account of a mighty God who supplies every need and answers the specific prayers of his children who ask on Jesus's account.
The account is written by his son/daughter-in-law based in a narration of his and other's personal letters. The picture of Hudson Taylor is more rosy than reality; but it scarcely matters because the main character becomes Jesus in whom Hudson trusts fully. And Jesus isn't just a powerful prayer-answer but a fountain of daily joy and rest that says to Hudson and all "come and drink, and you'll never be thirsty" and Hudson does.
Epilogue: So what is Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret? That deep into his ministry, after a life thus-far of prayer and reliance on God for all needs, he ran low on faith and wanted to see more holiness in his life. He tried to muster it up, pray more, study more, serve more, and sin less. He gave it his everything to have more faith. From hereforth I quote from the book, which quotes Hudson's letters.
All the time I felt assured that there was in Christ all I needed, but the practical question was -- how to get it OUT. He was rich truly, but I was poor; He was strong, but I weak. I knew full well that there was in the root, the stem, abundant fatness, but how to get it into my puny little branch was the question. As gradually light dawned, I saw that faith was the only requisite -- was the hand to lay hold on His fullness and make it mine. But I had not this faith.
I strove for faith, but it would not come; I tried to exercise it, but in vain. Seeing more and more the wondrous supply of grace laid up in Jesus, the fullness of our precious Savior, my guilt and helplessness seemed to increase. Sins committed appeared but as trifles compared with the sin of unbelief which was their cause, which could not or would not take God at His word, but rather made Him a liar! Unbelief was I felt THE damning sin of the world; yet I indulged in it. I prayed for faith, but it came not.
What was I to do?
When my agony of soul was at its height, a sentence in a letter from dear McCarthy was used to remove the scales from my eyes, and the Spirit of God revealed to me the truth of our ONENESS WITH JESUS as I had never know in before.
McCarthy, who had been much exercised by the same sense of failure but saw the light before I did, wrote (I quote from memory):
"But how to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful One."
As I read, I saw it all! "If we believe not, he abideth faithful." I looked to Jesus and saw (and when I saw, oh, how joy flowed!) that He had said, "I will never leave thee."
"Ah, THERE is rest!" I thought. "I have striven in vain to rest in Him. I'll strive no more. For has not HE promised to abide with ME -- never to leave me, never to fail me?" And, dearie, HE NEVER WILL.
I started the book expecting to read a missionary biography of a major missionary of China. What I read was account after account of a mighty God who supplies every need and answers the specific prayers of his children who ask on Jesus's account.
The account is written by his son/daughter-in-law based in a narration of his and other's personal letters. The picture of Hudson Taylor is more rosy than reality; but it scarcely matters because the main character becomes Jesus in whom Hudson trusts fully. And Jesus isn't just a powerful prayer-answer but a fountain of daily joy and rest that says to Hudson and all "come and drink, and you'll never be thirsty" and Hudson does.
Epilogue: So what is Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret? That deep into his ministry, after a life thus-far of prayer and reliance on God for all needs, he ran low on faith and wanted to see more holiness in his life. He tried to muster it up, pray more, study more, serve more, and sin less. He gave it his everything to have more faith. From hereforth I quote from the book, which quotes Hudson's letters.
All the time I felt assured that there was in Christ all I needed, but the practical question was -- how to get it OUT. He was rich truly, but I was poor; He was strong, but I weak. I knew full well that there was in the root, the stem, abundant fatness, but how to get it into my puny little branch was the question. As gradually light dawned, I saw that faith was the only requisite -- was the hand to lay hold on His fullness and make it mine. But I had not this faith.
I strove for faith, but it would not come; I tried to exercise it, but in vain. Seeing more and more the wondrous supply of grace laid up in Jesus, the fullness of our precious Savior, my guilt and helplessness seemed to increase. Sins committed appeared but as trifles compared with the sin of unbelief which was their cause, which could not or would not take God at His word, but rather made Him a liar! Unbelief was I felt THE damning sin of the world; yet I indulged in it. I prayed for faith, but it came not.
What was I to do?
When my agony of soul was at its height, a sentence in a letter from dear McCarthy was used to remove the scales from my eyes, and the Spirit of God revealed to me the truth of our ONENESS WITH JESUS as I had never know in before.
McCarthy, who had been much exercised by the same sense of failure but saw the light before I did, wrote (I quote from memory):
"But how to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful One."
As I read, I saw it all! "If we believe not, he abideth faithful." I looked to Jesus and saw (and when I saw, oh, how joy flowed!) that He had said, "I will never leave thee."
"Ah, THERE is rest!" I thought. "I have striven in vain to rest in Him. I'll strive no more. For has not HE promised to abide with ME -- never to leave me, never to fail me?" And, dearie, HE NEVER WILL.
February 6, 2011
When I read this book, I kept finding myself stopping and meditating on what I'd read. It is written by his son and daughter-in-law...who better to write it than those who truly knew him best. His faith in God's daily work in his life was staggering. My understanding of Jesus' teaching on the vine and the branches in John 15 has been transformed as if a light came on. It's the best teaching on it I've ever read! This book could be used as a text book on life-changing faith. There is so much to absorb from this book, I keep it continually near me to reread over and over again.
July 3, 2015
This is an outstanding book. It was written more than 80 years ago, and at times feels dated in style. For example, the numerous quotations from letters to and from Hudson Taylor tell much of the story in a manner of 150 years ago. Ultimately, I think it was good for me to have the patience to read through some of those sections, which may not have been exciting but were certainly worthwhile and very important. This is book that I would recommend to anyone who is actually wanting to follow Jesus as Lord.
August 11, 2016
I had heard much about Hudson Taylor but hadn't read this book. "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret" is no secret. Sincere devoted time to prayer and God's Word led to remarkable funding and the call of missionaries for the China Inland Mission.
On a side note it was interesting for me to read how George Muller and D.L. Moody impacted Taylor and the C.I.M.
There are several worthwhile quotes that are highlighted in my copy.
On a side note it was interesting for me to read how George Muller and D.L. Moody impacted Taylor and the C.I.M.
There are several worthwhile quotes that are highlighted in my copy.
April 23, 2007
Hudson Taylor + China.
A tad bit romanticized.
Still very encouraging.
"Fruit-bearing involves cross-bearing. There are not two Christs-- an easy-going one for easy-going Christians, and a suffering, toiling one for exceptional believers. There is only one Christ. Are you willing to abide in Him, and thus to bear much fruit" (237)?
A tad bit romanticized.
Still very encouraging.
"Fruit-bearing involves cross-bearing. There are not two Christs-- an easy-going one for easy-going Christians, and a suffering, toiling one for exceptional believers. There is only one Christ. Are you willing to abide in Him, and thus to bear much fruit" (237)?
January 15, 2019
To emphasize enough how much I would recommend this book is beyond my ability to do in a short review! After so many chapters I found myself on my knees wanting to trust God and rest in Him like Hudson Taylor did. You should take time to read this book!! The sooner the better!! I’m so glad I had the privilege!
February 13, 2008
chapter 14. enough said.
April 14, 2013
"God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply", Hudson Taylor's model for Fund Raising
November 11, 2014
A great read for anyone interested in missions, missions history and one of the "heroes of the faith." This is an easy read from a true pioneer.
January 6, 2016
"Hudson Taylor did not start out to impact "millions." He started out to love God, to honor Him, and to share His love with individual sinners who needed so desperately to know Him. Jesus called Taylor (and us) to be 'faithful,' not 'successful.' And God added the increase."
This book was written by Taylor's son Howard and his wife. Hudson Taylor deeply sensed God's call and a desire to serve Him from the time of his conversion as a teenager. Early on he believed it was China that God would have him go, and immediately he began to prepare himself for this purpose. Much like Jim Elliot, Taylor prepared himself physically by engaging in outdoor exercise and by minimizing the comforts of life. He dedicated more time to prayer and Bible study, and began evangelizing and learning the Chinese language. He also study medicine and received medical training so he would have a useful skill to offer the Chinese people. And he subjected himself to long hours, meager meals, and small, simple living quarters.
Hudson Taylor arrived in Shanghai during the Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864). At the time of his arrival in 1854, there were only five port cities in China in which foreigners were allowed to reside. It soon became Taylor's desire and goal to penetrate the interior with the Gospel. Before the end of his second year, he had taken ten evangelistic trips inland, traveling by junk, preaching and distributing New Testaments and other literature. He was very moved at the suffering he saw all around him.
"What it means to be so far from home, at the seat of war and not able to understand or be understood by the people was fully realized. Their utter wretchedness and misery and my inability to help them or even point them to Jesus powerfully affected me. Satan came in as a flood, but there was One who lifted up a standard against him. Jesus is here, and though unknown to the majority and uncared-for by many who might know Him, He is present and precious to His own."
Sometime during that second year, Taylor decided to conform to the Chinese style of dress because he found his European look was a distraction to his hearers.
"Wearing Chinese dress in those days involved shaving the front part of the head and letting the hair grow long for the regulation queue [braid] No missionary or other foreigner conformed to such a custom...But it was access to the people he desired...he took the step which was to have so great an influence on the evangelization of inland China!"
Hudson Taylor married 21-year-old Maria Dyer, with whom he had seven children. Due to his poor health, they returned to England for five years. While there he spent his time preaching, working on a Chinese translation of the New Testament, and promoting the work of missions in China. He began praying to God to supply workers and finances to take the gospel to China, and he wrote a pamphlet describing the spiritual needs in China, but he was determined to seek and trust God alone, and not to directly solicit individuals, an approach known as "faith missions." He truly believed that "God's work, done in God's way, will never lack God's supplies." This was the beginning of the missionary organization he called China Inland Mission (CIM), whose name would later be changed to Overseas Missionary Fellowship in 1953 in order to avoid suspicion when Communist China became closed to missionary efforts.
In 1866, the Taylors returned to China with their four children and 16 young missionaries. The Taylors endured many hardships including threats by civil violence and political unrest, physical discomforts, ill health, and limited resources, but none of this was important to Hudson and his wife. He wrote,
"We heed these things very little. Around us are poor, dark heathen - large cities without any missionary, populous towns without any missionary, villages without number, all without the means of grace. I do not envy the state of mind that would forget these, or leave them to perish, for fear of a little discomfort. May God make us faithful to Him and to our work."
Along with these troubles, Taylor suffered the death of three of his young children, the third dying at one week old, followed shortly by his wife in 1870. But Hudson Taylor's faith and complete surrender to God, his "spiritual secret," sustained him with the joy and peace of God that surpasses all human understanding. In 1869, Taylor wrote,
"I now think that this striving, longing, hoping for better days to come is not the true way to holiness, happiness or usefulness... He is most holy who has most of Christ within, and joys most fully in the finished work...To let my loving Saviour work in me His will, my sanctification, is what I would live for by His grace. Abiding, not striving nor struggling...Not a striving to have faith, but a looking off to the Faithful One seems all we need; a resting in the Loved One entirely, for time and for eternity."
Two years after the death of his first wife, Taylor remarried, and he and his wife continued to work for the cause of missions in China for the next thirty years. The Inland China Mission continued to expand and to send missionaries into the different provinces of China, with the exception of a few brief periods of time when they went back to England or visited other countries. However the last year of his life was spent in China, where he died in 1905. When he retired as the director of CIM in 1900, the mission society had 750 missionaries; OMF currently has 1600 workers.
This book includes some helpful additions, such as a map of China and a chronology of Taylor's life with dates. Reading about Hudson Taylor's life and ministry in China was interesting, but the best parts of this book were the excerpts from his own letters through which we gain a glimpse into the heart and spiritual life of Taylor and his relationship with his Lord. Here is another favorite quote of mine by Taylor:
"It doesn't matter, really, how great the pressure is, it only matters where the pressure lies. See that it never comes between you and the Lord -- then, the greater the pressure, the more it presses you to His breast."
Apparently Hudson Taylor's view of "resting in Christ" has been associated with what is known as Keswick or Higher Life view of sanctification. This view can be summed up by the statement, "Let go and let God," but there is a fine balance that needs to be kept in mind. Yes, God is working in us to sanctify us, but there is some responsibility on our part as well to be obedient, to "pursue holiness," and to "work out our salvation"(Phil. 2:12-13). Some in this movement also taught that a believer could experience a "second blessing" or special empowering of the Holy Spirit that would enable the believer to have greater victory over sin - thus elevating him to a "higher life." I don't see how anyone could say that Taylor was passive in his approach to sanctification, and it didn't sound to me like he believed in a second blessing or that we could eventually totally overcome the power of sin in our life.
"He was a physician...full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, of entire surrender to God and His call, of great self-denial, heartfelt compassion, rare power in prayer, marvelous organizing faculty, energetic initiative, indefatigable perseverance, and of astonishing influence with men, and withal of childlike humility."
This book was written by Taylor's son Howard and his wife. Hudson Taylor deeply sensed God's call and a desire to serve Him from the time of his conversion as a teenager. Early on he believed it was China that God would have him go, and immediately he began to prepare himself for this purpose. Much like Jim Elliot, Taylor prepared himself physically by engaging in outdoor exercise and by minimizing the comforts of life. He dedicated more time to prayer and Bible study, and began evangelizing and learning the Chinese language. He also study medicine and received medical training so he would have a useful skill to offer the Chinese people. And he subjected himself to long hours, meager meals, and small, simple living quarters.
Hudson Taylor arrived in Shanghai during the Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864). At the time of his arrival in 1854, there were only five port cities in China in which foreigners were allowed to reside. It soon became Taylor's desire and goal to penetrate the interior with the Gospel. Before the end of his second year, he had taken ten evangelistic trips inland, traveling by junk, preaching and distributing New Testaments and other literature. He was very moved at the suffering he saw all around him.
"What it means to be so far from home, at the seat of war and not able to understand or be understood by the people was fully realized. Their utter wretchedness and misery and my inability to help them or even point them to Jesus powerfully affected me. Satan came in as a flood, but there was One who lifted up a standard against him. Jesus is here, and though unknown to the majority and uncared-for by many who might know Him, He is present and precious to His own."
Sometime during that second year, Taylor decided to conform to the Chinese style of dress because he found his European look was a distraction to his hearers.
"Wearing Chinese dress in those days involved shaving the front part of the head and letting the hair grow long for the regulation queue [braid] No missionary or other foreigner conformed to such a custom...But it was access to the people he desired...he took the step which was to have so great an influence on the evangelization of inland China!"
Hudson Taylor married 21-year-old Maria Dyer, with whom he had seven children. Due to his poor health, they returned to England for five years. While there he spent his time preaching, working on a Chinese translation of the New Testament, and promoting the work of missions in China. He began praying to God to supply workers and finances to take the gospel to China, and he wrote a pamphlet describing the spiritual needs in China, but he was determined to seek and trust God alone, and not to directly solicit individuals, an approach known as "faith missions." He truly believed that "God's work, done in God's way, will never lack God's supplies." This was the beginning of the missionary organization he called China Inland Mission (CIM), whose name would later be changed to Overseas Missionary Fellowship in 1953 in order to avoid suspicion when Communist China became closed to missionary efforts.
In 1866, the Taylors returned to China with their four children and 16 young missionaries. The Taylors endured many hardships including threats by civil violence and political unrest, physical discomforts, ill health, and limited resources, but none of this was important to Hudson and his wife. He wrote,
"We heed these things very little. Around us are poor, dark heathen - large cities without any missionary, populous towns without any missionary, villages without number, all without the means of grace. I do not envy the state of mind that would forget these, or leave them to perish, for fear of a little discomfort. May God make us faithful to Him and to our work."
Along with these troubles, Taylor suffered the death of three of his young children, the third dying at one week old, followed shortly by his wife in 1870. But Hudson Taylor's faith and complete surrender to God, his "spiritual secret," sustained him with the joy and peace of God that surpasses all human understanding. In 1869, Taylor wrote,
"I now think that this striving, longing, hoping for better days to come is not the true way to holiness, happiness or usefulness... He is most holy who has most of Christ within, and joys most fully in the finished work...To let my loving Saviour work in me His will, my sanctification, is what I would live for by His grace. Abiding, not striving nor struggling...Not a striving to have faith, but a looking off to the Faithful One seems all we need; a resting in the Loved One entirely, for time and for eternity."
Two years after the death of his first wife, Taylor remarried, and he and his wife continued to work for the cause of missions in China for the next thirty years. The Inland China Mission continued to expand and to send missionaries into the different provinces of China, with the exception of a few brief periods of time when they went back to England or visited other countries. However the last year of his life was spent in China, where he died in 1905. When he retired as the director of CIM in 1900, the mission society had 750 missionaries; OMF currently has 1600 workers.
This book includes some helpful additions, such as a map of China and a chronology of Taylor's life with dates. Reading about Hudson Taylor's life and ministry in China was interesting, but the best parts of this book were the excerpts from his own letters through which we gain a glimpse into the heart and spiritual life of Taylor and his relationship with his Lord. Here is another favorite quote of mine by Taylor:
"It doesn't matter, really, how great the pressure is, it only matters where the pressure lies. See that it never comes between you and the Lord -- then, the greater the pressure, the more it presses you to His breast."
Apparently Hudson Taylor's view of "resting in Christ" has been associated with what is known as Keswick or Higher Life view of sanctification. This view can be summed up by the statement, "Let go and let God," but there is a fine balance that needs to be kept in mind. Yes, God is working in us to sanctify us, but there is some responsibility on our part as well to be obedient, to "pursue holiness," and to "work out our salvation"(Phil. 2:12-13). Some in this movement also taught that a believer could experience a "second blessing" or special empowering of the Holy Spirit that would enable the believer to have greater victory over sin - thus elevating him to a "higher life." I don't see how anyone could say that Taylor was passive in his approach to sanctification, and it didn't sound to me like he believed in a second blessing or that we could eventually totally overcome the power of sin in our life.
"He was a physician...full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, of entire surrender to God and His call, of great self-denial, heartfelt compassion, rare power in prayer, marvelous organizing faculty, energetic initiative, indefatigable perseverance, and of astonishing influence with men, and withal of childlike humility."
October 20, 2023
Helpful reminder to hold on to the peace of God through Christ by prayer.
December 21, 2021
4.5 (story incredible, compilation/editing eh). Hudson Taylor became a companion as I read through his story and hunger for the Lord. A man of deep yieldedness and unabashed prayer, Taylor’s story has challenged me to believe the promises of the Lord and walk in their truth. Never have I respected a follower of Jesus in such a way — his expectancy and devotion paired with a peaceful trust in the person of Jesus.
May 22, 2022
Written by relatives of Taylor, this biography is not as insightful and intimate as an autobiography might be, nor as even-handed and objective as a biography should be.
To begin with, although it provides details of Hudson Taylor's life and works, the reader would not know Taylor as a person any more than if s/he had not read this book, but only a Wikipedia article. For example, it doesn't really explain what motivates Taylor: why did he dedicate his entire life to mission in China, to a people and land entirely foreign, and at times hostile, to him?
Secondly, one gets the impression that Europeans in the 19th century regarded the Chinese the same way they regarded the natives when they landed in the Americas, i.e., as "heathens" or barbarians, although China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Hudson Taylor is commended for his "cultural sensitivity", in that he adopted Chinese clothes in order to further his mission, but surely there is more to culture than food and clothing.
Thirdly, as attested by other reviewers, this book does reveal the spiritual secret of a fruitful Christian life, as exemplified by Hudson Taylor. If I may say so, it is a worthy read for this reason. However, at times it reads like an ineffective sermon, for it lacks the conviction of personal experience, but merely borrows material from another. To use an analogy, spiritual secret is like health tip, such as eat well and exercise often, we all know it well enough by now, but few live accordingly.
To begin with, although it provides details of Hudson Taylor's life and works, the reader would not know Taylor as a person any more than if s/he had not read this book, but only a Wikipedia article. For example, it doesn't really explain what motivates Taylor: why did he dedicate his entire life to mission in China, to a people and land entirely foreign, and at times hostile, to him?
Secondly, one gets the impression that Europeans in the 19th century regarded the Chinese the same way they regarded the natives when they landed in the Americas, i.e., as "heathens" or barbarians, although China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Hudson Taylor is commended for his "cultural sensitivity", in that he adopted Chinese clothes in order to further his mission, but surely there is more to culture than food and clothing.
Thirdly, as attested by other reviewers, this book does reveal the spiritual secret of a fruitful Christian life, as exemplified by Hudson Taylor. If I may say so, it is a worthy read for this reason. However, at times it reads like an ineffective sermon, for it lacks the conviction of personal experience, but merely borrows material from another. To use an analogy, spiritual secret is like health tip, such as eat well and exercise often, we all know it well enough by now, but few live accordingly.
November 6, 2018
If you want to see what the doctrine of “union with Christ” looks like in action, read this book. This is the famous missionary biography of Hudson Taylor, the founder of China Inland Mission, written by his son and daughter-in-law.
In the 19th century, the only place Christian missionaries had been in China was along a thin sliver of its coast, leaving the vast majority of the Chinese population entirely unreached by the gospel. Taylor, as a young zealous missionary, desired to see missionaries travel inland into places no missionaries had ever travelled before—he longed to see all of China (which at the time housed over half of the entire world’s population of non-Christians) won for Christ.
While the story and victory of the gospel in China is thrilling, what is most striking about this book is what the title itself alludes to. Taylor’s “spiritual secret” was the realization of what it truly meant, day by day, hour by hour, to be in union with Christ. Daily resting in the presence of his Savior is what provides the seemingly inexhaustible energy, peace, and joy for Taylor’s impossible, painful, and costly mission. It was incredibly convicting to read. My own spiritual poverty was revealed in the light of Taylor’s own riches.
In the 19th century, the only place Christian missionaries had been in China was along a thin sliver of its coast, leaving the vast majority of the Chinese population entirely unreached by the gospel. Taylor, as a young zealous missionary, desired to see missionaries travel inland into places no missionaries had ever travelled before—he longed to see all of China (which at the time housed over half of the entire world’s population of non-Christians) won for Christ.
While the story and victory of the gospel in China is thrilling, what is most striking about this book is what the title itself alludes to. Taylor’s “spiritual secret” was the realization of what it truly meant, day by day, hour by hour, to be in union with Christ. Daily resting in the presence of his Savior is what provides the seemingly inexhaustible energy, peace, and joy for Taylor’s impossible, painful, and costly mission. It was incredibly convicting to read. My own spiritual poverty was revealed in the light of Taylor’s own riches.
December 26, 2020
This was written over a hundred years ago, so the writing style and sentence structure is difficult to understand at first. But I persevered, and am so glad I did! It has been a very long time since I've read anything about this man, and so much of this book was new information for me. What a treasure to read about a man so sold out for God that he was willing to dream of the impossible. Not only dream, but follow through and live it out!
Knowing where China is today in regards to God and the church, it's amazing to read how God used one man to sow seeds to millions, and to generations, little knowing the doors would be so shuttered a century later. God's ways are mysterious, and wonderful!
Knowing where China is today in regards to God and the church, it's amazing to read how God used one man to sow seeds to millions, and to generations, little knowing the doors would be so shuttered a century later. God's ways are mysterious, and wonderful!
August 22, 2016
Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret is an awesome book. It's a biography on Taylor's life and it brings such encouragement throughout. It's by no means an extensive biography, but if you're new to Taylor this is a good starting point.
The book lays out his China mission, his prayer life and his spiritual 'secrets' (the 'secrets' are revealed in the last few chapters). It encourages you to go out and spread the gospel, be fearless in prayer, be bold against Satan and to be in constant communion with God.
I'd 100% recommend this book. Don't expect it to be a fast paced adventure, but do expect great things the Lord will show you!
The book lays out his China mission, his prayer life and his spiritual 'secrets' (the 'secrets' are revealed in the last few chapters). It encourages you to go out and spread the gospel, be fearless in prayer, be bold against Satan and to be in constant communion with God.
I'd 100% recommend this book. Don't expect it to be a fast paced adventure, but do expect great things the Lord will show you!
February 2, 2024
This was a very good book. But, it seems to me that it was somewhat too long. A lot of the information about the spiritual life of Hudson Taylor, although truly amazing and well worth emulating, was repeated a lot. So many of his letters to so many people over many years were quoted and the same themes were told over and over. Don't misunderstand me, I said that it is a great book and I mean it. It is well worth the read. Just be prepared to hear some of the same themes repeated multiple times. Is that all bad. Probably not! We, the readers, may have profited from the repetition.
We listened to the book on audible. It was very well read.
We listened to the book on audible. It was very well read.
November 30, 2014
After reading Shadow of the Almighty in 1980-81, where Jim Elliot melancholic struggles with the grace of God, it was refreshing to discover Hudson Taylor's break through into Love "as wide as the Yangze" a few months later.
Even so, the book was hard to get through in a second reading in 2014 as Taylor's suffering is terrible. His experience of grace was deep enough to get him through and keep shining the light of the Gospel into the dark corners of human suffering along with his healing touch as a medical doctor.
Even so, the book was hard to get through in a second reading in 2014 as Taylor's suffering is terrible. His experience of grace was deep enough to get him through and keep shining the light of the Gospel into the dark corners of human suffering along with his healing touch as a medical doctor.
May 28, 2016
This masterpiece of faith holds a special place in my heart. God used this book to encourage me as me & my wife struggled with infertility. God taught me about true faith and totally depending on Him. I was reading this when God answered our prayer and gave us our baby girl. This one has been so special and helpful to me. This book should be read by every Christian. My favorite book I've read in the last 5 years.
March 31, 2021
I would give this a 4.5 as I found it super encouraging and almost cried at multiple moments. Taylor’s life is such a testament to incredible faith, persistent prayer, and the necessity to abide with Jesus. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for an encouraging, convicting, and instructive missionary biography!
December 9, 2013
Inspiring book that had considerable influence in my early years of seeking God's will concerning missions.
January 13, 2018
Just finished reading number 25! Read again next year!
March 17, 2016
Just...yes.
June 10, 2022
3.9 Stars
"... I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:12-13)
Hudson Taylor was a British missionary to Inland China who lived a life of tremendous faith and reliance on God. "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret" by F. Howard Taylor (Hudson's son) is the biography of Hudson's life with a specific focus on his "spiritual secret.” Throughout the narrative of this book, Howard Taylor explains that Hudson's spiritual secret was his daily dependence on Jesus to meet all his needs, and how that brought peace, joy, and rest to his life.
Howard Taylor's book’s strengths are found in the parts that focus on Hudson Taylor's life and devotion. Hudson lived a life of dependence on the Lord, often facing hunger and poverty and yet he relied on the Lord to meet all his needs. For, the Lord provided extraordinary funds for the China Inland Mission and numerous amounts of missionaries simply through the prayers of Hudson Taylor and his fellow missionaries to China. Hudson Taylor's life is worthy of following - particularly his love for the lost and his willingness to sacrifice all for Jesus. We should look to Hudson's humble obedience and learn from him the secret of facing plenty and hunger.
Yet, there was a glaring fault in Howard Taylor's book, and that was the prevalence of Keswick theology (Higher Life movement). Even though Hudson's faith and obedience are worthy of modeling, in much of the book Hudson's son frames his life around the ideas of Keswick theology. Keswick theology teaches that there is a higher life or "second step" of sanctification for Christians. When Christians "experience" or enter this higher life, they tend to experience greater feelings of joy and peace. This higher life usually comes about through a decision to “trust” or “rely” on God more. The problem with this is that it creates two tiers of Christians, those who have experienced the higher life and those who have not. And it denies the reality that mortification, vivification, and suffering are part of the whole of the Christian's life, from start to finish. Howard presents Hudson's life as one in which Hudson experienced this higher life through this "spiritual secret." But we must recognize that the "higher life" is the Christian life and that it begins at conversion. And that Christians who experience sorrow, sadness, pain, or anxiety at times are not lesser, but are simply experiencing the pains of this world and the flesh and are to continue to fight to have faith in God.
In sum, Hudson Taylor’s life was exemplary and we have much to learn from him, particularly his reliance on God and his love for the lost of China. But I simply believe that the theology of the Christian life that this book promotes is unhelpful. This is a good read, but I would focus on admiring the life of Hudson Taylor and watch out for the parts of this book promoting Keswick theology.
"... I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:12-13)
Hudson Taylor was a British missionary to Inland China who lived a life of tremendous faith and reliance on God. "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret" by F. Howard Taylor (Hudson's son) is the biography of Hudson's life with a specific focus on his "spiritual secret.” Throughout the narrative of this book, Howard Taylor explains that Hudson's spiritual secret was his daily dependence on Jesus to meet all his needs, and how that brought peace, joy, and rest to his life.
Howard Taylor's book’s strengths are found in the parts that focus on Hudson Taylor's life and devotion. Hudson lived a life of dependence on the Lord, often facing hunger and poverty and yet he relied on the Lord to meet all his needs. For, the Lord provided extraordinary funds for the China Inland Mission and numerous amounts of missionaries simply through the prayers of Hudson Taylor and his fellow missionaries to China. Hudson Taylor's life is worthy of following - particularly his love for the lost and his willingness to sacrifice all for Jesus. We should look to Hudson's humble obedience and learn from him the secret of facing plenty and hunger.
Yet, there was a glaring fault in Howard Taylor's book, and that was the prevalence of Keswick theology (Higher Life movement). Even though Hudson's faith and obedience are worthy of modeling, in much of the book Hudson's son frames his life around the ideas of Keswick theology. Keswick theology teaches that there is a higher life or "second step" of sanctification for Christians. When Christians "experience" or enter this higher life, they tend to experience greater feelings of joy and peace. This higher life usually comes about through a decision to “trust” or “rely” on God more. The problem with this is that it creates two tiers of Christians, those who have experienced the higher life and those who have not. And it denies the reality that mortification, vivification, and suffering are part of the whole of the Christian's life, from start to finish. Howard presents Hudson's life as one in which Hudson experienced this higher life through this "spiritual secret." But we must recognize that the "higher life" is the Christian life and that it begins at conversion. And that Christians who experience sorrow, sadness, pain, or anxiety at times are not lesser, but are simply experiencing the pains of this world and the flesh and are to continue to fight to have faith in God.
In sum, Hudson Taylor’s life was exemplary and we have much to learn from him, particularly his reliance on God and his love for the lost of China. But I simply believe that the theology of the Christian life that this book promotes is unhelpful. This is a good read, but I would focus on admiring the life of Hudson Taylor and watch out for the parts of this book promoting Keswick theology.
October 3, 2023
*DNI book of the year 2023
What can I learn from Taylor's example of a life lived for Christ?
Above all his fierce commitment to intercessory prayer and his rest in God's sufficiency. His willingness to go into dangerous situations, return to dangerous places and suffer without retaliation is beautiful. His choice to send away his children for the sake of his ministry, in the stress of which his five year old son died, possibly not so much. Yet Taylor counted it a weakness that he felt more love towards his own children then towards the children of China. I have to think about that one.
I noted Taylor's willingness to partner across denominational lines and trust God to send the right people, as he trusted God to send the finances to keep them there. In a time when we seem to be drawing the lines tighter and tighter around the "right" beliefs and cutting partnerships with those outside those lines, this was a refreshing example.
Taylor wasn't completely free from the cultural bias of his time, but he took some significant steps of contextualization and was very quick to leave the new churches in the hands of local leadership, sometimes in just a matter of months. This significantly contributed to his success.
We are in a different age, where true pioneering is mostly finished, and most of us work in areas where there is some kind of preexisting local church presence. How do we wisely do ministry in these places?
This is one of my favorite biographies of Taylor because of the primary sources it contains. His writings deeply challenge and inspire me.
What can I learn from Taylor's example of a life lived for Christ?
Above all his fierce commitment to intercessory prayer and his rest in God's sufficiency. His willingness to go into dangerous situations, return to dangerous places and suffer without retaliation is beautiful. His choice to send away his children for the sake of his ministry, in the stress of which his five year old son died, possibly not so much. Yet Taylor counted it a weakness that he felt more love towards his own children then towards the children of China. I have to think about that one.
I noted Taylor's willingness to partner across denominational lines and trust God to send the right people, as he trusted God to send the finances to keep them there. In a time when we seem to be drawing the lines tighter and tighter around the "right" beliefs and cutting partnerships with those outside those lines, this was a refreshing example.
Taylor wasn't completely free from the cultural bias of his time, but he took some significant steps of contextualization and was very quick to leave the new churches in the hands of local leadership, sometimes in just a matter of months. This significantly contributed to his success.
We are in a different age, where true pioneering is mostly finished, and most of us work in areas where there is some kind of preexisting local church presence. How do we wisely do ministry in these places?
This is one of my favorite biographies of Taylor because of the primary sources it contains. His writings deeply challenge and inspire me.
March 26, 2021
Read this more times than I can recall- own two copies. And try my darndest to remember this true, deep faith of the missionary
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