A Retrospect is the brief yet spiritually rich autobiographical account of James Hudson Taylor, the pioneering Protestant missionary who founded the China Inland Mission (CIM) in the mid-19th century. More devotional memoir than detailed autobiography, the work offers a deeply personal reflection on Taylor's formative years, his spiritual development, and the decisive moments that led to his lifelong dedication to missionary work in China. Written when Taylor was already a seasoned leader and global figure in evangelical circles, A Retrospect serves both as an inspiring narrative and as a theological testament to divine providence, obedience, and the power of faith.
Born in 1832 in Barnsley, England, into a devout Methodist family with strong missionary inclinations, Taylor's early life was marked by religious instruction, but also spiritual struggle. One of the most striking features of A Retrospect is Taylor's candor in recounting his youthful rebellion and later conversion. The story of his conversion—reading a gospel tract during a moment of idle curiosity and being overcome by an overwhelming sense of Christ's redemptive love—anchors the narrative and establishes Taylor's view that salvation is both sudden and transformative.
Taylor's early commitment to missionary work was, he believed, divinely appointed. He recounts how, shortly after his conversion, he dedicated himself to serving in China, a nation largely closed to Western missionaries at the time. A Retrospect traces the stages of his preparation for this calling: his study of medicine, his learning of the Chinese language, his embrace of a life of radical simplicity and dependence on prayer, and his early struggles in England with faith, finance, and personal sanctification. These early years of "testing" are presented not as mere preparation but as providential training grounds where Taylor learned to trust God in all circumstances.
Taylor's emphasis on "faith missions" — the idea that missionaries should rely solely on God for support rather than fundraising — is a central theme in the book. This conviction would later shape the structure and ethos of the China Inland Mission. His time at Drainside, a poor district in Hull where he served as an assistant to a medical doctor, is narrated as a key phase of this development. Here, Taylor experienced both poverty and dependence on divine provision. Such experiences reinforced his belief that missionary work must be grounded not only in theological knowledge and practical training but also in the crucible of lived faith.
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Born in 1832 in Barnsley, England, into a devout Methodist family with strong missionary inclinations, Taylor's early life was marked by religious instruction, but also spiritual struggle. One of the most striking features of A Retrospect is Taylor's candor in recounting his youthful rebellion and later conversion. The story of his conversion—reading a gospel tract during a moment of idle curiosity and being overcome by an overwhelming sense of Christ's redemptive love—anchors the narrative and establishes Taylor's view that salvation is both sudden and transformative.
Taylor's early commitment to missionary work was, he believed, divinely appointed. He recounts how, shortly after his conversion, he dedicated himself to serving in China, a nation largely closed to Western missionaries at the time. A Retrospect traces the stages of his preparation for this calling: his study of medicine, his learning of the Chinese language, his embrace of a life of radical simplicity and dependence on prayer, and his early struggles in England with faith, finance, and personal sanctification. These early years of "testing" are presented not as mere preparation but as providential training grounds where Taylor learned to trust God in all circumstances.
Taylor's emphasis on "faith missions" — the idea that missionaries should rely solely on God for support rather than fundraising — is a central theme in the book. This conviction would later shape the structure and ethos of the China Inland Mission. His time at Drainside, a poor district in Hull where he served as an assistant to a medical doctor, is narrated as a key phase of this development. Here, Taylor experienced both poverty and dependence on divine provision. Such experiences reinforced his belief that missionary work must be grounded not only in theological knowledge and practical training but also in the crucible of lived faith.
A Retrospect
A Retrospect is the brief yet spiritually rich autobiographical account of James Hudson Taylor, the pioneering Protestant missionary who founded the China Inland Mission (CIM) in the mid-19th century. More devotional memoir than detailed autobiography, the work offers a deeply personal reflection on Taylor's formative years, his spiritual development, and the decisive moments that led to his lifelong dedication to missionary work in China. Written when Taylor was already a seasoned leader and global figure in evangelical circles, A Retrospect serves both as an inspiring narrative and as a theological testament to divine providence, obedience, and the power of faith.
Born in 1832 in Barnsley, England, into a devout Methodist family with strong missionary inclinations, Taylor's early life was marked by religious instruction, but also spiritual struggle. One of the most striking features of A Retrospect is Taylor's candor in recounting his youthful rebellion and later conversion. The story of his conversion—reading a gospel tract during a moment of idle curiosity and being overcome by an overwhelming sense of Christ's redemptive love—anchors the narrative and establishes Taylor's view that salvation is both sudden and transformative.
Taylor's early commitment to missionary work was, he believed, divinely appointed. He recounts how, shortly after his conversion, he dedicated himself to serving in China, a nation largely closed to Western missionaries at the time. A Retrospect traces the stages of his preparation for this calling: his study of medicine, his learning of the Chinese language, his embrace of a life of radical simplicity and dependence on prayer, and his early struggles in England with faith, finance, and personal sanctification. These early years of "testing" are presented not as mere preparation but as providential training grounds where Taylor learned to trust God in all circumstances.
Taylor's emphasis on "faith missions" — the idea that missionaries should rely solely on God for support rather than fundraising — is a central theme in the book. This conviction would later shape the structure and ethos of the China Inland Mission. His time at Drainside, a poor district in Hull where he served as an assistant to a medical doctor, is narrated as a key phase of this development. Here, Taylor experienced both poverty and dependence on divine provision. Such experiences reinforced his belief that missionary work must be grounded not only in theological knowledge and practical training but also in the crucible of lived faith.
Born in 1832 in Barnsley, England, into a devout Methodist family with strong missionary inclinations, Taylor's early life was marked by religious instruction, but also spiritual struggle. One of the most striking features of A Retrospect is Taylor's candor in recounting his youthful rebellion and later conversion. The story of his conversion—reading a gospel tract during a moment of idle curiosity and being overcome by an overwhelming sense of Christ's redemptive love—anchors the narrative and establishes Taylor's view that salvation is both sudden and transformative.
Taylor's early commitment to missionary work was, he believed, divinely appointed. He recounts how, shortly after his conversion, he dedicated himself to serving in China, a nation largely closed to Western missionaries at the time. A Retrospect traces the stages of his preparation for this calling: his study of medicine, his learning of the Chinese language, his embrace of a life of radical simplicity and dependence on prayer, and his early struggles in England with faith, finance, and personal sanctification. These early years of "testing" are presented not as mere preparation but as providential training grounds where Taylor learned to trust God in all circumstances.
Taylor's emphasis on "faith missions" — the idea that missionaries should rely solely on God for support rather than fundraising — is a central theme in the book. This conviction would later shape the structure and ethos of the China Inland Mission. His time at Drainside, a poor district in Hull where he served as an assistant to a medical doctor, is narrated as a key phase of this development. Here, Taylor experienced both poverty and dependence on divine provision. Such experiences reinforced his belief that missionary work must be grounded not only in theological knowledge and practical training but also in the crucible of lived faith.
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A Retrospect
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Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940184695655 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | James Hudson Taylor |
| Publication date: | 06/19/2025 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 2 MB |
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