Foreword & Introduction

Dedication

TO
MY DEAR HUSBAND
WHO THROUGH THIRTY YEARS
HAS KEPT ME FAITHFUL
TO THE BEST THINGS
OF LIFE,

Foreword

This little book was originally intended for the use of Christian women of the Malayalam country, but the writer has been persuaded to issue an English edition.

Nearly the whole of the matter has been the subject of conversations with the Sadhu himself, with whom we have enjoyed much inspiring companionship and with whose permission the book is issued.

This word picture of a true servant of the Great Master should be an inspiration to all Christian men and women in India, and it does not seem too much to hope that Indians of all classes will see how truly Jesus Christ can manifest Himself in and through the people of this great land, and how worthy He is to be India’s Lord and Saviour.

ARTHUR PARKER. London Mission, Trivandram.

Arthur Parker, London Mission, Trivandrum

A Letter from Sadhu Sundar Singh

(Written in Roman-Urdu)

Jab main is chhothi kitéb ka MSS dekh raha tha to yih bat safai so dekhne men ai ki Khuda ki Ruth ne kaise ajib taur se Mrs. R. J. Parker ki madad aur hidayat ki, ki sari baten bagair kisi galati ki likhin, aur mujhe yaqin hai, ki musannif ki mihnat Khuda ke jalél aur bahuton ke ruhani faida ki bais hogi. Aur unko madad milegi jo mushkilat men hain, jis tarah ki main tha, aur khass kar yih malum, karke, ki Khudawand kis tarah mujhe jaise bare gunéhgaér ko baché kar apni muhabbat aur fazl se apni khidmat ke liye chun leté hai. Aj main shukarguzari ke sath apne tajruba 18 baras ke experience se kah sakté htin ki Masih 4j kal aur hamesha yaksan hai (Hebrews xiii. 8).

Meri dud hai ki Khuda in chand baton ke auron k1 ruhdni madad aur apni jalal ke liye istiamél kare. Amin.

(Signed) Sundar Singh. September 8, 1918.

Translation

When I saw the manuscript of this little book I saw clearly in what a wonderful way the spirit of God had helped and guided Mrs. R. J. Parker so that she had written it without any mistake, and I am certain that the author’s work will be for the glory of God and a means of spiritual benefit to many. Also that those who are in the midst of difficulties such as I was, will receive help, and especially will learn how the Lord saved so great a sinner as myself, and by His love and grace chose me for His service.

To-day I can say with thankfulness after thirteen years of experience that Christ is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever (Hebrews xiii. 8). |

My prayer is that God will use these few words for His glory and for the spiritual help of others. Amen.

(Signed) Sundar Singh. September 3, 1918.

Introduction

February, 1918, is a time that will linger in the memory of Christians of all denominations in Trivandram, for the visit of Sadhu Sundar Singh was an unprecedented event that brought to many profound spiritual blessing. One of our missionaries rightly said, “‘ Such a figure has never passed through the Indian Church before ” ; and in passing he left the deep consciousness that God had visited His people.

The fame of the Sadhu had preceded him, for a few had read the books published about his life and work, and of these some looked for a day of miracles to dawn. Most, however, were filled with desire to see and hear him that they might receive the spiritual blessings they believed possible from his ministry. That God did not disappoint these hopes there are numbers to-day who could give joyful testimony.

As the train bringing Sadhu Sundar Singh to Yrivandram drew into the station, besides the missionary, a group of Indian Christians stood ready to accord a welcome to him; and upon arrival at the Mission House a crowd had gathered for the same purpose, and - would hardly be persuaded to disperse in order to allow the Sadhu to get a wash and some food.

A Wesleyan missionary thus describes the appearance of the Sadhu: ‘The Sadhu has a noble presence. He is tall, with a well-shaped head and fine features... . His hands and feet are delicately formed and exquisitely kept. He is scrupulously clean in person and attire. The only dress he wears is the long orange robe of the ascetic, which falls in graceful and dignified folds about his body. No one can look upon him for the first time without being struck by his close likeness to the traditional portrait of Christ.”

There are many things in this old land that give a fresh understanding of the Bible, but no man of my experience has made us realize so fully how our Saviour — lived and moved about in His day. During his visit to Trivandram, whenever Sadhu Sundar Singh appeared in public, wondering crowds followed him. Even the children gathered behind him that they might touch ‘his yellow robe, and the sick were brought that he might pray--with them. It is almost impossible to

INTRODUCTION XV convince the people that he does not heal the sick, even when the assurance comes from his own lips.

At one of his meetings a pathetic incident occurred that brought vividly to mind how our Lord was sought. -It was at a large open-air meeting. Some men appeared carrying a sick man on a bed. They placed it gently upon the ground in a place where the afflicted man could behold the face and hear the words of the Sadhu. He was a Christian from a village seven miles away, and had been brought in overnight so as to be present at this great gathering.

That very night another incident took place that reminded us of the visit of Nicodemus to our Saviour. At two o’clock, when all the world was locked in sleep, a low rapping at the door announced the arrival of a midnight guest. A caste man desirous of discussing religious matters had come to see him. When explaining that he had felt ashamed to come in the daylight the Sadhu replied, “ Jesus Christ was not-ashamed to suffer for you on the eross in the daylight, so cannot you suffer a little for Him?” At the service next day this gentleman took his courage in both hands, and appeared amongst the crowd of Christians to listen to the Sadhu preaching.

Sundar Singh has brought fresh visions of God and Christ to us all, and many of us realize how by close fellowship with Jesus, and complete obedience to His will, he has become so conformed to his Lord that wherever he goes people say, ‘‘ How like Christ he is!”

To see and hear him makes one’s heart beat high with hope for India’s future, and with confidence that the day will come when the east will have some new aspect of our Saviour to discover to the west. For thirty years we have waited for men to rise up who can reach the heart of India, and surely none has come nearer to doing this than this humble lover of the Cross, Sadhu Sundar Singh.