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Union and Communion

J. Hudson Taylor

James Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) was an influential English missionary and founder of the China Inland Mission. He was born in Yorkshire, son of a local Methodist preacher, and early on developed a great interest in China. His father's prayer had been that his son would indeed become a missionary to that country. Hudson Taylor began preparation for missionary work as a physician's assistant, later studying medicine at London Hospital. He left for China in 1853 as part of the China Evangelization Society, the group with which he worked for six years in Shanghai and Ningpo, along with other missionary groups such as the English Presbyterian Mission. After 1860, he served independently, while raising a family, and worked to raise awareness of foreign missions. In 1865 the China Inland Mission was founded, for which he served at home and abroad, and which became part of a larger ministry network by the late 19th century. He died in Hunan province, during his last visit to China.

A simple commentary on the Song of Songs, expressing unadorned and authentic spirituality.

This book, published in 1893, is a commentary on the Song of Solomon – one of the most provocative of all the Biblical books. The Song, with its erotic imagery and poetry, has often been interpreted mystically, as symbolic of the relationship between Christ and the Church, or between the soul of the believer and God. Hudson Taylor's work combines both typical approaches in a simple and straightforward manner over six chapters. Christ is indeed the Beloved, after whom the soul (and the Church) longs – communion is experienced, but is broken and restored several times during the narrative, until union is finally recognized and "unrestrained communion" is achieved. Often Christians who dedicate themselves wholly to the service of God (such as in the monastic or missionary life) keenly feel and live out the relationship of the Bride dedicated and devoted to the Bridegroom. As the forward declares, Taylor "translated his vision of the Beloved into life-long strenuous service".

Commentaries

Song of Solomon