Samuel Marsden - Australian Puritan

Please hover your mouse above so you can understand Australian Slang
"G'Day Mate howes ya Australia Day goin"

"Not to bad mate, gonna get a barbie happenin maybe have some bangers and mash and get out of the big smoke."

"She'll be right mate, I'll bring some dampa round and we'll get a billy goin, throw some shrimp on da barbie and have a chinwag."

"bonza, I'll just go to the John and tell me old man I'm off, then drop off at da servo."

Australias Beginnings - 1788
Let me set the scene: Boat loads of debauch murderers and thieves called convicts from overcrowding British prisons sailing to an unknown land. They were brutally ruled by authorities and soon to be slaves to the entrepreneurial settlers who would also rule the native Aboriginals for their often selfish purpose.

Recipe for disaster right?

Meet Samuel Marsden the Australia Puritan (1764-1838)
Inspired by the Journals of David Brainerd (compiled by Jonathan Edwards) concerning the conversion of the Indians of North America. He said.
"The same power can effect a change upon those hardened, ungodly sinners to whom I am about to carry the words of eternal life." He was right.

Setting Sail for Australia (Terra Australis) Marsden could not wait to preach the gospel to the convicts on the ship. The captain conceded and the gospel was proclaimed to these blaspheming God haters even on the journey.

Parramatta in Sydney Australia was one of the largest colonies consisting almost entirely of criminals. "I am surrounded," says Marsden, "with evil-disposed persons, thieves, adulterers and blasphemers."

He was persuaded that the gospel was equal to the task of even the vilest and most depraved sinner and so began proclaiming
Luke 4:18 ".. he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,"

The Flogging Parson (Flogging Pastor)
Because even the authorities of the day were corrupt they placed the only righteous man they could find Samuel Marsden in charge of the discipline of Paramatta. He was a strong man and although preaching the graces of Christ he also did what David did (purged the evil). Soon the local newspaper criticized him as the "Flogging Parson" and police from England were sent out to investigate. He was cleared on all accounts.

Female Prisons, Schools and Orphanages and hospitals
Samuel Marsdon took great pity on the female convicts as they were not separated from the males. The atrocities against them were huge and overlooked and even his heavy handed discipline made little headway. He built a female prison to separate them. He also built schools and orphanages and started churches and hospitals and developed much agrigulture.

Evangelising the Maoris in New Zealand
New Zealand was home to the native Maoris. They were cannibals, witch doctors and debauch superstitious murderers with little or no chastity. 5 ships had landed on New Zealand soil near these people and bar a few survivors they had been brutally murdered and devoured.

Civilization is not necessary before Christianity
Many believed that you had to make a tribal nation act like Christians before they could be converted. Samuel Marsdon thought otherwise. There were some of these Maoris in Australia and he befriended them having often 50 in his own home. Finding no ship willing to take him to the cannibal parts of New Zealand he purchased his own little brig called Active.

Samuel Marsden the New Zealand Puritan
With the stories of bloodshed of the most recent ship named Boyd who were all murdered and devoured he landed in a very similar place with his small ship. Thoughts of Boyd's crew would have been in his mind but he had a greater thought in mind the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Taking a horse he rowed ashore. The Maoris appeared to be in a frenzy. A band of naked warriors, armed with clubs and spears occupied a commanding position. Decorated with necklaces made from the teeth of slaughtered enemies and gold from the previous ships they ransacked. Samuel Marsdon was unarmed.

Captain Fitzroy's Account
"Seizing their spears, they brandished them as if in fury. Screams and yells were heard on every side, Every face was fiercely distorted, and every limb employed in the wildest gesticulation. It was their war-dance.... but it was a welcome for the name of Marsdon the friend of the Maories who had reached them through his countrymen in Paramatta."

That night Samuel Marsdon slept amongst the Maories as a friend.

Christmas Day
The coming Sunday was Christmas Day and they made ready for the first Divine worship service. Creating seats from canoes and a pulpit for His bible. Samuel Marsdon that day didn't try and tell them to put on clothes and act civilised but he preached the gospel using the text through an interpreter a native Maori.

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10

Although not all at once many of the Maoris believed on the name of the Lord for their salvation. Samuel Marsden left 3 missionaries on the island and returned to the convicts of Parramatta but his heart was for the Maori people. He would make 7 trips back to the island before his death.

History
Later a British colony was set up in New Zealand.
"We see here a whole nation of pagans converted to the faith. Thousands upon thousands of people, young and old, have received new hearts, are offering up daily their morning and evening prayers,"

You would think that this man would be remembered for his great works in Australia and New Zealand however this is not the case. His history is badly tainted with being a cruel man and taught in schools as the Flogging Parson.

Today we celebrate Australia Day. May we remember the likes of Samuel Marsdon who forged our Christian Heritage.

Further Reading
Samuel Marsden: New Zealand, 1814-1838
Samuel Marsden: Bearer of Good Tidings in New Zealand and New South Wales
Samuel Marsden – “The Flogging Parson” - Wickedly recording his life to mock the gospel.