Dr. David Livingstone - His Family, Faith & Upbringing

By Dr. Peter Hammond

The Fighting Missionary

The hero of the Battle of Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington, described Dr. David Livingstone as "The fighting parson."

The Friend of Africa

Jacob Wainwright, who had been rescued from

slavery by Dr. Livingstone, described him as:

"The friend of the African."

Practical Christianity

American journalist and explorer, Henry Morton Stanley, described

Dr. Livingstone as: "A truly pious man

- a man deeply imbued with real religious instincts.

His religion… is of the true, practical kind,

never losing a chance to manifest itself

in a quiet, practical way

- never demonstrative or loud.

It is always at work, if not in deed,

by shining example."

An Example of Excellence

Stanley described his attitude when he first arrived in Africa: "as prejudiced against religion as the worst infidel…"

However, the example of David Livingstone, who had truly left all to follow Christ, converted Stanley.

Inspiring

David Livingstone was hailed in his lifetime as the

greatest Missionary Explorer of all time.

As one contemporary journalist described it: "the Christian's Faith in God is strengthened by the author's very survival of

every imaginable danger.

The abolitionist is inspired by the prospect of stopping the slave trade.

Medical men are intrigued by Livingstone's

approach to disease and the value of his

treatment for fever…"

The incredible courage and sacrifices of David Livingstone inspired multiplied hundreds of men and women

to dedicate their lives to Missions in Africa.

What can we learn about

the family and upbringing of

David Livingstone,

to understand his Faith,

courage and vision?

Born in Blantyre

David Livingstone was born 19 March 1813,in the industrial town of Blantyre, 8 miles from Glasgow.

The Father

His Father, Neil Livingstone, was a dedicated Christian who had met his future wife, Agnes,

when he was apprenticed to a local tailor.

He won the hand of the tailor's daughter and became a tea salesman so that he could travel and preach the Gospel,

distributing Evangelistic tracts to his customers door-to-door.

Neil also taught at Sunday school and was a zealous member of a local Missionary Society, persistently promoting

prayer meetings and Missionary causes.

David Livingstone later wrote concerning his Father: "He deserved my lasting gratitude and homage for presenting me from infancy with a continuously consistent pious example."

Strict Standards

Neil Livingstone was also a

strict disciplinarian who sought to bring

up David in the fear of the Lord.

At age 9, David was challenged to learn the longest chapter in the Bible: Psalm 119 (all 176 verses) off by heart in order to receive a copy of the New Testament.

Because Neil had seen the ravaging effects of alcoholism, he was a teetotaller and persuaded his son to follow his example

in abstaining from alcohol, for life.

The Mother

David's mother, Agnes, was a gentle, small and delicate woman whose compassionate kindness and loving nature

served as a counter-balance to her husband's strict and austere rule.

It was said that her son, David, inherited her

remarkably bright eyes. Agnes instilled in her family,

a scrupulous concern for cleanliness and immaculate

appearance.

David was born during the last years of the ruinous Napoleonic wars which devastated Europe.

The Napoleonic Wars

The economic impact of the 25 years of French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars had left many unemployed in Britain

and an economically depressed environment.

The Family

The Livingstones lived a very frugal lifestyle on a miniscule budget. The Livingstone family lived

in a single room, ten feet by fourteen feet.

Two baby boys had died in their infancy, David had one older surviving brother, John. Another brother, Charles, and two

sisters, Janet and Agnes were born after David.

The Home

There was neither hot nor cold running water in the

tenement building and David had to walk many times a day down the tightly curved, brick staircase to fetch water from

the pump in the yard, and heave it back up the stairs and

along the corridor of the 3rd

floor to their room.

The Livingstone's shared their tenement with 24 other

families. At night mattresses were pulled out from under

the parents bed which was set into a recess in the wall.

Privacy was non-existent and the family cooked, ate, sewed, studied and slept in that single room.

A Passion for Reading

David Livingstone borrowed extensively from the local

library, particularly books on travel and science.

William Wilberforce's Practical Christianityhad a major impact on his life

and clearly influenced his life-long crusade against the slave trade.

The Cotton Mill

At age 10, David began his full-time employment, 14 hours a day, 6 days a week, for the next 10 years

at the Monteith and Company Cotton Spinning Factory.

He was to be a piecer, to repair broken threads in spinning frames.

David's day began at 5:30am every morning as the bell was rung.

Work would begin at 6am and

continue until 8pm.

The workers in the cotton mill had to work in

tremendous heat and humidity.

Steamed temperatures of 80 to 90 degrees

Fahrenheit were considered ideal for the

production of thread.

Physical Training

Every day David would have to walk an average of 34km, much of this in a crawling or stooping position, amongst and

under the machinery, or balancing over it.

One can imagine what tremendous physical training this was for his later transcontinental expeditions throughout Africa.

Piecers received constant

beatings from their supervisors

to keep them moving through such long shifts, despite fatigue and exhaustion.

Hunger for Knowledge

Yet, David used

his first week's wages to purchase Ruddiman's

Rudiments of Latin.

David managed to read in the factory by balancing his book on a portion of the spinning jenny so that he could catch

sentence after sentence as he rushed by at his work.

In this way he maintained fairly constant study undisturbed by the roar of the machinery. Less than 10% of the children

who worked in the Cotton Mills ever learned to read or write.

David not only learned to read and write, he taught himself Latin, Greek and Hebrew.

After work, he would attend a night school, 8pm to 10pm.

Then he returned home to study, often until midnight.

His mother frequently had to take his books away before he

would go to sleep.

Conversion

At age 12, David Livingstone came under intense conviction of sin and experienced a radical conversion to Christ.

He wrote: "In the glow of love that

Christianity inspired,

I resolved to devote my life to the alleviation of

human misery."

He wrote: "That the Salvation of men ought to be the chief desire and aim of every Christian."

He made a resolution that he would give to the cause of Missions all that he might earn beyond what was required for

his subsistence.

Perseverance

At age 13, he attended an extra Latin class. When all the other students gave up, he alone remained in the class and

the school teacher cancelled the lessons, not seeing the overzealous son of a tea merchant as worthy of his attention.

David continued to learn Latin on his own.

The Grandfather

David's grandfather, Neil Livingstone Senior, also had an impact on the upbringing of David. He had been a tenant

farmer on the island of Ulva, off the West coast of Scotland.

He was evicted by the English to open

up the area for a vast sheep farm.

He passed on what he had heard from his grandfather: "I have searched most carefully through all the traditions of

our family, and I never could discover that there was a dishonest man among your forefathers.

If therefore any of you, or any of your children, should take to dishonest ways, it will not be because it runs in our blood…

I leave this precept with you; be honest!"

Thomas Burke

Another man who influenced David Livingstone was Thomas Burke,

an old soldier who would ring his bell to shatter the peace and quiet of Blantyre every

Sunday morning to rouse the people to

attend hisearly morning

Prayer meeting.

Burke was abrupt, direct and challenging. The Livingstone family faithfully

supported him.

David Hogg

Another man who impressed David Livingstone was David

Hogg, who from his deathbed challenged the young boy:

"Now lad! Make religion the everyday business of your life and not a thing

of fits and starts; for if you do not, temptation and other things will get the

better of you!"

The Free Church

1832 was a special watershed year for the

Livingstone family. Neil Livingstone,

dissatisfied with the spiritual life of the

Church of Scotland, changed his church membership to the

Free Church.

This required the Livingstones to walk to Hamilton, a nearby village for their Sunday worship services.

Although they received many invitations to dine with families of the congregation, they chose to carry their own food and not impose upon the limited resources of the other families of the congregation, which they knew were also struggling

financially.

After Sunday lunch, the Livingstone family were treated to their one luxury, a barley sweet each.

Setting the Captives Free

The Free Church in Hamilton were strong supporters of Missions.

In 1833, William Wilberforce's lifelong crusade against slavery was successful. Slavery was abolished throughout the British

Empire, by an act of Parliament.

This inspired ever greater vision for Missions.

Those who had been freed from physical slavery,

now needed to be freed from spiritual slavery.

Missionaries were needed to go to the ends of the earth!

Revival Fires

Books and tracts from the Revival movement sweeping America reached Scotland and created much excitement and

deepening of spiritual life and vision.

David Livingstone received a pamphlet written by

Karl Gutzlaff, of the Netherlands Missionary Society.

In it Gutzlaff appealed for medical missionaries

to go to China.

David was inspired at how a medical missionary could be much more effective in converting the lost.

He had learned enough Latin to be able to understand most medical terms. He was remarkably well read

and easily would pass the University entrance requirements. His chief obstacle would be lack of finances.

University

Through great determination, he saved most of his money during the next 18 months to be able to put himself through Medical school and

Theological College.

At the age of 23, David set out on foot to begin his Theological

and medical studies in Glasgow. From 1836 to 1838,

he benefited from the best Theological and medical

training available at that time.

Each weekend he would walk back home

to Blantyre. Although he was frequently

offered liftsin a horse and cart,

David would refuse, preferring the long walk,

often in the snow, in order to strengthen

his muscles for his career in Missions.

London Missionary Society

In his second year at college, David applied to the London Missionary Society. David's Father was concerned that his

son's application had omitted important facts.

Therefore without David's knowledge, Neil Livingstone wrote to the LMS Board informing them of his son's diligence in

attending lectures, refusing offers of a lift to town,

his refusals of secure teaching posts offered,

of his early quest for

Latin proficiency and of hishard work, sacrificial lifestyle

and dedication to study.

Marriage Concerns

In response to the question on whether he was married

or engaged, David wrote: "unmarried; under no

engagement relating to marriage, never made

proposals of marriage, nor conducted myself so to any woman as to cause her to

suspect that I intended anything related to

marriage;

and so far as my present wishes are concerned,

I should prefer going out unmarried,

that I might be without that care

which the concerns of a family

necessarily induce and give myself wholly

to the work."

Probation

Eight months after his application,

David was finally invited to London,

30 August 1838,for an interview.

After a second interview in September, the Directors

accepted Livingstone on probation.

He was placed under the mentorship of Rev. Richard Cecil who described David

as having: "sense and quiet vigour;

whose temper is good and his character substantial."

Failure

However, at his first preaching opportunity, David froze in the pulpit and abruptly declared:

"Friends, I have forgotten all I have to say!“

and hurriedout of the pulpit.

The Directors of the London Missionary Society seriously considered rejecting his candidacy.

However, a wise man pleaded hard that his probation should be extended and at future preaching engagements, he proved

himself a capable and energetic communicator.

Integrity

One lady in Ongar, wrote of David Livingstone:

"I never knew anyone who gave me more the idea of

power over other men, such power as our Saviour

showed while on earth, the power of love and

purity combined."

Uncommon Christians

During his studies, David wrote to his sisters, urging them:"to seek to be uncommon Christians, that is eminently holy

and devoted servants of the most High…

let us seek - and with the conviction that we cannot do without it - that selfishness be extirpated, pride banished,

unbelief driven from the mind,

every idol dethroned, and everything hostile to holiness and opposed to the Divine Will crucified; that Holiness to the Lord may be engraved on the heart, and evermore characterise our

whole conduct.

This is what we ought to strive after; this is the way to be happy; this is what our Saviour loves

- entire surrender of heart. May He enable us by His Spirit to persevere until we attain it!"

Focused on God’s Kingdom

It was noted that David earnestly sought first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. He steadfastly sought the Lord's

will for his life and he persevered through every problem.

David Livingstone was described as an idealist, an eccentric bookworm loner. He took his task and calling most seriously.

Whatever he did he performed thoroughly.

His character was uncompromising.

He was inflexible in his adherence to His Word.

Knowledgeable

Dr. Risdon Bennet, of the Royal College of Physicians

described David Livingstone as:

"Pure and noble…simple, modest,

unassuming and self-reliant…"

Dr. Bennet wrote that he was "struck with the amount of knowledge that Livingstone had already acquired of those

subjects which constituted the foundation of medical science…"

Redirected to Africa

David Livingstone's plans to be a medical missionary to China was frustrated when the Opium war erupted. The LMS

declared China closed.

It was at that opportune time that

LMS Missionary

Robert Moffat conducted speaking

engagements in London.

He inspired David Livingstone as he spoke of: "The smoke of a thousand villages where no Missionary has ever been."

David switched his focus from Asia to Africa.

Crusade Against Slavery

While attending a meeting of the Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade and for the Civilisation of Africa, in Exeter Hall,

on 1 June 1840,

Livingstone heard Thomas Foxwell Buxton speak of the Importance of Commerce and Christianity

to defeat the slave trade in Africa.

Africans would only be delivered from the slave trade when they had an alternative to selling their own people to pay for

the beads, cloth, guns and trinkets that they coveted.

Doctorate

During his final medical exams, David Livingstone argued with

the Board who were not convinced about the

usefulness of the stethoscope.

Despite Livingstone's unorthodox views, he qualified with a Licentiate of the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons,

November 1840.

Departure

On a bleak November morning, 1840, the Livingstone family rose at 5am and the 27 year old David read Psalm 121 to his

family. He then read Psalm 135.

The family bowed in prayer and then Neil walked his son

to the Glasgow docks and saw his son embark on his great African adventure.

Ordained

On 20 November 1840, David Livingstone was

ordained as a Missionary in the Albion Street Chapel.

On 8 December, he set sail in the George for Cape Town,

South Africa.

Against All Odds

David had experienced little childhood or adolescence. In his upbringing he had little, or no play, or recreation.

Against all odds, he had already achieved far more than would have been thought humanly possible for someone born into such a poverty

stricken and disadvantaged background.

To achieve what he had,

Livingstone had had to be decisive,

goal-orientated and inflexible.

As time went on, he became less and less flexible and showed little or no time for those with lower

standards of devotion to Christ and His Great

Commission.

Let the Earth Hear His Voice

To those who said that the work at home must

be completed thoroughly before any Missions be engaged in

abroad, Livingstone responded:

"All men have the right to hear God's Word. No nation ought to hoard

the Gospel like a miser!"

Through Tempestuous Seas

Livingstone described his three month journey to Cape Town: "Our little vessel went reeling and staggering over the waves

as if she had been drunk.

Our trunks perpetually breaking from their lashings, were tossed from one side of the cabin to the other,

…huddled together in glorious confusion… imagine if you can a ship in a fit of epilepsy."

David befriended Captain Donaldson and learnt all that

he could concerning the quadrant and the sextant,

frequently staying up until past midnight

to take lunar observations and work out directions using the stars.

As the ship rocked and reeled over the perilous seas, Livingstone studied Theology. Finally a raging storm

split the foremast of the ship and they had to put into Rio de Janeiro to have it repaired.

Ministry in Brazil

David described battling profusely to refuse bottles of liquor that were offered to him from all sides in Brazil.

The Brazilians expressed shock that any Englishman should refuse alcohol, for many of his fellow countrymen and

seamen had continually disgraced themselves in the streets of Rio by intoxication.

David handed out Gospel tracts at the notorious

Waterfront Bar and narrowly escaped with his life as 20 drunk, angry sailors

assaulted him.

He engaged in ministry at the local hospital and witnessed raging drunken delirium. He shared the Gospel with a dying

French sailor and urged him to trust in Christ alone for eternal Salvation.

The Cape of Good Hope

On 17 March 1841, Livingstone sighted the majestic Table Mountain as the George edged into Table Bay.

Thus began one of the most incredible Missionary careers of the best friend Africa ever had.