AN
ACCOUNT
OF THE
LIFE
OF
MR. DAVID BRAINERD,
MISSIONARY
FROM THE SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING
CHRISTIAN *N*WLEDGE,
PASTOR OF A CHURCH OF CHRISTIAN INDIANS
IN NEW-JERSEY.
PUBLISHED BT JONATHAN EDWARDS, A. M.
WITH
MR BRAINERD'V'PUBLIC JOURNAL,
TO THIS EDITION IS ADDED;
MR BEATTY's MISSION
To the weftvuard of the Allegheny mountains.
LONDON:
PAINTER FOR R. OGLE, BOOKSELLER.
1798.
PREFACE.
THERE z?e two ways of reprefenting and recommending
true religion and virtue to the world, which God hath made
ufe of ; the one is by doctrine and precept, the other is by in-
ftance and example Both are abundantly ufed in the holy
fcriptures. Not only are the grounds, nature, defign, and
importance of religion clearly exhibited in the doctrines of
fcripture, and its exercife and practice plainly delineated, and
abundantly enjoined and enforced, in its commands and coun-
fels ; but there we have many excellent examples of religion,
in its power and pra&ice, fet before us, in the hiftories both of
the Old Teftament and New. JESUS CHRIST, the great Pro-
phet of God, when Jie came into the world to be " the light of
the world," to teach and enforce true religion, in a greater de-
gree than ever had been before, made ufe of both the fe me-
thods. In his doctrine he declared the mind and will of God,
and the nature and properties of that virtue which becomes
creatures of our make and in our circumftances, more clearly
and fully than ever it had been before, and more powerfully en-
forced it by what he declared pf the obligations and induce-
ments to holinefs } and he alfo in his own practice gave a moil
perfect example of the virtue he taught. He exhibited to the
world fuch an illuilrious pattern of humility, divine love, dif-
creet zeal, lelf-denial, obedience, patience, refignation, forti-
tude, meeknefs, forgivenefs, companion, benevolence, and uni-
vcrfal holinefs, as neither men nor angels ever faw before. God
alfo in his providence has been wont to make ufe of both thefe
methods to hold 'forth light to mankind, and inducement to
their duty, in all ages ; he has from time to time mifed up eir.i-
neat teachers, to exhibit and bear terlimcny to the truthintheir
de-Sir in?, and oppofe the errors, darknefs, and wickednefs of the
world j and alto has, from age to age, railed up lome eminent
periods that have fct bright exam/tics of that relrgion that ii
PREFACE.
taught and prefcribed in the word of God j whofe examples
have, in divine providence, been fet forth to public view. Thefe
have a great tendency to engage the attention of men to the
doctrines and rules that are taught, and greatly to confirm and
enforce them j and especially when thefe bright examples have
been exhibited in theiame perfons that have been eminent teach-
ers, fo that the world has had opportunity to fee fuch a con-
firmation of the truth, efficacy, and arniablenefs of the reli-
gion taught, in the practice of the fame perfons that have mod
clearly and forceably taught it j and above all, when thefe
bright examples have been fet by eminent teachers in a varie-
ty oi unufual circumilances 'of remarkable trial} and God has
withal remarkably diilinguiihed them with wonderfuf/Swv^f
of their inftructions and labours, confirming in glorious events
that have been in many refpects new and flrange.
Such an inflance we have in the excellent perfun^ whofe life
is publiihed in the following pages. His example is attended
with a great variety of circumftances, tending to engage the
attention of religious people, efpecially in thefe parts of the
world : he was one of diftinguifhed natural abilities ; as all are
fenfible that had aquaintance with him : he was a minifter of
the gofpel, and one who was called to unufual fervices in that
work, whofe miniftry was attended with very remarkable and
unufual events, an Recount of which has already been given to
the public ; one whofe courfe of religion began before the late
times of extraordinary religious commotion, but yet one that
lived in thofe times, and went through them, and was very
much in the way of the various extraordinary effects and un-
ufual appearances of that day, and was not an idle fpectator, but
had a near concern in many things that paffed at that time ;
one that had a very extenfive acquaintance with thofc that
have been the fubjects of the late religious operations, in ma-
ny of thefe Britifli colonies, in places far clifiant one from an-
other, in people of many different nations, of different educa-
tions, manners, and cuftoms; one who had peculiar opportunity
of acquaintance with the falfe appearances and counterfeits of
religion j one who himfelf was the inflrument of a moil: re-
markable awakening, and an exceeding wonderful and abiding
PREFACE. 3 .
alteration and moral transformation of inch iu bj efts as do pe-
culiarly render the change rare and aftonifhing.
In the following account, the reader will have opportunity
to fee, not only what were the external circurnftances and re-
markable incidents of the life of this person, and how he fpent
his time from day to day, as to his external behaviour j but al-
fo what palTed in his own heart, the wonderful change that he
experienced in his mind and difpofltion, the manner in which
that change was brought to pafs, how it continued, \vhat were
its confequences in his inward frames, thoughts, affedlions, and
fecret exercifes, through many viciffitudes and trials, from
thenceforth for more than eight years, till his death j and alfo
to fee how all ended at laft, in his fentiments, frame, and beha-
viour, during a long feafon of the gradual and fenfible approach
of death, under a lingering illnefs, and what were the effects
of his religion in dying circumftances, or in the laft ftages of
his dying illnefs. The account being written, the reader may
have opportunity at his leifure to compare the various parts -
of the ftory, and deliberately to view and weigh the whole,
and confider how far what is related is agreeable to the dic-
tates of right reafon and the holy word of God.
I am far from fuppofing, that Mr Brainerd's inward exercifes
and experiences^ or his external conduct, were free from all
imperfeclion : the example oijefus Chr/ftis the only example*
that ever was fet in the human nature that was altogether per-
fect, which therefore is a rule to try all other examples by ;
and the difpofitions, frames, and practices of others mufl be
commended and followed no further than they were followers
ofCbrifl..
There is one thing in Mr Brainerd, eafily difcernible by the>
following account of his life, that may be called an imperfec-
tion in him, which though not. properly an imperfefticn of a
moral nature, yet may poffibly .be made an objection againil the
extraordinary appearances cf religion and devotion in him, by
fuch as feek for objeaions againft every thing that can be pro-
duced ia favour of true vital religion j and that is, that he was
one who by his conftitution and natural temper was prone to .
melancbely and dejedion of fpirit. There are fome who think |
That all ferious, ft rift religion is a melancholy thing , and thas |
1
4 PREFACE.
\vhat is called Chriitian experience, is little elfe befide melan-
choly vapours disturbing the brain, and exciting enthufiaiVicai
imaginations. But that Mr Brainerd's temper or conftitution
inclined him to defpondency, is nojufl ground to fufpecl his ex-
traordinary devotion, as being only the fruit of a v.arm imagi-
nation. I doubt not but that all who have well obi r erved man-
kind, will readily grant this, that it is not all thofe who by their
natural constitution cr temper are moft difpofed to dejection,
that are the perfons who are the moft fufceptive of lively and
flrong impreffions on their imagination, or the moft fubjecl to
thofe vehement impetuous affections, which are the fruits of
ilich imprefiions ; but that many who are of a very gay and
fangmne natural temper are vaftly more fo j and, if their affec-
tions are turned into a religious channel, are much more expof-
ed to enthujiafm than many of the former. And as to Mr
Brainerd in particular,' notwithstanding his inclination to de-
fpondency,' he was evidently one of that fort of perfons who
ufually are the furtheftfrom a teeming imagination j being one
of a penetrating genius, of clear thought, of clofe reafoning,
ard a very exact judgment, as all know that knew him. As
he had a great infight into human nature, and was very difccrn-
ing and judicious in things in general, fo he excelled in his
judgment in knowledge of things in divinity, but eipeciaHy in
things appertaining to inward experimental religion $ mofl ac-
curately diftinguiming between real folid piety and enthufiafm,
between thofe affections that are rational and fcriptural, hav-
ing their foundation in light and judgment, and thofe that are
founded in whimiical conceits, ftrong impreffions on the imagi-
nation, and thofe vehement emotions of the animal fpirits that
arife from them. He was exceeding fenfible of men's cxpofed-
nefs to thefe things, how much they had prevailed, and what
multitudes had been deceived by them, of the pernicous con-
fequences of them, and the fearful mifchief they had done in
the Chriftian world. He greatly abhorred fuch a fort of reli-
gion, and was abundant in bearing teftimcny againft it, living
and dying \ and was quick to difcern when any thing of that
nature arofe, though in its firil buddings, and appearing under
the moft fair and piaufible difguifes \ and had that talent of (Je-
fcribing the various workings of this imnrinary, etithujiqflical
PREFACE.
religion, evincing the falfenefs and vanity of it, and demon-
ft rating the great difference between this andtrue^/r/tatf/de-
votion, which I fiercely ever knew equalled in any other per-
fon. And his judicioufnefs did not only appear in diftin-
guii'hing among the experiences of others, but alfo among the
various exercifes of his own mind ; and particularly In difcern-
ing what within himfelf was to be laid to the fcore of melan-
choly j in which he exceeded all melancholy perfons that ever
I was acquainted with, (though I have been in the way of ac-
quaintance with very many) j which was doubtlcfs owing to a
peculiar ftrcngth in \ii$judgmtnt : it is a rare thing indeed, that
melancholy people are well fenfible of their own difeafe, and
fully convinced that fuch and fuch things are to be afcribed to
it, as are indeed its genuine operations and fruits. Mr
Braincrd did not obtain that degree of {kill which he had in
this matter at once, but gained it gradually ; as the reader
may difcern by the following account of his life. |\ In the for-
mer part of his religious courfe, he imputed much of that kind
of gloominefs of mind, and thcfedark thoughts,tofpiritual*yr-
tion, of which, in the latter part of his life, he was fully fenfi-
ble, were owing to the difeafe of melancholy: accordingly he of-
ten exprefsly fpeaksof them in his diary as ariiingfrom this caufcj
and he was often in converfation fpeakmg of the difference be-
tween melancholy and godly forrow, true humiliation and fpi-
ritual defertion, and the great danger of miflaking the one for
the other, and the very hurtful nature of melancholy, difcourf-
ing with great judgment upon it, and doubtlefs much mere judi-
ciouily for what he knew by experience, l!
But befides what may be argued from Mr Brainerd'sflrengt'n
of judgment, it is apparent infa& that he was not a perfonof
a warm imagination. His inward experiences, either in his
convictions or his eonverlion, and his religious views and irc-
prefTions through the courfe of his life to his death, (of which
he has left a very particular account), none of them confifted
in, or were excited by, ftrong and lively images formed in his
imagination ; there is nothing at all of it appears in his diary,
from beginning to end : yea, he told me on his death-bed, that
although once, when he was very young in years and experi-
ence, he was deceived into a high opinion of fuch things, look-
6 PREFACE.
ing on them as fuperior attainments in religion, beyond what
he had ever arrived to, and was ambitious of then] 'and earnefl-
ly fought them, yet he never could obtain them , and that he
never in his life had a ftrong impreflion on his imagination, of
any vifage, outward form, external glory, cr any other thing
of that nature j which kind of impreffions abound among the
wild enthuiiaftic people of the late and prefent day.
As Mr Brainerd's religious imprefTions, views, and affecuons
in their nature were vaftly different from enthufiafm, fo were
their e/efls in him as contrary as poffible to the ordinary ef-
fects of that. Nothing fo puffs men up, as cnlhufiafm with a
high conceit~of their own wifdom, holinefs, eminency, and fuf-
ficiency, and makes them fo bold, forward, affuming, and arro-
gant : but the reader will fee, that Mr Brainerd's religion con-
iiantly difpofed him to a molt mean thought of himfelf, an abaf-
ing fenfe of his own exceeding iinfulnefs, deficiency, unprofit-
ablenefs, and ignorance ; looking on himfelf as worfe than o-
tliers j difpofing him to univerfal benevolence, rneeknefs, and
in honour to prefer others, and to treat all with kindnefs and
refpet. And when melancholy prevailed, though the effeds
of it were very prejudicial to him, yet it had not thofe effefts
of entbtijiafm ' 7 but operated by dark and difcouraging thoughts
of himfelf, as ignorant, wicked, and wholly unfit for the work
of the miniftry, or even to be feen among mankind, 6'r.
Indeed, at the time before mentioned, when he had not learned
well to diftinguifh between enthuiiafm and folid religion, he
joining and keeping company with fome that were tinged with
no fmall degree of the former, for a feafon partook with them
in a degree of their difpofitions and behaviours; though, as was
obferved before, he could not obtain thofe things wherein their
enthuftafm itfelf confided, and fo could not become like them
in that refpecr, however he erronioufly delired and fought it. But
certainly it is not at all to be wondered at, that a youth and
a young convert, one that had his heart fo fvvallowed up in re-
ligion, and fo earneftly defired the flourifhing of it, but had had
fo little opportunity for reading, obfervation, and experience,
fhould for a while be dazzled and deceived with the glaring
appearances of that miftaken devotion and zeal j efpccially
conlidering what the extraordinary circumstances of that day
PREFACE.
.'T, . !.!.. I..,-. . ..... ..
were. He told me on his death-bed, that while he was in
thefe circumftances he was out of his element, and did violence
to himfelf, while complying, in his conduct, with perfbns of a
fierce and imprudent zeal, from his great veneration of fome
that he looked upon much better than himfelf. So that
it would be very unreafonable that his error at that time fhould
neverthelefs be efteemed a juft ground of prejudice againft the
whole of his religion, and his character in general } efpecially
conlidering, how greatly his mind was foon changed, and how
exceedingly he after lamented his error, and abhorred himfelf
for his imprudent zeal and mifcondu6t at that time, even to the
breaking of his heart, and almoft to the overbearing and break-
ing the ftrength of his nature 5 and how much of a Chriftian
fpirit he mewed, in his condemning himfelf for that mifcon-
dul, as the reader will fee.
What has been now mentioned of Mr Brainerd, is fo far
from being juft ground of prejudice againft what is related in
the following account of his life, that, if duly confidered, it
will render the hiftory the more ferviceable. For by his thus
joining for a feafon with enthufia/is, he had a more full and in-
timate acquaintance with what belonged to that fort of reli-
gion, and fo was under better advantages to judge of the differ-
ence between that and the other, which he finally approv-
ed, and ftrove to his utmoft to promote, in oppofition to it :
and hereby the reader has the more to demonflrate to him,
that Mr Brainerd, in his teftimony againft it and the fpirit
and behaviour of thofe that are influenced by it, fpeaks from
impartial conviction, and not from prejudice j becaufe therein
he openly condemns his own former opinion and conduct, on
account of which he had greatly fuffered from his oppofers,
and for which feme continued to reproach him as long as lie
lived.
Another Imperfection in Mr Brainerd, which may be obfer-
ved in the following account of his life, was his being excff-
five in bit labours ; not taking due care to proportion kis fa-i
tigues to his rlren^th. Indeed the cafe was very often fo, and
fach the feeming calls of Providence, that it was extremely
difficult for him to avoid doing more than his ftrength would
well admit of 3 yea, hi? circurnitances, and the bufiacfs of his
PREFACE.
million among the Indians, were fuch, that great fatigues and
hardfhips were altogether inevitable. However, he was final-
ly convinced that he had erred in this matter, and that he
ought to have taken more thorough care, and been more refo-
lute to withuand temptations to fuch degrees of labour as in-
jured his health ; and accordingly warned his brother, who
iucceeds him in his miflion, to be careful to avoid this error.
Befidesthe imperfections already mentioned, it is readily al-
lowed, that there were fome imperfections that ran through
his whole life, and were mixed with all his religious affections
and exercifes, fome mixture of what was natural with that
which was fpiritual ; as it evermore is in the befi faints in this
world. Doubtlefs there was fome influence that natural tem-
per had in the religious exercife of Mr Brainerd, as there moft
apparently was in the exercifes of devout David, and the,a-
poftles Peter, John and Paul : there was undoubtedly very of-
ten fome influence of his natural difpofition to dejection in his
religious mourning, ferae mixture of melancholy with truly
godly forrow and ical Chriftian humility, and fome mixture of
the natural fire of youth with his holy zeal for God, and fome
influence of natural principles mixed with grace in variov> o-
ther refpects, as it ever was and ever will be with the fa nts
while on this fide heaven. Perhaps none were more fennble
of Mr Brainerd's imperfections than he himfelf j or could vlif-
tinguifli more accurately than he between what was natural
and what was fpiritual. It is eafy for the judicious reader to
obferve, that his graces ripened, and the religious exercifes of
his heart became more and more pure, and he more and. more
diftinguifhing in his judgment, the longer he lived j he had
much to teach and purify him, and he failed not to make his
advantage thereby.
ut ootwithftanding all thefe imperfections, I am perfuad-
cj, every pious and judicious reader will acknowlede, that
what is here fet before him is indeed ?. remarkable inftance of
true and eminent Chrillian piety in heart and practice, tend-
ing greatly to confirm the reality of vital religion, and the
power of godlinefs, moft worthy of imitation, and many ways
tending to the fpiritual benefit of the careful obferver.
It is fit the reader ihould be aware, that what Mr Brainerd
PREFACE. 9
wrote in his diary, out of which the following account of
l:is life is chiefly taken, was written only for his own private
uie, and not to get honour and applaufe in the world, nor with
any defign that the world ihould ever fee it, either while he
lived or after his death, excepting feme few things that he
wrote in a dying ftate, after he had been perfuaded, with dif-
ficulty, not entirely to fupprefs all his private writings. He
fnewed himfelf almoft invincibly averfe to the publiming of a-
ir; ^art of his diary after his death ; and when he was thought
to be dying at Bofton, gave the moft ftricl: peremptory orders
to the contrary : but being by fome of his friends there pre-
vailed upon to withdraw fo ftricl: and abfolute a prohibition,
he was pleafed finally to yield fo far as that ' ; his papers mould
" be left in ray hands, that I might difpofe of them as I
" 'thought would be moft for God's glory and the intereft of
" religion." But a few days before his death, he ordered
fome part of his diary to be deftroyed, (as will afterwards be
obferved) which renders the account of his life the lefs com-
plete. And there are fome parts of his diary here left cut for
brevity's fake, that would, I am fenfible, have been a great
advantage to the hiftory if they had been inferted 5 particu-
larly- the account of his wonderful fucceffes among the Indians:,
whidh for fubftance is the fame in his private diary with that
whicn. has already been made public, in the 'Journal he kept
by '-Qrder of the Society in Scotland, for their information.
That account, I am of opinion, would be more entertaining
and more profitable, if it were publiihed as it is written in his
diary, in connection with his fee ret religion and the inward
cxercifes of his mind, and alfo with the preceding and follow-
ing parts of the ftory of his life. But becaufe that account
has been published already, and becaufe the adding it here
would make the book much more bulky and more coftly,
which might tend to difcourage the purchafe and perufal ofit,
and fo render it lefs extensively ufeful, I have therefore omit-
ted that part. However, this defeft may in a great meafure
be made up to the reader, by his purchafmg his public Jour-
nal, and reading it in its place, with this hiftory of his life -,
which undoubtedly would be well worth the while for every
-*.ader, and v^juld richly recompenfe the additional coft of thf:
B
JO PREFACE.
purchafe. I hope therefore, that thofe of my readers who are
not furnilhed with that book, will, for their own profit and en-
tertainment, and that they may have the (lory of this excel-
lent perfon more complete, procure one of thofc- books ; with-
out which he muft have a very imperfecl view of the moft
important part of his life, and (on fome accounts) of the moil
remarkable and wonderful things in it*. 1 fhould ?lfo ob-
ferve, that befides that book, and antecedent to it, there is a
narrative relating to the Indians affairs, annexed to Mr Pem-
berton's fermon at Mr Brainerd's ordination -f-j which likewiie
may the more profitably be read in conjunction with his diary
previous to November 5. 1744.
But it is time to end this preface, that the reader may be no
longer detained from the hiftory itfelf.
JONATHAN EDWARDS.
JV. B. Thofe parts of the following hiftory that are inclu-
ded between brackets thus [ J, are the words of the
publijher^ for the moft part, fummarily representing (for
brevity's fake) the fubftance or chief things contained in
Mr Brainerd's diary, for fuch a certain fpace of time as
is there fpecified } the red is the account that he gives
of himfelf in his private writings, in his own words.
I prefume, fcarce any reader needs to be told, that [A. JE,t.~\
on the top of the pa^e, iignifies, the year of his age, and
/ Z).] the year of our Lor a 1 .
* To f apply the defect here mentioned, the publijber of this edition of
Mr BrainereTs life procured a copy of the Journal refert e d to t 'which tie
reader will find ful joined to the end of the life.
f In order that Mr Brainerd's life might be complete, the reader will
clfo bav'c the pleafure tfpfrttjing, at the end of the Journal, the narra-
tive relating to the Indian affairs, here referred to..
AN ACCOUNT
LIFE OF MR. DAVID BRAINERD,
PART I.
FROM HIS BIRTH, TO THE TIMS WHEN HE BEGAN TO DEVOTE HIM
SELF TO THE STUDY OF DIVINITY, IN ORDER TO HIS BEING FIT-
TED FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY.
[1%/TR David Brainerd was born April 20. 1718. at Had-
J-T * dam, a town belonging to the county of Hartford,
in the colony of Connecticut, New England. His father, who
died when this his fon was about nine years of age, was the
Worfhipful Hezekiah Brainerd, Efq. an afliftant, or one o
his Majefly's council for that colony, and the fon of Daniel
Brainerd, Efq. a juftice of the peace, and a deacon of the
church of Chrift in Haddam. His mother was Mrs Dorothy
Hobart, daughter to the Reverend Mr Jeremiah Hobart, who
preached a while at Topsfield, and then removed to Hemp-
$cad on Long-Ifland, and afterwards removed from Hemp-
ftead, (by reafon of numbers turning Quakers, and many ci-
thers being fo irreligious, that they *vould do nothing towards
the fupport of the miniftry), and came and fettled in the work
of the iiuniihy at Haddam j where he died in'the 5th year
of his age : of whom it is remarkable, that he went to the
public worfhip in the forenoon, and diect in his chair between
meetings. And this reverend gentlema. "as fon of the Rev-
erend Mr Peter Hobart, who was. firi minifter of the ^of-
pe: ct Hingharn, in the county of Norfolk in England *, and,
12 THE LIFE OF
by reafon of the perfecution of the ]P-uritans, removed with
his family to New hgland, and was fettled in the miniilry at
Hingham, in the MaiTachufetts. He had five fons, viz. Jo-
fhua, Jeremiah, Gerfhom, Japheth, and Nehemiah. His fon
Jofhua was minifter at Soathold on Long-Ifland ; Jeremiah
was Mr David Brainerd's graudfr*hcr, minifter at Haddarn,
as was before obferved j Gerihom was minifter of Groton ia
Connecticut j Japheth was a phyiician, and went in the quali-
ty of a doctor of a (hip to England, (before the time for the
taking his fecond degree at college), and defigned to go from
thence to the Eaft-Indies, and never was heard of more ; Ne-
hemiah was fometime fellow of Harvard college, and after-
wards minifter at Newton in the Maflachufetts. The mother
oflVIrs Dorothy Hobart (who was afterwards Brinerd) was
daughter to the Reverend Mr Samuel Whiting, minifter of
the gofpel, firft at Bofton in Lincolnfhire, and aftei-rards at
Lynn in the Maffachufetts, New England : he had three fens
that were minifters of the gofpel.
Mr David Brainerd was the third fon of his parents. They
had five fons and four daughters. Their eldeft fon is Heze-
kiajb Brainerd, Efq. a juftice of the peace, and for feveral
years paft a reprefentative of the town of Haddam, in the
general affembly of Connecticut colony j the fecond was the.
Reverend Mr Nehemiah Brainerd a worthy minifter at Eaft-
Lury in Connecticut, who died of a confumption Nov. 10,
1742.; the fourth is Mr John Brainerd, who fucceeds his bro-
ther David, as miffionary to the Indians, and paftor of the
fame church of Chriftian Indians in New-Jerfey ; and the fifth
was Ifr'iei, lately ftudent at Yale-college in New-Haven, and
died ii:-ce his brother David. Mrs Dorothy Brainerd having
lived Tcver.il years a widow, died, when her fon, ivhofe life
I am a ^out tc give an account of, was about fourteen years of
age , fo i :t in his youth he was left both father lefs and mo -
therlefs. Vvhat account he has given of himfelf, and his own
life, msy be feen in what follows.]
I. i MR DAVID BRA1NERD.
WAS, I think*, from my y outh fomething fober, and inclin-
ed rather to melancholy ^than the contrary extreme j but do
not remember any thing of conviction of fin, worthy of remark
till I was, I believe, about feven or eight years of age j when
I became fomething concerned for my foul, and terrified at the
thoughts of death, and was driven to the performance of du-
ties : but it appeared a melancholy bufinefs, and deftroyed my
eagernefs for play. And alas ! this religious concern was but
ihort-lived. However, I fonaetimes attended fecret prayer -,
and thus lived at " cafe in Zion, without God in the world,"
and without much concern, as I remember till 1 was above
thirteen years of age. But fometime in the winter 1732, I
was fomething roufed out of carnal fecurity, by I fcarce know
what means at firft j but was much excited by the prevailing
of a mortal ficknefs in Haddam. I was frequent, conftant, and
fomething fervent in duties, and took delight in reading, efpe-
cially Mr Janeway's Token for children j I felt fometimes
melted in duties, and took great delight in the performance of
them j and I fometimes hoped that I was converted, or at
leaft in a good and hopeful way for heaven and happinefs, not
knowing what converfion was. The Spirit of God at this
time proceeded far with me j I was remarkably dead to the
world, and my thoughts were almoft wholly employed about
rny foul's concern j and I may indeed fay, " Almoft I was
pcrfuaded to be a Chriftian." I was alfo exceedingly diftref-
fed and melancholy at the death of my mother, in March 1732.
But afterwards my religious concern began to decline, and I
by degrees fell back into a confiderable degree of fecurity.
though I ftill attended fecret prayer frequently.
About the I5th of April 1733, 1 removed from my father's
houfe. to Eail-Haddam, xvhere I fpent four years, but ftill
" without God in the world $" though, for the moft part I
went a round of fecret duty. I was not exceedingly addicted
to young company, or frolicking (as it is called). But this I
know, that when I did go into company, I never returned from
a frclick in my life with fo good a confcience as I went with ;
it always added new guilt to me, and made me afraid to come
to the- throne of gtucc, and fpoilcd thofe good frames I wa*
14 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1736.
wont fometimcs to pleafe myfelf with. But, alas ! all my
good frames were but felf-righteoufnefs, not bottomed on a de-
fire for the glory of God.
About the latter end of April 1737, being full nineteen
years of age, I removed to Durham, and began to work on my
farm, and fo continued the year out, or near, till I was twen-
ty years old ; frequently longing, from a natural inclination,
after a liberal education. When I was about twenty years of
age, I apply ed myfelf to ftudy j and fometime before, was
more than ordinarily excited to and in duty j but now engaged
more than ever in the duties of religion. I became very ft rift,
and watchful over my thoughts, words, and aclions j and
thought I mull be fober indeed, becaufe I defigned to devote
myfelf to the miniftry ; and imagined I did dedicate myfelf to
the Lord.
Some time in April 1738, I went to Mr Fifke's, and lived
with, him during his life *. And I remember, he advifed me
wholly to abandon young company, and affociate myfelf with,
grave, elderly people 5 which counfel I followed j and my man-
ner of life was now exceeding regular, and full of religion, fuch
as it was j for I read my Bible more than twice through in an
year j I fpent much time in fecret prayer, and other fecret du-
ties j I gave great attention to the word preached, and endea-
voured to my utmoft to retain it. So much concerned was I a-
bout religion, that I agreed with fome young perfons to meet
privately on Sabbath-evenings for religious exercifes, and
thought myfelf fincere in thefe duties ; and after our meeting
was ended, I ufed to repeat the difcourfes of the day to my-
felf, and recollect what I could, though fometimes it was ve-
ry late in the night. Again, on Monday-mornings I ufed
fometimes to recalled the fame fermons. And I had fometimes
conuderable uiovings of affections in duties, and much plea-
lure, a#d had many thoughts of joining to the church. In
fhort, I had a very good outiide, an 4 relied entirely on my du-
ties, though I WHS not fenfible of it.
After Pr Filke's death, I proceeded in my learning with
my brother j and was it ill very conilant in religious duties,
* Mr Fifkc K-as tie pajlir of the chrrcb in Haddam;
JET. 21. MR DAVID B R Al N E R D. 15
and often wondered at the levity of profefibrs -, it was a trouble
to me that they were fo careleis in religious matters. Thus
I proceeded a confiderable length on a f elf -right eons founda-
tion j and (hould have been entirely loll and undone, had not
the mere mercy of God prevented.
I Some time in the beginning of winter, anno 1738, it pleaf-
ed God, on one Sabbath day morning, as I was walking out
for foms fecret duties, -as I remember, to give me on a fud-
den fuch a fenfe of n y .1. nggr, and the wrath of God, that I
flood amazed ; and my former good frames, that I had pleaf-
ed myfelf with, all preienlly vain-lied, j and from the view that
I had of my fin and vllcnefs, I was much diilreiTed all that
day, fearing the vengeance of God would foon overtake me.
I was much dejecled, and kept much alone, and fometimes be-
grudged the birds and beafts their happinefs, becaufe they
were not'expofed to eternal mifery, as I evidently faw I was: V
And thus I lived -from day to day, being frequently in great
diftrefs : fometimes there appeared mountains before me to
obftruft my hopes of mercy j and the work of converfion ap-
peared fo great, I thought L Ihould never be the fubjed of it ,
but ufed, however, to pray and cry to God, and perform other
duties with great earneflnefs, and hoped by fome means to
make the cafe better. And though I hundreds of time re-
nounced all pretences of any worth in ray duties, as I thought,
even in the feafon of the performance of them, and often con-
feffed to God that I deferved nothing for the very belt of them
but eternal condemnation ; yet ftill I had a fecret latent !?opc
of recommending myfslf to God by my religious duties j and
when I prayed affectionately, and my heart feemed in fome
meafure to melt, i hoped God would be thereby moved to pi-
ty me; my prayers then looked with fome appearance oigood-
ncfs in them, and I feemed to mourn for fin : and then I could
in fome meafure venture on the mercy of God in Chrift, as
I thought, though the preponderating thought and founda-
tion of my hope was fome imagination ot goodne/sin. my heart-
meltings, and flowing of affeclions in duty, and fometimes ex-
traordinary enlargements therein, &c. Though at fome times
the gate appeared foveryflrait that it looked next to irapoflible
to enter, yet at other times I flattered myfelf that it was not
l6 THELIFEOF A. D. 1739.
fo very difficult, and hoped I ihould by diligence and watch-
fulnefs foon gain the point. Sometimes, after enlargement in
duty and confiderable affection, I hoped I had made a good
Jlep towards heaven, and imagined that God was affected as I
was, and that he would hear fuch fincc re crier, (as I called
them) : and fo fometimes when I withdrew for fecret duties
j;i great diftrefs, I returned fomething comfortable j and thus
healed myfelf with my duties.
Sometime in February 1*738-9, I fet apart a day for fecret
fafting and prayer, and fpent the day in almoft inceiTant cries
to God for mercy, that he would open my eyes to fee ths evil
of fin, and the way of life by Jefus Chrift. And God was
plcafed that day to make considerable difcoveries of my heart
to me. But dill 1 trujled in all the duties I performed ; tho'
there was no manner of goodnefs in the duties I then perform-
ed, there being no manner of refpecl to the glory of God in
them, nor any fuch principle in my heart j yet God was pleafed
to make my endeavours that day a means to fliew me my help-
lejfnefs in fome rneafure.
Sometimes I was greatly encouraged, and imagined that
God loved me, and was pleafed with me, and thought I mould
foon be fully reconciled to God j while the whole was founded
on znerefrcfumfition, arilingfrom enlargement in duty, or flow-
ing of affections, or fome good refolutions, and the like. And
when, at times, great diftrefs began to arife on a fight of my
vilenefs and nakednefs, and inability to deliver myfelf from a
fovereign God, I ufed to put off the difcovery, as what I could
not bear. Once, I remember, a terrible pang of diftrefs feiz-
ed me 5 and the thoughts of renouncing myfeif, and Handing
naked before God, ftripped of all goodnefs, were fo dreadful
to me, that I was ready to fay to them as Felix to Paul, u Go
'* thy way for this time." Thus, though I daily longed for
greater convection of fin, fuppofingthat I muft fee more of my
dreadful flate in order to a remedy j yet when the difcoveries
of my vile hellifli heart were made me, the fight was fo dread-
ful, and fhewed me fo plainly my expofednefs to damnation,
that I could not endure it. 1 conftantly flrove after what-
ever qualifications I imagined others obtained before the re-
ception of Chrift, in order to recommend me to his favour,.
31T. 22. ' MR DAVID B R A I N E R D. I 7
Sometimes I felt the power of an hard heart, and fuppofed it
mud be foftened before Chrifl would accept of me j and- when
I felt any meltings of heart, I hoped now the work was al-
moft done : and hence, when my diftrefs dill remained, I. was
wont to murmur at God's dealings with me \ and thought,
when others felt their hearts foftened, God mewed them mer-
cy j but my diftrefs remained fiill.
Sometimes I grew remifs andJIuggi/Jj, without any great
convictions of fin, for a confiderable time together ; but after
fuch a feafon, convictions fometimes feized me more violently.
One night I remember in particular, when I was walking fo-
litarily abroad, I had opened to me fuch a view of my fin, that
I feared the ground would cleave afunder under my feet, an'd
become my grave, and fend my foul quick to hell, before I
could get home. And though I was forced to goto bed, left
my diftrefs mould be difcovered by others, which I much fear-
ed j yet I fcarce durfl ileep at all, for I thought it would be a
great wonder if I mould be out of hell in the morning. And
though my diftrefs was fometimes thus great, yet I greatly
dreaded the lofs of convictions, and returning back to a Hate
of carnal fecurity, and to my former infenfibility of impend-
ing wrath y which made me exceeding exact in my behaviour,
left I mould ftifle the motions of God's Spirit. When at any
time I took a view of my convictions of my own firtfulnefs,
and thought the degree of them to be confiderabie, I was
wont to truft in my convictions ; but this confidence, and the
ho;>es that arofe in me from it of foon making fome notable
advances towards deliverance, would eafe my mind, and I foon
became more fenfelefs and remifs ; but then again, when I dif-
cerned my convictions to grow languid, and I thought them a-
bout to leave me, this immediately alarmed and diftreffed me.
Sometimes I expected to take a large ftep, an^ get very far
towards converfion, by fome particular opportunity or means
I had in view.
The many difappointments, and great difti'effes and per-
plexity I met with, put me into a moft horrible frame of con-
tefling with the Almighty - 7 with an inward vehemence and
virulence, finding fault with his ways of dealing with man-
kind. I found great fault with the imputation of A-
iS THE LIFE OF A. D. 1739.
dam's fin to his pofterity ; and my wicked heart often vviihed
for forae other way of falvation than by Jefus Chrift. And
being like the troubled fea, and my thoughts confufed, I ufed
to contrive to efcape the wrath of God by fome other means,
and had ftrange projections, full of Atheifm, contriving to
difappoint God's deiigns and decrees concerning me, or to ef-
cape God's notice, and hide myfelf from him. But when, up-
on reflection, I faw thefe projections xvere vain, and would not
ferve me, and that I could contrive nothing for my own re-
lief, this would throw my mind into the moil horrid frame, to
wifh there was no God, or to wifli there were fome other God
that could controul him, &c. Thefe thoughts and defires
were the fecret inclinations of my heart, that were frequently
afting before I was aware j but alas ! they were mine, although
I was affrighted with them, when I came to rerleft on them :
When I confidered of it, it diftreffed me to think that my
heart was fo full of enmity againft God ; and it made me trem-
ble, left God's vengeance ihould fuddenly fall upon me. I
ufed before, to imagine my heart was not fo bad as the fcrip-
tures and fome other books reprefented. Sometimes I ufed
to take much pains to work it up into a good frame, a hum-
ble fubmiflive difpofition ^ and hoped there was then fome
goodnefs in me j but it may be on a fudden, the thoughts of
the ilrifinefs of the law, or the fovereignty of God, would fo
irritate the corruption of my heart, that I had fo watched over,
and hoped I had brought to a good frame, that it xvould break
over all bounds, and burfl forth en all fides, like floods of wa-
ters when they break down their dam. But being fenfible
of the neceflity of a deep humiliation in order to a laving clofe
with Cl'iriil, I ufed to let myfclf to work in my own heart
thofe convictions that were requifite in fuch an humiliation ,
as, a conviction, that God would be juft, if he caft me oil for
ever j and that if ever God mould beilo\v mercy on me, it
would be mere grace, though I fhould be in diflrefs many
years firft, and be never fo much engaged in duty ; that God
was not in the leafl obliged to pity me the more for all pail
duties, cries, and tears, &c. Thefe things I ftreve to my ut-
moil to biing myfelf to a firm belief of, and hearty affent to j
and hoped that now I was brought off from myfelf, and truly
JET. 22. MR DAVID BRAINERD. Ip
hunsbled and bowed to the divine fovereignty , and was wont
to tell God in my prayers, that now I had thofe very difpoli-
dons of foul that he required, and on which he {hewed mercy
to others, and thereupon to beg and plead for mercy to me
But when I found no relief, and was ftill oppreffed with guilt
and fears of wrath, my foul was in atumult, and my heart rofe
agamft God a$ dealing hardly with me. Yet then my con-
fcience flew in my face, putting me in mind of my late confef-
fion to God of his juftice in my condemnation, &c. And
thi giving me a fight of the badnefb of my heart, threw me a-
gain into diftrefs, and I wiflied I had watched my heart more
narrowly, to keep it from breaking out againft God's dealings
with me, and I even wiilied I had not pleaded for mercy on
account of my humiliation, becaufe thereby I had loft all my
feeming good&efs.
Thus, fcores of times, I vainly imagined myfelf humbled and
prepared for faving mercy.
While 1 was in this diftrefled, bewildered, and tumultuous \
flate of mind, the corruption of my heart was efpecially irri- J
tated with thefe things following : - "
l\i. The ftriclnefs of the divine law For I found it was
impoffible for me, after my utmoft pains, to anfwer the de-
mands of it. I often made new refolutions, and as often broke
them. I imputed the whole to carleffnefs, and the want of
being more watchful, and ufed to call myfelf a fool for my ne-
gligence. But when, upon a ftronger refolution, and greater
endeavours, and clofe application of mylelf to failing and pray-
er, I found all attempts fail, then I quarrelled with the law of
God as unreafonably rigid, I thought if it extended only
to my outward actions and behaviours, I could bear with it j
but I found it condemned me for my evil thoughts, and fins
of my heart, which I could not poflibly prevent. I was ex-
tremely loth to give out and own my utter helpleffnefs in this
matter ; but after repeated disappointments, thought that, ra-
ther than perim, J could do a little more ftill, efpecially if
fuch and fuch circumftances might but attend my endeavours
and llrivings j I hoped that I mould ftrive more earneftiy than
ever if the matter came to extremity, though I never could
find the time to do my utmoft in the manner I intended, and
TH E LIFE OF A. D. 1739.
this hope of future more favourable circumftances, and of doing
fomething great hereafter, kept me from utter defpair in my-
felf, and from feeing myfelf fallen into the hands of a fovereign
God, and dependent on nothing but free and boundlefs grace.
2. Another thing was, that faith alone was the condition of
Jahatlon ; and that God would not come down to lowtr terms j
that he would promife life and falvation upon my lincere and
hearty prayers and endeavours. That word, Mark xvi. 16.
" He that believeth not (hall be damned," cut oft all hope
there 5 and I found, faith was the fovereign gift of God j that
I could not get it as of myfelf, and could not oblige God to
"beftow it upon me by any of my performances, Eph. ii. I. 8.
" This," I was ready to fay, " is a hard faying ; who can hear
it ?" I could not bear that all I had done mould ftand for
mere nothing, who had been very confcientiousinduty, and had
been exceeding religious a great while, and had, as I thought,
done much more than many others that had obtained mercy.
I confeifed indeed the vilenefs of my duties j but then, what
made them at that time feem vile was my wandering thoughts
in them j not becaufe I was all over defiled like a devil, and
the principle corrupt from whence they flowed, fo that I could
not poflibly do any thing that was good. And therefore I
called what I did by the name of honeft, faithful endeavours ;
and could not bear it, that God had made no promifes of fal-
vation to them.
3. Another thing was, that I could not find out what faith
was, or what it was to believe, and come to Chrift : I read the
calls of Chrift made to the weary and heavy laden j but could
find no way that he directed them to come in. I thought I
would gladly come if I knew how, though the path of duty di-
rected to were never fo difficult. I read Mr Stoddard's Guide
to Chrift, (which I truft was, in the hand of God, the happy
means of my converfion,) and my heart rofe againft the author j
for though he told me my very heart all along under convic-
tions, andfeemed to be very beneficial to ine in his directions j
yet here he failed, he did not tell me any thing I could do,
that would bring me to Chrift, but left me as it were with a
great gulph between me and Ghriil, without any direction to
get through, For J was not yet effectually and experimental-
JET. 22. MR DA.V1D E R A 1 N E R D. 21
ly taught, that there could be no way prefcribed, whereby a
natural man could, of his own ftrength, obtain that which is
fupernatural, and which the higheft angel cannot give.
4. Another thing that I found a great inward oppofition to,
was the fovereignty of God. I could not bear, that it fhould
be wholly at God's pleafure, to fave or damn me juft as he
would. That paffage, Rom. ix. n 23. was a conftant
vexation to me, efpecially verfe 21. The reading or medita-
ting on this always deftroyed my feeminggood frames: when
I thought I was almoft humbled, and almoft reiigned to God's
fovereignty, the reading or thinking on this paffage would
make my enmity againft the fovereignty of God appear. And
when I came to reflect on my inward enmity and blafphemy
that arofe on this occafion, I was the more afraid of God, and
driven further from any hopes of reconciliation with him , and
it gave me fuch a dreadful view of myfelf, that I dreaded more
than ever to fee myfelf in God's hands, and at his fovereign
difpofal, and it made me more oppofite than ever tofubmitto
his fovereignty ; for I thought God deiigned my damnation.
All this time the Spirit of God was powerfully at work
with me ; and I was inwardly preffed to relinquim allJeJf-con-
Jidence^ all hopes of ever helping myfelf by any means what-
foever : and the conviction of my loft eftate was fometimes fo
clear and manifeft before my eyes, that it was as if it had been
declared to me in fo many words, " It is done, it is done, it
" is for ever impoffible to deliver yourfelf." For about three
or four days, my foul was thus diftreffed, efpecially at fome
turns, when for a few moments I feemedto myfelf loft and un-
done ; but then would flirink back immediately from the fight,
becaufe I dared not venture myfelf into the hands of God,
as wholly helnlefs, and at the difpofal of his fovereign plea-
fure. I dared not to fee that important truth concerning my-
felf, that I was dead in {rfffpaffcs andjlns. But when I had
as it were thruft away thefe views of myfelf at any time, I
felt di'ftreffed to have the fame difcoveries of myfelf again ;
for I -greatly feared being given over of God to final ftupidity.
When I thought of putting it off to a more convenient feafon,
the conviction was to clofe and powerful with regard to the
prefent tirnCj that it waithebeft time, and probably the o:;;-<
22 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1739.
time, that I dared not put it off. It was the fight of truth
concerning myfelf, truth refpecling my itate, as a creature
fallen and alienated from God, and that confcquently could
make no demands on God for mercy, but muil fubfcribe to the
abfolu-te fovcreignty of the divine Being ; the fight of the
truth, I fay, my foul flirunk away from, and trembled to think
of beholding. Thus, " He that doth evil," as all unregene-
rate men continually do, " hates the light of truth," neither
cares to come to it, becaufe it will reprove his deeds, and
Ihevv him his juft defeits, John iii. 20. And though fome time
before, I had taken much pains, as I thought, to fubmit to
the fovereignty of God, yet I mi Hook the thing j and did not
once imagine, that feeing and being made experimentally fen-
lible of this truth, which my foul now fo much dreaded and
trembled at a fenfe of, was the frame of foul that I had been
fo eernefl in purfuit of heretofore j for I had ever hoped, that
when I had attained to that humiliation, which I fuppofed ne-
ceffary to go before faith, then it would not be fair for God
to caft me off; but now I faw it was fo far from any goodnefs in
me, to own myfelf fpiritually dead, and deftitute of all good-
Kefs, that, on the contrary, my mouth would be for ever flop-
ped by it j and it looked as dreadful to me, to fee myfelf, and
the relation I flood in to God f as a finner and I criminal, and
he a great Judge and Sovereign, as it .would be to a poor
trembling creature to venture off fome high precipice. And
hence I put it qff for a minute or two, and tried for better
circuraflances to do it in j either I mull read a paffage or two,
or pray firft, or foinething of the like nature ; or elfe put off
my fubmiffion to God's fovereignty with an objection, that
I did not know how to fubmit. But the truth was, I could fee
no fafety in owning myfelf in the hands of a fovereign God,
and that I could lay no claim to any thing better than damna-
tion.
But after a conflderable time fpcnt i;,i fuch like exercifes
and diflreffes, one morning, while I walking in a folitary place
as ufaal, I at once fav/ that all my contrivances and projections
to effect or procure deliver3i.ce and falvation for myfelf were
utterly in vain , I was brought ouite to a ftand as finding my
felf totally .loft. 1 had thought many times before that the
MR BAY ID BRAINERD.
difficulties in my way were very great j but now I faw, in an-
other and very different light, that it was for ever impoffible
for me to do any thing towards helping or delivering myfelf.
Ithen thought of bl iming myfelf, that I had not done more, and
been more engaged, while I had opportunity j for it feenaed
now as if the leafon of doing was for ever over and gone :
But I inftantly faw that let me have done what I would, it
would no more have tended to my helping myfelf, than
what I had done ; that I had made all the pleas I ever
could have made to all eternity j and that all my pleas were
vain. The tumuli that had been before in my mind, was
now quieted; and I was fomething eafed of that diftrefs
which I felt while ftruggling againft a fight of myfelf and
of the divine fovereignty. I had the greateft certainty that
my flate was for ever miferable, for all that I could do j and
wondered, that I had never been fenfible of it before.
In the time while 1 remained in this (late, my #<9//aj refpecting
my duties were quite different from what I had entertained
in times paft. Before this, the more I did in duty, the more
I thought God was obliged to me -, or at leail the more hard
J thought it would be for God to call me off j though at the
fame time I confeiTed, and thought I faw, that there was no
goodnefs or merit in my duties ; but now the more I did in
prayer or in any other duty, the more I faw I was indebted
to God for allowing me to alk for mercy ; for I faw, it was
felf-intereft had led me to pray, and that I had never once
prayed from any refpecl: to the glory of God. Now I faw
there was no neceffary connection between my prayers and
the beilowment of divine mercy ; that they laid not the leail
obligation upon God to bellow his grace upon me j and that
there was no more virtue or goodnefb in them than there
would be in my paddling with my hand in the water, (which
was th^comparifon I had then in my mind ;) and this becaufe
they were not performed from any love or regard to God. I
faw, that 1 had been heaping up my devotions before God,
failing, praying, &c. pretending, and indeed really thinking,
at fome times that I was aiming at the glory of God ; where-
as I never once truly intended it, but only my own happinefs.
I faw thitf as I had never done any thing for God, I had no
-4 THE LIFE OF A. D.I 739.
claim to lay to any tiling n c i l,im ur p,- d' . ion, on account
of my hypocvily and mockery. Oh how different did my
dmlfis now appear from what they ufed to de ! I ufed to charge
then; -ith fin and imperfection ; but this was only on account,
of the wandering and vain thoughts attending them, and not
brcaufe I had no regard to God in them j for this I thought
I had- But when I fa'v evidently that I had regard to nothing
but felf-intereft, then they appeared vile mockery of God,
felf-wcrfti.'p and a continual courfe of lies - y fo that I fawnow,
there was fome tiling worfe had attended my dut'es than
barely a few wanderings, &c. j for the whole was nothing but
felr-w r orftiip, and an horrid abufe of God.
l! I continued, as I remember, in this ft ate of mind, from Fri-
day morning till the Sabbath-evening following, July 12. 1739.
when I was walking again in the fame folitary place, where I
\vas brought to fee myfelf lo.ft and helplefs, (as was before
mentioned) j and here, in a mournful melancholy fiate, was
attempting to pray, but found no heart to engage in that or a-
ny other duty 5 my former concern and exercife and religious
arTe&ions were now gone. I thought the Spirit of God had
^uite left me * 7 but ftiil was not diftrerTed : yet difconfblate,
as if there was nothing in heaven or earth could make me hap-
py. And having been thus endeavouring to 'pray (though be-
ing, as I thought, very ftupid and,fenfelefs) for near half an
hour, (and by this time the fun was about half an hour high,
as I remember,) then, as I was walking in a dark thick
grove, unfpcaltable glory feemed to open to the view and ap-
prehenfion of my foul : I do not mean any external brightnefs,
for I faw no fuch thing 5 nor do I intend any imagination of
a body of ligbt, fome where away in the third heavens, or
any thing of that nature j but it was a new inward apprehen-
on or view that I had of God, fuch as I never had before,
nor any thing which had the leail refemblance of it. I flood
Hill, and wondered and admired ! I knew that I never had
feen before any thing comparable to it for excellency and beau-
ty j it was widely different from all the conceptions that ever
I had had cf God, or things divine. I had no particular ap-
prehenilon of any one perfon in the Trinity, either the Father,
l he Son, or the Holy Ghofl 5 but it appeared to be
22 M R D A . V I D B R A I N E R D. 2^
that I then beheld ; and my foul rejoiced with joy unfpeakable,
to fee fuch a God, fuch a glorious divine Being 5 and I was
inwardly pleafed and fatisfied that he mould be God over all
for ever and ever. My foul was fo captivated and delighted
with the excellency, lovelinefs, greatnefs, and other -perfec
tions of God, that I was even {wallowed up in him j at leaft
to that degree, that I had no thought, (as I remember) at
fir/1, about my own falvation, and fcarce reflected that there
was fuch a creature as myfelf. (
Thus God, I truft, brought me to a hearty difpofition to
exalt him, and fet him on the throne, and principally and ul-
timately to aim at his honour and glory, as king of the uni-
veife.
I continued in this flate of inward joy and peace, yetaf-
tonilhment, till near dark, without any fenfible abatement j
and then began to think and examine what I had feen ; and
felt fweetly compofed in my mind all the evening following.
I felt myfelf in a rcw world, and every thing about me ap-
peared with a different afpecl from what it was wor.t to do.
At this time the way offalvation opened to me with fuch in-
finite wifdom, fuitablenefs, and excellency, that I wondered
I ihould ever think of any other way of falvation j was a-
mazedthat I had not dropt my own contrivances, and complied
with this lovely, blefled, and excellent way before. If I
couldhavebeenfavedby my own duties, orany otlfer way that I
had formerly contrived, my whole foul would now have re-
iufed. I wondered that all the world did not fee and comply
with this way of falvation, entirely by the riglieoitfmfs of
Lbrijl.
The f \veet lelith of what I then felt continued with me for
feveral days, almoft conftantly, in a greater or lefs degree j I
could not but fweetly rejoice in God, lying down and rifingup.
The next Lord's day I felt fomething of the fame kind, though
not fo powerful as before, Eut, not long after, was again
involved in thick darhicfs, and under great diftrefs * ? yet not
of the fame kind with my cmrtefs under convictions. , I was guil-
ty, afraid and afhamed to come before God j was exceedingly '
preffed with a fenfe of guilt : but it was not long before I
i h () tr.:!i) true repentance and joy in God.
20 . THE LIFE. OF A. D. 1740.
In the beginning of September I went to college *, and
entered there, but with fome degree of reluccancy, fearing
left I fhould not be able to lead a life of ftrict religion, in the
O '
midft of fo many temptations. After this, in the vacan-
cy, before I went to tarry at college, it pleafed God to vi-
fit my foul with clearer raanifeftationb of hirnfelf and his
grace. I was fpending fome time in prayer, and felf exami-
nation ; and the Lord by his grace fo Pained into my h.~art
that I enjoyed full aiTurar.c? of his favour, for that time ; and
my foul was unfpeakably refreilied with divine and heavenly
enjoyments. At this time efpecially, as well as Tome others^
fundry paffages of God's word opened to my foul with divine
clearnefs, power, and fwectnefs, fo as to appear exceeding
precious, and with clear and certain evidence of its being
the word of God. I enjoyed confiderable fweetnefs in reli-
gion all the winter following.
In Jan. 1739- -40, the mealies fpread much in college 5 and
I having taken the diftemper, went home to Haddam. But
fome days before I was taken fick, I feemed to be greatly de-
fertedy and nay foul mourned the abfence of the Comfozter ex-
ceedingly : it feemed to me, all comfort was for ever gone j I
prayed and cried to God for help, yet found no prefent com-
fort or relief. But through divine goodnefs, a night or two
before I was taken ill, while I was walking alone in a very re-
tired place, and engaged in meditation and prnycr, I enjoyed
a fweet reueihing vifit, as I truft, from above, fo that my fcul
was raifed f-ir above the fears of death j indeed I rather long-
ed for death than feared it. O how much more refrefhing
this one feafon was, than all the pleafures and delights that
earth x:an afford ! After a day or two 1 was taken with the
rcieailes, and was very ill indeed, fo that I almoft defpaired of
life j but had no diflreffing fears of death at all. However,
through divine goodnefs I foon recovered : yet, by reafon of
hard and clofe ftudies, and being much expofed on account of*
my frefhtnan-mip, I had but little time for fpiritual duties j
my fcul often mourned for want of more time and opportunity
to be alone with God. In the Spring and Summer following,
I had better advantages for retirement, and enjoyed more com-
fort in religion : though indeed my ambition in my iludic?
* Yale coilej>e in New-Haven.
JET. 23. .MR D AV 1 D B R A 1 N E R D. '2J
greatly wronged the activity and vigour of ray fpiritual life :
yet this was ufually the cafe with me, that " in the multitude
" of my thoughts within me, God's comforts principa/fy de-
lighted my foul j" theie were my greateft confolations day by
day.
One day I remember in particular, (I think it was in June
1740), I walked to a considerable diilauce from the college,
in the fields aione at noon, and in prayer found luch unfpeak-
able fweetnefs and delight in God, that I thought, if I muft
continue ftill in this evil world, I wanted always to be there to
behold God's glory : my foul dearly loved all mankind, and
fcnged exceedingly that they (liould enjoy what I enjoyed.
* It feemed to be a little refemblance of heaven.
On Lord's day, July 6, being facrarnent-day, I found foms
divine life and fpiritual refreshment in that holy ordinance.
When I came from the Lord's table, I wondered how my fel-
low-ftudents could live as I was fenfible rnoft did. Next
Lord's day, [uly 13, I had fome fpecial fweetnefs in religion.
Again Lord's day, July 2o. my foul was in a fvveet and
precious frame.
Some time in Auguft following, I becameTo weakly and
difordered, by too clofe application to my fludies, that I was
advifed by my tutor to go home, and difengage my mind from
ftudy, as much as I coulu , for I was grown io \\eak, that I
began to fpit blood. I took his advice, and endeavoured to lay
afide my ftudies. But being breeght very low, I looked death
in the face more ftedfaltly j and the Lord was pleafed to give
me rcnewedly a fweet fenfe and relifh of divine things , and
parti culary in Oclober 13, I found divine help and confola-
tion in the precious duties of fecret prayer and felf-examina-
tion, and my foul took delight in the bleffed God 5 fo like-
wife on the lyth of Oclober.
Saturday, Oclober 18. in my morning devotions, my foul
was exceedingly melted for, and bitterly mourned over my,
exceeding Jlnfulncfs and vilenefs. I never before had felt fo
pungent and deep a fenfe of the odious nature of fin, as at this
time. My foul was then unufually carried forth in love to
God, and had a lively fenfe of God's love to me ? and this
love nnd hope, at that time, call cut fear. Both morning and
28 a THE LIFE OF A. D. 1741
evening I fpent fome time in felf-examination, to find the truth
of grace, as alfo my fitnefc to approach to God at his tab'e
the -next day j and through infinite grace, found the holy Spi-
rit influencing my foul with love to God, as a witnefs within
myfeli.
Lord's day, .October 19. the morning I fe't my foul hun-
gering and thirfting after righteoufnefs. In the forenoon,
while I- .was looking on the facramental elements, and think-
ing that Jefus Charift would foon be " fet forth, crucified be-
" fore me," my foul was filled with light and love, fo that I
was almoft in an ecitafy ; my body was fo weak, I could fcarce-
ly fland. I felt at the fame time an exceeding tendernefs an^
moll fervent love towards alljnankind j fc that my foul and'
all the powers of it feemed, as it v;ere, to melt into foftnefs and
fweetnefs. I>ut in the feafon of the communion, there was
fome abatement of this fwect life and fervour. This love and
joy caft out fear j and my foul longed for perfecl grace and
glory. This fvveet frame conlinnexl till the evening, when my.
foul was fweetly fpiiitual in feeret duties.
Monday, October 7o. I agai-a -found the fwect affiitance of
the holy Spirit in fecret duties, both morning and evening, and
life and-comfort in reiigion through the wliole day.
Tuefday, October 21. I had likewife experience of the
goodnefs:of God in " iliedding abroad his Jove in my heart,"
and giving me delight and confolation in religious duties 5 nnd
all the remaining part of thc'.eek, my fLul-ieemed to be tak-
en up with divine things, i I now fo longed after God and t0
be '. freed from fin, that when I felt myfelf recovering, and
thought I mufl return to college again, which had proved fo
hurtful to my fpiritiual intereft the year pail, I could not but
be grieved, and I thought I had much rather have died 5 for
it diflrelTed me to think of getting away from God. . . But be-
fore I went, I enjoyed feveral fweet and precious feafons of
communion with God, (particularly Gclober 50, and Nov. 4),
wherein my foul enjoyed unfpeakable cornfort.
1 returned to college about Nov. 6. and through the good-
nefs of God, felt the power ofreligion alnroil: daily, for the
fpace of fix weeks.
JETC. 23. M R D A V I D E R A I N E R 0. 9
Nov. z3. In ray evening devotion, I enjoyed precious dif~
r-overics of God, and was unfpeakably reirelhed with that
railage, Heb: xii. 22. 23. 24, that my foul longed to wing a-
vray for the paradife of God 5 I longed to be conformed to
God in all things. A day or two after, I enjoyed much of
the light of God's countenance, moil of the day 5 and my foul
refled in God.
Tuefday, December 9. I was in a comfortable frame of foul
mod of the day ; but efpecial'y in evening-devotions, v/hen
God was pleafrd wonderfully to aflift and ftrengthen me; fo
that I thought nothing mould ever move me from the love of
God in Chrift Jefus my Lord.----O ! one hour with God infi-
nitely exceeds ail the pleafures and delights of this lower
world.
Some time towards the latter end of January 1740, 41, I
grew more cnld and dull in matters of religion, by means of
my old temptation, viz. ambition in my fmdies. But thro*
divine goodnefs, a great and general awakening fpread itfelf
ever the college, about the latter end of February, in which
I was much quickened, and more abundantly engaged in reli-
gion.
[This awakening here fpoken of was at the beginning of
that extraordinary religious commotion through the land,
which is frefh in every one's memory. This awakening was
for a time very great and general at New-haven ; and the col-
lege had no fmall {hare in it : that fociety was greatly reform-
ed ; the iludents in general became ferious, and many of them re-
markably fo, and much engaged in the concerns of their eternal
falvation. And however undefirable the ifiue of the awakenings
of that day have appeared in many others, there have been ma-
nifeftly happy effecls of the impreiTions then made on the minds
of many members of thatcollege. Andbyallthatlcanlearn
concerning Mr Brainerd, there can be no reafon to doubt
but that he had much of God's gracious prefence, and
of the lively actings of true grace., at that time j but yet he
was aftenvards abundantly fenfible, that his religious experi-
ences and affections at that time were not free from a corrupt
mixture,' nor his. conduct to be- acquitted from many thing >
3O THE I< 1 F E OF A.D.I742,
that were imprudent and blameable j which he greatly la-
mented himfelf, and was willing that others fhould forget, that
none might make an ill improvement of fuch air example.
And therefore although in the time of it, he kept a conitant
diary, containing a verv- particular account of what palled
from day to day, for the next thirteen months, from the latter
end of fanunry 1740- -41, forementioned, intwofmail books,
which he called the two firft volumes of his diary, next follow-
ing the account before given of his conviclions, converfion,
and confequent comforts j yet when he lay on his dcalh-bed,
he gave order (unknown to me till after his death) that thefe
txvo volumes fhculd be deftroyed, and in the beginning of the
third book of his diary, he wrote thus, (by the hand of another,
he not being able to write himfelf), " The two preceding vo-
"lum.es immediately following the account of the author's
" cciverlion, are loft. If any are delirous to know how the
" author lived in -general, during that fpace of time, let them
ft read the firft thirty pages of this volume ; where they will
'* find fomething of a fpee;mtn of his ordinary manner of liv-
" ing thro' that whole fpace of time which was about thirteen
11 months j excepting that here he was more refined from
" fome imprudencies and indecent heats, than there 5 but the fpi-
** rit of devotion running through the whole, was the fame."
It could not be otherwife than that one whofe heart had
been ib prepared and drawn to God, as Mr Brainerd's had
been, fiiould be mightily enlarged, animated, and engaged at
the fight of fuch an alteration made in the college, the town,
and land} and fo great an appearance of men's reforming their
lives, and turning from their profanenefs and immorality, toferi-
oufnefsand concern for their falvation, and of religion's reviv-
ing and flouriihing almoft every where. But as an intempe-
rate imprudent zeal, and a degree of enthufiafrn, foon crept in
and mingled itfelf witlv that revival of religion j and fo great
and general an awakening being quite a new thing in the land,
at leaft as to all the living inhabitants of it ; neither people
nor minifters had learned thoroughly to diftinguifh between
folid religion and its delufive counterfeits ; even many minif-
ters of the gofpel, of long ftanding and the bed reputation,
\vere for a time overpowered with the glaring rppcararoJcs of
JET. ^4* M R D A V ID BR A I NE R D. 3!
ef the latter : and therefore furely it was not to be wondered
af-, that young Brainerd, but a fophimore at college, fhould be.
fu \ who was not only young in years, but very young in experi-
ence, and had had but little opportunity for the ftudy of divini-
ty, and ttill lefs for obfervation of the circumftances and e-
vents of fucli an extraordinary Hate of things : a man muft di-
veft himfelf of all reafon to make ftrange of it. In thefe dif-
advantageous circumftances, Brainerd had the unhappinefs to
fcave a tinfture of that intemperate iadifcreet zeal, which was
at that time too prevalent j and was kd, from his high opini-
on of others that he looked upon better than himfelf, into fuch
errors as were really contrary to the habitual temper of his
mind. One inftance of his mifconduct at that time, gave great
offence to the rulers of the college, even to that degree that
they expelled him the fociety j which it is neceffary fhouid
here be particulary related with its circumftances.
In the time of the awakening at college, there were feveral
religious ftudent s that affociated themfelves one with another
for mutual converfation and afliftance in foiritual things, who
were wont freely to open themfelves one to another, as fpe-
cial and in timate friends. Brainerd was one of this company:
And it once happened that he and two or three more cf thefe
his intimate friends were in the hall together, after Mr Whit-
telfey one of the tutors had been to prayer there with the
fcholars ; no other perfon DOW remaining in the hall, but
Brainerd and thefe his companions. Mr Whhtelfey having
been uuufunlly pathetical in his prayer, one of Brainerd's
friends on this occafion afkcd him what he thought of Mr
Whittelfey ; he made anfwer, " he has no more grace than
" this chair." One cf the frefhmcn happening at that time
to be near the hall \ though not in the room) overheard thofe
words of his ; though lie heard no name mentioned, and
knew not who the perfon was which was thus cenfurcd, he in-
formed a certain woman that belonged to the town withal tel-
telling her of his own fufplcJon, via. that he believed Brainerd
f:iid this of fome one or other of the rulers of the college. Where-
upon me vrent and informed the rector, who fent for this frefhmau
and examined him ; and he told the redlor the words that he
heard Brainerd utter, and informed him who were in the room
THE LIFE OF
with him ?,t th::t time. Upon which the rector fent for them 5
they were very Dackward to inform againfl their friend of
that which they looked upon as private converfaticn, and
especially as none but they had heard or knew of whom
he had uttered thofe words-, yet the rector compelled them
to deciaie what he faid, and of whom he faid it. Erain-
erd looked on himfelf greatly abufed in the management of
this affair j and thought that what he faid in private was inju-
rioufly extorted from his friends, and that then it was injurioufly
re-quired of him (as it was wont to be offuchas had been guilty
of feme open notorious crime,) to make a public confeflion,
and to humble himfelf before the whole college in the hall
for what he had faid only in private converfation. He not
complying with this demand, and having gone once to the
feparate meeting at New-Haven, when forbidden by the
rector, and alfo having been accufed by one perfon of fay-
ing concerning the rector, that he wondered he did not expect
to drop down dead for fining the Scholars who followed Mr
Tennent to Milford, though there was not proof of it, (and
JVlr Brainerd ever profefied that he did not remember his
laying any thing to that purpofc) j for thefe things he Was
expelled the college.
Now, how far the circumftances and exigencies of that
day might juflify fuch great feverity in the governors of the
college, I will not undertake to determine ; it being my aim
not to bring reproach on the authority of the college, but oiir
ly to do juftice to the memory of a perfon. who I think to be
eminently one of thofe whofe memory is II fifed. The reader
will fee, in the fequel of the (lory of Mr Brainerd's life *,
what his own thoughts afterwards were of his behaviour in
thefe things, and in how Chriilian a manner he conducted him-
felf, with refpect to this affair : though he ever, as long as he
lived, fuppofed himfelf much abufed, in the management of
it, and in what !*e fufiercd in it.
His expulficnwas in the \viuter annc 1741-2. while he was
in his third year in college.
# Particularly under tte date,, Wedne . 14.1743.
JET. 24. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 33
PART H.
FROM ABOUT THE TIME THAT HE FIRST BEGAN TO DEVOTE HIM-
SELF MORE ESPECIALLY TO THE STODY OF DIVINITY, TILL HE WAS
EXAMINED AND LICENSED TO PREACH, BY THE ASSOCIATION OF
MINISTERS EELONGfNG TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF THE COUN-
TY OF FA1RF1ELD IN CONNECTICUT.
BRAINERD, the Spring after his cxpulfion, went to
live with the Rev. Mr Mills of Ripton, to follow
his iludies with him, in order to his being fitted for the work
of the miniftry ; where he fpent the greater part of the time
till the Affociation licenfed him to preach j but frequently
rode to vifit the neighbouring minifters, particularly Mr Gooke
of StratSeld, Mr Graham of Southbury, and Mr Bellamy o
Bethlehem.
Here (at Mr Mills's) he began the third book of his diary,
in which the account he wrote of himielf, is as follows]
Thurfday, April i. 1742. I feem to be declining with ref-
pecl: to my life and warmth in divine things 5 had not fo free
accefs to God in prayer as ufual of late. O that God would
humble me deeply in the duft before him ! I deferve hell e-
very day, for not loving my Lord more, " who has (I truft)
loved me, and given himfelf for me ;" and every time I am en-
abled to exercife any grace renewedly, I am renewedly in-
debted to the God of all grace for fpecial affcftance. "Where
44 then is boarting ?" Surely " it is excluded," when we think
how we are dependent on God for the being and every aclof
grace. Oh, if ever I get to heaven, it will be becaufe God
will, and nothing elfe ; for I never did any thing of myfelf
but get away from God ! My foul will be aftoniilied at the
unfearchable riches of divine grace, when I arrive at the man-
fions which the bleffed Saviour is gone before to prepare.
Friday, April 2, la the afternoon I felt fomething ftyeet-
ly in fecret prayer, much refigned, calm, and ferene. What
are - all the tforms of this lower world, if Jefus by his Spirit
34 THE LIFE OF A. 0.1742.
does but come walking on the feas ! Some time paft, I had
much pleafure in the profpeft of the Heathen's being brought
home to Chrift, and defired that the Lord would improve me
in that work :--but now my foul more frequently deiiies to
die, to be with Chriil. d) that my foul were wrapt up in di-
vine love, and my longing defires after God increafed ! In
the evening, was refrefhed in prayer, with the hopes of the
advancement of Chrift's kingdom in the world.
Saturday, April 3. Was very much amifs this morning, and
had an ill night laft night. I thought, if God would take
me to himfelf now, my foul would exceedingly rejoice. O
that I may be always humble and refigned to God, and that
God would caufe my foul to be more fixed on himfelf, that I
may be more fitted both for doing and fuffering !
Lord's day, April 4. My heart was wandering and lifelefs.
_._^._In the evening God gave me faith in prayer, and made
my foul rnelt in fome meafure, and gave me to tafle a divine
fweetnefs O my blefled God! Let me climb up near to
him, and love, and long, and plead, and wreftle, and reach,
and flretch after him,, and for deliverance from the body of
iin and death. -Alas ! my foul mourned to think I fhould ever
lofe fight of its beloved again* " O come, Lord Jefus, Amen."
[On 'the evenings of the next day, he complains that he
feeraed to be void of all relifli of divine things, felt much of
the prevalence of 'corruption, and faw in himfelf a difpofition
to all manner of fin j which brought a very great gloom on
his mind, arid cafl him down into the depths of melancholy j
fo that he fpeaks of himfelf as afloniflied, amazed, having no
comfort, being filled with horror, feting no comfort in hea-
ven or earth.]
Tuefday, April 6. I walked out this morning to the fame
place where I was laft night, and felt fomething as I did then ;
but was fomething relieved by reading fome pafTages in my
diary, and feemed to feel as if I might pray to the great God
again with freedom j but was fuddenly ftruck with a damp,
from the ierile I had of my own vilenefs. Then I cried to
God to wafli my foul, and cleanfe me from my Exceeding iii-
24. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 35
thinefs, to give me repentance and pardon j and it began to be
fomething fvveet to pray : And I could think of undergo-
ing the greateft fufferings in the caufe of Chrift with plea-
fare, and found myfelf willing, if God would fo order it, to
fuffer banifliraent from my native land, among the Heathen,
that I might do fomething for their fouls falvation, in diftref-
fes, and deaths of any kind: Then God gave me to wrerlle
earneilly for others, for the kingdom of Chrift in the world,
and for dear Chriftian friends. I felt weaned from the world,
and from my own reputation amongft men, willing to be de-
fpifed, and to be a gazing- ftock for the world to behold. It is
impoflible to exprefshow I then felt " 7 I had not much joy, but
fome fenfe of the majeily of God, which made me as it were
tremble j I faw myfelf mean and vile, which made me more
willing that God mould do what he would with me ; it was ,
all infinitely reafonable.
Wednefday, April 7. I had not fo much fervency, but felt
fomething as I* did yefterday morning, in prayer At noon
I fpent fome time in fecret, with fome fervency, but fcarce a-
ny fweetnefs ; and felt very dull in the evening.
Thurfday, April 8. Had raifed hopes to-day refpefting the
Heathen. O that God would bring in great numbers of them
to Jefus Chrift ! I cannot but hope I mail fee that glori-
ous day. Every thing in this world feems exceeding vile
and little to me j I look fo to myfelf. I had fome little dawn
of comfort to day in prayer ; but efpecially to-night, I think I
had fome faith and power of intercefiion with God; v/as enabled
to plead with God for the growth of grace in. myfelf ; and ma-
ny of the dear children of God then lay with weight upon
my foul. Bleffed be the Lord ! It is good to wreftle for
divine bleffing.
Friday, April 9. Moft of my time in morning devotion was
fpent without feniible fweetnefs j yet I had one delightful pro-
fpecl: of arriving at the heavenly world. I am more amazed
than ever at fuch thoughts } for I fee myfelf infinitely vile,
and unworthy. I feel very heartlefs and dull ; and though I
long for the prefence of God, and feem conftantly to reach
to\vards God in defires, yet I cannot feel that divine and
heavenly fweetnefs that I ufcd to enjoy. No poor creature
36 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1742.
flands in need of divine grace more than I, and none abufcs it
more than I have done, and flill do.
Saturday, April 10. Spent much time in fecret prayer this
morning, and not without Come comfort in divine things, and
I hope I had fome faith in exercife ; but am fo low, and feel
fo little of the fenfible prefence of God, that I hardly know
what to call faith, and am made to " pofltfs the fins of my
" youth, 1 ' and the dreadful fin of my nature, and am all fin j
I cannot think or acl but every motion is fin. I feel fome
faint hopes that God Will, of his infinite mercy, return a-
gain with mowers of converting grace to p'oor gcfpel-abufing
finners , and my hopes of my being improved in the caufe of
Gcd, which of late have been almoft extind, feem now a lit-
tle revived. O that all my late diftreffes and awful appre-
henfions might prove but Chrift's fchool, to make me fit for
greater fervice, by learning me the great leffon of humility !
Lord's day, April 1 1. In the morning, felt but little life,
yet my heart was fomething drawn Cut in thankfulnefs to God
for his amazing grace and condefcenfion to me, in paft influ-
ences and afTiftances of his' Spirit.-- Afterwards had fomefweet-
itfffes in the thoughts of arriving at the heavenly world. O
for the happy day ! After public worfhip, God gave me fpe-
cial nfli fiance in prayer; I wreftled with my dear Lord, with
much fweetnefs j and interceftion was made a fweet and de-
lightful employment to me.- In the evening,.asl was viewing
the light in the north, was delighted in the contemplation of
the glorious morning of the refurreclion.
Monday, April 12. This morning the Lord was pleafed to
lift up the light of his countenance upon me in fecret prayer,
and made the feafon very precious to my foul. And though
I have been fo deprefled of late, refpe&ing my iiopes of fu-
ture ferviceablenefs in the caufe of God j yet now I had much
encouragement refpe&ing that matter. I was fpecially af-
fifted to intercede and plead for poor fouls, .and-for the en-
largement of Chrift's kingdom in the world, and for fpecial
grace for myfelf to fit me for fpecial fer vice's. I felt exceed-
ingly calm, and quite refigned to God, refpe&ing my future
improvement, when and where he pleafed ; my faith lifted
me above the world, and removed all thofe mountains that
JET. 24. MR D A V 1 D B R A 1 N E R D. 37
I could not look over of late , I thought I wanted not the fa-
vour of man to lean upon; for I knew Chris's favour was in-
finitely better ; and that it was no matter wbe.n t or where,
or how Chriil ihould fend me, or what trials he Paould ft ill
exercife me with, if I might be prepared for his work and
will. I now found fweetly revived in my mind the wonder-
ful difcovery of infinite wifdom in all the difpenfations of
God towards me, which I had a little before I met with my
great trial at college ; every thing appeared full of the wif-
dom of God.
Tuefday, April 13. Saw ra^felf to be very mean and vile ;
wondered at t^ofe that (hewed me refpe&. Afterwards was
fcmething comforted in fecret retirement, and was afiiftcd to
wreftle with God, with fome power, fpirituality, and fweet-
nefs. Blefied be the Lord, lie is never unmindful of me, but
always fends me needed fupplies; and from time to time, when
I am like one dead, raifes me to life. O that I may never
diftrufl infinite goodnefs !
Wednefday, April 14. My foul ponged for communion with
Chrift, and for the mortification of ind welling corruption,
efpecially fpiritual pride. O there is a fweet day coming,
wherein " the weary will be at reft S" My foul has enjoyed
much fweetnefs this day in the hopes of its fpeedy arrival.
Thurfday, April 15. My ddires apparently centered in
God, and I found a fenfible attraftion of foul after him fnn-
dry times to-day : I know I long for God, and a conformity
to his will, in inward purity and holinefs, ten thoufand times
more than for any thing here below.
Friday and Saturday, April 16, 17. Seldom prayed without
fome fenfible fweetnefs and joy in the Lord. Sometimes I
longed much " to be diffolved, and to be with Chrift." O
that God would-enable me to grow in grace every day ! Alas,
my barrennefs is fuch that God might well fay, " Cut it
** down." I am afraid of a dead hearten the Sabbath now
begun \ O that God would quicken me by his grace !
Lord's day, April 18. Retired early this morning into the
woods for prayer , had the affiftance of God\Spirit, and
faith in exercife, and was enabled to plead with feivency for
the advancement ef Chrift's. kingdom in the world, and to in-
THE -LIFE OF A. D. 174!*.
tercede for dear abfent friends. At noon, God enabled me
to wreftle with him, and to feel (as I trufi) the power of di-
X'ine love in prayer. At night faw myfelf infinitely indebted
to God, and had a view of my (hortcomings ; it feemed to
me that I had done as it were nothing for God, and that I
,. had never lived to him but a few hours of my life.
Monday, April 19. I fet apart this day for fading and
prayer to God for his grace, efpecially to prepare me for the
work of the miniftry, to give me divine aid and direction in
my preparations for that great work, and in his own time to
" fend me into his harveft." Accordingly, in the morning en-
deavoured to plead for the divine preience for the day, and
not without fome life. In the forenoon, I felt a power of in-
tercefliou for precious immortal fouls, for the advancement of
the kingdom of my dear Lord and Saviour in the world j
and withal a moft fweet refignation, and even confolation and
joy in the thoughts of fuffering hardfhips, dinreiTes, and even
death itfelf, in the promotion of it ; and had fpecial enlarge-
ment in pleading for the enlightening and con verfion of the poor
Heathen. In the afternoon," God was with me of a truth." O
it was jbleffed company indeed ! God enabled me fo to ago-
nize in prayer, that I was quite wet with fweat, though in the
{hade, and the wind cool. My foul was drawn cut very much
for the world ; I grafped for multitudes of fouls. I think I
had more enlargement for iinners than for the children of
God j though I felt as if I could fpend my life in cries for
both. I enjoyed great fweetnels in communion with my dear
Saviour. 1 think I never in my life felt fuch an entire wean-
ednefs from this world, and fo much refigned to God in every
thing. O that I may always live to, and upon my blefled
God ! Arnen, Amen.
Tuefday, April 2O. This day I am twenty-four years of
age. O how much mercy have I received the year part !
How often has God " caufed his goodnefs to pafs before me !"'
And how poorly have 1 anfwered the vows 1 made this time
twelvemonth to be wholly the Lord's, to be for ever devoted
to his fervice ! The Lord help me to live more to his glory
for time to come. This has been a fweet, a happy day to me \
bleffed be God. I think my foul was never fo drawn cut in
JET. 24. MR DAVID B R A I N E R D. 39
intercertion for others, asjt has been this night. Had a molt
fervent wreftle with the Lord to-night for my enemies 5 and
I hardly ever fo longed to live to God, and to be altogether
devoted to him j I wanted to wear out rny life in his fefvice
and for his glory.
Wedaefday, April 21. Felt much calmnefs and refignation,
and God again enabled me to wreftle for numbers of
fouls, and had much fervency in the fweet duties of intercef-
fion. I enjoy of late more fweetnefs in interceffion for others,
than in any other part of prayer. My bleffed Lord really let
me "come near to him, and plead with him."
[The frame of mind, and exercifes of foul, that he expreffes
the three days next following, Thurfday, Friday and Saturday,
are much of the fame kind with thofe exprelTed the two days
paft.]
Lord's day, April 25. This morning fpent two hours in
fecret duties, and was enabled more than ordinary to agonize
for immortal fouls ; though It was early in the morning, and
the fun fcarcely {hined at all, yet my body was quite wet with
fweat. Felt much prefied now, as frequently of late, to plead
for the meeknefs and calmnefs of the;Lamb of God in my foul j
through divine goodnefs, felt much of it this morning. O
it is a fweet difpofition heartily to forgive all injuries done
us j* to wifh our greater! enemies as well as we do our own
fouls ! BleiTed Jefus, ir.ay I daily be more and more conform-
ed to thee. At night was exceedingly melted with divine
love, and had fome feeling fenfe of the bieffednefs of the up-
per world. Thofe words hung upon me, with much divine
fweetnefs, Pfalm Ixxxiv. 7. " They go from itrength to
" ftrength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God."
O the near accefs that God fometimes gives us in ouraddref-
fes to him ! This may well be termed appearing before God ;
it is fo indeed, in the true fpiritual fenfe, :.and in the iweeteft
fcnfe. 1 think I have not had fuch power of interceffion
thefe many months, both for God's children and for dead fin-
ners, as I have had this evening. I wifhed and longed for
the coming of my dear Lord j I longed to join tlie angelic
4O THE LIFE OF A. D.
holts in praifes, wholly free from j^perfe&ion. O the bief-
fcd moment haftens ! All I want is to be more holy, more
like my dear Lord. O for falsification 1 My very foul pants
for the complete reftoration of the blcffed image of rny fweet
Saviour j that I may be fit for the blelTed enjoyments and em-
ployments of the heavenly world.
Farewell, vain 'world ; my foul can bid adieu ;
My SAVIOVR'J taught me to abandon you*
four charms may gratify a feufual mind ;
Not pleafe afoul wholly for GOD defig/i*d*
Forbear t" 1 entice, ccafe then wy foul to call ;
Tisjlx' > d through grace ; my Go'ojball be ?n\' all.
While he thus lets me heavenly glories view,
Tour beauties fade, my heart's no room for you.
The Lord refrefhed my foul with many fweet paflfages of his
word. O the new Jerufalem ! my foul longed for it. O
the fong of Mofes and the Lamb ! and that bleffed fong that
no man can learn, but they that are " redeemed from the
" eaith !" and the glorious white robes that were given to
" the fouls under the altar !"
LORD, Tmajlrangcr here alone;
Earth no trite comforts can afford :
Yet, abfent from in\> dearejl one,
My foul delights tc err, MY LORD f
Jesus, ny LORD, my ouly ioi>f t
Pv/fefs my foul, ?ior thence dcfart :
Grant me kind vi/its, heavenly, dave ;
My Govjball then have all my heart-
Monday, April 26. Continued in a fweet frame of mind,
but in the afternoon felt fomething of fpiritual pride ftirring.
God v, T as pleafed to make it a humbling feafon at firfl j though
afterwards he gave me fweetnefs. O my foul excedingly
longs for that bleffed ilate of perfe&ion of deliverance from,
all fin ! At night, God enabled me tc give ray foul up to him,
to caft rnyfelf upon him, to be ordered and difpofcd of accor-
ding to his fovereign plcafure > and I enjoyed great peace and
confoktion in fo doing. My foul &r>k f'.veet delight in Gocj,
JET. 2^. MR D A-VI'D BRAIN ERD. . 41
to-night : my thoughts freely and fvveetly centered in him. O
that I could fpend every moment of my life to his glory.
Tuefday, April 27. Retired pretty early for fecret devo-
tions , aad in prayer, God was pleafed to pour fuch ineffable
comforts into my foul, that I could do nothing for fomc time
but fay over and over, O my fvveet Saviour ! " Whom have I
*' in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I de-
" fire befides thee." If I had had a thoufand lives, my foul
would gladly have laid them all down at once to have been
with Chrifl. My foul never enjoyed fo much of heaven be-
fore $ it was the moft refined and moil fpi ritual feafon of com-
munion with God I ever yet felt j I never felt fo ^reat a de-
gree of refignation in my life ^ I felt very fweet'y all the
forenoon. In the afternoon I withdrew to meet ;vith my
God, but found myfelf much declined, and God made it a hum-
bling feafon to my foul ; I mourned over the body of death
that is in me j it grieved me exceedingly that I could not
pray to and praife God with my heart full of divine heaven-
ly love. O that my foul might never offer any dead cold fer-
vices to my God ! In the evening had not fo much fvveet di-
vine love as in the morning j but had a fweet feafon of fervent
interceffion.
Wednefday, April ?,3. Withdrew to n?y ufual place of re-
tirement in great peace and tranquillity, and fpent about two
hours in fecret duties. I felt mud: as 1 did yefterJ: 7 morn-
ing, only weaker and more overcome. 1 feemed to hang
and depend wholly on my dear Lord ; wholly weaivd from
all other dependences, I knew not what to fay to my
God, but only lean on his bofom, as it were, and breathe
out my defires after a perfect conformity to him n all
things. Thirfting defires, and infatiable longings poiTeffed
my foul after perfect holinefs ; God was (o precious to my
foul, that the world with all its enjoyments was infinitely
vile : I had no more value for the favour of men than for
pebbles j the Lord was my ALL, and he over-ruled aij, which
greatly delighted me. I think, my faith and dependence on
God icarce ever rofe fo high. I fa whim fuch a fountain of
oodnefs, that it feemed impoffible- 1 ihould diftruft him again,
r be any way anxious about any thing -that ihould happen to
42 THE LIFE Of A. 0.1742
me. I now enjoyed great fweetnefs in praying for abfent
friends, and for the enlargement of ChrifVs kingdom in the
xvorld,-~Much of the power of thefe divine enjoyments re-
mained -with me through the day. In the evening my heart
feemed fweetly to melt, and, 1 truft, was really humbled for
indwelling corruption, and I " mourned like a dove.*'' I felt
that all my unhappinefs arofe from my being a (inner ; for
with reiignation I could bid welcome to all other trials ; but
fin hung heavy upon me ; for God difcovered to me the cor-
ruption of my heart ; fo that I went to bed with a heavy
heart, becaufe I was a (inner ; though I did not in the leaft
doubt of God's love. O that God would " purge away my
*' drofs, and take away my tin," and make me fevcn times re-
fined !
Thuifday, April 29. Was kept off at a diflance from
God j but had fome enlargement in intejrceflion for precious
fouls.
Friday, April 30. Was fomething dejected in fpirit j no-
thing grieves me fo much, as that I cannot live conftantly to
God's glory. I could bear any defertions or fpiritual con-
flidls if 1 could but have my heart all the while burning with-
in me with love to God and defires of his glory j but this is
impoflible 5 for when I feel thefe, I cannot be deje&ed in my
foul, but only rejoice in my Saviour, who has delivered me
from the reigning power, and will fhortly deliver me from
the in- dwelling of fin.
Saturday, May i. Was enabled to cry to God with fer-
vency for minifterial qualifications, and that God would ap-
pear for the advancement of his own kingdom, and that he
would bring in the Heathen world, &c. Had much afilftance
in my fludies. This has been a profitable week to me ; I
have enjoyed many communications of the bleffed Spirit in
my foul.
Lord's day, May 2. God was pleafedthis morning to give
me fuch a fight of myfelf, as made ms appear very vile in my
own eyes 5 1 felt corruption (Hiring in my heart, which I could
by no means fupprefs j felt more and more deferted j was
exceeding weak, and almoft fiok with my inward trials.
Monday, May 3. Had a fenfe of vile ingratitude. In the
morning I withdrew to my ufual place of retirement, and
.T. 25. MR DAVID BRA1NERD. 43
mourned for my abufe of my dear Lord j fpent the day In fad-
ing and prayer j God gave npe much power or wreftling for
his caufe and kingdom ; and it was a happy day to my foul.
God was with me all the day, and I was more above the world
than ever in my life.
[Through the remaining part of this week, he complains ?.l-
moft every day of defertion, and inward trials and confli&s, at-
tended with dejection of fpiritj but yet fpeaks of times of relief
and fweetnefs, and daily refrefhing vifits of the divine Spirit,
affording fpecial afliftance and comfort, and enabling at fome
times to much fervency and enlargement in religious duties. 3
Lord's day, May 9. I think I never felt fo much of the
curfed pride of my heart, as well as the ftubbornnefs of my will
before. Oh dreadful ! What a vile wretch I am ! I could
not fubmit to be nothing, and to lie down in the duft. Oil
that God would humble me in the duft ! I felt myfelf fuch *
finner all day, that I had fcarce any comfort. O when (hall
I be " delivered from the body of this death !" I greatly fear-
ed left through ftupidity and carelefihefs I fliould lofe the be-
nefit of thefe trials. O that they might be fan&ified to my
foul ! Nothing feemed to touch me but only this, that I
was a (inner. Had fervency and refrefhment in focial pray-
er in the evening.
Monday, May 10. Rode to New-Haven r faw fome Chrif-
tian friends there \ had comfort in joining in prayer with.
them, and hearing of the goodnefs of God to themfince I laft
law them.
Tuefday, May 1 1. Rode from New-Haven to Weatherf-
field ; was very dull moft of the day - r had little fpirituality
in this journey, though I often longed to be alone with God \
w r as much perplexed with, vile thoughts j was fometirnes afraid
of every thing ; but God was my helper. Catched a little
time for retirement in the evening, to my comfort and rejoi*
cing. Alas I I cannot live in the midft of a tumult. I long
to enjoy God alone.
Wednefday, May 12. Had a diftreffing view of the pride,
and enmity, and vilenefs of my heart, Afterwards had fwcet
44 'THE LIFE OF A.D. 1742,
refrefhment in .converting, and worfhipping God, with Chrif-.
tian friends.
Thurfday, May 13. Saw fo much of the wickednefs of
my heart, that I longed to get away from myfeif. I never be-
fore thought there was fo much fpiritual pride in my foul j I
felt alaioft preffed to death with my own rilenefs. Oh what
a body of death there is in me ! Lord, deliver my foul. I
could not find any convenient place for retirement, and was
greatly exercifed. Rode to Hartford in the afternoon ; had
fome refrefhmeut and comfort in religious exercifes with Chrif-'
tian friends j but longed for more retirement. O ! the cle-
feft walk with God is the fweeteit heaven that can be enjoyed
on earth !
Friday, May 14. Waited on a council of minifters conve-
ned at Hartford, and fpread before them the treatment I had
met with from the reclor and tutors of Yale College j who
thought it advifeable to intercede lor me with the reclor and
truftees, and to intreat them to reftore me to my former pri-
vileges in college *. -After this, fpent fome time in religi-
ous exercifes with Chriflian friends.
Saturday, May 15. Rode from Hartford to Hebron j was
fomething dejecled on the road j appeared exceeding vile in
my own eyes, faw much pride and 'flubbornnefs in my heart.
Indeed I never faw fuch a week, before as this for I have
been almoft ready to die with the view of the wickednefs of
my heart. I could not have thought I had fuch a body of
death in me. Oh that God would deliver my foul !
[The three next days (which he fpent at Hebron, Leba-
non, and Norwich) he complains 11511 of diilufcfs and defertion,
and expreffes a ferife of his vilenefs, and longing to hide him-
felf in fome cave or den of the earth j but yet f peak's of fome
intervals of comfort and foul-refi'elhm-ent each day;]
Wednefday, May 19. [At Millington] I was fo amazingly
defexted this morning, that I feeme'd to feel a fort of horror
. .
* The application which wastben UJaJc on his behalf, toad not the de-
ftrcd (uccrfs.
.V. l\ 25. MR DAVID BRA I NERD. 45..
in my foul. Alas ! -when God withdraws, what is there that
can afford any comfort to the foul !
[Through the eight days next following, he exprefles more
calmnefs and comfort, and confiderable life, fervency, and
fweetnefs in religion.]
Friday, May 28. [At New-Haven] I think I fcarce ever
felt fo calm in my life ^ I rejoiced in refignation, and giving
myfelf up to God, to be wholfy and entirely devoted to him
for ever.
[On the three following days, there was, by the account
he gives, a continuance of the fame excellent frame of mind
laft expreffed ; but it feems not to be altogether to fo great a
degree.]
Tuefday, June I. Had much of the prefence of God iu.
family prayer, and had fome comfort in fecret. I was great-
ly refreshed from the word of God this morning, which ap-.
peared exceeding fweet to me : fome things that-appeared my f-
terious were opened to me. O thattke kingdom of the dear
Saviour might come with power, and the healing waters of
the fan&uary fpread far and wide for the healing of the na-
tions ! Came to Ripton j but was very weak. However,
being vifited by a number of young people in the evening, I
prayed with them.
[The remaining part of this week, he fpeaks of being much
diverted, and hindered in the buiinefs of religion, by great
weaknefs of body, and necefiary affairs that he had to attend,
and complains of having but little power in religion } but figr
nifies, that God hereby {hewed him, he was like a helplefs ia>-
fant caft out in the open Held.]
Lord's day, June 6. I feel much deferted : but all this
teaches me my nothingnefs and vilenefs more than ever.
Monday, June 7. Felt ftill-powerlefs in fecret prayer. Af-
terwards I prayed and converfed with fojne little life. God*
46 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1742.
feeds me with crumbs : bleffed be his name for any thing. I
felt a great deiire, that all God's people might know how
mean and little and vile I am 5 that they might fee I am no-
thing, that fo they may pray for me aright, and not have the
leatt dependence upon me.
Tuefday, June 8. I enjoyed one fweet and precious feafcn
this day : I never felt it fo fweet to be nothing, and lefs than
nothing, and to be accounted nothing.
.
[The three next days he complains of defertion, and want
of fervency in religion j but yet his diary mews that every
day hit. heart was engaged in religion, as his great, and, as it
were, only bufinefs.]
Saturday, June 12. Spent much time in prayer this morn-
ing, aud enjoyed much fweetnefs : Felt infatiable long-
ings after God much of the day : I wondered how poor fouls
do to live that have no God.- The world, with all its en-
joyments, quite vanilhed. I fee myfelf very helplefs : but I
have a bleffed God to go to. I longed exceedingly " to be
" diffolved, and to be with Ghrift, to behold his glory. '? Oh,
my wefrk weary foul longs to arrive at my Father's houfe !
Lord's day, June 13. Felt fomething calm and refigned in
the public worihip ; at the facrament faw myfelf very vile and
worthlefs. O that I may always lie low in the duft. My
foul feemed fteadily to go forth after God, in longing defires
to live upon him.
Monday, June 14. Felt fomething of the fweetnefs of corrfc
munion with God, and the conftraining force of his love:
how admirably it captivates the foul, and makes all the de-
fires and : affeclions to center in God !- - -I fet apart this day
for fecret fatting and prayer, to intreat God to direct and blefs
me with regard to the great w r ork [ have in view of preach-
chingthe gofpel j and that the Lord would return to me, and
" (hew me the light of his countenance." Had little life and
pow r er in the forenoon : near the middle of the afternoon,
God enabled me to wreftle ardently in intercefiion for abfent
friends : but juft at night, the Lord vifited me marvelloufly
in prayer j I think my foul never was in fuch an agony be-
JET. 25- 3 MR D AVI D BRAIN E* D. 47
fore : I felt no reftraint j for the treafures of divine grace
were opened to me : I wreftled for abfent friends, for the in*
gathering of fouls, for multitudes of poor fouls, and for many
that I thought were the children of God, perfonally, in many
diftant places. I was in fuch an agony, from fun half an hour
high till near dark, that I was all over wet with fvyeat ; but
yet it feemed to me that I had walled away the day, and had
done nothing. Oh, my dear Jefus did fweat blood for poor
fouls ! I longed for more companion towards them. -
Felt ftill in a fweet frame, under a fenfe of divine love and
grace j and went to bed in fuch a frame, with my heart fet on
God.
Tucfday, June 15. Had the moft ardent longings after
God that e ver 1 felt in my life ; at noon, in my fecret re-
tirement,. I could do nothing but "tell my dear Lord, in a
f r ,veet calm, that he knew I longed for nothing but himfelfj
nothing but holinefs j that he had given me thefe defires, and
he only could give me the thing defired. I never feemed to
be fo unhinged from myfelf, and to be fo wholly devoted to
God. My heart was fwallowe-d up in God moft of the day.
Jn the evening I had fuch a view of the foul's being as it were
enlarged to contain more holinefs, that my foul feemed rea-
dy to feparate from my body, and ilretch to obtain it. I then
wreftled in an agony for divine blefTmgs j had my heart drawn
out in prayer for fame Chriftian friends, beyond what I ever
had before. I feel differently now from what ever I did
under any fweet enjoyments before, more engaged to live to
God for ever, and lefs -pleafed with my own frames : I am not
fatisfied with my frames, nor feel at all more eafy after fuch
fweet ftrugglings than before ^ for it feems far too little, if I
could always be fo. Oh how fhort do I fall of my duty in
my fweeteft moments i
[In his diary for the two next days, he exprefies fomsthing
of the fame frame, but in a far Jefs degree.*]
* Here end the yz firfi pa$es of tie third volume of bis diary, tubick
he f peaks of in tbe beginning of this volume, (as was obfcrved before ), as
containing a Specimen of his ordinary manner of living through the
.ivhale fpacc of time : from tbc l>c:-;:n::i.ng ofthofe two volume t that were
deft royal.
48 T M E L I F E O F A. D. I 742.
Friday, June 18. Confidering my great unfitnefs for the work
of the miniftry, my prefent deadnefs, and total inability to do
any thing for the glory of God that way j feeling myfelf very
helplefs, and at a great lofs " what the Lord would have me
" to do 5" I fet this day apart for prayer to God, and
fpent raoft of the clay in that duty, but amazingly deferted
moft of the day 5 yet I found God gracioufly near, once in
particular, while I was pleading for more companion for im-
mortal fouls ; my heart feemed to be opened at once, and I was
enabled to cry with great arder.cy for a few minutes.
Oh, I was diitrciTed to think that I (hould ofler fuch dead
cold fervices to the living God ! My foul feemed to breathe
after holiuefs, a life of conftant devotednefs to God. But I
am almoftloil fometimes in the purfuit of this blefiednefs, and
ready to fink, becaufe I continually fall ftiort and mifs of my
defire, O that the Lord would help me to hold out yet a lit-
tle while, till the happy hour of deliverance comes !
Saturday, June 19. Felt much difordered j my fpirits were
very low -, but yet enjoyed fome freedom and fweetnefs in the
duties of religion. Bleffed be God.
Lord's day, June 20. Spent much time alone. My foul
longed to be holy, and reached after Ged ; but it feemed not
to obtain my defirej I hungred and thirfled, but was not fweet-
ly refrefhed and fatisfied. My fou.i hung on God, as my on-
ly portion. O that I could grow in grace more abundantly
every day !
[The next day he fpeaks of his having aflifiance in his flu-
dies, and power, fervency, and comfort in prayer,]
Tuefday, June 22. In the morning, fpent about two hours
in prayer and meditation with confiderable delight. Towards
night, felt my foul go out in longing defires after God, in fe-
cret retirement. In the evening, was fweetly compofed and
rtfigned to God's will ; was enabled to leave myfelf and all
ray concerns with him, and to have my whole dependar.ce u-
ponhim j my fecret retirement was very refrefliing to my foul;
it appeared fuch a bappineis to have God for my portion,
that I had rather be any other creature in this lower creation,
JET. 25- r 'i & DAVID BRA I NERD. 49
than not come to the enjoyment of God j I had rather be a
beaft, than a man without God, if I were to live here to eter-
nity. Lord, endear thyfelf more to me !
In his diary For the next feven days, he expreffes a variety
of exercifes of mind j he fpeaks of great longings after God
and holinefs, and earned deiires for the converfion of others,
of fervency in prayer, and power to wreftle with God, and of
compofure, comfort, and fweetnefs, from time to time ; but
expreffes a fenfe of the vile abomination of his heart, and bit-
terly complains of rfls barrennefs, and the preffing body of
death j and fays, he ** faw clearly, that whatever he enjoyed
better than hell, was free grace." Complains of his being ex-
ceeding low, much below the character of a child of God j
and is fometimes very difconfolate and dejected.]
Wednefday, June 30, Spent this day alone in the woods,
in fading and prayer ; underwent the mod dreadful conflicts
in my foul that ever I felt, in fome refpedls ; Ifawmyfelf
fo vile, that I was ready to fay, ** I (hall now perim by the
" hand of Saul." I thought, and alrnoil concluded, I had no
power to ftand for the caufe of God, but was almoft " afraid
*' of the making of a leaf." Spent almoft the whole day in
prayer, inceffantly. I could not bear to think of Chriftians
fhewing me any refpeft. I almoft defpaired of doing any
fervice in the world j I could not feel any hope or comfort
refpe&ing the Heathen, which ufed to afford me fomerefrem-
ment in the darkeft hours of this nature. I fpent away the
day in the bitternefs of my foul. Near night, I felt a little-
better ; and afterwards enjoyed fome fweetnefs in fecret prayer.
Thurfday, July i. Had fome fweetnefs in prayer this mor-
ning. Felt exceeding fweetly in prayer to-night, and defired
nothing fo ardently as that God mould do with me juft as he
pleafed.
Friday, July 2. Felt compofed' in fecret prayer in the
morning. My defires fweetly nfcended to God this day, as
J was travelling ; and was comfortable in the evening. Blef-'
led be Crod for all my confolations.
1 C
5O THEL1FEOF A. D. 1 742
Saturday, July 3. My heart feemed again to fink. The
difgrace I was laid under at college feemed to damp me, as
it opens the mouths of oppofers. I had no refuge but in Gotf
only. Bleffed be his name, that I may go to him at all times,
and find him a prefent help.
Lord's day, July 4. Had a confiderable aflifiance. In the
evening I withdrew, and enjoyed a happy feafon in fecret pray-
er j God was pleafed to give me the exercife of faith, and
thereby brought the invifible and eternal world near to my
foul j which appeared fweetly to me. I hoped that my wea-
ry pilgrimage in the world would be fhprt j and that it would
not be long before I was brought to my heavenly home and
Father's houfe j I was fweetly refigned to God's will, to tar-
ry his time, to do his work, and fuffer his pleafure. 1 felt
thankfulnefs to God for all my prefling defertions of late ; for
I am perfuaded they have been made a means of making me
more humble and much more refigned. I felt pleafed to be
little, to be nothing, and to lie in the dull. I enjoyed life and
fweet confolation in pleading for the dear children of God,
and the kingdom of Chrifl in the world j and my foul earnefl-
ly breathed after holinefs, and the enjoyment of God. " O
come, Lord Jefus ! come quickly. Amen."
[By his diary for the remaining days of this week, it ap-
pears that he enjoyed coiifjderable compofure and tranquillity,
and had fweetnefs and fervency of fpirit in prayer, from day
today.]
Lord's day, July 1 1. Was deferted and exceeding dejeft-
ted in the morning. In the afternoon, had fome lifeand aflift-
ance, and felt refigned ; and fawmyfelf exceeding vile.
[On the two next days he exprefles inward comfort, refig-
nation, and ftrength in God.]
Wednefday, July 14. Felt a kind of humble refigned fweet-
nefs ; fpent a confiderable time in fecret, giving myfelf up
wholly to the Lord. Heard Mr Bellamy preach towards
night j felt very fweetly part of the time j longed for nearer
accefs to Gcd.
JCT. 25. MR DAVID BRAINERD 5!
[The four next days, he expreffes confiderable comfort and
fervency of fpirit in Chriflian converfation and religious ex-
ercifes.]
Monday, July 19. My defiresfeem efpecially to be car-
ried out after weanednefs from the world, perfect deadnefs to
it, and to be even crucified to all its allurements. My foul
longs to feel itfelf more of a pilgrim and ftranger here below,
that nothing may divert me from preffing through the lonely
defart, till I arrive at my Father's houfe.
Tuefday, July 23. It was fweet, to give away myfelf to
God, to be difpofed of at his pleafure j and had fome feel-
ing fenfe of the fweetnefs of being a pilgrim on earth.
[The next day he expreffes himfelf as determined to be
wholly devoted to God j and it appears by his diary, that he
fpent the whole day in a moft diligent exercife of religion,
and exceedingly comfortable.]
Thurfday, July 22. Journeying from Southbury to Rip-
ton, called at a houfe by the way, where, being very kindly
-entertained and refrefned, I was filled with amazement and
fhame, that God mould ftir up the hearts of any to fliew
fo much kindnefs to fuch a dead dog as I j was made fenfible,
ia fome meafure, how exceeding vije it is not to be wholly
devoted to God. I wondered that God would fuffer any of
his creatures to feed and fuftain me from time to time..
[In his diary for the fix next days are exprefied various
exercifes and experiences, fuch as, fweet compofure and fer-
vency of fpirit in meditation and prayer, xveanednefs from the
world, being fenfibly a pilgrim and ftranger en the earth, en-
gagednefs of mind to fpend ev&ry inch of time for. God, &c.]
Thurfday, July 29. Was examined by the Aflfociation met
at Danbury, as to my learning, and alfo. my experiences in re-
ligion, and received a licence from them to preach the gofpel
of Chrift. Afterwards felt much devoted to God 5 joined in
prayer with one of the miniiters, my peculiar friend, in a con-
venient place j went to bed refolving to live, devoted to God
r ill my days.
THE LIFE OF A. D. 1742
PART m.
FROM THE TIME OF HIS BEING LICENSED TO PREACH, BY THE AS-
SOCIATION, TILL HE WAS EXAMINED IN NEV.'-YORK, 3Y THE COR-
RESPONDENTS OR COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOCIETY IN iCOTLAM}
FOR PROPAGATING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, AND APPROVED AND
APPOINTED AS THEIR MISSIONARY TO THE INDIANS.
RIDAY, July 30, 1742. R.ode from Danbury to Southbr-
ry j preached there from I Pet. iv. 8. Had much of
the comfortable prefcnce of God in the exercife : I feemed to
have power with God in prayer, and power to get hold of the
hearts of the people in preaching.
Saturday, July 31. Exceeding calm and composed, and
was greatly refrefhed and encouraged.
[It appears by his diary, that he continued in this fweet-
nefs and tranquillity, almoft through the whole of the next
week.]
Lord's day, Auguft 8. In the morning felt comfortably in
fecret prayer j my foul was refrefhed with the hopes of the
Heathen's coming home to Chrift ; was much refigned to God j
I thought it was no matter what became of. me. Preach-
ed both parts of the day at Bethlehem, from Job xiv. 14. It
was fweet to me to meditate on dath. In the evening, felt
very comfortably, and cried to God fervently in fecret pray-
er.
[It appears by his diary, that he continued through the
three next days, engaged with all his .might, in the bufinefs of
religion, and in almoft a conflant enjoyment of the comforts
ofit.J
Thurfday, Auguft 12. This morning and lad night was
cxercifed with fore inward trials j I had no power to pray 5
but feemed (hut out from God. I had in a great meafurc
. . 2- M R D
loft my hopes of God's fending me among the Heathen afar
off, and of feeing them flock home to Chrilh I faw fo much
of my hellifli vilenefs, that I appeared vvorfe to myfelf than
any devil j I wondered that God did let me live, and won-
dered that people would.not Hone me, much more that they
would ever hear me preach ! It fcemed as though I never
could or ihould preach any more j yet about nine or ten o'-
clock, the people came over, and I was forced to preach.
And bleffed be God, he gave me his prefence and Spirit in
prayer and preaching : fo that I was much afiifled, and fpake
with power from Job xiv. 14. Some Indians cried cut in
great diflrefs *, and all appeared greatly concerned. After
we had prayed and exhorted them to feek the Lord with con-
llancy, and hired an Englifh woman to keep a kind of fchcol
among them, we came away about one o'clock, and came to
Judea, about fifteen or (ixteen miles. There God was pleaf-
ed to vifit my foul with much comfort. ElefTed be the Lord
for all things I meet with.
[It appears, that the two next days he had much comfort,
and. had his heart much engaged in religion*!
Lord's day, Augufl 13. Felt much comfort and devotcd-
nefs to God this clay. At night, it was refreshing, to get a-
lone with God, and pour out my foul.' O who can conceive
of the fweetnefs of communion with the bleiTed God, but
thofe that have experience of it ! Glory to God for ever.
that I may tafte heaven below.
Monday, Augufl 16. Had fome comfort in fecret prayer,
in the morning. Felt fweetly fundry times in prayer this
day : but was much perplexed in the evening with vain con-
verlation.
Tuefday, Auguft 17. Exceedingly depreffed'in fpirit ; it
cuts and wounds roy heart, to think how much felf-exaltation,
fpiritual pride, and warmth of temper, I have formerly had
intermingled with my endeavours to promote God's work :
* It was a place near Kent, in the we flcrn borders of Conr. ~
where there is a number 'of Indians.
54 THLI?20F A. D.I742.
and fometimes I long to lie down at the feet of oppofers, and
confefs what a poor imperfect creature I have been, and ftill
am. Oh, the Lord forgive me, and make me for the future
" wife as a ferpent and harmlefs as a dove !"- After wards en-
joyed confiderable comfort and delight of foul.
Wednefday, Auguil 28. Spent moft of this day in prayer
and reading.--! fee fo much of my own extreme vilenefs. that
I feel afiiamed and guilty before God and man j I look to my-
felf like the vileft fellow in the land 5 I wonder that God
ilirs up his people to be fo kind to me.
Thurfday, Auguft 19. This day, being about to go from
Mr Bellamy's at Bethlehem, where I had refuled fome time,
prayed with him, and two or three other Chriftian friends,
and gave ourfelves to God with all our hearts, to be his for
ever j eternity looked very near to me, while I was praying.
If I never fhould fee thefe Chriftians again in this world, it
feemed but a few moments before I fhould meet them in an-
other world.- Parted with them fweetly.
Friday, Auguft 20. I appeared fo vile to myfelf, that I
hardly dared to think of being feen, efpecially on account of
fpiritual pride. However, to-night I enjoyed a fweet hour
alone with God, (at Ripton) j I was lifted above the frowns
and flatteries of this lower world, had a fweet relifh of hea-
venly joys, and my foul did as it were get into the eternal
world, and really tafte of heaven. I had a fweet feafon of
interceflion for dear friends in Chrift ; and God helped me
to cry fervently for Zion. Bleffed be God for this feafon.
Saturday, Auguft 21. Was much perplexed in the morn-
ing.- Towards noon enjoyed more of God in fecret, was
enabled to fee that it was beft to throw myfelf into the hands
of God, to be difpofed of according to his pleafure, and re-
joiced in fuch thoughts. In the afternoon, rode to New-
Haven j was much confufed all the way. Juft at night,
underwent fuch a dreadful conflict, as I have fcarce ever felt.
I faw myfelf exceeding vile and unworthy ; fothat I was guil-
ty, and afiiamed that any body fhould bellow any favour on
me, or fliew me any refpecl.
Lord's day, Auguft 22. In the morning, continued ftill
in perplexity. In the evening, enjoyed that comfort that.
JET.25 MR DAVID BRA1NERD. 55
feemed to me fumcient to overbalance all my late diftreffes. I
faw that God is the only foul-fatisfying portion, and I really
found fatisfa&ion in him j my foul was much enlarged in fweet
interceffion for my fellow men every where, and for many
Chriftian friends, in particular, in diftant places.
Monday, Auguft 23. Had a fweet feafon in fecret prayer :
the Lord drew near to my foul, and filled me with peace and di
vinec onfolation. O ! my foul tafted the fweetnefsof the upper
world, and was fweetly drawn out in prayer for the world,
that it might come Itome to Chrift ! Had much comfort in
the thoughts and hopes of the ingathering of the Heathen j
was greatly aGfted in interceflion for Chriftian friends.
[He continued ftill in the fame frame of mind the next day,
but in a leffer degre.e]
Wednefday, Auguft 25. In family- prayer, God helped me
to climb up near him, fo that I fcarce ever got nearer.
[The four next days he appears to have been the fubjecl of
defertion, and of comfort and fervency in religion, interchange-
ably together, with a fenfe of vilenefs and unprofitablenefs.J
Monday, Auguft 30. Felt fomething comfortably in the
morning j converfed fweetly with fome friends ; was in a fe-
rious compofed frame 3 prayed at a certain houfe with fome
degree of fweetnefs. Afterwards, at another houfe, prayed
privately with a dear Chriftian friend or two 5 and, I think,
I fcarce ever launched fo far into the eternal world as then j
I got fo far out on the broad ocean, that my foul with joy
triumphed over all the evils on the mores of mortality. I
think, time, and all its gay amufements and cruel difappoint-
inents, never appeared fo inconfiderable to me before: I was
in a fweet frame , I faw myfelf nothing, and my foul reached
after God with intenfe defire. O ! I law what I oived to
God, in fuch a manner as I fcarce ever did 5 I knew I had
never lived a moment to him as I mould do 5 indeed it ap-
peared to me, I had never done any thing in Chriftiamty }
my foul longed with a vehement defire to live to God. In
the evening, fung and prayed with a number of Chriftians ;
THE L IFE OF A.D. 17
felt " the powers of the world to come" in my foul, in prayer.
Afterwards prayed again privatlcy, with a dear Chriftian or
two, and found the prefence of God; was fomething humbled
in my fecret retirement j felt my ingratitude, becaufe I was
not wholly fwallowed up in God.
jTHc was in a fweet frame great part, of the next day.]
Wednefday, Sptember i. Went to Judea, to the ordina-
tion of Mr Judd. Dear Mr Bellamy preached from Matth.
xxiv. 46, " Bleffed is that fervant," &c. I felt very folemn,
and very fweetly, mail of the time j had my thoughts much
on that time when our Lord will come ; that time refreflied
my foul much ; only I was afraid I iliould not be found faith-
ful, becaufe I have fo vile a heart. My thoughts were much
in eternity, where I love to dwell. BlefTed be God for this
folemn feafon. Rode home to night with Mr Bellamy ; felt
fomething fweetly on the road ; converfed with fome friends
till it was very late, and then retired to red in a comfortable
frame.
Thurfday, September 2. About two in the afternoon, I
preached from John vi. 67; and God affixed me in fome com-
fortable degree ; but more efpecially in my firfl: prayer ; my
foul feemed then to launch quite into the eternal xvorld, and
to be as it were feparated from this lower world. After-
wards preached again from Ifaiah v. 4. God gave me fome
affiftance ; but I faw myfelf a poor worm.
[On Friday, September 3. He complains of having but
little life in the things of God, the former part of the day,
but afterwards fpeaks cf fweetnefs and enlargement.]
Saturday, September 4. Much cut of health, and exceed-
ingly deprciTed in my foul, and was at an awful diilance from
God. r-.-l'ovvards night, fpent fome time in profitable
thoughts on Rom., viii. 2. Near night, had'a very fweet
feaiba in prayer -, God enabled me to wrefile ardently for the
advancement of the K.edecraer's kingdom ; pleaded earnciliy
for-mv, own, deir. \ .'ohn, thit God would rt-.ake
&T. ; 25. MR DAVID BRAIN ERD. 57
more of a pilgrim and tlranger on the earth, and fit him for
lingular ferviceablenefs in the world j and my heart fweetly
exulted in the Lord, in the thoughts of any diftreffe that
rsight alight on him or me in the advancement of Chrift's
kingdom. It was a fweet and comfortable hour unto my
ibul, while I was indulged freedom to plead, not only for
myfelf, but for many other fouls.
Lord's day, September 5. Preached all day ; was fome-
thing ftrengthened and affifted in the afternoon j more efpeci-
aliy in the evening ; had a fenfe of my unfpeakable mortcom-
ings in all my duties. I found, alas ! that I had never lived
to God in my life.
Monday, September 6. Was informed, that they only
waited for an opportunity to apprehend me for preaching at
New-Haven lately, that fo they might imprifon me. This
made me more folemn and ferious, and to quit all hopes of
the world's friendmip j it brought me to a further fenfe of my
vilenefs, andjuft defert of this, and mucli.more, from the hand
of God, though not from the hand of man. Retired into a
convenient place in the woods, and fpread the matter before
God.
Tuefday, September 7. Had fome relifh of divine things
in the morning. Afterwards felt more barren and melancho-
ly. Rode to New-Haven, to a friend's houfe at a diilance
from the town, that I might remain undifcovered, and yet
have opportunity to do bufinefs privately with friends which
come to Commencement.
Wednefday, September 8. Felt very fweetly when I firft
rofe in the morning. In family-prayer had fome enlarge-
ment, but not much fpirituality, till eternity came up before
me, and looked near j I found fome fweetnefs in the thoughts
of bidding a dying farewell to this tirefome world. Though
fome time ago I reckoned upon feeing my dear friends at
Commencement j yet being now denied the opportunity, for
fear of imprifonment, I felt totally refigned, and as content-
ed to fpend this day alone in the woods, as I could have done,
if I had been allowed to go to tcr.vn. Felt exceedingly wean-
ed from the world to-day. In the afternoon difccurfed
forr.rthingon fome divine things with a dear Chrifthn friend,
11
5$ T H E- L I F E O F A. D. 1742,
whereby we were both refrelhed. Then I prayed, with *
fvveet fenfe of the bleffednefs of communion with God j i
think I fcarce ever enjoyed more of God in any one prayer.
O it was a bleffed feafon indeed to my foul ! I knew not that
ever I faw fo much of my own nothingnefs in ray life } never
wondered fo, that God allowed me to preach his word , never
was fo aftonifhed as now. This has been a fvveet and com-
fortable day to my foul. Bleffed be God. Prayed again
with my dear friend, with fomething of the divine prefence.
I longed to be wholly conformed to God, and transform-
ed into his image.
Thurfday, September 9. Spent much of the day alone j
enjoyed the prefence cf God in fome comfortable degree j
was vilited by fome dear friends, and prayed with them j wrote
iundry letters to friends ; felt religion in my fwul while wri-
ing j enjoyed fome fweet meditations on fome fcriptures.--
In the evening, went very privately into the town, from the
place of my reiidence at the farms, and converfed with fome
dear friends j felt fweetly in ringing hymns with them : and
made my efcape to the farms again, without being difcovered
by any enemies that I knew of. Thus the Lord preferves me
continually.
Friday, September 10. Longed with intenfe defire after
Godj my whole foul feemed impatient to be conformed to
him, and to become " holy, as he h holy." -In the afternoon
prayed w r ith a dear friend privately, and had the prefence of
God with us ; our fouls united together to reach after a blef-
fed immortality, to be unclothed of the body of fin and death,
and to enter the bleffed world, where no unclean thing en-
ters. O T with what intenfe defire did our fouls long for that
bleffed day, that we migbt be freed from fin, and for ever
live to and in our God. In the evening took leave of that
houfe , but fir ft kneeled down and prayed j the Lord was of
a truth in the midil of us ; it was a fvveet parting feafon ; felt
in myfelf much fiveetnefs and affection in the tilings of
* O
God, Bleffed be God for every fuch divine gale of his Spi-
rit, to fpeed me on my way to the new Jerufalem ! Felt
fume fweetnefs afterwards, and fpent the evening in converfa-
JT.2$. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 59
tlon with friends, and prayed with fome life, and retired to reft
very late.
[The five next days, he appears to have been in an exceed-
ing comfortable, fweet frame of mind for the moft part, and
to have been the fubjecl: of the like heavenly exercifes as are
often expreffed in preceding paiTages of his diary j fuch as,
having his heart much engaged for God, wre filing with God
in prayer with power and ardency, enjoying at times fweet
calmnefs and compofure of miud, giving himfelf up to God
to be his for ever, with great complacence of mind, being
wholly refigned to the will of God, that God might do with
him what he pleafed, longing well to improve time, having
the eternal woi'ld as it were brought nigh, longing after God
and holinefs, earneftly defiring a complete conformity to
him, and wondering how poor fouls do to ex ill without God.]
Thurfday, September 16. At night, felt exceeding fweet-
Ij : enjoyed much of God in fecret prayer j felt an uncom-
mon refignation, to be and do what God pleafed. Some days
paft, I felt great perplexity on account of my paft conduct j
my bitternefs, and want of Chriftian kindnefs and love, has
been very diftrefling to my foul -, the Lord forgive me my
unchriftian warmth, and want of a fpirit of meeknefs
[The next day, he fpeaks of much refignation, calmnefs
and peace of mind, and near views of the eternal world.]
Saturday, September j 8. Felt fome com paflion for fouls,
and mourned 1 had no more. I feel much more kindnefs,
meeknefs, gentlenefs, and love towards all mankind, than ever.
I long to be at the feet of my enemies and perfecutors j enjoy-
ed fome fweetnefs, in feeling my foul conformed to Chriil
Jefus, and given away to him for ever, in prayer to-day.
[The next day, he fpeaks of much dejection and difcou-
ragement, from an apprehenfion of his own unfitnefs ever to
do any good in preaching ; but blefles God for all difpenfa-
tions of providence and grace finding that by all God wean-
60 THE LIFE OF A. 0.1742,
ed him more from the world, and made him more refigned.
The next ten days, he appears to have been for the moft
part under great degrees of melancholy, exceedingly dejected
and difcouraged ; fpeaks of his being ready to give up all
for gone refpecting the cauie of Chriil, and exceedingly long-
ing to die ; yet had fome fvveet feafons and intervals of com-
fort, and fpecial afliftance and enlargement in the duties of re-
ligion, and in performing public fcrvices, and considerable fuc-
cefs in them,]
Thurfday, September 30. Still very low in fpirits, and did
not know how to engage in any work or bufinefs, efpecialJy
to correct fome diforders among Chriftians j felt as though I
had no power to be faithful in that regard. However, to-
wards noon, preached from Deut. viii. 2. and was enabled
with freedom to reprove fome things in Chriftians conduct
that I thought very unfuitable and irregular j infilled near
two hours on this fubject.
[Through this and the two following weeks, he pafled
through a variety of exercifes 3 he was frequently dejected,
and felt inward diftrefies j and fometimes funk into the depths
of melancholy : at which turns, he was not exercifed about
the ftate of his foul, "with regard to the favour of God, and his
intereft in Chrift,but about his own fmful infirmities and un-
fitnefs for God's fervice. His mind appears fometimes ex-
tremely deprefled and funk with a fenfe of inexpreflible vile-
nefs. But, in the mean time, he fpeaks of many feafons of
comfort and fpiritual refreshment wherein his heart was encou-
raged and ftrengthened in God, and fweetly refigned to his
will, and of fome feafons of very high degrees of fpiritual con-
folation, and of his great longings after holinefs and confor-
mity to God, of his great fear of offending Go.d, of his heart
being fweetly melted in religious duties, of his longing for the
advancement of Chrift's kingdom, and of his having at fome
times much afliftance in preaching, and of remarkable effects
on the auditory.]
Lord's day, Oct. 17. Had a confiderable fenfe of my help-
leffnefs and inability } faw that I muft be dependent on God
JET. 25. MR DAVID B 8. A I NERD. 6 1
for all I want ; and efpecially when I went to the place of
public worfnip j I found I could not fpeak a wt>rd for God
without his fpecial help and a(Tiftance ; I went into the affem-
bly trembling, as I frequently do, under a fenfe of my infuf-
ficiency to do any thing in the caufe of God as 1 ought to
do. But it pleafed God to afford me much afTiilance, and
there feerned to be a confiderable effecl on the hearers. In
the evening, I felt a difpofition to praife God for his goodnefs
to me, efpecially that he had enabled me in foine meafure to
be faithful j and my foul rejoiced to think that I had thus
performed the work of one day rnore- f -arjid was one day nearer
my eternal, and, I truft, my heavenly hom^. O that I might
be " faithful to the death, fulfilling as an hireling pnyday,"
till the (hades of the evening of life fhaM free my foul from
the toils of the day ! this evening, in fecret prayer, I felt ex-
ceeding folemn, and fuch longing defires after deliverance
from fin, and after conformity to God, as melted my heart.
Oh ! I longed to be " delivered from this body of death." I
felt inward pleafing pain, that I could not be conformed to
God entirely, fully, and for ever. Ifcarce ever preach with-
out being firft vifited with inward conflicts and fore trials.
BleiTed be the Lord for thefe trials and dilireffes, as they are
blefled for my humbling.
Monday, Oclober 18. In the morning, felt fome fweet-
nefs, but Hill prefled through fome trials of foul, my life is
a conftant mixture of confolations and conflicts, and will be
fo till I arrive at the world of fpirits.
Tuefday, Oftober 19. This morning and laft night felt a
fweet longing in my foul after holinefs ; my foul feemed fb
to reach and itretch toward the mark of perfect fan6tity, that
it was ready to break with longings.
Wednefday, Oclober 20. Exceeding infirm in body, exer-
cifed with much pain, and very lifelefs in divine things.
Felt a little fweetnefs in the evening.
Thurfday, Oclober 21. Had a very deep fenfe of the vani-
ty of the world, mofl of the day -, had little more regard to
it, than if I had been to go into eternity the next hour.
Through divine goodnefs, I felt very ferious and folemn. O !
I love to live on the brink of eternity in my views and me-
62 THEtlFEOF A. D. 1 742.
dotations. This gives me a fweet, awful, and reverential fenfe
and apprehenfion of God and divine things, when I fee myfelf
a? it were landing before the judgment-feat of Chrift.
Friday, October 22. Uncommonly weaned from the world
to-day j my foul delighted to be a ft ranger and pi 'grim on the
earth j I felt a difpofition in me never to have any thing to do
with this world : the character given of feme of the ancient
people of God, in Heb. xi. 13. was very plcafir.g to me,
' They confeffed that they were pilgrims and Grangers on the
" earth," by their daily practice - ? and O that I could always
do fo'! Spent fome confiderable time, in a pleafant grove,
in prayer and meditation. O it is fweet to be thus weaned
from friends, and from myfelf, and dead to the prefent world,
that fo 1 may live wholly to and upon the bleffed God ! Saw
myfelf little, low, and vile in myfelf. In the afternoon,
preached at Bethlehem, from Deut. viii. 2, and felt fweetly
both in prayer and preaching : God helped me to fpeak to the
hearts of dear Chriftians. BJerTed be the Lord for this feafon :
J trult, they and I mail rejoice on this account to all eternity.
Dear Mr Bellamy came in, while I was making the firft
prayer, (being returned home from a journey) ; and after
meeting, we walked away together, and fpcnt the evening in.
fweetly converging on divine things, and praying together,
v;ith fweet and tender love to each other, and retyped to reft
with our hearts in a ferious fpiritual frame.
Saturday, October 23. Something perplexed and confufed.
Rode this day from Bethlehem to Simlbury.
Lord's day, October 24. Felt fo vile and unworthy, that I
fcarce knew how to converfe with human creatures.
Monday, October 25. [At Turky- Hills.] In the evening
enjoyed the divine prefence in fecret prayer 5 it was a fweet
and comfortable feafon to me : my foul longed for God, for
the living God : enjoyed a fweet folemnity of fpirit, and long-
ing defire after the recovery of the divine image in my foul :
" Then fliall I be fatisfied, when I (li all awake in God's like-
" nefs," and never before.
Tuefday, Oftober 26. [At Weft Suffield.] Underwent the
moft dreadful diftreffes, under a fenfe of my own unworthi-
-JET. 25. MRDAVIDBRAINERD. 63
nefs : it feemed to me, I deferred rather to be driven out of
the place, than to kave any body treat me with any kindnefs,
or come to hear me preach. And verily my fpirits were 4B
depreffed at this time, as well as at many others, that it was
impoflible I fliould treat immortal fouls with faithfulnefs j I
could not deal clofely and faithfully with them, I felt fo infi-
nitely vile in myfelf. Oh, what duft and afhes I am, to think
of preaching the gofpel to others ! Indeed I never can be
faithful for one moment, but {hall certainly " daub with un-
" tempered mortar,'* if God do net grant me fpecial help.
In the evening, I went to the meeting-hcufej and it looked to
me near as eafy for one to rife out of the grave and preach,
as for me. However, God afforded me fome life and power
both in prayer and fermon; God was pleafed to lift me up,
and (hew me that he could enable me to preach. O the woa-
denul goodnefs of God to fo vile a fmner ! Returned to
my quarters ; and enjoyed fome fweetnefs in prayer alone,
and mourned that I could not live more to God.
Wednefday, October 27. Spent the forenoon in prayer and
meditation } was not a little concerned about preaching in the
afternoon: felt excedingly without ftrengtb,' and very help-
lefs indeed ; went into the rneeting-houfe, afhamed to fee any
come to hear fuch an unfpeakably worthlefs wretch. How-
ever, God enabled me to fpeak with clearnefs, power, and
pungency. But there was fome noife and tumult in the af-
fembly, that I did not well like, and endeavoured to bear
public teflimeny agsinft, with moderation and mildnefs, thro''
the current of my difcourlc. -in the evening, was enabled
to be in fome meaiuie thankful and devoted to God.
[The frames and exercifes of his mind, during the four next
days, v. ere moftly very (imilar to thofe of the two days paft j
i-xcepting intervals of confidcrable degrees of divine peace
and cooiolation.
The things exprefTed within the fpace of the three follow-
ing days are fuch as thele j fome feafons of dejection, mourn-
ing for being fj dcditute of the exercifes of grace, longing
to be delivered from fin, preiiing after more of God, feafons '
of f;ve:?t confohuion, prsdcus and intimate converfe ;vith God
64 THE LIFE OF A. D.
in fecret prayer, fweetnefs of Chriftian converfation, &c. ------
Within this time he rode from Su-ffield to Eaftbury, Hebron,
and Lebanon.]
Thurfday, November 4. [At Lebanon.] Saw much of my
nothingnefs moil of this day } but felt concerned that I had
no more fer.fe of my infafficiency and unworthinefs. O it is
ivveet lying in the dufl ! But it is dittrefling to feel in my foul
that hell of corruption which ftiil remains in me. ...... In the
afternoon, had a fenfe of the fweetnefs of a ftricr., clofe, and
conftant devotednefs to God, and my foul was comforted
with the confolations of God ; my foul felt a pleating, yet
painful concern, left I fhould fpend fome moments without
God. O may I always live to God ! ----- In the evening, was
vitited by fome friends, and fpent the time in prayer and fuch
converfation as tended to our edification. It was a comfort-
able fcafon t my foul ; I felt an intenfe defire to fpend every
moment for God. - God is unfpeakably gracious to me
continually ; in times paft, he has given me inexpreflible
fweetnefs in the performance of duty 5 frequently my foul
has enjoyed much of God j but, has been ready to fay, " Lord
" it is good to be here 5" and fo to indulge floth, while I have
lived on the fweetnefs of my feelings. But of late, God has
been pleafed to keep my foul hungry almoft continually j fo
that I have been filled with a kind of pleating pain. When
I really enjoy God, I feel my defires of him the more infa-
tiable, and my thirftings after holinefs the more unquenchable ;
and the Lord will not allow me to feel as though I were
fully fupplied and fatisfied, but keeps me ftill reaching for-
ward j and I feel barren and empty, as though I could not
live, without more of God in me j I feel afharaed and guilty
before God Oh ! I fee, " the law is fpiritual, but I am car-
nal." I do not, I cannot live to God. Oh for hoiinefs !
Oh for more of God in my foul ! Oh this pleating pain ! It
makes my foul prefs after God ; the language of it is, " Then
" fhall I be fatisfied, when- 1 awake in God's likenefs," (Pfal.
xvii. uh.} ; but never, never before j and confequently, I am
engaged to " prefs towards the mark," day by day. O that I
may feel this conti;v.;:;l hunger., ?.nd not be retarded, but rnt "*"
JET. 25 MR D A V 1 D BR A1N RD. 65
animated by every clutter from Canaan, to reach for vard in
the narrow way for the full enjoyment and poffeffion of the
heavenly inheritance .-! O that I may never loiter in my hea-
venly journey !
[Thefe infatiable detires after God >and holinefs continued
the two next days, with a great fenfe of h-is own exceeding
uaworthinefs, and the nothingnefs of the things of this world.]
Lord's day, November 7. [At Millington.] It feemed as if
foch an unholy w v retch as I' never could arrive at that blefied-
nefs to be " holy, as God is holy." At noon, I longed for
fantification, and conformity to God. Oh, that is THE ALL,
THE ALL t The Lord help me to prefs after God for ever.
Monday, November 8. Towards night, enjoyed much
fvveetnefs in fecret prayer, fo that my foul longed for an arri-
val in the heavenly country, the blefled paradife of God.
Through divine goodnefs, I have fcarce feen the day, for
two months, but d^ath has looked fo pleafant to me at one
time or other of the day, that 1 could have rejoiced the pre-
fent mould be my laft, notwithftanding my prefiing inward
trials and conflicls : and I truft, the Lord will finally make
me a conqueror, and more than fo ; that I mall be able to uCe
that triumphant language," O death, where is thy ding!"
And, " O grave, where is thy victory !'**
[Within the next ten days, the following things are ex-
preiTed : longing andwreftling to be holy, and to live to God :
a defire that every tingle thought might be for God j feeling
guilty that his thoughts were not more fwailo wed up in God j
fweet folemnity and calmnefs of mind ; fubmiflion and refig-
nation to God ; great weanednefs from the world \ abafement
in the duft; grief at feme vain converfation that was obferved,
fweetnefs from time to time in fecret prayer, and in conver-
ting and praying with Chriflian friends. And every day he
appears to have been greatly engaged in the great butinefs of
religion and living to God, without interruption.]
Friday, November 19. [At New-Haven.] Received a letter
I
66 THE LIFE OF A.B. 1742.
from the Rev. Mr PembertonofNew-York,defiring me fpeedi-
ly to go down thither, and confn.lt about the Indian affairs
in thofe parts, and to meet certain gentlemen there that were
entrufted with thofe affairs. My mind was inftantly feized
with concern j fo I retired with two or three Chriftian f lends,
and prayed ; and indeed it was a fvveet time with rne j 1 was
enabled to leave myfelf andallmy concerns with God j and tak-
ing leave of friends, I rode to Ripton, and was comforted in
an opportunity to fee and converfe with dear Mr Mills.
[In the four next following days, he w r as fometimes op-
prefled with the weight of that great affair, about which Mr
Pemberton had written to him ; but was enabled from time to
time to " caft his burden on the Lord," and to commit him-
felf and all his concerns to him : and he continued flill in a
fenfe of the excellency of holinefs, and longings after it, and
carnefl defires for the advancement of Chrift*s kingdom in the
world j and had from time to time fvveet comfort in medita-
tion and prayer. 3
Wednefday, November 24. Came to New- York - ? felt flill
jnuch concerned about the importance of my buiinefs j put up
many earneft requefls to God for his help and direction 5 was
r.onfufed with the noife and tumult of the city ; enjoyed but
little time alone with God ; but my foul longed after him.
Thurfday, Nov. 25. Spent much time in prayer and fuppli-
cation j was examined by fome gentlemen, of my Chriftian
experiences, and my acquaintance with d'vinity and fome o-
ther fhidies, in order to my improvement in that important af-
fair of gofpelizing the heathen* j was made fenfible of great
ignorance and unfitnefs for public fervice , I had the moft a-
bafing thoughts of myfelf, I think, that ever I had j I thought
myfelf the worft wretch that ever lived ; it hurt me, and
pained my very heart, that any body fliould fhew me any ref-
* Thefe gentlemen that examined Mr Brainenl, were the correfpcn-
dents in New-York, New-Jerfey, and Tenfylvania, of the honourable fo-
ciety in Scotland for propagating Chriftian knowledge : to whom was
committed the management of their ttflV-r'.. in thofq parts, rjid who \vcro.
row met at New-York.
_T. 25. MR DAVID BRA I NERD. 67
pec~L Alas ! methought, how fadly they are deceived in me ;
how miferably would they be difappointed, if they knew my
infide ! Oh my heart ! And in this deprefled condition, I
was forced to go and preach to a confiderable aflembly, before
fome grave and Idarned minifters \ but felt fuch a preffure from
a fenfc of my vilenefs, ignorance, and unfitnefs to appear in
public, that I was almoit overcome with it j my foul was griev-
ed for the congregation that they mould fit to hear fuch a dead
dog as I preach ; I thought myfelf infinitely indebted to the
people, and longed that God would reward them with there-
wards of his grace. I fpent much of the evening alone.
PART IV.
FROM THE TIME OF HIS EXAMINATION BY THE CORRESPONDENTS OF
THE SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, AND Bfi-
ING APPOINTED THEIR MISSIONARY, TO HIS FIRST ENTRANCE
ON THE BUSINESS OF HIS MISSION AMONG THE INDIANS OF KAU-
NAUMEEK.
FRIDAY, November 26. Had frill a fenfe of my great
vilenefs, and endeavoured as much as I could to keep
alone. Oh, what a nothing, what duft and afties am 1 ! En-
joyed fome peace and comfort in fpreading my complaints be-
fore the God of all grace.
Saturday, November 27, Committed my foul to God with
fome degree of comfort j left New- York about nine in the
morning j came away with a diftreffing fenfe Hill of my un-
ipeakable unworthinefs. Surely I may well love ail my bre-
thren j for none of them all is fo vile as I 3 whatever they do
outwardly, yet it feems to me none is confcious of fo much
guilt before God. Oh my leannefs, my barennefs, my car-
nality, and paft bitternefs, and want of a gofpel-temper !
Tlicfe things opprefs my foul. Rode from New- York,
thirty miles, to White Plains, acid moft of the way continued
68 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1742,
lifting up my heart to God for mercy and purifying grace j
and fpent the evening much dejected in fpirit.
[The three next days he continued in this frame, in a great
fenfe of his own vilenefs, with an evident mixture of melan-
choly, in no final! degree j but had fome intervals of comfort
and Goid's fenfible prefence with him.]
Wednefday, December J. My foul breathed after Goo*,
iu. fwcet fpiritual and longing defires of conformity to him j
my foul was brought to reft itfelf and all on his rich grace,
and felt ftiength and encouragement to do or fuffer any thiog
that Divine Providence mould allot me. Rode about twenty
miles from Stratfield to Newton.
[Within the fpace of the next nine days, he went a journey
from Newton to Haddam, his native town 5 and after flaying
there fome days, returned again into the Weftern part of Con-
necticut, and came to Southbury. In his account of the
frames and exercifes of his mind during this fpace of time,
are fuch things as thefe j frequent turns of dejection, a fenfe
of his vilenefs, emptinefs, and an unfathomable abyfs of defjpe-
rate wickedncfs in his heart, attended with a conviftion that
he had never feen but little of it 5 bitterly mourning over his
barr-ennefs, bekig greatly grieved that he could not live to
God, to whom he owed his all tenthoufand times, crying out,
" My leannefs, my leannefs !" A fenfe of the meetnefsand
fuitablenefs of his lying in the duft beneath God's feet j fer-
vency and ardour in prayer , longing to live to God j a being
afflicted with forae impertinent trifling converfation that he
heard j but enjoying fvveetnefs in Chriftian converfation.]
Saturday, December n. Converfed with a dear friend, to
whom I had thought of giving a liberal education, and being
at the whole charge of it, that he might be fitted for the gof-
pel-miniftry*. I acquainted him with my thoughts in that
* Mr Brainerd having now undertaken the bufinefs of a miffionarj
to the IniUjtns, and expect in^ m a little time to k-ave his native country.
25. MR DAVID BRAINfcRD. 69
matter, and fo left him to confider of it, till I ihould fee him
again. Then I rode to Bethlehem, and fo came to Mr Bella-
my's lodgings ; fpent the evening with him in fweet conver-
fation and prayer j we recommended the important concern
before mentioned (of fending my friend to college) unto the
God of all grace. Bl.effed be the Lord for this evening's op-
portunity together.
Lord,s day, December 12. I felt, ia the morning, as if I
kad little or no power either to pray or preach, and felt a
diftrefling need of divine help j I went to meeting trembling ;
but it pleafed God to affift me in prayer and fermon $ I think,
my foul fcarce ever penetrated fo far into the immaterial
world in any one prayer that ever I made ; nor were any de-
votions ever fo much refined, and free from grofs conceptions
and imaginations framed from beholding material objects. I
preached with fome fweetnefs, from Matth. vi. 33. " But
" feek ye firft the kingdom of God," &c. j and in the after-
noon, from Rom. xv. 30. " And now I befeech you, biethen,'*
&.c. There was much affe&ion in the affembly. This has been
a fweet Sabbath tome j and bleffed be God, I have reafon to
think that my religion is become more refined and fpiritual
by means of my late inward conflicts. Amen. May I always
be willing that God ftiould ufe his own methods with me !
Monday, December 13. Joined in prayer with Mr Bella-
my j and found fweeinefs and compofure in parting with him,
who went a journey. Enjoyed fome fweetnefs through the
day j and juft at night rode down to Woodbury.
to go among the favages, into the wildernefs, far diftant, and fpend the
remainder of his life among them, and having fome eftate left him by his
father, and thinking that he Ihould have no occalion for it among them,
( though afterwards, as he toW me, he found himfelf miftakenj he fet
kimfelf to think which way he might fpend it rnoft to the glory of God ;
cud no way presenting to his thoughts wherein he could do more good
v, ith it, than by being at the charge of educating fome young perfon for
the mioiftry, that appeared to be of good abilities, and well difpofed, he
pitched upon this perfon here fpoken of to this end ; who accordingly was
foon put to learning ; anu Mr Brainerd continued to be at the charge of
his education from year to year, fo long as he (Mr Brainerd ) lived, which
v;as till this young man was carried through his third year in college,
70 THE LIFE OF A. D. 1742.
Tuefday, December 14. Some perplexity hung on my
mind ; was diftreiTed, lait night ana this morning, for the in-
tereft of Zion, efpecialiy on account of the falfe appearances
of religion, that do but rather breed confufion, efpecialiy ia
fome places. I cried to God for help, to enable me to bear
teftimony againft thofe things, which, inftead of promoting,
do but hinder the progrefs of vital piety. In the afternoon,
rode down to Southbury, and converfed again with my friend
about the important affair of his following the work of the
miniflry j and he appeared much inclined to devote himfelf to
that work, if God mould fucceed his attempts to qualify
himfelf for fo great a w r ork. In the evening I preached
from i Theff. iv. 8. ; and endeavoured, though with tender-
nefs, to undermine falfe religion. The, Lord gave me fome af-
fiftance j but, however, I feemed fo vile, I was alhamed to
be feen when I came out of the meeticg-houfe.
Wednefday, December 15. Enjoyed fomething of God to-
day, both in fecret and focial prayer ; but was fenfible of
much barrennefs, and defed in duty, as well as my inability
to help myfelf for the time to come, or to perform the work
and bufinefs I have to do. -Afterwards, felt much of the
fweetnefs of religion, that the tendernefs of the gofpel-temper
was far from bitternefs : I found a deer love to all mankind ;
and was afraid of fcarcely any thing fo much as left feme mo-
tion of anger orrefentment ihould, fome time or other, creep
into my heart. Had fome comforting ioul-rcfreOung dii-
courfe with fome dear frieods, juft as we took our leave of
each other, and fuppofed it might be likely we (hould not meet
again till we came to the eternal world*. But I doubt not,
through grace but that forae of us mall have a happy meet-
ing there, and blefs God for this feafon, as well as many others.
Amen.
* It bad leen determined by the CommiJJloncrs <wbo employed, Mr Brai-
nsrd as a miJfion&fy,tkathcJbQuldgQ'a'sfofotasrntgbtbe conveniently
to the Indians living near the forks of T)e lain arc ri-ver in Fenfylvania,
und the Indians OK Sufijuebamiuh river ; -i^bicb being far cff\ -^
^i-'Jidd be expofed to many bardpips and dangers, i'::s :;.< tb:
Us t:ikinr ii-avc r>f bis fi it. /id* In ill: ;/;.: i
MR DAVID B R A I N E R D.
Thurfday, December 16. Rode down to Derby ; had, fome
fweet thoughts on the road j my thoughts were very clear,
efpecialiv on the eiTence of our falvation by Chrift, from thofe
v;ords, " Thou (halt call his name JESUS," &c.
Fii\ky, December 17. Spent much time in fweet conver-
i~.:.t:or: en ipivitual things with dear Mr Humphreys. Rode
to Ripton 5 (pent forae time in prayer with dear Chritlian
friends.
Saturday, December 18 . Spent much time in prayer in the
woods; feeined railed above tfce things of the world} my
ibul was ilrong in the Lord of hods ; but was fenfible of great
barrennefs.
Lord's day, December 10. At the facrament of the Lord's
nipper feerned Ilrong in the Lord j and the world, with all
its frowns and flatteries, in a great meafure difappeared, fo
that my foul had nothing- to do with them ; and I felt a difpo-
iilion to be wholly and for ever the Lord's. In the evening,
enjoyed fomething of the divine prefence j had a humbling icnfe
of ray vilenefs, barrennefs, and fmfulnefs. Oh, it wounded me
to think of the mifimprcvement of time ! " God be merciful
to me a iinner."'
j\londay, December 2o. Spent this day in prayer, reading
and writing j and enjoyed forae afllftance, efpecially in cor- '
reeling fome thoughts on a certain fubjecl ; but had a mourn-
ful fenfe of my barrentiefs.
Tuefday, December 21. Had a fenfe of my inefficiency
for any public work and bufincfs, as well as to live to God.
I rode over to Derby, and preached there 5 it pleafed God to
give me very fweet afliftance and enlargement, and to enable
me to fpeak with a foft and tender power and energy. ...... We
had afterwards a comfortable evening in iinging and prayer -,
God enabled me to pray with as much fpirituality and fweet -
nefs as I have done for fome time ; my mind feeined to be tin-
clothed of fenfe and imagination, and was in a meafure let in-
to the immaterial world of fpirits. This day and evening was,
I tnur, through infinite goodnefs, made very profitable to a
jvimber of us, to advance our fouls in liolinefs and conformity to
God : the glory be to him for ever. Amen. How bleffed
it : -: to grow more and more like God !
i'U'ay, December 22. Enjoyed fome afliflar.ce in
JET. 25. N*R DAVID BRAINERD. JZ
preaching at Ripton ; but my foul mourned within me for
ray barrennefs.
Thurfday, Dec. 23. Enjoyed, I truft, fonething of God
tliis mornmg in fecret. Oh how divinely fw-eet is it to come
into the fecret of his prefence, and abide in his pavilion I
Took an affectionate leave of friends, not expe&ing to fee
them again for a conliderable time, if ever in this world. Rode
with Mr Humphreys to his houfe at Derby ^ fpent the time in
fweet conversion j my foul was refreshed and fweetly melt-
ed with divine things. Oh that I was always confecrated to
God ! Near night I rode to New-Haven, and there enjoyed
fome fweetnefs in prayer and converfaUon with fome dear
Chriftian friends, iny mind was fweetjy ferious and compofed,
but alas 1 I too muck loft the fenfe of divine things.
[He continued much in the fame frame of mind, and in like
exercifes the two following days.]
Lord's Day, Dec. 26. Felt much fweetnefs and tender-
nefs in prayer, efpecially my whole foul feemed to love my
worfl enemies, and was enabled to pray for thofe that are
Grangers and enemies to God with a great degree of foftnefs
and pathetic fervour. In the evening, rode from New-Ha-
ven to Branford, after I had kneeled down and prayed with
a numbef of dear Chriftiao friends in a very retired place
in the woods and fo parted.
Monday, Decem. 27. Enjoyed a precious feafon indeed 5
had a fweet melting fenfe of divine things, of the pure fpi-
rituality of the religion of Chrift Jefus. In the evening I
preached from Matth. vi. 33. with much freedom, and fweet
power and pungency ; the prefence of God attended our
meeting. O Jae fweetnefs, the tendernefs, I felt in my foul 1
if ever I felt the temper of Chrift, I had fome fenfe of it now 7 .
BleiTed be my God, I have feldem enjoyed a more comforta-
ble and profitable day than this. O that 1 could fpend all my
time for God !
Tuefday, December 28. Rode from Branfort to Haddam.
In the morning, my clearness and fweetnefs in divine things
continued 5 but afterwards, fenfibly declined.
JET.25- " MR D A V 1 D BR A1N ERD. 73
[The next twelve days, he was for the moft part extremely
dcjeted, difcouraged, and diftreffed, and was evidently very
much under the power of melancholy j and there are from
day to day moft bitter complaints of exceeding vilenefs, ig-
norance, corruption, an amazing load of guilt, unworthinefs
to creep on God's earth, everlafting ufeleflnefs, fitnefs for
nothing, &c. } and fometimes expreffions even of horror at
the thoughts of ever preaching again. But yet in this time
of great dejection, he fpeaks of feveral intervals of divine help
and comfort.
The three next days, which were fpent at Hebron and the
Crank (a parifli in Lebanon), he had relief, and enjoyed con-
fiderable comfort.]
Friday, Jan. 14. 1742-3. My fpiritual conflicts to-day
were unspeakably dreadful, heavier than the mountains and
overflowing floods ; I feemed inclofed, as it were, in hell it-
felf j I was deprived of all fenfe of God, even of the being of
a God ; and that was my mifery. I had no awful apprehen-
flons of God as angry. This was diftrefs, the nearefl a kin
to the damned's torments that I ever endured - 7 their torment,
I am fure, will confift much in a privation of God, and con-
fequently of all good. This taught me the abfolute depen-
dence of a creature upon God the Creator, for every crumb
of happinefs it enjoys. Oh ! I feel that if there is no God,
though I might live for ever here, and enjoy not only this,
but all other worlds, I ihould be ten thoufand times more mi-
lerable than a toad. My foul was in fuch anguifli I could not
eat, but felt as I fuppofed a poor wretch would that is jurr go-
ing to the place of execution. I was-almoft fwallowed up
with anguiih, when I faw people gathering together to hear
me preach. However, I went in that diftrefs to the houfe of
God, and found hot much relief in the firft prayer ; it feemed
as. if God would let loofe the people upon me to deftroy me ;
nor were the thoughts of death diftreiTmg to me, like my own
vilenefs. But afterwards, in my difcourfe from Deut. viii. 2.
God was ple-afed to give me feme freedom and enlargement,
fome power and fpirituality 5 and I fpent the evening fome-
thing comfortably.
74 T H E L I F E O F A.D. 1 743,
[The two next days his comfort continues, and he feems
to enjoy an almoft continual fweetnefs of foul in the duties
and exercifes of religion and Chriftian converfation. On
Monday was a return of the gloom he had been under the
Friday before. He rode to Coventry this day, and the latter
part of the day had more freedom. On Tuefday he rode to
Canterbury, and continued more comfortable.]]
Wednefday, January 19. [At -Canterbury] In the after-
noon preached the lecture at the meeting-houfe : felt fome
tendernefs, and fomething of the gofpel-tcmper ; exhorted
the people to love one another, and not to fet up their own
frames as a ftandard to try all their brethren by : But was
much preifed, mofl of the day, with a fenfe of rny own bad-
nefs, inward impurity, and unfpeakable corruption. Spent the
evening in loving Chriftian converfation.
Thurfday, Jan. 20. Rode to my brother's houfe between
Norwich ^and Lebanon -, and preached in the evening to a
number of people j enjoyed neither freedom nor fpirituality,
but faw my felf exceeding unworthy.
Friday, Jan. 21. Had great inward conflicts j enjoyed
. but little comfort. Went to fee Mr Williams of Lebanon,
and fpent feveral hours with him ; and was greatly delighted
with his ferious, deliberate, and impartial way of difcourfe a-
bout religion^
[The next day he -was much dejecled.j
Lord's Day, Jan. 23. Scarce ever felt myfelf fo unfit to ex-
ift as now ; I faw I was not worthy of a place among the
Indians where I am going, if God permit -, I thought I fhould
be afhamed to look them in the face, and much more to have
any refpeft fhewn me there. Indeed, I felt myfelf banimed
from the earth, as if all places were too good for fuch a wretch
as I , I thought I (hould be aihamed to go among the very fa-
vages of Africa ; I appeared to myfelf a creature fit for
nothing, neither heaven nor earth. None knows, but thofe
that feel it, what the foul endures that is fenfibly (hut out
from the prcfence of God ) alas ! it is more bitter than death.
. 25. MR DAVID BRAINERD.
[On Monday he rode to Stoningtown, Mr Fifh's parifli.
On Tuefday he expreffes a confiderable degree of fpiritual
comfort and refrelhment.J
Wednefday, Jan. 26. Preached to a pretty large affem-
bly at Mr Fifh's meeting-houfe j infifted on humility, and lied-
faftnefs in keeping God's commands j and that through humi-
lity we mould prefer one another in love, and not make our
own frames the rules by which we judge others. 1 felt fweetly.
and calm, and full of brotherly love j and never more free from
party fpirit. I hope fome good will follow, that Chriftiaas
will be freed from falfe joy, and party zeal, and cenfuring one
another.
[On Thurfday, after confiderable time fpent in prayer and
Chrifh'an converfation, he rode to New-London.]
Friday, Jan. 28. Here I found fome fallen into fome ex-
travagances, too much carried away with a falfe Zealand
bitternefs. Oh ! the want of a gofpel-temper is greatly to be
lamented. Spent the evening in converfmg with fome about
fome points of conduct in both minifle.rs and private Chrifti-
ans j but did not agree with them j God had not taught them
with briars and thorns to be of a kind difpofuion toward man-
kind.
[On Saturday, he rode to Eaft-Haddam, and fpent the three
following days there j and in that fpace of time he fpeaks of
his feeling weanednefs from the world, a fenfe of the nearnefs
of eternity, fpecial aflitfance in praying for the enlargement of
Chrifi's kingdom, times of fpiritual comfort, &c.]
Wednefday, Feb. 2. Preached my farewell ferraon laft
night, at the houfe of an ageckman, who had been unable to at-
tend on the public worfliip for fome. time ; and this morning
fpent the time in prayer, almoft where-ever I went 5 and ha-
ving taken leave of friends, L fet out on my journey towards
the Indians ; though by the way I was to fpend fome time at
Ealt-Kampton on Long-Iuand,by the leave of the GommilTion-
76 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1743
ers who employed me in the Indian affair *; and being accom-
panied by a meiTenger from Eaft-Hampton, we travelled to
Lyme. On the road I felt an uncommon preffure of mind j
I feemed to ftruggle hard for fome pleafure in fomething here
below, and feemed loth to give up all for gone j but then
faw I was evidently throwing myfclf into all hardihips and
diftreffes in my prefent undertaking ; I thought it would be
lefs difficult to lie down in the grave ; but yet I chofe to go
rather than flay. Came to Lyme that night.
[He waited the two next days for a paffage over the Sound,
and fpent much of the time in inward confli&s and dejection,
but had fome comfort.
On Saturday he croffed the Sound, landed at Oyfter-Ponds on
Long-Ifland, and travelled from thence to Eaft-Hampton. The
feven next days he fpent there, he was, for the rnoft part, un-
der extreme deje6Hon and gloominefs of mind, with great com-
plaints of darknefs, ignorance &c. j yet his heart apper.rs to
have been constantly engaged in the great bufinefs of religion,
much concerned for the intereft of religion in Eaft-Hampton,
and praying and labouring much for it.}
Saturday. Feb. 12. Enjoyed a little more comfort, was
enabled to meditate with feme ccmpofure of mind 5 and efpe-
cially in the evening, found my fo-.l more refrefhed in prayer
than at any time of late ; my foul feemed to " take hold of
" God's ftrength," and was comforted with his confelations. O
how fweet are fome glimpfes of divine glory ! how ilrength-
ening and quickening !
Lord's Day, Feb. I 3. At noon,under a great clegreeofdifcou-
ragement j knew not how it was- pofiible for mV'*o preach i-n
the afternoon, was ready to give up all for gone but God
was pleafed to aflift me in fome meafure. In the.^evcning,
my heart was fweetly drawn out after God, and devoted to
him.
* TJje reafon 'why the Cammijfi.cr.crs or Ccrreff>c;n?crtti iKd not order
Mr Eraincrd to go immediately to tbe Indians, and enter r,n his bit/tnefs
as a mijftonarv to tbcm t was rtat the IL inter nvas nut judged to be -a conve-
nient Jeafcn for him frji to go out into the wMerarf', c-;d cr.ict en tie
nd bardfbips be mult there be fxfofed tc,
JLT. 25. MR DAVID BRA I NERD. J
[The next day, he had comfort and dejection intermingled.]
Tuefday, Feb. 15. Early in the day I felt fome comfort ;
afterwards I walked into a neighbouring grove, and felt more
as a flranger on earth, I think, than ever before } dead to ary
of the enjoyments of the world, as if I had b.een dead in a na-
tural fenfe. In the evening, had divine fweetnefsin fecret du-
ty \ God was then my portion, and my foul rofe above thafe
deep waters, into which I have funk fo low of late. My foul
then cried for Zion, and had fweetnefs in fo doing.
[This fweet frame continued the next morning j but after-
wards his inward diftrefs returned.]
Thurfday, Feb. 17. In the morning, found nayfelf fomc-
thing comfortable, and relied on God in fome meafure.
Preached this day at a little village belonging to Eaft-Hamp-
ton, and God was pleafed to give me his gracious prefence and
afiiftance j fo that I fpake with freedom, boldnefs, and fome
power. In the evening fpent fome time with a dear Chrif-
tian friend ; felt fweetly ferious, as on the brink of eternity ;
my foul enjoyed fweetnefs in lively appreher.fions of (landing
before the glorious God ; prayed with my dear friend with
fweetnefs, and difcourfed with much folemnity : And truly
it was a little emblem of heaven itfelf. I find my foul is
more refined and weaned from a dependence on my frames and
fpititual feelings.
Friday, Feb. 18. Felt fomething fweetly moil of the day,
and found accefs to the throne of grace. BlelTed be the Lord
for any intervals of heavenly delight and compofure, while I
am engaged in the field of battle. O that I wight be ferious, fo-
lemn, and always vigilant, while in an evil world ! Had fome
opportunity alone to-day, and found fome freedom in fludy. O
I long to live to God!
Saturday, Feb. 19. Was exceeding infirm to-day, greatly
troubled with pain in my head and dizzincfs, fcarce able to fit
up : However, enjoyed fomething of God in prayer, and per-
formed fome neceiTarv ftudies. I exceeding Jong to die :
THE LIFE OF A. D. 1 743^
and yet, through divine goodnefs, have felt very willing to live
for two or three days paft.
Lord's Day, Feb. 20. Was fomething perplexed on ac-
count of my careleffnefs j I thought I could not be fuitably
concerned about the important work of the day, and fo was
reftlefs with my eafmefs. Was exceeding infirm again to-
day 5 but the Lord ilrengthened me, both in the outward and
inward man j fo that I preached with fome life andfpirituality,
efpecially in the afternoon, wherein I was enabled to fpeak
clofely againft felfifti religion, that loves Chrift for his bene-
fits, but not for himfelf.
[During the next fortnight, it appears that he for the moft
part enjoyed much fpiritual peace and comfort. In his dia-
ry for this fpace of time, are exprefled fuch things as thefe j
mourning over indwelling fin and unprofitablenefs j deadnefs
to the world, longing after God, and to live to his glory j.
heart-melting defires after his eternal home ; fixed reliance
on God for his help \ experience of much divine afliitance both
in the private and public exercifes of religion j inward Ihength
and courage in the fervice ef God j very frequent refrefh-
mcnt, confolation, and divine fweetnefs in meditation, prayer,
preaching, and Chriftian converfation. And it appears by his
account, that this fpace of time was filled up with great dili-
gence and earneflnefs in ferving God, in ftudy, prayer, medi-
tation, preaching, and private inftru&ing and counfelling.
Monday, March 7. This morning when I arofe I found
rny heart go forth after God in longing defires of conformity
to him, and in fecret prayer found my felffweetly quickened
and drawn out in praifes to God for all he had done to and
for me, and for all my inward trials and diftreffes of late ; my
heart afcribed glory, glory, glory to the bleiTed God ! and
bid welcome all inward diftrefs again, if God faw meet to
exercife me with it ; time appeared but an inch long, and e-
ternity at hand j and I thought I could with patience and
chearfulnefs bear any thing for the caufe of God ; for I faw
that a moment would bring me to a world of peace and bleff-
etlnefs ; and my foul, by the ftrength of the Loid, rofe far
JET. 25. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 79
above this lower world, and all the vain amufements and
frightful difappointments of it. Afterwards, was vifited by
fome friends, but loft fome fweetnefs by the means. After
that, had fome fweet meditation on Gen. v. 24. " And"noch
" walked with God," &.c. This was a comfortable day to
my foul.
[The next day he feems to have continued in a confiderable
degree of fweetnefs and fervency in religion.]
Wednefday, March 9. Endeavoured to commit myfelf
and all my concerns to God. Rode 16 miles to Mantauk*,
and had fome inward fweetnefs on the road 3 but fomething of
flatnefs and deadnefs after I came there and hadfeen the In*
dians ; I withdrew, and endeavoured to pray, but found my-
felf awfully deferted and left, and had an afflicting fenfe of
my vilenefs and meannefs. However, I went and preached
from If. liii. 10. Had fome afliftance j and, I truft, fome-
thing of a divine prefence was among us. In the evening
again I prayed and exhorted among them, after having had a
feafon alone, wherein I was fo prefled with the blacknefs of
my nature, that I thought it was not fit for me to fpeakfo
much as to Indians.
[The next day he returned to Eaft-Hampton j was exceed-
ing infirm in body through the remaining part of this week j
but fpeaks of afiiilance and enlargement in fiudy and religious
exercifes, and of inward fweetnefs ^and breathing after God.]
Lord's Day, March 13. At noon I thought it impoflible
for me to preach, by reafon of bodily weaknefs and inward
deadnefs ; and in the firft prayer, was fo weak that I could
hardly ftand j but in fermon, God ftrengthened me, fo that
I fpake near an hour and half with fweet freedom, clearnefs,
and fome tender power, from Gen. v. 24, " And Enoch walk-
ed with God." I was fweetly aflifted to infift on a' clofe walk
* Mantauk is tie cafiern cape or end of Lzng-IJland, inhabited chiefly
by Indium.
80 T H E L I F E O F
With God, and leave this as my parting advice to God's people
here, that they mould walk with God. May the God of all
grace fucceed my poor labours in this place !
Monday, March 14. In the morning, was very bufy in
preparation for my journey, and was almofi. continually en-
gaged in ejaculatory prayer. About ten, took leave of the
dear people of Eaft-Hampton ; my heart grieved and mourn-
ed, and rejoiced at the fame time j rode near fifty miles to a
part of Brook-Haven, and lodged there, and had refrefhing
conversion with a Chriftian friend.
[In two dr.ys more he reached New-York, but complains
of much defertion and deadnefs on the road. He ftayed one
day in New- York, and on Friday went to Mr Dickinfon's at
Elifabeth-Town. His complaints are the fame as on the two
preceding days.]
Saturday, March 19. Was bitterly diftrefled under a fenfe
of my ignorance, darkhefs, and unworthinefs ; got alone, and
poured out my complaint to God in the bitternefs of my foul.
In the afternoon, rode to Newark, and had fome fweetnefs in
converfation with Mr Burr, and in praying together. O
bleffed be God for ever and ever, for any enlivening and quick-
ening.
Lord's Day, March 20. Preached in the forenoon ; God
gave me fome afftftance and fweetnefs, and enabled me to
fpeak with real tenderncfs, love, and impartiality. In the
evening preached again-, and, of a truth, God was pleafed
to aflift a poor worm. Bleffed be God, I was enabled to fpeak
with life, power, and paffionate defire for the edification of
God's people, and with fome power to iinners. In the even-
ing, I felt fomething fpiritual and watchful, left my heart
fhould by any means be drawn away from God. Oh, when
fhall I come to that bleffed world, where every power of my
foul will be inceflfantly and eternally wound up, in heavenly em-
ployments and enjoyments to the higheft degree !
[On Monday he went to Woodbribge/ where l:e fpeaks of
JET. 25. MR DAVID JBRAI NERD. 8l
his being with a number of minifters* ; and the day following
of his travelling part of the way towards New- York, and
lodging at a tavern. On Wednefday he came to New- York.
On Thurfday, he rode near fifty miles, from New-York to
North-Caftle. On Friday, went to Danbury. On Saturday
to New-Milford. On the Sabbath, he rode five or fix miles
to a place near Kent in Connecticut, called Scaticoke, where
dwell a number of Indians f, and preached to them. On
Monday being detained by the rain, he tarried at Kent. On
Tuefday he rode from Kent to Salfbury. Wednefday, he went
to Sheffield, Thurfday, March 3 1, he went to Mr Sergeant's
at Stockbridge. He was dejected and very difconfolate,
through the main of this journey from New- Jerfey to Stock-
bridge ; and efpecially on the laft day his mind was overwhelm-
ed with an exceeding gloominefs and melancholy.]
* Thefe minifteis were the Correfpondents, who now met at Wood-
bridge, and gave Mr Brainerd new directions ; and inftead of fending him
to the Indians at the Forks of Delaware, as before intended, they order-
ed him to go to a number of Indians, at Kannameek, a place in the pro-
vince of New-York, in the woods between Stockbridge and Albany. This
alteration was occafioned by two things, viz. i. Information that the Cor-
refpondents had received of fooie contention new fubfifting between the
white people and the Indians at Delaware, concerning their lands, which
they fuppofed would be a hinderance at prefent to their entertainment of
a mifiionary, and to his fuccefs among them. And, 2. Some intimations
they had received from Mr Sergeant, miffionary to the Indians at Stock-
V.ridge, concerning the Indians of Kaunameek, and the hopeful proipecl
of fuccefs that a miflionaiy might have among them.
* Tbefe nuere the fame Indians that ">fr Brainerd mentions in bh did*
ry for Aitgn/i 12. the preceding year.
82 THE LIFE OF
PART V.
FROM HIS FIRST BEGINNIN TO INSTRUCT THE INDIANS AT K.AUN-
AMEEK, TO HIS ORDINATION.
FRIDAY, 'April i. 1743. I rode to Kaunameek, near
twenty miles from Stockbridge, where the Indians live
with whom I am concerned , and there lodged on a little
heap of ftraw : Was greatly exercifed with inward trials, and
I feemed to have no God to go to. O that God would help
[The next five days, he was for the moft part in a dejected
depreffed ftate of mind, andfometimes extremely fo. He fpeaks
of God's " waves and billows rolling'over his foul j" and of
his being ready fometimes to fay, " Surely his mercy is clean
gone for ever, and he will be favourable no more j" and fays,
the anguilh he endured was namelefs and inconceivable*,
but at the fame time fpeaks thus concerning his dirlreffes,
' What God defigns by all my diftrefles I know not ; but
this I know, I deferve them all, and thoufands more."
He gives an account of the Indians kindly receiving him, and
being ferioufly attentive to his inftruclions.J
Thurfday, April 7. Appeared to my felf exceeding igno-
rant, weak, helplefs, and unworthy, and altogether unequal to
my work. It feemed to me, I mould never do any fervice,
or have any fuccefs g'mong the Indians. My foul was weary
of my life ' ? I longed for death beyond meafure. When 1
thought of any godly foul departed, my foul was ready to en-
vy him in his privilege, thinking, " Oh, when will my turn
" come! muft it, be years firft-?" But I know, thofe ardent
defires at this and other times rofe partly from want of refigna-
tion to God under all miferies j and fo were- but itnpatience.
Towards night I had, I think, the erercife of faith in prayer,
and feme afliftance in writing. O that God would keep me
near him !
26. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 8 J
Friday, April 8. Was exceedingly preffed under a fenfe of
my pride, felfiflinefs, bitternefs, and party -fpirit, in times pad,
while I attempted to promote the caufe of God : it? vile na-
ture and dreadful confequences appeared in fuch odious co-
lours to me, that my very heart was painecl , I faw how poor
fouls {tumbled over it into everlafting deftrufHon, that I was
conftrained to make that prayer in the bitternefs of my foul,
" O Lord, deliver me from blood-guiltinefs/' ! faw my defert
of hell on this account. My foul was full of inward anguifn
and fhame before God, that I had fpent fo much time in con-
verfation tending only to promote a party fpirit. Oh, I faw/
I had not fuitably prized mortification, felf-denial, refigna-
tion under all adverfities, meeknefs, love, candour, and holi-
nefs of heart and life ; and this day was almoft wholly fpent
in fuch bitter and foul-afflicting reflexions on my paft frames
and conducl. ...... Of late, I have thought much of having the..
kingdom of Chrift advanced in the world ; but now I fawT
had enough to do within myfelf. The Lord be merciful to
me a finner, and warn my foul !
Saturday, April 9. Remained much in the fame flate as
yefterday ; excepting that the fenfe of my vilenefs was not fo
quick and acute.
Lord's Day, April 10. Rofe early in the morning, and
walked out, and fpent coniiderable time in the woods in pray-
er and meditation. Preached to the Indians, both forenoon.
and afternoon. They behaved fober]y in general j two or
three in particular appeared to be under fome religious con-
cern j with whom I difcourfed privately j and one told me
" her heart had cried ever lince flie heard me preach firft."
[The next day, he complains of much defertion.]
Tuefday, April il. Was greatly oppreffed with grief and-
fhame j reflecting on my paft conduct, my bitternefs and party-
zeal, I was aftiamed to think that fuch a wretch as I had ever-
preached : Longed , to be excufed from that work. And
when my foul was not in anguifli and keen diftrefs, i felt-
fenfeleis " as a beafc before God," and felt a kind of guilty a-.,
ziwfemcnt with theleaft trifles ; which ftill maintained a kjr4
84 THE LIFE OF- A.D.I 7/5.
of ftifled horror of conference, fo that I could not reft any
more than a condemned malefactor.
Wednefday April 13. .. My heart was overwhelmed within
me ; I verily thought I was the meaneft, vileft, moil helplefs,
guilty, ignorant, benighted creature living. And yet I knew
what God had done for my foul, at the fame time ; though
Jometimes I was affaulted with damping doubts and fears, whe-
ther it was poffible for fuch a wretch as I to be in a {'ate of
grace.
Thurfday, April 14. Remained much in the fame {late as
yefrerday. :
Fiiclay, April 15. In the forenoon very difconfolate. In
the afternoon preached to my people, and was a little encou-
raged in fome hopes God might bellow mercy on their fouls.
Felt iomething refigned to God under all difpenfations of his
providence.
Saturday, April .16. Still in the deptM of diftrefs In
the afternoon, preached to rny people - 7 but was more difcou-
raged with them than before , feared that nothing would ever
be done to them for any hapyy effect. I retired and poured
out my foul to God for mercy ; but without any fenfible re-
lief. Soon after came an Iri(h-man and a Dutch-man, with a
defign, as they faid, to hear me preach the next day 5 but
none can tell haw I felt to hear their profane talk. Oh, I
,longed that fome dear Chriftjan knew my diftrefs. I got into
a kind of hovel, and there groaned out my complaint to God >
and withal felt more fenfible gratitude and thankfulnefs to
God, that he had made me to diiler fro.m.thefe men, as I knew
through grace he had.
Lord's Day, April 17. In the morningiwns again diftreffed
as focn as I waked, hearing much talk about the world and
the things of it. Though I perceived the men were in fome
meafure afraid of me 5 a-nd I difcourfed fomethmg about fanc-
tifying the Sabbath, if poffible to folemnizc.flieir minds ; but
when they were at a little diftance, they .again talked freely
.ibout fecular affairs. Oh, I thought what- a hell it would be,
to live with fuch men to eternity ! The Lord gave me fome
afliftanceinfpreaching, all day, and fome relignation and a fmall
degree of comfort in prayer at night.
[He continuedin this difconfolate frame the next day.}
JET. 25- MR DAVID E R A 1 N E R D. 85
Tuefday, April 19. In the morning, enjoyed fome fvveee
repofe and reft in God j felt forae ftrength and confidence in
God j and my foul was in fome raeafure refrefned and com-
forted. Spent moft of the day in writing, and had fome ex-
ercife of grace feniible and comfortable 5 my foul feemed lifted
above the deep waters, wherein it has been fo long almofl:
drowned j felt fome fpiritual longings and breathings of foul
after God ; found mylelf engaged for the advancement of
Chrift's kingdom in my own foul, more than in others, mora
than in the Heathen world.
Wednefday, April 20. Set apart this day for fafting and
prayer to bow my foul before God for the bcftowments of
divine grace j efpecially that all my fpiritual afflictions and
inward diilreiTes might be fanctified to my foul. And endea-
voured alfo to remember the goodnefs of God to use in the
year paft, this day being my birth-day. Having obtained
help of God, I have hitherto lived, and am now arrived at the
age of twenty-five years. My {bul was pained, to think of
my barrennefs and deadnefs 5 that I have lived fo little to the
glory of the eternal God. I {pent the day in the woods a-
lone, and there poured out my complaint to God. O that
God would enable me to live to his glory for the future !
Thuriday, April 21. Spent the forenoon in reading and
prayer, and found myfelf fomething engaged j but Hill much
depreffed in fpitit under a fenfe of my vilcnefs and unfitnefi
for any public fervice. In the afternoon viiited my people,
and prayedjand convcrfed with fome about their fouls concerns
and afterwards found fome ardour of foul in fecret prayer. O
that I might grow up into the likenefs of God.
Friday, April 22. Spent the day in ftudy, reading and pray-
er j and felt a little relieved of my burden that has been fo
heavy f la*e ', but ftill in fome rceafure oppreiTed ; had a
fenfe of barrennefs. Oh my leannefs teflifies againft me ! my
very foul abhors itfelf for its unlikenefs to God, its inactivi-
ty and fluggiihnefs. When I have done all, alas ! what a;\
unprofitable fervant am I ! My foul groans, to fee the hours
of the day roll away, becaufe I do not fill them in fpirituali-
ty and heavenly-mindednefs. And yet I long they fhould
fpeed their pace to haftcn me to my eternal home, where I
S6 THLtlFEOF A.D.
may 11 up all my moments through eternity for God and his
glory.
[The two following days his melancholy again prevailed
He cried out of his ignorance, ftupidity, and fenfelefTnefs j and
yet he feems to have fpent the time with the utmoft diligence,.
in iludy, in prayer, and in inftructing the Indians. On Mon-
day he funk into the deepeft melancholy, fo that he fuppofed
be never fpent a day in fuch diftrefs in his life j not in fears of
hell, but a diftrefling fenfe of his own viknefs. On Tuefday,
he espreiTes feme relief. Wednefday he kept as a day of fall-
ing an^ prayer, but in great diftrefs. The three following-
days, his melanchcfty continued, but in a lefier degree, and with
intervals of comfort. 3
Lord's Day, May I. Was at Stockbridge to-day. In the-
forenoon had fome relief and afliftance, though not fo much*
as ufual. In the afternoon, felt poorly in body and foul ;
while [ was preaching I feemed to be rehearfing idle tales, with-
out the leaft life, fervour, fenfe, or comfort j and efpecially af-
terwards, at the facrament, my foul was filled with confufaon,
and the utmoft anguiih ever I endured, under the feeling of
my inexpreffible vilenefs and meannefs. It was a mofl bitter
and diftrefling feafon to me, by reafon of the view I had of
my own heart, and the fecret abominations that lurk there ^
I thought the eyes of all in the houfe were upon me, and I
dared not to look any one in the face ; for it verily feemed as.
if they fa w the vilenefs of my heart, and all the fins I had e-
ver been guilty of. And if I had been baniftied from the pre-
tence of all mankind, never to be feen any more, or fo much as
thought of, ftill I mould have been diftrefied with ftiame j and
I fiiould have been amamed to fee thernoft barbarous people
on earth, becaufe I was viler, and feemingly more brut i (lily ig-
norant than they. u I am made to poffefs the fins of my
" youth."
[The remaining days of this week were fpent, for the mofl
part, in in ward diftrefs and gloominefs. The next Sabbath he
had encouragement, afliftance, and comfort 5 but on Monday.
(unk again.J
JT. 26. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 87
Tuefday, May 10. Was in the fame ftate as to my mind
that I have been in for fome time, extremely preffed with a
fenfe of guilt, pollution, blindnefs ; " The iniquity of my
" heels have compared me about j the fins of my youth have
" been fet in order before me j they have gone over my head
" as an heavy burden, too heavy for me to bear." Almoft all
the actions of my life pail feem to be covered over with fin
and guilt j and thofe of them that I performed in the moft
confcientious manner, now fill me. with ihame and confufion,
that I cannot hold up my face. Oh ! the pride, felfifhnefs,
hypocrify, ignorance, bitternefs, party-zeal, and the want of
love, candour, meeknefs, and gentlenefs, that have attended my
attempts to promote religion and virtue j and this when I
have reafon to hope I had real affiftance from above, and fome
fvveet intercourfe with heaven ! But alas, what corrupt mix-
tures attend my beil duties !
[The next feven days his gloom and diftrefs continued, fo*
the moft part j but he had fome turns of relief and fpiritual
comfort. He gives an account of his fpending part of this
time in hard labour, to build himfelf a little cottage to live in
amongft the Indians, in which he might be by himfelf ; ha-
ving (it feems) hithertb lived with a poor Scotch-man, and
afterwards, before his own houfe was habitable, lived in a wig-
wam among the Indians.]
Wednefday, May 18. My circumftances are fuch that I
have no comfort of any kind, but what I have in God. I
live in the mod lonefome wildernefs 5 have but one fingle per-
fon to converfe with, that can fpeak Englifh*. Moft of the
talk I hear, is either Highland-Scotch or Indian. I have no
fellow-Chriftian to whom I might unbofom myfelf, and lay
open nr T fpiritual forrows, and with whom I might take
* This peribn was Mr B.'s interpreter. He was an ingenious young
Indian belonging to Stockbiidge, whofe name was JOHN WAUWAUM-
PEQJJUNAUNT. He had been inftrudted in the Chriftian religion by Mr
S^rj'.-itnt ; and had been farther inilrudled by Mr "Williams of Longmea-
uow, at the charge of Mr Hollis f London. He underftood both Eng-
\fh and Iti'iiaa \?.ry well, aatl wrote a good hand.
88 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1743.
fweet counfel in converfation about heavenly tilings, and join
in focial prayer. I live poorly with regard to the comforts of
life j raoft of ray diet confifts of boiled corn, hafty-pudding,
&.c. i lod^. on a bundle of ftraw, my labour is hard and
extremely u'fhcult , and 1 have little appearance of fuccefs to
comfort me. The Indian affairs are very unfettled ; they
have no land to live on, but what the Dutch people lay claim
to, and threaten to drive them from : They have no regard to
the fouls of the poor Indians \ and, by what I can learn, they
hate me becaufe I come to preach to them. But that which
makes all my difficulties grievous to be borne is, that " God
hides his face from me.' 1
Thurfday, May 19. Spent mod of this day in clofe ftudy ;
but was foinelimes fo diitreffed that I could think of nothing
but my fpiritual blindncfs, ignorance, pride, and mifery. Oh !
I have reafon to make that prayer, " Lord, forgive my fins of
youth and former trefpaffes."
Friday, May 20. Was much perplexed fome part of the
day j but towards night, had fome comfortable meditations on
If. xl. i. and enjoyed fome fweetnefs in prayer. Afterwards,
my foul rofe fo far above the deep waters, that I dared to re-
joice in God. I faw there was fufficient matter of confolation
in the bleffed God.
[The next nine days, his burdens were for the mod part al-
leviated, but with variety j at fome times having confiderable
confolation, and at other times more depreffed. The next
day, Monday May 30, he fet out on a journey to New-Jerfey,
to confult the Commiflioners that employed him about the
affairs of his million : performed his journey thither in four
days , and arrived at Mr Burr's in Newark on Thurfday. In
great part of his journey, he was in the depths of melancholy
under like diftreffes with thofe already mentioned. On Fri-
day he rode to Elizabeth-Town j and on Saturday to New-
York j and from thence on his way home-wards as far as
White- Plains, where he fpent the Sabbath, and had conli-
derable degrees of divine confolation and aififtance in public
fervices. On Monday, he rode about fixty miles to New-Ha-
ven. The-re he attempted a reconciliation with the. authors
JET. 2 6. MR. DAV1DBRA1NERD. 89.
ty of the college $ and (pent this week in vifiting /its friends
in thofe parts, and in his journey homewards, till Saturday,
in a pretty comfortable frame of mind. On Saturday, in his
way from Stockbridge to Kaunaumeek, he. was loit in the
woods, and lay all night in the open air; but happily found
his way in the morning; and came to his Indians on Lord's Day,
June 1 2. and had greater affiilance in preaching among them.
From this time forward he was the fubje6i of various frames
and exercifes of mind j but it feems, in the general, to have
been with him much after the fame manner as it had been hi-
therto from his firit coming to Kaunaumeek, till he got into his
own hoafe, (a little hut, that he had made chiefly with his own
hands with long and hard labour), which was near fevcn weeks
from this time. Great part of this fpace of time, he was de-
jedled and dspreffed with melancholy, and fometimes very ex--
tremely, his melancholy operating in like manner as has been
related of times paft. How it was with him in thofe dark, fea-
fons, he himfelf further defcribes in his^ diary for July 2. in the
following manner. " My foul is and has been for a long time
" in a piteous condition, wading through a feries of forrows
" of various kinds. I have been fo crumed down fometimes
*' with a fenfe of my meannefs and infinite unworthinefs, that
" I have been aftvamed that any, even the meaneft of my fel-
" low creatures, mould fo much as fpend a thought about me j
" and have wimed fometimes when I have travelled among the
" thick brakes, as one of them, to drop into everlafting oblivi-
" on. In this cafe, fometimes, I have almoft refolved never
" again to fee- any of my acquaintance ; and really thought
" i I could not do it and hold up my face 5 and have longed for
" the remoteil region, for a retreat from all my friends, that
""I might not be feen or heard of any more. Sometimes the
" confideration of my ignorance has been a means of my great
" diftrefs and anxiety : And efpecially my foul has been in
" anguiih with fear, (name, and guilt, that ever I had preach-
" ed, or had any thought that way. Sometimes my foul has
" been in diftrefs on feeling fome particular corruptions rife
' A and fwell like a mighty torrent, with prefent violence 5 ha~
" ving, at the fame time, ten thoufand lins and follies prefented
" to vicyr, in all their blacknefsand aggravations And thefe
go THEL1FEOF A. 0.1743,
*' attended with fuch external circumftances as mine at prefent
" are j deditute of mod of the conveniences of life, and I may
" fay, of all the pleafures of it ; without a friend to communi-
" cate any of my forrows to, and fometimes without any place
" of retirement, where I may unburden my foul before God
" which has greatly contributed to my diilrefs. Of late,
" more efpecially, my great difficulty has been a fort of care-
" leffnefs, a kind of regardlefs temper of mind, whence I
*' have been difpofed to indolence and trifling : and this tem-
" per of mind has conftantly been attended with guilt and
*' fliame j fo that fometimes 1 have been in a kind of hor-
" ror to find myfelf fo unlike the bleffed God j and have
" thought I grew worfe under all my trials 5 and no-
*' thing has cut and wounded my foul more than this. Oh !
*'* if I am one of God's chofen, as I trud through infinite grace
** I am, I find of a truth, that the righteous are fcarcely fa-
" ved."
It is apparent, that one main occafion of that diftrefling
gloominefs of mind which he was fo much exercifed with at
Kaunaumeek, was reflection on his pad errors and mifguided
zeal at college, in the beginning of the late religious commo-
tions in the land : And therefore he repeated his endeavours
this year for reconciliation with the governors of the college,
whom he had in that time offended. Although he had been
at New-Haven, in June this year, and had attempted a re-
conciliation, as has been mentioned already 5 yet in the be-
gining of July, he made another journey thither, and renewed
his attempt, but dill in vain.
Although he was much dejected great part of the fpace of
time that I am now fpeaking of, yet there were many inter-
imfricns of his melancholy, and fome feafons of comfort, fvveet
tranquillity and refignation of mind, and frequent fpecial affiil-
ance in public fervices, that he fpeaks of in his diary. The
manner of his relief from his forrow, once in particular, is
\vorthy to be mentioned in his own words, in his diary for
July 25, which are as follows : " Had little or no refolution
" for a life of holinefs ; was ready aimed to renounce my
" hopes of livingto God. And Oh how dark it looked, to
" think of being unholy for ever I This I could not endure.
"The cry of my foul was that iniquities prevail again/I me.
" Pfal. Ixv. 3. But was in fome meafure relieved by a com-
JET. 26. MR DAVID BRAINERD. pi
" fortable meditation on God's eternity, that he never had a
" beginning, &c. Whence I was led to admire his greatnefs
" and power, &.c. in fuch a manner, that I flood ftill and prai-
" fed the Lord for his own glories and perfections ; though I
" was (and if I fliould for ever be) an unholy creature, my
" foul was comforted to apprehend an eternal, infinite, power-
" ful, holy God."]
Saturday, July 30; Juft at night, moved into my own houfe,
and lodged there that night j found it much better fpending
the time alone in my own houfe, than in the wigwam where I
was before.
Lord's Day, July 3 1 . Felt more comfortably than fome
days paft.Blefled be the Lord who has now given me a place
of retirement. O that I might find God in it, and that he
would dwell with me for ever !
Monday, Auguft i. Was ftiil bufy on further labours on my
houfe. Felt a little of the fweetnefs of religion, and thought
it was worth the while to follow after God through a thoufand
fnares, defarts, and death itfelf. O that I might always fol-
low after holinefs, that I may be fully conformed to God !
Had fome degree of fweetnefs in fecret prayer, though I had
much forrow.
Tuefday, Auguft 2. Was ftill labouring to make myfelf
more comfortable with regard to my houfe and lodn > - La-
boured under fpiritual anxiety , it feemed to me I de ; ^ed to
be kicked out of the world yet found fome comfort in com-
mitting my caufe to God. " It is good for me to be afflicted,'*
that I may die wholly to this world and all that is in it.
Wednefday, Auguft 3. Spent moft of the day in writing ;
enjoyed fome fenfe of religion. Thro' divine goodnefc, I am
now uninterruptedly alone, and find my retirement comforta-
ble. I have enjoyed more fenfe of divine things for thefe few
days paft than for fome time before. I longed after holinefs,
humility, and meeknefs. O that God would enable me to pafs
the time of my fojourning here in his fear, and always live to
him.
Thurfday, Aug. 4. Was enabled to pray much thro' the
whole day 5 and thro' divine goodnefs, found fome intenfenefs
92 THE LIFE olF A.D. 1743,
of foul in the duty, as I ufed to do, and fome ability to. perfc-
vere in my fupplications : Had fome apprehenlion of divine
things, that were engaging, and gave me fome courage and re-
folution. It is good, I find, to perfevere in attempts to pray,
if I cannot pray with perfeverance, z. e. continue long in my
addreffes to the Divine Being. I have generally found, that
the more I do in fecret prayer, the more I have delighted to
"do, enjoying more of a fpirit of prayer- and frequently have
found the contrary, when, by journeying or otherwife, I have
been much deprived of retirement. A feafonable fteady per-
formance of fecret duties in their proper hours, and a careful
improvement of all time, filling up overy hour with fome pro-
fitable labour, either of heart, of head, or hands, are excellent
means of fpiritual peace and boldnefs before God. " Chrift"
indeed " is oar peace, and by him we have boldnefs of accefs
to God j" but a " confcience void of offence" is an excellent
preparation for an approach into the divine prelence. There
js difference between felf-confidence and a felf-righteous plea-
iing ourfelves (with our own duties, attainments, and fpiritual
enjoyments,) which godly fouls are fometimes guilty of, and
that holy confidence arifing from the teftimony of a good con-
fcience, which good Hezekiah had, when he fays, " Remem-
ber, O Lord, I befeech thee, how I have walked before thee
in truth, and with a perfect heart." " Then (fays the holy
.Pfalmilt,) mall I not be aihamed, when I have refpeft to all
thy commandments." Filling up our time with and for God
is the way to rife up and lie down in peace.
[The next eight days, "he continued for the moll part in a
very comfortable frame, having his rnind fixed and fweetly en-
gaged in religion , and more than once bleffcs God that he
had given him a little cottage, where he might live alone, and
enjoy a happy retirement, free from noife and difturbance, and
could at any hour of the day lay aflde all iludies, and lift up
his foul to God for fpiritual bleffings.]
Saturday, Auguft 13. Was enabled in fecret prayer to raife
my foul to God with defire and delight. It was indeed a bluf-
fed feafon to my foul : I found the comfort of being a Chrif-
JET. 2 5- M R DAVID BRAINERD. 93
tian : " I counted the Bufferings of the prefent life not wor-
thy to be compared with the glory" of divine enjoyments e-
ven in this world. All my paft forrows feemed kindly to dif-
apear, and I " remembered no more the forrow for joy." O,
how kindly, and with what filial tendernefs, the foul hangs on
and confides in the Rock of ages, at fuch a feafon,that he will
" never leave it nor forfake it," that he will caufe " all things
to work together for its good !" &c. I longed that others
fnould know how good a God the Lord is. My foul was full
of tendernefs and love, even to the moft inveterate of my ene-
mies : I longed they ftiould fnare in the fame mercy. I lov-
ed and longed that God mould do juft as he pleafed with
me and every thing elfe. I felt exceeding ferious, calm, and
peaceful, and encouraged to prefs after holinefs as long as
I live, whatever difficulties and trials may be in the way.
May the Lord always help me fo to do ! Amen, and Amen.
Lord's Day, Augtift 14. I had much more freedom in pub-
lic than in private. God enabled me to fpeak with fome feel-
ing fenfe of divine things ^ but perceived no confiderable effect.
Monday, Auguft 15. Spent moft of the day in labour to
procure fomething to keep my horfe on in the winter. Enjoyed
not much fweetnefs in the morning : was very weak in body
through the day, and thought this frail body would foon drop
into the duft : had fome very realizing apprehenfiors of a
fpeedy entrance into another world. And in this weak
flate of body, was not a little diftreiled for want of fuitable
food. Had ho bread, nor could I get any. I am forced to
go or fend ten or fifteen miles for all the bread I eat ; and
fometimes it is mouldy and four before I eat it, if I get any
confiderable quantity ; and then again I have none for fome
Slays together, fx>r want of an opportunity to fend for it, and
cannot find my horfe in the woods to go myfelf - 7 and this
Was my cafe now : but through divine goodnefs I had fome
Indian meal, of which I made little cakes and fried them.
Yet felt contented with my circumftances, and fweetly re-
figned to God. In prayer I enjoyed great freedom j and
bleffed God as much for my prefent circumftances, as if I had
been a king and thought I found a difpofition to be content-
ed in any circumftanceblefled. be God !
94 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1743.
[The reft of this week, he was exceeding weak in body,
and much exerciied with pain j and yet obliged from day to
day to labour hard, to procure fodder for his horfe, except-
ing fome part of the time he wasfo very ill, that he was nei-
ther able to work nor ftudy j 'but fpeaks of longings after ho-
linefs and perfect conformity to God ; complains of enjoying
bnt little ot God j yet fays, that little was better to him than
all the world befides. In his diary for Saturday, he fays, he
was fomething melancholy, and forrowful in mind , and adds,
" I never feel comfortably, but when I find my foul going
" forth after God ; if I cannot be holy, I muft necelTarily be
" miferable for ever.]
r
Lord's Day, Auguft 21 : Was much ftraitened in the fore-
noo.i-exercife \ my thoughts feemed to be all fcattered to the
ends of the earth. At noon, I fell down before the Lord,
and groaned under my vilenefs, barrennefs, deadnefs 5 and felt
as if I was guilty of foul-murder, in fpeaking to immortal fouls
in fuch a manner as I had then done. In the afternoon, God
was pleafed to give me fome affiftance, and I was enabled to
fet before my hearers the nature and neceffity of true repen-
tance, &c. Afterwards had fome fm all degree of thankfulnefs.
Was verv ill and full of pain in the evening ; and my foul
mourned that I had fpent fo much time to fo little profit.
Monday, Auguft 22. Spent moft of the day in ftudy j and
found my bodily flrength in a meafure reftored. Had fome
intenfe and pafiionate breathings of foul after holinefs, and
very clear manifeftations of my utter inability to procure or
work it in myfelf j it is wholly owing to the power of God.
O, with what tendernefs the love and defire of holinefs fills
the foul ! I wanted to wing out of myfelf to God, or rather
to get a conformity to him ; but, alas ! I cannot add to my fta-
ture in grace one cubit. However, my foul can never leave
ftriving for it - 7 or at lead groaning that it cannot ftrive for
it, and obtain more purity of heart. At night, I fpent fome
time in inftrufting my poof people j Oh that God would pity
their fouls !
Tuefday, Auguft 23. Studied in the forenoon, and enjoy-
ed fome freedom. In the afternoon, laboured abroad endea-
voured to pray much j but found not much fweetnefs or in-
tenfenefs of mind. Towards night, was very weary, and tired
of this world of forrowj the thoughts of death and immorta-
lity appeared very defirable,and even refrefhed my foul. Thefe
lines turned into my mind with pleafure ^
Come , Death, Jfjake hands ; Til kifs thy bands ;
''Xi's happinefs for me to die.
IVbat ' do/I thou think, that I will Jhrink ?
Pllgo to immcrtaiity.
In evening-prayer, God was pleafed to draw near to my foul
though very fmful and unworthy j was enabled to wreftle
with God, and to perfevere in my requefts for grace j I pour-
ed out my foul for all the world, friends and enemies. My
foul was concerned, not fo much for fouls as fuch, but rather
for Chrift's kingdom that it might appear in the world, that
God might be knowrwto be God ! in the whole earth. And
Oh ! my foul abhorred the very thought of a party in religion.
Let the truth of God appear wherever it is and God have
the glory for ever. Amen. This was indeed a comfortable
feafon j I thought I had fome fmall tafte of and real relifh
for the enjoyments and employments of the upper world. O
that my foul was more attempered to it !
Wednefday, Auguft 24. Spent fonae time-, in the morning,
In ftudy and prayer. Afterwards, was engaged in forne ne-
ceflary bufinefs abroad. Towards night, found a little time
for fome particular fludies. I thought if God mould fay,
*' Ceafe making any proviiion for this life, for you mall in a
*' few days go out of time into eternity," my foul would
leap for joy. O that I may both " defire to be diffolved, to
" be with Chrift," and likewife " wait patiently all the days
*' of my appointed time till my change come !" But alas !
I am very unfit for the bufinefs and bleffednefs of heaven.
O for more holinefs !
Thurfday, Auguft 25. Part of the day engaged in fludies,
and part in labour abroad. I find it is impoffible to enjoy
peace and tranquillity of mind without a careful improvement
of time. This is really an imitation of God and Chrift Jefus ;
" My Father worketh hitherto and I work," fays our Lord.
96 THE LIFE OF A. 0.1743.
Bat dill, if we would be like God, we muft fee that we fill up
cur time for him. I daily long to dwell in perfect light and
love. In the mean time, my foul mourns that I make fo little
progrefs in grace, and preparation for the world of blelTednefs.
I fee and know that I am a very barren tree in God's vine-
yard, and that he might juilly fay, " Cut it down," &c. O
that God would make me more lively and vigorous in grace,
for his own glory ! Amen.
[[The two next days, he was much engaged infome necefla-
ry labours, in which he extremely fpent himfelf. He feems
thefe days to have had a great fenfe of the vanity of the world ^
and continued longing after hoJinefi;, and more fervency of fpi-
rit in the fervice of God.]
Lord's Day, Auguft 28. Was much perplexed with fome
irreligious Dutch-men. All their difcpurfe turned upon the
things of the world ; which was no fmall exercife to my mind.
Oh, wuat a hell it would be to fpeud an eternity with fuch men !
Well might David fay, " I beheld the tranfgreflbrs, and was
"grieved." But adored be God, heaven is a place "into
" which no unclean thing'enters." Oh ! 1 long for the holinefs
of that world. Lord, prepare me therefor.
[The next day he fet out on a journey to New-York. Was
fomething deje&ed the two firft days of his journey j but yet
feems to have enioyed fome degrees of the fenlible prefence of
God.]
Wednefday, Auguft 31. Rode down to Bethlehem j was
^in a fweet, ferious, and I hope, Chriftian frame, when I came
there ; eternal things engrolTed all ray thoughts j and I
longed to be in the world of fpirits. O how happy is it to
have all our thoughts fwallowed up in that world j to feel one's
felf a ferious confiderate ftranger in this world, diligently
feeldng a road through it, the beft, the fure road to the hea-
venly Jerufalem !
Thurfday, Sept. I. Rode to Danbury. Was more dull and
tlejecl.ed than yeflerday. Indeed, I always feel comfortably
JLT. 26. MR DAVID B R A I N E R D. 97
when God realizes death and the things of another world
to my mind j whenever my mind is taken off from the things
of this world, and fet on God, my foul is then at reit.
[He went forward on his journey, and came to New-York
on the ' next Monday : And after tarrying there two or three
days, fet out from the city towards New-Haven, intending to
be there at the Commencement; and on Friday came to Horfe-
Neck. In the mean time he complains much of dulnefs, and
want of fervour in religion ; but yet from time to time, (peaks
of his enjoying fpirhual warmth and fweetncfs in converfation
with Chriftian friends, atTillance in public fer vices, &Lc.]
Saturday, Sept. to. Rode fix miles to Stanwich, and preach-
ed to a confiderable affcmbly of people. Had fome afliitance
and freedom, efpecially towards the clofe. Endeavoured much
afterwards, in private converfation, to eftablifti holinef?, hu-
mility, meeknefs, &c. as the effence of true religion j and to
moderate fome noify perfons, that appeared to me to be aclied
by unfeen fpiritual pride. Alas ! what extremes men incline
to run into ! Returned to Horfe-Neck, and felt fome feriouf-
nefs and fweet folemnity in the evening.
Lord's Day, Sept. n. In the afternoon, preached from Ti-
tus iii. 8. I think, God never helped me more in painting out
true religion, and in detecting clearly, and tenderly difcoun-
tenancing falfe appearances of religion, wild-fire party-zeal,
fpiritual pride, &.c. as well as a confident dogmatical fpirit,
and its fpring, viz. ignorance of the heart. In the evening,
took much pains in private converfation to fupprefs fome con-
fufions, that I perceived were amongftthat people.
Monday, Sept. 12. Rode to Mr Mills's at Ripton. Had
feme perplexing hours j but tvas fome part of the day very
comfortable. It is " through great trials," I fee, " that we
mult enter into the gates of paradife." If my foul could but
be holy, that God might not be difhonoured, methinks I could
Jbear forrows.
Tuefday, September 13. Rode to New-Haven. Was
fometimes dejected; not in the fweeteft frame. Lodged at
****. Had fome profitable Chriftian converfation, &c.
N
9 THE LIFE or A. 0.1743*
I find, though my inward trials are great, and a life of foli-
tude gives them a greater advantage to fettle, and penetrate to
the very inmoft receffes of the foul \ yet it is better to be
alone than incumbered with noife and tumult. I find it very
difficult maintaining any fenfe of divine things, while remo-
ving from place to place, diverted with new objects, and
filled with care and bufmefs. A fettled fleady bufmefs is belt
adapted to a life of ftrict religion.
W ednefday,Sept. IA. This day I ought to have taken my de-
gree ; fthis being commencement day] j but God fees fit to
-deny it me. And though I was greatly afraid of being over-
whelmed with perplexity and confufion, when 1 ftiould fee my
clafs-mates take theirs ; yet in the very feafon of it, God ena-
bled me with calmnefs and refignation to fay, * The will of
" the Lord be done." Indeed, through divine goodnefs, I have
fcarcely felt my mind focalm, fedate,and comfortable for fome
time. 1 have long feared this feafon, and expected my humility,
meeknefs, patience, and refignation would be much tried 5 but
fcund much more pleafure and divine comfort than I expect-
ed. Felt fpiritually ferious, tender and affectionate in private
j>rayer with a dear Chriftian friend to-day.
Thurfday, Sept. 15. Had fome fatisfaction in hearing the
ministers difcourfe, &.c. It is always a comfort to me, to hear
religious and fpiritual difcourfe. O that miuifters and peo-
ple were more fpiritual and devoted to God ! Towards night,
with the advice of Chriilian friends, I offered the following
reflections in writing to the rector and truftees of the college,
(which are for fubitance the fame that 1 had freely offered
to the rector before, and entreated him to accept) \ and this I
did, that if poffible I might cut off all occafion of {tumbling
and offence from thofc that feek occafion. What I offered is
as follows :
" Whereas, I have faid before fevera! perfons, concerning
" Mr Whittelfey, one of the tutors of Yale-college, that I
" did not believe he had any more grace than the chair I
41 then leaned upon , I humbly confefs, that herein I have
" finned againft God, ^and acted contrary to the rules of his
" word, and have injured Mr Whittelfey. I had no right to ;
"make thus free with his cbr.icter 5 and had nojuft rcafoa
JET. 26. MR DAVID B R A 1 N E R D. 99
" to fay as I did concerning him. My fault herein was the
" more aggravated, in that I faid this cencerning one that
" was fo much my fuperior, and one that I was obliged to treat
" with fpecial refpecl and honour, by reafon of the relation I
" flood in to him in the college. Such a manner of behaviour,
" I confefs, did not become a Chriftian j it was taking too
" much upon me, and did not favour of that humble refpeft
" that I ought to have exprefled towards Mr Whittelfey. I
" have long fince been convinced of the falfenefsofthofc appre-
" hentions by which I then juftifiedfuch a conduct. I have often
" reflected on this al with grief j I hope, on account of the
" fin of it j and am willing to lie low and be abafed before
" God and man for it \ and humbly afk the forgivenefs of
" the governors of the college, and of the whole fociety, but
" of Mr Whittelfey in particular. And whereas I have been
" accufed by one perfon for faying, concerning the reverend
" reclor of Yale-college, that I wondered he did not expert to
* drop down dead for fining the fcholars that followed Mr
" Tcnent to Milford j I ferioufly profefs that. I do not remem-
" ber my faying any thing to this purpofe. But if I did, and I
" am not certain, I utterly condemn it, and deteft all fuch kind
*' of behaviour j and efpecially in an undergraduate towards
" the reclor. And I now appear to judge and condemn my-
*' felf for going once to the feparate meeting in New-Haven
"a little before I was expelled, though the rector had refufcd
" to give me leave. For this I humbly afk the reclot's for^
" givenefs. And whether the governors of the college (hall
" ever fee caufe to remove the academical cenfure I U under
' f or no, or to admit me to the privileges I. defire y yet I am
" willing to appear, ir they think fit, openly. to own, and to
*' humble myfelf for thofe things I have herein confeifed."
God has made me willing to do any thing that I can do con-
Intent with truth,, for the fake of peace, and that 1 might not
be a ilumbling-block and offence to others. For this reafon,
I can chearfully forego what I verily believe, after the moft
mature and impartial fcarch, is my right, in fome inftances.
God has given me that difpofition, that if a man had done me
an hundred injuries, and I, tho' ever fo much provoked to it,
had done him one, I feel heartily willing humbly' to acknow-
100 THE LIFE OF A. 0.1743.
ledge my fault, and on my knees to alk forgivenefs of him
tho' at the fame time he Ihould juftify himfelf in all the inju-
ries he had done me, and mould only make ufe of my humble
confeflion to blacken my character the more, reprefenting me
as the only perfon guilty j yea, tho' he mould infult me, and
fay, he, knew all this before, and that I was making work for
repentance, 6'c. Tho' what I faid concerning Mr Whittel-
fey was only fpoken in private to a friend or txvo, and, being
partly overheard, was related to the Reclor. and by him ex-
torted from my friends yet feeing it was divulged and made
public, I was willing to confefs my fault therein publicly.
But, I truft, God \vill plead my caufe.*
[The next day he went to Derby, and then to Southbury
where he fpent the Sabbath. He fpeaksof fome fpiritual com-
fort 'j but complains much of unfixednefs, and wanderings of
mind in religion.]]
Monday, Sept. 19. In the afternoon I rode to Bethlehem,
and there preached. Had fome meafure of aflifrance, both in
prayer and preaching. I felt ferious, kind and tender towards
all mankind and longed that holinefs might flouriih more on
earth.
Tuefday, Sept. 20. Had thoughts of going forward on my
journey to my Indians ; but towards night was taken whh an
acute pain in my te-eth, and mivering cold, and could not re-
cover a comfortable degree of warmth the whole night follow-
ing. 1 continued very full of pain all night ; and in the morn-
ing had a very feveie fever, and pains almoft over my whole
body. I had a fenfe of the divine goodnefs in appointing this
to be the place of my ficknefs, vi-z. among my fiiends, who
* The Governors of the College were fo far fatisfu-d, that they ap-
peared willing to admit Mr B. again into College, but not to give him
his degree till he mould have remained there at leaft a twelvemonth ;
which being contrary to what the Com fpendents, to whom he was now
engaged, had declared to be their mind, he did not confent to it. He
wimed his degree from the fuppofition that it would rrnd to his being
rfiore extenfively ufeful ; but when denied it, he manikftcd no difap-
fointment or rcfsntmcnt,
"JET. 26. MR DAVID BRAINIRD. IOI
were very kind to me. I mould probably have periihed had
I firfl got home to my hoafe in the wildernefs, where I have
none to conveiTe with but the poor rude ignorant Indians :
Here I faw mercy in the midft of affliction. I continued thus,
mcftly confined to my bed, till Friday night, very full of pain
mod of the time \ but thro* divine goodnefs, was not afraid of
death. Then appeared to me the extreme folly of thofe who
put off their turning to God till a iickbed Surely this is not
a time proper to prepure for eternity. On Friday evening,
my pains went off fomething fuddenly 5. I was exceeding weak,
and almoft fainted, but was very comfortable the night fol-
lowing. Thefe words, Pfalm cxviii. 17, I frequently re-
volved in my mind ; and thought, we were to prize the con-
tinuation of life, only that we may " (hew forth God's good-
nefs, and works of grace."
[From this time he gradually recovered j and next Taefday
was fo well as to be able to go forward on his journey home-
wards, but did not reach Kaunaawieek till Tuefday following.
He feems great part of this time to have had a very deep and
lively fenfe of the vanity and emptinefs of all earthly things,
and of the reality, uearnefs, and importance of eternal things.]
Tuefday, Oct. 4. This day roie home. The poor Indians
appeared very glad, of my return. I found my houfc and ail
things in fafety. I presently fell on my knees, and bleffed God
for my fafe return; after a long and tedious journey, and a fea-
fon of ficknefs in feveral places where I had been, and after 1
had been fick myfelf. God has renewed his ktndnefs to me,
in preferving me one journey more. I have taken many con-
fiderable journeys fmce this time laft year, and yet God has
uever fuffered one of my bones to be broken, or any diftrefliug
calamity to befal me, excepting the ill turn I had in my laft
journey ; tho 5 often expofed to cold and hunger in the wilder-
nefs, where the comforts of life were not to be had have of-
ten been loft in the woods j tbmetimes obliged to ride much
of the night, and once lay out in the woods all night. BleiT-
ed be God that has preferred me 1
1C2 THE LIFE OF A.D.
[In his diary for the next eleven days, are great complaints
of diflance from God, fpiritual pride, corruption, and exceed-
ing vilenefs. He once fays r his heart was fo prefled with a
fenfe of his pollution, that he could fcarcely have the face
and impudence (as it then appeared to him) to defire that
God (hould not damn him for ever. And at another time,
he fays, he had fo little fenfe of God, or apprehenfion and
relifh of his glory and excellency, that it made him more
difpofed to kindnefs and tendernefs towards thofe who are blind
and ignorant of God and things divine and heavenly. 3
Lord's Day, O&ober 16. In the evening, God was pleafed
to give a feeling fenfe of my own unworthinefs j but through
divine goodnefs fuch as tended to draw, rather than drive me
from God ; it filled me with folemnity. I retired alone (ha-
ving at this time a friend with me), and poured out my foul to
God with much freedom, and yet in anguim, to find myfelf
fo unfpeakably finful and unworthy before a holy God. Was
now much rcfigned under God's difpenfations towards me,
though my trials had been very great. But thought whether
I could be refigned, if God (hould let the French Indians
come upon me, or deprive me of my life, or carry me away
captive, (though I knew of no fpecial rcafon then to propofe
this trial to myfelf more than any other) j and my foulfrem-
ed fo far to reft and acquiefce in (Sod, that the fting and ter-
ror of thefe things feemed in a great meafure gone. Prcfent
ly after I came to the Indians, whom I was teaching to fmg
pfalm-tunes that evening, I received the following letter from.
Stockbridge, by a meljenger fent on the Sabbath on purpofe,
which made it appear of greater importance.
" Sir, Juft now we received advices from Col. Stcddard,.
" that there is the utrnoft danger of a rupture with France.
II He has received the fame from his Excellency cur Gover-
" nor, ordering him to give notice to all the expofed places,
" that they may fecure themfelves the bed way they canagainfb
" any fudden invafion. We thought beft to fend directly ta
" Kaunaumeek, that you may take the prudenteft meaibres.
" for your fafcty that dwell there. I am, Sir, &c."
.&T.26. MR DAVID B R A I N E R D.
I thought, upon reading the contents, it came in a good
feafonj for my jitart feemed fomething fixed on God, and
therefore I vras not much furprifed : but this news only made
me more ferious,- and taught me that I muft not pleafe myfelf
with any of the comforts of life which I had been preparing
for my fapport. BleiTed be God, that gave me any intenfe-
nefs and fervency this evening !
Monday, October 17. Had fome riling hopes fometimes,
that " God would arife and have mercy on Zion fpeedily."
My heart is indeed refreihed, when I have any prevailing
hopes of Zion's prosperity. O that I may fee the glorious
day, when Zion (hall become the joy of the whole earth !
Truly there is nothing I greatly value in this lower world.
[On Tuefday, he rode to Stockbridge -, complains of be.
ing much diverted, and having but little life. On Wednef-
day, he expreffss fome folemn fenfe of divine things, and a
longing to be always doing for God, with a godly frame of
fpirit.]
Thurfday, Oftober 20. Had but little fenfe of divine things
this day. Alas, that fo much of my precious time is fpent
with fo little of God ! Thofe are tedious days wherein I have
no fplrituality.
Friday, October 21. Returned home to Kaunaumeek j was
glad to get alone into my little cottage, and to cry to that God
who feeth in fecrct, and is prefent in a wildernefs. 9
Saturday, O&ober 22. Had but little feniible communion
with God This world is a dark cloudy manfion. Oh ! when
will the Sun of righteoufnefs fliine on my foul without ceffation
or interrnifiion !
Lord's Day, October 23. la the morning, had a little dawn
of comfort arifing from the hopes of feeing glorious days in the
church of God was enabled to pray for fuch a glorious day
with fome courage and ftrength of hope. In the forenoon,
treated on the glories of heaven, &c. In the afternoon,
on the miferies of hell, and the danger of going there. Had
fome freedom and warmth, both parts of the day j and my
people wer very attentive. In the evening two or three came
104 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1743.
to me under concern for their fouls j to whom I was enabled
to difcourfe clofely, and with fome carneftnefs and defire. O
that God would be merciful to their poor fouls !
[He fcems through the whole of this week, to have been
greatly engaged to fill up every inch of time in the fervice of
God, and to have been mofl diligently employed in iludy,
prayer, and inftrucYmg the Indians ; and from time to time
expreffes longings of foul after God, and the advancement of
his kingdom, and fpiritual comfort and refrefliment.]
Lord's Day, October 30. In the morning enjoyed fome fix-
ednefs of foul in prayer, which w^as indeed fweet and defirable -,
was enabled to leave myfelf with God, and to acquiefce in
him. At noon, my foul was refrefhed with reading Rev. in.
more efpecially the nth and I2th verfes. O my foul longed
for that bleffed day, when I mould " dwell in the temple of
" God, and go no more out" of his immediate prefence !
Monday, October 31. Rode to Kinderhook, about fifteen
miles from my place. While riding I felt fome divine fweet-
nefs in the thoughts of being " a pillar in the temple of God"
in the upper world, and being no more deprived of his blefled
prefence, and the fenfe of his favour, which is " better than
44 life." My foul was fo lifted up to God, that I could pour
out my defires to him, for more grace and further degrees of
fan&ification with abundant freedom. Oh ! I longed to be
rftore abundantly prepared for that bleffednefs with which I
was then in fome meafure refrefhed. Returned home in the
evening : but took an extremely bad cold by riding in the
night.
Tuefday, Nov. I. Was very much difordered in body,
^nd fometimes full of pain in my face and teeth ; was not abls
to iludy much, and had not much fpiritual comfort. Alas !
when God is withdrawn allisgone. Had fome fweet thoughts
which I cculd not but write down, oo the defign, nature, and
end of ChriiUanity.
Wednefday, November. 2. Was (till more indifpofed in bo-
dy, and in much pain, molt of the dav j had not much com-
fort -was fcarcely able to fludy at all j and ftili entirely alone.
JET. 26. MR DAVID BRA1NERD. 105
in the wildernefs. But bleffed be the Lord, I am not expofed in
the open air ; I have an houfe, and many of the comforts of life
to fupport me. I have learned, in a meafure, that all good
things, relating both to time and eternity, come from God.
In the evening had fome degree of quickening in prayer j I
think, God gave me fome ienfe of his prefence.
Thurfday, Nov. 3. Spent this day in fecret farting and pray-
er, from morning till night. Early in the morning, had (I
think) fome frnall degree of afiiftance in prayer. Afterwards
read the ftory of Elijah the prophet, I Kings xvii xviii and
xix chapters, and alfo 2 Kings ii and iv chapters. My foul
was much moved, obferving the faith, zeal, and power of that
holy man ; how he wreftled with God in prayer, &.c. My
foul then cried with Elifha, " Where is the Lord God of E-
"lijah!" Oh! I longed for more faith ! My foul breathed
after God, and pleaded with him, that a double portion of
" that Spirit,*' which was given to Elijah might " reft on me."
And that which was divinely refrefhing and ftrengthening to
my foul, was, I faw that God is the fame thc.t he was in the
days of Elijah. Was enabled to wreflle with God by prayer,
in a more affectionate, fervent, humble, intenfe, and impor-
tunate manner, than I have for many months part. JSJothing
feemed too hard for God to perform j nothing too reat for
me to hope for from him. I had for many months entirely
loft all hopes of being made inftrumental in any fpeeial fervice
for God in the world ; it has appeared entirely impoflible, that
one fo black and vile ihould be thus improved for God. But
at this time God was pleafed to revive this hope. After-
wards read the iiid chapter of Exodus and on to the xxth, and
faw more of the glory and mrtjefty of God difcovered in thofe
chapters, than ever 1 had ieen before j frequently in the mean
time falling on my knees, and crying to Go.i for the faith of
Mofes, and for a manifefiaticn of the divine ^ lory. Efpecially
the iiid and ivth, and part of the xivth andxvth chapters, were
unfpeakably fweet to my foul ; my foul bleffed God that he
had [(hewn himfelf fo gracious to his fervants of old. The xvth
chapter feemed to be the very language which my foul utter-
ed to God in the feafon of my firft fpiritual comfort, when I
had juil got through the Red fea, by a way that I had no-ex,-
o
IO6 THE LIFE OF A.D, 1743.
peculation of. O how my foul then rejoiced in God ! And
ROW thofe things^came freQi and lively to my mind j now my
foul bleffed God afrefh, that he had opened the unthought of
way to deliver me from the fear of the Egyptians, when I al-
moft defpaired of life. Afterwards read the ftory of Abra-
ham's pilgrimage in the land of Canaan 5 my foul was melted,
in obferving his faith how he leaned on God, how he com-
muned with God, and what a ftranger he was here in the
world. After that, read the ftory of Jofeph's fufferings, and
God's goodnefs to him j bleiTed God for thefe examples of
faith and patience. My foul was ardent in prayer,was enabled
to wreflle ardently for myfelf, for Chriflian friends, and for
the church of God. And felt more defire to fee the power
of God in the converfion of fouls, than I have done for a long
feafon. Bleffed be God for this feafon of fading and prayer !
May his goodnefs always abide with me, and draw my foul to
him!
Thurfday, Nov. 4; Rode to Kinderhook j went quiet to
Hudfon's river, about twenty miles from my houfe ; perform-
ed fome bufinefs, and returned home in the evening to my own
houfe. I had rather ride hard, and fatigue myfelf to get home,
than to fpend the evening and night amongit thofe that have
no regard for God.
[The two next days, he was very ill and full of pain, proba-
bly through his riding in the night, after a fatiguing day's jour-
ney on Thurfday j but yet ieems to have been diligent in b'ufi-
nefs.j
Monday, Nov. 7. This monaing the Lord afforded me
fomc fpecial afliftance in prayer ; my mind was folemn, fixed,
and ardent in defires after holinefs, and felt full of tendernefs
and love ; and my affections feemed to be diffolved into kind-
nefs and foftnefs. In the evening enjoyed the fame comfort-
able afliftance in prayer as in the morning : my foul longed
after God, and cried to him with a filial freedom, reverence,
and boldnefs. O that I might be entirely confccrated and de-
voted to God !
JET. 26. MR DAVID BRAINERD.
[The two next days, he complaus of bodily illne's and pain,
but much more of fpiritual barrennefs and unprofitablenefs.}
Thurfday, Nov. 10. Spent this day in fafting and prayer a-
lone. In the morning, was very dull and lifelefs 5 was fome-
thing melancholy and difcouraged. But after fome time read-
ing 2 Kings xix chapter, my foul was moved and affected ; ef>
pecially reading verfe 14 and onward. I faw there was no o-
ther way for the afflicted children of God to take but to go
to God with ail their forrows. Hezekiah in his great diftrefs
went and fpread his complaint before the Lord. I was then
enabled t^o fee the mighty power of God, and my extreme need
of that power j was enabled to cry to God affectionately and
ardently for his divine power and grace to be exercifed towards
me. Afterwards read the ftory of David's trials, and obfer-
ved the courle he took under them, how he ftrengthened his
hands in God ; whereby my foul was carried out after God,
enabled to'cry to him, and rely upon him, and felt ftrong in the
Lord. Was afterwards refrefhed, obferving the blefled tem-
per that was wrought in David by his trials - 7 all bitternefs and
defire of revenge feemed wholly taken away, fo that he
mourned for the death of his enemies; 2 Sam. i. 17, iv. 9 ati
fin. -Was enabled to blefs God, that he had given me fome-
thing of this divine temper, that my foul freely forgives, and
heartily loves my enemies.
[It apears by his diary for the remaining part of this week
and for the two following weeks, that great part of the time
he was very ill, and full of pain j and yet obliged, through his
circurnftances, in this ill ftate of body, to be at great fatigues,
in labour, and travelling day and night, and to expofe himfelf
in ftormy and fevere feafons. He from time to time, within
this fpace, fpeaks of outgoings of foul after God ; his heart
firengthened in God j feafons of divine fwcetnefs and com-
fort ; his heart affected with gratitude for mercies, &c. And
yet there are many complaints of lifelefsnefs, weaknefs of grace,
diftance from God, and great unproritablenefs. But ftill there
appears a conftant care, from day to day, not to lofe time, but
to improve it all for God.l
108 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1743,
Lord's Day, Nov. 27. In the evening was greatly affect-
ed in reading an account of the very joyful death of a pious
gentleman, which feemed to invigorate my foul in God's
ways : I felt eourageoufly engaged to purfue a life of holinefs
and felf-denial as long as I live j and poured out my foul to
God for his help and afliilance in order thereto. Eternity
ihen feemed near, and my 'foul rejoiced, and longed to meet
it. O, I truft that will be a bleffcd day, that finifhes my toil
here!
Monday, Nov. 28. In the evening, was obliged to fpend
time in company and converfation that was unprofitable.
Nothing lies heavier upon me than the mifimprovement of
time.
Tuefday, Nov. 29. Began to fludy the Indian tongue, with
Mr Sergeant at Stockbridge*. Was perplexed for want of
more retirement. I love to live alone in my own little cct-
tsge, where I can fpend much time in prayer, &c.
Wednefday, Nov. 30. Purfued my rtudy of Indian : but
was very 'w r eak and difordered in body, and was troubled in
mind at the barrennefs of the day, that I had done fo little for
God. I had fome enlargement in prayer at night. Oh ! a
barn, or flrble, hedge, or any other place, is truly defirable,
if God is there. Sometimes, of late, my hopes of Zion's pro-
fperity are more railed than they were in the Summer pail.
My foul feems to confide in God, that he will yet " fliew
** forth his falvation" to his people, and make Zion " the joy
*' of the whole earth. O how excellent is the loving-kind-
4t of the Lord !" My foul fometimes inwardly exults at the
lively thoughts of what God has already done for his church,
and what " mine eyes have feen of the falvation of God." It
is fweet, to hear nothing but fpiritual difcourfe from God's
children j and finners i4 enquiring the way to Zion," faying,
" Wfyat mall we do ?" &c. O that I may fee more of this
bleffed work !
* The Commiffioners that employed him had directed him to
much time this winter with Mr Serjeant, to learn the language of the
Indians; which necefiitated him very often to ride backwards and for-
wards, twenty miles through the uninhabited woods between Stock-
bridge and Kaunaumeek ; which many times expofed him to extreme
Isardfhip in the fevere feafons of the v/vnttrr.
JT. 26. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 109
Thurfday, Dec. I. Both morning and evening, I enjoyed
fome intenfenefs of foal in prayer, and longed for the enlarge,
meat of Chriil's kingdom in the world. My foul feems, of
late, to wait on God for his blefling on Zion. O that religion
might powerfully revive !
Friday, Dec. 2. Enjoyed not fo much health of body, or
fervour of mind, as yefterday. If the chariot-wheels move
with eafe and fpeed at any time, for a (hort fpace, yet by and
by they drive heavily again. " O that i had the wings of a
44 dove, that I might fly away" from fin and corruption, and
be at rcfl in God !
Saturday, Dec. 3. Rode home to my houfe and people.
Suffered much with the extreme cold. I truft, I (hall ere
long arrive fafe at my journey's end, where my toils mall
ceafe.
Lord's Day, Dec. 4. Had but little fenfe of divine and hea-
venly things. My foul mourns over my barrennefs. Oh how
fad is fpiritual deadnefs !
Monday, Dec. 5. Rode to Stockbridge. Wasalmofl out-
done with the extreme cold. Had ibme refreshing medita-
tions by the way ; but was barren, wandering, and lifelefs,
much of the day. Thus my days roll away, with but little
done for God y and this is my burden.
Tuefday, Dec. 6. Was perplexed to fee the vanity and le-
vity of profeffed Chriftians. Spent the evening with a Chriftian
friend, that was able in fome meafure to fympathize with me
in my fpiritual conflicts. Was a little refrefhed to find one
with whom I could converfe of inward trials, &c.
Wednefday, Dec. 7. Spent the evening in perplexity, with
a kind of guilty indolence. When \ have no heart or refo-
lution for God, and the duties incumbent on me, I feel guilty
of negligence and milimprovcment of time. Certainly I ought
to be engaged in my work and bufinefs, to the utmofl extent
of my ftrength and ability.
Thurfday, Dec. 8. My mind was mod diftra&ed with dif-
ferent affe&ions. Seemed to be at an amazing diftance from
God : and looking round in the world, to fee if there was not
fome happinefs to be derived from it, God, and fome certain
objeft? in the world, feemed each to invite my heart and af-
IIO THELIFEOF A.D. 1743.
fe&ions ; and my foul feemed to be diftracted between them.
I have not been fo much befet with the world for a long time ;
and that with relation to forne particular objects which I
thought myfeif mod dead to. But even while I was defiring
to pleafe myfeif with any thing below, guilt, forrow, and per-
plexity, attended the fir il motions of delire. Indeed I cannot
fee the appearance of pleafure and happinefs in the world, as
I ufed to do: and blefled be God for any kabitual deadnefs to
the world. I found no peace, or deliverance from this dif-
traclion and perplexity of mind, till I found accefs to the
throne of grace : and as foon as I had any fenfe of God and
things divine, the allurements of the world vanished, and my
heart was determined for God. But my foul mourned over
my ioliy, that 1 ihould defire any pleafure but only in God.
God forgive my fpiritual idolatry !
[The next thirteen days, he appears to have been continual-
ly in deep concerns about the improvement of precious time ^
and there are many cxpreflions of grief, that he improved
time no better j fuch as, " Oh, what milery do I feel, when
" ray thoughts rove after vanity ! I fhould be happy if always
" engaged for God! O wretched man that I am !" &.c* Speaks
of his being pained with a fenfe of his barrennefs, perplexed
with his wanderings, longing for deliverance from the being
of fin, mourning that time paffed away, and fo little was done
for God, &.c. On Tuefday, Dec. 20. he fpeaks of his
being viiited at Kaunaumeek by fome under fpiritual con-
cren.]
Thurfday, Dec. 22. Spent this day alone in fafting and pray-
er, and reading in God's word the exercifes and deliverances
of God's children. Had, I truft, fome exercife of faith, and
realizing apprehenfion of divine power, grace,' and holinefs j
and alfo of the unchangeablenefs of God, that he is the fame
as he was when he delivered his faints of old out of great tri-
bulation. My foul vras fundry times in prayer enlarged for
God's church and people. O that Zion might becpme the
** joy of the whole earth !" It is better to wait upon God
v/ith patience, than to put confidence in any thing in this loiv-
JLf.26. MR DAVID BRAINERD. Ill
er world. " My ioul, wait thou on the Lord j for from him
" comes thy falvation."
Friday, Dec. 23. Felt a little more courage and refolution
in religion, than at fome other times.
Saturday, Dec. 24. Had fome afliftance, and longing de-
iires after fanclification, in prayer this day, efpecially in
the evening : was (enfible of my own weaknefs and fpiritual
impotency : faw plainly, I (hould fall into fin, if God of his
abundant mercy did not "uphold my foul, and with-hold me
44 from evil." O that God would " uphold me by his free
" Spirit, and fave me from the hour of temptation !"
Lord's Day, Dec. 25. Prayed much, in the morning, with
a feeling fenfe of my own fpiritual weaknefs and infufficiency
for any duty. God gave me fome afliftance in* preaching to
the Indians j and efpecially in the afternoon, when I was en-
abled to fpeak with uncommon plainnefs, freedom, and earneft-
nefs. Bleffed be God for any afliftance granted to one fo un-
worthy. Afterwards felt fome thankfulnefs j but ftill fenfible
of barrennefs. Spent fome time in the evening, with one or
two peifons under fpiritual concern, and exhorting others to
their duty, &c.
Monday, Dec. 26. Rode down to Stockbridge. Was very
much fatigued with my journey, wherein I underwent great
hard (hip : was much expofed and very wet by falling into a
river. Spent the day and evening without much fenfc of di-
vine and heavenly things ; but felt guilty, grieved, and per-
plexed with wandering, carelefs thoughts.
Tuefday, Dec. 27. Had a fmall degree of warmth in fecrct
prayer, in the evening ; but, alas ! had but little fpiritual life,
and confequently but little comfort. Oh, the preflure of a
body of death I
Wednefday, Dec. 28. Rode about fix miles to the ordina-
tion of Mr Hopkins. In the feafon of the folemnity was
fome what affe&ed with a fenfe of the greatnefs and impor-
tance of the work of a minifter of Chrift. Afterwards was
grieved to fee the vanity of the multitude. In the evening
fpent a little time with fome Chrillian friends, with fome de-
gree of fatisfaHon ; but rnoft of the time, had rather have,
been alone.
112 T II E L I F E O F A. D. I 744.
Thurfday, Dec. 29. Spent the day mainly in converfmg
with friends j yet enjoyed little fatisfaftion, becaufe I could
find but few difpofed to converfe of divine and heavenly
things. Alas ! what are the things of this world, to afford fatis-
faction to the foul ! Near night, returned to Stockbridge j
in fecret bleffed God for retirement, and that I be not always
expofed to the company and converfation of the world. O
that I could live " in the fecret of God's prefence !
Friday, Dec. 30. Was in a folemn devout frame in the
evening. Wondered the earth, with all its charms, fhould e-
ver allure me in the leaft degree. O that I could always re-
alize the being and holinefs of God !
Saturday, December 3 1 . Rode from Stockbridge home to
my houfe j the air was clear and cairn, but as cold as ever I
felt it in the world, or near. I was in great danger of peril-
ing by the extremity of the feafon.Was enabled to meditate
much n the road.
Lord's Day, Jan. i. 17434. In the morning, had fome
fmall degree of affiltance in prayer. Saw myfelf fo vile and
unworthy, that I could not look my people in the face when
I came to preach. Oh, my meannefs, folly, ignorance, and
inward pollution ! In the evening, had a little afsiilance in
prayer, fo that the duty was delightfome, rather thanburden-
fome. Reflected on the gooclnefs of God to me in the paft
year, &c. Of a truth God has been kind and gracious to me,
though he has caufed me to pafs through many forrovvs } he
has provided for me bountifully, fo that I have been enabled
thefe fifteen months pad, to beflow to charitable ufes about an
hundred pounds New-England money, that I can now remem-
ber*. Bleffed be God that has fo far ufed me as his Iteward,
to distribute a portion of his goods. May I always remember
that all I have comes from God. Bleffed be the Lord that has
carried me through all the toils, fatigues, and hardships of the
year pafl, as well as the fpiritual conflicts and forrows that have
attended it. O that I could begin this year with God, and
fpend the 1 whole of it to his glory either hi life 'or death !
* Which \Vds I fuppoie to'the value of about one hundred and eighty-
fife pounds in our bills of the old ter.or, as they now u:uv
MR DAVID BRAINERD.
Monday, Jan. 2. Had Come affe&ing fenfe of my own im-
potency and fpiritual weaknefs.~-It is nothing but the power
of God that keeps me from all manner of wickednefs.
I fee I am nothing, and can do nothing without help from a*
bove. Oh, fbr divine grace ! In the evening bad fome ardour
of foul in prayer, and longing defires to have God for my guide
and fafeguard at all times.
Tuefday, Jan. 3. Was employed much of the day in writ-
ing j and fpent fome time in other neceflary employment. But
my time paffes away fo fwiftly,- that I am aftonifhed when I
reflect on it, and fee how little I do in it. My ftate of foli-
tude does not make the hours hang heavy upon my hands.
what reafon of thankfulnefs have I on account of this re-
tirement ! 1 find, that I do not, and it feems I cannot lead a
Chriflian life when 1 am abroad, and cannot fpend time in de-
votion, Chrillian converfation, and ferious meditation, as I
mould do. Thofe weeks that I am obliged now to be from
home in order to learn the Indian tongue, are moft fpent in
perplexity and barrennefs, without much fweet relim of divine
things j and I feel myfelf a ftranger at the throne of grace,
for want of more frequent and continued retirement. When
1 return home, and give myfelf to meditation, prayer,
and fatting, a new fcene opens to my mind, and my foul
longs for mortification, felf-denial, humility, and divorce-
ment from all the things of the world. This evening,
my .heart was fomewhat warm and fervent in prayer and me-
ditation, fo that I was loth to indulge fleep. Continued in
thofe duties till about midnight.
Wednefday, Jan. 4. Was in a refigned and mortified tem-
per of mind, much of the day. Time appeared a moment,
life a vapour, and all its enjoyments as empty bubbles, and
fleeting blafts of wind.
Thurfday, Jan. 5. Had a humbling and prefling fenfe of my
unworthinefs. My fenfe of the badnefs of my own heart filled
my foul with bitternefs and anguifti which was ready to fink,
as under the weight of a heavy burden. And thus fpent the
evening till late. Was fomewhat intenfe and ardent in prayer.
Friday, Jan. d. Feeling and confidering my extreme weak-
114 THE LIFE OF A. D. 1744
nefs, and want of grace, the pollution of my foul, and danger
of temptations on every fid^, I fet apart this day for fafting
and prayer, neither eating nor drinking from evening to even-
ing, befeeching God to have mercy on me. And my foul in-
tenfely longed, that the dreadful fpots and ftains of fin might
be warned from it. Saw fomething of the power and adlfuffici-
ency of God. My foul feemed to reft on his power and grace j
longed for refignation to his will, and mortification to all things
here below. My mind was greatly fixed on divine things ;
my refolutions for a life of mortification, continual watch-
fulnefs, felf-denial, ferioufnefs, and devotion to God, were
ftrong and fixed j my deiires ardent and intcnfe j my confei-
ence tender, and afraid of every appearance of evil. My foul
grieved with the refle&ion on paft levity, and want of re-
folution for God^ I folemnly renewed the dedication of my-
felf to God, and longed for grace to enable me always to keep
covenant with him. Time appeared very {hort, eternity near'}
and a great name, either in or after life, together with all
earthly pleafures and profits, but an empty bubble, a deluding
dream.
Saturday, Jan. 7. Spent this day in ferioufnefs,. with ftcd-
faft refolution for God and a life of mortification. Studied
clofely, till I felt my bodily ftrength fail. Felt fbme degree
of refignation to God, with an acquiefcenceinhis difpenfations.
Was grieved that I could do fo little for God before my bo-
dily ftrength failed. In the evening though tired, yet was e-
nabled to continue inftant in prayer for fome time. Spent the
time in reading, meditation, and prayer, till the evening was
far fpent , was grieved, to think that I could not watch unto
prayer the whole night. But bleffed be God, heaven is a
place of continual and inceffant devotion, thaugh earth is dull.
[The fix days following, he continued in the fame happy
frame of mind j enjoyed the fame compofure, calmnefs, refig-
nation , ardent deiire, and fweet fervency of fpirit, in a high
degree, every day, not one excepted. Thurfday, this week,
he kept as a day of fecret failing and'prayer.j
Saturday, January 14, This morning, I enjoyed a moft
.TELT.26. MR DAVID BRAINERD.
folemn feafon in prayer j my foul feemed to be greatly en-
larged and aflitted to pour out itfelf to God for grace, and
every bleffing I wanted, for myfelf, my dear'Chriflian friends,
and for the church cf God ; and was fo enabled to fee him
who is inviiible that my foul refled upon him for the perfor-
mance of every thing I aiked agreeable to his will. It was
then my happinefs, to " continue inftant in prayer," and I was
-enabled to continue in it for near an hour. My foul was then
'" ftrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Long-
-ed exceedingly for angelic holinefs and parity, and to have all
my thoughts, at all times, employed in divine and heavenly
things. how blefled is an heavenly temper ! O how un-
fpeakably blefled it is to feel a meafure of that rectitude in
which we were at firft created ! Felt the fame divine affifl-
ance in prayer fundry times in the day. My foul confided in
God for myfelf, and for his Zion ; trufted in divine power
and grace, that he would do glorious things in his church on
earth, for his own glory.
[The next day he fpeaks of fomeglimpfes he had of the
divine glories, and of his being enabled to maintain his refo-
lutions in fome meafure j but complains that he could not
draw neai-jto God j feems te be filled with trembling fears left
he ihould return to a life of vanity, to pleafe himfelf with
fome of the enjoyments of the lower world ; and fpeaks of
his being much troubled, and feeling guilty, that he ihould ad-
drefs immortal fouls with no more ardency and clefire of their
falvation. On Monday, he rqde down to Stockbridge, was dif-
treffed with the extreme cold ; but rotwithftanding, his^mind
was in a devout and folemn frame in his journey. The four
next days he was very ill, probably by his fuffering from the
cold in his journey ; yet he fays, he fpent the time in a more
folemn manner than he feared. On Friday evening he rode
down and vifited Mr Hopkins j and on Saturday, rode eigh-
teen miles to Solfbury, where he kept Sabbath, and enjoyed
confiderable degrees of God's gracious prefence, aiTiftance in
duty and divine comfort and refremment, longing to give him-
lelf wholly to God, to be his for ever.]
Il6 THE LIFE OF A. 0.1744.
Monday Jan. 23. I think I never felt more rcfigned to
God, nor fo much dead to the world, in every refpecl: as now ^
was dead to all defire of reputation and greatnefs, either in
life, or after death - 7 all I longed for was to be holy, humble,
crucified to the world, &c.
Tuefday, Jan. 24. Near noon, rode over to Canaan. In
the evening was unexpectedly vifited by a confiderable number
of people with whom I was enabled to converfe profitably of di-
vine things ; took pains to defcribe the difference between a
regular and irregular felf-love ; the one confirming with a fu-
preme love to God, but the other not ; the former uniting
God's glory and the foul's happinefs, that they become one com-
mon intereft, but the latter disjoining God's glory and man's
happinefs, feeking the latter with a neglect of the former. II-
luftrated this by that genuine love that is found between the
fexes y which isdiverfe from that which is wrought up towards
a perfon only by rational arguments, or hope of felf- intereft.
Love is a pleafing paffion, it affords pleafure to the mind where-
cver it is j but yet true genuine love is not, nor can be placed
upon any abjecl: with that defign of pleafing itfelf with the feel-
ing of it in a man's own breaft.
[On Wednefday he rode to Sheffield ; the next day, to
Stockbridge ; and on Saturday, home to Kaunaumeek, though
the feafon was cold and fterray j which journey was followed
with illnefs and pain. It appears by his diary, that he fpent
the time. while riding in profitable meditations, and in lifting
up his heart to God ; and he fpeaks of afiiftance, comfort, and
refreihmcnt j but ftill complains of barrennefs, &C. His di-
ary for the next five days, is full of the moft heavy bitter com-
plaints j and he expreffes himfelf as full of fhame and felf-loa-
thing for his lifelefs temper of mind and fluggifhnefs of fpirit,
and as being in perplexity and extremity, ^nd appearing to him-
felf unfpeakably vile and guilty before God, on account of
fome inward workings of corruption he found in his heart,
Thurfday, Feb. 2. Spent this day in falling and prayer,
JET.26. MR DAVID B R A I N E R D. II/
ieeking the prefence and afliftance of God, that he would e-
nable me to overcome all my corruptions and fpiritual ene-
mies.
Friday, Feb. 3. Enjoyed more freedom and comfort than or
late j was intenfely engaged in meditation upon the different
whifpers of the various powers and afFeclions of a pious mind,
exercifed with a great variety of difpenfations ; and could not
but write, as well as meditate, on fo entertaining a fubjecl*.
I hope, the Lord gave me fome fenfe of divine things- this day j
but alas ! how great and preffing are the remains of indwelling
corruption ! I am now more fenfible than ever, that God alone
is " the author and finifher of our faith," /. e. that the whole
and every part of the fanclification, and every good word,
work, or thought, that is found in me, is the effect of his power
and grace j that, " without him I can do nothing," in the
ftri&efl fenfe, and that " he works in us to will and to doof his
own good pleafuie," and from no other motive. Oh, how a-
mazing it is, that people can talk fo much about mens power
and goodnefs, when, if God did not hold us back every mo-
ment, we mould be devils incarnate ! This my bitter experi-
ence for feveral days laft paft, has abundantly taught me con-
cerning myfelf.
Saturday, Feb. 4. I enjoyed feme degree of freedom and
fpiritual refrefhment was enabled to pray with fome ferven-
cy, and longing defires for Zion's profperity j and my faith
and hope feemed to take hold of God for the performance of
what I w-s enabled to plead for. Sanctification in myfelf, and
the ingathering of God's elea, was all my defire ; and the hope
of its accomplimment, all my joy.
Lord's Day, Feb. 5. Was enabled in fome mcafure to reft
and confide in God, and to prize his prefence and fome glimp-
fes of the light of his countenance above my neceffary food.
Thought myfelf, after the feafon of weaknefs, temptation, and
defertion I endured laft week, to be fomewhat like Sampfcn,
when his locks began to grow again. Was enabled to fpealc
to my people with more life and warmth than for fome weeks
paft.
I find what he wrote on this head among his papers that were left
in my fond, and it is here pubiiHied at the end of this account of his life.
II 8 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1744.
Monday, Feb. 6. This morning my foul was agrin ftrength-
ened in God, and found fome fweet repofe in him in prayer
longing efpecially for the complete mortification of fenfuality
and pride, and for refignation to God's difpenfaticns at all
times, as thro' grace I felt it at this time. I did not defire de-
liver y from any difficulty that attends my circumflances, un-
lefs God was willing. O how comfortable is this temper !
Spent moft of the day in reading God's word, in writing, and
prayer. Enjoyed frequent comfort in prayer thro' the day,
In the evening, fpent fome hours in private converfation with
ray people ; and afterwards felt fome warmth in ferret prayer.
Tuefday, Feb. 7. Ws much engaged in fome fweet medi-
tations on the powers and afFeftions of the godly foul in their
purfuit of their beloved objecl Wrote Something on the na-
tive, language of fpiritual fenfation, in its foft and tender whif-
pers j declaring that it now " feels and taftes that the Lord is
gracious," that he is the fupreme good, the only foul-fatisfying
happinefs, that he is a complete, fufficknt, and almighty por-
tion, faying, " Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there
is none upon earth whom I defire belides this bleiled portion.
O ! I feel it is heaven to pleafe him, and to be juil what he
xvould have me to be. O that my foul were ' holy as he is ho-
ly* ! O that it were ' pure, even as Chrift is pure, and perfee>,
as my Father in heaven is perfect' ! Thefe, I feel, art the
fvvecteil commands in God's book, comprifing all others. And
{hail I break them ! muft I break them ! am I under a necef-
fity of it as long as I live in the world ! O my foul, wo, wo is
zne that I am a Tinner, becaufe I now neceffarily grieve and of-
fend this bleffed God, who is infinite in goodnefs and grace !
Oh I metliinks, if he would punifh me for my fins, it would
not wound my heart fo deep to offend him j but tho' I fin con-
tinually, yet he continually repeats his kindnefs to me. Oh !
methinks, I could bear any fuffering j but how can I bear to
grieve and dishonour this blefled God ! How {hall I yield ten
thoufand times more honour to him ? what {hall I do to glori-
fy and worfhip this beft of beings ? O that I could coniecrate
rnyfelf foul and body to his fervice for ever ! O that I could
give up rnyfelf to him, fo as never more to attempt to be my
JET. 26. MR DAVID BRAI NERD.
own, or to liave any will or affedftions that are not perfe&ly
conformed to him ! But, alas, alas ' I find I cannot be thus
entirely devoted to God I cannot live, and not fin, O ye
angels ! do ye glorify him incefiantly, and, if poflible, proftrate
yourfelves lower before the blefled King of heaven ? I long to
bear a part with you, and if it were poflible, to help you. Oh!
when we have done all that we can to all eternity, we (hall not
be able to offer the ten thoufandth part of the Homage that the
glorious God defer ves,"
Felt fomething fpiritual, devout, reiigned, and mortified to
the world, much of the day, and efpecialJy towards and in the
evening. Bleffed be God, that he enables me to love him for
himfelf.
Wednefday, Feb. 8. Was in a comfortable frame of foul,
mod of the day j though fenfible of and reftlefs under fpiri-
tual barrennefs. I find that both mind and body are quickly
tired with intenfenefs, and fervour in the things of God. O
that I could be as inceffant as angels in devotion and fpiritual
fervour !
Thurfday, Feb. 9. Obferved this day as a day of fading
and prayer, estreating of God to beftow upon me his blefling
aad grace j efpecially to enable me to live a life of mortifica-
tion to the world, as well as of refignation and patience. En-
joyed fome realizing fenfe of divine power and goodnefs in
prayer, feveral times ; and was enabled to roll the burden o
rayfelf and friends, and of Zion, upon the goodnefs and grace
of God , but, in the general, was more dry and barren than
I have ufually been o late upon fuch occafions.
Friday, Feb. 10. Was exceedingly oppreffed, moft of the
day, with (hame, grief, and fear, under a fenfe of my paft folly,.
as well as prefent barrennefs and coldnefs. When God fets
before me my paft mifconducl:, efpecially any inftances of mif-
guided zeal, it finks my foul into (hame and confufion, make*
me afraid of a (haking leaf. My fear is fuch as the prophet
Jeremiah complains of, Jer. xx. 10. I have no confidence t&
hold up my face, even before my fellow-worms, but only
when my foul confides in God, and I find the fvveet temper of
Chrirt, the fpirit of humility, folemnity, and mortification,
and re%rration,, alive in my foul. But in the evening was un-
THE L I F ; F A.D. 1744
expeedly refreihed in pouring out ray complaint to God j
my fhame and fear was turned into a fweet compofure and ao
quiefcence in God.
Saturday, February n. Felt much as yefterday : Enjoyed
but little fenfible communion with God.
Lord's Day, February 12. My foul feemed to confide in
God, and to repofe itfelf on him j and had outgoings of foul
after God in prayer. Enjoyed fome divine afliftance, in the
forenoon, in preaching j but in the afternoon, was more per-
plexed with (hame, &c. Afterwards found fome relief in
prayer j loved, as a feeble, afflicted, defpifed creature, to caft
myfelf on a God of infinite grace and goodnefs, hoping for no
feappinefs but from him.
Monday, February 13. Was calm and fedate in morning
devotions, and my foul feemed to rely on God. Rode to
Stockbridge, and enjoyed fome comfortable meditations by the
way 5 had a more refrefhing tafte and relifh of heavenly blef-
fednefs than I have enjoyed for many months pail. I have
many times of late felt as ardent defires of holinefs as ever -,
but not fo much fenfe of the fweetnefs and unfpeakable plea-
fure of the enjoyments and employments of heaven. My foul
longed to leave earth, and to bear a part with angels in their
celeftial employments. My foul faid, " Lord, it is good to be
" here j" and it appeared to me better to die, than to lofe the
reiiih of thefe heavenly delights.
[A fenfe of divine things feemed to continue with him, in
a leffer degree, through the next day. On Wednefday he
was, by fome difcourfe that he heard, call into a melancholy
gloom, that operated much in the fame manner as his melan-
choly had formerly done, when he came firft to Kaunaumeek ;
the effects of which feemed to continue in forne degree the fix
following days.]
Wednefday, February 22, In the morning, had as clear a
fenfe of the exceeding pollution of my nature, as ever I re-
member to have had in my life. I then appeared to myfelf
inexpreffibly loathfoms and defiled j fins of childhood, of early
youth, and fuch follies as I had net thought of for years to-
. 26. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 121
gether, (as I remember) came now frefh to my view, as if
committed but yefterday, and appeared in the nioft odious
colours j they appeared more in number than the hairs of my
head j yea, they " went over my head as an heavy burden."
In the evening, the hand of faith feemed to be ftrengthened
in God j my foul feemed to reft and acquiefce in him ; was
fupported under my burdens by reading the cxxvth Pfalnrj
found that it was fweet and comfortable to lean on God.
Thurfday, February 23. Was frequent in prayer, and-en-
joyed fome afliftance.i " There is a God in heaven," that
over-rules all things for the beft j and this is the comfort of
my foul : " I had fainted, unlefs I had believed to fee the
" goodnefs of God in the land of the living," notwithstand-
ing prefent forrows. In the evening enjoyed fome freedom in
prayer, for myfelf, friends, and the church of God.
Friday,. February 24. Was exceeding reftlefs and perplex-
ed, under a fenfe of the mifimprovement of time 5 mourned
to fee time pafs away j felt in the greateft hurry ; feemea to
have every thing to do, yet could do no thing, but only grieve
and groan under my ignorance, unprofitablenefs, meannefs, the
foolimnefs of my actions and thoughts, the pride and bitter-
nefs of my paft frames, (at fome times at lead) all which at
this time appeared to me in lively colours, and filled me with
fhame. 1 could not compofe my mind to any profitable ftu-
dies, by reafon of this preiTure. And the reafon, I judge, why
I am not allowed to ftudy a great part of my time is, becaufe
I am endeavouring to lay in fuch a ftock of knowledge as
(hall be a felf-fufficiency. I know it to be my indifpenfible
duty to ftudy, and qualify myfelf in the beft manner 1 can
for public fervice ; but this is my mifery, I naturally ftudy
and prepare, that I may " continue it upon my lufts" of pride
and felf-confidence.
[He continued in much the fame frame of uneafinefs at the
mifimprovement of time, and preffure of fpiiit under a fenfe
of vilenefs, unprofitablenefs, &c. for the fix next following
days j excepting fome intervals of calmnefs and compofure, in
, and confidence in God.]
,
122 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1744
Friday, March 2. Was moft of the day employed in writ-
ing on a divine fubject. Was frequent in prayer, and enjoyed
fome fmall degree of afilitance. But in the evening, God
was pleafed to grant me a divine fvveetnefs in prayer ; efpe-
cially in the duty of intercefiion. I think I never felt fo
much kirdnefs and love to thofe who I have reafon to think
are my enemies, (though at that time I found fuch a difpofi-
tlcn to think the heft of all, that I fcarce knew how to think
that any fuch thing as enmity and hatred lodged in any foul j
it feemed as if all the world mull needs be friends) j and ne-
ver prayed with more freedom and delight for myfelf, or dear-
efl friend, than I did now for my enemies.
Saturday, March 3. In the morning, fpent (I believe) an
hour in prayer, with great intenfenefs and freedom, and with
the moft foft and tender affe&ion towards mankind. I longed
that thofe who I have reafon to think owe me ill-will, might
be eternally happy ; it feemed refreflring to think of meeting
them in heaven, how much foever they had injured me on
earth : Had no difpofition to infill upon any confeflion from
them, in order to reconciliation, and the exercife of love and
kindnefs to them. O it is an emblem of heaven itfelf to love
all the world with a love of kindnefs, forgivenefs, and be-
nevolence *, to feel our fouls fedate, mild, and meek ; to be
void of all evil furmiiings apd fufpicions, and fcarce able to
think evil of any man upon any occafion \ to find cur hearts
iimple, open, and free, to thofe that look upon us with a diffe-
rent eye ! Prayer was fo fvvcet an exercife to me, that I knew
not how to ceafe, left 1 Ihould lofe the fpirit of prayer. Felt
no difpofition to eat or drink, for the fake of the pleafure of
it, but only to fupport my nature, and fit me for divine fer-
vice. Could not be content without a very particular men-
tion of a great number of my dear friends at the throne of
grace ; as alfo the particular circumftances of many, fo far as
they were known.
Lord's Day, March 4. In the morning enjoyed the
fame intenfenefs in prayer as yefterday morning, though not
in fo great a degree : Felt the fame*fpirit of love, univerfal
benevolence, forgivenefs, humility, resignation, mortification
to the world, and compofure of mind, as then, '* My foul
MR DAVID BRA1NERD. 123
" refted in God j" and I found I wanted no other refuse or
friend. While my foul thus trufts in God, all things feem to
be at peace with me, even the flones of the earth : but when
I cannot apprehend and confide in God, all things appear with
a different afpe6K
[Through the four next days he complains of barrennefs,
want of holy confidence in God, ftupidity, wanderings of
mind, &c. and fpeaks of oppreflicn of rnind under a fenfe of
exceeding meannefs, paft follies, as well as prefent workings of
corruption. On Friday he feems to have been reftored to a
confiderable degree of the fame excellent frame that he en-
joyed the Saturday before. J
Saturday, March 10. In the morning felt exceeding dead
to the world and all its enjoyments : I thought I was ready
and willing to give up life and all its comforts, as foon as called
to it j and yet then had as much comfort of life as almoft ever
I had. Life itfelf now appeared but an empty bubble j the
riches, honours, and common enjoyments of life appeared ex-
tremely taftelefs. I longed to be perpetually and entirely cru-
cified to all things here below, by the crofs of Chrift. My foul
was fweetly refigned to God's difpofal of me, in every re-
gard 5 and I favv there had nothing happened to me but what
was beil for me. I confided in God, that he would " never
" leave me," though I fhould " walk through the valley of
" the (hadow of death." It was then " my meat and drink
to be holy, to live to the Lord, and die to the Lord." And I
thought that I then enjoyed fuch a heaven as far exceeded the
moil fublime conceptions of an unregenerate foul j and even
unfpeakably beyond what I myfelf could conceive of at an-
other time. I did not wonder that Peter faid, " Lord, it is
good to be here," when thus refreshed with divine glories.
My foul was full of love and tendernefs in the duty of inter-
ceflion j efpecially felt a moft fweet affe&ion to feme precious
godly minifte-rs of my acquaintance. I prayed earnellly for
dear Chriftians, and for thofe I have reafon to fear are my e-
Remies j and could not have uttered a word of bitternefs, or
entertained a hitter thought, againft the vileil man living. I
124 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1744.
had a fenfe of my own great uriworthinefs : My foul feemed to
breathe forth love and praife to God afrefh, when I thought
he would let his children love and receive me as one of their
brethren and fellow-citizens j and when I thought of their
treating me in that manner, I longed to lie at their feet ; and
could think of no way to exprefs the fincerity and fimpliclty
of my love and efleem of them, as being much better than my-
felf. Towards night was very forrowful j feemed to myfelf
the worft creature living ; and could not pray, or meditate,
or think of holding up my face before the world. Was a little
relieved in prayer in the evening j but longed to get on my
knees, and afk forgivenefs of every body that ever had feen a-
ny thing amifs in my paft conduct, efpecially in my religious
zeal. Was afterwards much perplexed, fo that I could not
fleep quietly.
Lord's Day, March n. My foul was, in fome meafure.
ftrengthened in God in morning devotion, fo that I was relea-
fed from trembling fear and diftrefs. Preached to my people
from the parable of the fower, Matt. xiii. and enjoyed fome
afTidance both parts of the day had fome freedom, affection,
and fervency in addrefling my poor people ; longed that God
fliould take hold of their hearts, and make them fpiritually a-
live. And indeed I had fo much to fay to them, that I knew
not how to leave off fpeaking.*
Monday, March il. In the morning, was in a devout, ten-
der, and loving frame of mind, and was enabled to cry to God,
I hope, with a child-like fpirit, with importunity, refignation,
and compofure of mind. My fpirit was full of quietnefs, and
love to mankind ; and longed that peace (hould reign on the
earth ; was grieved at the very thought of a fiery, angry, and
intemperate zeal in religion ; mourned over paft follies in that
regard ; and my foul confided in God for ilrength and grace
fufficient for my future work and trials. Spent the day main-
Jy in hard labour, making preparation for my intended jour-
ney.
* This was the laft Sabbath that ever he performed pnblic fervicc at
Kaunaumeek, and thefe the laft fcrmons that ever he preached there. It
appears by his diary, that while he continued with thefe Indians, he took
great pains with them, and did it with much difcretion ; but the par;icu-
Jar manner how, has been onunitted for brevity's fake.
' JET. 26. MR DAVID BRAINERD. '125
Tuefday, March 13. Felt my foul going forth after God
fometimes, but not with fuch ardency as I longed for. In the
evening, was enabled to continue inftant in prayer, for fome
confiderable time together j and efpecially had refpect to the
journey I intended to enter upon, with the leave of Divine
Providence, on the morrow. Enjoyed fome freedom and fer-
vency entreating that the divine prefence might attend me in
every place where my bufinefs might lead me ; and had a par-
ticular reference to the trials and temptations that I appre-
hended I might be more imminently expofed to in particular
places. Was ftrengthened and comforted, altho' I was be-
fore very weary. Truly, the " joy of the Lord is flrength
and life."
Wednefday, March 14. Enjoyed fome intenfenefs of foul
in prayer, repeating my petition for God's prefence in every
place where I expected to be in my journey. Befought the
Lord that I might not be too much pleafed and amufed with
dear friends and acquaintance, in one place and another.-
Near ten fet out on my journey, and near night came to Stock-
bridge.
Thurfday, March 15. Rode down to Sheffield. Here I
met a meffenger from Eaft-Hampton on Long-Iiland ; who, by
the unanimous vote of that large town, was fent to invite me
thither, in order to fettle with that people, where I had been
before frequently invited. Seemed more at a lofs what was
my duty than before j when I heard of the great difficulties
of that place, I was much concerned and grieved, and felt
fome defires to comply with their'requeft -, but knew not what
to do j endeavoured to commit the cafe to God.
[The two next days he went no further than Salifoury, being
much hindered by the rain. When he came there, he was
much indifpofed. He fpeaks of comfortable and profitable
converfation with Chriftian friends, on thefe days.]
Lord's day, March 18. [At Salisbury] was exceeding weak
and faint, fo that I could fcarce walk j but God was pleafed
to afford me much freedom, clearnefs, and fervency in preach-
ing. I have not had the like affiflance in preaching to finners
126 THE LIFE OF
A.D. 1744.
for many months. pad. Here a:,ou,er meffenger met me, and
informed of the vote of another congregation, to give me an
invitation to come among them upon probation for fettlement*.
Was fornething exercifed in mind with -a weight and burden
of care. O that God would " fend forth faithful labourers-
into his harveft !"
[After this, he went forward on his journey towards New-
York and New-Jerfey j in which he proceeded (lowly ; per-
forming his journey under great degrees of bodily indifpofi-
tion. However, he preached feveral times by the way, being
urged by friends ; in which he had considerable atfi fiance.
He fpeaks of comfort in converfation with Chriftian friends,
from time to time, and of various things in the exercifes and
frames of his heart, that (hew much of a divine influence on
his mind in this journey 5 but yet complains of the thing that
he feared, viz. a decline of his fpiritual life, or vivacity in re-
ligion, by means of his coniiant removing from place to place,
and want of retirement, and complains bitterly of his unwor-
thinefs, deadnefs, &LC. He came to New- York on Wednef-
day, March 28. and to Elizabeth-Town on the Saturday fol-
lowing, where it feems he waited till the Commiilioners came
together.]
Thurfday, April 5. Was again much exercifed with weak-
nefs, and with pain in my head. Attended on the Commif-
fioners in their meetingf . Refolved to go on flill with the In-
dian affair, if Divine Providence permitted ; althought I had
* This congregation was that at Millington near Kaddarc. They were
veryearncftly defirous of his coming among them.
f The Indians at Kaunattmeek being but feiv in number, and Mr
Braintrd having now been labouring among them about a year, and
billing prevailed upon them to be willing to leave Kaiinaurncek, and
remove to Stockbridge, to live conjlantly tinder Mr Sergeant's mi-
niftry ; be thought he might now do more fervice for Cbrijl among
the Indians flfewhere : and therefore 'went this journey to Nc<w-
ytrfey to lay tbe matter before the Commiffioners ; nvbo met at Eli-
fabsth-Totvn, on this occafion, and determined that he JhcvlA forth-
ivit'j Ica-vc Kaunaumeek, and go to tbe Delaware Indians,
JET. 26. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 127
before felt fome inclination to go to Eaft-Hampton where I
was folicited to go f .
[After this, he continued two or three days in the Jerfeys,
very ill , and then returned to New- York ; and from (thence
into New-England 5 and went to his native town of Haddam,
where he arrived on Saturday, April 14. And he continues
ilill his bitter complaints of want of retirement. While he was
in New- York, he fays thus, '* Oh, it is not the pleafures of
*' the world that can comfort me ! If God deny his prefence^
" what are the pleafures of the city to me ? One houroffweet
" retirement where God is, is better than the whole world.'*
And he continues to cry out of his ignorance, meanuefs, and
imworthinefs. However, he fpeaks of forne feafons of fpecial
arTiftance, and divine fweetnefs. He fpent fome days among
his friends at Eafi-Hampton and Millington.]
Tuefday, April 17. Rode to Millington again 5 and felt
perplexed when I fet out j was feeble in body, and weak in
f By the invitations Mr Brainerd bad lately received, it appears,
that it was nst from necejjity, or for wa?it of opportunities to fettle
in the minijlry amongjl tie Englijt.>i notwithstanding the difgrace be
had If en laid under at college, that he was determined to forfake
all the outward comforts to be enjoyed in the Engli/b fettlements,
to go a?id fpendhis life amomg the bruti/b favages, and endure the
difficulties a?i.d felf -denials of an Indian million. .He had, jutt as he
was leaving Kauuaumcek, lad an earnest invitation to a fettlement
at East-Hampton on Long Iftand, the fairest, pleafantest town CTI
the li'hole ijland, and one of its largest and most wealthy parifhes.
The people there nvcrc unanimous in their dejires to have him for
their pastor, and for a long time continued in an earnest pvrfuit of
ivhat they dofired, and- were- hardly brought to relinquijb their en-
dec.Tjours and give up their hopes of obtaining him. Befides the itf- '
vltiilion he had to Millington, which <was near his native toiun, ami
in the midst of his friends. Nor did Mr Brainerd chufe the bufmefi
of a mXJionary to the Indians, rather than accept of thofe imita-
tions, becaufe he was unacquainted with tie difficulties and fujfcrings
which attended fuch a fer-vice : For he had had experience of theje
docilities in fummer and winter; having fpent about a twelvemonth
in a lonely defart among thefe favages, where le lad gone through
extreme hardjfnps, and been the fubjeR of a train of outward and
iniuard farrow, ccijVA were now frejb in b:s mind.
128 THE LIFE OF A. D.I 744.
faith. I was going to preach a lecture ; and feared I mould
never have afliftance enough to get through. But contriving
to ride alone, at a diftance from the company that was going,
I fpent the time in lifting up my heart to God 5 had not gone
far before my foul was abundantly ftrengthened with thofe
words, " If God be for us, who can be again ft us ?" I went
on, confiding in God ; and fearing nothing fo much as felf-
confidence. In this frame I went to the houfe of God, and
enjoyed fome affiitance. Afterwards felt the fpirit of love
and meeknefs in converfation with fome friends. Then rode
home to my brother's j and in the evening, finging hymns
with friends, my foul feemed to melt j and in prayer after-
wards, enjoyed the exercife of faith, and was enabled to be fer-
vent in fpirit ; found more of God's , prefence than I have
done any time in my late wearifome journey. Eternity ap-
peared very near ; my nature was very weak, and feemed rea-
dy to be diffolved j the fun declining and the fhadows of the
evening drawing en apace. O I longed to fill up the remain-
ing moments all for Gd ! Though my body was fo feeble,
and weaned with preaching and much private converfation,
yet I wanted to fit up all night to do fomething for God. To
God the giver of thefe refrefliments, be giory, for ever and e-
ver. Amen.
Wednefday April 18. Was very weak, and enjoyed but
little fpiritual comfort. Was exercifed with one cavilling a-
gainft original iin. May the Lord open his eyes to fee the
fountain of fin in himfelf.
[After this, he vifited feveral miniilers in Connecticut j and
then travelled towards Kaunaumeek, and came to Mr Ser-
geant's at Stockbridge, Thurfday, April 26. He performed
this journey in a very weak ftate of body. The things he
fpeaks of in the mean time, appertaining to the frames and ex-
ercifes of his mind, are at fome times deadnefs and a being
void of fpiritual comfort, at other times refting in God, fpi-
ritual fweetnefs in convcrfation, engagednefs in meditation
on the road, affiilance in preaching, rejoicing to think that
fa much more of his work was done, and he fo iruch nearer
JEX* 27. - MR DAVID BRAINERD. 129
to the eternal world. And he once and again fpeaks of a
fenfe of great ignorance, fpiritual pollution, &.C.]
Friday and Saturday, April 27. and 28. Spent feme time
in vifiting friends .and difcourfmg with my people, ( who were
now moved down from their own place to. Mr Sergeant's),
and found them very gl^d to fee me returned. Was exerci-
fed in my mind with a fenfe of my own unworthincfs.
Lord's Day, April 29. Preached for Mr Sergeant, both
parts of the day, from Rev. xiv. 4. Enjoyed fome freedom
in preaching, though not much fpirituality. In the evening-
my heart was in fome raeafure lifted up in thankfulnefs to God
for any afTiftance.
Monday, April 30. Rode to Kaunaumeek, butwasex, -
tremely ill ; did not enjoy the comfort I hoped for in my own
houfe. -.
Tuefday, May I. Having received new orders to go to a
number of Indians on Delaware river in Penfylvania, and my
people here being moftly removed to Mr Sergeant's, I this
day took all my clothes, books, &c. and difpofedof them, and
fet out for Delaware river - 7 but made it my way to return to
Mr Sergeant's , which I did this day, juft at night. Rode
feverai hours in the rain through the howling wildernefs, al-
though I was fo difordered in body, that little or nothing but
blood came from me.
[He continued at S'ockbridge the next day and on Thurf-
day rode a little way to Sheffield-, under a great degree of ill-
neis j but with encouragement and chearfulneis of mind un-
der his fatigues. On Friday he rode to Salisbury, and con-
tinued there till after t&e Sabbath. He fpeaks of his fouPs- be-
ing, fome part of this time refreihed in co-nverfation with fome
Chriftiari friends, about their heavenly home, and their jour-
ney thither. At other times he fpeaks of himfelf as exceed-
ingly perplexed with barrennefs and deadnefs, and has this ex-
clamation, " Oh, that time (hould pafs withfo little done for
a God 1" On Monday he rode to Sharon ; and fpeaks of
himfelf asdiftrefled at the coniideration of the mifimprovement
of time.]
May 8 1 . Set cut from Sharon to Cosnff6Hciit, and travel-
R
1$O THE LIFE OF A. 0^1744.
led about forty five miles to a place called the Fi/?j-&it*, and
lodged there. Spent much of my time while riding, in prayer,
that God would go with me to Delaware. My heart fome-
times was ready to fink with the thoughts of my work, and go-
ing alone in the wildernefs, I knew not where ; but flill it
was comfortable to think, that others of Gcd's children had
" wandered about in caves and dens of the earth ;" and A-
braham when he went forth, " went out not knowing whi-
" ther he went." O that I might follow after God !
[The next day, he went forward on his journey ; crofted
Hudfon's river, and went to Gofhen in- the Highlands j and fo
travelled acrofs the woods, from Iludfoii's river to Delaware,
about an hundred miles through a defolate and hideous coun-
try, above New-Jsrfey, where are very few fcttlements j in
which journey he fullered much fatigue and hardihip. He vi-
fited fome Indians in the way -f-, and difcourfed with them con-
cerning Chriitianity. Was confiderably melancholy and di-
confolate, being alone in a ftrange wildernefs. On Saturday,
he came to a fettlement of Ii?ilh and Dutch people, about
twelve miles -above the forks of Delaware.}"
Lord's Day, May 13. Rofe early 5 felt very poorly after my
long journey, and after being wet and fatigued. Was very
melancholy ; have fcarce ever feen fuch a gloomy morning in
my life j there appeared to be no Sabbath j the children were
all at play ; I a ftranger in the wildernefs, and knew not where
to go j and all circum fiances feemed to confpire to render my
affairs dark and difcouraging. Was difappointed refpecling
an interpreter, and heard that the Indians were much fcatter-
ed, &c. Oh ! I mourned after the prefence of God, and feem-
ed like a creature baniihed from hi-s fight ; yet he was pleafed
to fupport my finking foul, amidft all my furrows j fo that 1
never entertained any thought of quitting my bufinefs among
the poor Indians ; but was comforted to think, that death
would ere long fet me free from thefe diflreffes. Rode about
three or four -miles to the Irifli people, where I fcund fome
t * On the weft fule of Hudfoti's river.
\ Sec Mr Sraiaenfs Narrative, in a letter to Mr Fcmbsrton,
&t ibc cud of this work
JET.2 7. MR DAVID BRA1NERD. 13 1
that appeared fober, and concerned about religion. My heart
then began to be a little encouraged ; went and preached,
firft to the Irifli, and then to the Indians , and in the even-
ing, was a little comforted ; my foul feemed to reft on God,
and take courage. O that the Lord would be my fupport and
comforter in an evil world !
May 14. Was very bufy in fome neceffary ftudies. Felt
myfelf very loofe frojn all the world ; all appeared " vanity
" and vexation of fpirit. " Seemed fome thing lonefome and
difconfolate, as if I was banimed from all mankind, and be-
reaved of all that is called pleafurable in the world ; but ap-
peared to myfelf fo vile and. unworthy, it feemed fitter for me
to be here than any where.
May 15. Still much engaged in my ftudies, and enjoyed
more health than I have for fome time paft ; but was fome-
thing dejecled in fpirit with a fenfe of my meannefs j feemed
as if I could never do any thing at all to any good purpofe by
reafon of ignorance and folly. O that a fenfe of thefe things
might work more habitual humility in my foal !
[He continued much in the fame frame the next day.]
May 17. Was this day greatly diftreffed with a fenfe of my
vilenefs ! appeared to myfelf too bad to walk on God's earth,
or to be treated with kindnefs by any of his creatures. God
was pleafed to let me fee my inward pollution and corruption
to fuch a degree that I almolt defpaired of being made holy.
" Oh ! wretched man that I am ! \vho (hall deliver me from
" the body of this death ?" In the afternoon met with the In-
dians, according to appointment, and preached to them. And
while riding to them, my foul feemed to confide in God, and
afterwards had fome relief and enlargement of foul in prayer,
and fome afliftance in the duty of intercL-ffion j vital piety and.
holinefs appeared fweet to me, and I longed for the perfection
of it.
May 18. Felt again fomething of the fweet fpirit of reli-
gion j and my foul feemed to confide in God, that he would
never leave me. But oftentimes faw myfelf fo mean a crea-
ture, that I knew not how to think of preaching. O that
I-rould always live to and upon God.]
132 THE IrlFE OF A.D. 17
May 19. Was, fome part of the time, greatly oppreffed
with the weight and burden of my work j it feemed impoflibl-e
for me ever to go through with the bufinefs I had undertaken.
Towards night was very calm and comfortable j and I think
my foul trailed in God for help.
Lord's Day, May 20. Preached twice to the poor Indians,
and enjoyed fosne freedom in fpeaking, while I attempted ta
remove their prejudices againft Chriftianity. My foul longed
for affiflance from above all the while j for I faw I had no.
ftrengtli fufficient for that work. Afterwards preached to
the Irifh people j was much affifted in the firft prayer, and
fomething in fermon. Several perfons feemed much concer-
ned for their fouls, with whom I difcourfed afterwards witK
much freedom and fome power. Bleffed be God for any af-
fiftance afforded to an unworthy worm. O that 1 could live
TO him !
[Through the reft of this week, he was fometimes ready
to fink with a fenfe of his unworthinefs and unfitnefs for the
work of the mini-dry j and fometimes encouraged and lifted
above his fears and fotrows, and was enabled confidently to-
rely on God j and efpeciaHy on Saturday towards night, he en-
joyed calmnefs and compofure r and affiilance in prayer to God,
He rejoiced, " That God remains unchangeably power-
" ful and faithful, a fure and fufficient portion, and the dvveU
" ling place of his children in all generations."]
Lord's Day, May 27. Vifited my Indians in the morn-
ing, and attended upon a funeral among them j was afftfted
to fee their heathenifh praclic-es. O that they may be " turn-
"cd from darknefs to light !" Afterwards, got a' confider-
able number of them together, and preached to them j and ob-
ferved them very attentive. After this, preached to the white
people from Heb. ii. 3. Was enabled to fpeak with fome
freedom and power j feveral people feemed much concerned
for'their fouls efpecially one "who had been educated a Roman
Catholic. Blefied be the Lord for any help.
May 28. Set out from the Indians above the forks of De-
laware, on a jouvncy towards Newark in New-Jerfey, accord-
ing to my orders. Rode through the wildernefs 5, was much
.T. 27- MR DAVID BRAINERD. 133
fatigued with the heat j lodged at a place called Black-River,
was exceedingly tired and worn cut.
[May 29. He came to Newark. The next day, went to Eli-
fabeth Town ; on Thuriday, he went to New-York 5 and on
Friday returned to Elizabeth-Town. Thefe days were fpent in
fome perplexity of mind. He continued at Elizabeth-Town
till Friday in the week following. Was enlivened, refrefti-
ed and ftrengthened on the Sabbath, at the Lord's table. The
enfaing days of the week were fpent chiefly in ftudies prepara-
tory to his ordination ; and on fome of them he feemed to have
God's gracious prefence, and of the fweet influences of his Spi-
rit but was in a very weak ftate of body. On Saturday he
rode to Newark.]
Lord's Day, June 10. [At Newark.] In the morning was
much concerned how I mould perform the work of the day,
and trembled at the thoughts of being left to myfelf. Enjoy-
ed very confiderable afiitfance in all parts of the public fervice.
Had an opportunity again to attend Qn the ordinance of the
Lord's fupper 7 , and through divine goodnefs was refrefhed in
it : My foul was full of love and tendernefs towards the chil-
dren of God, and towards all men \ felt a certain fweetnefs
of difpofition towards every creature. At night, I enjoyed
more fpirituality, and fweet defiie of holinefs, than I have
felt for fome time : Was afraid of every thought and every
motion, left thereby my heart fhould be drawn away from
God. O that I might never leave the bleffed God ! " Lord,
" in thy pre-fcnce is fulnefs of joy." O the bleffedncfs of
living to God !
June it. This day the prejbytery met together at Newark,
in order to my ordination. Was very weak and difordered
in body ; yet endeavoured to repofe my confidence in God.
Spent moil of the day alone, efpecially the forenoon. At
three in tfce afternoon preached my probation-fermon, from
A6h xxvi. 17, 18. being a text given me for that end^ Felt
not well, either in body or mind j however, God carried me
through comfortably. Afterwards, parTed an examination be-
fore the prejbytery. Was much tired, and my mind burdened
with the greatnefs of that charge I was in the rooft folemn
manner about to take upon me ; My mind was fo preffed
134 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1744.
with the weight of the work incumbent upon me, that I
could not fleep this night, though very weary, and in great
need of reft.
June 12. Was this morning further examined, refpe6ling
ray experimental acquaintance with ChriMianity.* At ten
o'clock my ordination was attended j the fermon preached
by the Reverend Mr Pemberton. At this time I was affecr.-
ed with a fenfe of the important truft committed to me j yet
was compofed, and folemn, without diftraclion : And I hope,
I then (as many times before) gave myfclf up to God, to be
for him, and not for another. O that I might always be en-
gaged in the fervice of God, and duly remember the folemn
charge I have received, in the prefence of God, angels, and
men. Amen. May I be aflifted of God for this purpofe.
Towards night rode to Elizabeth Town.
PART VI.
FROM HIS ORDINATION, TILL HE FIRST BEGAN TO PREACH TO THE
INDIANS AT Ci-.OSWEEKSUKG, AMONG WHOM HE HAD HIS MOST
REMARKABLE SUCCESS.
WEDNESDAY, June 13. Spent fome confiderable time in
writing an account of ^he Indian affairs, to go to
Scotland : fpent fome time in converfation with friends, but
enjoyed not much fweetnefs and fatisfa6lion.
June 14. Received fome particular kindnefs from friends ;
and wondered, that God ftiould open the hearts of any to
* Mr Pemberton, in a letter to the Honourable Society in Scotland
that employed Mr Brainerd, which he wrote concerning him, (publifhed
in Scotland, in The Cbri/liau nionthlv Hi/lory,} writes thus : " We can
t: with pleafure fay, that Mr Brainerd palled through his ordination-
" tiials, to the univerfal approbation of the prejbytery, and appeared un-
" commonly qualified for the work of the miniftry. He fcems to be
'' armed with a great d,eal of feif-denial, and animated with a no!),'.;
" zeal to propagate the gofpel amon^ thofe barbarous nations, \vlu
" have Ion? clw?h in the ('arkncis of Heal!. (".''."in." ^
MR DAVID B RA I N E R D.
treat me with kindnefs: faw myfelf to be unworthy of any fa-
vour from God, or any of my fellow-men. Was much exer-,
died with pain in my head j however, determined to fet out
on my journey towards Delaware in the afternooa : But in
the afternoon my pain increafed exceedingly, fo that I was o-
bliged to betake myfelf to the bed ; and the night following,
was greatly ditfrefied with pain and iicknefs was fometimes
almoft bereaved of the exercife of reafon by the extremity of
pain. Continued much diftrelTed till Saturday, when I was
fomething relieved by an emetic : But was unable to walk a-
broad till Monday following, in the afternoon , and dill re-
mained very feeble. I often admired the goodnefs of God,
that he did not fuffer me to proceed on my journey fiom this
place where I was fo tenderly ufed, and to bs fick by the way
among ftrangers. God is very gracious to me, both in health
and ficknefs, and intermingles much mercy with all my afflic-
tions and toils. Enjoyed fome fweetnefs in things divine, in
the midft of my pain and weaknefs. Oh that I could praife
the Lord!
[June 19. He fet out on his journey home, and in t]ie
days reached his place, near the Forks of Delaware. Per-
formed the journey under much weaknefs ot body ; Jjut had
comfort in his foul, from day to day : And both his weak-
nefs of body, and confolation of mind, continued through the
week.]
Lord's Day, June 24. Extremely feeble ; fcarce able to
walk : However, vifited my Indians, and took much pains to
iuftruft them ; laboured with fome that were much difaffected
to Chriftianity. My mind was much burdened with the
weight and difficulty of roy work. My whole dependence
and hope of fuccefs feemed to be on God ; who alone, I faw,
could make them willing to receive inflruftion. My heart
was much engaged in prayer, fending up filent requefls to
God, even while I was fpeaking to them. O that I could al-
ways go in the flrength of the Lord !
June 25. Was fomething better in health than- of late ;
was able to fpend a confiderable part of the day in prayer and
clofe ftudies. Had more freedom and fervency in prayer than
ufual of late j efpecially longed for the pretence of God in
136 THE LIFE OF A. D. 1 744
my work, and that the poor Heathen might be converted*
Aud in evening-prayer my faith and hope in God xvere much
raifed. To an eye of reaion every thing that refpecl> the con-
yerfion of the Heathen is as dark as midnight ; and yet I can-
not but hope in God for the accomplishment of fomcthing glo-
rious among them. My foul longed much for the advancement
of the Redeemer's kingdom on earth. Was very fearful left I
iliouid admit fome vain thought, and fo lofe the fenfe I then had
of things divine. O for an abiding heavenly temper 1
June 26. In the morning, my dcfires fcemed to rife, and a-
fcend up freely to God. Was bufy moft of the day in tranilat-
ing prayers into the language of the Delaware Indians; met
irith great difficulty, by reafon that my interpreter was altoge-
ther unacquainted with the bufmefs. But though I vras much
diicouraged with the extreme difficulty of that work, yet God
fhpported me ; and efpecially in the evening, gave me facet re-
freihment : In prayer my foul was enlarged, and my faith drawn
xuto feniible exercife j was enabled to cry to God for my poor
Indians ; and though the work of their corrverfion appeared
*' irnpoffible with man, yet with God" I faw *' all things were
" poffible." My faith was much ftrengthened, by obferving
the wonderful aiTiilance God afforded his fervants Nehemiah
and Ezra, in reforming his people, and re-eftabliihing his an-
cient church. I was much afliiied in prayer for dear Chriiiian
friends, and for others that I apprehended to be Chriiilefs j but
Tras more efp-ecially concerned for the poor Heathen, and thofe
of my own charge : Was enabkd to be inftant in prayer for
them j and hoped that God would bow the heavens and come
down for their falvation. It feemed to rae, there could be no
impediment iuiRcient to obftrucl that glorious work, feeing the
Hying God, as I ftrongly hoped, was engaged for it. I con-
tinued in a folemn frame, lifting up my heart to God for af-
fiftance and grace, that I might be more mortified to thispre-
fent world, that nay whole foul might be taken up ccatimial-
ly in concern for the advancement of Chrifl's kingdom ; long-
ed that God would purge me more, that I might be as a cho-
fen vefTel to bear his name among the Heathens. Continued
in this frame till I dropped afleep.
Juoe 27. Felt fomething of the fame foleein concern, and
^T. 27. MR D A V I D ER A IN E R D. 137
fpirit of prayer, that I enjoyed laii night, foon after I rofe in
the morning. In the afternoon, rode feveral miles to fee if J
could procure any lands for the poor Indians, that they might
live together, and be under better advantages for inftru&ion.
While I was riding, had a deep fenfe of the gveatnefs and dif-
ficulty of my work ; and my foul feemed to rely wholly upon
God for fuccefs, in the diligent and faithful ufe of means. Saw
with greateft certainty, that the arm of the Lord muil be re-
vealed for the help of thefe poor heathen, if ever they were
delivered from the bondage of the powers of darknefs. Spent
moft of the time, while riding, in lifting up my heart for grace
and alfiftance.
June 28. Spent the morning in reading feveral parts of the
holy fcripture, and in fervent prayer for my Indians, that God
would fct up his kingdom among them, and bring them into his
church. About nine I withdrew to my ufual place of retire-
ment in the woods, and there enjoyed fome affiitance in pray-
er. My great concern was for the converfion of the heathen
to God ; and the Lord helped me to plead for it. Towards
noon, rede up to the Indians, in order to preach to them ;
and while going, my heart went up to God in prayer for them j
could freely tell God, he knew that the caufe was not mine
which I was engaged in ; but it was his own caufe, and it
would be for his own glory to convert the poor Indians : and
bleiTed be God, I felt no defire of their converfion that I
might receive honour from the world, asbeingtheinfl.ru-
ment of it. Had fome freedom in fpeaking to the Indians.
[The next day he fpeaks of fome ferious concern for the
kingdom of the blefTed Redeemer ; but complains much of
barrennefs, wanderings, and inactivity, &c.]
June 30. My foul was much folemnized in reading God's
word, efpecially the ninth chapter of Daniel. I faw how
God bad called out his fervants to prayer, and made them
wrelile with him, when he deligned tobeftow any great mer-
cy cm his church. And, alas I I was aihamed of myfelf. to
t:iink of my dulnefs and inactivity, when there feemed to be
.-ca to do for the upbuilding of Zion. Oh, how does
Zion lie wafte ! I longed that the church of God might be
enlarged ; was enabled to pray, I think, in fcith ; my fojii
S
138 THE LIFE OF A. 0.1744,
feemed feniibly to confide in God, and was enabled to wref-
tle with him. Afterwards walked abroad to a place of fvveet
retirement, and enjoyed fome affiilance in prayer again j had
a fenfe of my great need of divine help, and felt my foul fenii-
bly depend 6n God. Blefied be God, this has been a com-
fortable week to me.
Lord's Day, July i. In the morning, was perplexed with
tvandering vain thoughts j was much grieved : I judged ar.d
Condemned myfelf before God, And Oh, how miferable did
I feel, becaufe I could not live to God ! At ten, rode away
vita a heavy heart to preach to my Indians. Upon the read
I attempted to lift up my heart to God, but was infeiled
with an unfettled wandering frame of mind ; and was exceed-
ing reillefs and perplexed, and filled with fliame and confuiion
before God. 1 feemed to myfelf to be " more brutifli than a-
" ny man j" and thought, none defcrved to be " cad out of
'" God's prefence" fo much as I. If I attempted to lift up
my heart to God, as I frequently did by the way, on a fud-
den, before I was aware, ray thoughts were wandering " to
" the ends of the earth j" and my foul was filled with fur-
prife and anxiety, to find it thus. Thus alfo after I came to
the Indians, my mind was confufd j and I felt nothing fenfi-
bly of that fweet reliance on God T that my foul has been com-
forted with in days pail. Spent the forenoon in this pofture
of mind, and preached to the Indians without any heart. In
the afternoon, I felt ftill barren when I began to preach ;
and about half an hour after, I feemed to myfelf to know no-
thing, and to have nothing to fay to the Indians ; but foon
after, I found in myfelf a fpirit of love, and warmth, and power,
to addrefs the poor Indians-, and God helped me to plead with
them, to " turn from all the vanities of the Heathen, to the
" living God j" and I am perfuaded, the Lord touched their
-confciences, for I never faw fuch attention railed in them be-
fore. And when I came away from them, I fpent the whole
time while I was riding to my lodgings, three miles diitant,
in prayer and praife to God : And after I had rode more
than two miles, it came into my mind to dedicate myfelf to
God again- ; which 1 did with great folemnity, ar.d unfpeak-
able fat isf action j efpecially gave up myfelf to him renewed!)'
JET. 27. MR DAVID B RA I N E R D. 139
an the work of the miniftry. And this I did by divine grace,
I hope, without any exception or referve j not in the leaft
ilirinking back from any difficulties that might attend this
great and bleffed work. I fcemed to be moil free, chearful,
and full in this dedication of myfelf. My whole foul cried,
" Lord, to thee I dedicate myfelf; O accept of me, and let me
" be thine for ever. Lord, I deiire nothing elfe ; I dcfire
" nothing more. O come, come, Lord, accept a poor worm.
" Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon
" earth that I dcfire befides thec." After this, was enabled to
praife God with my whole foul, that he had enabled me to de-
vote and confecrate all my powers to him in this folemn man-
ner. My heart rejoiced in my particular work as a miffiona-
ry -j rejoiced in my neceiTity of felt-denial in many refp~cts j
and ilill continued to give up myfelf to God, and implore mer-
cy of him ; praying inceffantly, every moment, with fweet
fervency. My nature, being very weak of late and much
fpent, was now confiderably overcome j my fingers grew very
weary and fomewhat numb, fo that I could fcarcely ftretch
them out ftraight j and when I lighted from my horie, could
hardly walk, my joints leemed all to be loofed. But I felt a-
bundant ftrength in the inner man. Preached to the white
people ; God helped me much, efpecially in prayer. Sundry
of my poor Indians were fo moved as to come to meeting allb \
and one appeared much concerned.
July 2. Had fome relifh of the divine comforts cf yefter-
flay * 7 but could not get the warmth and exerciie -of faith that
I dsfired. Had fometimes a diftrefling fenfe of my pail; follies,
and prefent ignorance and barrennefs j and efpecially in the
afternoon, was funk under a load of fin and guilt, in that I had
lived fo little to God, after his abundant goodnefs to me yef-
terday. In the evening, though very weak, was enabled to
pray with fervency, and to continue intfant in prayer, near an
hour. My foul mourned over the power of its corruption, and
longed exceedingly to be waihed and purged as with hyflop.
Was enabled to pray for dear abfent friends, Chrift's minifters,
and his church ; and enjoyed much freedom and fervency,
but not fo much comfort, by rcafon of guilt and fliara$ before
THE LIFE OF A.D. 1744
God. I judged and condemned rnyfelf for the follies of the
day.
July 3. Was Hill very weak. This morning, was enabled
to pray under a feeling fenfe of my need of help from God,
and I truft, had fome faith in exercife ; and, blefled be God,
ivas enabled to plead with God a considerable time. Truly
God is good to me. But my foul mourned, and was grieved
at my finfulnefs and barrennefs, and longed to be more engaged
for God. Near nine, withdrew again for prayer j ai,d through
divine goodnefs had the blefled fpirit of prayer ; my foul lo-
ved the duty, and longed for God in it. O it is fweet to be
the Lord's, to be fenfibly devoted to him ! What a bleffed
portion is God! How glorious, how lovely in himfelf ! O
my foul longed to improve time wholly for God ! Spent mod
of the day in translating prayers into Indian. In the evetiing
was enabled to wreftlc with God in grayer with fervency :
Was enabled to maintain a felf diffident and watchful frame of
fpirit, and was jealous and afraid left I ihould adroit careleflnefs
and felf-confidence.
[The next day, he feems to have had fpecial afiiftance and
fervency moft of the day, but in a lefs degree than the preceding
day. Thurfday was fpent in great bodily weaknefs ; yet
feems to have been fpent in continual and exceeding painful-
Kefs in religion, but in great bitternefs of fpirit, by reafon of
his vilenefs and corruption. He fays thus : " I thought there
" was not one creature living fo vile as I. Oh, my inward pol-
" lution ! Oh, my guilt and fhame before God ! I know not
" what to do. Oh, I long ardently to be cleanfed and wafh-
" ed from the Mains of inward pollution ! Oh, to be made
" like God, or rather to be made fit for God to own !''']
July 6. Awoke this morning in the fear of God ; foon cal-
led to mind my fadnefs in the evening pail j and fpent my
hrft waking minutes in prayer for fanciiucation, that my -foul
might be warned from its exceeding pollution and defilement,
After I arofe, I fpent fome time in reading God's word and
in prayer : I cried to God under a fenfe of my great indigen-
ey. I am of late moft of all ^ncerned for minifierial qua-
lifications, and the converfion of the Heathen ; laft year I
longed to be prepared for a world of glory, and fpeedily tods-
JET. 2 - MR DAVID BRAINERD.
part out of this world; but now, almoft all my concern isforthe
converfion of the Heathen j and for that end, Ilongtolive. But
bleffed be God, I have lefs defire to live for any of the pleafures
of the world than ever I had ; I long and love to be a pilgrim j
and want grace to imitate the life, labours, and fufferings of St
Paul among the Heathen. And when I long for holiaefs
now, it is not fo much for myfelf as formerly j but rather that
thereby I may become an " able minifter of the New-Tefta~
" meat," efpecially to the Heathen, Spent about two hours
this morning in reading and prayer by turns j and was in a
watchful tender frame, afraid of every thing that might cool
my affections, and draw away my heart from God. Was fbme-
thing ftrengthened in my ftudies ; but near night very weak
and weary.
July 7. Was very much difordered in the morning, and my
vigour all fpent and exhaufted j but was affected and refreftied
in reading the fweet ftory of Elijah's tranflation, and enjoyed
fome aiTeilion and fervency in prayer , longed much for mi-
nifterial gifts and graces, that I might do fomething in the
caufe of God. Afterwards was refreshed and invigorated,
while reading Mr Jofeph Alleine's firft cafe of confcience, &c.
and enabled then to pray with fome ardour of foul, and was
afraid of carleffnefs and felf-confidence, and longed for hoiinefs.
Lord's Day, July 8. Was ill laft night, not able to reit
quietly. Had fome fmall degree of afliftance in preaching to
the Indians ; and afterwards was enabled to preach to the
white people with fome power, efpecially in the clofe of my
difcourfe, from Jer. iii. 23. The Lord alfo affifted me in fome
meafure in the firft prayer, bleffed be his name. Near night,
though very weary, was enabled to read God's word with
fome fweet relifti of it, and to pray with affection, fervency,
and I truft, faith j my foul was more fenfibly dependent on God
than ufual. Was watchful, tender, and jealous of my own heart
left I mould admit careleffnefs and vain thoughts, and grieve
the bleffed Spirit, fo that he fliould withdraw his fweet, kind,.
and tender influences. Longed to ** depart, and to be witU
'* drift," more than at any 1^we of late. My foul was exceed- .
ingly united to the faints of ancient times, as well as thofe
H LIFE OF A.D, 1744.
living j efpecially my foul melted for the fociety of Elijah and
Eliilia. Was .enabled to cry to God with a child-like fpirit,
and to continue inftant in prayer for fome time. Was much
enlarged in the fweet duty of interceffion j was enabled to
remember great numbers of dear friends, and precious fouls,
as well as Chrift's minifters. Continued in this frame, afraid
of every idle thought, till I dropt afleep.
July 9. Was under much illnefs of body moil of the day,
and not able to lit up the whole day. Towards night felt a
little better. Then fpent fome time in reading God's word
and prayer ; enjoyed fome degree of fervency and affection ^
was enabled to plead with God for his caufe and kingdom j
and, through divine goodnefs, it was apparent to me, that it
was his caufe I pleaded for, and not my own ; and was ena-
bled to make this an argument with God to anfwer my re-
quells.
July 10. Was very ill, and full of pain, and very dull and
fpiritlefs. In the evening had an affecting fenfe of my igno-
rance, &c. and of my need of God at all times, to do every
thing for me 5 and my foul was humbled before God.
July n. Was ftiJl exercifed with illnefs and pain. Ha4
ibme degree of affection and warmth in prayer and reading
God's word ; longed for Abraham's faith and fellowmip with
God ; and felt fome refolution to fpend all my time for God,
and to exert myfelf with more fervency in his fervice ; but
found my body weak and feeble. In the afternoon, though ve-
ry ill, was enabled to fpend fome considerable time in prayer;
fpent indeed moft of the day in that exercife $ and my foul
was diffident, watchful and tender, left I mould offend my
bleffed friend, in thought or behaviour. I am perfuaded my
foul confided in, and leaned upon the bleffed God. Oh, what
need did I fee myfelf to ftand in of God at all times, to affift
me and lead me ! Found a great want of ftreflgth and vigour,
both in the outward and inner man.
[The exercifes and experiences that he fpeaks of in the next
nine days, are very fimilar to thofe of the preceding days
of this and the foregoing week$ a fenfe of his own weaknels,
ignorance, unprofitablenefs,and vilenefs; lothing end abhorring
himfclf for felkdlffidence ; a fenfe of the grcatnefs of his work,
--1LT.27. MR DAVID BRA1NERD. 143
and his great need of divine help, and the extreme danger of
felf- confidence ; longing for holinefs and humility, and to be
fitted for his work, and to live to God 5 and longing for the
converfion of the Indians j and thefe things to a very great
degree.]
July 21. This morning, was greatly oppreffed with guilt
and fliame, from a fenfe of inward vilenefs and pollution. A-
bout nine, withdrew to the woods for prayer j but had not
much comfort ; I appeared to myfelf the vileft, meaaeft
creature upon earth, and could fcarcely live with myfelf j
fy mean and vile I appeared, that I thought I fliould ne~
.ver be able to hold up my face in heaven, if God of his infi-
r-ite grace fliould bring me thither. Towards night my bur-
den refpecling my work among the Indians began to increafe
much j and was aggravated by hearing fundry things that
looked very difcouraging, in particular that they intended to
meet together the next day for an idolatrous feaft and dance.
Then I began to be in anguifli : 1 thought I muft in con-
fcience go and endeavour to break them up \ and knew not
how to attempt fuch a thing. However, I withdrew for
prayer, hoping for ftrength from above. And in prayer I was
exceedingly enlarged, and my foul was as much drawn out as
ever I remember it to have been in my life, or near. I was
in fuch anguim, and pleaded with fo much earneftnefs and im-
portunity, that when .1 rofe from my knees I felt extremely
weak and overcome ; I could fcarcely walk ftraight, ray joints
were loofed, the fweat ran down rny face and body, and na-
ture feemed as if it would diffolve. So far as I could judge,
I was wholly free from feliilh ends in my fervent fupplications
for the poor Indians. I knew, they were met together to
\vorlhips devils, and not God j and this made me cry earneftly
that God would now appear, and help me in rny attempts to
break up this idolatrous- meeting. My foul pleaded long; and
I thought, God would hear, and would go with me to vindi-
cate IKS own caufe : I feemed ta confide in God for his pre-
tence and afiiftance. And thus I fpent the evening, praying
inceffantly for divine afiiftance, and that I might not be fclf-
dependent, but {till have my whole dependence upon God.
What I paTid through was remarkable, and indeed inexpref-
144 THE LIFE OF A.B. 1744.
fible. All things here below vanilhed j and there appeared
to be nothing of any confiderable importance to me, but ho-
linefs of heart and life, and the converlion of the Heathen to
God. All my cares, fears, and defires, which might be laid
to be of a worldly nature, difappeared j and were, in my e-
ileem, of little more importance than a puff of wind. I ex-
ceedingly longed, that God would get to hirafelf a name among
the Heathen ; and I appealed to him with the greateft free-
dom, that he knew I " preferred him above my chief joy.' 1
Indeed, I had no notion of joy troin this world j I cared not
where or how 1 lived, or what. hardships I went through, ib
that I could but gain fouls to Chriil. I continued in this,
frame all the evening and night. While I was afleep, I
dreamed of thefe things; and when 1 waked, (as I frequently
did,) the firft thing I thought of was this great work of plead-
ing for God againft Satan.
Lord's Day, June 22. When I awaked, my foul was bur-
dened with what feemed to be before me : I cried to God, be-
fore I could get out of my bed : and as foon as 1 was drefled,
I -withdrew into the woods, to pour out my burdened foul to
God, efpecially for afTiftance in my great work ; for I could
fcarcely think of any thing elfe : and enjoyed the fame free-
dom and fervency as the laft evening ; and did with unfpeak-
able freedom give myfelf afrem to God, for life or death,
for all hardfnips he mould call me to among the Heathen j and
felt as if nothing could dlfcourage me from this bleiTed work.
I had a ftronghope, that God would " bow the heavens and
*' co.me down," and do fome marvellous work among the
Heathen. And when I was riding to the Indians, three
miles, my heart was continually going up to God for his
prefence and afliflance j and hoping, and almoft expect-
ing, that God would make this the day of his power and grace
amongft the poor Indians. When I came to them, I found
-them engaged in theii frolic j but through divine goodnefs I
got them to break up and attend to my preaching : Yet dill
there appeared nothing of the fpecial power of God among
them. Preached again to them in the afternoon j and obferv-
ed the Indians were more fober than before : but full faw no-
thing fpecial among them j from whence ii atari took cccafio."
&T.1J. MR DAVID BRA I NERD. 145
to tempt and buffet me with thefe curfed fuggeftions, There
is no God, or if there be, he is not able to convert the Indians
before they have more knowledge, <&c. I was very weak
and weary, and my foul borne down with perplexity j but was
mortified to all the world, and was determined ftill to wait up-
on God for the converfion of the Heathen, though the devil
tempted me to the contrary.
July 23. Retained ftill a deep and prefiing fenfe of what
lay with fo much weight upon me yefterday j but was more
calm and quiet ; enjoyed freedom and compofure, after the
temptations of the laft evening j had fweet refignation to the
divine will ; and defired nothing fo much as the converfion of
the Heathen to God, and that his kingdom might come in my
own heart and the hearts of others. Rode to a fettlemeut of I-
rilh people, about fifteen miles fouth-weftward , fpent my time
in prayer and meditation by the way. Near night preached
from Matth. v. 3. God was pleafed to afford me fome degree
of freedom and fervency. Bleffed be God for any meafare
of afliftance.
July 24. Rode about feventeen miles weftward, over a
hideous mountain, to a number of Indians. Got together near
thirty of them j preached to them in the evening, and lodged
among them*. Was weak, and felt fometbing difconfolate j
yet could have, no freedom in the thought of any other circum-
ftances or buiinefs in life j all my defire is the converfion of
the Heathen, and all my hope was in God j God does not fuf-
fer me to pleafe or comfort my felf with hopes of feeing friends,
returning to my dear acquaintance, and enjoying worldly Com-
forts.
[The next day, he preached to thefe Indians again ', and
then returned to the Irifh fettlement, and there preached to a
numerous congregation j there was a coniiderable appear-
ance of awakening in the congregation. Thurfday he return-
ed home, exceedingly fatigued and fpent j ftill in the fame
frame cf mortification to the world, and Iblicitous for the ad-
vancement of Chnil's kingdom 5 and on this day he fays thus ;
*' I have felt this week more of the fpirit of a pilgrim on earth
" than perhaps ever before j and yet ib deiirous to fee Zion's
* See Mr Brauier<Ts narj-ative at the end of this \vorl: p. 34.
X
THE LIFE OF A.D. 1744.
" profperity, that I was not fo willing to leave this fcene of
" ibrrow as I ufed to be." The two remaining days of the
week, he was very ill, and cries out of wanderings, dulnefs,
and want of fpiritual fervency and fvveetnef,. On the Sabbath,
he was confined by illnefs, not able to go out to preach. Af-
ter this, his illnefs increafed upon him, and he continued very
ill all the week 5 and fays, that " he thought he never be-
" fore endured fuch a feafon of diftreffing weaknefs j and that
"'his nature was fo fpent, that he could neither ftand, fit noi y
" lie with any quiet ; and that he was exercifed with extreme
" faintnefs and ficknefs at his ftomach ; and that his mind was
" as much difordered as his body, feeming to be ftupid, and
" without all kinds of affections towards all objects j and yet
" perplexed to think, that he lived for nothing, that precious
" time rolled away, and he could do nothing but trifle j and
" fpeaks of it as a feafon wherein Satan buffeted him with
" fome peculiar temptations." Concerning the next five days
"he writes thus, "On Lord's Day, Aug. 5. was ftill very
" poor. But though very weak, I vifited and preached to
" the poor Indians twice, and was ftrengthened vaftly beyond
"my expectations. And indeed the Lord gave me fome free-
" dom and fervency in addrefling them - 7 though I had not
" ftrength enough to ftand, but was obliged to fit down the
" whole time. Towards night, was extremely weak, faint,
" lick, and full of pain. And thus I have continued much in
" the fame ft ate that I was in laft week, through the moft of
" this, (it being now Friday), unable to engage in any bufi-
i4 nefs j frequently unable to pray in the family. I am oblig-
"" ed to let all my thoughts and concerns run at random ; for
" I have neither ftrength to read, meditate, or pray ; and this
" naturally perplexes my mind. I feem to myfelf like a man
" that has all his eftate embarked in one fmall boat, unhappi-
'" ly going adrift down a fwift torrent. The poor owner
** ftands on the fcore, and looks, and laments his lofs. But
" alas ! though my all feems to be adrift, and I ftand and let:
" it, I dare not lament ; for this finks my fpirits more, and ag-
" gravates my bodily diforders. 1 am forced therefore to di-
" vert myfelf with trifles j although at the fame time I am a-
" fraid, and often feel as if I was guilty of the mifimprovement
u of time. And oftentimes my confcience is fo exercifed with
27 MR DAVID BRAINERD. 147.
" with this miferable way of fpending time, that I have no
" peace , though I have no flrength of mind or body to im-
" prove it to better purpofe. O that God would pity my diC-
" treffed ftate !"
The next three weeks after this, his illnefs was not fo ex-
treme j he was in fome degree capable of bufinefs, both pub-
lic and private ; (although he had fome turns wherein his in-
clifpofition prevailed to a great degree) ; he alfo in this fpace
had, for the moft part, much more inward afliftance and
itrength of mind j. he often expreffes great longings for the
enlargement of Chrift's kingdom ; efpccially by the conver-
fion of the Heathen to God 5 he fpeaks of his hope of th ; s
as all his delight and joy. He continues flill to exprefs his
ufual longings after hoiinefs, and living to God, and his fenfe
of his own unworthinefs 5 he feveral times fpeaks of his ap-
pearing to himfelf the vileft creature on earth j and once fays,,
that he verily thought there was none of God's children
who fell fo far mort of that hoiinefs and perfection in their
'obedience which God requires, as he. He fpeaks of his feel-
ing more dead than ever to the enjoyments of the world. He
fometimes mentions fpecial aflillance that he had in this fpace
of time, in preaching to the Indians, and of appearances of re-
ligious concern among them. He fpeaks alfo of affiftance in
prayer for abfent friends, and efpecially minifters and candi-
dates for the miniftry j and of much comfort he enjoyed in
the company of fome minifters that came to vifit him.]
Sept. i. Was fo far ilrengthened, after a feafon of great
weaknefs, that I was able to fpend two or three hours in writ-
ing on a divine fubje&. Enjoyed fome comfort and fweetnef*
in things divine and facred j and as my bodily Itrength was>
in fome meafure reftored, fo my foul feerned-to be fomewhat vi-
gorous, and engaged in the things of God,
Lord's Day, Sept. 2. Was enabled tofpeak. to my poor
Indians with much concern ami fervency ^ and I am perfua-
ded, God enabled me to exercife faith in him, while I was-
fpeaking to them. I perceived that fome of them were afraid
to hearken to, and embrace Chriitianity, left they fliould be in-
chanted and poifop.edby fome of the Powows j J^ut I was en-
abled to plead with them not to fear thefe 5 and confiding itx.
148 THE I 1 F E OF A.D. 1744.
God for fafety and deliverance, I bid a challenge to all thefe
powers of darknefs, to do their word upon me firft : I told my
people, I was a Chriftian, and afked them why the Powovvs
did not bewitch and poifon me. I fcarcely ever felt more fen-
fible of my own unvvorthinefs than in this aclion : I faw that
the honour of God was concerned in the affair ; and I defired
to be preferred, not from felfifh views, but for a teftimony of
the divine power and goodnefs, and 6f the truth of Chriftiani-
ty, and that God might be glorified. Afterwards, I found my
foul rejoiced in God for his aflifting grace.
[After this, he went a journey into New- England, and was
abfent from the place of his abode, at tlie Forks of Delaware,
about three weeks. He was in a feeble ftate the greater part
of the time. But in the latter part of the journey, he found
he gained much in health and flrength. And as to the ftate
of his mind, and his religious and fpiritual exercifes, it was
much with him as had been before ufual in journeys j except-
ing that the frame of his mind feemed more generally to be
comfortable. But yet there are complaints of feme uncom- '
fortable feafons, want of fervency, and want of retirement and
time alone with God. In this journey, he did not forget the
Indians j but once and again fpeaks of his longing for their
converfion.]
Sept. 26. Rode home to the Forks of Delaware.
What reafon have I to blefs God, who has preferved me in
riding more than four hundred and twenty miles, and has
'* kept all my bones, that not one of them has been broken!"
My health like wife is greatly recovered. O that I could
dedicate my all to God ! This is all the return I can make to
him.
Sept. 27. Was fomething melancholy, had not much free-
dom and comfort in prayer: my foul is difconfolate, when God
is withdrawn.
Sept. 28. Spent the day in prayer, reading, and writing.
Felt fome fmall degree of warmth in prayer, and feme defires
for the enlargement of Chrift's kingdom by the converfion of
the Heathen, and that God would make me a " chcfen veffel,
to bear his name before them :" Longed for grace to enable
me to be faithful,
JE.T.1J. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 149
[The next day, lie fpeaks of the fame longings for the ad-
vancement of Chrift's kingdom, and the conversion of the In-
dians j but complains greatly of the ill effefts of the diver-
fions of his late journey, as unfixing his mind from that de-
gree of engagednefs, fervency, watchfulnefs, &c. which he en-
joyed before. And the like complaints are continued the
next day.]
Oct. i. Was engaged this day in making preparation
for my intended journey to Sufquehannah : Withdrew feve-
ral times to the woods for fee ret duties, and endeavoured to
plead for the Divine prefcnce to go with me to the poor Pa-
gans, to whom I was was going to preach the gofpel. To-
wards night rode about four miles, and met brother Byram * j
who was come, at my defire, to be my companion in travel
to the Indians. I rejoiced to fee him ; and, I truft, God
made his converfation profitable to me : I faw him, as I
thought, more dead to the world, its anxious cares, and al-
luring objects, than I was: and this made me look within my-
felf, and gave me a greater fenfe of my guilt, ingratitude, and
mifery.
Oft. 2. Set out on my journey, in company with dear
brother Byram, and my interpreter, and two chief Indians
from the Forks of Delaware. Travelled about twenty-five
miles, and lodged in one of the laft houfes on our road j after
which there was nothing but a hideous and howling wilder-
nefs.
Oct. 3. We went on ur way into the wildernefs, and
found the moft difficult and dangerous travelling by far that'
ever any of us had feen ; we had fcarce any thing elfe but lof-
ty mountains, deep valleys, and hideous rocks, to make our
way through. Ho\vever, I felt fome fweetnefs in divine things
part of the day, and had my mind clofely engaged in medita-
tion on a divine fubjecl. Near night, my bcatl that 1 rode u-
pon hung one of her legs in the rocks, and fell down under
me ; but thro' divine goodnefs, I was not hurt. However,
me broke her leg ; and being in fuch a hideous place, and near
thirty miles from any houfe, I faw that nothing could be dons
* Minifter at a place called Rockciticus, about forty miles from ?1,
Brainerd's lodgings. , '
153 THE LIFE OF A. D. 1744.
to preferve her lite, and io was obliged to kill her, and to pro-
fccutc my journey on foot. This accident made me admire
the divine goodnefs toward me, that my bones were not bro-
ken, and the multitude of them filled with ftrong pain. Juft
at dark we kindled a fire, cut up a few buthes, and made a
flicker ever our heads, to fave us from the froft, which was
very hard that night j and committing ourfelves to God
by prayer, we lay down on the ground, and ilept quietly.
[The next day, they went forward on thtir journey,
and at night took up their lodging in the woods in like man-
ner.}
Ocl. 5. We arrived at Sufquehannah river at a place call-
led Qpeholhaupung * : found there twelve Indian houfes , af-
ter I had faluted the king in a friendly manner, I told him my
bufinefs, and that my defire was to teach them Christianity.
After fome confutation, the Indians gathered, and I preach-
ed to them. And when I had done, I alked, if they would
hear me again. They replied, that they would confider of it ;
and foon after fent me word that they would immediately a^-
tend if I would preach j which I did with freedom both
times. When 1 alked them again, whether they would hear
me further, they replied, they would the next day. I was ex-
ceeding fenfible of the impofiibility of doing any thing for the
poor Heathen without fpecial afliftance from above j and my
foul feemed to reft on God, and leave it to him to do as he
pleafed in that which I faw was his own caufe j and indeed,
through divine goodnefs, I had felt fomething of this frame
nioft of the time while I was travelling thither j and in fome
meafure before I fet out.
Ocl. 6. Rofe early, and befought the Lord for help in my
great work. Near noon, preached again to the Indians : and
in the afternoon, vifited them from houfe to houfe, and invited
them to ccme and hear me again the next day, and put oiT
their hunting defign, which they were juft entering upon, till
Monday. " This night," I truft " the Lord flood by me,"
to encourage and ftrengthen my foul : I fpent more than an
hour in fecret retirement j was enabled to " pour out my
heart before God," for the increafe of grace in my foul, for
* See his narrative af tie end of this work.
JT. 2. MR DAVID B R A I N E R D.
minifterial endowments, for fuccefs among the poor Indians, for
God's miniflers and people, and for dear friends vaftly diftant,
&c. BleiTed be God !
[The next day, he complains of great want of fixednefs and
inteiifenefs in religion, fo that he could not keep any fpirituai
thought one minute without diftraction ; which occalioned an-
guiih of fpirit. He felt (he fays) amazingly guilty, and ex-
tremely imferable j and cries out, " Oh my foul, what death
*' it is, to have the afTeclions unable to centre in God, by rea-
** fon of darknefs, and confequently roving after that fatisfac-
" tion elfewhere, that is only to be found here !" However,
he preached twice to the Indians with fome freedom and
power j but was afterwards damped by the objections they
made againft ChrifHanity. In the evening, in a fenfe of his
great defe6ls in preaching, he " intreated God not to impute
" to him blood-guiltinefs j" but yet was at the fame time en-
a-bled to rejoice in God.]
Ocl. 8. Viiited the Indians with a defign to take my leave
of them, fuppofing they would this morning go out to hunting
early j but beyond my expectation and hope, they defired to
hear me preach again. I gladly complied with their requeft,
and afterwards endeavoured to anfwer their objections againft
Chriftianity. Then they went away ; and we fpent the r.eft
of the afternoon in reading and prayer, intending to go home-
ward very early the next day. My foul was in fome meafure
refrefhed in fecret prayer and meditation. Bleffed be the
Lord for all his goodnefs.
'Oft. 9 We rofe about four in the morning, and commend-
ing ourielves to God in prayer, and afking his fpecial protec-
tion, we fet cut on our journey homewards, about five, and tra-
velled with great fteadinefs till pall fix at night. And then
made us a fire, and a fhelter of barks, and fo relied. I had
ioine clear and comfortable thoughts on a divine fubjecl:, by
the way, towards night. In the night, the wolves howled a-
round us, but God preferved us.
[The next day, they rofe early, and fet forward, and tra-
velled that day, till they came to an Irifti fettlement, where
Mr Brainerd was acquainted, and lodged there. He fpeaks
of fome fwcetnefe in divine things, and thankfulnefs to God for "
152 TUB LIFE OF A.D. 1744
his goodnefs to him in this journey, that he felt in his heart
in the evening, though attended with fhaaae for his barrennefs.
On Thurfday, he continued 'n the fame place ; and he and
Mr Byram preached there to the people.]
Oct. 1 2. Rode home to my lodging ; where I pour-
ed out my foul to God in fecret prayer, and endeavour,
ed to blefs him for his abundant goodnefs to me in my late jour-
ney. I fcarce ever enjoyed more health, at leaft, of later
years ; and God marvellouily, and almoil miraculoufly, fup-
ported me under the fatigues of the way, and travelling on
foot. Blefled be the Lord, that continually preferves me in all
rny ways.
[On Saturday, he went again to the Irifh fettlement, to
fpendthe Sabbath there, his Indians being gone.]
Lord's Day, Oft. 14. Was much confufed and perplexed
in my thoughts j could not pray j and was almoft difcoura-
ged, thinking I mould never be able -to preach any more.
But afterwards, God was pleafed to give me fome relief from
thefe confufions j butftill I was afraid, and even trembled be-
fore God. I went to the place of public wqrihip, lifting up
my heart to God for afliftance and grace, in,my great work ;
and God was gracious to me, and helped me to plead with him
for holinefs, and to ufe the ftrongelt arguments with him
drawn from the incarnation and fufrerings of Chrift for this
very end, that men might be made holy. Afterwards I was
much aflifted in preaching. I know not that ever God help-
ed me to preach in a more clofc and diilinguifliing manner for
the trial of men's ftate. Through the infinite goodnefs of
God, I felt what I fpake, and God enabled me to treat on di-
vine truth with uncommon clearnefs ; aud yet I was fo fen-
fible of my defects in preaching, that I could not be proud of
my performance, as at fome times j and bleiTed be the Lord
for this mercy. In the evening, I longed to be entirely alone,
to blefs God for help in time of an extremity j and longed for
great degrees of holinefs, that I might ihevv my gratitude to
God.
[The next morning, he fpent fome time before fun-rife in
prayer, in the fame fvveet and grateful frame of mind, that he.
had been in the evening before ; and afterwards went to his
JET. 27. MR DAVID BRAINERD.
Indians, and fpent feme time teaching and exhorting them.]
Oct. 16. Felt a fpirit of folemnity and watchfulnefs ; was
afraid I ihould not live to and upon God ; longed for more in-
tenfenefs and fpirituality. Spent the day in writing > frequent-
ly lifting up my heart to God for more heavcnly-mindednefs.
la the evening enjoyed fweet affiftance in prayer, and thirfled
and pleaded to be as holy as the bleffed angels j longed for mi-
nifterial gifts and graces, and fuccefs in my work j was fweet-
ly affifted in the duty of interceflion, and enabled to remem-
ber and plead for numbers of dear friends and Chrift's minif-
ters.
[He feemed to have much of the fame frame of mind the
two next days.]
October 19. Felt an abafing fenfe of my own impurity
and unholinefs , and felt my foul melt and mourn, that I had
abufed and grieved a very gracious God, who w r as flill kind to
me, notwithstanding all my unworthinefs. My foul enjoyed
a fweet feafon of bitter repentance and foirow, that I had
wronged that bleffed God, who (I w r as perfuaded) was recon-
ciled to me in his dear Son. My foul was now tender, devout,
and folemn. And I was afraid of nothing but fin - 7 and afraid
of that in every action and thought.
[The four next days, were manifeftly fpent in a moft con-
ftant tcndernefs, watchfulnefs, diligence, and {elf-diffidence.
But he complains of wanderings of mind, languour of affec-
tions, &.C.]
October 24. Towards noon, I rode to my people j
fpent fome time, and prayed with them ; felt the frame of a
pilgrim on earth j longed much to leave this gloomy manfion j
but yet found the exercife of patience and refi^nation. And
as I returned home from the Indians, fpent the whole time in
lifting up my heart to God. In the evening, enjoyed a blef-
fed feafon alone in prayer ; was enabled to cry to God with a
child-like fpirit, for the fpace of near an hour j enjcyed a
fweet freedom in fupplicating for myfelf, for dear friends, mi-
ni fters, and fome who are preparing for that work, and for the
church of God ; and longed to be as lively my fell in Gcd'fr
fervice, as the angels.
154 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1744.
Oft. 25. Was bufy in writing. Was veryfenfible of my
abfolute dependence on God in all refpefts ; faw that I could
do nothing in thofc affairs that I have diffident natural facul-
ties for, unlefs God fhould fmile upon my attempt. " Not
" that we are fufficient .of ouvfelves, to think any thing, as of
" ourfelves," was a facred text that I faw the truth of.
O&. 26. In the morning, my foul was melted with a fenfe
of divine goodnefs and mercy to fuch a vile unworthy worm as
I j delighted to lean upon God, and place my whole tru ft in
him 5 my foul was exceedingly grieved for fin, and prized and
longed after holinefs ; it wounded my heart deeply, yet fweet-
]y, to think how I had abufed a kind God. I longed to be
perfectly holy, that I might not grieve a gracious God, who
will continue to love, notwithftanding his love is abufed. I
longed for holinefs more for this end, than I did for my own
happinefs fake ; and yet this was my greateft happinefs, never
more to difhonour, but always to glorify the bleffed God. Af-
terwards rode irp to the Indians in the afternoon.
[The four next days, he was exercifed with much diforder
and pain of body, with a degree of melancholy and gloominefs
of mind, bitterly complaining of deadnefs and unprofjtablenefs,
yet mourning and longing after God.}
O&. 31. Was feniible of my barrennefs, and decays in the
things of God j my foul failed when 1 remembered the fer-
vency I had enjoyed at the throne of grace. Oh (I thought)
if I could but be fpiritual, warm, heavenly-minded, and af-
fectionately breathing after God, this would be better than
life to me ! My foul longed -exceedingly for death, and to be
loofed from this dulnefs and barrennefs, and made for ever
aftive in the fervice of God. I feemed to live for nothing,
and to do no good .$ and Oh the burden of fuch a life ! Oh,
death, death, my kind friend, haften and deliver me from dull
mortality, and make me fpiritual and vigorous to eternity !
Nov. I. Had but little fweetnefs in divine things. Eut
afterwards, in the evening, felt fome life, and longings after
God j I longed to be always folemn, devout, and heavenly-
minded ' 7 and was afraid to leave off praying, left I fliould a<-
gain lofe a fenfe of the fweet things of God,
27. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 155
Nov. 2. Was filled with forrow and confuflon in the morn-
ing, and could enjoy no fvveet fenfe of divine things, nor get
any relief in prayer. Saw I deferred that every one of God's
creatures (liould be let loofe upon me to be the executioners of
his wrath again!! me : and yet therein I faw I deferred what I
did not fear as my portion. About noon, rode up to the In-
dians j and while going, could feel no defires for them, and e-
ven dreaded to fay any thing to them , but God was pleafed
to give me fome freedom and enlargement, and made the feafon
comfortable to me. In the evening had enlargement in pray-
er. But alas ! what comforts and enlargements I have felt
for thefe many weeks paft, have been only tranfientand ftiort j
and the greater part of my time has been filled up with dead-
nefs, or ftruggles with deadnefs, and bitter conflicts with cor-
ruption. I have found myfelf exercifed forely with fome par-
ticular things that I thought myfelf moft of all freed from.
And thus I have ever found it, when I have thought the bat-
tle was over, and the conqueft gained, and fo let down my
watch, the enemy has rifen up and done me the greatefl injury.
Nov. 3. I read the life and trials of a godly man, and was
much warmed by it j I wondered at my paft deadnefs ; and
was more convinced of it than ever. Was enabled to confefs
and bewail my fin before God, with fe-lf-abhorrence.
Lord's Day, Nov. 4. Had, I think, fome excrcife of faith
in prayer, in the morning j longed to be fpiritual. Had con-
fiderable help in preaching to my poor Indians ; was encoura-
ged with them, and hoped that God deligned mercy for them.
[The next day, he fet out on a journey to New- York, to
the meeting of the Prefbytery there 5 and was gone from
home more than a fortnight. He feemed to enter on this
journey with great reluctance j. fearing, that the diverfions or
it would prove a means of cooling his religious affections, as
he had found in other journeys* But yet, in this journey he
had fome fpecial feafons wherein he enjoyed extraordinary e-
evidence and fruits of God's gracious prcfence. He was
greatly fatigued and expofed in this journey by cold and
ftorms .-, and when he returned from New- York to Newjer-
fey, on Friday, was taken very, il), and was detained by his-.
illnef-i fome time.]
*5 6 THELIFEOF A.D. 1744.
November 21. Rode from Newark to Roche iticus in
the cold, and was almofl overcome with it. Enjoyed fome
iweetnefs in converfation with dear Mr Jones, while I dined
with him My foul loves the people of God, and efpecially
the mioifters of Jefus Chrift, who feel the fame trials that I do.
Nov. 22. Came on my way from Rockciticus to Delaware
river. Was very much difordered with a cold and pain in my
head. About fix at night, I loir, my way in the wildemefs,
and wandered over rocks and mountains, down hideous Iteeps,
through fwamps, and moft dreadful and dangerous places : and
the night being dark, fo that few ftars could -be feen, I was
greatly expofed ; was much pinched with cold, and diiireifed
with a pain in my head, attended with ficknefs at my flomach j
fo that every ftep I took was diureiTing to me. I had little
hope for feveral hours together, but I muft lie out in the
woods all night in this diftreiied cafe. But about nine o'clock
I found a houfe, through the abundant goodnefs of God, and
was kindly entertained. Thus I have been frequently expof-
ed, and fometimes lain out the whole night : but God has hi-
therto preferved me ; and bleffed be his name. Such fatigues
and hardships as thefe ferve to wean me more from the earth ;
and I truft, will make heaven the fweeter. Formerly, when
I was thus expofed to cold, rain, &c. 1 was ready to pleafe
rnyfelf with the thoughts of enjoying a comfortable houfe, a
warm fire, and other outward comforts pbut now thefe have
lefs place in my heart, (through the grace of God), and my
eye is more to God for comfort. In this world I expe6t tri-
bulation j and it does not now as formerly, appear ftrange to
me ; I do not in fuch feafons of difficulty flatter myfelf th at
it will be better hereafter j but rather think how much worfe
it might be ; how r much greater trials ethers of. God's child-
ren have endured \ how much greater are yet perhaps refcrved
forme. Bleffed be God, that he makes the thoughts of my-
journey's end and of my diffolution a great comfort to me
under my fharpeft trials ; and karce ever lets thefe thoughts
be attended with terror or melancholy j but they are attended
frequently with greatjoy.
Nov. 23. Vifited a fick rann ; difcourfed and prayed with
him. Then vifrted another houfe, where was one aead and
;i:r.27. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 157
laid out. I looked on the corpfe, and longed that my time
might come to depart and be with Chriit. Then went home to
my lodgings, about one o'clock. Felt poorly ; but was able
to read mofc of the afternoon.
[Within the fpace of the next twelve days, he paffed under
many changes in the frames and exercifes of his mind. He
he had many feafons of the fpecial influences of God's Spirit,
animating, invigorating and comforting him in the ways of God
and duties of religion ; but had fome turns of great deje6lion
and melancholy. He fpent much time, within this fpace, in
hard labour, with others, to make for himfelf a little cottage
or hut to live in by himfelf through the winter. Yet he fre-
quently preached to the Indians, and fpeaks of fpecial' a (ft fiance
he had from time to time in addreffing himfelf to them j and
of his fometimes having considerable encouragement from the
attention they gave. But on Dec. 4. he was funk into great
difcouragement, to fee them (mod of them) going in company
to an idolatrous feaft or dance, after he had taken abundant
pains with them to diffuade them from thefe things.
Dec. 6. Having now a happy opportunity of being retired
in a houfe of my own, which I have lately procured and mov-
ed into, and confidering that it is now a long time fince I have
been able, either on account of bodily weaknefs, or for want of
retirement, or fome other difficulty, to fpend any time in fecret
failing and prayer ; considering alfo the greatnefs of my work
and the extreme difficulties that attend it ; and thst my poor
Indians are now worshipping devils, notv.'ithftanding all the
pains I have taken with them, which almou overwhelms my
ipirit : moreover, coniidering my extreme barrenncfs,fpiritual
deadnefs and dejeclion, of late -, as alfo the power of fome par-
ticular corruptions j I fet apart this day for fecret prayer and
falling, to implore the bleffing of God on myfelf, on rny poor
people, on my friends, and on the church of God. At firft I :
found a backwardnefs to the duties of the day, on account of
the feeming impofiibility of performing them y but the Lord
helped me to break through this difficulty. God was pleafed
by the ufe of means, to give me fome clear conviction of my fin--"
fulnefs, and a difcovery of the plague of my own heart, more
affecting than what I have of late had. And efpecially I faw
I5& THE H F E U F A.D. I 744
my finfulnefs in this, that when God had withdrawn himfelf,
then, inftead of living and dying in purfuit of him. I have been
'difpoied to one of thefe two things, either, ift, to yield an Un-
becoming refpecl to fome earthly objects, as if happinefs were
to be derived from them ; or, idly, to be fecretly froward and
Impatient, and unfuitably dellrous of death, fo that I have
(bmetimes thought I could not bear to think my life muft be
lengthened out. And that which often drove me to this im-
patient defire of death, was a defpair of doing any good in my
life j and I chofe death rather than a life fpent for nothing.
But now God made me fenfible of my fin in thefe things, and
enabled me to cry to him for forgivenefs. Yet this was not
all I wanted ; for my foul appeared exceedingly polluted, my
heart feemed like a neft of vipers, or a cage of unclean and
hateful birds ; and therefore I wanted to be purified ** by the
" blood of fprinkiing, that cleanfeth from all fin." And this,
I hope, I was enabled to pray for in faith. I enjoyed much
more intenfenefs, fervency, and fpirituality, than I expected ;
God was better to me than my fears. And towards night,
I felt my foul rejoice, that God is unchangeably happy and glo-
rious ; that he will be glorified, whatever become of his crea-
tures. I was enabled to perfevere in prayer till fome time in
the evening ; at which time I faw fo much need of divine help
in every refpeft, that I knew not how to leave off, and had
forgot that I needed food. This evening, 1 was much affift-
ed in meditating on If. lii. 3. Blefied be the Lord for any
bclp in the paft day.
Dec. 7. Spent forne time in prayer, in the morning ; en-
joyed fome freedom and affe6tion in the duty, and had longing
defires of being made " faithful to the death." Spent a little
time in writing on a divine fubjecl ; then vifited the Indians,
and preached to them, but under inexpreflible dejection : I
fcad no hearthosfpeak to them, and coul$, not do it but as I for-
ced myfelf : I knew they muft hate to hear me, as having but
got home from their idolatrous feaft and devil- worlhip. In
the evening, had fome freedom in prayer and meditation.
Dec. 8. Have been uncommonly free this day from de-
jection, and from that diftrefling apprehenfion, that I could
do nothing; was enabled to pray and fUidy with fome comfort,
% T. 27. MR DAVID BRAINER.D- 159
and efpecially was assifted in writing on a divine fubjeft. In
the evening my foul rejoiced in God ; and I bleffed his name
for fliining on my foul. O the fweet and bleffed change I then
felt, when God "brought me out of darknefs into his mar-
vellous light !"
Lord's Day, Dec. 9. Preached, both parts of the day,
at a place called Greenwich, in New-Jerfey, about ten miles
from my own houfe. Inthefirft difcourfe I had fcarce any
warmth or affectionate longing for fouls. In the intermifllon
feafon I got alone among the bulhes, and cried to God for par-
don of my deadnefs ; and was in anguifli and bitternefs that I
could not addrefs fouls with more companion and tender affec-
tion j judged and condemned myfelf for want of this divine
temper, though I faw I could not get it as of myfelf, any more
than I could make a world. In the latter exercife, bleffed be
the Lord, I had fome fervency, both in prayer and preaching -,
and efpecially in the application of my difcourfe was enabled
to addrefs precious fouls with affe&ion, concern, tendernefs,
and importunity. The Spirit of God, I think, was there, as
the effects were apparent, tears running down many cheeks.
Dec. 10. Near noon, I preached again'; God gave me fome
affiftance, and enabled me to be in fome degree faithful 5 fo
that I had peace in my own foul, and a very comfortable com-
pofure, " although Ifrael fliould not be gathered." Came
away from Greenwich, and rode home; arrived juft in the e-
vening. By the way my foul bleffed God for his goodnefs, and
I rejoiced that fo much of my work was done, and i fo much
nearer my bleffed reward. Bleffed be God for grace to be
faithful*
Dec. 1 1, Felt very poorly in body, being much tired and
worn out the laft night. Was aflifted in fome meafure in
writing on a divine fubjccl: ; but was fo feeble and fare in my
breaft, that I had not much refolution in my work. Oh, how
long for that world " where the weary are at reft !" an. I
yet through the goodnefs of God I do not now feel impatient.
Dec. 12. Was again very weak, but fomewhat aflitled in'fe-
cret prayer, and enabled with pleafure and fweetnefs to cry,
" Come, Lord Jefus ! come, Lord Jefus ! come quickly." My
" foul longed for God. for the living God." O how delight
l6o THE L 1 F OF A.D. 1744.
ful it is, to pray under fuch fweet influences ! Ob, how much
better is this, than one's neceflary food ! 1 had at this time no
difpofition to eat, (though late in the morning) ; for earthly
food appeared wholly taiielefs. O how much " better is thy
" love than wine," than the fweeteft wine ! I vifited and
preached to the Indians, in the afternoon ; but under much
dejection. Found my interpreter under fome concern for his
foul, which was fome comfort to me, and yet filled me with
new care. I longed greatly for his converfion ; lifted up my
heart to God for it, while I was talking to him 5 came home,
and poured out my foul to God for him , enjoyed fome free-
dom in prayer, and was enabled, 1 think, to leave all with
God.
Dec. 13. Endeavoured to fpend the day in fafting and
prayer, to implore the divine blefling, more efpecially on my
people j and in particular, I fought for converting grace for
my interpreter, and three or four more under fome concern for
their fouls. I was much difordered in the morning when I a-
rofe 5 but having determined to fpend the day in this manner,
I attempted it. Some freedom I had in pleading for thefe
poor concerned fouls, feveral times j and when interceding
for them, I enjoyed greater freedom from wandering and dif-
tra&ing thoughts, than in 'any part of my fupplications ; but
in the genera!, was greatly exercifed with wanderings j fothat
in the evening it feemed as if I had need to pray for nothing
fo much as for the pardon of fins committed in the day paft,
and the vilenefs I then found in myfelf. The fins I had moil
fenfe of were pride, and wandering thoughts, whereby I mock-
ed God. The former of thefe curfed iniquities excited me to
think of writing, or preaching, or converting the Heathen, or
performing fome other great work, that my name might live
when I fiiould be dead. My foul was in anguifti and ready to
drop into defpair, to find fo much of that curfed temper. With
this, and the other evil I laboured under, viz. wandering
thoughts, I was almoft overwhelmed, and even ready to give
over Ihiving after a fpirit of devotion.; and oftentimes funk
into a confiderable degree of defpondency, and thought I was
" more brutiih than any man." Yet after all my forrows, I
truft, through grace, this day and the exercifes uf it have
27.
MR DAVID BRAINERD. l6l
been for my good, and taught me more of my corruption, and
weaknefs without Chrift, than I knw before.
Dec. 14. Near noon, went to the Indians j but knew not
what to fay to them, and was amamed to look them in the lace.
I felt I had no power to addrefs their confciences, and there-
fore I had no boldnefs to fay any thing. Was much of the'
day in a great degree of defpair about ever " doing, or feeing,
" any good in the land of the living."
[He continued under the fame dejection the next day.]
Lord's Day, Dec. 16. Was fo overwhelmed with deje&ion,
that I knew not how to live , I longed for death exceeding-
ly ;' my foul was funk into deep waters, and the floods were
ready to drown me ; I was fo much oppreffed, that my foul was
in a kind of horror j I could not keep my thoughts fixed in
prayer, for the fpace of one minute without fluttering and dif-
traclion. I was exceedingly alhamed, that I did not live to
God j I had no diftrefling doubt about my own ftate ; but
would have cheerfully ventured as far as I could poffibly know
into eternity. While I was going to preach to the Indians,
ray foul was in anguim j I was fo overborne with difcourage-
ment, that I defpaired of doing any good, and was driven to
my wits end. I knew nothing what to fay, nor what courfe to
take. But at laft I infilled on the evidence we have of the
truth of Clnillianity from the miracles of jChrift ; many of
whcih 1 fet before them ; and God helped me to shake a clofe
application to thofe that refufed to believe the truth of what
I taught them ; and indeed I was enabled to fpeak to the
conferences of sli, in fome meafure. I was fomething encoura-
ged, to find that God enabled me to be faithful once more.
Then came and preached to another company of them ; but
was very weary and faint. In the evening, I was fomething
rtfremed, and was enabled to pray and praife God with com-
pofare and aiTeclion j had fome enlargement and courage
with reipecl: to my work ; wns willing to live, and longed to
do more for God, than my weak ftate ot body would admit of.
"I can do all things through Chrift that ftrcngthens me j"
and by his grace, I am willing to fpend and be fpent in his fer-
vice, when 1 am not thtis funk iadcjcelion, and a kind of def-
pair.
X,
362 THE LIFE Of A.D. 1744,
Dec. 17. Was fometliing comfortable in mind, moft of the
day j and was enabled to pray with fome freedom, cheerful-
nefs, and compofure ; had alfo fome affiftance in writing on a
divine fubjec\.
Dec. 18. Went to the Indians, and difcourfed to them near
an hour, without any power to corne clofe to their hearts. But
at laft I felt fome fervency, and God helped me to fpeak with
warmth. My interpreter alfo \vas amazingly affiited j and I
doubt not but " the Spirit of God was upon him," (though I
had no reafon to think he had any true and faving grace, but
was only under conviction of his loft (late) j and prefently u-
pon this moft of the grown perfons were much afFefted, and the
tears ran down their cheeks j and one old man (I fuppofe, an
hundred years old) was fo affecied that he wept, and feemed
convinced of the importance of what I taught them. I ftaid
with them a confiderable time, exhorting and directing them j
and came away lifting up my heart to God in prayer and praife,
and encouraged and exhorted my interpreter to " flrive to en-
" ter in at the ftrait gate." Came home, and fpent moft of
the evening in prayer and thankfgiving j and found myfelf
much enlarged and quickened. Was greatly concerned, that
the Lord's work, which fterced to be begun, might be carri-
ed on with power, to the converfion of poor fouls, and the glo-
fy of divine grace.
Dec. 19. Spent a great part of the day in prayer to God
for the outpouring of his Spirit on my poor people j as alfo to
blefs his name for awakening my interpreter arid fome other?,
and giving us feme tokens of his prefence yefterday. And
blefTed be God, I had much freedom and fervency five or fix:
times in the day in prayer and praife, and felt a weighty con-
cern uptm my fpirit for the falration of thofe pn clous fouls,
and the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom among them.
My foul hoped in God for feme fuccefs in my miniftry j and
blefied be his name for fo much hope.
Dec. 20. Was enabled to vifit the throne of grace frequent-
ly, this dny ; and through divine goodnefs enjoyed much fre-
dom and fervency, fundry times j was much afiifted in crying
for mercy for my poor people, and felt cheerfulnefb and hope
;ET. 27 . MR DA V I D BX.AINERD. 163,
in my requefts for them. I fpent much of the day in writing j
but was enabled to intermix prayer with my fludies.
Dec. 21. Was enabled again to pray with freedom, cheer-
fulnefs, and hope. God was pleafed to make the duty.com*
fortable and pleafent to me - r fo that I delighted to psrfevere
and repeatedly to engage in it. Towards noon vifitcd my peo-
ple, and fpent the whole time in the way to them in prayer, long-
ing to Tee thepower of God amongthem,asthere appeared fume-
thing of it the laft Tuefday \ and I found it fweet to reft and
hope in God. Preached to them twice, and at two diili;ic~b
places j had confiderable freedom each time, and fo had my in-
terpreter. Several of them followed me from one place to
the other j and I thought there was fome divine influence
cernible amongft them. In the evening was afiiiled in prayer
again. Eleffed, bleffed be the Lord !
[Very much the fame things are expreffed concerning his
inward frame, exercifes, and affiftances on Saturday, as on the
preceding days. He obferve"s, that this was a comfortable week
to him. But then concludes, " Oh that I had no reaibn to
" complain of much barrennefs ! Oh that there were no vain
" thoughts and evil affections lodging within me ! The Lord
'* knows how I long for that world, where they reft not day
" nor night, faying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty"
&c. On the following Sabbath, he fpeaks of alTiftance nnd
freedom in his public work, but as having lefs of the fenfinie
prcferice of God, than frequently in the week pail y but
yet fays, his foul was kept from finking in difcouragement.
On Monday again he feemed to enjoy very much the fame li-
berty and fervency, through the day that he enjoyed through
the greater part of the preceding week.]
t)ec. 25. Enjoyed very little quiet ileep laft night, by rea-
fon of bodily wcaknefs, and the clofenefs of my ftudies yefter-
day j yet my heart was fome what lively in prayer and praiie 5
I was delighted with the divine glory and happinefs, and re-
joiced that God was God, and that he was unchangeably pol-
feiTed of glory and bleffednefs. Though God held my eyes wa-
king, yet he helped me to improve my time profitably amidil
pains and weaknefs, in continued meditations on Lujte xiii, 7.
" Behold thefe three years I come feeking fruit," My me.
164 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1745.
dilations were 1'weet ; and I wanted to fet before Tinners their
fin and danger.
[He continued in a very low Hate, as to his bodily health
for Tome days ; which feems to have been a gfeat hinderance
to him in his religious exeicifes and purfuits. But he expref-
ies fome degree of divine aililiance, from dny to day, through
the remaining part of this week. He preached feveral times
this week to his Indians ; and there appeared flill fome con-
cern amongft them for their fouls. On Saturday, he rode to
the Iriflifettlement about fifteen miles from his lodging^, in or-
der to fpendthe Sabbath there.]
Lord's Day, Dec. 30. Difcourfed both parts of the day
from Mark viii. 34. " Whofoever will come after me," &c.
God gave me very great freedom and clearnefs, and (in the
afternoon efpecially) confiderable warmth and fervency. In
the evening aifo, very great clearnefs while conveifing with
friends on divine things j I do not remember to have had
more clear apprehenfions of religion in my life j but found a
ftruggle in the evening with fpiiitual pride.
[On Monday, he preached again in the fame place with
freedom and fervency j and rode home to his lodging ; and
arrived in the evening, under a confiderable degree of bodily
illnefs, which continued the two next days. And he com-
plains much of fpiritual emptinefs and barrennefs on thofe
days.]
Jan. 3. 1744-5. Being fenfible of the great want of di-
vine influence?, and the outpouring of God's Spirit, I fpent
this day in falling and prayer, to feek fo great a mercy for my-
felf, and my poor people in particular, and for the church of
God in general. In the morning, was very lifelefs in prayer
and could get fcarce any fenfe of God. Near noon, enjoyed
fome fweet freedom to pray that the will of God might in e-
very refpecl become mine j and I am perfuaded it was fo at that
time in fome good degree. In the afternoon, I was exceeding
weak, and could not enjoy much fervency in prayer ; but
felt a great degree of dejec~Hon ; which, I believe, was very
much owing to my bodily wcaknefs and diforder,
Jan. 4. Rode up te the Indians near noon : fpent fome
27. MR DAVID B R A I N E ft. D.
time there under great diforder j my foul was funk down into
waters, and I was almoft overwhelmed with melancholy.
Jan. 5. Was able to do fomething at writing ; but was
much difordered with pain in my head. Was diftrefled with
a fenfe of my inward pollution, and ten thoufand youthful,
vea, and childiih follies, that no body but myfelf had any
thought about : all which appeared to me now frefh, and in a
lively view, as if committed yefterday, and made my foul a-
fhamed before God, and caufed me hate myfelf.
Lord's- Day, -Jan. 6. Was ftill diftreffed with vapoury dif-
orders. Preached to my poor Indians ; but had little heart
or life. Towards night , my foul was preffed under a fenfe of
my unfaithfulnefs, O the joy and peace that arifes from a
fenfe of " having obtained mercy of God to be faithful !"
And oh the mifery and anguiih that fpring from an apprehen-
lion of the contrary !
[His dejeclion continued the two next days j but not to fo
great degree on Tuefday, when he enjoyed feme freedom and
fervency in preaching to the Indians.]
Jan. 9. In the morning, God was pleafed to remove that
gloom which has of late oppreffed my mind, and gave me free-
dom and fweetnefs in prayer. I was encouraged and ftrength-
ened, and enabled to plead for grace for myfelf, and mercy
for my poor Indians j and was fweetly afiifted in my intercef-
fions with God for others. BleiTed be his holy name for ever
Si ever. Amen and Amen. Thofe things that of late have ap-
peared mod difficult and almoft impoflible, now appeared not
only pofiible, but eafy. My foul fo much delighted to con-
tinue inftant in prayer at this blciTed feafon, that I had no de-
lire for my neceiTary food: even dreaded leaving off praying
at all, left I fhould lofe this fpirituality, and this bleiTed thank-
fulnefs to God which I then felt. I felt now quite willing to
live, and undergo all trials that might remain for me in a
world of furrow ; but ftill longed for heaven, that I might
glorify God in a perfecl manner. O " come, Lord Jefus, come
quickly." Spent the day in reading a little j and in fome di-
verfions, which I was neceflitated to take by reafon of much
weaknefs and diforder. In the evening, enjoyed fosne free-
dom and intenfenefs in prayer.
l66 THE LIFE OF A. D. J 745,
[The three remaining days of the week, he was very low
and ieeble in body j but neverthelefs continued conftantly in
the fame comfortable fweet frame of mind, as is exprefied on
Wednefday. On the Sabbath, this hveetnefs, in fpiritual ala-
crity began to abate ; but ftill he enjoyed fome degree of com-
fort, and had aiTiitance in preaching to the Indians.]
Jan. 14. Spent this day under a great degree of bodily
weaknefs and diforder , and had very little freedom, either in
my fiudies or devotions ; and in the evening I was much de-
je&ed and melancholy. It pains and diftreffes me, that I live
ib much of my time for nothing. I long to do much in a little
time, and if it might be the Lord's will to finifh my work
fpeedily in this tirefome world." I am fure, I do not defire to
live for any thing in this world j and through grace I am not
afraid to look the king of terrors in the face ; I know I (hall
be afraid, if God leaves me ', and therefore I think it always
duiy to lay in for that folemn hour. But for a very coniiderablc
time pall, my foul has rejoiced to think of death in its neareft ap-
proaches j and even when I have been very weak, and feemed
neareft eternity. " Not unto me, not unto me, but to God
be the glory." 1 feel that which convinces me, that if God
<lo not enable me to maintain a holy dependence upon him,
death will eafily be a terror to me j but at prefent, I mud fay,
" I long to depart, and to be with Chrift," which is belt of
all. When 1 am in a fweet refigned frame of foul, I am will-
ling to tarry a while in a world of forrow, I am willing to be
from home as long as God fees fit it mould be fo ; but when I
want the influence of this temper, I am then apt to be impa-
tient to be gone. Oh when will the day appear, that I ihall
be perfect in holinefs, and in the enjoyment of God !
[The next day was fpent under a great degree of deje&Jon
and melancholy ; which (as he himfelf fays) v he was periuad-
ed was owing partly to bodily weaknefs, and vapoury dilbr-
dcrs.]
Jan. 16. and 17. I fpent moft of the time in writing on a
fweet divine fubjecl, and enjoyed fome freedom and afiifl-ance.
Was likewife enabled to pray more frequently and fervently
than ufual: and my foul 1 think rejoiced in God 5 efpecially
on the evening of the laft of thefe days : praife then feemed
JET. 27. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 167
comely, and I delighted to bleis tke Lord. O what reafon
have I to be thankful that God ever helps me to labour and
iludy for him ! he does but receive his own, when I am en-
abled in any meafure to praife him, labour for him, and live to
him. Oh, how comfortable and fweet it is, to feel the aflift-
ance of divine grace in the performance of the duties God has
enjoined us ! " Blefs the Lord, O my foul."
[The fame enlargement of heart, and joyful frame of foul
continued through the next day. But on the day following it
began to decline j which decay feems to have continued the
whole of the next week -, yet he-enjoyed fome feafcn of fpeci-
al and fweet affiftance.]
Lord's Day, Jan. 27. Had the greateft degree of inward
anguifli that almoft ever I endured : I was perfectly over-
whelmed, and fo confufed, that after I began to difcourfe to
the Indians, before I could finilh a fentence, fometimes 1 for-
got entirely what I was aiming at j or if, with much difficulty,
I had recolledled what I had before defigned, ftill it appeared
Arange, and like fomething that I had long forgotten, and
had now but an imperfect remembrance of. 1 knoiv it
was a degree of diftraclion, occaiioned by vapoury diforders,
melancholy, fpiritual defertion, and fome other things that par-
ticularly preffed upon me this morning, with an uncommon
weight, the principal of which refpecled my Indian?. This dif-
treifing gloom never went off the whole day j but was fo far
removed, -that I was enabled to fpeak with fome freedom and
concern to the Indians, at two of their fettlements ; and I
think, there was fome appearance of the -prefence of God with
us, fome ferioufnefs, and feemlag concern amor.w the Indians,
at lead a few of them. In the evening, this gloom continued
ilill, till family-prayer *, about nine o'clock, and almolt thro'
this, until I came near the clofe, when I was praying (as I u-
laally do) for the illumination and converfion of my poor peo-
ple j and then the cloud was fcattered, fo that I enjoyed fweet-
nels and freedom, and conceived hopes, that God defigned
mercy for fdme of them. The fame I enjoyed afterwards in
* though Mr Brainerd .'iotu dwelt by blmfclf in tie fore mentioned
little cottage, <wbich be hrd built for bis own t/fe; yet that wo? near tv
a family of white people <witb whom be bad lived before, and with
ti'Lim If/lill attended '.family-prayer.
l68 THE LIFE Q P A.D. 1 74 r;
fecret prayer j in which precious duty, I had for a conlidcr-
able time fvveetnefs and freedom, and (I hope) faith, in prayer
ior myfelf, my poor [adinns, and dear friends and acquaintance
in New-England, and elfevvhere, and for the dear intereft of
Zion in general. " Blefs the Lord, O my foul, and forget
not all his benefits."
[He fpent the reft of this week, or at lead the raoft of it,
under dejection and melancholy ^ which on Friday rofe to an
extreme height ; he being then, as he himfelf obferves, much
exercifed with vapoury diforders. This exceeding gloominefs
continued on Saturday, till the evening, when he was again
relieved in family- prayer ; and after it, was refrelhe in fecret,
and felt willing to live, and endure hardlhips in the caufe of
God j and his hopes of the advancement of Chrift's kingdom,
as alfo his hopes to fee the power of God among the poor In-
dians confiderably raifed.]
Lord's Day, Feb. 3. In the morning, I was fomewhat re-
lieved of that gloom and confuiion, that my mind has of late
been greatly exercifed with : was enabled to pray with fome
compofure and comfort. But however, went to my Indians
trembling , for my foul " remembered the wormwood and the
gall" (I might almoft call it the hell) of Friday laft ; and I
was greatly afraid I ihould be obliged again to drink cf that
cup of trembling, which was inconceivably more bitter than
death, and made me long for the grave more, unfpeakably
more, than for hid treafures, yea, inconceivably more than
the men of this world long for fucli treafures. But God
was pleafed to hear my cries, and to afford me great affiftance,
fo that I fe't peace in my own foul j and was fatisfied that if
not one of the Indians ihould be profited by my preaching,
but ihould all be damned, yet I ihould be accepted and revvar*-
ded as faithful ; for 1 am perfuaded, God enabled me to be fo.
Had fome good degree of help afterwards, at another place :
and much longed for the conversion of the poor Indians. Was
fomewhat refreftied, and comfortable towards night, and in
the evening. O that my foul might praife the Lord ior his
^oodnek! Enjoyed fome freedom, in the evening, in media-
tion on Luke xiii. 24.
[In the three next clsys, he was the fubjecl of iiK'.ch t'u-
2 7- MR DAVID BRAINERD. 169
jeclion ; but the three remaining days of the week feem to .
have been fpent with much ccrnpofure and comfort. On the
next Sabbath, he preached at Greenwich in New-Jeifcy, In
the evening he rode eight miles to vifit a fick man at the point
of death, and found him fpeechlefs and fenfelefs.]
Feb. ii. About break-of-day the fick man died. I was af-
fe6ted at the fight ; fpent the morning with the mourners j
and after prayer, and fome difcourfe with them, I returned to
Greenwich, and preached again from Pfal. Ixxxix. i 5. and the
Lord gave me feme affirmance , I felt a fweet love to fouls,
and to the kingdom of Chrift 5 and longed that poor finv.ris
might know the joyful found. Several perfons were much ui-
fefted. And after meeting I was enabled to difcourfe with
freedom avi concern, to fome perfons that applied to me under
fpiritual trouble. Left the place, fweetly compofed, and rrde
home to my houfe about eight miles diilant. Difcourfe ' to
friends, and inculcated divine truths upon fome. In the n-
ing, was in the moft folemn frame that almoft ever I remem-
ber to have experienced I know not that ever death appear-
ed more real to me, or that ever I faw myfelf in the condition
of a dead corpfe, laid out, and dfeiTed for a lodging in the fl-
lent grave, fo evidently as at this time. And yet I felt ex-
ceeding comfortable - y my mind was compcfed and calm, and
death appeared without a fting. I think, I never felt fuch an
univerfal mortification to all created objecls as now. Oh, how
great and folemn a thing it appeared to die ! Oh, how it Jays
the greatefl honour in the curt ! And oh, hew vain and trif-
ling did the riches, honours, and pleafures of the world appear !
I could not, I dare not, fo much as think of any of them ; for
death, death, (folemn though not frightful) death appeared at
the door. Oh, I could fee myfelf dead, and laid out and in-
clofed in my cofHn, and put down i; Id rrave, with
the greater! folemnity, but vilhciit terror ! 1 fpent moil of tie
evening in converfing with a Chrifiian frit-ncl ; and, bleiTea ;>c
God, it was a comfortable evening to us both. What are
friends ? What are comforts ? What are ioirows ? What are
diP'renes ? " The time is ihort j it remains that they which
" weep, be as though they wept not ; p.nd they that re-
j cice, as though they rejoiced not 5 for the fa.fluon of tLw
170 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1745.
" world pafTeth away. O come, Lord Jefus, come quickly.
" Amen." Bleffed be God for the comforts of the pail day.
Feb. 12. Was exceeding weak, but in a fweet refigned
frame mofl of the day ^ felt rny heart freely go forth after
God in prayer.
Feb i 3. Was much exercifed with vapoury diforders j
but ftill enabled to maintain folcmnity, and, I think, fpiritua-
iity.
Feb. 14. Spent the day in writing on a divine fubjecl ; enjoy-
ed health and freedom in my work j had a folemn fenfe of death,
?s I have indeed had every day this week, in fome meaiure i
\vhat I felt on Monday laft has been abiding, in fome ccnfider-
derable degree, ever fince.
Fefe. 15. Was engaged in writing again almoft the whole
day. In the evening, was much affifted in meditating on the
precious text, John vii. 37. " Jefus flood and cried," &c. I
had then a fweet fenfe of the free grace of the gofpel j my foul
was encouraged, warmed, and quickened, and my defires drawn
out after God in prayer j my foul was watchful, and afraid of
lofing fuch a gueft as I then entertained. I continued long
in prayer and meditation, intermixing one with the other :
and was unwilling to be diverted by any thing at all from fo
fweet an exercife. I longed to proclaim the grace 1 then me-
ditated upon to the world of Tinners. Oh how quick and
powerful is the word of the bleffed God !
[The next day he complains of great conflicts with cor-
ruption, raid much difcompofure of mind.]
Lord's Day, Feb. 17. Preached to the white people (my
interpeter being abfent) in the wildernefs, upon the funny fide
of a hill j had a ccnfiderablc affembly, confiiling of people
that lived (at lead many of them) rot kfs than thirty miles a-
funder ; fome of them cvmis near 20 miles. I difcourfed to
them all day, from John vii. 37. " Jefus flood ar.d cried fay-
" ing, If any man thirfl," &c. In the afternoon it pleafed God
t grant me great freedom aud fervency in my difcourfe : anj
I was enabkd to imitate the example of Chriit in the text,
who flood and cried. I think, I was fcarce ever enabled to
offer the free grace of God to ptiifm'ng Tinners with more free-
27. M R D A V I D B R A I N E R D. 1 71
dom and plainnefs in my life. Afterwards, I was enabled
earneilly to invite the children of God to come renewed!/,
and drink of this fountain of water ,of life, from whence they
have heretofore derived unfpeakable fatisfaUon. It was a ve-
ry comfortable time to me j there xvere many tears in the af-
fembly ; and I doubt not but that the Spirit of God was there.
convincing poor finners of their need of Chrift. la the even-
ing L felt compoied and comfortable, though much tired ; I
had fome fweet fenfe of the excellency and glory of God ;
and my foul rejoiced that he was " God over all, bleiTed for
" ever 5" but was too much crowded with company and con-
verfation, and longed to be mere alone with God. Oh that
I could for ever blefs God for the mercy of this day, who
" anfwered me in the joy of my heart,"
[The reft of this week feems to have been fpent under a
decay of this life and joy, and in diftreiTmg confii&s with cor-
ruption j but not without fome fealbns of refreihment. and com-
fort.]
Lord's Day, Feb. 24. In the morning was much perplex-
ed ; my interpreter being abfent, I knew not how to perform
my work among the Indians. However, I rode to the Indi-
ans j got a Dutchman to interpret for me, though he was but
poorly qualified for the bufinefs. Afterwards I came and
preached to a few white people from John vi. 67. Here the
Lord feetned to unburden me in fome meafure, efpecialiy to-
wards the end of my difcourfe j I felt freedom to open the
love of Chrift to his own dear difciples : when the "reft
of the world forfakes him, a^d are forfaken by him, that
he calls them no more, he then turns^ to his own and fays,
" Will ye alfo go away ?" I had a fenfe of the free grace of
Chrift to his own people, in fuch feafons of general apoftacy,
end when they themfelves in fome meafure backflide with the
world. O the free grace of Chrift, that he feafonably minds
his people of their danger of backfiiding, and invites them to
perfevere in their adherence to himfelf ! I faw that backfli-
ding fouls, who feemed to be about to go away with the world,
raight return, and be welcome to him immediately $' without a-
07 thing to recommend them v notwithilanding all trreir for-
1^2 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1745.
mer backflidings. A--~J thus my difccuife was fuited to my
own foul's cafe j for, of late, I have found a great fenfe of this
and apprehenfion of divine grace j and have often been great-
ly difireffed in my own foul, becaufe I did not fuilably appre-
hend this " fountain opened to purge away fin ," and fo have
been too much labouring for fpiritual life, peace of confcience,and
progrefiive holinefs, in my own flrength ' 7 but now God (hewed
rre, in fome meafure, the arm of all flrengih, and the foun-
tain of all grace. In the evening, I felt folc.rin, devout and
fweet, refting on free grace for affiftance, acceptance, and
peace cf confcience.
[Within the fpace of the next nine days, he had frequent rc-
freihing, invigorating influences of God's Spirit j attended
with complaints of dulnefs, and with longings after fpiritual
life and holy fervency.]
March 6. Spent mod of the day in preparing for a jour-
ney to New- England. Spent fome time in prayer, with a
fpecial reference to my intended journey. Was afraid I
fhould forfake the fountain of living waters, and attempt to
derive fatisfa&ion from broken cifterns, my dear friends and
acquaintance, with whom I might meet in my journey. I
looked to God to keep rue from this vanity in fpeciaT, as well
as others. Towards night and in the evening, was vifited
by fome friends, fome of whom, I trull, were real Christians ;
who difcovered an affectionate regard to me, and feemed grie-
ved that I was about to leave them ; efpecially feeing I did
not expeft to make any coniiderable stay among them, if I
iliould live to return to New England*. O how ? kind has
God been to me ! How has he raifed up friends in every place,
where his providence hath called me ! Friends are a great
comfort j it is God that gives them : it is he who makes them
friendly to me. " Blefs the Lord, O my foul, and forget .not
" all his benefits."
[The next day he fet out on his journey ; and it was about
Sve weeks before he returned. The fpecial deflgn of this jour-
* It feems he had a defign, by xvhat afterwards appears, to remove
aad live among the Indians at Sufquehar.r.ah river,
yET.27- MR D A VI D BRA I NERD. 173
ney, he hitnfelf declares afterwards, i;, his diary for March 21.
where, fpeaking of his converfing with a certain minifter in
New-England, he fays thus, " Contrived with him how to
*' raife fonie money 'among Chriftian friends, in order to fup-
" port a colleague with me in the wildernefs, (i having now
" fpent two years in a very folitary manner), that we might be
" together j as Chrift fent out his difciples two and two : and
" as this was the principal concern I had in view in taking
" this journey, fo I took pains in it, and hope God will fuc-
" ceed it, if for his glory." He fir ft went into various parts of
New-Jerfey, and vifited fevcral miniilers there: and then
went to New- York \ and from thence into New- England, go-
ing to various parts of Connecticut : and then returned into
New-Jerfey , he met a number of minifters at Woodbridge.
who, he lays, " met there to confult about the affairs of
" Chrift's kingdom, in fame important articles." He feems,
for the moft part, to have been free from melancholy in this
journey , and many times, to have had extraordinary afliit-
ance in public miniftrations, and his preaching fometimes at-
tended with very hopeful appearances of a good ciFecl: on the
auditory. He alfo had many feafons of fpecial comfort and
fpiritual refremment, in converfation with miniflers and other
Chriftian friends, and alfo in meditation in prayer by himfelf
alone.] .
April 13. Rode home to my own houfe at the Forks of
Delaware j was enabled to remember the goodnefs of the
Lord, who has now prefqrved me while riding full fix hundred
miles in this journey , and kept me that none of my bones have
been broken. Bleffed be the Lord who has preferved me in
this tedious journey, and returned me in fafety to my own
houfe. Verily it is God that has upheld rne, and guarded my
goings.
Lord's Day, April 14. Was difordered in body with the
fatigues of my late journey'; but was enabledhoweverto preach
to a eonfiderable affembiy of white people, gathered from all
parts round about, with fome freedom, from Ezek. xxxiii. n.
" As I live$aith the Lord God," &c. Had much more a&ft-
nnce than I expected.
[This week, he went a journey to Philadelphia, in order tc*-
174 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1745.
engage the governor there to ufe i;js intereft with the chief"
man of the Six Nations, (with whom he maintained a ftrict
friendlhip), that he would give him leave to live at Sufque-
hannah, and inftrucl the Indians that are within their territo-
nes *. In his way to and from thence, he lodged with Mr
Beatty, a young Preibytetian mi-nifter. He {peaks of fea-
fons of fweet fpiritua! refreshment that he enjoyed at his lodg-
ings.]
April 20. Rode with Mr Beatty to Abington, to attend
Mr Treat's adminiftration of the facrament, according to the-
method of the church of Scotland. When we arrived. we
found Mr Treat preachinp ; afterwards 1 preached a fermon
from Matth. v. 3. " Bleffed are the poor in fpirit," &c. God
\vas pleafed to give me gre,.t freedom and tendernefs, both in
prayer and fermon : the affembly was fweetly melted, and
(ceres were all in tears. It was, as I then hoped, and was af-
terwards abundantly fatisfied by converling with them, a
" word fpoken in feafon to many weary fouls." I was ex-
tremely tired, and my fpirits much exhaufted, fo that I could
fcarceiy fpeak loud j yet I could not help rejoicing in God.
Lord's Day, April 21. In the morning, was calm and com-
pofed, and had fome out-goings of foul after God in fecret du-
ties, and longing defires of his prefence in the fancluary and
t his table 5 that his prefence might be in the aflembly and
that his children might be entertained with a feaft of fat things*
In the fornooon, Mr Treat preached. I felt feme affection
and tendernefs in the feafon of the adminiftration of the ordi-
nance Mr Beatty preached to the multitude abroad, who
could not half have crouded into the naeeting-houfe. In the
fea|bn of the communion, I had ccmfortable and fweet appre-
Beniions of the blifsful communion of God's people, when they
(hall meet at their Fathei's table in that kingdom, in a ftate
of perfection. In the afternoon, I preached abroad to the
whole afiembly, from Rev. xiv. 4. " Thefe are they that fol-
* The Indians at Sufqnchannah are a mixed company of many
sationr, f peaking various langjiagcs, and feiv of them properly of the
Six Nations. Rut yet the country having formerly been conejvtredhy
the Six Nations, they claim the land ; and the Sitfqvclsnnixh Indians
tire a kind ofvnjfal? to them.
27. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 175
" low the Lamb," &c. God was pleafed again to give rne
very great freedom and clearnsfs^ but not fo much warmth as
before. However, there was a moft amazing attention in the;
whole affembly j and, as I was informed afterwards, this was
a fweet feiifon to many.
April 22, I enjoyed feme fweetnefs in retirement, in the
morning. At eleven o'clock, Mr Beatty preached, with free- ,&
?, /
dom. and life. Then I preached from Jofffrii. 37. and con-
cluded the folemnity. Had fome freedom j but not equal to
what I had enjoyed before j yet in the prayer, the Lord
enabled me to cry (I hope) with a child-like temper, with
tendernefs and brokennefs of heart. Came home with Mr
Beatty to his lodgings - 9 and fpent the time, while riding, and
afterwards, very agreeably on divine things.
April 23. Left Mr Beatty's, and returned home to the
Forks of Delaware j enjoyed fome fweet meditations on the
road, and was enabled to lift up my heart to God in prayer
aad praife.
[The two next days, he fpeaks of much bodily diforder,
but of fome degrees of fpiritual aiTiftance and freedom. ~]
April 26. Converfed with a Chriftian friend with fome > "~ w
warmth 5 and felt a fpirit of mortification to the world, in a
very great degree. Afterwards was enabled to pray fervently
and to rely on God fweetly, for *' all things pertaining to life
and gpdlinefs,*' Juft in "the evening, was vifited by a dear
Chriftian friend, with whom I fpent an hour or two in conver-
(ation, on the very foul of religion. There are many with
whom I can talk about religion-, but alas ! I find few with
whom I can talk religion itfeli ; but, blefled be the Lord,
there are fome that love to feed on the kernel, rather than the
fliell.
[The next day, he went to the Irifli Settlement, often be-
fore mentioned, about fifteen miles dtftant ; where he fpent
the Sabbath, and preached with fome confiderable affistance.
On Monday he returned in a very weak ftate to his own lod-
gings.]
April 30. Was fcarce able to walk about, and wa c obliged
to betake myfelf to the bed, much of the day j and fpent a-
way the time in a very folitary manner j being neither able
176 THE LIFE OF A. 0.1745
to read, meditate, nor pray, and had none to ccrverfe with in
that wildernefs. Oh, how heavily does time pafs away, when,
I can do nothing to any good purpofe, but feem obliged to
trifle away preciotis time ! But of late, I have feen it my du-
ty to divert myfelf by all lawful means, that I may be fit, at
]eaft fome fmall part of my time, to labour for God. And
here is the difference between my prefent diverfions, and thofe
I once purfued, when in a natural ftate. Then I made a god
of diverfions, delighted in them with a neglecl of God, and
drew my higheft futisfacVion from them now I ufe them as
means to help me in living to God ; fixedly delighting in him,
and not in them ; drawing my higheft fatisfa&ion from him.
Then they were my all ; now they arc only means leading to
my all. And thofe things that are the greateft diverfion,
\vhen purfued with this view, do not tend to hinder, but pro-
mote my fpirituality ; and 1 fee now, more than ever, that
they are abfolutely necefTary.
May I. Was not able to fit up more than half the
day j and yet had fuch recruits of ftrength fometimes, that I
was able to write a little on a divine fubjeft. Was grieved
that I could not live to God. In the evening, had fome
fweetnefs and intenfenefs in fecret prayer.
May 3. In the evening being a little better in health, I
walked into the woods, and enjoyed .a fweet feafon of medita-
tion and prayer. My thoughts run upon Pfalin xvii. 15. "I
" fhall be fatisfied, when I awake with thy likenefs ;" And
it was indeed a precious text to me. I longed to preach to
the whole w r orld ; and it feemed to me they muft needs all be
melted in hearing fuch precious divine truths, as I had then a
a view and reliih of. My thoughts were exceeding clear, and
any foul was refrefhed. Bleffed be the Lord that in my late
.and prefent weakncfs, now for many days together, my mind
is not gloomy, as at fome ether times.
May 3. Felt a little vigour of body and mind, in the mor-
ning 5 had fome freedom, ftrength, and:fweetnefs, in prayer.
Rede to, and fpent fome time with my Indians. In the even-
Ing again retired into the woods, I enjoyed fome fwect medi-
tations on Ifaiah I'.ii. i. " Yet it plcafed the Lord to bruife
" him," &c.
MR DAVID BRAINERD. 177
[The three next days were fpent in much weaknefs of body;
but yet he enjoyed fome afliftance in public and private duties,
and feems to have remained free 'from melancholy.]
May 7. Spent the next day mainly in making prepara-
tions for a journey into the wildernefs. Was ftill weak, and
concerned how I mould perform fo difficult a journey ; but
wanted bodily ftrength to fpend the day in failing and pr?yer,
The next day he fet out on his journey to Sufquehannnh,
with his interpreter. He endured great hardships and fatigues
in his way through a hideous wildernefs j where, after having
lodged one night in the open woods, he was overtaken with
a north-eaiierly florin, in which he was almoft ready to perifh.
Having no manner of fhelter, and not being able to make a
fire in fo great a rain, he could have no comfort if he ftopt ;
therefore determined to go forward in hopes of meeting with
fome ftielter, without which he thought it irnpoflible he mould
live the night through ^ but their horfes happening to have eat
poifon (for want of other food) at a place where they lod'ged
the night before, were fo lick, that they could neither ride
nor lead them, but were obliged to drive them before them,
and travel on foot j until, through the mercy of God, (juft at
duik) they came to a bark-hut, where they lodged that night.
After he came to Sufquehannah, he travelled about the length
of a hundred miles on the river, and vifited many towns and
fettlements of the Indians j faw fome of feven or eight diiHnct
tribes j and preached to different nations, by different interpre-
ters. He w r as fometimes much difcouraged, and funk in his
fpiiits, through the oppofition that appeared in the Indians to
Chnftianity. At other times, he was encouraged by the dif-
pofition that fome of thefe people manifelted to hear, and wil-
lingfinefs to be inftru&ed. He here met with fome that had
been his hearers at Kaunaumeek, and had removed hither j
who faw and heard him again with great joy. He fpent a fort-
higlit among the Indians on this river j and paffed through
confiderable labours and hardfhips, frequently lodging on the
ground, and fometimes in the open air , and at length he fell
extremely ill, as he was riding in the T viJdernefs, beug iuzed
kh an ague, followed with a burning fever, and extreme pains
bis head and bowels, attended with a great evacuation of
7.
w
J7S THE LIFE OF A.D. 1 745
blood ', fo that he thought he mull have periftied in the wit-
dernefs. Eut at laft coming to an Indian trader's hut, he got
leave to flay there j and though without phyiic or food pro-
per for him, it pleafed God, after about a week's -diftrefs, to re-
lieve him fo far, that he was able to ride. He returned home-
wards from Juncata, an liland far down the river j where was
a confiderable number of Indians, who appeared more free
from prejudices againft Chriftianity than moft of the other In-
dians. He arrived at the Forks of Delaware on Thurfday,
May 30. after having rode in this journey about three hun-
dred and forty miles*. He came home in a very weak ftate,
and under dejecHon of mind j which was a great hindrance to
him in religious exercifes. However, on the Sabbath after,
having preached to the Indians, he preached to the white peo-
ple with fome fuccefs, from Ifaiah liii. 10. " Yet it pleafed
"the Lord to bruife him," &c. fome being awakened by his
preaching. The next day, he was much exefcifed for want
of fpiritual life and fervency.]
June 4. Towards evening, was in diftrefs for God's pre-
fence, and a fenfe of divine things ; withdrew myfelf to the
woods, and fpent near an hour in prayer and meditation , and
I think, the Lord had companion on me, and gave me fome
fenfe of divine things, which was indeed refrefliing and quick-
ening to me ; my foul enjoyed intenfenefs and freedom in
prayer, fo that it grieved me to leave the place.
June 5. Felt thirfting defines after God, in the morning.
In the evening enjoyed a precious feafon of retirement ; was
favoured with fome clear and fweet meditation on afacred text :
divine things opened with clearnefs and certainty, and had a
divine ftamp upon them ; my foul was alfo enlarged and re-
fremed in prayer j and I delighted to continue in the duty ,
and was fwe^iy aflifted in praying for fellow Chriftians, and
my dear brethren in the miniftry. Bleffed be the dear Lord
for fuch enjoyments. ' O how fweet and precious it is, to have
a clear apprehenlion and tender fenfe of the myftery of God-
linefs, of true holinefr, and likenefs to the beft of beings i
* This is a jcurney which he occafionally nient ions in his printed
Journal.
JET. 28. MR DA V1D BR A INE RD. 179
O what a blelTednefs it is, to be as much like God, as it is
poffible for a creature to be like his great Creator ! Lord,
give me more of thy likenefs : " 1 fnall be Satisfied, when I
" awake with it."
June 6. Was engaged, a confiderable part of the day, in me-
ditations and fludy on divine fubjels. Enjoyed fome fpecial
freedom, clearnefs and fweetnefs in meditation. O how
refrefhing it is, to be enabled to improve time well !
[The next day, he went a journey of near fifty miles to Ne-
fhaminy, to aflift at a facramental occafion, to be attended at
Mr Beatty's meeting houfe j being invited thither by him
and his people.]
June 8. Was exceeding weak and fatigued with riding in
the heat yefterday ; but being defired, I preached in the af-
ternoon, to a crouded audience, from Ifaiah si. i. " Comfort
" ye, comfort ye my people, faith your God." God was plea-
fed to give me great freedom, in opening the forrows of
God's people, and in fetting before them comfortable confi-
derations. And, bleffed be the Lord, it was a fweet melting
feafon in the affcmbly.
Lord's Day, June 9. Felt fome longing defires of the pre-
fence of God to be with his people on the folemn occafion of
the day. In the forenoon, Mr Beatty preached ; and there
appeared fome warmth in the aifembly. Afterwards, I aflift-
ed in adminiftration of the Lord's fupper } and towards the
clofe of it, I difcourfed to the multitude extempore, with
fome reference to the facred paffage, Ifaiah liii, 10. "Yet
" it pleafed the Lord to bruife him." Here God gave me
great afliftance in addrefling finners j and the word was atten-
ded with amazing power many fcores, if not hundreds in
that great affembly, confuting of three or four thoufand, were
much affected ; fo that there was a " very great mourning,
" like the mourning of Hadadrimmon." In the evening I
could hardly look any body in the face, becaufe of the im-
perfections I faw in my performances in the day pafl.
June 10. Preached with a good degree of clearnefs and
fome fweet warmth, from Pfal xvii. 15. " I mail be fatisfied
" when I awake with thy likenefs." And bleffed be God,
there was a great folemnity and attention in the aflembly, and
ISO THE LIFE OF A.D. 1745.
fvveet refrelhment among God's people } as was evident then
and afterwards.
June ii. Spent the day mainly in converfation with dear
Chriftian friends j and enjoyed fome fweet fenfe of divine
things. O how defirable it is, to keep company with God's
dear children! Thefe are the " excellent ones of the earth,
"in whom," I can truly fay, " is all my delight." O what
delight will it afford, to meet them all in a ftate of perfection !
Lord prepare me for that flate.
[The next day he left Mr Beatty's, and went to Maiden-
head in New Jerfey j and fpent the next feven days in a com-
fortable ftate of mind, vifiting feveral minifters in thofe parts. }
June 1 8. Set out ftom New-Brunfwick with a defign to
vifit fome Indians at a place called Crofweekfung in New- Jer-
fey towards the fea*. In the afternoon came to a place cal-
led Cranberry, and meeting with a ferious minifter, Mr Mack-
night, I lodged there with him. Had fome enlargement and
freedom in prayer with a number of people.
* Mr Brain*rd having, when at Bofton, wrote and left with a friend
a brief relation of facts touching his labours with the Indians, and recep-
tion among them, during the fpace of Nov. 5. and June 19. 1745. (with
a view to connect his Narrative at the end of Mr Pemberton's ordination
fermon, and his Journal, if they fliould ever be icprinted}, concludes the
fame with this paffage ; " As my body wus vi^y feeble, fo my mind
" was fcarce ever fo much damped and difcouraged about the converfion
" of the Indians, as at this time. And in this ftate of bodj and mind
" I made my firft vifit to the Indians of New-Jerfey, where God was.
*'* pleafed to difplay his power and grace in the remarkable mar.ner
" I hare represented in my printed Jovunal."
2ET. 28. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 1 8 1
P A R T. VII.
FROM HIS FIRST BEGINNING TO PREACH TO THE INDIANS AT CRO's-
WEEKSUNG, TILL HE RETURNED FROM HiS LAST JOURNEY TO
SUSQJJEHANNAH ILL WITH THE CONSUMPTION, WHEREOF HE
DIED.
["T7TTE are now come to that part of Mr Brainerd's life,
* wherein he had his greatefl fuccefs, in his labours for
the good of fouls, and in his particular bufinefs as a miflion-
ary to the Indians. An account of which, if here publifhed,
would doubtlefs be very entertaining to th,e reader, after he
has feen by the preceding parts of this account of his life,
how great and long-continued his deiires for the fpiritual good
of this fort of people were j how he prayed, laboured, and
wreftled, and how much he denied himfelf, and fuffered, to
this end. After all Mr Brainerd's agonizing in prayer, and
travelling in birth, for the conveifion of Indians, and all the
interchanges of his raifed hopes and expectations, and then
difappointments and difcouragements j and after waiting in a
way of perfevering prayer, labour, and fuffering, as it were
through a long night j at length the day dawns : " Weeping
" continues for a night, but joy comes in the morning. He
" went forth weeping, bearing precious feed, and now he
" comes with rejoicing, bringing his iheaves with him." The
defired event is brought to pafs at laft 5 but at a time, in a
place, and upon fubjefts, that fcarce ever entered into his
heart. An account of this would undoubtedly now much
gratify the Chriftian reader : and it'fhould have been here in-
ferted, as it ftands in his diary, had it not been, that a par-
ticular account of this glorious and wanderful fuccefs was
drawn up by Mr Brainerd himfelf, purfuant to the order of '
the honourable fociety in Scotland, and publifhed by him h;
his lifetime j which account many have in their hands j and
the inferting it here would too much fwell this book, as was.
faid before in the preface. However, I look upon the want
of this account here, as a real defect in this hiflory oJF P/Ir
THE LIFE OF A.D. 1745
Brainerd's life ; which, I would hope, thofe of my readers,
xvho are not already poffeffed of his public Journal, will fup-
ply, by procuring one of thofe books, that they may not be
without that which in fome refpe&s is the molt remarkable,
and to a Chriftian mind would be the moft pleafant part of
the whole ftory, That the reader who is furniftied with one
of thofe books may know the place where the defecls of this
hiftory are to be fupplied from thence, I (hall either expreff-
ly obferve it as I go along, or elfe make a dafh or ftroke
thus - ; which when the reader finds in this 7th part of
this hiftory, he is to underftand by it, that in that place
fomething in Mr Brainerd's diary, worth obferving, is left
out, becaufe the fame for fubftance-was publiihed before in his
printed Journal.*]
June 19. 1745. Rode to the Indians at Crofvveekfung ' y
found few at home j difcourfed to them however, and obferv-
ed tr.em very ferious and attentive. At night I was extreme-
ly worn out, and fcarce able to walk or fit up. Oh, how-
tirefome is earth ! how dull the body !
June 20. Towards night, preached to the Indians again j
and had more hearers than before. In the evening, enjoyed
fbme peace and ferenity of mind, fome compofure and com-
fort in prayer alone , and was enabled to lift up my head
with fome degree of joy, under an appreheniion that my re-
demption draws nigh. Oh, bleffed be God, that there re-
trains a reft to his poor weary people !
June 21. Rode to Freehold, to fee Mr William Tennent ;
and fpent the day comfortably with him. My finking fpirits
were a little raifed and encouraged j and I felt my foul breath-
ing after God, in the midft of Chriftian converfation. And
in the evening, was refrelhed in fecret prayer ^ faw myfelf a
poor worthlefs creature, without wifdom to diredl, or firength,
to help myfeif. Oh, bleffed be God, that lays me under a
happy, a bleffed necefilty of living upon himfelf !
June 22. About noon, rode to the Indians again ; and
near night, preached to them. Found my body much
ilrengthened, and was enabled to fpeak with abundant plain-
* This defecT: in the former edition of Mr Brainerd's life, here men-
tioned by Mr Edwards, is fupplied in this, by annexing to it the Jour-
nal here inferred to.
JET. "28. MR DAVID BRA I NERD. 183
nefs and warmth. And t ,e power of God evidently attended
the word , fo that fundry perfons were brought under great
concern for their fouls, and made to med many tears, "anjl to
wifh for Chriil to fave t-iem. My foul was much refrefhed,
and quickened in my work ; and I could not but fpend much
time with them, in order to open both their mifery and re-
medy. This was indeed a fweet afternoon to me. While
riding, before I came to the Indians, my fpirits were refrefh-
ed, and my foul enabled to cry to God almoft inceffantly, for
many miles together. In the evening alfo I found the con-
folations of God were not fmall : I was then willing to live,
and in fame refpe<5ts deiirous of it, that I might do fomething
for the^dear kingdom of Chrift 5 and yet death appeared plea-
fant : fo that I was in fome meafure in a itrait between two,
having a defire to depart. I am often weary of this world, -
and want to leave it on that account j but it is delirable to be
drawn, rather than driven out of it.
[In the four next days is nothing remarkable in his diary ?
but what is in his public Journal.]
June 27. My foul rejoiced to find, that God enabled me
to be faithful, and that he was pleafed to awaken thefe poor In-
dians by my means. O how heart-reviving, and foul refrefli-
ing is it to me to fee the frait of my labours !
June 28. In the evening^ my foul was revived, and my
heart lifted up to God in prayer, for my poor Indians, myfelf,
and friends, and the clear church of God. And O how re-
frefliing, howfweet was this ! Blefs the Lord, O my foul, and
forget not his goodnefs and tender mercy.
June 29. Preached twice to the Indians 5 and could not
but wonder at their ferioufnefs, and the ftriclnefs of their at-
tention. Bleffed be God that has inclined their hearts to
hear. And O how refreshing it is to me, to fee them at-
tend with fuch uncommon diligence and affection, with tears
ir. their eyes, and concern in their hears ! In the evening,
could not but lift up my heart to God in prayer, while rid-
ing to rny lodgings ^ and bleflVd be his name, I had affiftance
and freedom, O how much better than life is the presence
tf. God !
184 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1745.
[His diary gives an account. of nothing remarkable on the
'two next days, befides what is in his public Journal j except-
ing Jiis heart's being lifted up \vith thankfulnefs, rejoicing in
God,&c.]
July 2. Rode from the Indians toBrunfwick, near forty
miles, and lodged there. Felt my heart drawn out after God
in prayer, almofl all the afternoon -, efpeclally while riding.
And in the evening, could not help crying to God for thofe
poor Indians; and after I went to bed, my heart continued to
go out to God for them, till I dropped afleep. O bleffed be
God that I may pray !
[He was fo beat out by conflant preaching to thefe Indians,
yielding to their earned and importunate defires, that h? found
it neceflary to give himfelf fome relaxation. He fpent there-
fore about a week in New Jerfey, after he had left thefe In-
dians, viiiting feveral minifters, and performing fome necefTary
bufinefs, before he went to the Forks of Delaware. And
though he was very weak in body, yet he feems to have been
flrong in fpirit. On Friday, July 22, he arrived at his own
houfe on the Forks of Delaware j continuing ftill free fiorn
melancholy ; from day to day, enjoying freedom, afMance,
and refreshment in the inner man. But on Wednefday, the
next week, he feems to have had fome melancholy thoughts
about his doin^ fo little for God, being fo much hindered by
weaknsfs of body.]
July 1 8. Longed to fpend the little inch of time I have
in the world more for God. Felt a fpirit of ferioufnefs, ten-
clernefs, fweetnefs, and devotion, and wiftied to fpend the
whole night in prayer and communion with God.
July 19. In the evening, walked abroad for prayer and
-meditation, and enjoyed compofure and freedom in thefe fweet
exercifes; efpecially in meditation on Rev. iii. 12. " Him that
" overcoraeth, will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,"
&.. This was then a delightful theme to me, and it refreshed
my foul to dwell upon it. Oh, when (hall I go no more out
from the fervice and enjoyment of the dear Lord ! Lcul,
haften the bleffed day.
[Within the fpace of the next fix days, he fpeahs of much
inward refreshment and enlargement, from time to time.]
JET. 28 MR DAVID BRAINERD. 185
July 26. In the evening God was pleafed to help me in
prayer, beyond what I have experienced for fome time j ef-
pecially my foul was drawn out for the enlargement of Clirift's
kingdom, and for the converfion of my poor people 5 and my
foul relied on God for the accomplifhment of that great work.
Oh, how fweet wfre the thoughts of death to me at this
time ! Oh, how I longed to be with Chrift, to be employed
in the glorious work of angels, and with an angel's freedom,
vigour, and delight ! And yet how willing was I to Ray a
while on earth, that 1 might dofomething, if the Lord pleafed,
for his Jntcrefl in the world ! My foul, my very foul, longed
for the ingathering of the poor Heathen ; and I cried to God
for them moft willingly and heartily 5 and yet becaufe I could
not but cry. This was a fweet feafon, for I had fome lively
taftc of heaven, and a temper of mind fuited in fome meafur?
to the employments and entertainments of it. My foul was
grieved to leave the place j but my body was weak and woni
out, and it was near nine o'clock. Oh, I longed that the re-
maining part of my life might be filled up with more fervency
and activity in the things of God ! Oh the inward peace,
compofure and God-like ferenity of fuch a frame ! Hea~
ven muft needs differ from this only in degree not in kind.
" Lord, ever give me this bread of life."
[Much of this frame feerried to continue the next day.]
LorcTs Day, July 28. In the evening, my foul was melted,
and my heart broken, with a fenfe of pail barrennefs and dead-
iiefs j and oh, how I then longed to live to God, and bring
forth much fruit to his glory !
July 29. Was much exercifed with a fenfe of vilenefs, with
guilt and ihame before God.
[For other things remarkable while he was this time at the
Forks of Delaware, the reader mull be referred to his pub-
lic Journal. As particularly for his labour and fuccefs there
among the Indians-
July 31. He fet out on his journey to Crofweekfung, and
arrived there the next day. In his way thither, he had long-
it!?* that he might corns to the Indians there in the " fulnefs
" of the b!e(IL:g of the gofpel of Chrift j" attended with a
A a
l86 THE LIFE OF A. D.I 745
fenfe of his own great weaknefs, dependence, and worthleiT-
nefs.]
Aug. 2. In the evening I retired, and my foul was drawn
out in prayer to God j efpecially for my poor people, to whom
I had ferit word that they might gather together, that I might
preach to them the next day. I was much enlarged in pray-
ing for their faving couverfion ; and fcarce ever found my de-
lires of any thing of this nature fo fenfibly and clearly (to my
own fatisfaclion) difinterefted, and free from felfifli views. It
fecmed to be, I had- no care, or hardly any defire to be the in-
ftrument of fo glorious a work, as I wifhed and prayed fora-
mong the Indians j .if the blefied work might be accomplifh-
ed to the honour of God, and the enlargement of the dear Re-
deemer's kingdom, this was all my defire and care j and
for this mercy I hoped, but with trembling j for I felt what
Job erpreffes, chap. ix. 16. My rifing hopes, refpeft-
ing the converfion of the Indians, have been fo often dafiied,
that my fpirit is as it were broken, and courage wafted, and I
hardly dare hops.
[Concerning his labours and marvellous fuccefs amongft
the Indians, for the iollowing ten days, let the reader fee his
public Journal. The things worthy of note in his diary, not
there publifhed, are his earned and importunate prayers for the
Indians, and the travail of his foul for them from day to day,
and his great -refreshment and joy in beholding the wonderful
mercy of God, and the .glorious manifeftations of his power
and grace in his work among them ; and his ardent thankfgiv-
ings to Gcd ; his heart's rejoicing in Chrift, as King of his
church, and King of his foul j in particular, at the facrament
of the Lord's fupper at Mr Macknight's meeting-houfe ; a
fenfe of his own exceeding unwcrthinefs, which foroctimes was
attended with dejeclion and melancholy.]
Aug. 19. : Near noon, I rode to Freehold, and preach-
ed to a confiderable affembly, from Matth. v. 3. It pleafed God
to leave me very dry and barren- j fo that I do not remember
to have been io ftraitened fora whole twelvemonth pail. God
is juft, and he has made my foul actjuiefce in his will in this
regard. It is contrary to flefli and blood to be cut off froa\
yil freedom in a large auditory, where their expectations are
.ZT. 28. MR DAVID BR.AINERD. I 8 7
much raifed j but fo it was with me 5 and God helped me to
fay Amen to it j " Good is the will of the Lord." In the e-
vening I felt quiet and compofed, and had freedom an-d com-
fort in fecret prayer.
Aug. 2O. Was compofed and comfortable, frill in a refi'gn-
ed frame. Travelled from Mr Tennent's in Freehold to E-
lifabeth-Town. Was refreftied to fee friends, and relate to
them what God had done, and was ftill doing among my poor
people.
Aug. 21. Spent the forenoon in converfation with Mr
Dickenfon, contriving fomething for the fettlement of the In-
dians together in a body, that they might be under better ad-
vantages for inftru&ion. In the afternoon, fpent time agree-
ably with other friends ; wrote to my brother it college -, but-
was grieved that time flld away, while I did fo little for
God.
Aug. 23; In the morning was very weak \ but favoured
with fome freedom and fweetnefs in prayer j was compofed
and comfortable in mind. Afternoon, rode to Crofweek-
lung to my poor people.
Aug. 24. Had compofure and peace while riding from.
the Indians to my lodgings j was enabled to pour out my foul
to t^od for dear friends in New- England. Felt a fwset ten-
der frame of fpirit ; my foul was compofed and refreshed in
God. Had likewife freedom and earneftnefs in praying for my
dear people ', bleffed be God. " O the peace of God that
" palfeth all understanding !" It is impofiible to defcribe the
f:veet peace of confcience, and tendernefs of foul, I then enjoy-
ed. O the bleffed foretaftes of heaven !
Lord's Day, Aug. 25. I rode to my lodgings in the eve-
ning, blefling the Lord for his gracious viiitation of the Indi-
ans, and the foul-refreihing things I had feen the day paft a- -
mongft them, and praying that God would (till carry on his-
divine work among them.
Aug. 26. I went from the Indians to my lodgings, re-
joicing for the goodnefs-' of God to my poor people 5 and en-,
joyed freedom of foul in prayer, and other duties in the even-
ing. Blefs the Lord, O my foul.
[The next day, he fet out on a journey towards the Fork*,
of Delaware, defigning to go from thence to Sufquehannah,
1 83 THE LIFE OF A. D. 1745.
before he returned to Crofvveekfung. It was five days from
his departure from Crofweekfung, before he reached the Forks,
goino round by the way of Philadelphia, and waiting on the
Goveruprof Penfylvania, to get a recommendation from him
to the chiefs of the Indians j which he obtained. He fpeaks
of much comfort and fpiritual refreGiment in this jou-ney, and
alfo a fenfe of his exceeding uiuvcrthinefs, thinking himfelf the
meaner! creature that ever lived.]
Lord's Day Sept. i. (At the Forks of Delaware) God gave
me the fpirit of prayer, and it was a blelTed feafon in that re-
fpecl. My foul cried to God foi mercy, in an affectionate
manner. In the evening alfo my foul rejoiced in God.
[His private diary has nothing remarkable, for the two next
days, but what is in his public Journal.]
Sept. 4. Rode fifteen miles to an Irifli fcttlement, and
preached t^ere from Luke xiv. 22. " And yet there fsroorn."
God was pleafecl to afford me fome tendernefs and enlargement
in the firft prayer, and much freedom, ns well as warmth, in
fermon. There were many tears in the affembly ; the people
of God feemed to melt, and "ethers to be in fome meafure a-
wakened. BleiTed be the Lord, that lets me fee his work go-
ing on in one place and another.
[The account for Thurfday is the fame for fubfbnce as in
his public Journal.]
Sept. 6. Enjoyed fome freedom and intenfenefs of rr.Ind
in prayer alone , and longed to have my foul more warmed
with divine and heavenly things. Was fomewhat melancholy
towards night, and longed to die and quit a fcene of iin and
darknefs j but was a little fupported in prayer.
[This melancholy continued the next day.]
Lord's Day, Sept. 8. In the evening, God was pleafedto
enlarge me in prnycr, and give me freedom at the throne
of grace : I crkd to God for the -enlargement of his king-
dom in the world, and in particular 1 ' among my dear people :
xvas alfo enabled to pray for many dear miniilers of my ac-
quaintance,, both in thefe parts and in New England j and al-
fo for other dear friends i-n New-England. And my foul was
fo rr ) ocd a-ul enlarged in that fwett exercife, that I fpent .
?iear an hour in k, and knew not how to leave the mercy feat.
JET. 28. MR DAVID BRAINERD." 189
Oh, how I delighted to pray and cry to God ! I few
Cod was both able and willing to do all that I defired for
myfelf and friends, and in his church in general. I was like-
wife much enlarged and afTifted in family prayer. And after-
wards, when I was juil going to bed, God helped me to re-
new rny petitions with ardency and freedom. Oh, it was to
me a bleffed evening of prayer ! Blefs the Lord, O my foul.
[The next day, he fet out from the Forks of Delaware ta
go to Sufquehannah. And on the fifth day of his journey, he
arrived at Shaumoking, a large Indian town on Sufquehan-
nah river. He performed the journey under a confiderabie
degree of melancholy, occafioned at firl by his hearing that
the Moravians were gone before him to the Sufquehannah-In-
dians.]
Sept. 13. [At Shaumoking] In the evening, my foul
was enlarged and fweetly engaged in prayer ; efpecially, that
God would fet up his kin^dom'in this place, where the devil*
now reigns in the moft eminent manner. And I was enabled
to afk this of God, for his glory, and becaufe I longed for
the enlargement of his kingdom, to the honour of his dear
name. I could appeal tc God with the greateft freedom, that
he knew it was his dear caufe, and not my own, that engaged
my heart j and my foul cried, " Lord fet up thy kingdom
*' for thine own glory. Glorify thyfelf j and I (hall rejoice.
" Get honour to thy bleffed nanie ; and this is all 1 defire.
*' Do with me juft what thou wilt. Bleffed be thy name for
** ever, that thou art God, and that thou wilt glorify thyfelf.
" O that the whole world might glorify thee ! O let thefe
" poor people be brought to know thee and love thee, for the
" glory of thy dear ever-bleiTed name ? I could not but hope
that God would bring in thefe miferable wicked Indians j
though there appeared little human probability of it y for they
were then dancing and revelling, as if poiTclfed by the devil.
But yet I hoped, though agalnft hope, that God would be
glorified, that God's name would be glorified by thefe poor
Indians. I continued long in prayer and praife to God ; and;*
had great freedom, enlargement, and fwcetnefs, remembering
dear friends in New- England, as well as the people of nr; *
THE LIFE OF A, D. 1745..
charge. Was entirely free from that dejection of fpirit with.
which I am frequently exerciied. BlefTed be God !
[His diary from this time to Sept. 22. (the laft day of
his continuance among the Indians at Sufquchannah) is not
legible, by reafon of the oadnefs of the ink. It was probably
written with the juice of fome berries found in the woods,.
having no other ink. in that wildernefs. So that for this fpace
of time the reader rnuft be wholly referred to his public Jour-
nal.
On Sept. 23. He left the Indians, in order to his return
to the Forks of Delaware, in a very weak ftate of body, and
under dtjeclion of mind, which continued the two firft days of
his journey.]
Sept. 25. Rode ftill homeward. In the forenoon, enjoy-
ed freedom and intenfenefs of mind in meditation on Job xlii.
5. 6. " I have heard of thee by the tearing of the ear 5 but
** now mine eye feeth theej wherefore I abhor ID} T? If, and
" repent in duft and afhes." The Lord gave me cieanvfs to
penetrate into the fweet truths contained in that text. It was
a comfortable and fweet feafoh to me.
Sept. 26. Was ftill much diforderrd in body, and able to
ride but {lowly. Continued my journey however. Near night
arrived at the Iriih fettlement, about fifteen miles from mine
own houfe. This day, while riding, I was much exercifed
with a fenfe of my foarrenefs 5 and verily thought there was
no creature that had any true grace, but what was more fpiri-
tunl and fruitful than I ; I could not think that any of God's
children made fo poor a hand of living to God as I.
Sept. 27. Spent confiderable time, in the morning, in
prayer and praife to God. My mind was fome what intenfe
in the duty, and my heart in fome degree warmed with a fenfe
of divine things : my foul was melted, to think that " God
" had accounted me faithful, putting me into the mir.iftry," 1
notwithstanding all my barrennefs and deadnefs. My foul was
alfo in fome meafure enlarged in prayer for the dear people of
ray charge, as well as for .other dear friends. In the after-
noon, vifited feme CnfjrUan friends, and fpent the time, I
think, profitably : my heart was warrred, and more engaged
in the things of God. In the evening, 1 enjoyed enlargement,
JET. 23. MR DAVID BRAINERD.
warmth, and comfort in prayer : my foul relied on God for af-
fillance and grace to enable me to do fomething in his caufe :
my heart was drawn out in thankfulnefs to God for what he
had done for his own glory among my poor people of late :
and I felt encouraged to proceed in his work, being perfuaded
of his power, and hoping his armrm<rhtbe further revealed,
for the enlargement of his dear kingdom: and my foul " re-
" joiced in hope of the glory of God," in hope ofthe advance-
ment of his declarative glory in the world, as well as of enjoy-
ing him in a world of glory. Oh, bleffed be God, the living
God for ever I
[He continued in this, comfortable, fweet frame of mind,
the two next days. Or the day following, he went to his
own houfe on the Forks of Delaware, and continued ft ill in
the fame frame. The next day, which was Tuefday, he vifit-
ed his Indians. Wedneicay he fpent tnoftly in writing the
meditations he had had in his late journey to Sufquehannah.
On Thurfday, he left the Forks of Delaware, and travelled to-
wards Crofweekfung, where lie arrived on Saturday, Oft. 5.
and continued from day to day in a comfortable ftate of mind.
There is nothing material in his diary for this day and the next
but what is in his printed Journal.
Oft. 7. Being called by the church and people of Eaft-
Hampton, on Long-lfland, as a member of a council, to aflift
and advife in matters of difficulty ia that church, I fet out on
my journey this morning, before it was well light, and travel-
eel to Elifabeth-town, and -there lodged. Enjoyed fo me com-
fort on the road, in converfation with Mr William Tennent,
who was fent for on the fame bunnefs.
[He profecuted his journey with the other minifters that
were fent for ; and did not return till OCT. 24, While he
was at Eaft-Hampton, the importance of the bufmefs thr,t
the council were come upon, lay with fuch weight on his
mind, and he was fo concerned for th? interefts of religion
in that place, that he llept but little for fcveral nights fuccef-
fively. In hi? way to and from Eaft-Hampton, he had feveral
feafons of fweet refrefhment, wherein his foul was enlarged
and comforted \vith divine confutation^ in fecret retirement ,;
192 THE LIFE OF A.B. 1*45,
*nd he had fpecial fiiflance in public miniflerial performances
in the houfe of God 5 and yet at the fame time, a fenfe of ex-
treme vilenefs and unprofitablenefs. He from time to time
fpeaksoffoul refreftiment and comfort in converfation with
the minifters that travelled with him j and feems to have little
or nothing of melancholy, till he came to the weft end of Long-
liknd, in his return. After that, he was oppreiTed with
dejection, and gloominefs of mind, for feveral days toge-
ther. For an account of the four firft days after his re-
turn from his journey, I refer the reader to his public Journal.
O&. 28. Had an evening of fweet rcfrelhing; my
thoughts were railed to a bleffed eternity, my foul was melted
with defires of perfect holinefs, and perfectly glorifying God.
O6t. 29. About noon, rode and viewed the Indian lands
at Cranberry ; was much dejected and greatly perplexed in
mind ; knew not how to fee any body again, my foul was fo
funk within me. Oh that thefe trials might make me more
humble and holy. O that God would keep me from giving
way to {inful dejeclion, which may hinder my ufefulnefs.
O&. 30. My foul was refremed with a view of the conti-'
nuance of God's blefied work among the Indians.
O&. 31. Spent moft of the day in writing , enjoyed not
much fpiritual comfort, but was not fo much funk with melan-
choly as at fome other times.
Nov. i. [See the public Journal.]
Nov. 2. Spent the day with the Indians, "and wrote
fome things of importance , and longed to do more for God
than I did, or could do in this prefent feeble and imperfect
ftate.
Nov. 3 and 4. [See the public Journal.]
Nov. 5. He left the Indians, and Ipent the remaining part
of this week in travelling to various parts of Ncw-Jerfey, in
order to get a collection for the ufe of the Indians, and to ob-
tain a fchoolmafler to inftrucl them. And in the mean time
he fpeaks of very fweet refreshment and entertainment with
Chriftian friends, an*d of his being fweetly employed, xv!u!c:
riding, in meditation on divine fubjecls j his heart's being en-
larged, his mind clear, his fpirit rcfrefhcd with divine truth?,
and his "heart burning within him, r;hi!e he vet by the
jET, 28. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 193
" way, and the Lord gracioufly opened to him the fcripturcs."]
Lord's Day, Nov. 10. [At Elifabeth-Town] Was com-
foi table in the morning, both in body and mind', preached
in the forenoon from 2 Cor. y. 20. God was pleafed to give
me freedom and fervency in my difcourfe ', and the prefence
of God feemed to be in the aflembly ; numbers were affe&ed,
and there were many tears among them. In the afternoon,
preached from Luke xiv. 22, u And yet there is room."
Was favoured with divine ailiftance in the firft prayer, and
poured out my foul to God with a filial temper of mind j the
living God alfo aflifted me in fermon.
[The next day, he went to New- Town to Long-Ifland, to
a meeting of the Preibytery. He fpeaks of fome fweet medi-
tations he had while there, on " Chrift's delivering up the
" kingdom to the Father j" and of his foul's being much re-
frelhed and warmed with the confideration of thatblifsful day.]
Nov. 15. Could not crofs the ferry by reafon of the vio-
lence of the wind 5 nor could I enjoy any place of retirement
at the ferry -houfe , fo that I was in perplexity. Yet God
gave me fome fatisfa&ion and fweetnefs in meditation, and lift-
ing up my heart to God in^he mid ft of company. And al-
though fome were drinking and talking profanely, which was
indeed a grief to me, yet my mind was calm and compofed.
And I could not but blefs God, that I was not like to fpend an
eternity in fuch company. In the evening I fit down and
wrote with compollire and freedom , and can fay (through purs
grace) it was a comfortable evening to my foul, an evening I
was enabled to fpend in the fervice of God.
Nov. 16. Croffed the ferry about ten o'clock j arrived at
Elifabeth-Town near night. .Was in a calm compofed frame
of mind, and felt an entire refignation with refpe6l to a lofs I
had lately fuftained, in having my horfe ftolen from me the
lall Wednefday night, at New- Town. Had fome longings of
foul for the dear people of Elifabeth-Town, that God would
pour out his Spirit upon them, and revive his work amongft
them.
He fpent the four next days at Elifabeth-Town, for the
moft part, in a free and comfortable (late of miqd, intenfely
engaged hi the fervice of God, and enjoying, at fome .times*
B b
194 THE LIFE OF A. D. 1745.
the fpecial afliftances of his Spirit. On Thurfday this week
he rode to Freehold, and fpent the day under coimderable de-
jection.]
Nov. 22. Rode to Mr Tennent's, and from thence to Crof-
weekfung. Had little freedom in meditation, while riding ;
\vhich was a grief and burden to my foul. Oh that L could fill
up all my time, whether in the houfe or by the way, for God !
I was enabled, I think, this day to- give up my foul to God,
and put over all my concerns into his hands j and found fome
real confolation in the thought of being entirely at the divine
difpofal, and having no will or intereft of my own. I have
received my all from God ; Oh that I could return my all to
God! Surely God is worthy of my higheft affeftion, and
mod devout adoration - y he is infinitely worthy, that I mould
make him my laft end, and live for ever to him : Oh that I
might never more, in any one inftance, live to myfelf !
Nov. 23. Vifited my people \ fpent the day with them * ?
wrote fome things of importance. But was pretty much de-
je6led mod of the day.
[There is nothing very material in his diary for the four
next days, but what is alfo in his^ublic Joufnal.J
Nov. 28.' ' I enjoyed fome divine comfort and fervency
in the public exercife, and afterwards. And while riding to
my lodgings, was favoured with fome fweet meditations on
Luke ix. 31, " Who appeared in glory, and fpake of his de-
" ceafe, which he mould accomplifh at Jerufalem." My
thoughts ran with freedom, and I faw and felt what a glorious
fubjeft the death of Chrift is for glorified fouls to dwell upon
in their converfation. Oh, the death of Chrift ! how infinite-
ly precious !
[For the three next days, fee the public Journal.]
Dec. 2. Was much affected with grief, that I had net li-
ved more to God j and felt ftrong refolutions to double my
diligence in my Matter's fervice.
[After this he went to a meeting of the Presbytery, at a
place in New-Jerfey, called Conneclicut-Farms j which occa-
fioned his abfence rom his people the reft of this week. He
fpeaks of fome feafons of fwectncfs, folemnity, and fpi ritual af-
f6ttcn in bis abfence.]
. JET." 28. MR DAVID BRAJNERD. 195
Lord's Day, Dec. 8. [See his public Journal.]
Dec. 9. Spent moft of the day in procuring provifions, in
order to my fetting up houfe-keTeping among the Indians. En-
joyed little fatisfa&ion through the day, being very much out
of my element.
Dec. IP. Was engaged in the fame buunefs as yefterday :
Towards night, got into my own houfe*.
Dec. ir. Spent the forenoon in neceffarv labour about my
.houfe. In the afternoon, rode out upon biinnefs, and fpent the
evening with fome fatisfaclion among friends in converfation on
a ferious and profitable fubjed.
[Dec. 12, See his public Journal.]
Dec 13. Spent the day mainly in labour about my houfe.
In the evening, fpent fome time in writing j but was very wea-
ry, and much outdone with the labour of the day.
Dec. 14 Rofe early, and wrote by candle-light fome con-
fiderable time ; fper.t moft of the day in writing : but was
fomewhat dejected. In the evening, was exercifed with a pain
in my head.
[For the two next days, fee his public Journal. The re-
mainder of this week he fpent chiefly in writing j fome part
of the time under a degree of melancholy j but fome part
of it with a fweet ardency in religion.]
Dec. 21. After my labours with the Indians, I fpent
fome time itftevriting fome things divine and folemn j and
was much wearied with the labours of the day j found that
my fpirits were extremely fpent, and that I could do no more.
I am confcious to myfelf that my labours are as great and con-
ftant as my nature will bear, and that ordinarily 1 go to the
extent of my ftrength 5 fo that I do all I can ; but the mjfery
isjl do not labour with that heavenly temper, that fingle eye to
the glory of God, that I long fon.
[Lord's Day Dec, 22. See the public Journal.]
Dec. 23. 24. Spent thefe days in writing, with the utmoft
diligence. Felt in the main a fweet mortification to the world
* This is the third houfe that he built to dwell in by himfelf among
the Indians ; the firft at Kaunameek in the county of Albany ; the fe-
tond at the Forks of Delaware In Penfylvania ; 'and now this at Crof-
sveekfung in New-Jerfey,
*96 THE LIFE OF A. D. 1746.
and a defire to live and to labour only for God j but wanted
more warmth and fpirituality, a more fenfible and affeclionate
regard to the glory of God.
[Dec. 25. See the public Journal.]
Dec. 26, and 27. Laboured in my fludieste the utmoft of
my ftrength , and though I felt a fteady difpofition of mind
to live to God, and that I had nothing in the world to live for,
yet I did not find that fenfible affe6Hon in the fervice of God,
that I wanted to have ; my heart feemed barren, though my
head and hands were full of labour.
[For the four next days fee his public Journal. J
Jan i. 1745-6. 1 am this day beginning a New Year 5
and God has carried me through numerous trials and labours
in the part. He has amazingly fupported my feeble frame ;
for " having obtained help of God, I continue to this day."
O that I might live nearer to God this year, than I did the
lail ! the bufinefs I have been called to, and enabled to go
through, I know, has been as great as nature could bear up
under, and what would have funk and overcome me quite,
without fpecial fupport. But alas, alas ! though I have done
the labours, and endured the trials, with what fpirit have I
done the one, and borne the other ? how cold has been the
frame of my heart oftentimes I and how little have I fenfibJy
eyed the glory of God, in all my doings and fuiterings ! I have
found I could have no peace without filling^ all my time
with labours ; and thus j " neceflity has been laid upon me,"
vea, in that refpecl, I have loved to labour -, but the mifery
is, I could not fenfibly labour for God, as I fliould have done.
May I for the future be enabled more fenfibly to make the glo-
ry of God my all f
[For the fpace from this time till the next Monday, fee the
public Journal.]
Jan. 6. Being very weal in body, I rode for my health.
While riding, my thoughts were fweetly engaged, for a time,
upon " the ftone cut out of the mountain without hands,
" which brake in pieces" all before it, and waxed great, and
" became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth j." ,
and I longed that Jefus mould " take to l>im his great power
u and rei^n to the ends of the earth'.' And Oh, how fweat
X.T. 28. MR DAVID BRAINERD.
I 97
were the moments, wherein I felt my foul warm with hopes
of the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom ! I wanted no-
thing elfe but that Chrift mould reign, to the glory of his
blefled name.
[The next day he complains of want of fervency. J
Jan. 8. In the evening, my heart was drawn out after God
in fecret j my foul was refrefhed and quickened, and I trull
faith was in exercife ; and I had great hopes of the ingather-
ing of precious fouls to Chrift, not only among my own peo-
ple, but others alfo. I was fweetly refigned and compofed
under my bodily weaknefs - 7 and was willing to live or die j
and defirous to labour for God to the utmofl of my ftrength.
Jan. 9. Was ftill very weak, and much exercifed with va-
poury diforders. In the evening enjoyed fome enlargement
and fpmtuality in prayer. Oh, that I could always fpend my
time profitably, both in health and weaknefs !
January 10. My foul was in a fweet, calm, compofed,
frame, and my heart filled with love to all the world -, and
Chriftian Simplicity and tendernefs feemed then to prevail and
reign within me. Near night, vifited a ferious baptift minif-
ter, and had fome agreeable converfation with him j and found
that I could tafte God in friends.
[For the four next days, fee his public Journal.]
Jan 15. My fpirits were very low and flat, and I could not
but think I was a burden to God's earth ; and could fcarce-
ly look any body in the face, through mame and fenfe of bar-
rennefs. God pity a poor unprofitable creature !
("The two next days he had fome comfort and refrefliment.
For the two following days, fee his public Journal.
The next day, he fet out on a journey to Elifabeth-Town,
to confer with the Correfpondents, at their meeting there;
and enjoyed much fpiritual refrefliment from day to day,
through this week. The things cxpreffed in this fpace of time,
are fuch as thefe, ferenity, compofure, fvveetnefs, and tender-
nels of foul y thankfgiving to God for his fuccefs among the
Indians j delight in prayer and praife ; fwset and profitable
meditations on various divine fubjecls ; longing for fome love,
for more vigour to live to Gee 1 , for -a life more entirely devo-
198 THE LIFE OF A. 0.1746.
ted to God, that he might fpend all his time profitably for
God and in his caufe. converting on fpiritual fubjels with af-
fection ; and lamentation for unprofitableneCs.
Lord's Day, Jan. 26. [At Connecticut farms] was calm and
compofed. Was made fenfible of my utter inability to preach
without divine help ; and was in fome good meafure willing
to leave it with God to give or with-hold affiftance as he faw
it would be moft for his own glory. Was favoured with a
confiderable degree of afiiftance in my public work. After
public wcrftiip I was in a fvveet and folemn frame of mind,
thankful to God that he had made me in fome meafure faithful
hi'addrefling precious fouls, but grieved that I had beenn more
fervent in my work j and was tenderly affected towards all
the world, longing that every finner might be faved j and
could not have entertained any bitternefs towards the worft e-
nemy living. In the evening, rode to Elifabeth-Town j while
riding, was almoft conftantly engaged in lifting up my heart to
God, left I (hould lofe that fweet heavenly foiemnity and com-
pofure of foul, I then enjoyed. Afterwards, was pleafed to
think, that God reigneth ; and thought that I never could
be uneafy with any of his difpenfations j but muft be en-
tirely fatisfied, whatever trials he mould caufe me or his
church to encounter. Never felt more fedatenefs, divine fere-
nity, and compofure of mind ; could freely have left the dear-
eft earthly friend, for the fociety of " angels, and fpirits of
" juft men made perfect :" My affections foared aloft to the
bleffed Author of every dear enjoyment. I viewed the empti-
nefs and unfatisfa&ory nature of the moft defirable earthly ob-
jects, any further than God is feeninTEtm j and longed for a life of
fpirituality and inward purity j without which, 1 faw there
could be no true pleafure.
[He retained a great degree of this excellent frame of mind,
the four next days. As to his public fervices for and among
the Indians, and his fuccefs in this time, fee the public Jour-
nal.]
Feb. I. Towards night, enjoyed fome of the cleared thoughts
on a divine fubjecl: (jut*, that treated of i Cor. xv. 13. 16 .)
that ever I remember to have had upon any fubje& whatfoeverj
JET. 28. MR DAVID B R A I N E R D. 199
and fpent two or three hours in writing them. I was refreftied
with this intenfenefs j my mind was fo engaged in thefe medi-
tations, I could fcarcely turn to any thing elfe ; and indeed I
could not be willing to part with fo fweet an entertainment.
Lord's Day, Feb. 2. Aftei public wormip, my bodily
ftrength being much fpent, my fpirits funk amazingly ; and
efpecially on hearing that I was fo generally taken to be a
Roman Catholic, fent by the Papifts to draw the Indians into
an infurre&ion againfl the Englifh, that fome were in fear of
me, and others were for having me taken up by authority,
and punimed. Alas ! what will not the devil do to bring a
flur and difgrace on the work of God ! Oh, how holy and cir-
cumfpecl had I need to be ! Through divine goodnefs, I have
been enabled to " mind my own bufinefs," in thefe parts, as
well as elfewhere j and to let all men, and all denominations
of men alone, as to their p arty-notions , and only preached
the plain and neceffary truths of Chnftianity, neither inviting
nor excluding any, of any fort or perfuafion whatsoever.-
Towards night, the Lord gave me freedom at the throne of
grace, in my firll prayer before my catechetical lefture r and
in opening the xlvith Pfalm to my people, my foul confided
in God, although the wicked world (hould (lander and perfe-
cute me, or even condemn and execute me as a traitq* to my
king and country. Truly God is a " prefent help in time
of trouble." In the evening, my foul wa? in fome meafure
comforted, having fome' hope that one poor foul was brought
home to God this day ^ tho' the cafe did by no means appear
clear. Oh that I could fill up every moment of time, during
my abode here below, in the fervice of my God and king.
Feb. 3. My fpirits were ftill much funk with what I heard
the day before, of my being fufpe6led to be engaged in the
Pretender's intereft ; it grieved me that after there had beenfo
much evidence of a glorious work of grace among thefe poor
Indians, as that the moft carnal men could not but take
notice of the great change made among them, fo many poor
fouls {hould flill fiifpecl the whole to be only a Popifh plot,
and fo caft an awful reproach on this bleiTed work of the di-
vine Spirit ; and at the fame time wholly exclude themfelves
from receiving any benefit by this divine iniluence. This put
2OO THE L I F E O F A. D. I 746
me upon fearching whether 1 had ever dropped any thing in-
advertently, that might give occaflon to any to fufpect that I
was itirring up the Indians againft the Englifli ; and could
think of nothing, ualefsit was attempting fometimes to vindi-
cate the rights of the Indians, and complaining of the horrid
practice of making the Indians drunk, and then cheating them
out of their lands and other properties j and once I remember-
ed, I had done this with too much warmth of fpirit. And
this much diftreffed mej thinking that this might poffibly pre-
judife them againft this work of grace, to their everlafling de-
flruction. God, I believe did me good by this trial j which
ferved to humble me, and {hew me the neceffity of watchful-
nefs, and of being '* wife as a ferpent," as well as " harmlefs
" as a dove." This exercife led me often to the throne of
grace ' 7 and there I found fome fupport \ though I could not
get the burden wholly removed. Was aflifted in prayer, ef-
pecially in the evening.
[He remained ilill under a degree of exercife of mind about
this affair j which continued to have the fame effect upon him,
to caufe him to reflect upon, and humble himfelf, and frequent
the throne of grace j but foon found himfelf much more reliev-
ed and fupported. He was this week in an extremely weak
ftate, afl/i obliged, as he expreffefs it, " to confumc time in di-
verfions for his health."
[For Feb. 7 and 8, fee his public Journal.]
[The Monday after he fet out on a journey to the Forks of
Delaware, to vifit the Indians there. He performed the jour-
ney under great weaknefs, and fometimes was exercifed with
much pain ; but fays nothing of dejection and melancholy. He
arrived at his own houfe at the Forks, on Friday. The things
appertaining to his inward frames and exercifes, expreffed
within this week, are fweet compofure of mind j thankful-
nefs to God for his mercies to him and others ; reflgnation to
the divine will ; comfort in prayer and religious converfation \
his heart drawn out after God, and affecled with a fenfc of his
own barrennefs, as well as the fulnefs and freenefs of divine
grace.]
LordPs Day, Feb. 16. In the evening, was in a fweet
compcfed frame of mind. It was exceeding refreshing and
JET. 28. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 2OI
comfortable to think that God had been with me, affording
me fome good meafure of afiiftance. I then found fieedom
and fweetnefs in prayer and thanksgiving to God ; and found
my foul fweetly engaged and enlarged "In prayer for dear
friends and acquaintance. Bleffed be the name of the Lord,
that ever I am enabled to do any thing for his dear intereil
and kingdom. Bleffed be God who enables me to be faithful.
Enjoyed more refolution and courage for God, and more re-
frefiiment of fpirit, than I have been favoured with for many
weeks paft.
Feb. 17. 1 was refrefhed and encouraged ; found afpi-
rit of prayer, in the evening, and earned longings for the illu-
mination and converlion of the poor Indians.
[Feb. 18. See the public Journal.]
Feb. 19. My heart was comforted and refreflied, and
my foul filled with longings for the coaverlion of the Indians
here.
Feb. 20. God was pleafed to fupport and refrefli my
fpirits, by affording me fome affiftance this day, and fo hopeful
a profpecl of fuccefs j and I returned home rejoicing, and
blcffing the name of the Lord ; found freedom and fweet-
nefs afterwards in fee ret prayer, and had my foul drawn out
for dear friends. Oh, how bleffed a thing is it, to labour for
God faithfully, and with encouragement of fuccefs ! Bleffed be
the Lord for ever and ever, for the afliftance and comfort
granted this day.
Feb. 21; My foul was refrefhed and comforted, and I
could not but blefs God, who had enabled me in fome good-
meafure to be faithful in the day paft. Oh, how fweet it is
to be fpent and worn out for God I
Feb. 22. My fpirits were much fupported, though my
bodily ftrength was much wafted. Oh that God would be<
gracious to the fouls of thefe poor Indians !
God has been vsry gracious tome this week y he has ena-
bled me to preach every day ; and has given me fome aflift-
ance, and encouraging profpecl of fuccefs, in almoft every fer-
mon. Bleffed be his name. Divers of the white people have
Deen awakened this week, and fundry of the Indians cured of*
Cc
202 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1746.
their piejudices and jealoufies they had conceived againft
Chriftianity j and fome feem to be really awakened.
Lord's Day, Feb. 23. [See the public Journal.
The next day., he left the Forks of Delaware, to return to
Crofweekfung ; and fpent the whole week till 'Saturday, before
he arrived there ^ but preached by the way eveiy day, excep-
ting one j and was feveral times greatly afilfted and had
much inward comfort and earneft longings to fill up all his
time with the fervice of God. He utters fuch expreffions as
thefe, after preaching : " O that I may be enabled to plead
" the caufe of God faithfully, to my dying moment ! Oh how
<{ fweet it would be to fpend myfelf wholly for God, and in
" his caufe, and to be fre-ed from felfifh motives in my la-
" bours !"
March I and 2. fee the public Journal. The four next
d^iys were fpent in great bodily weaknefs j but he fpeaks of
confiderable inward comfort.]
March 6. I walked alone in the evening, and enjoyed fweet-
nefs and comfort in prayer, beyond what I have of late enjoy-
ed j my foul rejoiced in my pilgrimage ftate, and I was delight-
ed with the thoughts of labouring and enduring hardnefs for
God : felt fome longing defires to preach the gofpel to dear
immortal fouls j and confided in God that he would be with
me in my work, and that he " never would leave me nor for-
" fake me," to the end of my race. Oh, may I obtain mer-
" cy of God to be faithful," to my dying moment !
March 7. In the afternoon, went on in my work with free-
dom and cheerfulnefs, God afiifting me j and enjoyed comfort
in the evening.
[For the two next days, fee the public Journal.]
March 10. My foul was refrefhed with freedom and
enlargement, and (I hope) the lively exercife of faith, in fe-
ciet prayer, this night ; my will was fweetly refigued to the
divine will, and my hopes refpe&ing the enlargement of the
dear kingdom of Chrift fome what raifed, and could commit
Zion's caufe to God as his own.
[On Tuefday, he fpeaks of fome fweetnefs and fpirituality
in Chriftian converfation. On Weclnefday complains that he
efijoyed not much comfort aod fatisfaclion through the daVj
^ET 28. MR DAVID ERAINERD. 203
becaufe he did but little for God. On Thurfday, fpent confi-
derable time in company, on a fpecial occafion ; but in per-
plexity, becaufe without favoury religious converfation. tor
Friday, Saturday, and Lord's Day, fee the public Journal.
In the former part of the week following he was very ill ^
and alfb under great dtje6tion , being, as he apprehended,
rendered unferviceable by hi > Lllnefs, and fearing he (hould ne-
ver be fervieeable any more j and therefore exceedingly long-
ed for death. But afterwards was more encouraged, and life ap-
peared more defirable , becaufe (as he fays) he " had a little
dawn of hope, that he might be ufeful in the world." In the
latter part of the week, he was in fome meafure relieved from,
his illnefs, in ufe of means prefcribed by a phyfician.
For March 22. and 23. See his public Journal.]
March 24. After the Indfans were gone to their work,
to clear their lands, I got alone, and poured out my foul to
God, that he would fmile upon thefe feeble beginnings, and
that he would fettle an Indian town, that might be a moun-
tain of holinefs j and found my foul much refrefhed in thefe
petitions, and much enlarged for Zion's intereft, and for num-
bers of dear friends in particular. My finking fpirit was re-
vived and raifed, and I felt animated in the fervice God has
called me to. This was the deareft hour I have enjoyed for
many days, if not weeks. I found an encouraging hope, that
fomething would be done for God, and that God would ufe
and help me in his work. And Oh, how fweet were the
thoughts of labouring for God, when I felt any fpirit and cou-
rage, and had any hope that ever I (hould be fuccefsful !
[The next day his fchoolmafter was taken fick with a pleu-
rify 5 and he fpent great part of the remainder of this vyeek
in tending him j which in his weak flate was ahnoft an over-
bearing burden to him he being obliged conHantly to wait
upon him, all day, from day to day, and to lie on the floor at
night. His fpirits funk in a confiderable degree, with his bo-
dily ilrength, under his burden.
For March 29 and 30, fee the public Journal.]
March 31. Towards night enjoyed lone fweet mediations
on thefe words : " It is good for me to dr?.w near to God. 7 '
My foul I think had fonie fw.eetjjenfe of what is intended La
words-
2O4 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1746.
[The next day, he was extremely bufy in tending the fchool-
mafter, and in fome other neceffary affairs,. that greatly divert-
ed him from what he looked upon as his proper bufinefs ; but
yet fpeaks of comfort and refrefhment at fome parts of the
day.] ,
April 2. Was fomewhat exereifed with a fpiritlefs frame
of mind. Was a little relieved and refremed in the evening,
with meditation alone in the woods. But alas ! my days pafs
away as the chaff! it is but little I do, or can do, that turns to
any account ; it is my conftant mifery and burden, that I am
fo fruitlefs in the vineyard of the Lord. O that I were fpirit,
that I might be active for God. This (1 think) more than
any thing elfe, makes me long, that " this corruptible might
*' put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality."
God deliver me from clogs, fetters, and a body of death, that
impede my fervice for him.
[The next day he complains bitterly of fome exercifcs by
corruption he found in his own heart,]
April 4. Spent moft of the day in writing on Rev. xxii.
17. " And whofoevei- will," &c. Enjoyed fome freedom
and encouragement in my work j and found fome comfort and
compofure in prayer.
April 5. After public worfhip a number of my dear
Chriflian Indians came to rny houfe j with whom I felt a fweet
union of foul : my heart was knit to them , and I cannot fay,
I have felt fuch fweet and fervent love to the brethren for fome
time pall : and I faw in them appearances of the fame love-
This gave me fomething'of a view of the heavenly ftate j and
particularly that part of the happinefs of heaven, which con-
iifis in the communion of faints ; and this was affecting to me*
[For the two next days, fee the public Journal.
On Tuefday, he went to a meeting of the PrefLytery ap-
pointed at Elifabeth Town. In his way thither, he enjoyed
fome fweet meditations ; but after he came there, he was (as
he expreffes it) very vapoury and melancholy, and under an
awful gloom that opprefled his mind. And tltis continued
till Saturday evening, when he began to have fome relief and
encouragement; He fpent the Sabbath at Staten-lflcmd ;
where he preached to an aflembly of Dutch and Englifh, and
:&T. 29. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 205
enjoyed confiderable refrefhment and comfort, both in public
and private. In the evening he returned to Elifabeth-Town.}
April 14. My fpirits this day were raifed and refrefhed,
and nsy mind compofed, fo that I was in a comfortable frame
of foul, moft of the day. In the evening my head was clear,
my mind ferene ; I enjoyed fweetnefs in fecret prayer, and
meditation on Pfal. Ixxiii. 28. Oh, how free, how comfort-
able, chearful, and y. t folemn, do I feel when I am in a good
meafure freed from thcfe damps and melancholy glooms, that
I often labour under ! And blefled be the Lord, I find myfelf
relieved in this refpeft.
April 15. My foul longed for more fpirituality ; and it was
my burden that I could do no more for God. Oh, my bar-
rennefs is my daily affliction and heavy load ! Oh, how preci-
ous is time : and how it pains me, to fee it flide away, while I
dofo very little to any good purpofe ! Oh that God would
make me more fruitful and fpiritual.
[The next day, he fpeaks of his being almoft overwhelmed
with vapoury diforders - y but yet not fo as wholly to deftroy
the compofure of his mind. 3
April 17. Enjoyed fome comfort in prayer, fome freedom
in meditation, and compofure in my ftudies. Spent fonae time
in writing, in the forenoon. In the afternoon, fpent fome
time in converfation with feveral dear minifters. In the even-
ing, preached from PfaL Ixxiii. 28, " But it is good for me to
draw near to God." God helped me to feel the truth of my
text, both in the firft prayer ynd in the fermon. I was en-
abled to pour out my foul to God, with greet freedom, fer-
vency, and affection j 'and bleffed be the Lord, it was a com-
fortable feafon to me. I was enabled to fpeak with tender-
nels, and yet with faithfulnefs j and divine truths feemed to
fall with weight and influence upon the hearers. My heart
was melted for the dear affembly, and I loved every body in
it j and fcarce ever felt more love to immortal foui's in my
life j my foul cr: d, " O that the dear creatures might be fa-
" ved ! O that God would have mercy on them."
[He feems to have been in a very comfortable frame of
mind the two next days.]
Lord's Day. April 20. * Enjoyed fome freedom, and I
* This day he entered into the >th year of his age.
1C-6 t H t I I F E O F A.D.I 746
hope, excrcife of faith in prayer, in the morning j efpecially
when I carne to pray for Zion. I was free from that gloomy
difcourage'nient, that fo often oppreffes my mind j and my
foul rejoiced ifi the hopes of Zion's profperity, and the en-
largement of the dear kingdom of the great Redeemer. O
that his kingdom might come !
April 21. Was compofed and comfortable in mind, moft
of the day j was mercifully freed from thofe gloomy damps
that I am frequently exercifed with j had freedom and comfort
in prayer feveral times j efpecially had fome rifing hopes of
enlargement and profperity. And Oh, how refrefhing were
thefe hopes to my foul ! Oh that the kingdom of the dear
Lord might come ! Oh that the poor Indians might quickly
be gathered in, in great numbers !
April 22. My mind was remarkably free, this day, from,
melancholy damps and glooms, arid animated in my work. I
found fuch frefh vigour and refolution in the fervice of God,
that the mountains feemed to become a plain before me. Oh,
bleffed be God for an interval of refreshment, and fervent re-
folution in my Lord's work! In the evening, my foul was re-
frelhed in fecret prayer, and my heart drawn out for divine
bleflings j efpecially for the church of God, and his intereft
among my own people, and for dear friends in remote places.
Oh that Zion might profper, and precious fouls be brought
home to God !
[In this comfortable fervent frame of mind he remained the
two next days,
For the four days next following, viz. Friday, Saturday,
Lord's Day, and Monday, fee his public Journal. On
Tuefday he went to Elifabeth-Town, to attend the meeting
of the Prefbytefy there j and feemed to fpend the time while
abfent from his people on this occauon, in a free and comfort-
able flate of mind.)
May 3. Rode from Elifabeth-Town home to my people,
at or near Cranberry j whither they are now removed, and
where, I hope, God will fettle them as a Chriftian congrega-
tion. Was refreflied in lifting up my heart to God, while
riding j and enjoyed a thankful frame of fpirit, for divine fs-
vours received the week paft. Was fome what uneafy and de-
JET. 2O. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 2O
jeftecl, in the evening having no houfe of my own to go into
in this place j but God was my fupport.
(For Lard's Day and Monday, fee the public Journal.)
May 6. Enjoyed fome fpirit and courage in my work j
was in a good meafurefree from melancholy j blelTed be God
for freedom from this death.
May 7. Spent mod of the day in writing, as ufual. En-
joyed fome freedom in my work. Was favoured with fome
comfortable meditations, this day. In the evening, was in a
fweet conappfed frame of mind j was pleafed and delighted to
leave all with God, refpedling myfelf, for time and eternity,
and refpecling the people of my charge, and dear friends j
had no doubt but that God would take care of me, and of his
own intereft among my people j and was enabled to ufe free-
dom in prayer, as a child with a tender father. Oh, how fweet
is fuch a frame !
May 8. In the evening, was fome what refrcmed with di-
vine things, and enjoyed a tender melting frame in fecret pray-
er, wherein my foul was drawn out ,for the intereft of Zion,
and comforted with the lively hope of the appearing of the
kingdom of the great Reedemer. Thefe were fweet moments j
I felt almoft loth to go to bed, and grieved that fieep was ne-
ceiTary. However I lay down with a tender reverential fear
of God, fenfible that " his favour is life," and his fmiles better
than all that earth can boaft of, infinitely better than life it-
felf.
[May 9. See the public Journal.)
May 10. Rode to AllenVTown, to aflift in the adminif-
tratlon of the Lord's fupper. In the afternoon preached from
Tit.ii. 14, *' Who gave hiiiifelf for us,' '&c. God was plea-
fed to carry me through with fome competency of freedom ,
and yet to deny me that enlargement and power I longed for.
In the evening, ray foul mourned, and could not but mourn,
that I had treated fo excellent a fubjecl: info defective a manner,
that I had borne fo broken a teflimony for fo worthy and glori-
ous a Redeemer. And if my difcourfe had met with the ut-
moft applaufe from all the world, (as I accidentally heard it
applauded by fome pcrfons of judgment,) it wouldnot have giv-
en me any fatisfa&ion. Oh ! it grieved me to think that I had
20$ THE LIFE OF A. Dv 1746.
liad no more jboly warmth and fervency that I had been no
more melted in difcourfing of Chrilt's death, and the end and
defign of it t Afterwards had fome freedom and fervency in fe-
cret arid family prayer, and longed much for the prefence of
God to attend his word and ordinances the next day.
' May 1 1. Affifted in the adminiftration of rhe Lord's fup-
per ; but enjoyed little enlargement : was grieved and funk
with fome things I thought undeiirable, &c. In the after-
noon went to the houfe of God weak and fick in foul, as well
as feeble in body j and longed that the people might be en-
teitained and edified with divine truths, and that an honeft
Fervent teftimony might be borne for God ; but knew not
how it was poilible for me to do any thing of that kind, to a-
ny good purpofe. Yet God, who is rich in mercy, was plea-
fed to give me assiiiance both in prayer and preaching 5 God
helped me to wreftle for his prefence, in prayer, and to tell
him, that he had promifed, " Vvi ere two ori T :ree are met
" together in his name, that he would be in the micffl of them j"
and that we were, at leaft fome of us, fo met j and pleaded
that for his truth's fake he would be with us. And bleffed be
God, it was fweet to my foul, thus to plead, and rely on God's
promifes. Difcourfed upon Luke ix. 30. 51, " And behold^
" there talked with him two men, which were Mofes and E-
" lias j who appeared in glory, and fpake of his deceafe which
" he fliould accomplifli at Jerufalem." Enjoyed fpecial free-
dom, from the beginning to the end of my difcourfe, without
interruption. Things pertinent to the fubjecl: were abundant-
ly reprefented to my view 5 and fuch a fulnefs of matter, that
I fcarce knew how to difmifs the various heads and particu-
lars I had occafion to touch upon. And, bleffed be the Lord,
I was favoured w r ith fome fervency and power, as \vell as free-
dom ; fo that the word of God feemed to awaken the atten-
tion of a ftupid audience, to a confiderable degree. I was in-
wardly refrefhed with the confolations of God j and could
with my whole heart fay, " Though there be no fruit in the
" vine, &c. yet I will rejoice in the Lord-" After public
fervice, was refrefhed with the/weet converfation of fome cku -
Chriftian friends.
29. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 209
[The four next days feem to have been moftly fpent with
fpiritiial comfort and profit. J
May 1 6. Near night enjoyed fome agreeable and fweet
converfation with a dear minitier, which, I truft, was bleffed
to my foul : my heart was warmed, and my foul engaged to
live to God ; fo that I longed to exert myfelf with more vi-
gour than ever I had done in his caufe : and thofe words
were quickening to me, " Herein is my Father glorified, that
"ye bring forth much fruit." Oh, my foul longed, and wifh-
ed, and prayed to be enabled to live to God with utmoit con-
ftancy and ardour ! In the evening, God was pleated to
fhine upon me in fecret prayer, and draw out my foul after
himfelfj and I had freedom in fupplication for myfelf. but
much more in intercefiion for others 5 fo that I was fweetly
conitrained to fay, " Lord, ufe me as thou wilt j do as thou
" wilt with me j but Oh, promote thine own caufe ! Zion
" is thine ; ;p vint thine heritage ! Oh let thy kingdom come !
" Oh let thy bleffed intereft be advanced in the world!"
When I attempted to look to God, refpe&ing my worldly cir-
cumilances, and his providential dealings with me, in regard
of my fettling down in my congregation, which feems to be ne-
ceffary, and yet very difficult, and contrary to my fixed inten-
tion for years paft, as well as my difpofition, which has been,
and ftill is, at times efpecially, to go forth, and fpend my life
in preaching the gofpel from place to place, and gathering
fouls afar off to JESUS the great Redeemer ; when I attempt-
ed to look to God with regard to thefe things, and his defigns
concerning me, I could only fay " The will of the Lord be
" done j it is no matter for me." The fame frame of mind I felt
with refpecl: to another important affair 1 have lately had
fome ferious thoughts of ^ I could fay with utmoft calmnefs
and compofure, " Lord, if it be moft for thy glory, let me pro-
" ceed in it j but if thou feeft that in any wife it will hinder
" my ufefuinefs in thy caufe, Oh prevent my proceeding :
" for all I want refpe&ing this world is fuch circumitances
" as may beft capacitate me to dofervlcefor God in the world."
But bleffed be God, I enjoyed liberty in prayer for my dear
flock, and was enabled to pour out my foul into the bofom
of a tender Father 5 my heart within me was melted, when I
Dd
2IO THE LIFE OF A.D. 1746.
came to plead for my dear people, and for the kingdom of
Chrift in general. Oh, how fweet was this evening to my foul !
I knew not how to go to bed j and when got to bed, longed
for fome way to improve time for God, to fome excellent pur-
pofe. " Blefs the Lord, O my foul."
May 17. Walked out in the morning, and felt much of
the fame frame I enjoyed in the evening before : had my heart
ealarged in praying for the advancement of the kingdom of
Chrift, and found utmoft freedom in leaving all my concerns
with God*
I find difcouragtment to be an exceeding hindrance to my
fpiritual fervency and afiedVon ; but when God enables me
fenfibly to-find that I have done fomething for him, this re-
frefhes and animates me, fo that I could break through all
hardships, undergo any labours, and nothing feeras too much
cither to do or fuffer. But Oh, what a death it is, to ftrive,
and ftrive > 7 to be always in a hurry, and yet to do nothing, or
at leaft to do nothing for God ! Alas, alas, that time flies a-
way, and I do fo little for God . r
Lord's Day, May 18. I felt my own utter infufficiency
for my work : God made me to fee that I was a child ; yea,
that I was a fool. I difcourfed, both parts of the day, from
Rev. iii. 20. " Behold I ftand at the door, and knock."
God gave me freedom and power in the latter part of my
(forenoon's) difcourfe ; although, in the former part of it,
I felt peeviih and provoked with the unmannerly behaviour
of the white people, who crouded in between my people and
me ' 9 which proved a great temptation to me. But blefled
be God, I got thefe fliackles off before the middle of my dif-
courfe, and was favoured with a fweet frame of fpirit in the
latter part of the exereife j was full of love, warmth, and
tendernefs, in addrefling my dear people. In the intermiffion
feafon, could not but difcourfe to my people on the kindnefs
and patience of Chrift in ftanding and knocking at the door,
&.C. In the evening, I was grieved, that I had done fo little
for God. Oh that I could be a flame of fire in the fervice of
my God !
[May 19. Sec the public Journal.]
JET. 29. MR DAVID B R A I N E R D. 211
On Tuefday, he complains of want of freedom and comfort?
but had fome return of thefe on Wednefday.]
May 22. In the evening, was in a frame fomewhat re-
markable ; had apprehended for feveral days before, that it
was the defign of providence I mould fettle among my peo-
ple here : and had in my own mind begun to make provifion
for it, and to contrive means to haften it j and found in my
heart fomething engaged in it, hoping I might then enjoy
more agrseabb circumftances of life, in feveral refpecls j
and yet was never fully determined, never quite pleafed with
the thoughts of being confined to one place. Neverthelefs I
feemed to have fome freedom in that refpeft, becaufe the con-
gregation I thought of fettling with, was one that God had e-
nabled me to gather from amongft Pagans. For I, never lincc
I began to preach, could feel any freedom to " enter into o
" ther men's labours," and fettle down in the miniflry where
the " gofpel was preached before j I never could make that
appear to be my providence. When I felt any difpoiition to
confult my eafe and worldly comfort, God has never given
me any liberty in that refpeft, either iince, or for fome years
before 1 began to preach, but God having fucceeded my la-
bours, and made me inflrumental of gathering a church for
him among the Indians, I was ready to think, it might be his
defign to give me a quiet fettlement and a ftated home of my.
own. And this, confidering the late frequent linking and fail-
ure of ray fpirits, and the need I flood in of fome agreeable
fociety, and my great defire of enjoying conveniences and op-
portunities for profitable (ladies, was not altogether difagree-
able to me - 7 although I ftill wanted to go about far and wide,
in order to fpread the bleffed gofpel among benighted fouls
far remote j yet I never had been fo willing to fettle in any
one place for more than five years paft, as I was in the fore-
going part of this week. But now thefe thoughts feemed to
be wholly dafhed in pieces j not by neceflity, but of choice :
for it appeared to me, that God's dealings towards me had fit-
ted me for a life of folitarinefs and hardfhip ; it appeared to
me I had nothing to lofe, nothing to do with earth, and con-
fequently nothing to lofe by a total renunciation of it : and it
appeared juft right that I fhould be deftitute of houfe and
home, and many comforts of life, which I rejoiced to fee o-
212 THE "LIFE 'OF A. D. 1746.
thers of God's people enjoy. And at the fame time, 1 faw
fo much of the excellency of Chrift's kingdom, and the infi-
nite defirablenefs of its advancement in the world, that it
fwallowed up all my other thoughts : and made me willing,
yea, even rejoice, to be made a pilgrim or hermit in the wil-
dernefs to my dying moment, if I might thereby promote the
bleffed intereft of the great Redeemer. And if ever my foul
prefented itfelf to God for his fcrvice, without any rcferve of
any kind, it did fo now. The language of my thoughts and
difpofitipn (although I fpake no words) now were, " Here I
" am, Lord, fend me ; fend me to the ends of the earth ; fend
** me to the rough, the favage Pagans of the wildernefs , fend
" me from all that is called comfort in earth, or earthly com-
" fort 5 fend me even to death itfelf, if it be but in thy fervice
" and to promote thy kingdom." And at the fame time I
had as quick and lively a fenfe of the value of worldly com-
forts as ever I had ; but only faw them infinitely overmatch-
ed by the worth -of Chrift's kingdom, and the propagation of
his bleffed gofpel. The quiet fettlement, the certain place of a-
bode,the tender friendfhrp, which I thought I might be likely to
enjoy in confequence of fuch circumftances, appeared as valu-
able to me, confidered abfolutely and in themfelves, as ever
before; but confidered comparatively, they appeared nothing,
compared with the enlargement of Chrift's kingdom, they van-
ilhed like the ftars before the rifing fun. And fure I am, that
although the comfortable aceomodations of life appeared va-
luable and dear to me, yet I did fu-rrender and refign myfelf
foul and body to the fervice of God, and promotion of Chrift's
kingdom j though it fliould be in the lofs of them all. And I
could not do any other, becaufe I could not will or chufe any o-
ther. I was conftrained, and yet chofe to fay, " Farewell,
" friends and earthly comforts, the deareft'of them all, the ve-
" ry deareft, if the Lord calls for it - 7 adieu, adieu : I'll fpend
" my life to my lateft moments, in caves and dens of the
" earth, if the kingdom of Chrift may thereby be advanced.'*
I found extraordinary freedom at this time in pouring out my
foul to God, for his caufe j and efpeciaJly that his kingdom
might be extended among the Indians far remote j and I had
a great and fhrong hope, that God would do it. I continued
29. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 213
wreilling with God in prayer fcv my dear little flock here j
and more efpecially for the Indians elfewhere j as well as foir
dear friends in one place and another ; till it was bed time,
and I feared I fhould hinder the family, &c. But Oh, with
what reluftancy did I find myfelf obliged to confume time in
ileep ! I longed to be a flame of fire, continually glowing in
the divine fervice, preaching and building up Chrift's kingdom,
to my lateft, my dying moment.
May 23. In the morning, was in the fame frame of mind,
as in the evening before. The glory of Chrift's kingdom fo
much outfhone the pleafure of earthly accommodations and en-
joyments, that they appeared comparatively nothing, though
in themfelves good and defirable. My foul was melted in fe-
cret meditation and prayer, and I found myfelf divorced from
any part in this world ; fo that in thofe affairs that fcemed of
the greateft importance to me, in refpeft of the prefent life,
and thofe wherein the tender powers of the mind are mod fen-
fibly touched, I could only fay, " The will of the Lord be
done." But juft the fame things that I felt the evening before,
I felt now j and found the fame freedom in prayer for the
people of my charge, for the propagation of the gofpel among
the Indians, and for the enlargement and fpiritual welfare of
Zion in general, and my dear friends in particular, now, as
I did then; and longed to burn out in .one continued tiarae
for God. Retained much of the fame' frame through the
day In the evening, was vilited by my brother John Brai-
nerd : the firft vifit I have ever received from any near rela-
tive, fince I have been a miflionary. Felt the fame frame of
fpirit in the evening as in the morning j and found that " it was
good for me to draw near to God," and leave all my con-
cerns and burdens with him. Was enlarged and refre(hed in
pouring out my foul for the propagation of the gofpel of the
Redeemer among the diftant tribes of Indians. Bleffed be
God. If ever I filled up a day with ftudies and devotion, I
was enabled fo to fill up this day.
May 24. Enjoyed this day fomething of the fame frame
of mind as I felt the day before.
[Lord's Day, May 25. See the public Journal.
214 THELIFEOF A.D. 1746.
This vreek, at leatl the former part of it, he was in a very
weak ftate : but yet Teems to have been free from melancholy,
\vhich often had attended the failing of his bodily ftrength.
He from time to time fpeaks of comfort and inward refrefti-
ment this week.
[Lord's Day, June i. See the public Journal.]
June 2. In the evening, enjoyed fome freedom in fecret
prayer and meditation.
June 3. My foul rejoiced, early in the mornirg, to think,
lhat all things were at God's difpofal. Oh, it pleafed me to
leave them there ! Felt afterwards much as I did, on Thurf-
day evening laft, May 22 ; and continued in this frame for fe-
veral hours. Walked out into the wildernefs, and enjoyed
freedom, fervency, and comfort, in prayer ; and again enjoyed
the fame in the evening.
June 4. Spent the day in writing, and enjoyed fome comfort,
fatis r a&ion, and freedom in my work. In the evening, I was
favoured with a fweet refrefliing frame of foul in fecret prayer
and jtneditation. Prayer was now wholly turned into praife,
nd I could do little elfe but try to adore and blefs the living
God : the wonders of his grace difplayed in gathering to him-
felf a church among the poor Indians here, were the fubjecl-
raatter of my meditation, and the occafion of exciting my foul
to praife and blefs his name. My foul was fcarce ever more
difpofed to inquire, " What I fhould render to God for all
" his benefits," than at this time. Oh, I was brought into a
ilrait, a fweet and happy ftrait, to know what to do ! I longed
to make fome returns to God j but found I have nothing to
return ; I could only rejoice, that God had done the work
himfelf ; and that none in heaven or earth might pretend to
fhare the honour of it with him j I could only be glad, that
God's declarative glory was advanced by the conversion of
thefe fouls, and that it was for the enlargement of his kingdom
in the world ; but faw I was fo poor, that I had nothing to of-
fer to him. My foul and body through grace, I could cheer-
fully furrenderto him j but it appeared to me, this was rather
a cumber, than a gift j and nothing could I do to glorify his
dear and bleffed name. Yet I was glad at heart, that he was
unchangeably poffeffed of glory and blefiednefs. Oh that he
&T. 2. MR DAVID B R A I N E R D. 215
might be adored and praifed by all his intelligent creatures,
to the utmoft cf their power and capacities ! My foul would
have rejoiced to fee others praife him, tho' I could do nothing
towards it myfelf.
[The next day he fpeaks of his being fubjeS to fome degree
of melancholy j but of being fomething relieved in the even-
ing.
June 6. See the public Journal.]
June 7. Rode to Freehold to affift Mr Tennent in the
adminiftration of the Lord's fupper. In the afternoon, preach-
ed from Pfal. ixxiii. 28. God gave me fome freedom and
warmth in my difcourfe j and 1 truft, his prefence was in the
arTembly . Was comfortably ccmpofed, and enjoyed a thankful
frame of fpirit j and my foul was grieved that I could not ren-
der fomething to God for his benefits beftowed. Oh that I
could be (Wallowed up in his praife !
Lord's Day, June 8. Spent much time, in the morning, in
fecret duties j but between hope and fear, refpecting the en-
joyment of God in the bufinefs of the day then before us. Was
agreeably entertained, in the forenoon, by a difcourfe from
Mr Tennent, and felt fomewbat melted and refre(hed. In the
feafon of communion, enjoyed fome comfort ; and efpeciallv in
ferving one of the tables. Bleffed be the Lord, it was a time
cf refreshing to me and I truft to many others. A number of
toy dear people fat down by themfelves at the laft table ; at
which time God feemed to be in the midil of them.
And the thoughts of what God had done among them were
refre&ing and melting to me. In the afternoon, God ena-
bled me to preach with from 2 Cor. v. 2C.
Through the great goodnels of God, I was favoured with t
conftant flow of pertinent matter, and p-oper expreflions,
from the beginning to the end of this difcourfe. In the even-
ing, I could not but rejoice in God, and blef> him for the ma-
nifertations of grace in the day paft. Oh. it was a fweet and
folemu day and even'ng ! a fesfon of comfort to the godly,
and of awakening to fome fouls. Oh that I could praife the
Lord !
June 9. Enjoyed foine fweetnefs in fecret duties.
Preached "the concluding feriaoa from Gen, v. 24. " And
2l6 THE LIFE OF A. 0.1746.
" Enoch walked with God," &c. God gave me enlargement
and fervency in my difcourfe j fo that I was^enabled to fpeak
with plainnefs and power 5 aad God's pei'cfnce feemed to be
in thejaflembly. Praifed be the Lord, it was a fweet meet-
ing, a delirable afiembly. I found my ftrength renewed, and
lengthened out even to a wonder ; fo that I felt much flrong-
er at the conclufion than in the beginning of this facramental
folemnity. I have great reafon to blefs God for this folem-
nity, wherein I have found afliftance in addrefling others, and
fweetnefs in my own foul.
[On Tuefday, he found himfelf fpent, and his fpirits ex-
haufted by his late labours ; and on Wednefday, complains of
vapoury diforders and dejection of fpiiit, and of enjoying but
little comfort or fpirituality.]
June 12. In the evening, enjoyed freedom of mind, and
fome fweetnefs in fecret prayer j it was a defirablc feafon to
me 5 my foul was enlarged in prayer for my own dear peo-
ple, and for the enlargement of Chrift's kingdom, and efpeci-
ally for the propagation of the gofpel among the Indians
back in the wildernefs. Was refremed in prayer for dear
friends in New-England, and elfewhere j I found it fweet to
pray at this time ; and could with all my heart fay, " It is
" good for me to draw near to God."
June 13. I came away from the meeting of the Indians,
this day, rejoicing and ble fling God for his grace manifefted
at this feafon.
June 14. Rode to Kingfton, to aflift the Rev. Mr Wales
in the adminiftration of the Lord's fupper. In the afternoon
preached, but almoft fainted in the pulpit j yet God ftrength-
ened me when I was juft gone, and enabled me to fpeak his
word with freedom, fervency, and application to the confci-
ence. And praifed be the Lord , " out of weaknefs I was
made ftrong," I enjoyed fome fweetnels, in and after public
worlhip j but was extremely tired. O how many are the
mercies of the Lord ! " To them that have no might, he in-
" creafeth ftrength."
Lord's Day, June 15. Was in a dejected fpiritlefs frame,
fo that I could not hoJd up my head, or lock any body in the
face. Adrnjniflej-ea the Lord's fupper at Mr Wales's defire ;
JET, 29. MRDAVIDBRAINERD. 21 J
and found myfelf in a good meafure unburdened and relie-
ved of my preffing load, when I came to afk a bleflingon the
elements ; here God gave me enlargement, and a tender affec-
tionate fenfe of fpiritual things j fo that it was a feafon of com-
fort, in fome meafure, to me, and I truft more fo to others. In
the affernoon, preached to a vaft multitude, from Rev, xxii.
17. " And whofoever will," &c. God helped me to offer
a teflimony for himfelf, and to leave finners inexcufable in
neglecling his grace. I was enabled to fpeak with firch free-
dom, fluency, and chearfulnefs, as commanded the attention
of the great. Was extremely tired, in the evening, but en-
joyed compofure and fvveetnefs.
June 1 6. Preached again ; and God helped me amazing-
ly, fo that this was a fweet refrefhing feafon to my foul and o-
thers. Oh, for ever bleffed be God for help afforded at this
time, when my body was fo weak, and while.there was fo large
an affembly to hear. Spent the afternoon in a comfortable a-
greeable manner.
[The next day was fpent comfortably.
On Wednefday, he went to a meeting of miniftcrs at Hope-
well.
June 19. See his public Journal*,
On Friday and Saturday, he was very much amifs 5 but
yet preached to his people on Saturday, His illneis continu-
ed on the Sabbath j but he preached notwithftanding, to his
people, both parts of the day j aed after the public worfhip
ivas ended, he endeavoured to apply divine truths to the con-
fciences of fome, and addreffed them perfonally for that end j
feveral were in tears, and fome apeared much affefled. But he was
extremely weaned with the fervices of the day, and was fo ill at
night, that he could have no bodily reft j but remarks, that
" God was his fupport, and that he was not left detfitute of
" comfort in him." On Monday, he continued very ill ; but
fpeaks of his mind being calm and compofed, refigned to the
divine difpenfations, and content with his feeble {late. And
by the account he gives of himfelf, the remaining part of this
* . The public Journal concludes with the account of this day.
Ee
THE LIFE OF A. D. 1746,
week, he continued very feeble, and for the moft part deje&-
ed in mind, and enjoyed no great freedom nor fweetnefs in fpi-
ritual things -, excepting that for fome very ftiort fpaces of
time he had refrefhment and encouragement, which engaged
his heart on divine things ; and fometimes his heart was melt-
ed with fpiiitual affection.]
June 29. Preached, both parts of the day, from John xiv.
29. *' Yet a little while, and the world feeth me no more,"
&c. God was pleafed to aflift me, to afford me both freedom
and power, efpecially towards the clofe of my difcourfes, both
forenoon and afternoon. God's power appeared in the aflembly
in both exercifes. Numbers of God's people were refrefhed and
melted with divine things ; one or two comforted, who had
long been under diftrefs^ convictions, in divers inftances,
powerfully revived, and one man in years much awakened, who
had not long frequented our meeting, and who appeared be
fore as ftupJd as a flock. God amazingly renewed and
lengthened out my ftrength. I was fo fpent at noon*
that I could fcaice wark, and all my joints trembled j fo
that I could not fit, nor fo much as hold ray hand ftill j
and yet God flrengthened me to preach with power in the af-
ternoon j although I had given out word to my people, that
I did not expect to be able to do it. Spent fome time after-
wards in converfing, particularly with feveral perfons, about
their fpiritual ftate ; and had fome fatisfaftion concerning one
or two. Prayed afterwards with a fick child, and gave a word
of exhortation. Was assifted in all my work. Bleffed be God.
Returned home with more health than I went out with j al-
though my linen was wringing wet upon me, from a little af-
ter ten in the morning till paft five in the afternoon. My
fpirits alfo were coniiderably refrefhed *, and my foul rejoiced
in hope, that I had through grace done fomething for God.
In the evening walked out, and enjoyed a fweet.feafon in pray-
er and praife. But Oh, I found the truth of the Pfalmiit's
words, " My goodnefs extendeth not to thee !" I could
not make any returns to God j I longed to live only to him,
and to be in tune for his praife and fervice for ever. Oh, for
fpirituality and holy fervency, that I might fpend and be fpent
for God to my lateft moment !
<T. 29. MR DAVID BRAINZRD.
June 30. Spent the day in writing; but under much weak-
nefs and diforder. Felt the labours of the preceding day j al-
though my fpirits were fo refreflied the evening before, that I
was not then fenfible of my being fpent.
July i. In the afternoon, vifited, and preached to my peo-
ple, from Heb. ix. 27. on occafion of fome perfons lying at
the point of death, in my congregation. God gave me fome
afiiilance .; and his word made fome impreffion on the audi-
ence in general. This was an agreeable and comfortable even-
ing to my foul : My fpirits were fome what refreshed, with a
fmall degree of freedom and help enjoyed in my work.
[On Wednefday he went to Newark to a meeting of the
Prefbytery : complains of lownefs of fpirits .; and greatly la-
ments his fpending time founfruitfully. The remaining part
of the week he fpent there, and at Elifabeth-Town ; And
fpeaks of comfort and divine nififtance, from day to day :
but yet greatly complains for want of more fpirituality.]
Lord's Day, July 6. fAt Elifabeth-Town] Enjoyed fome
compofure and ferenity of mind, in the morning : Heard Mr
Dickinfon preach in the forenoon, and was refreflied with his
difcourfe : was in a melting frame, fome part of the time of
fermon ; partook of the Lord's fapper^ and enjoyed fome
fenfe of divine things In that ordinance.. In the afternoon I
preached from Ezek. xxxiii. II. " As I live, faith the Lord
" God," &c; God favoured me ivith freedom and fervency j
and helped me to plead his caufe, beyond my own power.
July j. My fpirits were confiderably refrefhed and raifed
in the morning. There is no comfort, I find, in any enjoyment
without enjoying God, and being engaged in his fervice. In
the evening, had the moft agreeable converfation that ever I
remember in all my life, upon God's being all in all, and all
enjoyments being juil that to us which God makes them, and
no more* It is good to begin and end with God. Oh, how
does a fweet folemnity lay a foundation for true pleafure and
happinefs !
July 8. Rode home, and enjoyed fome agreeable medita-
tions by the way,
July 9. Spent the day in writing, enjoyed fome comfort
and reiefhraent of fpirit in my evening retirement.
22O THE LIFE OF A. D. 1746.
July 10. Spent moft of the day In writing. Towards
night, rode to Mr Tennent's j enjoyed fome agreeable conver-
fation : went home in the evening, in a folemn fweet frame of
mind j was refreihed in fecret duties ; longed to live wholly
and only for God j and faw plainly, there was nothing in the
world worthy of my affeclion ; fo that my heart was dead to
all below j yet not through deje&ion, as at fome times, but
from views of a better inheritance.
July ii. Was in a calm compofed frame, in the morning",
efpecially in the feafon of my fecret retirement : I think, I
was well pleafed with the will of God, whatever it was or
ihould be, in all refpccls I had then a thought of. Intending
to adminifter the Lord's fupper next Lord's Day, I looked to
God for his prefence and afiiftance upon that occailon ; but
felt a difpofition to fay, " The will of the Lord be done/ 7
whether it be to give me aflitlance or not. Spent fome little
time in writing : vifited the Indians, and fpent fome time in
ferious converfation with them j thinking it notbeft to preach
by reafon that many of them were abfent.
July 12. This day was fpent in fafting and prayer by my
congregation, as preparatory to the facrament. I difcourfed,
both parts of the day, from Rom.iv. 25. " Who was deliver-
ed for our offences," &c. God gave me fome afliftanee in
my difcourfes, and fometbing of divine power attended the
word j fo that this was an agreeable feafon. Afterwards led
them to a folemn renewal of their covenant, and frefh dedica-
tion of themfelves to God. This was a feafon both of fo-
lemnity and fweetnefs, and God fcemed to be " in the midft
4< of us." Returned to my lodgings, in the evening, in a com-
fortable fame of mind.
Lord's Day, July 15. In the forenoon, difcourfed on the
bread of life, from John vi. 35. God gave me fome aflift-
anee, in part of my difcourfe efpecially ; and there appeared
fome tender affeclion in the affembly under divine truths :
my foul alfo was fomewhat refrefhed. Adminiftered the fa-
crament of the Lord's fupper to thirty -one perfons of the In-
dians. God feemed to be prefent in this ordinance 5 the
communicants were fweetly melted and refrefhed, moft of
them. Oh, how they melted, even when the elements were
JET. 29. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 221
firft uncovered ! There was fcarcely a dry eye among them,
when I took off the linen, and (hewed them the fymbols of
Chrift's broken body. Having refted a little, after the ad-
miniftration of the facrament, 1 vifited the communicants, and
found them generally in a fweet loving frame j not unlike
what appeared among them on the former facramental occa-
ilon, April 27. In the afternoon, difcourfed upon coming to
Chrift, and the fatisfaction of thofe who do fo, from the
fame verfe I infilled on in the forenoon. This was likewife
an agreeable feafon, a feafon of much tendernefs, affection, and
enlargement in divine fervice, and God, I am perfuaded,
crowned our affembly with his divine prefence. I return-
ed home fpent, yet rejoicing in the goodnefs of God.
July 14. Went to my people and difcourfed to them from
Pfal. cxix. 107. " I have fworn, and I will perform it," &.c.
Obferved, i, That all God's judgments and commandments
are righteous. ' 2. That God's people have fworn to keep
them j and this they do efpecially at the Lord's table. There
appeared to be a powerful divine influence on the affemblv,
and a confiderable melting under the word. Afterwards I
led them to a renewal of their covenant before God, (that
they would watch over themfclves and one anothe-r, left they
fhould fall into fin and diftionour the name of Chrift), juft as
I did on Monday, April 28. This tranfaclion wits attended
with great folemnity ; and God feemed to own it by exciting
a fear and jealoufy of themfelves, left they (hould fin againft
God ; fo that the prefence of God feemed to be amongft us
in this conclufion of the facramental folemnity.
[The next day, he fet out on a journey towards Philadel-
phia j from whence he did not return till Saturday. He went
this journey, and fpent the week under a great degree of ill-
nefs and dejection of mind.]
Lord's Day, July 20. Preached twice to my people, from
John xvii. 24. " Father, I will that they alib whom thou haft
" given me be with me, where I am, that they may behold
" my glory, which thou haft given me." Was helped to dif-
courfe with great clearnefs and plainnefs in the forenoon. In
the afternoon enjoyed fome tendernefs, and fpake with fome
222 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1746.
influence. Divers were in tears j and fome, to appearance,
in diiirefs.
July 21. Preached to the Indians, chiefly for the fake o-f
fome llrangers. Then propofed my defign of taking a jour-
ney ipeedily to Suiquehannah ; exhorted my people to pray
for me, that God vvoutd be with me in that journey, &c.
Then caofe divers perfons of the congregation to travel with
me. Afterwards ipent time in difcouriing to the Grangers,
and was fomewhat encouraged with them* Took care of my
people's fecular buiinefs, and was not a little exercifed with
it. Had fome degree of compofure and comfort in fecret re-
tirement.
July 22. Was in a deje&ed frame moil of the day j want-
ed to wear out life, and have it at an end ; but had fome de-
fires of living to God, and wearing out life for him. Oh that
I could indeed do fo !
[The next day, he went to Elifabeth-Town, to a meeting
of the Preibytery ; and fpent this, and Thurfday, and the
former part of Friday under a very great degree of melancho-
ly, and exceeding gloominefs of mind j not through any fear
of future punifhment, but as being diftrefled with a fenfeleff-
nefs of all good, fo that the whole world appeared empty and
gloomy to him. But in the latter part of Friday, he v;as
greatly relieved and comforted.]
July 26. Was comfortable in the morning 5 my counten-
ance and heart were not fad, as in days paft ; enjoyed fome
fweetnefs in lifting up my heart to God. Rode home to my
people, and was in a comfortable pleafant frame by the way j
my fpirits were much relieved of their burden, and I felt free
to go through all difficulties and labours in my Mailer's fer-
vice.
Lord's Day, July 27. Difcourfed to my people, in the fore-
noon, from Luke xii. 37. on the duty and benefit of watch-
ing ;" God helped me in the latter part of my difcourfe, and
the power of God appeared in the affembly. In the afternoon
difcourfed from Luke xiii. 25. Here alfo I enjoyed fome af-
Jiftance, and the Spirit of God feemed to attend what was
fpoken, fo that there was a great folemnity and fome tears a*
snoqg Indians- and others.
.-ill.Sg. MR DAVID BRA1NERD. 223
July 28. Was very weak, and fcarce able to perform any
bufmefs at all 5 but enjoyed fweetnefs and comfort in prayer,
both morning and evening, and was compofed and comforta-
ble through the day ; my mind was intenfe, and my heart fer-
vent, at leaft in fome degree in fecret duties j and I longed
to fpend and be fpent for God.
July 29. My mind was cheerful and free from thofe me-
lancholy damps that I am often exercifed with 5 had freedom
in looking up to God at fundry times in the day. In the c-
vening, I enjoyed a comfortable feafon in fecret prayer \
was helped to plead with God for my own dear people, that
he would carry on his own bleffed work among them j was
aflifted alfo in pray ing for the di vine prefence to attend me in my
intended journey to Sufquehannah j was alfo helped to remem-
ber dear brethren and friends in New-England ; fcarce knew
how to leave the throne of grace,and it grieved me that I was o-
bliged to go to bed j I longed to do fomething for God, but
knew not how. Bleffed be God fdr this freedom from de-
jection.
July 30. Was uncommonly comfortable, both in body and
mind j in the forenoon efpecially my mind was folemn, I
was aflifted in my work, and God feemed to be near to me j
fo that the day was as comfortable ss moft I have enjoyed for
fome time. In the evening was favoured with affiftance in fe-
cret prayer, and felt much as I did the evening before; Blef-
fed be God for tbat freedom I then enjoyed at the throne of
grace for myfclf, my people, and my dear friends, " It is
good for me " to draw near to God."
Hc feerns to have continued very much in the fame free,
comfortable ftate of mind the next day.]
Aug. I. In the evening, enjoyed a fweet feafon in fecret
prayer ; clouds of darknefs and perplexing care were fweetly
fc altered, and nothing anxious remained. Oh, how ferene
was my mind at this feafon ! How free from that diftfa&ing
concern I have often felt ! " Thy will be done," was a pe-
tition frveet to my foiil ; and if God had bid me chufe for my-
felf in any affair, I fliould have chofen rather fo have referred
the choice to him?; for I faw he was infinitely wife, and could
not to do any thing amifs, as 1 was in danger of doing. Was af-
filled in prayer for my dear flock, that God would promote
THE LIFE OF A. D. 1 746.
his own work among them, and that God would go with me
in ray intended journey to Sufquehannah 3 was helped te re-
member dear friends in New- England, and my dear brethren
in the miniftry. I found enough in the fweet duty of pray-
er to have engaged me to continue in it the whole night,
would my bodily ftate have admitted of it. Oh, how fweet
it is, to be enabled heartily to fay, " Lord, not my will, but
"thine be done !"
Aug. 2. Near night, preached from Matth. xi. 29. Was
confiderably helped j and the prefence of God feemed to be
fomewhat remarkably in the aflembly j divine truths made
powerful impreffious, both upon faints and finners. Blefled
be God for fuch a revival among us. In the evening, was ve-
ry weary, but found my fpirits fupported and refreihed.
Lord's Day, Aug. 3. Difcouifed to my 'people in the fore-
noon, from Col. iii. 4. obferved, that Chrift is the believer's
life. God helped me, and gave me his prefence in this dif-
courfe 5 and it was a feafon of confiderable power in the af-
fembly. In the afternoon preached from Luke xix. 41. 42.
I enjoyed fome affirmance, though not fo much as in the forenoon.
In the evening I enjoyed freedom and fweetnefs in fecret prayer ;
God enlarged my heart, freed me from melancholy damps, and
gave me fatisfaftion in drawing near to himfelf. Oh that my
foul could magnify the Lord, for thefe feafons of compofure
and refignation to his will.
Aug. 4. Spent the day in writing; enjoyed much freedom
and afliftance in my work j was in a compofed and comforta-
ble frame, moft of the day j and in the evening enjoyed fweet-
nefs in prayer. Bleffed be God, my fpirits were yet up, and
I was free from finking damps 5 as I have been in general e-
ver fince I came from Elifabeth-Townlaft. Oh what a mer-
cy is this !
Aug 5. Towards night preached at the funeral of one of
my Chriftians, from Ifa. Ivii. 2. was opprtfled with the ner-
vous head-ach, and confiderably dejecled ; however had a lit-
tie freedom, feme part of the time I was difcouifing. Was
extremely weary in the evening j but notwithftanding enjoyed
fome liberty and cfyearfulnefs of mind in prayer ; and found
JET. 29, MR DAVID BRAINERD. 225
the dejection thjit i feared, much removed, and confiderably
refreshed.
{[He continued in a very comfortable cheerful frame of
mind the next day, with his heart enlarged in the fervice of
God.]
Augufl 7. Rode to my houfe, where I fpent the laft win-
ter, in order to bring fome things I needed for my Sufquehan-
nah journey j was refreshed to fee that place, which God fo
marvelloufly vifited with tbe (howers of his grace. Oh how
amazingly did the power of God appear there ! " Blefsthe
Lord, O my foul, and forget not all his benefits."
[The next day, he fpeaks of liberty, enlargement, and
fweetnefs of mind, in prayer and religious convention.']
Augufl 9. In the afternoon, vifited my people , fet their
aiTairs in order, as much as pofiible, and conttived for them
the management of their worldly bufinefs j difcourleci to them
in a folemn manner, and concluded 'with prayer. Was com-
pofed and comfortable in the evening, and fomewhat fervent
in fecret prayer j had fome fenfe and view of the eternal world,
and found a fereuity of mind. Oh that I could magnify the
Lord for any freedom he affords me in prayer !
Lord's Day, Auguft 10. Difcourfed to my people, both
parts of the day, from Acts iii. 19. In difcouriing of repent-
ance, in the forenoon, God helped me, fo that my difco . ; e
was fearching : fome were in tears, both of the Indians and
white people , and the word of God was attended with fome
power. In the intermiflion-feafon, I was engaged in difcour-
fmg to fome in order to their baptifm j as well as with one
who had then lately met with fome comfort, after fpiritual
Uouble and diftrefs. In the afternoon, was fomewhat affifted
again, though w r eak and weary. , Afterwards baptized fix
perfons j three adults, and three children. Was in a comfort-
able frame in the evening, and enjoyed fome fatisfa&ion in
fecret prayer. I fcarce ever in my life felt myfelf fo full of
tvndernefs as this d;iy.
Auguft i r. Being about to fet out on a journey to Sufque-
hannah the next day, with leave of Providence, I fpent fome
time this day in prayer with my people, tha - vjod would blefs
and fuccesdmy inteqdej journey; that he would fend forth his
Ff
226 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1746.
blefied Spirit with his word, and fet up his -kingdom among 1
the poor Indians in the wilderncTs. While I was opening and
applying part of the cxth and iid Pfalms, the power of God
feemed to defcend on the afifembly in fome meafure j and
while I was making the firft prayer, numbers were melted, and
I found fome affe&ionate enlargement of foul my felf. Preach-
ed from Ab iv. 31. God helped me, and my interpreter
alfo : there was a making and melting among us j and divers
I doubt not, were in fome meafyre ** filled with the 'Holy
Ghoft." Afterwards, Mr Macknight prayed : I then open-
ed the two lad ftanzas of the Ixxiid Pfalm j at which time
God was prefcnt with us ^ efpecially while 1 iniifled upon the
promife of all nations ble&ng the great Redeemer ; my foul
was refrefhed to think, that this day, this bleffed glorious
feafon fhould furely come j and I truft, numbers of my dear
people were alfo refreshed. Afterwards prayed j had fome
fieedom, but was almoil fpent ; then walked out, and left my
people to carry on religious exercifes among themfelves j
they prayed repeatedly, and fung, while 1 refted and refrefhed
myfelf. Afterwards, went to the meeting; prayed with and dif-
miffed the affembly. Bleffed be God, this has been a day of
grace. There were many tears and affectionate fobs among
us this day. In the evening, my foul was refrefhed in pray-
er j enjoyed liberty at the throne of grace, in praying for
my people and friends, and the church of God in general.
" Blefs the Lord, O my foul."
fThe next day, he fet out on his journey towards Sufque-
hannah, and fix of his Chrifdan Indians with him, whom he
bad chofen out of his congregation, as thofe that he judged
moft fit to afiift him in the bufincfs he was going upon. He
took his way through Philadelphia : intending to go to Suf-
-c]uehannah-river, far down along, where it is fettled by the
white people, below the country inhabited by the Indians j
arid fo to travel up the river to the Indian habitations , for
although this was much farther about, yet hereby he avoid-
ed the huge mountains, and hideous wildernefs, that muil be
crofied in the nearer way : which in time paft he had found to
be extremely difficult afld fatiguing. He rode this week us
JET. 29. MR. DAVID ERAINERD. 227
far as Charleftown, a place of that name about thirty miles
weft ward of Philadelphia, where he arrived on Friday 5 and
in his way hither, was for the moft part in a compoied com-
fortable ft ate of mind.]
Augufl 16. * [At Charleftown.] It being a day kept by,
the people of the place where I now was, as preparatory to
the celebration of the Lord's Supper, I tarrjed j heard Mr
Treat preach ; and then preached myfelf. God gave me
fome good degree of freedom, and helped me to difcourfe with
warmth, and application, to the confcience. Afterwards I
was refrefhed in fpirit, though much tired j and fpent the e-
vening agreeably, having forae freedom in prayer, as well as
Chriftian converfation.
Lord's Day, Auguft 17. Enjoyed liberty, compofure and
fatisfacHon, in the fecret duties of the morning : had my heart
fomewhat enlarged in prayer for dear friends,^ well as for
myfelf. In the forenoon, attended Mr Treat's preaching,
partook of the Lord's fupper, five of my people alfo communi-
cating in this holy ordinance ; I enjoyed fome enlargement
and outgoing of foul in this feafon. In the afternoon, preach-
ed from Ezek. xxxiii. n. Enjoyed not fo much feniible af-
iiftance as the day before j however, was helped to fome fer-
vency in addrefling immortal fouls. Was fomewhat confound-
ed in the evening, becaufe I thought I had done little or no-
thing for God j yet enjoyed fome refremment of fpirit in
Chriitian converfation and prayer. Spent the evening, till
near mid-night, in religious exercifes j and found my bodily
ftrength, which was much fpent when I came from the public
worthip, fomething renewed before I went to bed.
AuguR 1 8. Rode on my way towards Paxton, upon Suf-
quehannah-river. Felt my fpirits fmk towards night, fothat
I had little comfort.
Auguft 19. Rode forward dill j and at night lodged by
the fide of Sufquehannah. Was weak and diforclered both
this and the preceding day, and found my fpirits coniiderably
damped, meeting with none that 1 thought godly people.
Aug. 20. Having lain in a cold fvveat all night, Icough-
tf* much bloody matter this morning, and was under great dli-
order of body, and not a little melancholy ; but what gave
228 THE LIFE OF A. D. 1746.
me feme encouragement, was, I had a fecret hope I might
get a difmifiion from earth, and all its toils and forrows. Rode
this day, to one Chambers's, upon Sufquehannah, and there
lodged. Was much afflicleci, in the evening, with an ungod-
ly crew, drinking, fwearing, &c. Oh, what a ttell would it be
to be numbered with the ungodly ! 'Enjoyed fome agreeable
conversation with a traveller, who feemed to have fome relifh.
of true religion.
Aug. 21, Rode up the river about fifteen miles, and there
lodged, in a family that appeared quite deftitute of God. La-
boured to difconrfe with the man about the life of religion,
but found him very artful in evading fuch converfation. Oh,
what a death it is to fome, to hear of the things of God ! Was
out of my element *, but was not fo dejecled as at fome times.
Aug. 22. Continued my c'ourfe p the river j my people
now being with me, who before were parted from me 5 tra-
velled above all the Englifh Settlements ; at night lodged in
the open woods j and flept with more comfort than while
among an ungodly company of white people. Enjoyed fome
liberty in fecret prayer, this evening j and was helped to re-
member dear friends, as well as my dear ilock, and the church
of God in general.
Aug. 23. Arrived at the Indian town, called Shaumo-
king, near night. Was not fo deje&ed as formerly ; but yet
fomewhat exercifed. Felt fomevrhat compofed in the even-
ing j enjoyed fome freedom in leaving my all with God ;
I enjoyed fome liberty of mind , was not diftrefTed with a
defpondency as frequently heretofore.
Lord's Day, Aug. 24. Towards noon vifited fome of the
Delawares, and difcourfed with them about Chriilianity. In
the afternoon, difcourfed to the King, and others, upon divine
things, who feemed difpofed to hear. Spent moft of the day
in thefe exercifcs. In the evening, enjoyed fome comfort and
fatisfaclion ; and ef^ecially had fome fweetnefs in fecret pray~-
cr. This duty was made fo agreeable to me, that I loved t.o>
walk abroad and repeatedly engage in it. Oh how comfort-
able is a little glimpfe of God !
Aug. 25. Spent moft of the day in writing. Sent oflt
my people that were with me, to talk with the Indians, and
,-ET. 29. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 22p.
contract a friendihip and familiarity with them, that I might
have a better opportunity of treating with them about Chrif-
tianity. Some good feetned to be done by their vifits this
day, divers appeared willing to hearken to Chriftianity. My
fpirits were a little refreflied, this evening j and I found fonae
liberty and fatisfadlion in prayer.
Aug. 26. About noon difcourfed to a confiderable number
of Indians ; God helped me, I am perfuaded j I was enabled
to fpeak with much plainnefs, and fome warmth and power.
The difcourfe had imprefiion upon fome, and made them ap-
pear very ferious. I thought, things now appeared as encour-
aging as they did at Crofweeks. At the time of my firit vi-
fiting thofe Indians, I was a little encouraged. I preffed things
with all my might ; and called out my people, who were then
prefent, to give in tbeir teflimony for God j which they did.
Towards night, was refreflied ^ felt a heart to pray for the
fetting up of God's kingdom here j as well as for my dear
congregation below, and my dear friends elfewhere.
Aug. 27. There having been a thick fmoke in the houfe
where I lodged all night before^ whereby I was almoft chok-
ed, I was this morning diftreffed with pains in my head and
neck, and could have no reft. In the morning the fmoke was
Hill the fame , and a cold eafterly ftorm gathering, I could
neither live within doors nor without, any long time together;
I was pierced with the rawnefs of the air abroad, in the houfe
diftreiTed with the fmoke. I was this day very vapoury, and
lived in great diftrefs, and had not health enough to do any
thing to any purpofe.
Aug. 28. In the forenoon was under great concern of
mind about my work. Was viiited by fome who defired to
hear me preach j difcour/cd to them, in the afternoon, with
fome fervency, and laboured toperfuade them to turn to God.
Was full of concern for the kingdom of Chrift, and found
fome enlargement of foul in prayer, both in fecret and in my
family. Scarce ever faw more clearly, than this day, that it
is God's work to convert fouls, and efpecially poor Heathens \
I knew, I could not touch them ; I law, I could only fpeak to
dry bones, but could give them no fenfe of what I faid. My
230 THE LIFE OF A. D. 1746,
eyes weie up to God for help , I could fay, the work was his j
and if done, the glory would be his.
Aug. 29. Felt the fame concern of mind, as the day be-
fore. Enjoyed fomc freedom in prayer, and a fatisfa&ion to
leave all with God. Travelled to the Delawares, found few
at home : felt poorly, but was able to fpend fome time alone
in reading God's word and in prayer, and enjoyed fome fweet-
nefs in thefe exerciles. In the evening, was aflifted repeated-
ly in prayer, and found fonae comfort in coming to the throne
of grace.
Aug. 30. Spent the forenoon in vifiting a trader, that
came down the river fick ; who appeared as ignorant as any
Indian. In the afternoon, fpent fome time in writing, read-
Ing, and prayer.
Lord's Day. Aug. 31. Spent much time, in the morning,
in fecret duties : found a weight upon my fpirits, and could
but cry to God with concern and engagement of foul. Spent
fome time alfo in reading and expounding God's word to my
dear family that was with me, as well as in finging and praying
\rith them. Afterwards fpake the word of God, to fome few
of the Sufquehannah- Indians. In the afternoon felt very
weak and feeble. Near night, was fomething refrefhed in
mind, with fome views of things lelating to my great work.
Oh, how heavy is my work, when faith cannot take hold of an
almighty arm for the performance of it ! Many times have I
been ready to fink in this cafe. Blefled be God, that I may
repair to a full fountain.
Sept. r. Set out on a journey towards a place called the
great Ifland, about fifty miles diftant from Shaumoking, in the
north -weftern branch of the Sufquehannah. Travelled fome
part of the way, and at night lodged in the woods. Was ex-
ceeding feeble this day, and fwate much the night following,
Sept. 2. Rode forward, but no fafter than my people
went on foot. Was very weak, on tlis as well as the prece-
ding days 5 was fo feeble and faint, that I feared it would kill
me to lie out in the open air ; and fome of our company be-
ing parted from us, fo that we had now no axe with us, I had
no way but to climb into a young pine-tree, and with my
knife to lop the branches, and fo made a (lielter from the dew.
JET. 29. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 23!
But the evening being cloudy, and very likely for rain, I was
flill under fear of being extremely expofedj fwate much in the
night, fo that my linen was almoft wringing wet all night. I
fcarce ever was more weak and weary, than this evening,
when I was able to fit up at all. This was a melancholy fi-
tuation I was in ; but I endeavoured to quiet myfelf with con-
fiderations of the poflibility of my being in much woife cir-
cumftances, amongft enemies, &c.
Sept- y Rode to the Delaware-town j found divers drink-
ing and drunken. Difcourfed with fome about Chriflianity j
obferved my interpreter much engaged and affifted in his
work j fome few perfons feemed to hear with great earneft-
nefs and engagement of foul. About noon, rode to a finall
town of Shauvvaunoes, about eight miles diftant : Spent an
hour or two there, and returned to the Delaware-town,
and 1 lodged there, Was fcarce ever more confounded with a
fenfe of my own unfruitfulnefs and unfitnefs for my work,
than now. Oh, what a dead, heartlefs, barren, unprofitable
wretch, did I now fee myfelf to be ! My fpirits were fo
low and my bodily fhength fo wailed, that I could do no-
thing at all. At length being much overdone, lay down on a
buffalo-fkin ; but fwate much the whole night.
Sept. 4. Difcourfed with the Indians, in the morning,
about Chriftianity j obferved my interpreter, afterwards,
carrying on the difcourfe to a confiderable length ', fome
few appeared well-difpbfed, and fomewhat affected. Left
this place, and returned towards Shaumoking ; and at night
lodged in the place where 1 lodged the Monday-night be-
fore j was in very uncomfortable circumflances in the even-
ing, my people being belated, and not coming to me till paft
ten at night j fo that I had no fire to" drefs my victuals and
keep me warm, -or to keep off wild beafts j and I was fcarce .
ever more weak and worn out in all my life. However, I lay
down and flept before my people came up, expecting nothing
elfe but to fpend the whole night alone, and without fire.
Sept. 5. Was exceeding weak, fo that I could fcarcely
ride ; it feeraed fometim^s as if I muft fall off- from my horfc,
212 THE LIFE OF A.D.I 746.
and lie in the open woods. However j;ot to Shanmoking, to-
wards night, felt fomething of a fpirit of thankfulnefs, that
God had fo far returned me j was refrefhed to fee one of my
Chriftians, whom I left here in my late excurfion.
Sept. 6. Spent the day in a very weak Hate : coughing
and fpitting blood, and having little appetite to any food I had
with me j was able to do very little, except difcourfe a while
of divine things to my own people, and to fome few I met
with. Had, by this time, very little life or heait to fpeak
for God, through feeblenefs of body, and flatnefs of fpirits.
Was fcarcely ever more amain ed and confounded in myfelf,
than now. I was feniible, that there were numbers of God's
people, who knew I was then out upon a defign (or at lead
a pretence) of doing fomething for God, and his caufe, a-
mong the poor Indians j and they were ready to fuppofe that
I was fervent in fpirit, ; but Oh, the heartlefs frame of mind
that I felt filled me with confufion ! Oh (methought) if
God's people knew me, as God knows, they would not think
fo highly of my zeal and refolution for God, as perhaps now
they do ! I could not but defire they fiiould fee how heartlefs
and irrefolute I was, that they might be undeceived, and " not
" think of me above what they ought to think." And yet I
thought, if they fau- the utmoft of my flatnefs and unfaithful-
nefs, the fmallnefs of my courage and refolution for God;
they 'would be ready to (hut me out of their doors, as unwor-
thy of the company or friendfliip of Chriftians.
Lord's Day, Sept. 7. Was much in the fame weak ft ate of
body, and afflicted frame of mind, as in the preceding day :
my foul was grieved, and mourned that I could do nothing
for God. Read and expounded fome part of God's word to
rny own dear family, and fpent fome time in prayerwith them j
difcourfed alfo a little to the Pagans : but fpent the Sabbath
with little comfort.
Sept 8. Spent the forenoon among the Indians : in the af-
ternoon, left Shaumoking, and returned down the river, a few
miles. Had propofed to have tarried a considerable time
longer among the Indians upon Sufquehannah : but was hin-
dered from purfuing my purpofe by the fi:l;i:co that prevailed
29. MR 13 AVID BRAINERD. 233
there, the weakly circumftances of my own people that were
with me, and efpecially my own extraordinary weaknefs, ha-
ving been exercifed with great no&urnal fweats, and a cough-
ing up of blood, in almoft the whole of the journey ^ and wa&
a great part of the time fo feeble and faint, that it feemed as
though I never would be able to reach home-, and at the
fame time very deftitute of the comforts, and even neceffaries
of life } at lead, what was neceflary for one in fo weak a ftate.
In this journey I fometimes was enabled to fpeak the word of
God with fome power, and divine truths made fome impref-
fions on divers that heard me j fo that ieveral, both men and
women, old and young, feemed to cleave to us, and be well
difpofed towards Chriftianity ; but others mocked and fhout-
ed, which damped thofe who before feemed friendly, at ieaft
fome of them : yet God, at times was evidently prefent, afiift-
ing me and my interpreter, and other dear friends who were
with me ; God gave, fornetimef, a good degree of freedom iu
prayer for the ingathering of fouls there ; and I could not
b-ut entertain a ilrong hope, that the journey (hould not be
wholly fruitlefs. Whether the iffue of it would be the fetting
up Ch rift's kingdom there, or only the drawing of fome few
perfons down to my congregation, in New- Jerfey ; or whether
they were only preparing for fome future attempts that might
be made among them, I did not determine $ but I was per-
fuaded, the journey would not be loft. Bleffed be God, that I
had any encouragement and hope.
Sept. 9. Rode down the river near thirty miles. Was
extreme weak, much fatigued, and wet with a thunder-ftorm.
Difcourfed with fome warmth and clofenefs to fome poor igno-
rant fouls, on the life and power of religion j what were, and
what were not the evidences of it. They feemed much afto-
niflied, when they faw my Indians afk a bleffing, and give
thanks at dinner j concluding that a very high evidence of
grace in them : but were aftonifhed, when I infilled, that nei-
ther that, nor yet fecret prayer, was any fure evidence of
grace. Oh the ignorance of the world ! How'are fome emp-
ty outward forms, that may all be entirely. felfifh, miftaken for
true religion, infallible evidences of it ! The Lord pity a de-
luded world !
234 T1IE LIFE OF A. D. 1746.
Sept. 10. Rode near twenty miles homeward. Was much
folicited to preach, but was utterly unable, through bodily
weaknefs. Was extremely overdone with the heat and
ihowers this day, and coughed up confmerable blood.
Sept. II. Rode homeward ; but was very weak, and fome-
times fcarce able to ride, Had a very importunate invita-
tion to preach at a meeting-houfc J came by, the people being
then gathering ; but could not, by reafon of vveaknefs.
Was refigned and compofed under my vrcaknefs , but ivas
much exercifed with concern for my companions in travel,
whom I had left with much regret, fome lame, and fome fick.
Sept. 12. Rode ab^ut fifty miles \ and came juft at night
to a Chiiftian friend's houfe, about twenty five miles xveft-
xvard from Philadelphia. Was courteoufly received, and
kindly entertained, and found myfelf much refitdicd in the
ruidrt of my weakuefs and fatigues.
Sept. 13. Was ilill agreeably entertained with Cliriilian
friendlliip, and all things necefiary for my weak ciicumilances.
I:i the afternoon heard Mr Treat preach ; and was refreihed
in converfation with him, in the evening.
Lord's Day, Sept. 14. At the dcfire of Mr Treat and the
people, I preached both parts of the day (but (hort.) from
Luke xiv. 23. God gave me fome freedom and warmth in tny
difcourfe ; and I truf!, helped me in fome meafurcto labour in
finplenels of heart. Was much tired in the evening, but was
comforted with the mod tender treatment I ever met with in
my life. My mind, through the whole of this day, was ex-
ceeding calm ; and I could afk for nothing in prayer, with a-
ny encouragement of foul, but that the will of the Lord might
be done.
Sept. 15. Spent the whole day, in coacert with Mr Treat,
in endeavours to compofc a difference, fubfiiling between cer-
tain perfons in the congregation whf re we now were 5 there
feemed to be a blefTing on our endeavours. In the evening,
baptized a child j was in a calm compofed f;ame, and enjoyed
(I truft) a fpiritual fenfe of divine things, while adminiftering
Wie ordinance. Afterwards, fpent the time in religious con-
rcrfation, till late in the night. This was indeed a pleafcut
agreeable evening.
,ET. 29 MR DAVID R A I N R D. 235
Sept. 1 6. Continued ftill at my friend's boufe. about t wen-
ty.five miles weftward of Philadelphia. Was very weak, un-
able to perform any bufinefs, and fcarcely able to fit up.
Sept. 17. Rode in to Philadelphia. Still very weak, acd
my cough and fpitting of blood continued. Enjoyed fome a-
grerable converfation with friends, but wanted more fpiritual-
ity.
Sept. 18. Went from Philadelphia to Mr Treat's j was
agreeably entertained on the road j and was in a fweet compe-
ted frasie in the evening.
Sept. 19. Rode from Mr Treat's to Mr Stockflon's at Prince
Town j was extreme weak, but kindly received and entertain-
ed. Spent the evening with fome degree of (atisfa&ion.
Sept. 20. Arrived among my own people juft at night j
found them praying together , went in and gave them fome
account of God's dealings with me and my companions in the
jaurney $ which feemed affecting to them. J then prayed
with them, and thought the divine prefence was arnongfl us ;
divers were melted into tears, and feemed to have a*fenfe of
divine things. Being very weak, I was obliged foon to re-
pair to my lodgings, and felt much worn out, in the evening.
Thus God has carried me through the fatigues and perils
of another journey to Sufquehannah, and returned me again
ia fafety, though under a great degree of bodily indifpofition-
Oh that my fouJ were truly thankful for renewed inftances of
mercy I Many hardihips and diilreffes I endured in this jour-
ney; but the Lord fupported me under them all.
236 THE LIFE QF A.D. 1746.
FART VIII.
AFTER HIS RETURtf FROM HIS LAST JOURNEY TO SttSQUEHANNAH, UW-
TIL HIS DEATH.
f T TlTHERTo Mr Brainerd had kept a conftant diary, gi-
JL JL ving an account of what pafled from day to day, with
very little interruption ; but henceforward his diary is very
much interrupted by his illnefs j under which he was often
brought fo low, as either not to be capable of writing, or not
well able to bear the burden of a care fo conftant, as was re-
quifite to recollect every evening what had paffed in the day,
and digeft it, and fet down an orderly account of it in writing.
However his diary was not wholly neglected j but he took care
from time to time, to take fome notice in it of the moft ma-
terial things concerning himfelf and the ftate of his mind, e-
ven till within a few days of his death j as the reader will fee
afterwards.*}
Lord's Day, Sept. 2T. 1746. I was fo weak I could not
preach, nor pretend to ride over to my people in the forenoon.
In the afternoon, rode out ; fat in my chair, and difcourfed to
my people from Rom. xiv. 7. 8. I was ftrengthened and help-
ed in my difcourfe 5 and there appeared fomething agree-
able in the affembly. 1 returned to my lodgings extremely
tired ; but thankful, that I had been enabled to fpeak a word
* Mr Shepard, in his Selecl Cafes refolded, under thejirfl Cafe fays
as follows : " / have lately known one -very able, wife, and godly, put
" upon the rack, by him that envying God's people's peace, knows how
" to change himfelf into cm angel of light ; for it being his ufual cowfe
" in the time of his health, to make a diary of his hourly life, andjindinp
" much benefit by it,he s wcisinconfcience preffedbythe poweraird delvji^n
*' of Satan to take a daily furvey of bis life hi the time ofhisfuL?>cfs,
" by means of which he fpent his e;:feef;led fpirits, cajl onftieltojirc
" his Jicknefs. Had not a friend of his convinced him of his erroneous
" confcienc c mi/leading him at that time, he had murdered his lody,
*' ant ofconfcience to fave bis foul, and to preferve his grace. And
" do you think thefe were the motions of God's Spirit, which like thofe
" locufls, Rev. ix. 9,10. bad faces Kts men, bat had taililike fcor-
" pions, and /lings in their tails /"
JET. 29. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 237
to my poor people I had been fo long abfent from. Was able
to deep very little this night, through wearinefs and pain. Oh
how bleffed fliould I be, if the little I do were all done with
right views ! Oh that, " whether I live, I might live to the
44 Lord." &c.
Sept. 27. Spent this day, as well as the whole week paft,
under a great degree of bodily weaknefs, exercifed with a vi-
olent cough, and a confiderable fever 5 had no appetite to a-
ny kind of food j and frequently brought up what I eat, as
foon as it was down; and oftentimes had little reft in my bed, by
reafon of pains in my breaft and back : was able, however, to
ride over to my people about two miles every day, and take foroe
care of thofe who were then at work uponafmallhoufeformeto
refide in amongft the Indians*. I was fometirnes fcarce able to
walk, and never able to fit up the whole day, through the week.
Was calm and compofed, and but little exercifed with melan-
choly damps, as in former feafons of weaknefs. Whether I
(hould ever recover or no, feemed very doubtful } but this
was many times a comfort to me, that life and death did not
depend upon my choice, I was pleafed to think, that he who
is infinitely wife, had the determination of this matter 5 and
that I had no trouble, to confider and weigh things upon all
fides, in order to make the choice, whether I would live or
die. Thus my time was confumed j I had little ftrength to
pray, none to write or read, and fcarce any to meditate : but
through divine goodnefs, I could with great compofure lock
death in the face, and frequently with feniible joy. Oh, how
blefled it is, to be habitually prepared for death ! The Lord
grant, that I may be actually ready alfo !
Lord's Day, Sept. 28, Rode to my people ; and, though
under much weaknefs, attempted to preach from 2 Cor. xiii.
5. Difcourfed about half an hour ; at which feafon divine
power feemed to attend the word : but being extreme weak
I was obliged to defift and after a return of faintnefs with
much difficulty rode to my lodgings } where betaking myfelf
to bed, I lay in a burning fever, and almoft delirious, for fe-
* This was the fcarth houfc he built for his rei^Jenre amon^ the In-
dians. Beiide.i that at Kaunaumeek, and that at the Forks of Delaware
and another at Crolwcekfung, he built one now at Cranberry.
238 THE LIFE OF A. 0.1746.
veral hours : till towards morning my fever went off with a
violent fwest. I have often been feverifh and unable to reft
quietly after preaching, but this was the moft fevere diftref-
fing turn that ever preaching brought upon me. Yet I felt
perfectly at reil in my own mind, becaufe I had made my ut-
mofl attempts to fpeak for God, and knew I could do no
moie.
Sept 30. Yefterday, and to day, was in the fame weak
ftate, or rather weaker than in days paft j was fcarce able to
fit up half the day. Was in a compofed frame of mind, re-
markably free from dejection and melancholy damps ; as God
has been pleafed, in great meafure, to deliver me from thefe
unhappy glooms in the general courfe of my weaknefs hither-
to, and alfo from a peevifli froward fpirit j and Oh how great
a mercy is this ! Oh that I might always be perfectly quiet
in feafonsof greateft weaknefs, although nature fhould fink and
fail. Oh that I may be always able with utmoft fincerity to fay,
" Lord, not my will, but thine be done !" This, through grace
1 can fay at prefent, with regard to life or death, " The Lord
do with me as feems good in his fight 5" That whether I live
or die, I may glorify him, who is " worthy to receive blef-
fing, and honour, and dominion for ever. Amen."
Oct. 4. Spent the former part of this week under a great
degree of infirmity acd diforder, as I had done feveral weeks
before; was able, however, to ride a little every day, al-
though unable to fit up half the day, till Thurfday. Took
fome care daily of fome perfons at work upon my houfe,
On Friday afternoon found myfelf wonderfully revived and
flrengthened j and having fome time before given notice to
my people, and thofe of them at the Forks of Delaware in
particular, that I deligned, with leave of Providence, to
adminifter the facrnraent of the Lord's fupper upon the firft
-Sabbath of October, the Sabbath now approaching, on Fri-
day-afternoon 1 preached, preparatory to the fac ram ent, from
2 Cor. xiii. 5. finifhing what I had propofed to offer on the fub-
ject the Sabbath before. The fermon was bleffed of God to the
flirting up religious affection and a fpirit of devotion, in the peo-
ple of God j and to the greatly au'ccling one who had feack-
fiiddcn from God, which cuufed him to judge and condernu
JET. 29. MR DAVID B R A I N E R D. 239
himfelf. I was furprifingly ftrengthened in my work, while
I was fpeaking : but was obliged immediately afterwards to
repair to bed, being now removed into my own houfe among
the Indians; which gave me fuch fpcedy relief and rrfrefa-
ment, as I could not well have lived without. Spent fome time
on Friday night in convening with my people about divine
things, as I lay upon my bed j and found my foul refreflied,
though my body was weak. This being Saturday, I difcour-
fed particularly with divers of the communicants j and this
afternoon preached from Zech. xii. 10. There feemed to be
a tender melting, and hearty mourning for fin, in numbers in
the congregation. My foul was in a comfortable frame, and I
enjoyed freedom and affiftance in public fervice ; was myfelf
as well as mo ft of the congregation, much affected with the
humble confefiion, and apparent broken-heartednefs of the
forementioned backflider j and could not but rejoice, that God
had given him fuch a fenfe of his fin and unworthinefs. Was
extremely tired in the evening j but lay on my bed, and dif*
courfed to ray people.
Lord's Day, Oct. 5. Was ftill very weak : and in the mor-
ning, confiderably afraid I fhould not be able to go through
the work of the day j having much to do, both in private and
public. Difcourfed before the administration of the facra-
ment, from John i. 29. " Behold the Lamb of God, that
taketh away the im of the world." Where I conlidered, I.
In \vhat refpects Chrift is called the Lamb of God j and ob-
ferved that he is fo called, (i,) from the purity and innocen-
cy of his nature. (2.) From his meeknefs and patience un-
der fufferings. (3.) From his being that atonement which
was pointed out in the facrifice of lambs, and in particular by
the pafchal lamb. II. Confidered how and in what fenfe he
44 takes away the fin of the world," and obferved, that the
means and manner, in and by which he takes away the fins of
men, was his " giving himfelf for them," doing and fulFering
in their room and flead, &c. And he is faid to take
away the fin of the world, not bccaufe all the world
fhall be actually redeemed from fin by him ; but becaufe (i.)
He has done and fuifered fufFicient to anfwer for the fins of the
world, and fo to redeem all mankind. (2.) He actually
240 T H E L I F E O F A.D.I 746.
DB0MHHBHHB9BBBHHSBHMHHB0QIHMBnBBnK&BM3G^^
does take away the fins of the eled world. And,' III. Con.
fidercd how we are to behold him, in order to have our fins
taken away, (i.) Not with our bodily eyes. Nor, (2.) By
imagining him on the crofs, &.C. But by a fpiritual view of
his glory and goodnefs, engaging the foul to rely on him, &c.
The divine prefeuce attended this difcourfc j and the af-
fembiy was considerably melted with divine truths. After
fcrmon baptifed two perfons. Then adminiftered the Lord's
fupper to near forty communicants of the Indians, befides di-
vers dear Chriftians of the white people. It feemed to be a
feafon of divine power and grace : and numbers feemed to re-
joice in God. Oh, the fweet union and harmony then appear-
ing among the religious people ! My foul was refiefhed,
and my religious friends, of the white people, with me. Af-
ter the facrament, could fcarceiy get home, though it was not
more than 20 roods ; but was fupported and led by my
friends, and laid on my bed - 7 where I lay in pain till feme
time in the evening ; and then was able to lit up and difcourfe
with friends; Oh, how was this day fpent in prayers and
praifes among my dear people! One might hear them, all
the morning, before public worfhip, and in the evening, till
near midnight praying and tinging praifes to God, in one or
other of their houfes. My foul was refreihed, though my bo-
dy was weak.
[This week he went (In a very low ftate) in two days, to
Elifabeth-Town, to attend the meeting of the fynod there :
but was difappointed by its removal to New- York. He con-
tinued in a very compofed frame of mind. J
Ocl:. ii. Towards night was feized with an ague, which
was followed with a hard fever, and confiderable pain ; was
treated with great kindnefs, and was amamed to fee
fo much concern about fo unworthy a creature, as I knew my-
felf to be. Was in a comfortable frame of mind, wholly
fubmifiive with regard to life or death. It was indeed a pe-
culiar fatisfaftion to me, to think, that it was not my concern
or bufinefs to determine whether I (hould live or die. I
likewife felt peculiarly fatisfied, while under this uncommon
degree of diforder j being now fully convinced of my being
really weak, and unable to perform my work : whereas at
JE.T. 29. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 24*
other times ray mind was perplexed with fears, that was a
mifimprover of time, by conceiting I was lick when I was
not in reality fo. Oh 5 how precious is time ! And how guil-
ty it makes me feel, when I think I have trifled away and mif-
improved it, or neglected to fill up each part of it with duty,
to the utmoft of my ability and capacity !
Lord's Day, O3:. 12. Was icarce able to fit up, in the
forenoon : in the afternoon attended public worfiiip, and was
in a compofed comfortable frame.
Lord's .Day, Oft. 19. Was fcarcely able to do ar.y thing
at all in the week pail, except that on Thurfday I ^ode
out about four miles j at which time I took cold. As I
was able to do little or nothing, fo I enjoyed not much fpi:i-
tuality, or lively religious affection ; though at fbrn.** Mmes I
Icnged to be more fruitful and full of heavenly affeciicu ; iul
was grieved to fee the hours Hide away, while I could do no-
thing for God, Was able this week to attend public worlhip.
Was compofed and comfortable, willing either to die or live j
but found it hard to be reconciled to the thoughts of living
ufelefs. Oh that I might never live to be a burden to Gcd's
creation ; but that 1 might be allowed to repair home, when
my fojourning work is done !
[This week, he went back to his Indians at Cranberry, to
take fome care of their fpiritual and temporal concerns : and
was much fpent with riding ; though he rode but a little way
in a day. j
Oct. 23. Went to my own houfe and fet things in order
Was very weak, and fomewhat melancholy , laboured to do
fomething, but had no ilrength 5 and was forced to lie. down
on my bed, very iblitary.
Oct. 24. Spent the day in overfeeing and directing my pea-
pie, about mending their fence, and fecuring their wheat.
Found, that all their concerns of a fecular nature depended u-
pon me. Was fomewhat refrefhed in the evening, having
been able to do fomething valuable in the day-time. Oh,.
how it pains me, to lee time pafs away, when lean do nothing
to any purpofe I
Hh
242 THE LIFE OF A. 0.1746.
O61. 25. Vifited fome of my people j fpent fome time in
writing, and felt much better In body than ufual j when it
was near night I felt fo well, that I had thoughts of expound-
ing j but in the evening was much difordered again, and fpent
the night in coughing, and fpitting of blood.
Lord's Day, Ocl. 26. In the morning was exceeding weak j
fpent the day, till near night, in pain to fee my poor people
wandering as fheep not having a ftiepherd, waiting and hoping
to fee me able to preach to them before ni^ht ; it could not
but diitrefs me, to ice them in this cafe, and to find myfelf un-
able to attcrr.pt any thing for their fpiritual benefit. 3ut to-
wards night rinding myfelf a little better, I called them toge-
ther to my houfe, and fat down, and read and expounded
Matth. v. i. 16. This difcourfe, though delivered in much
weaknefs, was attended with power to many of the hearers j
especially what was fpoken upon the lait of thefe verfes ;
where I inMed on the infinite wrong done to religion, by ha-
ving our light become darknefs, inftead of fhining before men.
As many in the congregation were deeply with affected afenfe
of their deficiency in regard of a fpiritual convcrfation, that
might recommend religion to others, and a fpirit of concern
and watchfulnefs feemed to be excited in them ; fo there was
one in particular, that had fallen into the fin of drunkennefs,
fome time before, who was now deeply convinced of his fin,
and the great di(honour done to religion by his mifconducl,
and difcovered a great degree of grief and concern on that ac-
count. My foul was refreihed to fee this. And though I
had no ftrength to fpsak fo much as I would have done, but
was obliged to lie down on the bed ; yet I rejoiced to fee
fuch an humble melting in the congregation j and that divine
truths though faintly delivered, were attended with fo much
efficacy upon the auditory.
Oft. 27. Spent the day in overfeeing and directing the
Indians : about mending their fence round their wheat : was
able to walk with them, and contrive their bufinefs, all the
forenoon. In the afternoon, xvas vifited by two dear friends,
and fpent fome time in converfation with them. Towards
night was able to walk out, -and take care of the Indians a-
gain. In the evening, enjoyed a very peaceful frame,
JLT. 29. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 243
Oft. 28. Rode to Prince-Town, in a very weak (late j had
fuch a violent fever, by the way, that I was forced to alight
at a friend'-; houfe, and He down for fome time. Near night,
v;as viuted by Mr Treat, Mr Beaty and his wife, and another
friend 5 my fpirits were refremed to fee them j but I was fur-
prifed, and even afliamed that they had taken fo much pains
as to ride thirty or forty miles to fee me. Was able to fit
up moil of the evening j and fpent the time in a very com-
fortable manner with my friends.
OS:. 29. Rode about ten miles with my = friends that
came yefterday to fee me ; and then partec -I h them all but
one, wiio ftayed on purpofe to keep me company, and cheer
my fpirits. Was extreme weak, and very feverifli, efpecial-
ly towards night ; but enjoyed comfort and fatisfa&ion.
061. 30. Rode three or four miles, to viiit Mr Wales :
fpent fome time, in an agreeable manner, in co: ; verfation 5 and
though extreme weak, enjoyed a comfortable compofed frame
of mind.
Ol. 31. Spent the day among friends in a comfortable
frame of mind, though exceeding weak, and under a conlider-
able fever.
Nov. i. Took leave of ftiends, after having fpent the fore-
noon with them, and returned home to my own houfe. Was
rauch difordered in the evening, and oppreffed with my cough j
which has now been-conftant for a long time, with a hard pain
in my breait, and fever.
Lord's Day, Nov. 2. Was unable to preach, and fcarcely
able to fit up, the whole day. Was grieved, and almoii funk,
to fee my poor people deilitute of the means of grace ; efpe-
cially confidering they could not read, an4 fo were under
great difadvantages for ipending the Sabbath comfortably.
Oh, methought, I could be contented to be lick, if my poor
flock had a raithful parlor to feed them with fpiritual know-
ledge ! A view of their want of this was more afBiUve to
me than all my bodily illnefs.
Nov. 3. ( Being now in fo low and weak a ft ate, that I was
utterly uncapable of performing rry work, and having little
hope of recovery, unlefs by much lidin^, I Bought it my du-
tv to t:;l>:e a lengthy journey into New-Ei)gland, and to divert
2 44 THE LIFE OF A. 0.1746
myfelf among my friends, whom I had not now feen for a
long time. And accordingly took leave of my congregation
this day. Before I left my people, I viiited them all in their
refpedive houfes, and difcourfed to each one, as I thought
moft proper and fuitable for their circumftances, and foiTnd
great freedom in fo doing : 1 icarcely left one houfe but fome
were in tears-; and many were not only affe&ed with my be-
ing about to leave them, but with the foleran addrefles-I made
them upon divine things ; for I was helped to be fervent in
fpirit, while I difcourfed to them. When I had thus gone
through my congregation, (which took me moft of the day),
and had taken leave of them, and of the fchool, I left home,
and rode about two miles, to the houfe where I lived in the
fummer part, and there lodged. Was refreshed, this evening,
in that I had left my congregation fo well difpofed and affeft-
ed, and that I had been fo much affifted in making my fare-
well addreffes to them.
Nov. 4. Rode to Woodbridge, and lodged with Mr Pier-
fon ; continuing ilill in a very weak Hate.
Nov. j. Rode to Elifabeth-Town ; intending, as foon as
poffible, to profecute my journey into New- England. But
was, in an hour or two aftrr my arrival, taken much worfe.
After this, for near a week, was confined to my chamber,
and moft of the time to my bed j and then fo far revived as
to be able to walk about the houfe ; but was Ilill confined
within doors.
In the beginning of this extraordinary turn of difcrder, af-
ter my coming to Elifabeth-Town, I was enabled through
mercy to maintain a calm, cornpofed, and patient fpirit, as I
liad been before from the beginning of my weaknefs. After
1 had been in Elifabeth-Town about a fortnight, and had fo
far recovered that I was able to walk about houfe upon a day
cf thankfgiving kept in this place, I was enabled to recal and
recount over the mercies of God, in fuch a manner as grca'.ly
affecled me, and filled roe (I think) with thankfulnefs and
praife to God : efpecially my foul praifed him for his work
of grace among the Indians, and the enlargement of his dear
kingdom; rny foul bleffed God for what he is in him felf,
ar.d adored him, .that he ever would difplay himfelf to crca-
JET. 29. MR DAVID BRAIN EH D. 245
tures : I rejoiced that lie was God, and longed that all (houlo!
know it, and feel it, and rejoice in it. ** Lord, glorify t'jy-
<c felf," was the defire and cry of my foul. Oh that all peo-
ple might love and praife the bleffed God j that he might
have all pcfTible honour and glory from the intelligent world !
After this comfortable thankfgiving feafon, I frequently
enjoyed freedom and enlargement and engagednefs- of foul in
prayer, and was enabled to intercede with God for my dear
congregation, very often for every family, and every perfon,
in particular ; and it was often a great comfort to me, that I
could pray heartily to God for thofe, to whom I cculd riot
fpeak, and \vhom I was not allowed to fee But at other
times, my fpirits were fcrflat and low, and my bodily vigour
fo much wafted, that I haJ fcarce any affections at all.
In December, 1 had revived fo far as to be able to walk a-
broad, and vilit friends, and feemed to be on the gaining hand
with regar-d to my health, in the main, until Lord's day, Dec
21. At which time I went to the public worfhip j and it be-
ing facrament-day, I laboured much, at the Lord's table, to
bring forth a certain corruption, and have it {lain, as being
the enemy to God and my own foul \ and could not but hope
that I had gained forae ftrength againft this, as well as other
corruptions ; and felt fome brokennefs of heart for my fin,
After this, having perhaps taken fome cold, I began to de-
cline as to bodily health ; and continued to do fo, till the lat-
ter end of Jan. 1746-7. And having a violent cough, a con-
iiderable fever, and aftamatic diforder, and no appetite for a-
ny manner of food, nor any power of digeftion. I was reduced
to fo low a ftate, that my friends (I believe) generally def-
paired of my life j and ibme of them for fome time together,
thought I could fearce KveacUy toanend. Inthistime, Icould
think of nothing with any application of mind, and feemed to
be in a great meafure void of all affeflion, and was exercifed
with great temptations 5 but yet was not ordinarily afraid of
death.
On Lord's Day, Feb. I, though in a very weak and
low ftate, I enjoyed a confiderable deal of comfort and fweet-
nefs in divine things j and was enabled to plead and ufe argu-
ments vrith God in prayer, I think, with a childlike fpirit.
246 THE LIFE 'OF A,D, 1747.
That paffage of fcripturc occurred to my mind, and gave me
great afliflance, " If ye, being evil, know how to give good
* f gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly
" Father give the holy Spirit to them that alk him <" This
text I was helped to plead, and infill upon, and faw the di-
vine faithfulnefs" engaged for dealing with me better than any
carthly parent can do with his child. This feafon fo refrem-
cd my foul, that my body feemed alfo to be a gainer by it.
And from this time I began gradually to amend. And as I
recovered fome ftrength, vigour, and fpirit, I found at times
4 fome freedom and life in the exercifes of devotion, and fome
longings after fpirituality and a life of ufefulnefs to the inte-
reils of the great Redeemer :, although at other times, I was
awfully barren and lifelefs, and out of frame for the things of
God ; fo that I was ready often to cry out, " Oh that it were
" with me as in months paft !" Oh that God had taken me a-
way in the midft of my ufefulnefs with a fudden ftroke, that I
might not have been under a neceflhy of trifling away time in
diverlions J Oh that I had never lived to fpend fo much pre-
cious time in fo poor a manner, and to fo little purpofe ! Thus
I often reflected, was grieved, afhamed, and even confounded,
funk and difcouraged.
Feb 24. I was able to ride as far as Newark, (having
been confined within Elifabeth-Town almofl four months),
and the next day returned to Elifabeth- Town. My fpirits
were fomewhat refrefhed with the ride, though my body was
weary.
Feb. 28. Was vifitcd by an Indian of my own congrega-
tion ; who brought me letters, and good news of the ibber
and good behaviour of my people in general j this refrefhed
my foul ; I cou 7 d not but foon retire, and blefs God for his
goodnefs ; and found, I truft, a truly thankful frame of fpirit
that God feemed to be building up that congregation for him-
ftlf.
March 4. I met with a reproof from a friend, which al-
though I thought I did not dcferve it from him, yet was (I
trull) bleffed of God to make me more tenderly afraid of fin,
more jealous over rnyfelf, ?nd more concerned to keep both
lieart and life pure anti unblameable ; it likewife c?.ufed me
^T. 29. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 247
to reflect on my paft deadnefs, and want of fpirkuality, and to
abhor myfelf, and ]ook on myfelf moll unworthy. This frame
of mind continued the next day j and for feveral days after, I
grieved to think in myneceffary diverfionsl had not maintained
more ferioufnefs, folemnity, heavenly affection and converfation.
And thus my fpirits were often deprelTed and funk \ and yet, I
truft, that reproof was made to be beneficial to me.
March n, being kept in Llifabeth-Town as a day of fad-
ing and prayer, I was able to attend public worQjip 5 which
was the firft time I was able fo to do after Decem. 21. Oh
how much weaknefs and diilrefs did God carry me through in
this fpace of time ! But having obtained help from him, I
I yet live : Oh that I could live more to his glory !
Lord's Day, March 15. Was able again to attend the public
vvorfhip, and felt fpme earned defires of being reftored to the
minifterial work ; felt I think, fome fpirit and life, to fpeak
for God.
March 17. Rode out with a defign to viHt my people ,
and the next day arrived among them j was under great dejec-
tion in my journey.
On Friday morning, I rofe early, walked about amo!g rnv
people, and inquired into their ilate and concerns ; and found
an additional weight and burden on my fpirits> upon hearing
fome things difagreeable. J endeavoured to go to God with
my diitrelTes, and made fame kind of lamentable complaint \
and in a broken manner fpread my difficulties before Godj but
notwithilanding, ray mind continued very gloomy. About ten
o'clock, I called my people together, and after having ex-
plained and fung a pfalm, I prayed with them. There
was a confiderable deal of affe&ion among them ; I doubt
not, in fome inftances, that which was more than merely na-
tural.
[This was the laft interview that he ever had with his
peoplo. About eleven o'clock the fame day, he left them ;
and the next day came to Elifabeth-Town ; his melancholy re-
maining flill j and he continued for a confiderable time under
a great degree of dejection through vapoury diforders.]
March 28. Was taken this morning with violent grip-
ing pains. Thcfe pains were extreme and conftantfor feve-
24$ THE LIFE OF A.D. 1747.
Brail J8 A MbUiJUBOnRfSSBS&HBBUiJfUEEUKMSfESU&UBUS^^
rai hours ; fu tnat it iee^.e . irapoilibl: or n'e. without a mi-
THCie, to live twenty-foui hours in fuch diftrefs. I lay con-
fr..:ii to my bed, the wfcyie day, and in diitrefling pain, all
the former part or it : but it pkafed God to biefs means for
the abatement of ray diitreis. Was exceedingly "reakcned by
this pain, and continued lo for feveral days following . being
' Jiied with a fever, cough r and nocturnal fweats. In ihis
dii = >fe i cafe, io long as my head was free of vapoury con-
fu v >ns, death appeared agreeable to me , 1 looked on it as
the end of toils, and an entrance into a place " where the
weary are at reft :" aiid I think, I had fome relifti of the en-
tciLaiiUh-uts of the heavenly iiate ; fo that by thefe I was
allured and drawn, as well as driven by the fatigues of life;
Oh how hapy it is, to be drawn by defires of a ftate of per-
fect hoiinefs !
April 4. Was funL and dejected, very reftlefs and uneafy
by region of the miiimprovement of time j and yet knew not
what to ao . i longed to fpend time in failing and prayer, that
I might be delivered from indolence and coldnefs in the
things of God j but alas, I had not bodily ftrength for thefe
exercifes ! Oh how bleiTed a thing is it to enjcy peace of con-
icience ! but how dreadful is a want of inward peace and com-
pofure of foul ! It is impoflible I find, to enjoy this happinefs
without redeeming time, and maintaining a ipiritual frame of
mind.
Lord's Day, April 5. It grieved me to find myfelf fo in-
conceivably barren. My foul thirfted for grace j but, alas,
how far was 1 from obtaining what I faw fo exceeding excel-
lent ! I was ready to defpair of ever being a holy creature,
and yet my foul was defirous of following hard after God ;
but never did I fee myfelf fo far from having apprehended, or
being already perfect, as at this time. The Lord's fupper
being this, day adminiitered, I attended the ordinance j and
though I faw in myfelf a dreadful emptinefs, and want of
grace, and faw myfelf as it were at an infinite diltance from
that purity which is becoming the gofpel j yet in the feafon
of communion, efpecially in the time of the diflribution of
the bread, I enjoyed fome warmth of afrcclion, and felt a ten-
der love to the brethren ; and I think to the glorious Redeem-
JEt. 29 . M R D A V 1 D B R. A I N E R D. 245*
cr, the firfl-born among them. I endeavoured then to bring
forth mine and his enemies, and flay them before him j and
found great freedom in begging deliverance from this
fpiritual death, as well as in alking divine favours for my
friends, and congregation, and the church of Quid in gene-
ral.
April 7. In the afternoon, rode to Newark, in order to
marry the Rev. Mr Dickinfon * j and in the evening, per-
formed that work. Afterwards, rode home to Elifabeth-
Town in a pleafant frame, full of compofure and fweetnefs.
April 9. Attended the ordination of Mr Tucker f, and af-
terwards the examination of Mr Smith , was in a comfortable
frame of mind this day, and felt my heart, I think, fometimes
in a fpiritual frame.
April 10. Spent the forenoon in Presbyterial buflnefs j
in the afternoon, rode to Elifabeth-Town 5 found my brother
John there : fpent fome time in converfation with him, but
was extreme weak and outdone, my fpirits confiderably funk,
and my mind deje&ed.
[This brother of his had been fent for by the Correfpon-
dents to take care of, and inRrucl Mr Brainqrd's congregation
of .Indians j he being obliged by his illnefs to be abfent from,
them: And he continued to take care of them till Mr Erain-
erd's death : and fince his death has been ordained his fuc-
celTor in his mifllon, and to the charge of his congregation \
which continues much to flourim under his paftoral care.]
* The late learned a?td very excellent Mr Jonathan "Dickinfun, paf- "
fir of a cbzfrch in Elifubetb-Town, president of the college of New-
jerfey,and one of the ctrrefpondents of the honourable fvcisty in Scot-
land for propagating Chriftian knowledge ; 'who had a great ejlcem for
J\Ir Bramerd, and had kindly entertained him in his houfe during his
Jicknefs in tie winter pajl ; and who, after aJJjort illnefs, died in the
enfuing 0lober t two days before Mr Brainerd.
f A worthy pio?jf young gentleman ; who lived in the minijlry but
a very /Jjort time ; he disd at Stratfield in Connecticut, the December
following bis ordination, being a little while after Mr Brainerd' f
death at Northampto?t. He was taken ill on a journey, returning
from a vifit to his friends at Milton (in the Ma/achitfetts'), which as
I take it, was his native place > and Harvard college the plzce of his e-
tititt.
I i
250 THE LIFE OF A. 13.1747.
April 13. Ailifted in examining ray brother. In the eve-
ning, was in a folemn devout frame , but was much overdone
and oppreffed with a violent head-ach.
April 14. Was able to do little or nothing: Spent fome
time with Mr By ram and other friends. This day my bro-
ther went to my people.
April 15. Found fome freedom at the throne of grace, fe-
veral times this day. In the afternoon was very weak j fpent
the time to very little purpofe j and yet in the evening, had
fome religious warmth and fpiritual defires in prayer ; my
ibul feemecl to go forth after God, and take complacence in
his divine perfections. But, alas ! I afterwards awfully let
down my watch, and grew carelefs and fecurc.
April 16. Was in bitter anguifh of foul in the morning,
fuch as I have fcarce ever felt, with a fenfe of fin and guilt.
I continued in diflrefs the whole day, attempting to pray
wherever I went ; and indeed could not help fo doing j but
looked upon myfelf fo vile, I dared not look any body in the
face ; and was even greived, that any body fhould fhew me a-
ny refpect, or at leaft, that they fliould be fo deceived as to
think I deferved it.
April 17. In the evening could not but think that God help-
ed me to <k draw near to the throne of grace," though moft
unworthy, and gave me a fenfe of his favour ^ which gave me
inexpreffible fupport and encouragement j though I fcarcely
dared to hope the mercy was real, it appeared fo great yet
could not but rejoice, that ever God fliould difcover his re-
conciled face to fuch a vile iinner. Shame and confufion at
times covered me j and then hope, and joy, and admiration
of dix'ine goodnefs gained the afcendant. Sometimes 1 could
not but admire the divine goodnefs. that the Lord had not
let me fall into all the groffeft vilefl ads of fin and open fcan
dal, that could be thought of , and felt myfelf fo neceffitated
to praife God, that this was ready for a while to fwallow up
my fliame and preffure of fpirit on account of my fins.
[After this his dejection and prefTure of fphit returned j
and he remained under it the two next days.]
April 20. Was in a very difordered ftate, and kept my bed
moil of the day. I enjoyed a little more comfort, than in fe
JET. 30. MR. DAVID BRAINERD. 251
veral of the preceding days. This day I arrived at the age
of twenty-nine years.
April 21. I fet out on my journey to New England, in or-
der (if it might be the will of God) to recover my health yb
riding : travelled to New-York, and there lodged.
[This proved his final departure from New-Jerfey. ~He tra-
velled flowly, and arrived among his friends at Eaft-Haddam
about the beginning of May. There is very little account
in his diary, of the time that paffed from his fetting out on
this journey to May 10. He fpeaks of his fometimes rinding
his heart rejoicing in the glorious perfections of God, and long-
ing to live to himj but complains of the unfixednefs of his
thoughts, and their being eafily diverted from divine fubjels,
and cries out of his leannefs, as teftifying againft him, in the
loudeft manner. And concerning thofe diverfions he was o-
bliged to ufe for his health, he fays that he lometimei. found
he could ufe diverfions with " finglenefs of heart," aiming at
the glory of God ; but he alfo found that there was a necef-
fity of great care and watchfulnefs, lelt they fhould degener-
ate into what was merely felfiih, without any fupreme aim at
the glory of God in them.]
May 10. (At Had-Lime) I could not but feel fome mea-
fure of gtatitude to God at this time, (wherein I was much
cxercifed,) that he had always difpofed me, in my miniftry,
to infift on the great doftrines of regeneration, the new crea-
ture, faith in Chrift, progreflive fan&iikation, fupreme love to
God, living entirely to the glory of God, being not our own,
and the like. God has helped me to fee, in the fureft manner,
from time to time, that thefe and the like doctrines, neceffii-
rily connected with them, are the only foundation of fafety
and falvation for perilhing finners j and that thofe divine
difpofitions, which are confonant hereto, are, that holinefs
without which no man Ihall fee the Lord" the exercife of
thofe God like tempers, wherein the foul a&s in a kind of
concert with God, and would be and do every thing; that is
pleailng to God : This, I faw, would ftar.d by the foui in a
dying hour j for God, I think, tnuft deny himfelf, if he cait
away his own image, even the foul that is one in deSre vndi
himfelf.
252 THE LIFE OF A.D, 1747.
Lord's Day, May 17. (At Millington) fpent the fore-
noon at home, being unable to attend the public worfhip,
At this time God gave me fome affecling fenfe of my own
vilenefs, and the exceeding fmfulnefs of my heart , that there
feemed to be nothing but fin and corruption within me. " In-
" numerable evils compaffed rne about 5" ray want of fpiritu-
ality and holy living, my neglect of God, and living to my-
felf. All the abominations of my heart and life feemed to be
open to my view j and I had nothing to fay, but, " God be
merciful ro me a finner." Towards noon, I faw, that the,
grace of God in Chrift is infinitely free towards finners, and
fuch Tinners as I was ; I alfo faw that God is the fupreme
good, that in his prefence is life j and I began to long to die
that I might be with him, in a flate of freedom from all fin.
Oh, how a fmall glimpfe of his excellency refreihed my foul !
Oh, how worthy is the bleffed God to be loved, adored, and
delighted in, for himftlf, for his own divine excellencies !
Though I felt much dulnefs, and want of a fpirit of prayer,
this week, yet I had fome glimpfes of the excellency of di-
vine things j and efpecially one morning, in fecret meditation
and prayer, the excellency and beauty of holinefs, as a like-
nefe to the glorious God, was fo discovered to me, as that I
began to long earneflly to be in that world where holinefs
d-wells in perfection j and I feemed to long for this perfect
holinefs, not fo much for the fake of my own happinefs, (al-
though I faw clearly that this was the greateft, yea, the only
happinefs of the foul), as that I might pleafe God, live entire-
ly to him, and glorify him to the utmoft ftretch of my ration-
al poivers and capacities.
Lord's Day, May, 24. (At Long- Meadow, in Spring-
field) Could not but think, as I have often remaiked to o-
thers, that much more of true religion confifts in deep humi-
lity, brokennefs of heart, and an abaiing fenfe of barrennefs
end want of grace and holinefs, than moft who are called Chrif-
tiar.s imagine, efpecially thofe who have been efteemed
the converts of the late day ; many of whom feem to know
of no other religion but elevated joys and affections, arifing
only from fome flights of imagination, or fome fuggeilion made
ALT, 30. MR DAVID B R A I N E R D. 253
to their mind, of Chrift's being theirs, God's loving them,
and the -like.
[May 28. He came from Long- Meadow to Northampton 5
appearing vaftly better than, by his account, he had been in
the winter ; indeed fo well that he was able to ride twenty-
five miles in a day, and to walk half a mile, and appeared
cheerful, and free from melancholy : but yet undoubtedly, at
that time, in a cpnfirmed uncurable confumption.
I had had "much opportunity, before this, of particular in-
formation concerning him, from many that were well acquain-
ted with him ; and had myfelf once an opportunity of confi-
derable converfation and fome acquaintance with him, at New-
Haven, near four years before, in the time of the Commence-
ment, when he offeredthat confeflion to the reclor of the ctl-
lege that has been already mentioned in this hiftoryj I be-
ing one he was pleafed then, to confult feveral times on that
affair : but now I had opportunity fora more full acquaintance
with him. I found him -remarkably fociable, pleafant, and
entertaining in his converfation j yet folid, favoury, fpiritual,
and very profitable j appearing meek, modeft, and humble,
far from any ftiffnefs, morofenefs, fuperflitious demurenefs, or
affected fingularity in fpeech or behaviour, and feemiag to
naufeate all fuch things. We enjoyed not only the benefit
of his converfation, but had the comfort and advantage of
hearing him pray in the family, from time to time. His man-
ner of praying was very agreeable ; moft becoming a worm
ef the duft, and a difciple of Chriit, addrefling an infinitely
great and holy God, and Father of mercies j not with florid
expreiTions, or a ftudied eloquence ; not with any intemper-
ate vehemence, or indecent boldnefs ; at the greateft diftancc
from; any appearance of oftentation, and from every thing that
might look as tho' he meant to recommend himfelfto thofe that
were about him, or fet himfelf off to their acceptance j free too
from vain repetitions, without impertinent excurfions, or need-
lefs multiplying of words. He expreffed himfelf with the ftrid-
eft propriety, with weight, and pungency, and yet what his lips
uttered feemed to be from the fulnefs of his heart, as deeply
impreffed with a great and folemn fenfe of our neceflities, un-
worthinefs, and dependence, and of God's infinite greatnefs,
excellency, and fufRciency, rather than merely from a warm
254 THE LIFE OF A. D. 1747
and fruitful brain, pouring out good expreffions. And I
know not that ever I heardhim afk a blefling or return thanks
at table, but there was fomething remarkable to be obferved
both in the matter, and manner of the performance. In his
prayers he infixed much on the profperity of Zion, the ad-
vancement of Chrill's kingdom in the world, and the flourifli-
ing and propagation of religion among the Indians. And
he generally made it one petition in his prayer, " that we might
" not outlive our ufefulnefs,"]
Lord's Day, May 31. [At Northampton,] I had little in-
ward fweetnefs in religion, moft of the week paft ; not rea-
lifing and beholding fpiritually the glory of God, and the blef-
fed Redeemer ; from whence always arife my comforts and
joys in religion, if I have any at all : and if I cannot fo be-
hold the excellencies and perfections of God, as to caufe me
to rejoice in him for what he is in himfelf, 1 have no folid
foundation for joy. To rejoice, only becaufe I apprehend I
have an intereft in Chiift, and ftiail be finally faved,is a poor
mean buiinefs indeed.
[This week, he confulted Dr Mather, at my houfe, con-
cerning his illnefs j who plainly told him, that there was
great evidences of his being in a confirmed confumption, and
that he could give him no encouragement that he fhould e-
ver recover. But it feemed not to occalion the leaft clifcom-
pofure in him, nor to make any alteration as to the cheerful-
nefs and ferenity of his mind, or the freedom or pleafantnefs of
his converfation.]
Lord's Day, June 7. My attention was greatly engaged,
and iny foul fo drawn forth, this day, by what I heard of the
" exceeding precioufnefs of the faving grace of God's Spirit,"
that it almoft overcame my body, in my weak ftate : I faw
that true grace is exceeding precious indeed : That it is very
rare ; and that there is a very fmall degree of it, even where
the reality of it is to be found j at leait 1 faw this to be my
cafe.
In the preceding week, I enjoyed fome comfortable fea-
fonsof meditation. One morning the caule of God appealed
exceeding precious to me : The Redeemer's kingdom is all
that is valuable in the earth, and I could not but long for
JET. 30. MR DAVID BRAINER.D. 255
the promotion of it in the world , I faw alfo that this caufe is
God's, that he has an infinitely greater regard and concern
for it, than I could pofiibly have; that if I have any true
love to this blefTed intereft it is only a drop derived from that
ocean ; hence I was ready to " lift up my head with joy :'*
and conclude, " Well, if God's caufe be fo dear and precious
" to him, he will promote it." And thus I did as it were
reft on God, that furely he would promote that which was fo
agreeable to his own will ; though the time when, muft ftill
be left to his fovereign pleafure.
[He was advifed by phyficians dill to continue riding, as
what would, tend above any other means, to prolong his life.
He was at a lofs, for fome time, which way to tend his courfc
next: but finally determined to ride from hence to Boiton:
we having .concluded that one of this family mould go with
him, and be helpful to him in his weak and low date.]
June 9. I fet out on|a journey from Northampton to Bofton.
Travelled flowly,and got fome acquaintance with divers mi-
nifters on the road.
I having now continued to ride for fome confiderable time
together, felt myfelf much better than I had formerly done ,
and I found, that in proportion to the profpect I had of be-
ing reftored to a ftate of ufefulnefs, fo I delired the continu-
ance of life : but death appeared inconceivably more defira-
ble to me than a ufelefs life ; yet bleffed be God, I found my
heart, at times, fully refigned and reconciled to this greateft of
afflictions, if God faw fit thus to deal with me.
July 12. I arrived in Bofton this day, fomewhat fatigued
with my journey, Obferved, that there is no reft, but in God y
fatigues of body, and anxieties of mind, attend us, both in
town and country j no place is exempted.
Lord's Day, June 14. I enjoyed fome enlargement and
fweetnefs in family prayer, as well as in fccret exercifes j
God appeared excellent, his ways fu,ll of pleafure and peace,
and all I wanted was a fpirit of holy fervency, to live to him.
June 17. This and the two preceding days, I fpent main-
ly in vifiting the minifters of the town, and was treated with
refpeft by them.
June 18. I was taken exceeding ill. and brought to the
gates of death, by the breaking of fmall ulcers in my lungs,
THE LIFE OF
A.D. 1747.
as my phyfician iuppofed. In this cxirime *.euk itate I con-
tinued for feveral weeks, and was frequently i educed fo low,
as to be utterly fpeec.hl.--fs, and not able fo much as to whifper
a word j and even alter 1 had fo far revived, as to walk a-
bout the houfe, and to flep out of doors, I was exercifed e-
very day with a faint turn, which continued ufually four or
five hours j at which times, though I *-as not utterly fpecch-
lefs, fo but that I could fay, Yes, or No, yet I could not con-
verfe at all, nor fpeak one fentence, without making flops for
breath y and divers times in this feafbu, my friends gathered
round my bed, to fee me breathe my iall, which they looked
for every moment, as !<>) felfalfo did.
How I was, the fir ft day or two ot my illnefs, with regard
to the exercife of reafon, I fcarceiy know 5 but I believe I
\vas fomething fliatterred with the violence of the fever, at
times : but the third day of my illnefs, and conftantly after-
wards, for four or five weeks together, I enjoyed as much
ferenity of mind, and clearnefs of thought, as peihaps I ever
did in my life j and I think my mind never penetrated v\ith
fo much eafe and freedom into divine things, as at this time ;
and I never felt fo capable of demonftrating the truth of ma-
many important doctrines of the gofpel as now- And as I
faw clearly the truth of thofe great doctrines, which are juft-
ly ftiled the doflrines of grace j fo I faw with no lefs clearnefs,
that the effence of true religion confifled in the foul's con-
foicaity to God, and aling above all felfiih views, for his glo-
ry, longing to be for him, to live to him, to pleafe and
honour him in all things j and this from a clear view of his
infinite excellency and worthinefs in himfelf, to be loved a
dored, worftripped, and ferved by all intelligent creatures.
Thus I faw that when a foul loves God with a fupreme love,,,
he therein afts like the bleffed God himfelr, who moil juftly
loves himfelf in that manner : fo when God's intereft and his.
are become one, and he longs that God fhould be glorified, and
rejoices to think that he is unchangeably pofleffcd of the high-
eft glory and bleffednefs, herein he alfo acls in conformity to
God. In like mannner, when the foul is fully refigned to, and
refts (atisfied and contented with the divine will, here it is al*
fb conformed to God.
JiT. 30. MR DAVID BRAINERD* 257
I faw further, triat as this divine temper, whereby the foul
exalts God, and treads felf in the duft, is wrought in the foul
by God's difcovering his own glorious perfections in the face
of Jcfus Chrilt to it by the fpecial influences of the holy Spi-
rit, fo he cannot but have regard to it, as his own work j and
as it is his own image in the foul, he cannot but take delight
in it. Then I faw again that if God fhould flight and reject
his own moral image, he muft needs deny himfelf j which he
cannot do. And thus I faw the (lability and infallibillity of
this religion 5 and that thofe who are truly poffelTed of it
have the moft complete and fatisfying evidence of their being
tnterefted in all- the benefits of Chrift's redemption, having
their hearts conformed to him .; and that thefe, and thefe on-
ly, are qualified for the entertainments and employments cf
God's kingdom of glory j as none but thefe have any refitli
for the bufinefs of heaven, which is to afcribe glory to God,
and not to themfelves ; and that God (though I would fpeak
it with great reverence of his name and perfections) cannot,
without denying himfelf, finally caft fuch away.
The next thing I had then to do, was to inquire, whether
this was my religion : And here God was pleafed to help mo
to the mofl eafy remembrance and critical review of what
had paiTed in courfe, of a religious nature, through feveral of
the latter years of my life : and although I could difcover
much corruption attending my beft duties, many felfifh views
and carnal ends, much fpiritual pride and {elf-exaltation, and
innumerable other evils which com patted me about j I fay,
although I' now difcerned the fins of my holy things, as well
as other actions ; yet God was pleafed, as I was reviewing,
quickly to put this queftion out of doubt, .by (hewing me that
I had, from time to time, acted above the utmofl influence of
mere felf-love ; that 1 had longed to pleafe and glorify him ?
as my highefl : happinefs, &c. And this review was through
grace attended with a prefent feeling of the fame divine tem-
per of mind) I felt now pleafed to think of the glory of God
and longed for heaven, as a ftate wherein I might gloiify God,
perfectly, rather than a place of happinefs for myfelf: and
this feeling of the love of God in my heart, which I trufl.
ihe Spirit of God excited in me afrefh, was fufficient. to givQ
K k
258 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1747.
me full fatisfa&ion, and make me long, as I had many times
before done, to be with Chriil : I did not now want any of
the fudden fuggeftions, which many are fo pleafed with,
'* That Chrift and his benefits are mine ; that God loves me, n
&c. in order to give me fatifaclion about my ftate : no, my
foul now abhorred thofe delufions of Satan, which are thought
to be the immediate witnefs of the Spirit, while there is no-
thing but an empty fuggeflion of a certain fad, without any
gracious difcovery of the divine glory, or of the Spirit's work
in their own hearts : I faw the awful delufiori of this kind of
confidences, as well as of the whole of that religion, which
they ufually fpring from, or at leafl are the attendants of:
the falfe religion of tbe late day, (though a day of wondrous
grace), the imaginations, and impreflions made only on the ani^
mal affections, together with the fudden fuggefi ions made to
the mind by Satan transformed into an angel of light, of cer-
tain fadls not revealed in fcripture ; thefe, and many like
things, 1 fear, have made up the greater part of the religious
appearance in many places.
Thefe things I faw with great clearnefs, when I was thought
to be dying. And God gave me great concern for his church
and interefl in the world, at this time ; not fo much becaufe
the late remarkable influence upon the minds of people was a-
bated, and almofl wholly gone, as becaufe that falfe religion,
thofe heats of imagination, and wild and felfiih commotions of
the animal affeclions, which attended the work of grace, had
prevailed fo far. This was that which my mind dwelt upon,
almofl day and night 5 and this to me was the darkeil appear-
ance, refpe&ing religion, in the land : for it was this chiefly
that had prejudifed the world againft inward religion. And
I faw the great mifery of all was, that fo few faw any manner
of difference between thofe exercifes that were fpiritual and
holy, and thofe which have felf-love only for their beginning,,
centre, and end.
As God was pleafed to afford me clearnefs of thought, and
cdmpofure of mind, almoft continually, for feveral weeks to-
gether, under my great weaknefs, fo he enabled me, in fome
meafure, to improve my time, as I hope, to valuable purpofes.
I was enabled to write a number of important letters to
^T. 30. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 259
friends in remote places : and iometimes 1 wrote when I
was fpeechlefs, i. e. unable to maintain converfation with a-
ny body ; though perhaps I was able to fpeak a word or two
fo as to be heard. At this feafon allb, while I was confined
at Bofton, I read with care and attention fome papers of old
Mr Sheppard's, lately come to light, and defigned for the
prefs 5 and as I was defired, and greatly urged, made forne
corrections where the fenfe was left dark, for want of a word
or two. Befides this. I had many vifitants J with whom, when
I was able to fpeak, I always converfed about the things of
religion > and was peculiarly difpofed and afliited in diftinguHh-
ing betwixt the true and falfe religion ot the times; there
was fcarcely any fubjed that has been matter of debate in
the late day, but what I was at one time or other brought to
a fort of neceflity to difcourfe upon, and (hew my opinion in,
and that frequently before numbers of people j and efpecial-
ly, I difcourfed repeatedly on the nature and neceffity of that
humiliation, felf-emptinefs, or full conviction of a perfon's
being utterly undone in himfelf, which is necefTary in order
to a faving faith, and the extreme difficulty of being brought to
this, and the great danger there is of perfons taking up with
fome felf- righteous appearances of it. The danger of this I
efpecially dwelt upon, being perfuaded that multitudes perifli
in this hidden way ; and becaufe fo little is faid from moil
pulpits to difcover any danger here j fo that perfons beingnever
effectually brought to die in themfelves, are never truly
united to Chrift, and fo perifli. I alfo difcourfed much on
what I take to be the effence of true religion, endeavouring
plainly to defcribe that God-like temper and difpofition of
foul, and that holy converfation and behaviour, that may juft-
ly claim the honour of having God for its original and patron.
And I have reafon to hope, God bleffed rny way of difcour-
fing and diftinguiftiing, to fome, both minifters and people j
. fo that my time was not wholly loft.
[He was much vifited while in Bofton, by many perfons of
confiderable note and figure, and of the beft character, and by
fotne of the firft rank ; who (hewed him uncommon refpect,
and appeared highly plenfed and entertain?-,! with his conver-
fation. And b slides his being honoured with the company
260 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1747.
and refpecl of minifters of the town, he was vifited by feverai
minifters from various parts of the country. And as he took
all opportunities to difcourfe of the peculiar nature and dif-
tinguifhing chara&ers of true fpiritual and vital religion, and
to bear his teftimony againft the various falfe appearances of
it, confifting in, or ariiing from irapreflions on the imagina-
tion, and fudden and fuppofed immediate fuggeftions of truths
not contained in the feripture, and that faith which confifls.
primarily in a perfon's " believing that Chrifl died for him
'* in particular," &c. j fo what he faid was for the moft part
heard with uncommon attention and regard j and his difcourf-
es and reafonings appeared manifeftly to have great w r eight
and influence with many that he converfed with, both minif-
ters and others *.
Alfo the honourable Commiffioners in Boflon, of the incor-
porated fociety in London for propagating the gofpel in New-
England and parts adjacent, having newly committed to them
a legacy of the late reverend and famous Dr Daniel Williams
of London, for the fupport of two miflionaries to the Hea-
then, were pleafed, w'nle he was in Boflon, to confult him
about a mifiion to thofe Indians called the Six Nations, parti-
cularly about the qualifications requifite in a mifiionary ta
thofe Indians 5 and were fo fatisfied with his fentiments on
this head, and had that confidence in his faithfulnefs, and his
judgment and difcretion in things of this nature, that they
defired him to undertake to find and recommend a couple of
perfons fit to be employed in this bufinefs, and very much left
the matter with him.
Likewife, certain pious and generoufly difpofed gentlemen
in Bofton, being moved H^y the wonderful narrative of his
labours and fucc-efs among the Indians in New-Jerfey, and
more efpecially by their converfation with him on the fame
fubjeft, took opportunity to enquire more particularly into the
ftateand neceflltics of his congregation, and the fchool among the
* I have had advantage for the more full information of his condu<ft
and converfation, the entertainment he me't with, and what pafled re-
relating to him while in Boston : as he was constantly attended, du-
ring his continunce there, by one of my thildien, in order to his afiist-
ance in Us illnefs.
&T. 30. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 26l
Indians, with acharuable intention of contributingfome thing of
their fubftance to promote the excellent defign of the advance-
ment of the interefts of Chriftianity among the Indians j and un-
derftanding that there was a want of Bibles for the fchool, three
dozen of Bibles were immediately procured, and 14 I. in bills
(of the old tenor) given over and above, befldes more large
benefactions made afterwards, which I (hall have occaiion to
mention in their proper place.
Mr Brainerd's relioration from his extremely low ftate in
Bofton, fo as to go abroad again and travel, was very unexpect-
ed to him and his friends. My daughter who was with him
writes thus concerning him, in a letter dated June 23. " On
11 Thurfday^, he was very ill with a violent fever, and extreme
" pain in his head and breaft, and at turns delirious. So he
" remained till Saturday evening, when he feemed^to be
" in the agonies of death : the family was up with him till
" one or two o'clock, expecting every hour would be hislaft.
"On Sabbath-day he was a little revived, his head was
"better, but very full of pain, and exceeding fore at his
" breaft, much put to it for breath, &c. Yefterday he was
" better upon all accounts. Laft night he ilept but little.
u This morning he is much worfe. Dr Pynchon fays, he had
" no hopes of his life j nor does he think it likely he will e-
" ver come out of the chamber j though he fays, he may be
" able to come to Northampton."
In another letter, dated June 29, (he fays as follows : " Mr
<l Brainerd has not fo much pain nor fever, fince I laft wrote,
" as before : yet he is extremely weak and low, and very
" faint, expecting every day will be his laft. He fays, It is
" impoffible for him to live, for want of life. He has hard-
" ly vigour enough to draw his breath. I went this morning
** into town, and when I came home, Mr Bromfield faid, he
" never expected I (hould fee him alive-, for he lay two hours
" as they thought dying j one could fcarcely tell whether he
M was alive, or not j he was not able to fpeak for fome time j
" but now is much as he was before. The doctor thinks, he
" will drop aw^y in fuch a turn. Mr Brainerd fays, he never
" felt aily* thing fo much like diffolution, as what he felt to-
* day j and lays, he never had any conception of its being
262 THE LIFE OF A. D.I 547
" poflTible for any creature to be alive and yet fo weak as he
" is from day to-day. Dr Pynchon fays, he would not be fur-
*' prifed, if he (hould fo recover as to live half a year ; nor
*' would it furprife him, if he {hould die in half a day. Since
" I began to write, he is not fo well, having had a faint turn
** again 5* yet patient and refigned, having no diflrefling fears,
" but the contrary."
His phyfician, the honourable Jofeph Pynchon, Efq. when
he vifited him in his extreme illnefs at Bofton, attributed his
fiaking fo fuddenly into a ftate fo extremely low, and nigh
unto death, to the breaking of ulcers, that had been long ga-
thering in his lungs, (as Mr Brainerd himfelf intimates in a
forementioned pafTage of his diary); and there difcharging and
dififuiing their purulent matter 5 which while nature was, la-
bouring and ilruggling to throw off, (that could be done no
other wife, than by a gradual ftraining of it through the fmall
vefiels of thofe vital parts), this occafioned an high fever
and violent coughing, and threw the whole frame of nature
into the utmoft diforder, and brought it near to a dilTolution :
But fuppofed, if the ftrength of nature held till the lungs had
this way gradually cleared themfelves of this putrid matter, he
might revive, and continue better, till new ulcers gathered
and broke j but then would furely fink again j and that there
was no hope of his recovery j but (as he expreifed himfelf to
one of my neighbours, who at that time faw him in Bofton)
he was as certainly a dead man, as if he was (hot through the
head.
But fo it was ordered, in Divine Providence, that the
flrength of nature held out through this great conflict, fo as
juft to efcape the grave at that turn j and then he revived,
to the aftoniihment of all that knew his cafe.
After he began to revive, he was vifited by his youngeil
brother, Mr Ifrael Brainerd, a ftudent at Yale college; who
having heard of his extreme illnefs, went from thence to Bof-
ton, in order to fee him, if he might find him alive, which he
but little dxpecled.
This vifit was attended with a mixture of joy and for-
row to Mr Brainerd. He greatly rejoiced to fee his brother,
efpecially becaufe he had defircd an opportunity of feme
JT. 30. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 263
religious converfation with him before he died. But this .
meeting was attended with forrrow, as his brother brought
the forrowful tidings of his fifter Spencer's death at Haddam j
a filter, between whom and him had long fubiifted a peculiar-
ly dear affection, and much intimacy in fpiritual matters, and
whofe houfe he ufed to make his home, when he went to Had-
dam, his native place. He had heard nothing of her fick-
nefs till this report of her death. But he had thefe comforts,
together with the tidings, VPZ,- a confidence of her being gone
to heaven, and an expectation of his foon meeting her there.
His brother continued with him till he left the town, and
eame with him from thence to Northampton.
Concerning the laft Sabbath Mr Brainerd fpent in Boflon,
he writes in his diary as follows.]
Lord's Day, July 19. I was juft able to attend public.
worfhip, being carried to the houfe of God in a chaife. Heard
Dr Sewall preach in the forenoon ; partook of the Lord's fup-
per at this time. In this facrament, I faw aftonifhing divine
wifdom difplayed j fuch wifdom as 1 faw required the tongues
of angels and glorified faints to celebrate ; it feemed to roe 1^
never mould do any thing at adoring the infinite wifdom of
God difcovered in the contrivance of man's redemption, until
I arrived at a world of perfection ; yet I could not help ftri-
ving to " call upon my foul, and all within me, to blefs the
" name of God." In the afternoon heard Mr Prince preach.
-I faw more of God in the wifdora difcovered in the plan
of man's redemption, than I faw of any other of his perfections,
through the whole day.
[He left Bofton the next day. But before he came away,
he had occafion to bear a very full, plain, and open teflimony
againft that opinion, that the elTence of faving faith lies in be-
lieving that Chrift died for me in particular ; and that this is
the firft act of faith in a true believer's clofing with Chrift.
He did it in a long conference he had with a gentleman, that
has very publicly and ftrenuoufly appeared to defend that tenet.
He had this difcourfe with him in the prefence of a number
of confiderable perfons, who came to vifit Mr Brainerd before
he left the town, and to take their leave of him. In which
debate, he made this plain declaration, (at the fame time con-
264 THE LIFE OF A.IK 1 747.
finniru; vs . A c ne laid by nruu.y arguments), That the ef.
fence of faving faith, was wholly left out of that definition of
Caving faith, which that gentleman had publilhed j and that
the f-tith which he had defined, had nothing of God in it, no-
thing above nature, nor indeed above the power of the devils j
. and that all fuch as had this faith, and had no better, though
th^y might have this to never lo high a degree, would furely
perifti. And he declared alfo, that he never had greater af-
furanceof the falfenefs of the principles of thofethat maintained
(uch a faith, and of their dangerous and deftruftive tendency,
or a more affecting fenfe of the great delufion or mifery of
thofc that depended on getting to heaven by fuch a faith,
(while thejr had no better), than he lately had when he was
fuppofed to be at the point to die, and expected every minute
to pafs into eternity. Mr BrainerdV difcourfe at this time,
and the forceable reafonlngs, by which he confirmed what he
afierted, appeared to be greatly to the fatisfac'r.ion of thofe pre-
fent 5 as feveral of them took occalion exprefsly to manifeit
to him, before they took leave of him.
When this converfation was ended, having bid an affection-
ate farewell to his friends, he fet out in the cool ef the after-
noon, on his journey to Northampton, attended by his brother,
and my daughter that went with him to Bofton 5 and would
fcave been accompanied out of the town by a number of gen-
tlemen, beiides that honourable perfon who gave him his com-
pany for fom,e miles on that occafion, as a teftimony of their
eSeem and refpecl:, had not his averlion to any thing of pomp-
or ftiew prevented it.]
July 25. 1 arrived here at Northampton $ having fet cutfrom
Bofton on Monday about four o'clock P. M. In this journey I 1
rode about fixteen miles a day, one day with another. Was fome-
times extremely tired and faint on the road, fo that it feemed
impofiible for me to proceed any further : at other times I'
was confiderably better, and felt fome freedom both of body-
and mind.
Lord's Day, July 26. This day, 1 faw clearly that I fhould^
never be happy j yea, that God himfelf could not make me-
happy, unlefs I could be in a capacity to " pleafe and glorify
" him fer ever j" take away this, and admit me into all th*
JET. 30. M R DAVID B R A I N E R D. 265
fine heavens that can be conceived of by men or angels, and I
(hould ftill be miferable for ever.
[Though he had fo far revived, as to be able to travel thus
far, yet he manifefted no expectation of recovery j he fup-
pofed, as his phyfician did, that his being brought fo near to
death at Bofton, was owing to the breaking of ulcers in his
lungs ; he told me that he had had feveral fuch ill turns be-
fore, only not to fo high a degree, but as he fuppofed, owing
to the fame caufe, viz. the breaking of ulcers j and that he
was brought lower and lower every time ; and it appeared
to him; that in his laft ficknefs (in Bofton) he was brought
as low as it was pofiible. and yet live j and that he had not
the leafl expectation of furviving the next return of this
breaking of ulcers j but ftill appeared perfectly calm in the
profpe& of death.
On Wednefday morning, the week after he came to North-
ampton, he took leave of his brother Ifrael, and never expect-
ing to fee him again in this world *, he now fetting out from
hence on his journey to New-Haven.
When Mr Brainerd came hither, he had fo much ftrengtli
as to be able, from day to day, to ride out two or three miles,
and to return ; and fometimes to pray in the family : but
from this time he gradually, but fenlibly, decayed, and be-
came weaker and weaker.
While he was here, his converfation from firft to laft was
much on the fame fubje&s as it had been when in Bofton : he
was much in fpeaking of the nature of true religion of heart
and pradtice, as diftinguiftied from its various counterfeits j
exprefling his great concern, that the latter did fo much pre-
vail in many places. He often maniferted his great abhor-
rence of all fuch doclrines and principles in religion, as in any
wife favoured of, and had any (though but a remote) tenden-
cy to Antinomianifrn 5 of ail fuch notions as feemed to dimi-
niih the neceflity of holinefs of life, or to abate men's regard
to the commands of God, and a ftricl, diligent, and uiverfal
practice of virtue and piety, under a pretence of depreciating
our works, and magnifying God's free grace. He fpake of-
ten with much deteitation, of fuch experiences and pretend-
ed difcoveries and joys, as have nothing of ths nature of fanc-
Ll
266 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1747.
tification in them, and do not tend to ftrictnefs, tcndernefs,
and diligence in religion, and meeknefs and benevolence to-
wards mankind, and an humble behaviour j and he alfo de-
clared, that he looked on fuch pretended humility as worthy
of no regard, that was not manifefted by modefty of conduct
and converfation. He fpake often with abhorrence of the
fpirit and practice that appears among the greater part of fe-
paratifts at this day in the land, particularly, thofe in the eaft-
ern parts of Connecticut j in their condemning and fepara-
ting from the Handing miniftry and churches, their crying
down learning, and a learned miniftry, their notion of an im-
mediate call to the work of the miniftry, and the forwardnefs
of laymen to fet up themfelves as public teachers. He had
been much converfant in the eaftern part of Connecticut, his
native place being near to it, when the fame principles, no-
tion, and fpirit began to operate, which have fince prevailed
to a greater height, and had acquaintance with fome of thofe
perfons who are become heads and leaders of the feparatifts 5
he alfo had been converfant with perfons of the fame way elfe-
where : and I heard him fay, once and again, he knew by
his acquaintance with this fort of people, that what was chief-
ly and moft generally in repute amongft them as the power
of Godlinefs, was an entirely different thing from that true
vital piety recommended in the fcriptures, and had nothing
in it of that nature; He manifefted a great diilike of a difpo-
fition in perfons to much noife and (how in religion, and affect-
ing to be abundant in proclaiming and publifhing their own
experiences 5 though at the fame time he did not condemn,
but approved of Chriftians fpeaking of their own experiences
on fome occafions, and to fome perfons, with due modefty and
difcretion. He himfelf fometimes, while at my houfe, fpake o
his own experiences, but it wasal ways with apparent referve, and
in the exercife of care and judgment with refpect to occafions,
perfons, and circumftances. He mentioned fome remarkable
things of his own religious experience to two young gentlemen
randitates for the miniftry, who watched with him (each at a dif-
ferent time) when he was very low, and not far from his end j
but he defired both of them not to fpeak of what he had told
them till after his death.
The things which were the fubject of that debate I men-
JET. 30' M R DAVID B R A I N E R D. 267
tioned before that he had with a certain gentleman the day
he left Bofton, feemed to lie with much weight on his mind
after he came hither ; and he began to write a letter- to that
gentleman expreffing his fentiments concerning the danger-
ous tendency of fome of the tenets he had exprcffed in con-
verfation, and in the writings he had publifhedj with the con-
fiderations by which the exceeding hurtful nature of thofe no-
tions is evident j but he had not ftiength to finifti his letter.
After he came hither, as long as he lived, he was much in
fpeaking of that future profperity of Zion that is fo often
foretold and promifed in the fcripture ; it was a theme he , de-
lighted to cfwell upon, and his mind feemed to be carried forth
with earned concern about it, and intenfe defires, that reli-
gion might fpeedily and abundantly revive and fiourifh 5
though he had not the leaft expectation of recovery j yea, the
nearer death advanced, and the more the fymptoms of its ap-
proach increafed, ftill the more did his mind feemto be taken
up with this fubjeft. He told me, when near his end, that
** he never in all his life had his mind fo led forth I defires
" and earned prayers for the flouriflimg of Chrift's kingdom
'* on earth, as lince he was brought fo exceeding low at Baf-
" ton." He feemed much to wonder, that there appeared
no more of a difpoiltion in miniiters and people to pray for
the flourifhing of religion through the world j that fo little a
part of their prayers was generally taken up about it, in their
families, and elfewhere j and particularly, he feveral times
expreifed his wonder, that there appeared no more forward-
nefs to comply with the propofal lately made in a memorial
from a number of miniilers in Scotland, and lent over into A-
znerica, for united extroardinary prayer, among Ch rift's mi-
nifters and people, for the coming of Chrift's kingdom : and
he fent it as his dying advice to his own congregation, that
they (hould pra&ife agreeably to that propofal *.-
* His congregation, Jince this, have with great cbcerfulnefs and un-
animity fallen in 'with this advice, a?id have pratlifed agreeably to tbe
propofal from Scotland ; and have at times appeared with uncommon
tngagedttffs and fervency of fpirit in their mertings and united devo-
tions, purjuant to that propofal. Alfo the Prejbyteries of New-Tort:
and New-Brunf wick, Jince this, have with one confent, fallen in with
the propofal, as likewife fome others of Cod's people in thofe parts ,
268 THE LIFE OF A. D. 1747
Though he was constantly exceeding weak, yet there ap-
peared in him a continual care well to improve time, and fill
it up with fomething that might be profitable, and in fome re-
fpeCt for the glcry of God or the good of men j either profit-
able ccnverfation, or writing letters to abfent friends, or
noting fomething in his diary, or looking over his former
writings, correcting them, and preparing them to be left in
the hands of others at his death, or giving fome directions
concerning a future conducting and management of his people,
or employment in fecret devotions. He feemed never to be
eafy, however ill, if he was not doing fomething for God, or
in his fervice.
After he came hither, he wrote a preface to a diary of the
famous Mr Shephard's, (in thofe papers before mentioned,
lately found), having been much urged to it by thofe gentle-
men in Boftcn who had the care of the publcation : which
diary, with his preface, has fince been publilhedf.
In his diary for Lord's Day, Aug. 9. he fpeaks of longing
defires after death, through a fenfe of the excellency of a
ilate of perfection.
In his diary for Lord's Day, Aug, 16. he fpeaks of his Tia-
Ting fo much refremment of foul in the houfe of God, that
it feemed alfo to refrefh his body. And this is not only no-
ted in his diary, but was very obfervable to others j it was
very apparent, not only that his mind was exhilarated with
inward confolation, but alfo that his animal fpirits and bodily
ftrength feemed to be remarkably reftored, as though he had
forgot his illnefs. But this was the laft time that ever he at-
tended public worftiip on the Sabbath.
On Tuefday morning that week (I being abfcnt on a jour-
ney) he prayed with my family j but not without much diffi-
culty, for want of bodily ftrength ; and this was the laft fami-
ly-prayer that ever he made.
He had been wont, till now, frequently to ride out two or
three miles : but this week on Thurfday, was the laft time
lie ever did fo.]
+ A fart of this preface is infcrtcd i:i ike append!* to tb'r hi/lory^
JET. 29. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 269
Lord's Day, Aug. 23. This morning I was coniiderably
refremed with the thought, yea, the hope and expectation of
the enlargement of Chrift's kingdom 5 and I could not but
hope, the time was at hand when Babylon the great would
fall, and rife no more : this led me to fome fpiritual medita-
tions, that were very refrefliing to me. I was unable to at-
tend public worfliip either part of the day ; but God was
pleafed to afford me fixednefs and fatisfaclion in divine thoughts.
Nothing fo refieflies my foul, as when I can go to God, yea,
to God my exceeding joy. When he is fo, fenfibly, to my
foul, Oh how unfpeakably delightful is this !
In the week paft, I had divers turns of inward refrefliing j
though my body was inexpreflibly weak, followed continually
with agnes and fevers. Sometimes my foul centered in God,
as my only portion ; and I felt that I fhould be for ever un-
happy, if he did not reign : I faw the fweetnefs and happinef*
of beingh is fubjecl:, at his difpofal. This made all my diffi-
culties quickly vaniih.
From this Lord's Day, viz. Aug. 23, I was troubled ve-
ry much with vapoury diforders, and could neither write nor
read, and could fcarcely live j although, through mercy, was
not fo much oppreffed with heavy melancholy and gloominels,
as at many other times.
{[Till this week he had been wont to lodge in a room above
flairs j but he now grew fo weak, that he was no longer
able to go up ftairs and down. Friday, Aug. 28. was the lait
time he ever went above ftairs j henceforward he betook him*
felf to a lower room.
Sept. 2. being the day of our public lecture, he feemed
to be refreflied with feeing the neighbouring minifters that
came hither to the lecture, and expreffed a great delire once
more to go to the houfe of God on that day : and according-
ly rode to the meeting, and attended divine fervice, while
the Reverend Mr Woodbridge of Hartfield preached. He fig-
nified that he fuppofed it to be the laft time he fliould attend
public worfliip; as it proved. And indeed it was the laft
time he ever went out at our gate alive.
On the Saturday evening next following, he was unexpect-
edly vifited by his brother, Mr John Brainerd, who came to
TH E LIFE OF A. D, 1747.
fee him from New-Jerfey. He was much refrefhed by this
unexpected vifit, thi* brother being peculiarly dear to him ;
and fee feemed to rejoice, in a devout and folemn manner, to
fee him, and to hear the comfortable tidings he brought con-
cerning the ftate of his dear congregation of Chriitian Indians;
and a circumftance of this vifit that he was extremely glad of,
was, that his brother brought him fbme of his private writings
from New Jerfey, and particularly his diary that he had
kept for many years paft.j
Lord's Day, Sept. 6. I began to read fomc of my private
writings, which rny brother brought me ; and was coufider-
ably refrefhed with what I met with in them.
Sept. 7. I proceeded further in reading my old private
writings, and found they had the fame cffecl upon me as be-
fore : I could not but rejoice and blefs God for what paffed
long ago, which without writing had been entirely loft.
This evening, when I was in great diftrefs of body, my
foul longed that God fliould be glorified : I faw there was no
heaven but this. I could not but fpeak to the by (landers
then of the only happinefs, vm. pleafmg God. Oh that I
could for ever live to God ! The day, I truft, is at hand, the
perfect day : Oh, the day of deliverance from all fin !
Lord's Day, Sept. 13. I was much refrefhed and engaged
in meditation and writing, and found a heart to at for God.
My fpirits were refreflied, and my foul delighted to do fome-
thing for God.
[On the evening following that Lord's Day, his feet began
to appear fenfibly fwelled \ which thenceforward fwelled more
and more. A fymptom of his diffoluticn coming on.
The next day, his brother John left him, being obliged to
return to New-Jerfey on fome bufinefs of great importance
and neceflity ; intending to return again with all poflible fpeed,
hoping to fee his brother yet once more in the land of the liv-
ing.
Mr Brainerd having now with much deliberation confidered
of the important affair forementioned, left with him by the
honourable commiiTioners in Bofton, of the corporation in
London for the propagation of the gofpel in New- England
and parts adjacent, viz. the fixing upon and recommending
JET. 30. MRDAV1D BRAINERD. 27!
two perfons proper to be employed as miflionaries to the Six
Nations, he about this time wrote a letter, recommending
two young gentlemen of his acquaintance to thofe Commiffion-
ners, viz. Mr ILlihu Spencer of Eaft Haddam, and Mr Job
Strong of Northampton. The Cornmiffioners on the recepit
of this letter, cheerfully and unanimoufly agreed to accept of
and employ the perfons he had recommended : who accord-
ingly have fince waited on the Commiflioners to receive their
inftruclions , and purfuant to their inflru&ions, have applied
themfelves to a preparation for the buiinefs of their million,
in the manner to which they directed them ; and one of them,
viz. Mr Spencer, has been folemnly ordained to that work,
by feveral of the minifters of Bofton, in the prefence of anec-
clefiaftical council convened for that purpofe j and is now
gone forth to the nation of the Oneidas, about one hundred
and feventy miles beyond Albany.
He alfe this week, vix. on Wednefday, Sept 16. wrote a
letter to a particular gentleman in Bofton (one of thofe cha-
ritable perfons before mentioned, who appeared fo forward to
contribute of their fubftance for promoting Chriftianity a-
mong the Indians) relating to the growth of the Indian fchool,
and the need of another fchoolmafter, or fome perfon to aflift
the fchoolmafter in inftru6Hng the Indian children. Thefe
gentlemen on the receipt of this letter, had a meeting, and
agreed with great cheerfulnefs to give L. 200 (in bills of the
old tenor) for the fupport of another fchoolmafter j aod de-
fired the Reverend Mr Pemberton of New-York, (who was
then at Bofton, and was alfo, at their delire, prefent at their
meeting), as foon as poffible to procure a fuitable perfon for
that fervice } and alfo agreed to allow L. 75 to defray forne
fpecial charges that were requifite to encourage the mi (lion
to the Six Nations, (befides the falary allowed by the Com-
miflioners), which was alfo done on fome intimations given by
Mr Brainerd.
Mr Brainerd fpent himfelf much in writing thofe letters,
being exceeding weak : but it feemed to be much to his fatif-
faftion, that he had been enabled to do it ; hoping that it was
fomething done for God, and which might be for the advance-
ment of Chrift's kingdom and glory. In writing the laft of
272 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1747.
^BBHVHIMIBBHBHBHl^nnKSaCBEH&SS^^
thefe letters, he was obliged to ufe the hand of another, not
being able to write himfelf.
On the Thurfday of this week (September 17.) was the lad
time that ever he went out of his lodging room. That day,
he was again vilited by* his brother Ifrael, who continued
with him thenceforward till his death. On that evening, he
was taken with fomething of a diarrhoea ; which he looked u-
pon as another fign of his approaching death j whereupon
he expreffed himfelf thus j " Oh, the glorious time is now
" coming ! 1 have longed to ferve God perfectly : now God
" will gratify thofe defires !" And from time to time, at tte
feveral fteps and new fymptoms of the fenfible approach of
his diffolution. he was fo far from being funk or damped, that
he feemed to be animated and made more cheerful ; as being 1
glad at the appearances of death's approach. He often ufed
the epithet glorious, when fpeaking of the day of his death,
calling it that glorious day. And as he faw his diffolution
gradually approaching, he was much in talking about it, with
perfect calmnefs, fpeaking of a future Hate 5 and alfo fettling
all his affairs, very particularly and minutely giving directions
concerning what he would have done in one refpect and
another after he was dead : And the nearer death approached
the more defirous he feemed to be of it. He feveral times
fpake of the different kinds cf willingnefs to die , and fpoke
of it as an ignoble mean kind of willingnefs to die, to be wil-
ling to leave the body, only to get rid of pain j or to go to
heaven, only to get honour and advancement there.]
Sept 19. Near night, while I attempted to walk a little,
my thoughts turned thus : " How infinitely fvveet it is, to
" love God, and be all for him !" Upon which it was fug-
gefled to me, " You are not an angel, rot lively and active."
To which my whole foul immediately replied, " I as fincere-
" ly defire to love and glorify God. as any angel in heaven."
Upon which it was fuggefted again, " But you are filthy, not
" fit for heaven." Hereupon inflantly appeared the bltfieJ
robes of' Chrifl's righleoufnefs, which I could not but exult
and triumph in j and I viewed the infinite excellency of God,
and my foul even broke with longings, that God fhouUl be
glorified. I thought of dignity in heaven - 7 but inflar.tly tha
JET. 30. MRBAVDBRAINERD.
thought returned, " I do not go to heaven to get honour, but
* ; to give all poHible glory and praife." Oh, how I longed
that God fliould be glorified on earth alfo ! Oh, I was made,
for eternity, if God might be glorified ! Bodily pains I cared
not for ; though I was then in extremity, I never felt eafier j
I felt willing to glorify God in that ftate of bodily diftrefs,
as long as he pleafed I fhould continue in it. The grave ap-
peared really fweet, and I longed to lodge my weary bones in
it - 7 but Oh, that God might be glorified ! this was the bur-
den of all my cry. Ob, I knew I mould be aclive as an. an-
gel in heaven j and that I fhould be ftripped of my filthy
garments ! fo that there was no objection. But Oh, to love
and praife God more, to pleafe him for ever ! This my foul
panted after, and even now pants for while I write. Oh that
God might be glorified in the whole earth ! " Lord let thy
*' kingdom come." I longed for a fpirit of preaching to de-
fcend and reft on minifters, that they might addrefs the con-
fciences of men with clofenefs and power. I faw, God *' had
" the refidue of the Spirit j" and my foul longed it fhouM be
poured from on high." I could not but plead with God for
my dear congregation, that he would preferve it, and not
fuffer his great name to lofe its glory in that work j my '~oul
flill longing that God might be glorified.
[The extraordinary frame that he was in that evening
could not be hid \ u his mouth fpake out of the abundance of
" his heart," exprefling in a very affecting manner much the
fame things as are written in his diary : and among very ma-
ny other extraordinary exprefTions, which he then uttered,
were fuch as thefe : " My heaven is to pleafe God, and g!o-
14 rify him, and to give all to him, and to be wholly devoted
" to his glory ; that is the heaven I long for j that is my re-
'* ligion, and that is my happinefs, tnd always was, ever fmce
" I fuppofe I had any true religion j and all thofe that are
*' of that religion (hall meet me in heaven. I do not go
44 to heaven to be advanced, but to give honour to God.
" It i* no matter where I iliall be ftationed in heaven, whe-
*' tlier I have a hi<;h or low feat there ; but to love, and
" pleafe, and glorify God is s*U ; had 1 a thoufaad fouls, if
44 they were worth any thing, 1 wuuld give them all to God J
Mm
274 THE LIFE OF A. D.I 747
" but I have nothing to give, when all is done. It is im-
" poflible for any rational creature to be happy without aft-
" ing all for God 5 God himfelf could not make him happy
" any other way. I long to be in heaven, praifing and glori-
" fyirig God with the holy angels; all my defire is to glori-
<{ fy God My heart goes out to the burying-place j it feeros
" to me a deiirable place , but Oh to glorify God ! that is it ;
" that is above all. It is a great comfort to me, to think
" that I have done a little for God in the world : Oh ! it is
" but a very fmall matter ; yet I have done a little j and I
" lament it, that I have not done more for him. There is
* ! nothing in the world worth living for, but doing good, and
** firiifhing God's work, doing the work that Chrift did. I
" fee nothing elfe ih the world, that can yield any fatisfac-
" tion, belides living to God, pleafing him, and doing his
"whole will. My greateft joy and comfort has been to
li do fomething for promoting the intereft of religion, and
" the fouls of particular perfons 5 and now, in my illnefs,
*' while 1 am full of pain and diftrefs from day to day, all
" the comfort I have, is in being able to do fome little char
" (or fmall piece of work) for God ; either by fomething
" that I fay, or by writing, or by fome other Way."
He intermingled with thefe and ether like expreffions,
many pathetical counfels to thofe that were about him ; par-
ticularly to my children and fervants. He applied himfelf
to fome of my younger children at this time j calling them
to him, and fpeaking to tnem one by one ; fetting before them,
in a very plain manner, the nature and eflence of true piety,
and its great importance and necefiity j earneilly warning
them not to reft in any thinjj fhort of that true and thorough
change of heart, and a life ds voted to God j counfclling them
not to be Hack in the great bufinefs of religion, nor in the
leaft to delay it j enforcing his counfels with this, that his
words were the words of a dying man : faid he, *' I fiiall die
" here, and here I (hall be buried, and here you will fee my
*' grave, and do you remember what I have faid to you. I
" am going into eternity : and it is fweet for me to think of
" eternity ; the endleflnefs of it makes it fweet : But Oh,
" what fliall I fay to the eternity of the wicked ! I cannot
JT. 30. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 275
"mention it, nor think of it , the thought is too dreadful.
*' When you fee my grave, then remember/what I faid to you
" while I was alive j then think with yourfelf, how that man
" that lies in that grave counfelled and warned me to pre-
' pare for death."
His body too feemed marvellcufly flrengthened, through
the inward vigour and refreshment of his mind ; fo that, zU
though before 'he was fo weak that he could hardly utter a
& *
fentence, yet now he continued his mod affeiting and profit-
able difcourfe to us for more than an hour, with fcarce any
interim Hi on-; and faid of it, when he had done, " it was the
" laft ferraon that ever he mould preach."
This extraordinary frame of mind continued the next day ;
of which he fays. in his diary as follows.]
Lord's Day, Sept. 20. Was ftill in a fweet and comfort-
able frame j and was again melted with defires that God
might be glorified, and with longings to love and live to him.
Longed for the influences of the divine Spirit to defcend on
minitters in a (pecial manner. And Oh, I longed to be with
God, to behold his glory, and to bow in his prefence !
[It appears by what is noted in his diary, both of this day
and the evening preceding, that his mind at this time was
much impreffed with a fenfe of the importance of the work
of the mini dry, and the need of the grace of God, and his
fpecial fpiritual afliftancc in this work : and it alfo appeared
in what he expreffed in converfation ; particularly in his dif-
courfe to his brother Ifrael, who was then a member of Yale-
college at New-Haven, and had been profecuting his ftudies,
and academical exercifes there, to that end, that he might be
fitted for the work of the raindry, and was now with him *.
He "??, and from time to time in this his dying ftate, recom-
mended tc his brother, a life ef felf-denial, of weanednefs
* Ihi's young genilemati't 'was an ingenious, feriouf f-'rUon^. and
bopefklty trulv pious per feu ; there appeared in him many qualities
giving hope of bis being a great hie fin* in bis day. But it has pleafed
God, fince the death of bis brother, to take him cwity a!jb. He died
that whiter, at New-Haven, on January 6. 1747-8 of a nervous, fever,
after about a fortnight's illnefi.
276 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1747.
from the world, and devotednefs to God, and an earneft en-
deavour to obtain much of the grace of God's Spirit, and
God's gracious influences on his heart j reprefenting the great
need which minifters ftand in of them, and the unfpeakable
benefit of them from his own experience. Among many o-
ther expreffions, he faid thus: " When mini ftcrs feel thefe
" fpecial gracious influences on their hearts, rt wonderfully
" affifts them to come at the confciences of men, and as it
" were to handle them with hands j whereas, without them,
" whatever reafon or oratory we make ufe of, we do but
" make ufe of flumps, inftead of hands "
Sept. 21. I began to correct a little volume of my private
writings j God, I believe, remarkably helped me in it ; my
jftrength was furprifingly lengthened out, and my thoughts
quick and lively, and my foul refreflied, hoping it might be
a work for God. Oh, how good, how fweet it is, to labour
for God!
Sept. 22. Was again employed in Trading and correcting,
and had the fame fuccefs as the day before. I was excee-
ding weak j but it feemed to refreih my foul thus to fpend
time.
Sept. 23. I finifhed my corrections of the little piece
forementioned, and felt uncommonly peaceful ; it feemed as
if I had now done all my work in this world, and ftood rea-
dy for my call to a better. As long as I fee any thing to be
done for God, life is worth having ; but Oh, how vain and
unworthy it is, to live for any lower end ! This day I in-
dited a letter, I think of great importance, to the Rev. Mr
Byram in New-Jerfey : Oh that God would blefs and fucceed
that letter which was written for the benefit of his church *!
Oh that God would purify the fons of Levi, that his glory
may be advanced ! This night, I endured a dreadful turn,
wherein my life was expected fcarce an hour or minute toge-
ther. But bleflfed be God, I have enjoyed confiderabltf^weet-
uefs in divine things, this week, both by night and day.
* It was concerning the qualifications ofmini/lers, and the examina-
tion and licenfing of candidates for the wort of the mini/try.
JET. 30. MR DAY ID BRAINERD.
Sept. 24. My ftrength began to fail exceedingly, which
looked further as if I had done all my work j I had flrength
to fold and fubfcribe my letter. About two I went to bed,
being weak and much difordered, and lay in a burning fever
till night, without any proper reft. In the evening, I got up,
having lain down in tome of my clothes 5 but was in the great-
eft diftrefs that ever I endured, having an uncommon kind
of hiccough -j which either ftrangled me, or threw me into a
flraining to vomit j and was diilreffed with griping pains.
Oh the diftrefs of this evening ! I had little expectation of
my living the night through, nor indeed had any about me :
and I longed for the fmiflnng moment I- - 1 was obliged to
repair to bed by fix o'clock j and through mercy enjoyed fome
reft j but was grievoufly diilrefled at turns with the hiccough.
My foul breathed after God, while the watcher was with
me : - " Wheni^all I come to God, even to God my ex-
'* ceeding joy ? Oh Tor his blefTed likeneis V
Sept. 25. This day, I was unfpeakably weak, and littla
better than fpeechlek all the day ; however, I was able to
write a little, and felt comfortably in fome part of the day.
Oh it refremed my foul, to think of former things, of defires
to glorify God, of the pleafures of living to him ! " Oh
" my dearGod, I am fpeedily coming to tliee, I hope ! Haften
" the day, O Lord, if it be thy bluffed will : Oh come, Lord
" Jefus, come quickly. Amen f ."
Sept. 26. I felt the fweetnefs of divine things, this fore-
noon , and had the confolation of a confcioufnefs that I was
doing fomething for God.
Lord's Day, Sept. 27. This \vas a very comfortable day
to my foul j 1 think, I awoke with God. I was enabled to
lift up my foul to God, early this morning ; and while I had
little bodily ftrength, 1 found freedom to lift up my heart to
God for myfelf and others. Afterwards, was plenfed with
the thoughts of fpeedily entering into the unfeen world.
[Early this morning, as one of the family came into the
f This <was tie la/I that ever he wrote in his diary with his oivrt
hand : though it continued a little farther, in a broken manner ;
'written by his brother Ifrael, but indited, by ,v/j mouth in this bit
-jucak and dying [late.
278 T ^ E LIFE, OF A,D. 1747.
room, he expreffed himfclf thus ; <; i lu vt hud more pleafure
" this morning, than all the drunkards ia the world enjoy,
" if it were ail extra&edl" - So much did he efte-em the
joy of faith above the pleafures of fin.
He felt, that morning, an unufual appetite to food 5 with
which his- mind feemed to be exhilarated, looking en it as a
fign of the very near approach of death > and 'V.'d u;:on it,
" 1 was born on a Sabbath dny ; and have reafon to think I
" was new born on a Sabbath day j and 1 hope I fhal. die on
44 this Sabbath-day, 1 (hall look upon it as a .- if it
" may be the will of God that it fhould b fo j I ion? for the
" time. Oh why is his chaiiot fo long in coming ? why
"tarry the wheels of his chariots? lam very veiling to
with all 5 I am willing to part with my dear brother
t-, and never to fee him again-, to go to be for ever with
" &e Lord *. Oh, when I go there, how will God's dear
*' church oil earth be upon my mind !"
Afterwards, the larne morning, being alked how 7 he did },
he snfwered, " I am almoit in cttrnify j I long to be the/,..
ly work is done j I have done with all my friends j all
; : world is nothing to me. I long to be in heaven, prai-
tl Hng and glorifying God with the holy angels j ail my deiire
" is to glorify God."
During the whole of thefe lad two weeks of his life, he
feemed to continue in this frame of heart, loofe from all the
world, as having done his work, and done with all things here
below, having nothing to do but to die, and abiding in an ear-
neft defire and expectation of the happy moment, w T hen his
foul mould take its flight, and go to a ftate of perfection of
holinefs and perfecl: glorifying and enjoying God, manifeiled
in a variety of expreflions. He faid, u That the conlidera-
" tion of the day of death, and the day of judgment, had a long
<s time been peculiarly fweet to him." .He from time to
* He had before this, exprejed a drfirc, if it might be the 'will of
God, to live till his brother retzirned from Ne i w- c jerfty ; <wbo tvbfii
he went a r jua\\ intended^ if pojfible, to perfonn his journey, ami return
in a fortnight ; homing once more to meet his brother in ike land
(if the lining. The fortnight ivas now vear txfired^ it ended the timt
day.
*'
JET. 30. MR DAVID B R A I N E R D. 279
time fpake of his being willing to leave the body and the
world immevliately, that d^y, that night, that moment, if it
was the will of God. He was alfo much in exprefling his
longings that the church of Chrift on earth might flourifli,
and ChriiVs kingdom here might be advanced, notwithftand-
ing he was about to leave the earth, and fhould not with his
eves behold the defii able event, nor be instrumental in prompt-
ing it. He faid to me, one morning, as I came into the loom,
" My thoughts have been employed on the old dear theme,
** the profperity of God's church on earth. As I waked out
t{ of fleep, I was led to cry for the pouring out of God's Spi-
" rit, and the advancement of ChriiVs kingdom, which the
" dear Redeemer did and fufFered fo much for. It is that ef-
" pecially makes me long for it." He exprefled much
hope that a glorious advancement of ChriiVs kingdom was
near at hand.
He once told me, that " he had formerly longed for the
" outpouring of the Spirit of God, and the glorious times of
" the church, and hoped they were coming j and iliould have
*' been willing to have lived to promote religion at that time,
" if that had been the will of God ; but (fays he) I am will-
" ing it ihould be as it is j I would not have the choice to
" make for myfelf, for ten thoufand worlds." He exprefled
en his death- bed a full perfuafion that he ihould m heaven fee
the profperity of the church on earth, and ftiould rejoice with
Chrift therein ; and the confideration -of it feeraed to be high-
ly pleating and fatisfying to his mind.
He alfo ilili dwek much on the great importance of the
work of miniiters of the gofpel j and exprefled his longings
that they -might be filled with the Spirit of God ; and mani-
&fted much deiire to fee fome of the neighbouring minirters,
whom he had fome acquaintance with, and whofe iincere
jriendihip he was confident of, that he might converfe freely
with them on the iubjedt, before he died. And it fo happen-
ed, that he had opportunity wita fome of them, according to
his defire.
Another thing that lay much on his heart, and that he
fpakc of, from time to time, in theie near approaches of death,
was tire fpiritual profperity of his own congregation of Chrif-
28O THE LIFE 0F A.D. 1747,
tian Indians in New~Jerfey j and when he fpake of them it
was with peculiar tendernefs, that his Ipeech would prefent-
ly be interrupted and drowned with tears;
He alfo exprefTed much fatisfaclion in the difpofal of Provi-
dence, with regard to the circumftances of his death j ,parti-
cularly that Gcd had before his death given him the opportu-
nity he had had in Bofton, withfo many confiderable perfcns,
minifters and others, to give in his teftimony for God, and
againft falfe religion, and many miilakes that lead to it, and
promote it j and there to lay before pious and charitable gen-
tlemen, the Hate of the Indians, and their necefiities, to fo
good effeft j and that God had iince given him opportunity
to write to them further concerning thefe affairs: and to write
other letters of importance, that he hoped might be of good
influence with regard to the ftate of religion among the Indi-
ans, and elfewhere, after his death. He exprefled great
thankfulnefs to God for his mercy in thefe things. He alfo
mentioned it as what he accounted a merciful circumllance of
his death, that he fhould die here. And fpeaking of thefe
things, he faid, " God had granted him all his defire ;" and
figniiied that now he could with the greater alacrity leave the
world.]
Sept. 28. I was able to read and make fome few correc-
tions in my private writings j but found I could not write,
as I had done j I found myfelf fenfibly declined in all refpects.
It had been only from a little while before noon, till about
one or two o'clock, that I have been able to do any thing
for feme time pail : yet this refreflied my heart, that I could
do any thing, either public or private, that I hoped was for
God.
TLis evening, he was fuppofed to be dying : lie thought fo
himfelf, and was thought fo by thofe that were about hirn.
He feemed glad of the appearance of the near approach of
death. He was almoft fpeechlefs, but his lips appeared to
move : and one that fat very near him, heard him utter fuch
expreflions as thefe, " Come, Lord Jefus, come quickly.
" Oh why is his cfiaiiot fo long in coming !" After he re-
vived, he blamed himfelf for having been too eager to be gone.
And in expreffmg what he found in the frame of his mind at
./ET. 30. MR DAVID B R A I N E R D. 28 1
that time, he faid, lie then found an inexpreflibly fweet love
to thofc that he looked upon as belonging to Chrift, beyond
almoft all that ever he felt before j fo that it " feemed (to
life his own words) like a little piece of heaven to have one
of them near to him." And being afked, whether he heard
the prayer that was (at his defire) made with him \ he faid,
** Yes, he heard every word, and had an uncommon icnie o
" the things that were uttered in that prayer, and that every
** word reached his heart."
On the evening of the next, W. Tuefday. Sept. 29. as he
lay in his bed, he feemed to be in an extraordinary fr^rr.e ;
his mind greatly engaged in fwect meditations concerning ie
profperity of Zion j there being prefent here at that time -.,-o
young gentlemen of his acquaintance, that were candidates
for th2 miniftry, he defired us all to unite in linging a pialm
on that fubjecl, even Zion's profperity. And on his defire
we fung a part of the I02d Pfalm. This feemed much to re-
frefh and revive hira, and gave him new Strength j fo that,
though before he could fcarcely fpeak at all, now he proceed-
ed, with fome freedom of fpeech, to give his dying counfels
to thofe two young gentlemen forementioned, relating to their
preparation for, and profecution of that great work of the mi-
niftry they were defigned for ; and particularly earneflly re-
commended to them frequent fecret fafting and prayer and
enforced his counfel with regard to this, from his own expe-
rience of the great comfort and benefit of it ; which (faid he) I
ihculd not mention, were it not that I am a dying ptrfon.
And after he had finifhed his counfel, he made a prayer, in
the audience of us all \ wherein befides praying for th^pami-
ly, for his brethren, and thofe candidates for the mihiftry,
and for his own congregation, he earneftly prayed for the re-
viving and flourifliing of religion in the world.
Till now, he had every day fat up part of the day j but
after this he never rofe from his bed.]
Sept. 30. I was obliged to keep my bed the whole day,
through weakncfs. However, redeemed a little -ime, snd
with the help of my brother, read and correct^u about a
dozen pages in my M. 3. giving an account of my cor.ver-
fion.
Nn
282 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1747.
O6t. I. I endeavoured again to do fomethiag by way of
tvriting, but foon found my powers of body and mind utter-
ly fail. Felt not fo fweetly, as when I was able to do fome-
thing that I hoped would do fome good. In the evening,
was difcompofed and wholly delirious ; but it was not long
before God was ^leafed to give me fome ileep, and fully com-
pofed my mind*. Oh, bleffed be God for his great goodnefs
to me, (ince I was fo low at Mr Bromfield's, on Thurfday,
June 18. laft paft. He has, except thofe few minutes, given
me the clear exercife of my reafon, and enabled me to labour
much for him, in things both of a public and private nature j
and perhaps to do more good than I fhould have done if I
had been well ; befides the comfortable influences of his blef-
fed Spirit, with which he has been pleafed to- refrefh my foul.
May his name have all tke glory for ever and ever. Amen.
O&. 2. My foul was this day, at turns, fweetly fet on God :
I longed to be with him, that I might behold his glory : I
felt fweetly difpofed to commit all to him 5 even my deareft
friends, tny deareft flock, and my abfent brother, and all my
concerns for time and eternity. Oh that his kingdom might
come in the world } that they might all love and glorify him
for what he is in himfelf j that the bleffed Redeemer might
" fee of the travail of his foul, and be fatisfied ! Oh, come,
" Lord Jefus, come quickly ! Ameo f ."
[The next evening, we very much expe&ed his brother
John from New- Jerfcy ; it being about a week after the time
that he propofed for his return, when he went away. And
though our expectations were quite difappointed j yet Mr
BraMprd feemed to continue unmoved, in the fame calm and
peaceful frame that he had before manifefted j as having re-
figned all to God, and having done with his friends, and with
: all things here below.
* From this time forward, he had the free ufe of his reafon till tlie
day before his death ; excepting that at fome times he appeared a little
loft for a moment, at firft waking out of fleep.
f Here ends his diary : thefe are the laft words that are wrilten in
it, either by his own hand, or by any other from his mouth.
^ET, 29. MR DAVI'D B R A I N E R D. 283
On the morning of the next day, being Lord's Day, Oclo-
ber 4. as my daughter Jerufha (who chiefly tended him)
came into the room, he looked on her very pleafantly, and faid,
" Dear Jeiufha, are you willing to part \vith me ? 1 am quite
** willing to part with you : I am willing to part with all my
*' friends : I am willing to part with my dear brother John,
" although I love him the beft of any creature living : I have
M committed him and all my friends to God, and can leave
" them with God. Though, if I thought I fhould not fee
"you, and be happy with you in anothtr world I could not
* 4 bear to part with you. But we {hall fpend an happy e-
" ternity together * !" In the evening, as one came into
the room with a Bible in her hand, he expreffcd himfelf thus ;
" Oh, that dear book. ! that lovely book ! I fhall foon fee it
" opened ! the myfteries that are in it, and the myfteries of
" God's providence, will be-all unfolded !"
His diftemper now very apparently preyed on his vitals in
an extraordinary manner : not by a fudden breaking of ulcers
ID his lungs, as at Bolt on, but by a conftant difcharge of pu-
rulent matter, in great quantities': fo that what he brought
up by expectoration, feemed to be as it were mouthfuls of
almoft clear pufs j which was attended with very great inward
pain and diftrefs.
OL 6. he lay, for a confiderable time, as if he were dying.
At which time, he was heard to utter, in broken whifpers,
* Since this, it has pleafed a holy and fovsreign God to take away
this my dear child by death, on the i^th of February, next follow-
ing ; after a foort illnefs of five days ; in the eight ?ith year of her
age- She was a per/on of mud the fame fpirit ivitb Mr Broker d,
She had conjlantly taken care of, and attended him in his Jicknefs, for
nineteen weeks before his death ; demoting herfelf to it ivitb great dc-
light) becaufe fie looked upon him as art eminent fervant of Jefus
Chrijl- In t'jj* time, he had much converfation with her on things of
religion; and inhis dying jtate, often expreffcd to us, her parents, his
great fat isfaflion concerning her true piety, and bis confidence of meeting
her in heaven; and his high opinion of her ^ not only as a true Chriftian
but a 'very eminent faint. She had manifefted a. heart uncommonly de-
voted to God, in the courfe of her life, many years Before her death ;
and faid on her death-bed, that "/be had not fecn one minute for fe-
vet al years, 'wherein fbe dejired to live one minute longer, for the
" fake of any \Qt her good in life, but doing goc-d, living to C?3 t wyl
u dvinj what m'ght btfore bis gliry.
284 THE I, IFF OF A. 0.1747.
fuel expreflions as thefe : " He will come, he will not tarry.
" I t fhall fcon be in glory. I ftial! focn glorify God with
" the angels." But after fome time he revived.
The next day, viz. Wednefday, Oftober 7. his brother
John arrived, being returned from New-Jerfey ; where he
had been detained much longer than he intended, by a mortal
ficknefs prevailing among' the Chriftian Indians, and by fome
other things in their circumftances that made his ft ay with
them necerTary. Mr Brainerd was affeded and refremed with
feeing him, and appeared fully fatisfied with the reafons of his
delay j feeing the intereft of religion and of the fouls of his
people required it.
The next day, Thurfday, October 8. he was in great di&
trcfs and agonies of body j and for the bigger part of the day,
was much disordered as to the exercife of his reafon. In the
evening, he was more compofed, and had the ufe of his rea-
fon well ; but the pain of his body continued and increafed.
He told me, it was impoflible for any body to conceive the di-
ilrefs he felt in his breaft. He manifefted much concern left
he {hould dishonour God by impatience, under his extreme
agony j which was fuch, that, he faid, the thought of endu-
ring it one minute longer was almoft infupportable. He de-
fired that others would be much in lifting up their hearts con-
tinually to God for him, that God would fupport him, and
give him patience. He fignified that he expecled to die that
night j but feemed to fear a long delay : and the difpofition
of his mind -with regard to death appeared ftill the fame that
it had been all along. And notwithftanding his bodily ago-
nie^yet the intereft of Zion lay Mill with great weight on his
mind j as appeared by fome considerable difcourfe he had that
evening with the Rev. Mr Billing, one of the neighbouring
minifters, (frho was then prefent), concerning the great im-
portance of the work of the miniAry, &.c. And afterwards,
when it was very late in the night, he had much very proper
and profitable difcourfe with his brother John, concerning
his congregation in New-Jerfey, and the intereft of religion
among the Indians. la the latter part of the night, his bo-
dily diftrefs feemed to rife to a greater height than ever j and
be faid to thofe then about him, that " it was another thing
30. MR DAVID B R A I N E P, D. 285
" to die than people imagined j" explaining himfelf to mean
that they were not aware what bodily pain and anguifh is un-
dergone before death. Towards day, his eyes fixed ^ and he
continued immoveable, till about fix o'clock in the morning,
and then expired, on Friday, October 9. 1747. when his foul,
as we may well conclude, was received by his dear Lord and
Matter, as an eminently faithful fervant, into the ftate of per-
fection of holinefs, and fruition of God, which he had fo often
and fo ardently longed for j and was welcomed by the glori-
ous afiembly in the upper world, as one peculiarly fitted to
join them in their blefled employments and enjoyments.
Pvluch refpecl was fliewn to his memory at his funeral
which was on the Monday following, after a ferrnon preached
the fame day, on that folemn occafion. His funeral was at-
tended by eight of the neighbouring minifters, and feventeen
other gentlemen of liberal education, and a great concourfe of
people.]
286 THE LIFE OF A. 0.1747,
Some further R E M A i N s of the Rev. Mr D A v i E>
BRAINERDi
I. A SCSEiME OP A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE VARIOUS POWERS AN>
AFFKCTIONS OF THE MIND, AS THEY ARE FOUND ALTERNATELY
WHISPERING IN THE GODLY SOUL.
[Mentioned in his Diary, Feb. 3. 1744-]
THE underfianding introduced, I. As difcovering its own
excellency, and capacity of enjoying the moft fub-
lime pleafure and happinefs. 2. As obferving its defire equal
to its capacity, and incapable of being fatisficd with any thing
that will not fill it in the utmoft extent of its exercife. 3. As
finding itfelf a dependent thing, not felf-fufficient ; and eonfe-
quently unable to fpin happinefs (as the fpider fpins its web)
out of its own bowels. This felf-fufliciency obferved' to be
the property and prerogative of God alone, and not belong-
ing to any created being. 4. As in vain feeking fubiime plea-
fure. fatisfaftion, and happinefs adequate to its nature, afnongft
created beings. The fearch and knowledge of the truth in
the natural world allowed indeed to be refrefhing to the mind,
but ftill failing to afford complete happinefs. 5. As difcovering
the excellency and glory of God, that he is the fountain
of goodnefs, and well-fpring of happinefs, and every way fit
to anfwer the enlarged defires and cravings of our immortal
fouls.
2. The will introduced, as neceiTanly, yet freely chufing
this God for its fupreme happinefs and only portion, fully
complying with the understanding's dictates, acquiefcing in
God as the belt good, his will as the beft rule for intelligent
creatures, and rejoicing that God is in every refpecl: juft
what he is j and withal chufing and delighting to be a depen-
dent creature, always fubjecl: to this God, not afpiring after
felf-fufficiency and fupremacy, but acquiefcing in the contrary. .
3. Ardent fove 8r defire introduced, as paflionately longing
JET. 30. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 287
to pleafe and glorify the ivinc Being, to be in every refpeft
conformed to him, and in that way to enjoy him. This love
or defire reprefented as moft genuine j not induced by mean
and mercenary views : not primarily fpringing from felfifh
hopes of falvation, whereby the divine glories would be facri-
ficed to the idol felf ; not arifing from a flavifli fear of divine
anger in cafe of neglect, nor yet from hopes of feeling the
fweetnefs of that tender and pleafant paffion of love in oae's
own breaft j but from a juft cfteem of the beauteous object be-
loved. This love further reprefented as attended with vehe-
ment longings after the enjoyment of its object, but unable to
find by what means.
4. The under /landing again introduced, as informing, I. How
God might have been enjoyed, yea, how he muft neceffsrily
have been enjoyed, had not man finned againil him ; that as
there'was knowledge, likenefs and Jove, fo there muft needs be
enjoyment, while there was no impediment, 2. How he may
be enjoyed in fonie meafure now, viz. by the fame knowledge,
begetting likenefs and /ove, which will be anfwered with re-
turns of love, and the fmiles of God's countenance, which are
better than life. 3. How God may be perfectly enjoyed, viz.
by the foul's perfect freedom from fin. This perfect freedom
never obtained till death 5 and then not by any accountable
means, or in any unheard of manner ; but the fame by which
it has obtained fome likenefs to and fruition of God in this
world, viz. a clear manifeitation of him.
5. Holy defire appears, and inquires why the foul may not
be perfectly holy j and fo perfect in the enjoyment of God.
here; and exprefies moft infatiable thir flings after fach a
temper, and fach fruition, and moft confummate bleffednefs.
6. Vnderfi finding again appears, and informs, that God de-
figns that thofe whom he fanctifies in part here, and intends
for immortal glory, (hall tarry a while in this prefent evil
woild, that their own experience of temptations, &c. may teach
them, how great the deliverance is, which God has wroupht
for them, that they may be fwai lowed up in thankfulnefs and
admiratioa to eternity; as alfo that they may be inftrumental
of doing good to their fellow n:en. Now if they were per*
288 THE LI F E OF A. D.
J 747-
fe&ly holy, &c. a world of fin v.-ouid r.ot be a fit habitation
for them ; that further, and fuch rnanifeftations of God as arc
neceffaiy completely to fanftify the foul, would be infupport-
able to the body ; fo that we cannot fee God and live.
7. Hqly impatience is next introduced, complaining of the
fins and forrows of life, and almofl repining at the diftance of
a Hate of perfe&ion, uneafy to fee and feel the hours hang fo
dull and heavy, and alnioii concluding that the temptations,
hardfhips, difappointments, imperfections, and tedious employ-
ments of life will never come to a happy period,
8. Tender conscience comes in, and meekly reproves the
complaints o' impatience j urging how careful and watchful
we ought to be, left we fhould offend the divine Being with
complaints ; alledging alfo the fitnefs of our waiting patiently
upon God for all we want, and that in a way of doing and
fiiffering j and at the fame time mentioning the barrennefs of
the foul, how much precious time is mifimproved, and how
little it has enjoyed of God, compared with what it might
have done ' y alfo fuggefling how frequently impatient com-
plaints fpring from nothing better than felf-love, want of
refignation, and a greater reverence of the Divine Being.
9. 'Judgment or found mind next appears, and duly weighs
the complaints of impatience, and the gentle admonitions of
tender conference ^ and impartially determines between them-
On the one hand, it concludes, that we may always be impa-
tient with fin; and fuppofes that we may aifo with befofuchfor-
row, pain, and difcouragemeut, as hinder our purfuit of holi-
nefs, though they arife from the weaknefs of nature. It al-
lows us to be impatient of the diflance at which we Hand from
a ftate of perfection and bltifednefs. It further indulges im-
patience at the delay of time, when we defire the period of it
for no other end than that we may with angels be employed
in the moft lively fpiritual ac~h of devotion, and in giving all
"pcffible glory to him that lives for ever. Temptations and
fin ful imperfections, it thinks, we may julliy be uneafy with j
and difappointments, at lead thole that relate to our hopes ot
communion with Gocl, and growing conformity to him. And
as to the tediou#employments and hardlhins oi life, it fuppo-
fes fome longing for the end of them not incobfift'ent with a,
JET. 30. MR DAVID BRAINERD. 289
fpirit of faithfulnefs, and a cheerful difpofition to perform the
one and endure the other : it fuppofes that a faithful fervant,
who fully defigns to do all he poflibly can, may ftill juflly
long for the evening j and that no rational man would blame
his kind and tender fpoufe, if he perceived her longing to be
with him, while yet faithfulnefs and duty to him might ftill in-
duce her to yield, for the prefent, to remain at a painful dif-
tance from him. On the other hand, it approves of the cau-
tion, care, and watchfulnefs of tender confcience, left the di-
vine Being fliould be offended with impatient complaints : it
acknowledges the fitnefs of our waiting upon God, in a way
of patient doing and differing 5 but fuppofes this very confid-
ent with ardent defires to depart, and to be with Chrift. It
owns it fit that we mould always remember our own barren-
nets, and thinks alfo that we fliould be impatient of it, and
cohfequently long for a ft ate of freedom from it ; and this,
npt fo much that we may feel the happinefs of it, but that
God may have the glory. It grants, that impatient com-
plaints often fpring from felf-love, and want of resignation and
humility. Such as thefe it difapproves ; and determines, we
fliould be impatient only of ablence from God, and diftance
from that ftate and temper wherein we may moft glorify him.
10. Godly farrow introduced, as making her fad moan, .ot
fo much that flie is kept from the free poffeffion and full en-
joyment of happinefs, but that Godmuft be diflionourcd j the
foul being ftill in a world of fin, and men imperfecl. One
here, with grief, counts over paft faults, prefent temptations,
and fears for the future.
11. Hope or holy confidence appears, and feems perfuaded
that " nothing (hall ever ieparate the foul from the Bve of
" God in Chrift Jefus." It experts divine afliftance and grace
fufficient for all the doing and fuffe ring work of time, and
that death will ere long put a happy period to all fin and for-
row j and fo takes occafion to rejoice.
12. Godly fear, or holy jealoitfy here fteps in, and fuggefls
fome timorous apprehenfions of the danger of deception 5 men-
tions the deceitfulnefs of the heart, the great influence of ir-
regular felf-love in a f< Te;i creature ; enquires hethr it-
icif is not likely to have fallen in with deluiion, fince the mind
Qo
290 THE LIFE OF A.D. 1747.
is fo dark, and fo litlc of God appears to the foul j and que-
ries whether all its hopes of perlevering grace may not be pre-
fumption, and whether its confident expectations of meeting
death as a friend may not ilTue in difappointment.
13. Hereupon reflexion appears, and minds the perfon of
his pail experiences j as to the preparatory work of convic-
tion and humiliation; the view he then had of the impombi-
lity of falvation, from himielf, or any created arm ) the ma-
nifeftation he has like wife had of the glory of God in Jefus Chriil j
how he then admired that glory, and chofe that God for his
only portion, becaufe of the excellency and amiablenefs he
difcovered in him ; not from flaviih fear of being damned, if
he did not, nor from bafe and mercenary hopes of faving him-
ielf j but from a juft efteem of that beauteous and glorious
object : as alfo, how he had from time to time rejoiced and ac-
quiefced in God, for what he is in himfelr ; being delighted,
that he is infinite in holinefs, juftice, power, ibveieignty, as
well as in mercy, goodnefs, and love j how he has likewife,
fcoresof times, felt his foul mourn for fin, for this very reafon,
becaufe it is contrary and grievous to God j yet, how he has
mourned over one vain and impertinent thought, when he has
been fo far from fear of the divine vindictive wrath for it, that'
on the contrary he has enjoyed the higheft affurance of the
divine everlafting love : how he has, from time to time, de-
lighted in the commands of God, for their own purity and
perfection, and longed exceedingly to be conformed to them,
rnd even to be '* holy, as God is holy j" and counted it pre-
fent heaven, to be of a heavenly temper : how he has frequent-
ly rejoiced, to think of being for ever fubject to, and depen-
dent on God j accounting it infinitely greater happinefs to
glorify God in a ftate of Subjection to, and dependence on him,
than to be a god himfelf : and how heaven itielf would be no
heaven to him, if he could not there be every thing that God
would have him be.
14. Upon this fjpiritual fenfation being awaked - t comes in
and declares that (he now feels and *' taftes that the Lord is
" gracious j" that he is the only fupreme good, the only foul-
fatisfying happinefs j that he is a complete, felf-fufficient, and
almighty portion. She vvhifpcrs, " Whom have I in heaven
"but this God, this dear and bleffed portion ? and there is-
;ET. 30. MR DAVID BRAINERD.
" none upon earth I defire befides him." Oh, it is heaven
to pleafe him, and to be juft w'lat he would have me be ! O
that my foul were " holy, as God is holy !" O that it was
" pure, as Chrifl is pure ," and " perfect, as my Father in hea-
" ven is perfect !" Thefe are the fweeteft commands in God's
book, comprifing all others j and mail 1 break them ? muft I break
them ? am I under a fatal neceflity of it, as long as I live in
this world r Oh my foul ! wo, wo is m?, that .1 am a finner j
becaufe I now neceiiariiy grieve atd offend this bleffed God,
who is infinite in goodnefs and grace. Oh methinks, mould
he puniih me for my fins, it would not wound my heart fo
deep to offend him j but, though I fin continually, he -
tinually repeats his kindnefs towards me i Oh, methink;, 1
could bear any fuffering ; but how can I bear to gtieve and
dimonour this blefled God ? Plow fhali I give ten thoufand
times more honour to him ? What (hall I do to glorify and
worfhip this beft of beings ? O that I could confecrate my-
felr', foul and body, to his fervice for ever ! O that I could
give up myfelf to him, fo as nrver more to attempt to be my
own, or to have any will or r.flsclions that are not perfectly
conformed to his ! But Oh, alas, alas ! I cannot, I feel I
cannot be thus entirely devoted to God : I cannot live and
fin not. O ye angels, do ye glorify him inceiTantly j if pof-
fible, exert youifelves ftiil more, in more lively and ardent
devotion j if poffible, profhate youifelves ftill lower before
the throne of the bleffed King of heaven 5 I long to bear a
part with you, and if it were poffible, to help you. Yet
when we have done, we mall not be able to offer the ten thou-
fandth part of the homage he is worthy of. While fpiritual
fttifation AvhHpered thefe things.^flr and jealoufy v;z re greatly
overcome -, and the foul replied, '* Now I know and ana af-
." fured." &c. and again it welcomed death as a friend, fay-
ing, u O death, where is thy fting ?' 1 &c.
i" Finally, holy refdlutlon concludes the dilc-: n fs, fixedly
deternniningto i /b//0i(; hard after God, and continually to pur-
fue a life of conformity to him. And- the better to purfue
this, enjoining it on the foul always to remember, that God
is the only fource of happinefs. that his will is the only rule
of rcditude to an intelligent creature, that earth has .nothing
THE LIFE OF A. 0.1747.
in it defirable for itfelf, or any further than God is feen in
it 5 and that the knowledge of God in Chrift, begetting and
maintaining love, and mortifying fenfual and flefhly appetites,
is the way to be holy on earth, and fo to be attempered to the
complete holinefs of the heavenly world.
II. SOME GLOOMY AND DESPONDING THOUGHTS OF A SOUL UNDER
CONVICTIONS OF SIN, AND CONCERN FOR. ITS ETERNAL SALVATION.
i.T" Believe my cafe is fingular, that none ever had fo many
JL ftrange and different thoughts and feelings as I.
2. I have been concerned much longer than many others,
that I have known or read of, who have been favingly con-
verted, and yet I am left.
3. I have withftood the power of convictions a long time j
and therefore I fear I (hall be finally left of God.
4. I never (hall be converted, without ftronger convictions,
and greater terrors of confcience.
5. 1 do not aim at the glory of God in any thing I do, and
therefore I cannot hope fqr mercy.
6. I do not fee the evil nature of fin, nor the fin of my na-
ture y and therefore I am difcouraged.
7. The more 1 flrive, the more blind and hard my heart is,
and the worfe I grow continually.
8. 1 fear God never (hewed mercy to one fo vile as I.
9. I fear I am not elected, and therefore muft perifh.
jo. I fear the day of grace is paft with me.
11. I fear I have committed the unpardonable fin.
12. I am an oid finner j and if God had defigned merey
for me, he would hare called me home to himfelf before now.
JET. 30. MR DAVD BRAINERD. 293
III. SOME SIGNS OF GODLINESS.
The diftinguijhing marks of a true Chriftian, taken from one
of my old manufcriftts ; where I wrote as I felt and experien-
ced, and not from any conf.derable degree of doElrinal knsw-
ledge or acquaintance with thefenttments of others in this
point.
j, T T has a true knowledge of the glory and excellency
JL JL of God, that he is moft worthy to be loved and prai-
fed for his own divine perfections. Pfal. cxlv. 3.
2. God is his portion, Pfal. Ixxiii. 25. And God's glory
his great concern, Matth. vi. 22.
3. Holinefs is his delight j nothing he fo much longs for,
as to be holy, as God is holy. Phil. iii. 9. 12.
4. Sin is his greateft enemy. This he hates, for its own
nature, for what it is in itfelf, being contrary to a holy God,
Jer, ii. i. And confeouently he hates all fin, Rom. vii. 24.
i John iii. 9.
5. The laws of God are alfo his delight, Pfal. cxix. 97.
Rom. vii. 22: Thefe he obferves not out of conftraint, from
a fervile fear of hell ; but they are his choice, Pfal. cxix. 30.
The ftricl: obfervance of them is not his bondage, but his
greateft liberty, ver. 45.
IV, LETTERS
WRITTEN BY MR BRAINERD TO HIS FRIENDS.
ADVER TISEMEN-T.
MJR. BRAINERD had a large acquaintance and correfpond-
ence, efpecially in the latter part of his life, and he
did much at writing letters to his abfent friends j but the
moft of his acquaintance living at a great diftance from me,
I have not been able to obtain copies of many that he wrote ;
however, the greater part of thofe which I have feen, are
fuch as appear to me of profitable tendency, and xvorthy of
the public view : I have therefore here add^d a few of his
letters.
294 THE LITE or A.D 1747.
**^*^****^*^^ | flfr*^'^*rc^ ! ^^
N. B, Several of ttir'c w;:ich follow, are not publifhed at
large, becaufe fome parts of them were concerning particular
affairs of a private nature.
No I. To his brother JOHN, then ajludent at Tale -college in
New- Haven.
DEAR BROTHER, Kaunaumeek, April 30. 1743.
I Should tell you, u I long to fee you," but that my own
experience has taught me, there is no hap p.-'... . J ple-
nary fatisfa&ion to he enjoyed in earthly nou; ..h e-
ver fo near and dear, or in any other enjoymc , is not God
iiimfelf. Therefore if the God of all grat would be pleafed
gracioufly to afford us each his p; .fence irtd grace, that we
may perform the work, and end' -s the trials he calls us to,
in a mod dtftrefling tircfome wiltl-rnefs, till we arrive at our
journey's end j the local diitance, at which we are held from
each other at prefent, is a matter of no gr^t moment or im-
portant '"to either of us. But, alas \ the prefersce of God
is what L want. I live in the moft lonely melancholy defart,.
about eighteen miles from Albany; (for it was not thought
befl that I mould go to Delaware- river, as I believe I hinted
to you in a letter from New- York). I board with a poor
Scotchman : his wife can fcarce fpeak any Englilh. My diet
eoiififls moftly of hafty-pudding, boiled corn, and bread baked
in the afhes, and fometimes a little meat and butter. My
lodging is a little heap of ftraw, laid upon fome boaids, a
little way from the ground j for it is a log room, without any
floor, that I lodge in. My work is exceeding hard and dif-
ficult : I travel on foot a mile and a half, the worii of way,
almoft daily, and back again j for L live fo far from my Indi-
ans. I have not feen an Englifh perfon this month. "I hefe
and many other circumtfances as uncomfortable, attend me j
and yet my fpiritual conflicts and diftrelTes fo far exceed all
thefe, that I fcarce think of them, or hardly mind but that I-
am entertained in the moft fumptuous manner. The Lord
grant that I may learn to " endure hardnefs, as a good foldier
" of Jefus Chrift !" As to my fuccefs here, I cannot fay
much as yet ^ the, Indians feem generally kind, and well difr
JET. 33- MR DAVID B R A I N E R D. 295
pofed towards me, and are moftly very attentive to my in-
ftructions, and feem willing to be taught further , two or
three, I hope, are under fome convictions j but there feems
to be little of the fpecial workings of the divine Spirit among
them yet j which gives me many a heart linking hour. Some-
times I hope, God has abundant bleflings in ftore for them
and me j but at other times I am fo overwhelmed with di-
ftrefs, that I cannot fee ho r r his dealings with me are confift-
cnt with covenant love and faithfulnefs, and I fay, " Sure-
ly his tender mercies are clean gone for ever,." But howe-
ver, I fee, I needed all this chaftifement already : " It is good
" for me," that 1 have endured thefe trials, and have hither-
to little or no apparent fuccefs. Do not be difcouraged by
my diilrefles j I was under great diitrefs, at Mr Pomroy's,
when I faw you laft j but " God has been with me of a
" truth," (nice that : he helped me fometimes, fweetly at
Long- Ifland, and elfe where. But let us always remember,
that we mult through much tribulation enter into God's eter-
nal kingdom of reft and peace. The righteous are r carcely
faved : it is an infinite wonder that we have well-^ Bunded
hopes of being faved at all. For my part I fee! the mod
vile of any creature living ; and I am fure fometimes, there
is not fuch another exifling on this fide hell. Now all you
can do for me is, to pray inceffantly, that God would make
me humble, holy, refigned, and heavenly- minded, by all my
trials. " Be ftrong in the Lord, and in the power of his
" might." Let us run, wiellle, and fight, that we may. win
the prize, and obtain that complete happ inefs, to be " holy,
*' as God is holy " So, wishing and praying that you may
advance in learning and grace, and be fit for fpecial fetyice for
God, I remain
Tour cffeEHsnate Brother,
DAVID BRAINES.D.
THE LIFE OF A.D. 1747.
No II. To his brother JOHN, then ajludent at Tale-college in
New-Haven.
DEAR. BROTHER, Kattnaumeck, Dec. 27. 1743-
I Long to fee you, and know how you fare in your journey
through a world of inexpreflible forrow, where we are
compaffed about with " vanity, confuiion, and vexation of
<; fpirit." lam more weary of life, I think, than ever I was.
The whole world appears to me like a huge vacuum, a vail
empty fpacc, whence nothing defirable, or at leaft fatisfaclory,
can poilibly be derived ; and I long daily to die more and more
to it 5 even though I obtain not that comfort from fpiritual
things, which I earneftly delire. Worldly pleafures, fuch as
flow from greatnefs, riches, honours, and fenfual gratifications,
are infinitely worfe than none. May the Lord deliver us more
and more from thefe vanities ! I have fpent moil of the fall
and winter hitherto in a very weak flate of body ; and fome-
times under prefling inward trials and fpiritual conflicts : but,
" having obtained help from God, I continue to this day j" and
and am now fomething better in health, than I was fome time a-
go. I find nothing more conducive to a life of Chriflianity,than
a diligent, induftrious,and faithful improvement of precious time.
Let us then faithfully perform that bufinefs, which is allotedto
us by divine Providence, to the utmoft of our bodily ftrength
and mental vigour. Why ihould we fink, and growdifcouraged,
with any particular trials and perplexities we are called to
encounter in the world ? Death and eternity are juft before us j
a few tolling billows more will wait us into the world of fpi-
rits, and we hope, (through infinite grace) into endlefs plea-
fures, and uninterrupted reft and peace. Let us then " run
" with patience the race fet befoic us," Heb. 12 i. 2. And
Oh that we could depend more upon the living God, and lef< upon
our own wifdom and firength ! Dear brother, may the God
of all grace comfort your heart, and fucceecl your ftudics, and
make you an inftrurnent of good to his people in your day.
This is the conflant prayer of
Your fiffetfionale broiler,
DAVID BAAINERZS
MR DAVID BRAINERD, 2 97
No. III. To bis brother ISRAEL, at Haddam.
Mr DE^R BROTHER., Kaunaumeek^an. 21. 1743-4.
. r "TP* HERE is but one thing that deferves our higbeft
JL care and mod ardent defires i and that is, that we
may anfwer the great end for which we were made viz. to
glorify that God, who has given us our beings and all our
comforts, and do all the good we poflibly can to our fellow-
men, while we live in the world j and verily life, is not worth
the having, if it be not improved for this noble end and pur-
pofe. Yet, alas ! how little is this thought of among man-
kind ! Moft men feem to live to themfeives, without much re-
gard to the glory of God, or the good of their fei-c-.v -crea-
tures j they earneftly deiire, and eagerly purfue after the
riches, the honours, and the pleafures of life, as if they really
fuppofed that wealth or greatnefs, or merriment, could mske
their immortal fouls happy. But alas, what falfe and delu-
five dreams are thefe ! And how miferable will thofe ere
long be, who are not awaked out of them, to fee that all
their happinefs confifts in living to God, and becoming " holy,
*' as he is holy !" Oh, may you never fall into the tempers
and vanities, the fenfuality and folly of the prefent world !
You are by divine Providence, left as it were alone in a wide
world, to aft for yourfelf ; be fur e then to remember it is a
ivorld of temptation. You have no earthly parents to be the
means of forming your youth to piety and virtue, by their
pious examples and feafonable counfels j let this then excite
you with greater diligence and fervency to look up to the Fa-
ther of mercies for grace and affiilance againft all the vanities
of the world. And if you, would glorify God, anfiver his juft
expectations from you, and make your own foul happy in
this and the coming world, obferve tVcfe few directions ,
though not from a father, yet from a brother who is touched
xvith a tender concern for your prefent arid future happiiicis.
And,
Firft, Refolve upon, and daily endeavour ',o p-.r.&ife a life
oi feriousnefs and \\.n^\.fobriet}'. T die . - tell you
the great ad vantage offuch a life, Eccl. vii. 3. Think of the
Pp
THE LIFE OF
life of Chrift j and when you can find that he was pleafed with
jefting and vain merriment, then you may indulge it in your-
felf.
Again, Be careful to make a good improvement of preci-
ous time. When you ceafe from labour, fill up your time in
reading, meditation, and prayer j and while your hands are
labouring, let your heart be employed, as much as poflible, in
divine thoughts.
Further, Take heed that you faithfully perform the bufl-
nefs you have to do in the world, from a regard to the com-
mands of God, and not from an ambitious defire of being e-
fteemed better than others. We mould always look upon
ourfelves as God's fervants, placed in God's world, to do his
work 5 and accordingly labour faithfully for him 5 not with a
'defign to grow rich and great, but to glorify God, and do all
thj good we poffibly can.
Again, Never expecl *nj fafsfaftion or happinefs from the
world. If you hope for happinefs in the world, hope for it
from God and not from the world. Do not think you (hall
be- more happy if you live to fuch or fuch a flate of life, if
you live to be for yourfelf, to be fettled in the world, or if
you fhould gain an eflate in it j but look upon it that you
ihall then be happy, when you can be conftantly employed for
God and not for youi felf : and defire to live in the world,
only to do and fuffer what God allots to you. When you
can be of the fpirit and temper of angels, who are willing to
come down to this lower world to perform what God com-
mands them, though their defires are heavenly, and not in the
leafl fet on earthly things, then you will be of that temper
that you ought to have, Col. iii. 2.
Once more, Never think that you can live to God by your
own power or ftrength ; but always look to, and rely on him
for afliftance, yea, for all ftrength and grace. There is no
greater truth than this, that " we can do nothing of our-
44 felves," John xv. 5, and 2 Cor. iii. 5. ; yet nothing but
our own experience can effectually teach it to us. Indeed
we are a long time in learning that all our ftrength and fal-
Tation is in God. This is a life that I think no unconverted
man can poflibly live ; and yet it is a life that every godly
MR DAVID BRAINERD. 299
foul is prefling after, in fome good meafure. Let it be then
your .-rrcat concern, thus to devote yourfelf and your all to
God.
I long to fee you, that I may fay much more to you than
I now can, for your benefit and welfare 5 but I defire to com-
mit you to, and leave you with the Father of mercjes and
God of all grace j praying that you may be directed fafely,
through an evil world, to God's heavenly kingdom.
I am your affectionate loving brother,
DAVID BRAINERD,
No. IV. To a f pedal friend.
The Forks of Delaware, July 3 T . T 744.
/"^ ER.TAINLY the grcateit, the nobleft pleafurt of IB-
\~S telligent creatures muft refult from their acquain-
tance with the blefied God, and with their own rational and
immortal fouls. And Oh, how divinely fweet and entertain-
ing is it, to look into our own fouls, when we can find all our
powers and paffions united and engaged in purfuit after God,
our whole fouls longing and paffionately breathing after a con-
formity to him, and the full enjoyment of him ! Verily there
are no hours pafs away with fo much divine pleafure, as thofe.
that are fpent in communing with God and our own hearts.
Oh, how fweet is a fpirit of devotion, a fpirit of ferioufnefe
and divine folemnity, a fpirit of gofpel fimplicky, love, teri-
dernefs ! Oh, how defirable, and how profitable to the Chrif-
tian life, is a fpirit of holy watchfulnefs, and godly jealoufy o-
ver ourfelves ; when our fouls are afraid of nothing fo much
as that we (hall grieve and offend the bleffed God, whom at-
fuch times we apprehend, or at leaft hope, to be a father and
a friend ; whom we then love and long to pleafe, rather than
to be happy ourfelves, or at leaft we delight to derive our.
happinefs from pleafing and glorifying him ! Surely this is a
pious temper, worthy of the highefl ambition and clofeft pur-
fuic of intelligent creatures and holy Chriftians. Oh, how
va fl]y fuperior is the pleafure, peace, and fatisfa&jon derived
30O THE LIFE OF
from thefe divine h-aaies, to that which we (alas !) fomctimcs
purfue in things imoertinent and trifling ! our own bitter ex-
perience teaches us, that " in the midft of fuch laughter the
" heart is fun-awful," and there is no true fatisfaction but in
God. Bat, alas ! how fliail we obtain and retain this fweet
fpirit of religion and devotion! Let us follow the apoitie's
direction, Phil. ii. 12. and labour upon the encouragement he
there mentions, ver. 13. for it is God only can afford us this fa-
vour 5 and he will be fought to, and it is fit we (hould wait
upon him for fo rich a mercy. Oh, may the God of all grace
afford us the grace and influences oi his divine Spirit 5 and
help us that we may from our hearts edeem it our greateit
liberty and happinefs, that " whether we live, we may live to
" the Lord; or whether we die, we may die to the Lord 5"
that in life and death we may be his !
I am in a very poor ftate of health ; l % think, fcarce ever
poorer j but, through divine goodnefs, I am not difcontent-
ed under my weaknefs, and confinement to this wiidernefs ;
I blefs God for this retirement : I never was more thank-
ful for any thing, than I have been of late for the ne-
ccffity I am under of felf-denia] in many refpecls : I love to-
be a pilgrim and ftranger in this wiidernefs : it feems moft fit
for fuch a poor ignorant, worthlefs, defpifed creature as I.
I would not' change my prefcnt mijjlon for any other bufir.efs
in the whole world. I may tell you freely, without vanity
and oflentation, God has of late given me great freedom and
fervency in prayer, when I have been fo weak and feeble that
my nature feemed as if it would fpeedily difiolve. I feel as
if my all was loft, and I was undone for this world, if the poor
Heathen may not be converted. I feel, in general, different
from what I did when I faw you laft j at leaft more Cruci-
fied to all the enjoyments of life. It would be very refrefhing
to me, to fee you here in this defnrt ; efpecially in my weak
difconfolate hours , but, I think, I could be content never to
fee you or any of my friends again in this world, if Gcd
would blefs my labours to the converfion of the poor Indians.
I have much that I could willingly communicate to you,
which I muft omit, till Providence gives us leave to fee each
ther. In the mean time I reft Tours t <6rV.
DAVID BRAINERB.
MR DAVID BRAINERD. 30!
No. V. To a fpecial friend, a mtnifter of the gof pel in New-
Jerfey.
The Forks of Delaware, Dec. 24. 1744.
REV. AKD DEAR. BROTHER,
"T Have little to fay to you about fpiritual Joys, and
JL thofe blelTed refrejhments, and divine confolations,
with which I have been much favoured in times pail : but this
I can teil you, that if I gain experience in no other point, yet
I am fure I do in tjils, viz. that the prefent world has nothing
in it tofatisfy a*, immortal foul ; and hence, that it is not to be
dcfired for itfeif, uutmnly becaufe God may befeen andfervtd
in it j and I with I could be more patient and willing to live
in it for this end, than I can ufually find myfelf to be. It
is no virtue, I know, to defire death, only to be freed from
the miferies of life : but I want that divine hope, which you
obferved when I faw youlaft, was t* ie vel T f* new s of vital
religion. Earth can do us no good, and if there be no hope of
our doing good on earth, how can we defire to live in it ? And
yet we ought to deiire, or at lead to be refigned, to tarry in
it ; becaufe it is the will of our all- wife Sovereign. But per-
haps thefe thoughts will appear melancholy and gloomy, and
confequently will be very undefirable to you ; and therefore
I forbear to add. I wifh you may not read them in the fame
circumftances in which I write them. I have a little more
to do and fuffer in a dark difconfolate world , and then I hope
to be as happy as you are. I (hould afk you to pray for me,
were I worth your concern. May the Lord enable us both
to " endure hardnefs as good foldiers of Jefus Chrift j" and
may we ** obtain mercy of God to be faithful to the death,"
in the difcharge of our refpecVive trufts \
I em your unworthy brother,
and humble fervant,
DAVID BJLAJNERD,
3O2 THE LIFE OF
No. VI. To bis brother JOHN, at college.
Crofweekfungjin New-Jerfey, Dec. 28. 1745.
VERY DEAR. EROTHLR,
TT Am in one continued, perpetual and uninterrupted
A hurry $ and divine Providence throws fo much uport
me, that I do not fee it will ever be otherwife. May I " ob-
" tain mercy of God to be faithful to the death !" I can-
not fay, I am weary of my hurry ; I only want ftrength and
grace to do more for God, thrji I have ever yet done.
My dear brother ; the Lorjl of heaven; that has carried
me through many trials, blefs you} Jflefs you for time and
eternity j and fit you for to do fervice in his church triumph-
ant. My brother, " the time is fiiort :" Oh let us fill it up
for God j let us count the fufferings of this prefent time" as
nothing, if TVC can but " run our race, and finifh our courfejwith
** jy" Oh, let usftrive to live to God. I blefs the Lord^
I liave nothing to do with earth, but only to labour honefity
mit for God, till I mall " accomplish as an hireling my day." '
I think, I do not defire to live one minute for any thing that
earth can afford. Oh, that I could live for none but God,.
till my dying moment !
^ 7 am your ajfeElknate brother,
DAVID BRAINERD.
No* VII. To his brother ISRAEL, then, a Jludcnt at Yale*
college in New Haven.
Elifabeth-Town, New-Jcrfey, Nov. 24. 1746.
DEAR BROTHER,
j HAD determined to make you and my other friends in
New-England a vifit this fall ; partly from an earneft de-
fire I had to fee you and them, and partly with a view to the
recovery of my health, which has, for more than three
months part, been much impaired. And in order to pro-
fecute this defign, I fet out from my own people about three
MR DAVID B R A I N E R D. 303
weeks ago, and came as far as to this place ; where, my dif-
order greatly increafing, I have been obliged to keep houfe
ever fmce, until the day before yetlerday j at which time, I
was able to ride about half a mile, but found myfelf much
tired with the journey. I have now no hopes of profecuting
my journey into New- England this winter, fuppoiing my
prefent ftate of health will by no means admit of it j although
I am, through divine goodnefs, much better than I was fome
days ago, yet I have now no ftrength to ride more than ten
miles a day, if the feafon were warm, and fit for me to travel
in. My diforder has been attended with feveral fymptoms of
a confumption ; and I have been at times apprehenfive, that
my great change was at hand j yet blefled be God, I have
never been affrighted ; but. on the contrary, at fome times
much delighted with a view of its approach. Oh the bleffed-
nefs of being delivered from the clogs of flefh and fenfe, from
a body of fin and fpiritual death ! Oh the unfpeakable fweet-
nefs of being tranflated into a ftate of complete purity and
perfection ! Believe me, my brother, a lively view and hope
of thefe things, will make the king of terrors himfelf appear
agreeable. Dear brother, let me entreat you to keep eter-
nity in your view, and behave yourfelf as becomes one that
muft mortly " give an account of all things done in the body."
That God may be your God, End prepare you for his fervice
here, and his kingdom of glory hereafter, is the defire and
daily prayer of
Tour affectionate loving brother,
DAVID BRAINERD.
No. VIII. To his brother ISRAEL, at college ; written in the time
of his extreme illnefs in BoJ}on J a few months before his
death.
MY DEAR BROTHER, Bojlon, "June 30. 1747.
IT is from the fides of eternity I now addefs you. I am
heartily forry, that I have fo little ftrength to write what
304 THE LIFE OF
I longfo much to communicate to you. But let me tell you,
my brother, eternity is another thing than we ordinarily take
it to be in a healthful (late. Oh, how vail and houndlefs !
Oh, how fixed and unalterable ! Oh, of what infinite import-
ance is it, that we be prepared for eternity ! I have been juft
a dying, now for more than a week ; and all around have
thought me fo : but in this time I have had clear views of e-
ternity ; have feen the bleffednefs of the godly, in fome mea-
fure j and have longed to (hare their happy ftate j as well as
been comfortably fatisfied, that, through grace, I mall do fo ;
B ut Oh, what anguifti is raifed in my mind, to think of an
eternity for thofe who are Chriftlefs, for thofe who are mlf-
taken, and who bring their falfe hopes to the grave with
them ! The fight was fo dreadful, I could by no means bear
it ; my thoughts recoiled, and I faid, (but under a more affec-
ting fenfe than ever before), " Who can dwell with everlaft-
" ing burning !" Oh, methought, that 1 could now fee my
friends, that I might warn them, to fee to it, they lay their
foundation for eternity fure. And you, my dear brother, I
have been particularly concerned for ; and have wondered I
fo much negleled converiing with you about your fpiritual
ftate atourlafl meeting. Oh, my brother, let me then befeech
you now to examine, whether you are indeed a new creature j
whether you have ever acled above felf 5 whether the glory of
God has ever been the fweetefl higheft concern with you 5
whether you have ever been reconciled to all the perfections
of God j in a word, whether God has been your portion, and
a holy conformity to him your chief delight. If you cannot
anfwer pofitively, coniider ferioufly the frequent breathings of
your foul j but do not however put yourfelf off with a flight
anfwer. If you have reafon to think you are gracelefs, Oh
give yourfelf and the throne of grace no reft, till God arife
and fave. But if the cafe fhould be cthervdfe, blefs God for
his grace, and prefs after holinefs *.
* Mr Braine rd afterwards had greater fat is faction concerning the
Jtatc of bis brother's fealty much &/'/<; rt unity cfconvcrfation -with bit&
before bis death .
MR DAVID BRAINERD. 305
My foul Jongs that you fhould be fitted for, and in due time
go into the work of the miniftry. I cannot bear to think of
your going into any other bufinefs in life. Do not be difcou-
raged, bccaufe you fee your elder brothers in the miniftry die
early, one after another : I declare, now I am dying, I would
not have fpent my life otherwife for the whole world. But I
muft leave this with God.
If this line fliould come to your hands foon after the date,
I mouhd be almoft defirous that you flfould fet out -on a jour-
ney to me j it may be, you may fee me alive, which I fnould
much rejoice in. But if you cannot come, I muft commit
you to the grace of God, where you are. May ke be your
guide and counfellor, your fantifier and eternal portion !
Oh, my dear brother, rlee flemly lufts, and the inchanting
amufements, as well as corrupt doftrines of the prefent day j
aad ftrive to live to God. Take this as the laft line from
Tour affeElionate dying Brother^
No. IX. To a young gentleman , a Candida fe for the work
ef the miniftry^ for whom he had a fpecial friendjhip ; affa
written at the fame time of his great illnefs and ncarnefs if
death in
DEAR. SIR,
HOW amazing is, it that the living who know they muft
die, mould notwithftanding " put far away the evil
" day," in a feafon of health and profperity j and live at fuch
an awful diftance from a. familiarity with the grave, and the
great concerns beyond it ! And efpecially it may jaftly fill us
with furprife, that any whofe minds have been divinely enlight-
ened, to behold the important things of eternity as they are,
I fay, that fuch (hould live in this manner. And yet, Sir,
how frequently is this the cafe ? how rare are the inftancesof
ihofe who live and acl from day to day, as on the verge of
Qi
306 THE LIFE OF
eternity, {hiving to fill up all their remaining moments in
the fervice and to the honour of their great Mafter ? We in-
fenfibly trifle away time, while we feem to have enough of
it 5 and are fo ftrangely amufed, as in a great meafure to lofe
a fenfe of the holinefs and blefled qualifications neceffary t
prepare us to' be inhabitants of the heavenly paradife. But
Oh, dear Sir, a dying bed, if we enjoy our reafon clearly,
will give another view of things. I have now, for more than
three weeks, lain under the grcateft degree of weaknefs ; the
greater part of the time, expecting daily and hourly to enter
into the eternal world : fometimes have been fo far gone, as
to be wholly fpeechlefs for fome hours together. And Oh,
of what vaft importance has a holy fpiritual life appeared to
me to be in this feafon ! I have longed to call upon all my
friends, to make it their bufinefs to live to God, and efpecial-
ly all that are defigned for, or engaged in tbe fervice of the
fan&uary, O dear Sir, do not think it enough, to live at the
rate of common Chriftians. Alas, to how little purpofe do
they often converfe, when they meet together I The vilits,
even of thofe who are called Chriftians indeed, are frequently
extreme barren j and confcience cannot but condemn us for
the mifimprovement of time, while we have been coiiverfant
with tnem. But the way to enjoy the divine prefence, and be
fitted for diftinguifhing fervice for God, is to live a life of
great devotion and conftant felf- dedication to him ; obferving
the motions and difpofitions of our own hearts, whence we
may learn the corruptions that lodge there, and our conftant
need of help from God for the performance of the leaft duty,
And Oh, dear Sir, let roe befeech you frequently to attend
to the great and precious duties of fecret failing and prayer.
I have a fecret thought, from fome things I have obferved,
that God may perhaps defign you for fome fingular fervice in
the world. Oh then labour to be prepared and qualified to
do much for God. Read Mr Edwards's piece en the Affec-
tions, again and again ; and labour to difiinguifh clearly upon
experiences and affections in religion, that you may make a
difference between the gold and the fliining drofs ; 1 fay, la-
bour there as ever you would be an ufeful minifter of Chrift :
for nothing has put fuch a flop- to the work of God in the
MR DAVID BRAINERD. 307
late day as the falfe religion, the wild affe&ions that attend it.
Suffer me therefore, finally, to entreat you earneftly to " give
'* yourfelf to prayer, to reading and meditation" on divine
truths ; ftrive to penetrate to the bottom of them, and never
be content with a fuperficial knowledge. By this means,
your thoughts will gradually grow weighty and judicious j and
you hereby will be poffeffed of a valuable treafure, out of
which you may produce " things new and old," to the glory
of God.
And now, " I commend you to the grace of God *," ear-
neftly deliring, that a plentiful portion of the divine Spirit
may reft upon you j that you may live to God in every ca-
pacity of life, and do abundant fervicelbr him in a public,
if it be his will j and that you may be richly qualified for the
" inheritance of the faints in light."
I fcarce expeft to fee your face any more in the body j and
therefore intreat you to accept this as the laft token of love
from
||
Tourfincercly affeEiionate dying friend
DAVID BK.AINEK.D.
P. S. I am now, at the dating of this letter, confiderably
recovered from what I was when I wrote it j it having lain by
me fome time, for want of an opportunity of conveyance j it
was written in Bofton. 1 am now able to ride a little, and
and fo am removed into the country ; but I have no more
expe&ation of recovering than when I wrote, though I am
a little better for the prefent 5 and therefore I ftill fubfcribe
?&$
Tour dying friend, foe.
D. B.
308 THE LIFE OF
No. X. To Us brother JOHN, at Bethel, the town of Chri/lian
Indians in Newjerfey; written likewife at Bofton, when
he was there on the brink of the grave t in thefummer before
his death,
BEAR BROTHER,
I Am nowjuit on the verge of eternity, expelling very fpee-
dily to appear in the unfeen world. I feel myfelf no
more an inhabitant of eaith, and (ometitnes earfveftly long
to " depart and be with Chrift." I blefs God, he has for
foxne years given me an abiding convi&ion, that it is impoffible
for any rational creature to enjoy true happinefs without being
entirely " demoted to him." Under the influence of this con-
viction I have in fome meafure acled : Oh that I had done
more fo ! I faw both the excellency and neceffity of holinefs
in life j but never in fuch a manner as now, when I am jufl
brought to the fides of the grave. Oh, my brother, purfue
after holinefs j prefs towards this bleffed mark : and let your
thirfty foul continually fay, " I mail never be fatisfied till
** I awake in thy likenefs." Although there has been a great
deal of felfifhnefs in my views , of which I am afhamed, and
for which my foul i* humbled at^every view ; yet blefTed be
God, I find I have really had, for the moil part, fuch a con-
cern for his glory, and the advancement of his kingdom in
the world, that it is a fatisfacHon to me to refleft upon thefe
years.
And now, my dear brother, as I muft prefs you to purfue
after perfonal holinefs, to be as much in failing and prayer as
your health will allow, and to live above the rate of common
Chriftians j fo I muft entreat you folemnly to attend to your
public work. Labour to diftinguifh between true and falfe re-
ligion ', and to that end, watch the motions of God's Spirit
upon your own heart , look to him foi help j and impartially
compare your experiences with his word. Read Mr Edwards
on the Affections, where the effence and foul of religion is
clearly diftinguifhed from falfe affe&ions. Value religious joy s
according to the fubjecl-matter of them ; there are many
that rejoice in their fuppofcd juflificatio-n j but what do thefe
MR DAVID BRAINERD. 309
joys argue, but only thai they love themfelves ? Whereas,
in true fpiritual joys, the foul rejoices in God foi what he is
in himfelf j bleffe* God for his hoiinefs, fovereignty, power,
faithiulnefs, and all his perfections j adores God, that he is
what he is, that he is unchangeably poffefled of infinite glory
and happinefs. Now, when men thus rejoice in the " per-
" fections of God," and in the " infinite excellency of the way
" of falvation by Chrift," and in the holy commands of God,
which are a tranfcript of his holy nature, thefe joys are divine
and fpiritual. Our joys will ftand by us at the hour of death,
if we can be then fatisfied, that we have thus acted above felf,
and in a difinterefted manner (if I may fo exprefs it) rejoiced
in the glory of the blefled God. I fear, you are not fuffi-
ciently aware how much falfe religion there is in the world ;
many ferious Chr;flians and valuable minifters are too eafily
impofed upon by this falfe blaze. I like wife fear you are not
fenfible of the u dreadful effects and confequences" of this
falfe religion. Let me tell you, it is the " devil transformed
" into an angel of light j" it is a brat of hell, that always
fprings up with every revival of religion, and itabs and mur-
ders the caufe of God, while it palfes current with multitudes
of well-meaning people for the height of religion. Set your-
felf, my brother, to cru.fli all appearances of this nature a-
mong the Indians, and never -encourage any degrees of heat
without light. Charge my people in the name of their dying
mlnijler^ yea in the name of Him who was dead and is a/ive,
to live and walk as becomes the gofpel. Tell them, how
great the expectations of God and his people are from them,
and how awfully they will wound God's caufe, if they fall in-
to vice ; as well as fatally prejudife other poor Indians. Al-
ways infift, that their experiences are rotten, and that their
joys are delufive, although they may have been rapt into
the third heavens in their own conceit by them, unlefs the
main tenor of their lives be fpiritual, watchful and holy. In
prcfling thefe things, " thou malt both fave thyfelf and thofe
that hear thee."
God knows, I was heartily willing to have ferved him long-
er in the work of the miniftry, although it had ftill been at-
tended with all the labours and hardlhips of paft years, if he had
301 THE LIFE OF
feen fit that it mould be fo : but as his will now appears other-
ivife, I am fully content, and can with utmoft freedom fay,
" The will of the Lord be done." It affefts me to think
of leaving you in a world of fin ; my heart pities you, that
thofe ftorms and tempefts are yet before you, which I truft,
through grace I am almoft delivered from. But " God
" lives, and bleffed be my Rock ':" he is the fame almighty
Friend : and will, I truft, be your Guide and Helper, as he
has been mine.
And now, my dear brother, " 1 commend you to God and
" to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and
" give you inheritance among all them that are fan&ified."
May you enjoy the divine prefence, both in private and pub-
lic j and may " the arms of your hands be made ftrong, by the
" right hand of the mighty God of Jacob !" Which are the
paflionate defires and prayers of
Your afe&wnate dying brother,
DAVID BJUUNIRD.
AN
APPENDIX,
CONTAINING
SOME REFLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS
On tie Preceding MEMOIRS of Mr Brainerd.
I, "\7TTE have here opportunity, as I apprehend, in a
V V very lively inftance, to fee the nature of true re-
ligion, and the manner of its operation when exemplified in
a high degree and powerful exercife. Particularly it may be
worthy to be obferved,
x. How greatly Mr Brainerd's religion differed from that
of fome pretenders to the experience of a clear work of faving
converfion wrought on their hearts j who depending and living
on that, fettle in a cold, carelefs, and carnal frame of mind, and
in a neglect of thorough, earneft religion, in the ftated prac-
tice of it. Although his .convictions and converfion were
in all refpe&s exceeding clear, and very remarkable j yet how
far was he from acting as though he thought he had got
through his work, when once he had obtained comfort, and
fatisfa&ion of his intereft in Chrift and title to heaven ? On
the contrary, that work on his heart, by which he was
brought to this, was with him evidently but the beginning of
his work, his firft entering on the great bufinefs of religion
and the fervice of God, his firft fetting out in his race. His
obtaining reft of foul in Chrift, after earneft ftriving to enter
in at the ftrait gate, and being violent to take the kingdom
cf heaven, he did not look upon as putting an end to any fur-
ther occafion for ftriving and violence in religion j but thefe
were continued ftill, and maintained conftantly through all
changes, to the very end of life. His work was not finiihed,
nor his race ended, till life was ended ; agreeable to frequent
312 APPENDIX.
fcripture-reprefentations oi the Chriftian life He continued;
prefling forward in a conftant manner, forgetting the things-
that were behind, and reaching forth towards the things that
were before. His pains and earneftnefs in the bufinefs of re-
ligion were rather increafed, than diminiihed, after he had re-
ceived comfort and fatistactbn concerning the fafety of bis-
ftate. Thofe divine principles, which after this he was adu-
ated by, of love to God, and longings and thirilings after ho-
linefs feem to be more effectual to engage him to pains and
activity in religion, than fear of hell had been before.
And as his converiion was not the end of his work, or of
the courfe of his diligence and drivings in religion j fo nei-
ther was it the end of the work of the Spirit of God on his
heart : but on the contrary, the beginning of that work, the
beginning of his fpiritual difcoveries and holy views, the
firft dawning of the light, which thenceforward increafed more
and more, the beginning 'of his holy affections, his forrow
for fin, his love to God, his rejoicing in Chrift Jefus, his long-
ings after holinefs. And the powerful operations of the Spi-
litof God in thefe things, were carried on from the day of
his converfion, in a continued courfe, to his dying day. His
religious experiences, his admiration, his joy, and praife,
and flowing affections, did not only hold up te a considerable
height for a few days, weeks, or months, at fiift, while hope
and comfort were new things with him j and then gradually
dwindle and die away, till they came to almoft nothing, and
fo leave him without any fenfible or remarkable experience
of fpiritual difcoveries, or holy and divine affections, for
months together 5 as it is with many, who after the newnefs
of things is over, foon come to that pafs, that it is again with
them very much as it ufed to be before their fuppofed con-
verlion, with refpecl: to any prefent views of God's glory,
of Chrift's excellency, or of the beauty of divine things j and
with reipeft to any prefent thirftings for God, or ardent out-
goings of their fouls after divine objects : but only now and
then they have a comfortable reflexion on things they have
raet with in times paft, and are fomething affe&ed with them j
and fo reft eafy, thinking all things are well } they have had
a good clear work, and their ftate is fafe, and they doubt
APPENDIX. 313
but. they fhall go to heaven when they die. How far other-
wife was it with JVJr Brainerd than it is with {uch perfons !
His experiences, inftead of dying away, were evidently of aa
increafing nature. His firft love, and other holy affeftions,
even at the beginning were very great ; but after months and
years, became much greater, and more remarkable ; and the
fpiritual exercifes of his mind continued exceeding great,
(though not equally fo at all times, yet ufually fo), without
indulged remiffnefs, and without habitual dwindling and dying
away, even till his deceafe. They began in a time of general
deadnefs all over the land, and were greatly increafed in a
time of general reviving of religion. And when religion de-
cayed again, and a general deadnefs returned, his experiences
were flill kept up in their height, and his holy exercifes main-
tained in their life and vigour , and fo continued to be, in a
general courfe, where-ever he was, and whatever his circum-
flances were, among Englifli and Indians, in company and
alone, in towns and cities and in the howling wildernefs, in
ficknefs and in health, living and dying. This is agreeable
to fcripture -defcriptions of true and right religion, and of the
Chriftian life. The change that was wrought in him at his
converfion, was agreeable to fcripture- reprefentation, of that
change which is wrought in true converfion 5 a great change,
and an abiding change, rendering him a new man, a new crea-
ture : not only a change as to hope and comfort, and an ap-
prehenfion of his own good eftate j and a tranfient change,
confiding of high flights of pafling affections 5 but a change
of nature, a change of the abiding habit and temper of his
mind. Nor a partial change, merely in point of opinion,
or outward reformation ; much lefs a change from one error
to another, or from one fin to another: but an univerfal
change, both internal and external ; as from corrupt and dan-
gerous principles in religion, unto the belief of the truth, fo
from both the habits and ways of lin, unto univerfal holinefs
oi: heart and practice j from the power and fervice of Satan
unto God.
2. His religion did apparently and greatly differ from that,
of many high pretenders to religion, who are frequently ac-
tuated by vehement emotions of miutl, and are carried on in a
Rr
314 APPENDIX.
courfe of fudden and ftrong impreflions and fuppofed high il-
luminations and immediate difcoveries, and at the fame time
are perfons of a virulent " zeal, not according to knovv-
<; ledge."
His convictions, preceding his converfion, did not arife
from any frightful imprefiions on his imagination, or any ex-
ternal images and ideas of fire and brimrtone, a fword of ven-
geance drawn, a dark pit open, devilsin terrible fLapes, &c.
flrongly fixed in his mind. His light of his own finfulnefs
did not cor.fift in any imagination of a heap of lothfome ma-
terial filthinefs within him j nor did his fenfe-of the hardnefs
cf his heart confiii in any bodily feeling in his breafl fome-
thing hard and heavy like a ftone, nor in any imaginations
whatever of fuch a nature.
His firft difcovery of God or Chrift, at his converfion, was
not any ftrong idea of any external glory or brightnefs, or
majefty and beauty of countenance, or pleafant voice j nor
was it any fuppofed immediate mamfeflation of God's Icve
to him in particular, or any imagination of (Thrift's fmiling
face, arms open, or words immediately fpoken to him, as by
name, revealing Chriil's love to him j either words of fcrip-
ture, or any other : but a manifeftation of God's glory,
and the beauty .of his nature, as fupremely excellent in itfelf ;
powerfully drawing, and fweetly captivating his heart - 7 bring-
ing him to a hearty defire to exalt God, fet him on the throne,
and give him fapreme honour and glory, as the King and
Sovereign of the univerfe j and alfo a new fenfe of the infi-
nite wifdom, fuitablenefa and excellency of the way of fal-
vation by Chrift j powerfully engaging his whole foul to em-
brace this way of falvation, and to delight in it. His firft
faith did not confiil in believing that Chrift loved him, and
died for him, iu particular. His firft comfort was not from
any fecr^t fuggeftion of God's eternal love to him, or that
God was reconciled to him, or intended great mercy for him j
by any fuch texts as thefe " Son be of good cheer, thy fins
" are forgiven thee. Fear not, I am thy God," &c. or in
any fuch way. On the contrary, when God's glory was firft
diicovercd'to him, it was without any thought cf falvation as
APPENDIX, 315
his own. His firft experience of the fanctifying and com-
forting power of God's Spirit did net begin in forne bodily
fenfation, any pleafant warm feeling in his breaft, that he
(as fome others) ca- led the feeling the love of Chrift in him,
and being full of the Spirit. How exceeding far were his
cxpsricnces at his firft converfion from things of fuch a na-
ture !
And if we look through the whole fcries of his experiences
from his converfion to his death, we fhall find none of this
kind. I have had occafion to read his diary over and over,
and very particularly and critically to review every paffage in
it j and I find no one inftance of a ftrong irnpreflion en his
imagination, through his whole life 5 no inftance of a ftrongly
impreffed idea of any external glory and brightnefs, of any
bodily form or lhape, any beautiful majeftic countenance j no
imaginary fight o Chrifl hanging on the, crofs, with his blood
ftreamrng from his wounds j or feated $n hcaven$n a bright
thione, with angels and faints bowing before him j or with a
countenance fmiling on him ; or arms open to embrace him ;
no fight of heaven, in his imagination, with gates of pearl,
and golden ftreets, and vafl multitudes of glorious inhabitants,
with {hining garments - ? no fight of the book of life opened,
with his name written it 5 no hearing of the fweet mufic
made by the fongs of heavenly hofts j no hearing God or
Chrift immediately fpeaking to him ; nor any fudden fuggef-
tions of words or fentences, either words of fcripture, or any
other, as then immediately fpoken or fent to him j no new
objective revelations, no fudden ftrong fuggeftions of fecret
facts. Nor do I find any one inftance in all the records he
lias left of his own life, from beginning to end, of joy ex-
cited from a fuppofed immediate witnefs of the Spirit j or in-
ward immediate fuggefticn, that his ftate was finely good,
that God loved him with an everlaftmg love, that Chrift died
for him in particular, and that heaven was his; either with
or without a text of fcripture j no inftance of comfort b)
Hidden bearing in upon his mind, as though at that very time
directed by God to him in particular, any fuch kind of texts
as thefe : " Fear not 5 I am with thee. It is your Father's
APPENDIX.
" good pleafure to give you the kingdom. You have not
* chofen me, but I have chofen you. I have called thee by
" thy name j thou art mine. Before thou waft formed in the
" belly I knew thee," &c. No fuppofed communion and
converfation with God carried on in this way ; no fuch fup-
pofed tailing of the love of Chrift. But the way he was fatis-
fied of his own good eftate, even to the entire abolifhing of
fear, was by feeling within himfelf the lively a.6Hngs of a ho-
ly temper and heavenly difpofition, the vigorous exercifes of
that divine love, which caft out fear. This was the way he
had full fatisfaclion foon after his converfion. (See his diary on
Oft. 18. and 19. 1740). And we find no other way of fatis-
faclion through his whole life afterwards : and this he abun-
dantly declared to be the way, the only way, that he had com-
plete fatisfaclion when he looked death in the face, in its near
approaches.
Some of the pretenders to an immediate witnefs by fuggef-
tion, and defenders of it, with an affuming confidence, would
bear us in hand, that there is no full aiTurance without it ;
and that the way of being fatisfied by fi^ns, and arguing an
intereft in Chrift from fanclification, if it will keep men quiet
in life and health, yet will never do when they come to die :
then (they fay) men muft have immediate witnefs, or elfe be
in a dreadful uncertainty. But Mr Brainerd's experience is
a confutation of this j for in him we have an inftance of one
that poflefTedas conftant and unmaken an affurance through the
courfe of life, after converfion, as perhaps can be produced in
this age j which yet he obtained and enjoyed without any
fuch fort of teftimony, and without all manner of appearance
of it, or pretence to it , yea, while utterly difclaiming any
fuch thing, and declaring againft it ; and one whofe affurance
we need not fcruple to affirm, has as fair a claim, and as juft
a pretenfion to truth and genuinenefs, as any lhat the pretend-
ers to immediate witnefs can produce j and not only an in-
ftance of one that had fuch affurance in life, but had it in a
conftant manner in his laft illnefs ; and particularly in the
latter ftages of it, through thofe lad months of his life, where-
in death was more fenlibly approaching, without the
APPENDIX. 317
hope of life ; and had it too in its fulnefs, and in the height
of its exercife, under thofe repeated trials, that he had in
this fpace of time ; when brought from time to time to the
the very brink of the grave, expecting in a few minutes to be
in eternity. He had " the full aiTurance of hope, unto the
" end." When on the verge of eternity, he then declares his
aiTurance to be fuch as perfectly fecluded all fear j and not
only fo, but it manifestly filled his foul with exceeding joy 'j
he declaring at the fame time, that this his confolatioa and
good hope through grace arofe wholly from the evidence he
had of his good eftate, by what he found of his fanclification^
or the exercife of a holy heavenly temper of mind, fupremc
love to God, &.C. and not in the leaft from any immediate
witnefs by fuggeftion ; yea, he declares that at thefe very
times he faw the awful deluiion of that confidence which is
built on fuch a foundation, as well as of the whole of
that religion which it ufually fprings from, or at leaft is the
attendant of ; and that his foul abhorred thofe delufions -, and
he continued in this mind, often exprefling it with much fo-
lemnity, even till death.
Mr Brainerd's religion was not felfifli and mercenary : his
love to God was primarily and principally for the fupreme
excellency of his own nature, and not built on a preconceived
notion that God loved him, had received him into favour, and
had done great things for him, or promifed great things to
him j fo his joy was joy in God, and not in himfelf. We
fee by his diary how, from time to him, through the courfe
of his life, his foul was filled with ineffable fweetnefsand com-
fort. But w T hat was the fpring of this ftrong and abiding con-
folation ? Not fo much the confideration of the fare grounds
he had to think that his ftate was good, that God had deliver-
ed him from hell, and that heaven was his ; or any thoughts
concerning his own diltinguifhed happy and exalted circum-
ftances, as a high favourite of heaven - y but the fweet medita-
tions and entertaining views he had of divine things without
himfelf , the affecting confiderations and lively ideas of God's
infinite glory, his unchangeable bleiTednefs, his fovereignty
and univerfal dominion \ together with the frveet cxercifes
315 APPENDIX.
of love to God, giving himfelf up to him, abafing himfelf be-
fore him, denying himfelf for him, depending upon him, act-
ing for his glory, diligently fervinghimj and the pleafing
profpects or hopes he had of a future advancement of the king-
dom of Chrift, &c.
It appears plainly and abundantly all along, from his con-
verfion to his death, thaUthat beauty, that fort of good,
which was the great object of the new fenfe of his mind, the
new reliih and appetite given him in conversion, and thence-
forward maintained and increafed in his heart, was HOLINESS,.
conformity to God, living to God, and glorifying him. This
was what drew his heart 5 this was the centre of his foul j this
was the ocean to which dl the ftreams of his religious affec-
tions tended j this was the object that engaged his eager
thirfting defires and earneft purfuits : he knew no true ex-
cellency or happinefs but this : this was what he longed for
noft vehemently and conftantly on earth j and this was with
him the beauty and bleffednefs of heaven ; which rrit.de him
fo much and fo often to lon for that world of glory : it was
to be perfectly holy, and perfectly exercifed in the holy em-
ployments ^of heaven, thus to glorify God, and enjoy him for
ever.
His religious illuminations, affections, and comfort, feem-
cd, to a great degree, to be attended with evangelical humi-
liation ; confifting in a fenfe of his own utter infufficiency, def-
picablenefs, and .odioufnefs ; with an anfwerable difpofition
and frame of heart. How deeply affected was he a Imoft con-
tinually with his great defects in religion ; with his vail di-
ilance from that fpirituality and holy frame of mind that be-
came him j with his ignorance, pride, deadnefs, unfteadinefs,
fearrennefs ? He was not only affected with the remembrance
of his former finfulnefs, before his converfion, but with the
fenfe of his prefent vilehefs and pollution. He was not only
difpofed to think meanly of himfelf as before God, and in com-
parifon of him \ but amongft men, and as compared with them
he was apt to think other faints better than he \ yea, to look
on himfelf as the meaneft and leaft cf faints \ yea, very often,
as the vileft and worii of mankind. And notwithftandiog
APPENDIX. 319
MHifKaBnflMBuWBVHKHK4Q0B)MHMMBCC3^
his '^reat attainments in fpiritual knowledge, yet we find there
is Icarce any thing that he is more frequently affected and a-
baled with a fenfe of, than his ignorance.
How eminently did he appear to be of a meek and quiet
fpirit, refembling the tamb-like dove-like Spirit of Jefus'Chrift!
how full of love, meeknefs, quietnefs, Torgivcnefs, and mer-
cy ! His love was not merely a fondnefs and zeal fcr a party,
but an univerfal benevolence j very often exerciled in the
moil fenfible and ardent love to his greater! oppofers and ene-
mies. His love and meeknefs were not a mere pretence, and
cuUvard profefTion and (hew 5 but they were effectual things,
manifested in expensive and painful deeds of love and kind-
nefs, and in a meek behaviour j readily confeffing faults un-
der the greateft trials, and humbling himfelf even at the feet
of thofe from whom he fuppofed he had fuffered moil j and
from time to time very frequently praying for his enemies,
abhorring the thoughts of bitternefs or refentment towards
them. I fcarcely know where to look for any parallel in-
itance of felf- denial, in thefe refpects, in the prefent age. He
was a perfon of great zeal j but how did he abhor a bitter zeal,
and lament it where he faw it ! and though he was once drawn
into fome degrees of it, by the force of prevailing example,
as it were in his childhood j yet how did he go about with a
heart bruifed and broken in pieces for it all his life after !
Of hvw Jbft and tender*-*, fpirit was he ! How far were his
experiences, hopes, and joys, from a tendency finally to fiupi-
fy and harden him en convictions and tendernefs of
conference, to caufe him to be lefs affected with prefent and
pair fins, and lefs confcientious with rtfpect to future fins,
more eafy in trie neglect of duties that are troublefome and
inconvenient, more flow and partial in complying with diffi-
cult commands, lefs apt to be alarmed at the appearance of
his own. defects and tranfgrerlions, more eafily induced to a
compliance with carnal appetites ! On the contrary, how ten-
der was his conference : how apt was his heart to fmite him !
how eafily and greatly was he alarmed at the appearace of
moral evil ! how great and conftant was his jealoufy over his
own heart 1 ho;v tfrict his care and watch fulnefs againft fin !
how deep and fenflblc were the wouads that fin made in his
320 APPENDIX.
confcience ! thofe evils that are generally accounted fmall
were almoft an infupportable burden to him \ fuch as V>is in-
ward deficiences, his having no more love to God, finding
within himfelf any flacknefs or dulnefs in religion, any un-
fleadinefs, or wandering frame of mind, &c. How did the con-
fideration of fuch things as thefe opprefs and abafe him, and
fill him with inward ihame and confufion ! His love and hope,
though they w r ere fuch as cafl out a fervile fear of hell, yet
they were fuch as were attended with, and abundanty chi -
rilhed and promoted a reverential filial fear of God, a dread
of fin and of God's* holy difpleafure. His joy feemed truly
to be a rejoicing with trembling. His aiTurance and comfort
differed greatly from a falfe enthufiaftic confidence and joy,
in that it promoted and maintained mourning for fin ; holy
mourning with him was not only the work of an hour or a
day, at his firft converfion j but forrow for fin was like a
wound conftantly running ; he was a mourner for fin all his
days. He did not, after he received comfort and full fatisfac-
tion ojf the forgivenefs of all his fins, and the fafety of his
ftate^f ifget his pad fins, the fins of his youth, that were com-
iiiii efore his converfion j but the remembrance of them,
fronalime to time, revived in his heart, with renewed grief.
That in Ezek. xvi. 63, was evidently fulfilled in him, " That
" thou mayelt remember, and be confounded, and never open
" thy mouth any more, becaufe of thy fliame j when I am
" pacified toward thee for all that thou haft done." And
how laftingly did the fins that he committed after his conver-
fion, affecT: and break his heart ! if he did any tiling whereby
he thought he had in any refpecl diihonoured God, and wound-
ed the intereft of religion, he had never done with calling it
to mind with forrow and bitternefs j though he was allured
that God had forgiven it, yet he never forgave himfelf j his
part forrows and fears made no fatis faction with him ; but
ilill the wound renews and bleeds afrefii, again and again.
And his prefent fins, that he claiiy found in himfelf, were an
occafion of daily fenfible and deep forrow of heart.
His religion did not confjfti.ranncountablc flights ana vehe-
ment pan^s ') fucldcnly ring, nnd fucldenly falling ; at Tome
APPENDIX. 321
turns exalted almoft to the third heavens, and then at other
times negligent, vain, carnal, and fwallowed up with the world
for days and weeks, if not months together. His religion was
not like a blazing meteor, or like a flaming comet, (or a
wandering ftar, as the apoille Jude calls it, verf. 13.) flying
through the firmament with a bright train, and then quickly
going out in perfect darknefs j but more like the fteady light. s
of heavep, that are conftant principles of light, though fome-
times hid with clouds. Nor like a land-flood, which flows
, far and wide with a rapid ft ream, bearing down all afore it,
and then dried up j but more like a ftream fed by living
fprings 'j which though fometimes increafed by (hewers, and
at other times diminished by drought, yet is a conftant ftream.
His religious affections and joys were not like thofe of
fome, who have rapture and mighty emotions from time to
time in company 5 but have very little affection in retirement
and fecret places. Though he was of a very fociable temper,
and loved the company of faints, and delighted very much in
religious converfation, and in focial worfhip j yet his rrarmeft
affections, and their greateft effects on animal nature ?nd his
fweeteftjoys, were in his clofet devotions, and folk ranf-
actions betweea God and his own foul ; as is very obi , vable
through his whole courfe, from- his converlion to his death.
He delighted greatly in fecret retirements j and loved to get
quite away from all the world, to converfe with God alone
in fecret duties.
Mr Brainerd's experiences and comforts were very far
from being like thofe of fome perfons, which are attended
with a fpi ritual faticty t and put an end to their religious de-
fires and longings, at leaft to the edge and ardency of them ;
railing fatisfied in their own attainments and comforts, as
having obtained their chief end, which is to extinguifh their
fears of hell, and give them confidence of the favour of God.
How far were his religious affections, refrelhments and fa-
tisfadions. from fuch an operation and influence as this ! On
the contrary, how were they always attended with longings
and thirftings after greater degrees of conformity to God !
And the greater and fweeter h s comforts were, the more vehe-
ment vrere his defires after holi'tefs. For it is to be obferved,
8*9
322 APPENDIX.
that his longiugs were not fo much after joyful difcoverics
of God's love, and clear victrs of his title to future advance-
ment and eternal honours in heaven j as after more of pre-
fent holinefs, greater fpirituality, an heart more engaged for
God, to love, and exalt, and depend on him j an ability better
to ferve him, to do more for his glory, and to do all that he
did with more of a regard to Chrifi as his rightcoufnefs and
ftrength ; and after the enlargement and advancement of
(Thrift's kingdom on the earth. And his defires were not idle
wifhings and wouldings, but fuch as were powerful and effec-
tual to animate him to the earneft, eager purfuitof thefe
things, with utmoft diligence and unfainting labour and fclf-
denial. His comforts never put an end to his feeking after
God, and ftriving to obtain his grace j but, on the contrary,
greatly engaged and enlarged him therein.
His religion did not confift only in experience, without
praEUce. All his inward illuminations, affections, and corn-
forts, feemed to have a direct tendency to practice, and to
ifiue in it : and this,. not merely a practice negatively good,
free from grofs acts of irreligion and immorality 5 but a
practice pofilively holy and Chriflian, in a feiious, devtu%
humble, meek, merciful, charitable, and benincent ccnver-
fation j making the fervice of God, and our Lord Jefus
Chrifi, the great bufinefs of life, which he was devoted to,
and purfued with the greatefl earnefinefs and diligence to the
end of his days, through all trials. In him was to be feeu
the right way of being lively in religion \ his livelenefs in re-
ligion did not conlift merely or mainly in his being lively with
the tongue, but \\\deed, not in being forward in profc (lion
and outward (hew, and abundant in declaring his oxvn expe-
riences y but chierly in being aclive and abundant in the la-
bours and duties of religion j " not fiothful in bufinefs, but
** fervent in fpirit, ferving the Lord, and fcrving his gcnera-
" tion, according to the will of God."
By thefe things, many hi^h pretenders to religion, ar.J
profeffors of extraordinary fpiritual experience, may be fen-
fible, that Mr Brainerd did greatly condemn their kind of
leligion ; and that not only in word, but by example, both li-
.*ving and dying j as tie whole fcries of his Chriilian experi-
APPENDIX. 323
ence and p-aclice, from his ccnverfion to his death, appears a
conitant condemnation of it.
It cannot be objected, that the reafon why he fo much dif-
liked the religion of thefe pretenders, and why his own fo
much differed from it, was, that his experiences were not
clear. There is no room to fay, they were otherwife, in a-
ny reflect in which clearnefs of experience has been wont
to be infilled on j whether it be the clearnefs of their nature.
or of their order, and the method his foul was at firft brought
to reft and comfort in his converfion. I am far from think-
ing (and fo was he) that clearnefs of the order of experien-
ces, is in any meafure of equal importance with the clearnefs of
their nature : 1 have fufficiently declared in my difr.ourfe on
religious affeElions, (which he exprelsly approved of and re^-
ctominended), that I do not fuppofe, a fenfible difiinctnefs of
the fleps of the Spirit's operation and method of fuccefTive
convictions and illumination!, is a neccffary requiiite to per-
fons being received, in full chanty, as true faints ; provided
the nature of the things they profefs be right, and their prac-
tice agreeable. Neverthelefs, it is obfervable, (which cuts oiT
all objection from fuch as would be moft unreafonably difpofed
to object and cavil in the prefent cafe), fo it was that Mr
Brainerd's experiences were not only clear in the latter rel-
pecr, but remarkably fo in the former : fo that there is not
perhaps one inftance in five hnndred true converts, that on
this account can be paralleled with him.
It cannot be pretended, that the reafon why he fo much
abhorred and condemned the notions and experiences of thofe
w r hcfe firit faith confifts in believing that Chrift is theiis, and
that Chriii died- for them, without {any previous experience
of union of heart to him, for his excellency, as he is in him-
ielf, and not for his fuppofed love to them j and who judge
of their interefl in Chrift, their juftification, and God's love
to them, not by their fanctiiication, and the exercifes and
fruits of grace, but by a fuppofed immediate witnefs of the
Spirit by inward fugoeftion ; I fay it cannot be pretended,
that the reafon why he fo much detefted and condemned fuch
opinions and experiences, was that he was of a too legal fpir-
it j either that he never was dead to the law, never expert
3^4 APPENDIX.
enced a thorough xvork of conviction, was never fully brought
off from his own rightcoufnefs, and weaned from the old cove-
nant, by a thorough legal humiliation ; or that afterwards,
he had no degree of evangelical humiliation, not living in a
deep fenfe of his own emptinefs, wreU hednefs, poverty, and
abfolute dependence on the mere grace of God through Chtift.
For his convictions of fin, pieceding his firft confolations in
Chrift, were exceeding deep and thorough j his trouble and
exercife of mind, by a fenfe of fin and mifery, very great, and
long continued j and the light let into his mind at his conver-
fion, and in progrefave fanftification, appears to have had its
genuine humbling influence upon him, to have kept him low
in his own eyes, not confiding in himfelf, but in Chrift, " li-
" ving by the faith of the Son of God, and looking for the
*' mercy of the Lord Jefus to eternal life."
Nor can it be pretended, that the reafon why he condemn-
ed thefe, and other things, which this fort of people call the
very height of vital religion and the power of godHnefs, was
that he was a dead Chrijlian, and lived in the dark, (as they
exprefs themfelves) j that his experiences, though they might
be true, were not great j that he did not live near to God,
had but a fmall acquaintance with him, and had but a dim
fight pf fpiritual things. If any, after they have read the
preceding account of Mr Brainerd's life, will venture to pre-
tend thus, they will only Pnew that they themfches are in
the dark) and do indeed " put darknefs for light, and light for
" darknefs."
It is common with this fort of people, if there is any one,
whom they cannot deny to exhibit good evidences of true
^odl^nefs, who yet appears to diflike their notions, and con-
demn thofe things wherein they place the height of .religion,
to infinuate, that they are c.f raid of the croft, and have a mind
to curry favour with the ivorld, and the like. But I prefume,
this will not be pretended concerning Mr Brainerd, by any
one perfon that has read the preceding account of his life.
It muft needs appear a thing notorious to fuch, that he was
an extraordinary, and almoft unparalellcd inftance (in thefe
times, and thefe parts of the world) of the contrary difpofi-
Uon j and that, whether we confider what he has recorded of
APPENDIX. 325
his inward experience, from time to time ; or his practice,
how he in faft took up and embraced the crr,fs, and bore it
conftantly, in his great felf-denials, labours, and fufFerhig for
the name of Jefus, and went on without fainting, without re-
penting, or repining, to his dying ilJnefs j how he did not
only, from time to time, relir.quilh and renounce the 'world
fecretly, in his heart, xvith the full and fervent confent of
all the powers of his foul ; but openly and aSually forfook
the world, with its poffeflions, delights, arid common comforts,
to dwell as it were with wild beafts, in a howling \vildernefs >
with con^ant cheerfulnefs, complying with the numerous hard-
(hips of a life of toil and travel there, to promote the king-
dom of his dear Redeemer. And beiides, it appears by tl.e
preceding hillory, that he never did more condemn the things
ibrementioned, never had a greater fenfe of their delation,
pernicious nature, and ill tendency, and never was more full
of pity to thofe that are led away with them, than in his lalt
illnefs, and at times when he had the neareft profpecl: of death,
fuppofed himfelf to be on the very brink of eternity, and look-
ed on all this lower world as what he never (hould have any
thing more to do with. Surely he did not condemn thofa-
things at thefe feafons, only to curry favour with the world.
Belides what has been already related of Mr Brainerd's ten-
timents in his dying Rate concerning true and fa He religion,
we have his deliberate and folemn thoughts on this fubject,
further appearing by his Preface to Mr Shepard's diary, be-
fore mentioned j which, when he wrote it, he fuppofed to be
(as it proved) one of the lail things he fhould ever write. 1
(hall here infert a part of the Preface, as follows :
" How much flrefs is laid by many upon fome things as be-
" ing effefts and evidences of exalted dt-grees of religion, when
" they are fo far from being of any importance in it, that
" they are really irreligious, a mixture of felf love, imagination,
" and fpiritual pride, or perhaps the influence of Satan transfor-
" med into an angel of light : I fay, how much ftrefs is laid
" on thefe things by many, I (hall not determine : but it is
41 much to be feared, that while God was carrying on a glo-
** rious work of grace, and undoubtedly gathering a harveit
** of fouls to himlelf, (which vve fliould abvays remember
326 APPENDIX.
" with thsnkfuinsfs), numbers of others have at the lame time
" been fatally deluded by the devices of the devil, and their
" own corrupt heart?. It is to be feared that the conver-
*' (ions of fame have no better foundation than this j viz-.
11 that after they have been under fome concern for their fouls
" for a while, and it may be manifefted fome very great and
** uncommon diftrefs and agonies, they have on a fudden imagi-
" ncd they fan" Chrift, in feme pofture or other, perhaps on
" the crofs, bleeding and dying for their fins : or it may be,
" fxciling on them, and thereby fignifying his love to them:
" and that thefe and the like things, though mere imagina-
'* tions which have nothing fpiritual in them, have inftantly
" removed all theii fears and diftreiTes, filled them with rap-
"" tuies of joy, and made them imngine, that they Joved
" Chriil with all their hearts ; when the bottom cf all was
*' nothing but felflove. For when they imagined that Chrift
'* had been fo good to them as to fave them, and as it were to
" fingle them out of all the world, they could not but fee! fome
" kind of natural gratitude to him j although they never
41 had any fpiritual view of his divine glory, excellency and
" beauty, and qonfequently never had any love to him for
'* himfclf. Or that inftead of having fome fuch imaginary view
*' of Chrill as has been mentioned, in order to remove their dif-
" trefs, and give them joy, fome, having had a paffage, or
" perhaps many paffages of fcripture brought to their minds
*' with power, (as they exprefs it), fuch as that, " Son be of
44 good cheer, thy fins are forgiven thee," and the Jike, they
" have immediately applied thefe paffages to themfelves, fup-
" pofing that God hereby manifefted his peculiar favour to
" them, as if mentioned by name ; never confidcring that they
*' are now giving heed to new revelations, there being no
* { fuch thing revealed in the word of God, as that this or that
44 particular perfon has, or evei mail have his fins forgiven 5
*' nor yet remembering that Satan can, with a great deal of
l - feeming pertinency, (and perhaps alfo with confiderablc
*' power), bring a fcripture to the minds of men, as he did to
*' Chrift himfelf. And thus thefe rejoice upon having fome
44 fcripture fuddenly fuggeftcd to them, or impreffed upon
4i their minds, fuppofing thiy are now the children of God,
APPENDIX. 327
" juft as did the other upon their imaginary views of Chrift.
14 And it is faid, that fame fpeak of feeing a great light which
" filled all the place where they were, and difpelled all their
" darknefs, fears, and diilreffes,and almoft ravifhed their fouls.
" While others have had it warmly fuggefted to their minds
<; not by any paflTage of fcripture, but as it were by a whifper
* or voice from heaven, " That God loves them, that Chrift is
" theirs," &c. which groundlefs imaginations and fuggeilions
44 of Satan have had the fame effect upon them, that the
44 delufions before mentioned had on the others. And as is
" the converiion of this fort of perfons, fo are their after ex-
" periences ; the whole being buijt upon imagination, ftroag
44 impreiTions and fadden fuggeilions made to their minds ;
" whence they are ufually extreme confident (as if immedi-
44 ately informed from God) not only of the goodnefs of their
" own flate, but of their infallible knowledge, and abfolute
" certainty, of the truth of every thing they pretend to, un-
44 der the notion of religion j and thus all reafoning with fome
" of them is utterly excluded.
44 3ut it is remarkable of thefe, that they are extremely
44 deficient in regard of true poverty offpirit, fenfe of exceed-
ing vilenefs in themfelves, fuch as frequently makes truly
" gracious fouls to groan, being burdened \ as alfo in regard
44 of meeknefs, love, and gentleuefs towards mankind, tender-
44 nefs of confcience in their ordinary affairs and dealings in
44 the world. And it is rare to fee them deeply concerned
" about the principles and ends of their actions, and linger
44 fears lelt they (liould not eye the glory of God chiefly, but
" live to themfelves ; or this at leafl is the cafe in their ordi-
" nary conduct, whether civil or religious. But if any one
44 of their particular notions, which their zeal has efpoufed,
44 be attacked, they are then fo confcicutious, they mufl. burn,
44 it called to it, for the defence of it. Yet, at the fame time,
44 when they are fo extremely deficient in regard of thefe pre-
" cious divine tempers which have been mentioned, they
4 ' are ufuaHy full of zra?, concern, and fervency in the things
<4 of religion, and often Jifcourfc of them with much warmth
44 and engagement : and to thole who do not know, or do not
" confide r, wherein the eiTer.ce of true religion confiils, vis&.
328 APPENDIX.
** in being conformed to the image oj Chrifi, not in point of
" zeal and fervency only, but in all divine tempers and prac-
" tices j I fay, to thofe who do not duly obferve and diftin-
" guifh, they often appear like the befl of men."
It is common with this fort of people to fay, that " God
" is amongrt them, his Spirit accompanies thsir exhortations,
" and other adminiftrations, and they are fealed by the Koly
" Ghoft," in the remarkable fuccefs they have in the great
affections that are flirred up in God's people, &c.'j but to in-
finuate on the contrary, that '* he is not with their oppo-
" nents ;" and particularly, " that God has forfaken the ftan-
** ding mioiflry ; and that the time is come, when it is the
** will of God that they fhould be put down, and that God's
" people fhould forfake them ; and that no more fuccefs is
" to be expected to attend their administration." But where
can they find an inftance, among all their mod flaming ex-
horters, who had been feaicd with fo incontestable and won-
derful fuccefs of his labours, as Mr Brainerd, not only in
quickening and comforting God's children, but alfo in a work
of conviclion and converfion, (which they own hasinagreat
meafure ceafed for a long time among themfelves), with ?. moft
vifible and adonifliing manifeftation of God's power, on fub-
jcfts fo unprepared, and that had been bi ought up ad lived
fome of them to old age, in the deepeil prejudices againft the
very firft principles of Chriflianity j the divine power accom-
panying his labours, producing the moft remarkable and abi-
ding change, turning the wildernefs into a fruitful field, and
caufing that which was a defart indeed to bud and bloflbm as
the rofe ? And this although he was not only one of their
greateft opponents in their errors j but alfo one of thofe they
call the {landing ministry j firil examined and licenfed to
preach by fuch miniflers j and fent forth among the Heathen
by fuch miniflers j and afterwards ordained by fuch minifters,
always directed by them, and united with them in their con-
iiftories, and adminiftrations : and even nbhoning the prac-
tice of thofe who give out that they ought to be renounced
and feparatcd from, und that teachers :r<-y be ordained by lay.
men.
APPENDIX. 329
It cannot be pretended by thefe men, that Mr Brainerd
condemned their religion, only becaufe he was not acquainted
with them, and had not opportunity for full obfervation of the
nature, operation, and tendency of their experiences : for he
had abundant and peculiar opportunities of fuch obfervation
and acquaintance. He lived through the late extraordinary
time of religious commotion, and faw the beginning and end,
the good and the bad of it. He had opportunity to fee the
various operations and effe&s, that were wrought in this fea-
fon, more extenfively, than any perfon I know of. His na-
tive place was about the middle of Connecticut : and he was
much converfant in all parts of that colony. He was con-
verfant with the zealous people on Long-Ifland, from one end
of the Ifland to the other j and alib in New-Jerfey and Pen-
fylvania, with people of various nations. Hfe had fome fpe-
cial opportunities in fome places in this province, (Maffachuiets
Bay), where has been very much of this fort of religion, and
at a time, when it greatly prevailed. He had converfed and
difputed witTi abundance of this kind of people in various parts,
as he told me j and alfo informed me, that he had feen fome-
thing of the fame appearances in fome of the Indians, whom
he had preached to, and had opportunity to fee the beginning
and end of them. And befides, Mr Brainerd could fpeak more
feelingly and underftandingly concerning thofe things, becaufe
there was once a time when he was drawn away into an efteern
of them, and for a fliort feafon had united himfelf to this
kind of people, and partook, in fome refpecis, of their fpirit
and behaviour.
But I proceed to another obfervation on the foregoing me-
moirs.
II. This hiftory of Mr Brainerd's may help us to make
diftin&ions among the high religious affeflions, and remark-
able impreflions made on the minds of perfons, in a time of
great awakening and revival ofreligion ; and may convince us,
that there are not only diftinclions in theory, invented to fave
the credit of pretended revivals ofreligion, and what is called
the experience of the operations of the Spirit ; but diftinclions
that do actually take place in the courfe of events, and have
a real and evident foundation in facl.
Tt
APPENDIX,
Many do and will confound things, blend all together, and
fay, " It is all alike j it is all of the fame fort." So there are
many that fay concerning the religion moil generally prevail-
ing among the SeparatiAs, and the affedions they manifeii,
** It is the fame that was all over the land feven years age."
And feme, that have read Mr Brainerd^s Journal, giving an
account of the extraordinary things that have come to pafs a-
mong the Indians in Nev/-Jerfey, fay, " It is evidently the
i ' fame thing that appeared in many places amongft the Eng-
'* lifh, which has now proved naught, and come to that
** which is worfe than nothing." And all the reafon they
have thus to determine all to be the fame w r ork, and the fame
fpirit, is, that the one manifefled high affe&ions, and fo do
the other 5 the great affections of the one had forne influence
on their bodies, and fo have the other : the one ufe the terms
conviction, corsccrjiGn, humiliation, coming to Chrijl, difcove-
ries, experiences, &c. and fo do the other j the impref-
fions on the one are attended with a great zeal of zeal, and fo
it is with the other j the affections of the one difpofe them to
ipeak much about things of religion, and fo do the other j
the one delight much in religious meetings, and fo do the o-
ther.- -- The agreement that appears in thefe, and fuch like
things, made them conclude, that furely all is alike, all is the
fame work. Whereas, on a clofer infpeclion and critical ex-
amination, it would appear, that notwithftanding an agree-
ment in fuch circumitances, yet indeed there is a vaft differ-
ence both in effence and fruits. A ccnfiderable part of the
religious operations that were fix or feven years ago, efpe-
cially towards the latter part of that extraordinary feafon,
was doubtkfs of the fame fort with the religion of the Sepa-
ratifts ; but not all : there were many, whofe experiences
were, like Mr Brainerd's, in a judgment of charity, genuine
and inconteftable.
Not only do the oppofers of all religion confining in
powerful operations arid affeclicns, thus confound things ;
'but many of the pretenders to fuch religion do fo. ' They
that have been the' fubje&s of fome fort of vehement, but vain
operations" en their mind, when they hear the relation of the
experiences of fome real and eminent Chrillians, they fay,
APPENDIX. 331
their experiences are of the fame fort: io they fay, tluy are
juil like the experiences of eminent Chriftians in former times,
\vhich we have printed accounts of. So, I doubt net, but
there are many deluded people, if they fhould read the pre-
ceding account of JMr Brainerd's life, who, reading without
much underftanding, or careful obfervation, would fay with-
out hesitation, that fome things which they have met with
are of very the fame hind with what he expreifes j when the
agreement is only in fome general circumitances, or fome par-
ticular things that are fuperficial j and belonging as it were to
the profefTion and outfide of religion ; but the inward temper
of mind, and the fruits in practice, are as oppofite and dill a;; t
as eait and weft.
Many honed good people alfo, and true Chriilians, do not
very well know how to make a difference. The gliftering
appearance and glaring {hew of falfe religion dazzles their
eyes j and they fometimes are fo deluded by it, that they look
on fome of thefe impreftions, which hypocrites tell of. as the
brighteft experiences. And though tlrey have experienced
no flich things themfelves, they think it is becaufe they are
vaftly lower in attainments, and but babes, in comparifon of
thefe flaming Chriftians. Yea, fometimes, from their differing
fo much from thofe who make fo great a {how, they doubt
whether they have any grace at all. And it is a hard thing
to bring many well meaning people to make proper diftinc-
tions in this cafe ; and efpecially to maintain and ftam! by
them, through a certain weaknefs they unhappily labour under,
whereby they are liable to be overcome with the glare of out-
ward appearances. Thus, if in a fedate hour they are by rea-
foning brought to allow fuch and fueh diftin&ions, yet the.
ivext time they come in the way of the great (how of falfe
religion, the dazzling appearance fwallows them up, and they
are carried away. Thus the devil by his cunning artifices, eafily
daz-zles the feeble fight of men, and puts-thrm beyond a capa-
city of a proper exercife of confuleration, or hearkening to
the dictates of calm thought, and cool underlianding. When
they perceive the great affection, earned talk, firong voice,
affared looks, vaft confidence, and bold affertions, of thefe
m;:ty aiTurnirg pretenders, they are overborne, lofe thepof-
APPENDIX
fefiioa of their judgment, and fay, k< Surely thefe men are in
" the right, God is with them of a truth j" and fo they are
carried away, not with light and reafon, but (like children)
as it were with a ftrcng wind.
This confounding all things together that have a fair
fhew, is but acting the part of a child, and going into a
fnop, where a variety of wares are expofed to fale, (all of a
fhining appearance j fome veffels of gold and filver, and fome
diamonds and other precious ftones j and other things that
are toys of little value, which are of fome bafe metal gilt,
or glafs polifhed, and painted with curious colours, or cut
like diamonds), fiiould efteem all alike, and give as great a
price for the vile as for the precious : or it is like the conduct of
fome unfkilful raih perfon, who, finding himfelf deceived by
fome of the wares he had bought at that (hop, fhould at once
conclude, all he there faw was of no value ; and purfuant to
fuch a conclufion, when afterwards he has true gold and
diamonds offered him, enough to enrich him and enable him
to live like a prince all his days, he fhould throw it all into
the fea.
But we muft get into another way. The want of diftin-
guifliing in things that appertain to experimental religion, is
one of the chief miferies of the prof effing world. It is at-
tended with very many moft difmal confequences : multitudes
of fouls are fatally deluded about themfelves, and their own
itate ; and fo are eternally undone : hypocrites are confirm-
ed in their delufions, and exceedingly puffed up with pride ;
many fmcere Chriftians are dreadfully perplexed, darkened,
tempted, and drawn afide from the way of duty j and
fometimes fadly tainted with falfe religion, to the great dif-
honour of Chriflianity, and hurt of their own fouls : fome
of the moft dangerous and pernicious enemies of religion in
the world (though called bright Chriftians) are encouraged and
honoured, who ought to be difcountenanced and fiiunned by
every body j and prejudices are begotten and confirmed in
vaft multitudes, againft every thing wherein the power and
effence of godlinefc coafifts ; and in the end, Deifm and Athe-
ifm are promoted.
APPENDIX. 333
III. The foregoing account of Mr Brainerd's life may
afford matter of conviction, that there is indeed fuch a thing
as true experimental religion, arifing from immediate divine
influences, fupernaturally enlightening and convincing the
mind, and powerfully impreflmg, quickening, fanctifying,
and governing the heart ; which religion is indeed an amiable
thing, of happy tendency, and of no hurtful confequence to
human fociety j notwith (landing there having been fo many-
pretences and appearances of what is called experime ntal vital
religion, that have proved ta be nothing but vain pernicious
enthufiafm.
If any infill, that Mr Brainerd's religion was enthufiafm,
and nothing but a ftrange heat and blind fervour of mind,
arifing from ftrong fancies and dreams of a notional whitn-
fical brain -, I would afk, if it be fo that fuch things as
thefe are the fruits of enthufiafm, viz. a great degree of
honefty and fimplicity, fincere and earned defires and endea-
vours, to know and do whatever is right, and to avoid every
thing that is wrong j an high degree of love to God, de-
light ,in the perfections of his nature, placing the happinefs
of life in him; not only in contemplating him, but in being
active in pleafing, and ferving him ; a firm and undoubting
belief in the Mefliah as the Saviour of the world, the great
Prophet of God, and King of God's church ; together with
great love to him, delight and complacence in the way of fai-
vation by him, and longing for the enlargement of his king-
dom ; earneft defires that God may be glorified and the
Mefliah's kingdom advanced, whatever inftruments are made
ufe of y uncommon relignation to the will of God, and that
under vaft trials 5 great and univerfal benevolence to man-
kind, reaching all forts of perfons without diftinction, mani-
fefted in fweetnefs of fpeech and behaviour, kind treatment,
mercy, liberality, and earneft feeking the good of the fouls
and bodies of men : attended with extraordinary humility,
meeknefs, forgivenefs of injuries, and love to enemies 5 and
a great abhorrence of a contrary fpirit and practice j not only
as appearing in others, but whereinfoever it had appeared in.
himfelf j caufing the molt bitter repentance, and brokennefs
of heart on account of any pad inftances of fuch a conduct j
334 APPENDIX.
a modc-fl, diicreetj auci decant deportment, among fuperiors,
inferiors, and equals j a raoft diligent improvement of time,
and earneft care to lofe no part of it j great watchfulr.efs
-againfl all forts of fin, of heart, fpeech, and ;.-6Hon ; and this
example and thcfe endeavours attended with mdft h?.;;py
fruits and bleiTsd effects 051 otrrrs, in humanizing, civilizing,
and wonderfully reforming and transforming I'.jrrie of the ruoft
'brutiih favages 5 idle, immoral cnyvknrds, murderers, grofs
idolaters, and wizards ; bringing them to pe mam:: f u ' ; ?ty,
diligence, devotion, honefty, confcj^ntloufhefs, and charity :
and the foregoing amiable virtues and fuccefsful J-r ours all
ending at laft in a marvellous peace, unmoVeable j'kbiJity,
calinnefs, and refignation, in the fenfible approaches of death ~ y
with longing for the heavenly ftate ; not only for the lior- .irs
and clrcumflantial advantages of it, but above all for tlv r --.I
perfection, and holy and bleffed employments of it ; arc tl efe
things in a perfon indifputab'y of good underftandii;;: and
judgment : I fay, if all thefe things are the fru : ts of entLuii-
afm, why Hiould not enthufiafm be thour. lit a oefirable and ex-
cellent thing ? for what can true religion, what can the bed
philofophy do more ? If vapours and whimfy will bring men
to the moil thorough virtue, to the moft benign and fruitful
morality j and will maintain it through a courfe of life (at-
tended with many trials) without affectation or fell-exaltation,
and with an earnefl conflant bearing teftimony againfl the
wildnefs, the extravagances, the bitter zeal, afiuming behavi-
our, and feparating fpirit of enthufiafis 5 and will do all this
more effectually, than any "thing elfc has ever done in any
plain known inftance that can be produced 5 if it be fo, 1 fay,
what caufe then has the world to prize and pray for this blef-
fed whimficalnefs, and thefe benign fort of vapours !
It would perhaps be a prejudice with fome againft the whole
of Mr Brainerd's religion, if it had begun in the time of the
late religious commotion 5 being ready to conclude (however
unreafbnably) that nothing good could take its rife from
thofe times. But it was not fo j his converfion was before
thofe times, in a time of general deadnefs, (as has been be-
fore obferved) : and therefore at a feafon when it was impcfll-
ble, that he fnouid receive a taint from any corrupt notions,
examples, or cuftcias, that had birth in thofe times.
APPENDIX. 335
pofers
And whereas there are many who are rrot profeffed op-
of what is called experimental religion, who yet doubt
of the reality of it, from the bad lives of fome profeffors y
and are ready to determine that there is nothing in all the
talk about beiu^ born a^aln, being emptied of fe/j, brought to
a failing dofe ivitb Cririjl, 6cc. becaufe many that pretend to
thefe. things, and are thought by others to have been the fub-
jecls of them, manifeft no abiding alteration in their moral
dirpofitioa and behaviour 5 are as carelefs, carnal, covetous,
&c. as ever, yea, fome much'worfe than ever : it is to be
acknowledged and lamented, that this is the cafe with fome j
but by the preceding account they may be fenfible, that it is
not fo with all. There are fome indifputable inftances of
fucli a change as the fcripture fpeaks of, an abiding great
change, a " renovation of the fpirit of the mind," and a
" walking in newnefs of life." In the foregoing inftance
particularly, they may fee the abiding influence of fuch a
work of converfion as they have heard of from the word of
God 5 the fruits of fuch experiences through a courfe of years ;
under a great variety of circumftances, many changes of ilate,
place, and company ; and may fee the bleffed iffue and event
of it in life aad death.
IV. The preceding hiftory ferves to confirm thofe doclrmes
ufuaily. called the doctrines of grace. For if it be allowed
that there is truth, fubflance, or value in the main of Mr
Brainerd's religion, it will undoubtedly follow, that thofe doc-
trines are divine j iiace it is evident, that the whole of it
from beginning to end is according to that fcheme of things j
all built on thofe appn hen.lor.s, notions, and views, that are
produced and eilabliined in the mind by thofe doclrines. He
was brought by doctrines of this kind to his awakening, and
deep c-mcern about things of a fpiritual and eternal nature ^
and by thefe doctrines his convictions were maintained and
.carried on j and his converlicn was evidently altogether agree-
able to tins fcheme, but by no means agreeing with the con-
trary, and utterly inconfiftent with the Arminian notion of
converfion or repentance. His converfion was plainly found-
ed in a clear ftroug conviclion, and undoubting perfuafioa
%: f the truth of thefe tilings appertaining to thefs doftrines,
336 APPENDIX.
which Arminians molt object againil, and which his own
mind had contended moil about. And his converfion was no
confirming and perfecting of moral principles and habits, by
ufe and practice, and his own labours in an induftrious dif-
ciplining himfelf, together with the concurring fuggeilions
and confpiring aids of God's Spirit ^ but entirely a fupernatu-
ral work, at once turning him 'torn darknefs to marvellous
light, and from the power of fin to the dominion of divine
and holy principles , avjjj effect, in no regard produced by his
ilrength or labour, or obtained by his virtue j and not ac-
Complifhed till he was firft brought to a full conviction that
all his own virtue, labours, ftrength, and endeavours, could
never avail any thing to the producing or procuring this ef-
f e a.
A very little while before, his mind was full of the fame
cavils againft the doctrines of God's fovereign grace which
are made by Arminians j and his heart even full of a raging
oppoiition to them. And God was pleafed to perform this
good work in him juft as a full end had been put to this ca-
villing and oppofition j after he was entirely convinced that
he was dead in fin, and was in the hands of God, as the ab-
folutely fovereign, unobliged, fole difpofer and author of true
holinefs. God's (hewing him mercy at fuch a time, is a con-
firmation that this was a preparation for mercy ; and con-
fequently, that thefe things which he was convinced of, were
true. While he oppofed thcfe things, he was the fubject of no
fuch mercy ; though he ib earneftly fought it, and prayed for
it with fo much painfulnefs, care, and ftrictnefs in religion.
But when once his oppofition is fully fubdued, and he is brought
to fubmit to the truths which he before had oppofed with full
conviction, then the mercy he fought for is granted, with a-
bundant light, great evidence, and exceeding joy ; and he reaps
the fweet fruit of it all his life after, and in the valley of the
ihadow of death.
In his converfion, he was brought to fee the glory of that
way of falvation by Chrift that is taught in what are called
the dotfrines of gra ce j and thenceforward, with unfpeakable
joy and complacence to embrace and acquiefce in that way
of fal-vation. "He was in his converfion, in all refoects,
APPENDIX. 337
brought to thofe views and that ftafe of mind, which thefe
doftrines fliew to be neceffary. And if his converfion was
any real converfion, or any thing befides a mere whim, and if
the religion of his life was any thing elfe but a feris of freaks
of a whimfical mind, then this one grand principle, on which
depends the whole difference between Calviuifts and Armini-
aiis is undeniable, viz. that the grace or virtue of truly good
men, not only differs from the virtue of others in degree,
but even in nature and kind. If ever Mr Brainerd was truly
turned from fin to God at all, or ever became truly religious,
none can reafonably doubt but that his converfion was at the
time when he fuppofed it to be j the change he then experi-
enced, was evidently the greater! moral change that ever he
pafTed under j and he was fhen apparently firfl brought to
that kind of religion, that remarkable new habit and temper
of mind which he held all his life after. The narration
fhews it to be different in nature and kind from all that ever
he was the fubjecl of before. It was evidently wrought at
once without fitting and preparing his mind, by gradually
convincing it more and more of the fame truths, and bringing
it nearer and nearer to fuch a temper : for it was foon after
his mind had been remarkably full of blafpherny, and a vehe-
ment exercife of fenfible enmity againll God, and great op-
pofition to thofe truths, which he Vvas now brought with his
whole foul to embrace, and reft in, as divine and glorious, and
to place his happinefs in the contemplation and improve-
ment of. And he himfelf (who was furely beft able to judge)
declares, that the difpofitions and affeclions, which were then
given him, and thenceforward maintained in him, were moil
fenfibly and certainly perfectly different in their nature
from all that he was the fubjecl: of before, orthath.ee-
ver had any conception of. This he ever flood to, and
was peremptory in, (as what he certainly knew), even to his
death. He nmft be looked upon as capable of j^dgin^ ; he
had opportunity to know ; he hud pra&ifed a great deal of re-
ligion before ; was exceeding flrit and confcientious. and had
continued fo for a long time ; had various religious affections,
with which he often flattered himfelf, and icmetimes pleafed
himklf" as- being now in a good eftate : and after he had thcie
Uu
33$ APPENDIX.
new experiences, that began in his conveifion, they were
continued to the end of his life 5 long enough for him
thoroughly to obferve their nature, and compare them with
what had been before. Doubtlefs he was compos mentis; and
was at leaft one of fo good an understanding and judgment,
as to be pretty well capable of difcerning and comparing the
things that paffed in his own mind.
It is further obfervable, that his religion all along operated
in fuch a manner as tended to confirm his mind in the doc*
trines of God's abfolute Sovereignty , man's universal and en-
tire dependence on God's power and grace, &.c. The more his
religion prevailed in his heart, and the fuller he was of divine
love, and of clear and delightful views of fpiritual things, and
the more his heart was engaged in God's fervice, the more
fenfible he was of the certainty and the excellency and import-
ance of thefe truths, and the more he was affected with them,
and rejoiced in them. And he declares particularly, that
when he lay for a long while on the verge of the eternal
world, often expecting to be in that \torld in a few minutes,
yet at the fame time enjoying great ferenity of mind, and
clearnefs of thought, and being inoft apparently in a pe-
culiar manner at a diftance from an enthufiailical frame, he
" at that time faw clearly the truth of thofe great doctrines
" of the gofpel, which are juftly ftiled the doftrincs of grace,
" and never felt hircfelf fo capable of demonftrating the truth
" of them."
So that it is very evident, Mr Brainerd's religion was
wholly comfpondent to what is called the Cafain[ftical fcheme,
and was the effect of thofe doctrines applied to his heart: and
certainly it cannot be denied, that the effect was good, unlefs
we turn Atheifts or Deifts. 1 would afk, whether there
be any fuch thing in reality as Chrijlian devotion? If there be,
what is it ? what is its nature ? and what its juft meafure ?
fhould it not be in a great degree ? We read abundantly infcrip-
ture of " loving God with all the heart, with all the foul, with
" all the mind, and with all the ftrength, of delighting in
" God, of rejoicing in the Lord, rejoicing with joy unfpeak-
** able, and fuU of glory, the foul's magnifying the Lord,
" thirfting for God, hungering and thirfling after righteouf-
APPENDIX. 339
" nefs, the foul's breaking for the longing it hath to God's
"judgments, praying to God with groanings that cannot be
*' uttered, mourning for fin with a broken heart and contrite
'" fpirit," &c. How full is the book of Pfalms, and other
parts of fcripture, of fuch things as thefe ! Now wherein
do thefe things, as expreffed by and appearing in Mr Brainerd,
cither the things themfelves, or their effects and fruits, differ
from the fcripture reprefentations ? Thefe things he was
brought to by that ftrange and wonderful transformation of
the man, which he called his converfkm. And does not this
well agree with what Is fo often faid in the Old Tcilament and
New, concerning the " giving of a new heart, creating a
" right fpirit, a being renewed in the fpirit of the mind, a
a being fandified throughout, becoming a new creature?"
&c. Now where is there to be found an Arminian conver-
iion or repentance, confiding in fo great and admirable a
change ? Can the Arrninians produce an inftance, within this
age, and fo plainly, within our reach and view, of fuch a
reformation, fuch a transformation of a man, to fcriptural
devotion, heavenly mindednefs, and true Chriftian mora-
lity, in one that before lived without thefe things, on the
foot of their principles, and through the influence of their
doclrines ?
And here is worthy to be confidered, not only the effect
of Calviniftical doctrines (as they are called) on Mr Brainerd
himfelf, but alfo the effect of the fame doctrines, as taught
and inculcated by him, on others. It is abundantly pretend-
ed and afferted of late, that thefe doctrines tend to under-
mine the very foundations of all religion arid morality, and
to enervate and vacate all reafonable motives to the exerciie
and practice of them, and lay invincible ftumbling-blocks be-
fore Infidels, to hinder their embracing Chriftianity 5 and that
the contrary doctrines are the fruitful principles of virtue and
goodnefs, fet religion on its right bafis, reprefent it in an
amiable Hght, give its motives their full force, and recom-
mend it to the reafon and common fenfe of mankind.- But
where can they find an inftance of fo great and fignal an ef-
fect of their doctrines, in bringing Infidels, who were at fuch
a difhncc from all that is civil, human, To her, rational, and-,
34 APPENDIX.
Chriftian, and fo full of inveterate prejudices againfl thefe
things, to fucli a degree 'of humanity, civility, exeicife of
reafon, felf-deninl, and Chriflian virtue ? Arminians place
religion in morality : let them bring an inftance of their doc-
trines producing fuch a transformation of a people in point
of morality. It is Orange, if the all- wife God fo orders things
in his providence, that reafonable and proper means, and his
ow" means, which he himfelf has appointed, mould in no
known remarkable inftance be inftrumental to produce fo
^ccdan efrecl: j an efFecl fo agreeable to his own word and
mind, and that very effeftfor which he appointed thcfe ex-
cellent means j that they fliould not be fo fuccefsful, as thofe
means which are not his own, but very contrary to them, and
of a contrary tendency ; means that are in themfelves very
abfurd, and tend to root all religion and virtue out of the
world, to promote and eflablifli infidelity, and to lay an in-
fuperable ftumbling-block before Pagans, to hinder their em-
bracing the gofpel : I fay, if this be the true ft'ate of the cafe,
it is certainly pretty wonderful, and an event worthy of fomc
attention.
I know that many will be ready to fay, " It is too foon
" yet to glory in the work that has been wrought among Mr
" Brainerd's Indians': It is bell to wait and fee the final e-
*' vent j it may be, all will come to nothing by and by." To
which I anfwer, (not to infift, that it will not follow, according
to Arminian principles, they are net now true Chiiflians, real-
ly pious and Godly, though they mould fall away and come
to nothing), that I never fuppofed, every one of thofe Indi-
ans, who in profeffion renounced their heathenifm and vifibly
embraced Chriftianity, and have had fome appearance of piety,
will finally prove true converts : if two thirds, or indeed one
half of them (as great a proportion as there is in the parable
of the ten virgins) mould perfevere, it will be Efficient to
mew the work wrought among them to have been truly
admirable and glorious. But fo much of permanence of their
religion has already appeared, as fhews it to be fomething elfe
befides an Indian humour or good mood, or any tranfient ef-
fect in the conceits, notions, ?.nd afTcclions of thefe ignorant
people, excited at a particular turn by artful management.
APPENDIX. 34!
For It is ow more than three years ago, that this work be-
gan among them, and a remarkable change appeared in many
of them ; fince which time the number of viiible converts
has greatly increafed ; and. by repeated accounts, from feve-
ral hands, they ftill generally perfevere in diligent religion
and firict virtue. I think worthy to be here infcrted, a letter
from a young gentleman, a candidate for the miniftry, one of
thofe before mentioned, appointed by the honourable com-
miflioners in Bofton, as miflionaries to the Heathen of the Six
Nations, fo called ; who, by their order, dwelt with Mr John
Brainerd among thefe Chriftian Indians, in order to their be-
ing prepared for the bufinefs of their miflion. The letter
was written from thence, to his parents here in Northampton,
and is as follows.
Bethel in New-Jsrfey^ Jan. 14: 1747 S.
HONOURED AND DEAR. PARENTS,
AFTER a long and uncomfortable journey, by reafon of bad
weather, I arrived at Mr Brainerd's the 6th of this
Inftant ; where I defign to (lay this winter : and as yet, upon
many accounts, am well fatisfied with my coming hither.
The flate and circumflances of the Indians, fpiritual and
temporal, much exceed what I expected, I have endeavoured
to acquaint myfelf with the flate of the Indians in general,
with particular perfons, and with the fchool, as much as the
ihort time I have been here would admit of. And notwith-
flanding my expectations were very much raifed, from Mr
David Brainerd's Journal, and from particular informations
from him j yet I mutt confefs, that in many iefpeh, they
are not equal to that which now appears to me to be true,
concerning the glorious work of divine grace amongft the In-
dians,
The evening after I came to town, I had opportunity to
fee the Indians together, \\hilft the Reverend Mr Arthur
preached to trrem j at which time there appeared a very gc^-
nerai and uncommon ferioufnefs and folemnity in the congre-
gation ; and this appeared to me to be the erTecl of an inward
fcnfe of the importance of divine truths, and not becaufe they
were hearing a flranger 5 which was abundantly confirmed to
APPENDIX.
me the next Sabbath, when there was the lame devout at-
tendance on divine fervice, and a furpniing folemnity appear-
ing in the performance of each part of divine worfhip. And
fome who are hopefully true Chriftians appear to have been
at that time much enlivened and comforted 5 not from any
obfervable commotions then, but from converfation after-
wards : and others feemed to be under p re fling concern for
their fouls. I have endeavoured to acquaint myfelf with
particular perfons, many of whom feeni to be very humble
and growing Chriftians ; although fome of them, (as I am in-
formed), were before their converlion moll mcnftrouily wick-
ed.
Religious converfation feems to be very pleaiing and de-
lightful to many, and efpecially that which relates to the ex-
ercifes of the heart. And many here do not feem to be real
Chriftians only, but growing Chriftians alfo ; as well in doc-
trinal, as experimental knowledge. Bcfides my converfation
with particular perfons, 1 have had opportunity to attend up-
on one of Mr Brainerd's catechetical lectures ; where I was
furprifed at their readinefs in anfwering queftions which they
had not been ufed to, although Mr Brainerd complained
much of their uncommon deficiency. It is furprifing to fee
this people, who not long fince were led captive by Satan at
his will, and living in the practice of all manner of abomina-
tions, without the leaft fenfe even of moral honefty, yet now
living foberly and regularly, and not feeking every man his
own, but every man, in fome fenfe, his neighbour's good j
and to fee thofe, who, but a little while paft, knew nothing
of the true God, now wormipping him in a folemn and devout.
manner j not only in public, but in their families and in fe-
cret ; which is manifeftly the cafe, it being a difficult thing
to walk out in the woods in the morning, without difturbing
perfons at their fecret devotion. And it feems wonderful
that this fliould be the'cafe not only with adult perfons, but
with children alfo. It is obfervable here, that many children,
(if not the children in general), retire into fecret places to
pray. And. as far as at prefent I can judge, this is not the
effect of cuflom and failiion, but of real ferioufnefs and thought-
fulnefs about their fouls, ;
APPENDIX. 343
I have frequently gone into the fchool, and have fpent cori-
fiderable time there amongfl the children j and have been fur-
prifed to fee, not only their diligent attendance upon the
bufinefs of the fchool, but alfo the proficiency they hare
made in it, in reading and writing, and in their catechifms of
divers forts. It feems to be as pleafing and as natural to thefe
children to have their books in their hands, as it does for
many others to be at play. I have gone into an houfe where
there has been a number of childern accidentally gathered to-
gether ; and obferved, that every one had his book in his
hand, and was diligently ftudying of it. There u to the
number of about thirty of thefe children, who can anfwer to
all the queilions in the Affembly's catechifm j and the bigger
part of them are able to do it with the proofs, to the fourth
commandment. I wifh there were many fuch fchools : I
confefs, that I never was acquainted with fuch an one, in ma-
ny refpe&s. Oh that what God has done here, may prove to
be the beginning of a far more glorious and extenlive work of
grace among the Heathen !
/ am you? obedient and dutiful Son,
JOB STRONG.
P. S. Since the date of this, I have had opportunity to
attend upon another of Mr Brainerd's catechetical letures :
and truly I was convinced that Mr Brainerd did not complain
before of his people's defefts in anfwering to queilions pro-
pofed, without reafon : for although their anfwers at that
time exceeded my expectations very much ; yet their per-
formances at this lecture very much exceeded them."
Since this, we have had accounts from time to time, and
fome very late, which (hew that religion ftill continues in
profperous and moil defirable circumflances among thefe Indi-
ans,
V. Is there not much in the preceding memoirs of Mr
Brainerd to teach, and excite to duty, us who are called to
the work of the miniftry, and all that arc candidates for that
great work ? What a deep fenfe did he feem to have of the
344 APPENDIX.
greatnefs and importance of that work, and with what weight
did it lie on his mind ! How fenfible was he of his own infuf-
ficiency for this work *, and how great was his dependence on
God's fufficiency ! How folicitcus that he might be fitted for
it ! And to this end, how much time did he fpend in prayer,
and fafting as well as reading and meditation j giving himfelf
to thefe things ! How did he dedicate his whole life, all his
powers and talents to God 5 and forfake and renounce the
world, with all its pleafing and enfnaring enjoyments, that
he might be wholly at liberty, to ferve Chrifl in this work j
and to " pleafe him who had chofen him to be a foldier, un-
'* derthe Captain of our falvation !" With what folicitude, fo-
Icmnity, and diligence did he devote himfelf to God our Savi-
our, and leek his prefence and bieffing in fecret, at the time
of his ordination ! And how did his whole heart appear to be
conilantly engaged, his whole time employed, and his whole
flrength ffpent in the bufinefs he then folemnly undertook and
was publicly fet apart to ! And his hiftory {hews us the
right way to fuccefs in the work of the miniilry. He fought
it, as a refolute foldier feeks victory in a liege or a battle j or
as a man that runs a race for a great prize. Animated with
a love to Chrifl and fouls, how did he " labour always fervent-
" ly," not only in word and doctrine, in public and private,
but in prayers day and night, " wreflling with God" in fecret,
and " travailing in birth," with unutterable groans and agonies,
" until Chrift were formed" in the hearts of the people to
whom he was fent ! How did he thirft for a Wetting on his
miniftry j and " watch for fouls, as one that muft give ac-
count !" how did he " go forth in the ftrength of the Lord
" God 3" feeking and depending on a fpecial influence of the
Spirit to aflift and fucceed him ! and what was the happy
fruit at lait, though 'after long waiting and many dark and
difcouraging appearances ! like a true fan of Jacob he perfe-
vered in wreftling, through all the darknefs of the night un-
til the breaking of the day.
And his example of labouring, praying, denying himfelf,
and enduring hardnefs with unfair.ting resolution and patience,
and his faithful, vigilant, and prudent; conduct in many other
APPENDIX 345
refpecls, (which it would be too long now particularly to re-
cite), may afford intfruclion to miflionaries in particular.
VI. The foregoing account of Mr Brainerd's life may af-
ford inftruclion to Chriftians in general j as it (hews, in many
refpe&s, the right way of pra&ifing religion, in order to
obtaining the ends of it, and receiving the benefits of it j or
how Chriftians (hould " run the race fet before them," i
they would not run in " vain, or run as uncertainly," but
would honour God in the world, adorn their profefiion, be
ferviceable to mankind, have the comforts of religion while
they live, be free from difquieting doubts and dark apprehen-
fions about the flate of their fouls ; enjoy peace in the ap-
proaches of.death, and " finifh their courfe with joy," -In
general, he much recommended for tl>is purpofe the redemp-
tion of time, great diligence in the bufinefs of the Chriftian
life, watchfulnefs, &c. And he very remarkably exempli-
fied thefe things.
But particularly, his example and fuccefs with regard to
one duty in fpecial, may be of great ufe both to minifters and
private Chriftians j I mean the duty of fecret fafting. The
reader has feen, how much Mr Brainerd recommends this du-
ty, and how frequently he exercifed himfelf in it ; nor can
it well have efcaped obfervation, how much he was owned
and blefied in it, and of what great benefit evidently it was to
his foul. Among all the many days he fpent in fecret fafting
and prayer, that he gives an account of in his diary, there
was fcarce an inftance of one, but what was either attended
or foon followed with apparent fuccefs, and a remarkable
bleflmg, in fpecial incomes and correlations of God*s Spirit $
and very often, before the day was ended. -But it muft
be obferved, that when he fet about this duty, he did it in
good earneft j " ftirring up himfelf to take hold of God," and
" continuing inftant in prayer," with much of the fpirit of
Jacob, who faid to the angel, " I will not let thee go except
" thou blefs me."
VII. There is much in the preceding account to excite and
encourage God's people to earneft prayers and endeavours
for the advancement and enlarement of the kingdom of
Chrift in the world. Mr Brainerd fet us an excellent example
X *
A PPENDIX.
in this refpeft j he /ou^ht the profperity of Zion with all his
might; he preferred Jerufalein above his chief joy. How
did his foul long for it, and pant after it J and how earneftly
and often did he wrcftle with God for it ! and how far did he
in thcfe defires and prayers, feem to be carried beyond all
private and felfiih views ! being animated with a pure love to
Chrifl, an earned dcfire of his glory, and a difinterefted ak
fe&ion to the fouls of mankind.
The confederation of this, not only ought to be an incite-
ment to the people of God, but may alfo be a jnft encourage-
ment to them, to be much in feeking and praying for a gene-
ral outpouring of the Spirit of God, and exteniive revival of
religion, I corfefs T that God's giving fo much.of a fpirit of
prayer for this mercy to fo eminent a fervant of his, and ex-
citing him, in fo extraordinary a manner, and with fuch vehe-
ment thirftings of foul, to agonize in prayer for it, from time
to time, through the courfe of his life, is one thing, among o-
thers, which gives me great hope, that God has a defign of
accomplifhing fomething very glorious for the intereft of his
church before long. One fuch inftance as this, I conceive,
gives more encouragement, than the common, cold formal
prayers of thoufands. As Mr Brainerd's defires and prayers
for the coming of Chrift's kingdom, were very fpecial and ex-
traordinary j fo, I think, we may realonably hope, that the
God, \vho excited thofe defires and prayers, will anfwer them
with fomething fpecial and extraordinary. And in a particular
manner, do I think it worthy to be taken notice of for our en-
couragement, that he had his heart (as he declared) unufual-
ly, and beyond what had been before, drawn out in longings
and prayers for the fiourifaing of Chrift's kingdom on earth,
when he was in the approaches of death - y and that with his
dying breath he did as it were breathe out his departing foul
into the bofom of his Redeemer, in prayers and pantings af-
ter this glorious event ; expiring in a very great hope that it
would foon begin to be fulfilled. And I wifti, that the
thoughts which he in his dying ilate exprefied of that explicit
and peaceable union of God's people, in extraordinary prayer
fur a general revival of religion, lately propofed in a memori-
al from Scotland, which has been difperfed among us, may be
APPENDIX. 347
well considered by thofe that hitherto have not leen fit to fall
in with that propofal. But I forbear to fay any more on
this head, having already largely publiihed my thoughts upon
it, in a difcourfe wrote on purpofe to promote that affair : which
I confcfs, I wifh that every one of my readers might be fup-
plied with j not that my honour, but that this excellent defign
might be promoted.
As there is much in Mr Brainerd's life to encourage Chrif-
tians to feek the advancement of Chrift's kingdom in gene-
ral ; fo there is, in particular, to pray for the converfion of
the Indians on this continent, and to exert themfelves in the
ufe of proper means forks accomplifhment. For it appears,
that he in his unutterable longings and wreftlings of foul for
the flourifliing of religion, had his mind peculiarly intent on
the converfion and the falvation of thefe people, and his heatt
more efpecially engaged in prayer for them. And if we con-
fider the degree and manner in which he, from lime to time,
fought and hoped for an extenfive work of grace among them,
I think we have reafon to hope, that the wonderful things
which God wrought among them by him, are but a forerun-
ner of fomething yet much more glorious and extenfive of
that kind j and this may juftly be an encouragement, to well-
difpofed charitable perfons, to " honour the Lord with their
" fubftance," by contributing, as they are able, to promote
the fpreading of the gofpel among them j and this alfo may
incite and encourage gentlemen who are incorporated, and
entrufted with the care and difpofal of thofe liberal benefac-
tions which have already been made by pious perfons to that
end , and likevvife the miffionaries themfelves, that are or may
be employed ; and it may be of direction unto both, as to the
proper qualifications of miflionaries, and the proper meafures
to be taken in order to their fuccefs*
One thing in particular I would take occafion from the
foregoing hifto-ry to mention and propofe to the confideration
of fuch as have the care of providing and fending miflionaries
among favages j viz. Whether it would not ordinarily be beft
to fend two together? It is pretty manifeft, that Mr Brainerd's
going as he did, alone into the howling wildernefs, was one
great occafion of fuch a prevailing of melancholy on his mind,
34$ APPENDIX.
which was his great eftdifad vantage. He was much in fpeaking
of iv hirnfrlf, when he was here in his dying ftate ; and ex-
prefTed himfelf-.to this purpofe, that none could conceive of
the : fad vantage a mifiionary in fuch circumflances was un-
der by being alone ; efpecially as it expofed him to difcour-
agetnent and melancholy ; and fpoke of the wifdom of Chriit
in ftnding forth his difciples by two and two ; and left it as
his riving advice to his brother, never to go to Sufque-
hannah, to travel about in that remote wildcrnefs, to preach
to the Indians there, as he had often done, without the com-
pany of a fellow miffionary.
VIII. One thing more may not be unprofitably obferv-
ed in the preceding account of Mr Brainerd ; and that is,
the fpecial and remarkable difpofal of divine Providence,
with regard to the clrcumjlances of his laft Jlckncfs and
death.
Though he had been long infirm, his constitution being much
broken oy his fatigues and hardfliips; and though he was often
brought very low by illnefs, before he left Kaunaumeek, and
alfo whi!e he lived at the Forks of Delaware : yet his life
was prefer ved, till he had feen that which he had fo long and
greatly delired and fought, a glorious work of grace among
the Indians, and had received the wifhed-for biefling of God
on his labours. Though as it were " in deaths oft," yet he
lived to behold the happy fruits of the long continued travail
of his foul and labours of his body, in the wonderful conver-
fion of many of the Heathen, and the happy efixcl of it in the
great change of their converfation, with many circumflances
which afforded a fair prefpecl: of the continuance of God's
biefling upon them ; as may appear by what I fhall prefently
further obferve. Thus he did not " depart, till his eyes
" had feen God's falvation."
Though it was the pleafure of God, that he fhould be taken
off from his labours among that people whom God had made
him a fpiritual father to, who were fo dear to him, and
whofe fpiritual welfare he was fo greatly concerned for 5 yet
this was not before they were well initiated andinftru&edin the
Chriftian religion, thoroughly weaned from their old heathen-
APPENDIX. 349
ifh and brutifh notions and practices, and all their prejudices
and jealoufies, which tended to keep their minds unfettled,
were fully removed j and they were confirmed and fixed in
the Chriftian faith and manners, xvere formed into a church,
had ecclefiaftical ordinances and difcipline introduced and
fettled j were brought into a good way with refpecl: to the
education of children, had a fchoolmafter fent to them in Pro-
vidence, excellently qualified for the bufinefs, and had a fchcol
fet up and eilabliftied in good order among them ; had been
well brought off from their former idle, fholling, fottiili way
of living j had removed from their former fcattered uncertain
habitations j and were collected in a town by themfelves, on.
a good piece of land of their own j were introduced into the
way of living by husbandry, and begun to experience the be-
nefits of it, &c. Thefe things were but juft brought to pafs
by his indefatigable application and care, and then he was taken,
off from his work by iilnefs. If this had been but a little
{boner, they would by no means have been fo well prepared
for fuch a difpenfatlon j and it probably would have been un-
fpeakably more to the hurt of their fpiritual intereft, and of
the caufe of Chriftianity among them.
The time and circumftances of his iilnefs were fo ordered,
that he had juft opportunity to finifti his Journal, and prepare
it for the prefs j giving an account of the marvellous difplay
of divine power and grace among the Indians in New-Jerfey f
and at the Forks of Delaware : his doing which was a thing
of great confequence, and therefore urged upon him by the
Correfpondents, who have honoured his Journal with a pre-
face The world being particularly and juftly informed of
that affair by Mr Brainerd before his death, a foundation
was hereby laid for a concern in others for that caufe, and pro-
per care andmeafures to be taken for the maintaining it after
his death. As it has actually proved to be of great influence
and benefit in this refpeft j it having excited and engaged many
in thofe parts, and alfo more diftant parts of America, to ex-
ert themfelves for the upholding and promoting fo good and
glorious a work, remarkably opening their hearts and hands
to that end : and not only in America, but in Great Britain,
where that Journal (which is the fame that I have earneftly
35 APPENDIX.
recomu-cnded Co o:y readers t.TpoiT^s then.fclves of) has been
an occafion of fome large benefactions, made for the pro-
moting the intciell of Chriitianity among the Indians. If
Mr Brainerd had been taken ill but a little fooner, he had not
been able to complete this his Journal, and prepare a copy for
the prefs.
He was not taken off from the work of the miniftry a-
mong his people, till his brother was in a capacity and cir-
cumftances to fucceed him in his care of them who fucceeds
him in the like fpirit, and under whofe prudent and faithful
care his congregation has fiourimed, and beea very happy,
fince he left them j and probably could not have been fo well
provided for otherwife. If Mr Brainerd had been difabled
fooner, his brother would by no means have been ready to
ftand up in his place j having taken his firft degree at college
but about that very time that he \vas feized with his fatal
consumption.
Though in that winter that he lay fick at Mr Dickinfon's
in Elifabeth-Town, he continued for a long time in an ex-
tremely low date, fo that his life was almoft defpaired of,
and his ftate was fometimes fuch that it was hardly expected
he would live a day to an end j yet his life was fpafed a while
longer j he lived to fee his brother arrived in New-Jerfey,
being come to fucceed him in the care of his Indians j and
he himfelf had opportunity to aflifl in his examination and
introduction into his bulinefs 5 and to commit the conduct of
his dear people to one whom he well knew, and could put
confidence in, and ufe freedom with in giving him particular
iniiruclions and charges, and under whofe care he could leave
his congregation with great cheerfulnefs.
The providence of God was remarkable in fo ordering of
it, that before his death he mould take a journey into New-
England, and go to Boflon : which was, in many refpecls,
of very great and happy confequence to the intereft of re-
ligion, and efpecially among his own people. By this means,
as has been obferved, he was brought into acquaintance with
many perfons of note and influence, minifters and others, be-
longing both to the town and various parts of the country j and
and had opportunity, under the beft advantages, to bear a tef-
APPENDIX. 351
timony for God and true religion, and againft thofe falfe ap-
pearances of it that have proved moft pernicious to the inter-
efts of Chrift's kingdom in the land. And the providence of
God is particularly obfervable in this circumftance of the tef-
timony be there bore for true religion, vix. that he there was
brought fo near the grave, and continued for fo long a time on
the brink of eternity ; and from time to time, looked on him-
felf, and was looked on by others, as juft leaving the world ;
and that in thefe circumftances he mould be fo particularly
directed and afliited in his thoughts and views of religion, to
diftinguifh between the true and the falfe, with fuch clear-
nefs and evidence j and that after this he mould be unexpected-
ly and furprifingly reftored and ftrengrhened, fo far as to be
able to converfe freely j and have opportunity, and fpecial oc-
cafions to declare the fentinaents he had in thefe, which were,
to human apprehenilon, his dying circumftances j and to bear
his teftimony concerning the nature of true religion, and con-
cerning the mifchievous tendency of its moft prevalent coun-
terfeits and falfe appearances ; as things he had a fpecial, clear,
diftinft view of at that time, when he expected in a few mi-
nutes to be in eternity j and the certainty and importance of
which were then, in a peculiar manner, impreffed on his mind.
Among the happy confequences of his going to Bofton,
were thofe liberal benefactions that have been mentioned,
which were made by pious difpofed perfons, for the maintain-
ing and promoting ihe intereft of religion among his people :
and alfo the meeting of a number of gentlemen in Bofton, of
note and ability, to confult upon ineafures for that purpofe ;
who were excited by their aquaintance and converfation with
Mr Brainerd, and by the account of the great things God had
wrought by hisminiilry, to unite themfelves, that by by their
joint endeavours and contributions they might promote the
kingdom of Chrift, and the fpiritual good of their fellow-
creatures, among the Indians in New-Jerfey, and elfewhere.
It ,vas alfo remarkable, that Mr Brainerd mould go to Bo-
fton at that time, after the honourable Commiflioners there,
of the corporation in London for propagating the gofpel in
New- England and parts adjacent, had received Dr William's
legacy for the maintaining of two miffionaries among the
APPENDIX.
Heathen j and at a time when they having concluded on a
miflionto the Indiansof the Six Nations (fo called), were look-
ing out for fit pcrfons to be employed in that important fer-
vice. This proved an occafion of their committing to him
the affair of finding and recommending fuitable perfonsj
which has proved a fuccefsful means of two perfons being
found and actually appointed to that bufmefs ^ who feem to
be well qualified for it, and to have their hearts greatly en-
gaged in it j one of which has been folemnly ordained to that
work in Bofton, and is now gone forth to one of thofe tribes,
who have appeared well difpoled to his reception , it being
judged not convenient for the other to go till the next fpring,
by reafon of his bodily infirmity.
Thefe happy confequences of Mr Brainerd's journey to
Bofton would have been prevented, in cafe he had died, when
he was brought fo near to death in New-Jerfey: Or if after
he came firft to Northampton, (where he was as much at a lofs,
and long deliberating w r hich way to bend his courfe), he had
determined not to go to Bofton.
The providence of God was obfervable in his going to Bof-
ton at a time when not only the honourable Commiflioners
were feeking mifiionaries to the Six Nations, but juft after
his Journal which gives an account of his labours and fuccefs
among the Indians, had been received and fpread in Bofton ;
whereby his nime was known and the minds of ferious peo-
ple were well prepared to receive his perfon, and the tefti-
mony he there gave for God ; to exert thernfelves for the up-
holding and promoting the interefts of religion in his congre-
\gation, and amongft the Indians elfewhere j and to regard his
judgment concerning the qualifications of mifiionaries, &.C. If
he had gone there the fall before, (when he had intended to
have made his journey into New-England,, but was prevented
by afuddengreat increafe of his illuefs),it would not have been
likrly to have been in any meafure to fo pood effel \ and alfo
if he had not been unexpectedly detained at Bofton : for when
he went from roy houfe he intended to make but a very fliort
ft ay there , but divine Providence, by his being, brought fo low
there, detained him long , thereby to n;ake way for the ful-
filling its own gracious dtfigns.
APPENDIX. 353
The providence of God was remarkable in fo ordering,
that although he was brought fo very near the grave in Bof-
ton, that it was not in the leafl expe&ed he would ever come
alive out of his chamber ; yet he wonderfully revived, and
was preferved feveral months longer : fo that he had oppor-
tunity to fee, and fully to converfe with both his younger
brethren before he died j which was a thing he greatly de-
fired ^ and efpecially to fee his brother John, with whom was
left the care of his congregation; that he might by him be
fully informed of their ilate, and might leave with him luch
indrucilions and directions as were requifite in order to their
fpiritual welfare, and to fend to them his dying charges and
counfels. And he had alfo opportunity by means of this fuf-
penfion of his death, to find and recommend a -couple of per-
fons fit to be employed as miflionaries to the Six Nations, as
had been defired of him.
Thus, although it was the pleafure of a fovereign God,
that he (hould be taken away from his congregation, the
people that he had begotten through the gofpel, who were
fo dear to him ; yet it was granted to him, that before he
died he mould fee them well provided for every way : he faw
them provided for with one to inftrucl: them, and take care
of their fouls ; his own brother, whom he could confide in :
he faw a good foundation laid for the fupport of the fchool a-
rno'ig them, thofe things that before were wanting in order
to it, being fupplied ; and he had the profpecl of a charitable
fociety' being eftaMjmed, of able and well- difpoftd perfons,
who feem to make the fpiritual intereft of his congregation
their own; whereby he had comfortable view of their being
well provided for, for the future : and he had alfo opportuni-
ty to leave all his dying charges with his fucceflbr in the pa-
ftoial care of his people, and by him to fend his dying coun r
fels to them. Thus God granted him to fee all things hap-
pily fettled, or in a hopeful way of being fo, before his death,
with rsfpeft to his dear people. And whereas, not only his
own congregation, but the fouls of the Indians in North-A-
merica in general, were very dear to "him, and he had greatly
fet his heart on the propagating and extending the kingdom,
of Chriil among them , God was pleafed to grant to him,
(however it was his will that he fiiould be taken away, and
345 APPENDIX.
^H^(^^Bii^jiMwMBasBwaiiaiyiiiBiw^iiiiSSl(
fo (hould not be the immediate inftrument of their inftruc-
tion and converfion, yet), that be ore his death, he (hould
fee unexpected extraordinary proviiion made for this alfo,
And it is remarkable, that God not only allowed him to fee
fuch proviiion made for the maintaining the interefls of re-
ligion among his own people, and the propagation of it elfe-
where ; but honoured him by making him the means or oc-
cafion of it. So that it is very probable, however Mr Brain-
erd during the laft four months of his life, was ordinarily
in an extremely weak and low ftate, very often fcarcely ;able
to fpeak ; yet that he was made the inftrument or means of
much more good in that fpace of time, than he would have
been if he had been well, and in full ftrength'of body. Thus
God's power was manifefted in his weaknefs, and the lite of
Chrift was roanifeft in his mortal fle(h.
Another thing wherein appears the sgerciful difpofal of
Providence with refpecl: to his death, was, that he did not
die in the wildernefs among the favages, at Kaunaumeek
or the Forks of Delaware, or at Sufquebannah j but in a
place where his dying behaviaur and fpeeches might be ob-
ferved and remembered, and fome account given of them for
the benefit of furvivors j and alfo where care might be taken
of him in his ficknefs, and proper honours done him at hi*
death.
The providence of Gt>d is alfo worthy of remark, in fo a-
vcr-ruling and ordering the matter, that he did not finally
leave abfolute orders for the entire fr.ppreflion of his private
papers j as he had intended and fully refolved, infomuch that
all the importunity of his friends could fcarce refrain him from
doing it, when fick at Bofton. And one thing relating to this
is .peculiarly remarkable, vix. that his brother, a little before
his death, (hould come from the Jerfeys unexpected, and bring
his diary to him, though he had received no fuch order. So
that he had opportunity of accefs to tbefe hisreferved papers,
and for reviewing the fame j without which, it appears, he
he would at laft have ordered them to be wholly fuppreffed :
but after this, he the more readily yielded to the defires of
his friends, and was willing to leave them in their hands to be
difpofed of as they thought, might be moil for. God's glory :
by which means, " he being dead, yet fueaketh,," in thefe
APPENDIX. 355
memoirs of his life, taken from thofe private writings : where-
by it is to be hoped he may ftill be as it were the inftrument
of much promoting the intereRs of religion in the world ;
the advancement of which he fo much deiired, and hoped
would be accompliflied after his death.
If thefe circumftanccs of Mr Brainerd's death be duly
confidered, I doubt not but they will be acknowledged as a
notable iaftance of God's fatherly care and covenant faith-
fulnefs towards them that are devoted to him, and faithful-
ly fcrve him while they live ; whereby k ' he never fails nor
" forfakes them, but is with them living and dying j fo that
" whether they live, they live to the Lord ; or whether they
" die, they die to the Lord j" and both in life t*nd death
they are owned and taken care of as his. Mr Brainerd
liimfelf, as was before obferved, was much in taking notice
(when near his end ) of the merciful circumftances of his death ;
and faid, from time to time, that *-* God had granted him all
" his dcflre."
And I would not conclude my obfervations on the merci-
ful circumftsnces of Mr Brainerd's death, without acknow-
ledging with thankfulnefs tbe gracious difpenfation of Pro-
vidence to me and my family, in fo ordering, that he (though
the ordinary place of his abode was more than two huadied
miles diftaiit) fhould be cail hither, to ray hcufe, in his laft
ficknefs, and ihould die here : fo that we had opportunity
for much acquaintance and converfation with him, and to
/hew him kindnefs in fucHcircumftances, and to fee his dying
behaviour, to hear his dying fpeeches, to receive his dying
counfels, and to have the benefit of his dying prayers. May
God in infinite mercy grant, that we rr ay. ever retain a proper
remembrance of thcfe things, and make a due improvement
of the advantages tve have had in thefe Jefpes ! The Lord-
rant alfo, that the foregoing account of Mr Brainerd's life
r.nd death may be for the great fpiiitucl benefit of all that
fijall read it, and prove a happy means of promoting the revi-
val of true religion in thefe parts of the world !
F, I N I S.
AflRABILIA DEI INtER INVICQS.
THE
RISE 6- PROGRESS
or A
REMARKABLE WORK OF GRACE
AMONGST A NUMBER. OF THE INDIANS
IN NEW JERSEY AND PENSYLVANfA,
REPRESENTED IN A
JOURNAL
KEPT BY ORDER OF THE SOCIETY (iN SCOTLAND) TOR
TING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE,
BY MR DAVID BRAINERD,
MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL, AND MISSIONARY
THE SAID SOCIETY.
" Inflend of the thorn fljall come up the fir tree, and.infteacl of tlrclm-
ar fliall ccme up the myrtle tree : And it fliall be to the Lord for a
name, for an everlafting fign that fliall not be cut off" If, IT. 13,
*' I am fought of them that afked not for me ; I am found ofllwtn that
fought me not. I Lid, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was
not called by my name." If. Ixv. i.
PRINTED IN THE YEAR M.DCC.XGVIIL
TH E
PREFACE.
THE defign of this publication, is to give God the glory of
his diftir.guiihing grace, and gratify the pious curiofity of
thofe who are waiting and praying for that Weffed time when
the Son of God, in a more extensive fenfe than has yet been ac-
compliftied, ftiall receive *' the Heathen for his inheritance,
" and the uttermoft parts of the earth for a poiTeflion."
Whenever any of the guilty race of mankind are awakened
to a juft concern for their eternal intereft, are humbled at the
footitoo-1 ot a fovcreign God, and are perfuaded and enabled to
accept the offers of redeeming love, it mud always be ac-
knowledged a wonderful work of divine grace, which demands
our thankful praifes. But doubtlefs it is a more affe&ing
evidence of almighty power, a more illultrious difplay of fo-
vereign mercy, when thofe are enlightened with the know-
ledge of falvation, who have for many ages dwelt in the grofs-
eft darknefs and Heathenifm, and are brought to a cheerful
fubjeclion to the government of our divine Redeemer, who
from generation to generation had remained the voluntary
ilaves of " the prince of darkneG."
- This is that delightful fcene which will prefent j^tfelf to the
reader's view, while he attentively perufes the following pages
Nothing certainly can be more agreeable to a benevolent and
religious mind, than to fee thofe that were funk in the mod de-
generate ftate of human nature, at once, not only renounce
thofe barbarous cultoms that they had been inured to from
their infancy, but furprifingly transformed into the character
of real and devout Chriftians.
This mighty change was brought about by the plain and
faithful preaching of the gofpel, attended with an uncommon
efifafion of the divine Spirit under the rmniftry of the Rev. Mr
DAVID BR.AINF.RD, a Milfionary employed by the Honourable
Society in Scotland 'fcr propagating Chrijfian Knowledge.
3O PREFACE.
And furely it will adminiiler abundant matter of praife and
thankfgiving to that honourable body, to find that their generous
attempt to lend the gofpel among the Indian nations upon the
borders of New- York, New-Jerfey, and Penfylvania, has met
with fuch furprifing fuccefs.
It would perhaps have been more agreeable to the tafte of
politer readers, if the following Journal had been caft into a
different method, and formed into one connect narrative.
But the worthy author, amidft his continued labours, had no
time to fpare for fuch an undertaking. Belides, the pious rea-
der will take a peculiar pleafure to fee this work defcribed in
its native fimplicity, and the operations of the Spirit upon the
minds of the fe poor benighted Pagans, laid down juft in the
method and order in which they happened. This, it muft be
confeffed, will occafion frequent repetitions : but thefe, as
they tend to give a fuller view of this amazing difpenfation of
divine grace in its rife and progrefs, we truft will be eafily
forgiven.
When we fee fuch numbers of the moil ignorant and barba-
rous of mankind, in the fpace of a few months, " turned from
** darknefs to light, and from the power of fin and Satan unto
*' God," it gives us encouragement to wait and pray for that
bleffed time, when our victorious Redeemer mall, in a more
fignal manner than he has yet done, difplay the " banner of
" his crcfs," march on from " conquering to conquer, till the
'* kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our
" Lord and of his Chriil." Yea, we cannot but lift up our
heads with joy, in hope that it may be the dawn of that bright
and illuftrious day when the Sun of right eoufnefs (hall " arife,
"and mine from one end of the earth to the other J' T when,
to ufe the language of the infpired prophets, " the Gentiles
dial! come to his light, and kings to the brightnefs of his rif-
ing j" in confluence of which, " the wildernefs and folitary
" places (hall be glad, and the defert rejoice and bloffom r.s
" the rofe."
It is doubtlefs the duty of al', in their different Rations,
and according to their refpe&ive capr.cities, to ufe their ut-
moft endeavours to bring forward this promifed this defired
day. There is a great want of fchoohnailors among thefe
PREFACE. 361
Chriitianized Indians, to inftru6l their youth in the Englifh
language, and the principles of the Chriftian faith , for this,
as yet, there is no certain provifion made j if any are inclined
to contribute to fo good a deiign, we are perfuaded they will
do an acceptable fervice to the " kingdom of the Redeemer."
And we earneftly defire the moft indigent to join, at leaft, in
their wiihes and prayers, that this work may profper more and
more, till the " whole earth is filled with the glory of the
Lord."
THE CORRESPONDENTS.
THE
RISE 6- PROGRESS
OF A
REMARKABLE WORK OF GRACE,
Crofwetkfung in New-Jerfey, June 19. 1745.
HAVING fpent moft of my time for more than a
year pail among the Indians in the Forks of Dela-
ware in Penfylvania j and having jin that time made two jour-
neys to Sufquehannah river, far back in that province, in or-
der to treat with the Indians there refpe&ing Chriftianitr ;
and' not having had any conliderable appearance of fpecial fuc-
cefs ia either of thofe places, which damped my fpirits, and
. was not a little difcouraging to me *, upon hearing that there
was a number of Indians in and about a place called (by the
Indians) Crofweekfung in New-Jerfey, near fourfcorc miles
fouth-eaftward from the Forks of Delaware, I determined to
make them a vifit, and fee what might be done towards the
Chriftianizing of them j and accordingly arrived among them
this day.
I found very few perfons at the place I vifited, and perceiv-
ed the Indians in thefe parts were much fcattered, there .be-
ing not more than two or three families in a place, and thefe
fmall fettleraents fix, ten, fifteen, twenty, and thirty miles,
and Come more from the place I was then at. However, I
preached to thofe few I found, who appeared well difpofed,
and not inclined to object and cavil, as the Indians had fre-
quently done otherwhere.
When I had concluded my difcourfe, I informed them
(there being none but a few women and children) that I would
willingly vifit them again the next day Whereupon they
readily fct out and travelled ten or fifteen miles, in order to
364 AMONG THE INDIANS.
give notice to tome of their friends at that diftance. Thefe
women, like the woman of Samaria, feemed defnous that
others might " fee the man that told them what they had
" done" in their lives paft, and the mitery that attended their
idolatrous ways.
June 20. Vifitcd and preached to the Indians again as I pro
pofed. Numbers nacre were gathered at the invitations of their
friend's, who heard me the day befof-e. Thefe alfo appeared
as attentive, orderly, and well difpofed as the others. And
none made any objection, as Indians in other places have u-
fually done.
June 22. Preached to the Indians again. Their number
which at fir ft confifted of about feven or eight perfons, was
now increafed to near thirty.
There was net only a folemn attention among them, but
fome considerable impreflions (it was apparent) were made
upon their minds by divine truths. Some began to feel their
mifery and perifhing ftate, and appeared concerned for a de-
liverance from it.
Lord's Day, June 23. Preached to the Indians, and fpent
the day with them.' Their number flill increafed ; and all
with one confent feemed to rejoice in my coming among
them. Not a word of oppofition was heard from any of
them againft Chriftianity, although in times paft they had
been as oppofite to any thing of that nature, as any Indians
whatfoever. And fome of them not many months before,
were enraged with ray interpreteter becaufe he attempted to
teach them fomething of Chriftianity. ,
June 24. Preached to the Indians at their defire, and upon
their own motion. To fee poor Pagans defirous of hearing
the gofpel of Chrift, animated me to difcourfe to them, al-
though I was now very weakly, and my fpirits much exhauft-
ed. They attended with the gieateft ferioufnefs ant! diligence ;
end there was fome concern for their fouls faivation apparent
among them.
June 27. Vifited and preached to the Indians again. Their
number now amounted to about forty perfons. Their foiem-
mty and attention ftill continued) and a confiderablc con-
D~I V I N E GRACE DISPLAYED 365
cern for their fouls became very apparent amongft fundry of
them.
June 28. The Indians being now gathered a confiderable
number of them from their feveral and diftant habitations,
requefled me to preach twice a day to them, being defirous
to hear as much as they poflibly could while I was with them.
I cheerfully complied with their motion, and could not but
adndre ajt the goodnefs of God, who, I was perfuaded, had
inclined them thus to enquire after the way of falvation:
June 29. Preached again twice to the Indians. Saw (as I
thought) the hand of God very evidently, and in a manner
fomewhat remarkable, making provifion for their fubfiftence
together, in order to their being inftru6ted in divine things.
For this day, and the day before, with only walking a little
way from the place of our daily meeting, they killed tnree
deer, which were a feafonable fupply for their wants and
without which, it fcems, they could not have fubiilied toge-
ther in order to attend the means of grace.
Lord's Day, June 30. Preached twice this day alfo. Ob-
ferved yet more concern and affeclion among the poor Hea-
thens than ever j fo that they even conilrained me to tarry
yet longer with them although my conftitution was exceed-
ingly worn out, and my health much impaired by my^ late
fatigues and labours, and efpecially by my late journey to
Sufquehannah in May laft, in which I lodged on the ground
for feveral weeks together.
July i. Pleached again twice to a very ferious and attentive
aiTembiy of Indians, they having now learned to attend the
worrtiip of God with Chriilian decency in all refpe&s.
There were now between forty and fifty performs of them
prefent, old and ycung,
I fpent fome confiderable time in difcourfing with them in
a more private way, enquiring of them what they remember-
ed of the great U'uths that had been taught them from day to
day , and may juftly fay, it was amazing to fee how they had
received and retained the inftruclions given them, and what a
meafure of knowledge fome of them had acquired in a few
(lavs.
366 AMONG THE I N D I A K S.
Ju;y 2. Was obliged to leave thefe Indians at Crofweek-
fung, thinking it my duty, as Toon as health would admit,
again to vifit thofe at the Forks of Delaware. When I came
to take leave of them, and ("poke fomething particularly to
each of them, they all eameflly inquired when I would come
again, and exprefied a great defire of being further inftru&ed.
And of their own accord agreed, that when I mould come
again, they would all meet and live together during my con-
tinuance with them; and that they would do their utmoft
endeavours to gather all the other Indians in thefe parts that
were yet further remote. And when I parted, one told me
with many tears, " She wiflied God would change her heart :"
another, that " me wanted to find Chrift :" and an old mart
that had been one of their chiefs, wept bitterly with concern
for his foul. I then promifed them to return as fpeedily as
my health and bufinefs elfewhere would admit, and felt not
a little concerned at parting, left the good impreflions then
apparent upon numbers of them, might decline and wear off,
when the means came to ceafe ; and yet could not but hope
that he who, I trulted, had begun a work among them,
and who I knew did not Hand in need of means to carry it on,
would maintain and promote it in the abfence of them ; al-
though at the lame time I muft confefs, that I had fo often
feen fuch encouraging appeara/ices among the Indians other-
where prove wholly abortive; and it appeared the favour
uould be fo great, if God ihould now, after I had pafTed
through fo considerable a feiies of almoft fruitlefs labours and
fatigues, and after my riling hopes had been fo often fruftra-
ted among thefe poor Pagans, give me any fpecial fuccefs in
my labours with them, that I could not believe, and fcarce
dared to hope that the event would be fo happy, and fcarce
ever found myfelf more fufpended between hope and fear,
in any affair, or at any time than this.
This encouraging difpoiition and readinefs to receive m-
flrudlion, new apparent among thefe Indians, feems to have
been the Happy efFtrcl: of th conv'clion that one or two of
them met with fome time fince at the Forks of Delaware, who
have lince endeavoured to (hew their friends the evil of i-
dolatry, &.c. And although the other Indians feemed but
little to regard, but rather to deride them, yet this, perhaps
DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED 367
has put them into a thinking pofture of mind, or at leaft,
given them fome thoughts about Chritfianity, and excited
in fome of them a curiofity to hear, and fo made way for the
prefent encouraging attention. An apprehenficm that this
might be the cafe here, has given me encoaragernent thit
God may in fuch a manner blefs the means I have ufed with
Indians in other places, where there is as yet no appearance
of it. If fo, may his name have the glory of it ; for I have
learned by experience that he only can open the ear, engage
the attention, and incline the heart of poor benighted preju.
diced Pagans to receive inftruclion.
Forfa of Delaware in Penfyhania, 1 745-
Lord's Day, July 14. Difcourfed to the Indians twice, feve-
ral of whom appeared concerned, and were, I have rcafon to
think, in fome rneafure convinced by the divine Spirit of their
fin and xnifery j fo that they wept much the whole time of di-
vine fervice.
Afterwards difcourfed to a number of white people then
prefent. <
July 1 8. Preached to my people, who attended diligently,
beyond what had been common among- thefe Indians: and
Jbme of. them appeared concerned for their fouls.
Lord's Day, July 21. Preached to the Indians firft, then to
a number of white people prefent, and in the afternoon to
the Indians again. Divine truths feemed to make very con-
fidcnrble impreffions upon feveral of them, and caufed the tears
to flow freely.
Afterwards I baptized my interpreter and his wife, who
were the firft I baptifed among the Indians.
They are both perfons of feme experimental knowledge in
religion ; have both been awakened to a folenin concern for
their fouls ; have to appearance been brought to a fenfe of
their mifery and their undonenefs in thcmfelves, have both ap-
peared to be comforted with divine corlolations ; and it is ap-
parent both have paft a great, and I cannot but hope, a Hiving
change.
368 AMONG THE INDIANS.
It may perhaps be fatisfaftory and ageeable that I fhould
give fome brief account of the man's exercife and experience
iicce he has been with me, efpecially feeing he is improved
as my interpreter to others.
When I firil employed him in this bufinefs in the begin-
ning of fummer 1744, he was well fitted for his work in re-
gaid of his acquaintance with the Indian and Englifh language,
as well as with the mannets of both nations'; and in regard
of his defire that the Indians fhould conform to the cuftoms
and manners of the Englifh, and efpecially to their manner of
living. But he feemed to have little or no impreffion of reli-
gion upon his mind, and in that refpcft was very unfit for
his work, being uncapabie of under ft an ding and communica-
ting to others many things of importance j fo that I laboured
under great difadvantages in addrefling the Indians for want
of his having an experimental as well as more doctrinal ac-
quaintance with divine truths ; and, at times, my fpirits fank,
and were much difcouraged under this difficulty, efpecially
when I obferved that divine truths made little or no impref-
lion upon his mind for many weeks together.
He indeed behaved foberly after I employed him, (although
before he had been a hard drinker}, and feemed honeftly
engaged, as far as he was capable, in the performance of his
work ; and efpecially he appeared very dcfirous that the In-
dians fhculd renounce their Heathenifh notions and practices,
and conform to the cuftoms of the Chriftian world. But
ftill feemed to have no concern about his own. foul till he had
been with me a confiderable time.
Near the latter end of July 1744, I preached to an afTem-
bly of white people, with more freedom and fervency than I
could poflibly addrefs the Indians with, without their having
firil attained a greater meafure of doctrinal knowledge : at
which time he was prefent, and was fomewhat awakened to a
concern for his foul ; fo that the next day he difcourfed free-
ly with me about his fpiritual concerns, and gave me an op-
portunity to ufe further endeavours to faften the impreflions
of his perifhing ftate upon his mind : and I could plainly
perceive- for forne time after this, that he addrefTed the In-
AMONG THE INDIANS. 369
dians with more concern and fervency than he had formerly
done.
Eut thefe impreflions feemed quickly to decline, and he re-
mained in a great meafure carelefs and fecure, until Come
time late in the fall of the year following, at which time he
fell into a \veak and languifliing (late of body, and continued
much difordered for feveral weeks together. And at this fea-
fon divine truth took hold of him, and made deep impref-
fions on his mind. He was brought under great concern for
his foul, and his exercife was not now tranfient and unfteady,
but conftant and abiding j fo that his mind was burdened
from day to day j and it was BOW his great enquiry, " What
" he (hould do to be faved ?" His fpiritual trouble prevailed
till at length his deep, in a meafure departed from him, and
he had little reft day or night j but walked about under a great
prefiure of mind (for though he was difordered, he was ftill
able to walk), and appeared like another man to his neighbours,
who could not but obferve his behaviour with wonder.
After he had been fome time under this exercife, while he
was driving for mercy, he fays, there feemed to be an impaff-
able mountain before him. He was preffing towards heaven,
as he thought, but " his way was hedged up with thorns, that
" he could not ftlr an inch further." He looked this way
and that way, but could find no way at all. He thought if
he could but make his way through thefe thorns and briers,
and climb up the firft fleep pitch of the mountain, that then
there might be hope for him ; but no way or means could he
find to accomplifh this. Here he laboured for a time, bu< all
in vain ; he faw it was impoflible, he fays, for him ever to
help himfdf through this infupportabie difficulty. He felt it
ngnified nothing, " it fignified juft nothing at all for him to
drive and druggie any more." And here, he fays, he gave
over driving, and felt that it was a gone cafe with him, as to
his own power, and that all his attempts were, and for ever
wculd be vakt and fruitlefs. And yet was more calm and
compofcd ui.der this view of things, than he had been while
ili I vino- to help himfelf.
While he was giving me this account of his exercife, I
was not without fears that what he related was but the work'
A a a
370 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
ing cF his own imagination, and not the effeft of any divine
illumination of mind. But before I had time to difcover my
fears, he added, that at this time he felt himfelf in a mifer-
able and perifhing condition, that he faw plainly what he
had been doing all his days, and that he had never done one
good thing, (as he expreiTed it). He knew, he faid, he was
not guilty of Come wicked actions that he knew forne others
guilty of. He had not been ufed to (leal, quarrel, and mur-
der 5 the latter of which vices are common among the Indi-
ans. He like wife knew* that he had done many things that
vrere right j he had been kind to his neighbours, &.c. But
ilill his cry was, " that he had never done one good thing,"
{meaning that he had never done any thing from a right prin-
ciple, and with a right view, though he had done many things
that were materially good and right). And now I thought,
faid he, that I muft (ink down to hell, that there was no
hope for me " becaufe I never could do any thing that was
<c good ;" and if God let me alone never fo long, and I
ihould try never fo much, ftill I fhould do nothing but what
is bad, &.c.
This further account of his exercife fatisfied me that it
was not the mere working of his imagination, fince he ap-
peared fo evidently to die to himfelf, and to be divorced from
a dependence upon his own righteoufnefs, and good deeds,
which mankind in a fallen ftate, are fo much attached to, and
inclined to hope for falvstion upon.
There was one thing more in his view of things at this
time that wss very remarkable. He not only faw, he fays,
\vhat a miferable irate he himfelf WES in, but he likewife faw
the w r orld around him, in general, were in the fame perming
circumftances, notwithstanding the profefiion many of them
made of Cliriftianity, and the hope they entertained of ob-
taining everlaliing happinefs. And this he faw clearly, " as
** if he was now awaked out of fleep, or had a cloud taken
'* from before his eyes." He faw that the life he had lived
was the way to eternal death, that he w r as now on the biink
of endlefs mifery : and when he looked round, he faw multi-
tudes cf ethers who had lived the fame life with himfelf,
had no more goodnefs than he, and yet dreamed that they
were fafe enough, as he had formerly done. He WHS full y
AMONG THE INDIANS. 37!
perfuaded by their convcrfatiou and behaviour, that they had
never felt their fin and mifery, as he now felt his.
After he had been for fame time in this condition, fenfible
of the impoflibiiity of his helping himfelf by any thing he
coulJ do, or of being delivered by any created arm, fo that
he " had given up all for loll," as to his own attempts, and
was become more calm and compofed j then, he fays, it was
borne in upon his mind as if it had been audibly fpoken to
him, " There is hope, there is hope." Whereupon his foul
feemed to reft, and be in forne -raeafure fatisfied, though he
had no confiderable joy.
He cannot here remember diflinclly any views he had of
Chrift, or give any clear account of his foul's acceptance of
him, which makes his experience appear the more doubtful,
and renders it lefs fatisfaflory to himfelf and others, than
(perhaps) it might be, if he could remember diltinctly the ap-
prehenfions and adlings of his mind at this feafon.
But thefe exercifes of foul were attended and followed with
a very great change in the man, fo that it might juftly be
faid, he was become another man, if not a new man. His
converfation and deportment were much altered, and even the
caielefs world could not but admire what had befallen him to
make fo great a change in his temper, difcourfe, and beha-
viour,
And efpecially there was a furprifing alteration in his pu-
blic performances. He now addreffed the Indians with ad-
mirable fervency, and fcarce knew when to leave off : and
fometimes when I had concluded my difcourfe, and was re-
turning homeward, he would tarry behind to repeat, and in-
culcate what had been fpoken.
His change is abiding, and his life, fo far as I know, un-
blemimed to this day, though it is now more than fix months
fince he experienced this change j in which fpace of time he
has been as much expofed to ftrong drink as poilible, in di-
vers places where it has been moving free as water ; and yet
has never, as I know of, difcovered any hankering defue after
it.
He feems to have a very confiderable experience of fpiri-
Vaa! cxercife, and difcourfes feelingly of the conflicts and con-
DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
folations of a real Chriftian. His heart echoes to the foul-
liumbling doctrines of grace, and he never appears better
pleafed than ,vhen he hears of the-abfolute fovereignty of God,
and the falvation of fmners in a way of mere free grace. He
has likewife of late had more fatisfa&ion refpecling his own
ft ate, has been much enlivened and aflifled in his work, fo
that he has been a great comfoit to me.
And upon a view and ftricl obfervation of his ferious and
favoury converfation, his Chriilian temper, and unblemiihed
behaviour, for fo confiderabte a track of time, as well as his
experience I have given an account of, I think that 1 have
reafon to hope that he is " created anew in Chrift Jefus> to
" good works."
His name is Mofes Tinda Tautamy; he is about fifty years
of age, and is pretty well acquainted with the Pagan notions
and cuftoms of his countrymen, and fo is the better able now
to expofe them. He has, I am perfuaded, already been, and
I truft, will yet be a blefling to the other Indians.
July 23. Preached to the Indians, but had few hearers :
thcfe who are ronftuitly at home feem of late to be under
fomc feiious impreiTions of a religious nature.
July 26. Preached to my people, and afterwards baptized
my interpreter's children.
Lord's Day, July 28. Preached again, and perceived my
people, at leaft fome of them, more thoughtful than ever a-
bour their fouls concerns. I was told by fome, that feeing
my interpreter and others baptized made them more concern-
ed than any thing they had ever feen or heard before. There
was indeed a considerable appearance of divine power amongfl
them at the time that ordinance was adminiftered. May that
divine influence fpread and increafe more abundantly !
July 30. Difcourfed to a number of my people, and gave
them fome particular advice and direction, being now about
to leave them for the prefent, in order to renew my vifit to
the Indians in New-Jerfey. They were very attentive to my
difcourfe, and earneftly defirous to know when I defigned t<>
return to them again.
AMONG THE INDIANS. 373.
Crofwcekfung in New Jerfcy, 1745"-
Auguft 3. Having vifited the Indians in thefe parts in June
laftj and tarried with them fome confid?rable time, preaching
almoft daily ; at which feafon God was plcafed to pour upon
them a fpirit of awakening and concern for their iouls, and
furprilingly to engage their attention to divine truths. I now
found them ferious, and a number of them under deep concern
for an intereft in Chrift j their convictions of their iinful and
perifhing ftate, having, in rny abfence from them, been much
promoted by the labours and endeavours of the Reverend Mr.
William Tcnnent, to whom 1 had advifed them to apply for
direction, and whofe houfe they frequented much while I was
gone. -I preached to them this day with fome view to
Rev. xxii. 17. " And whofoever will, let him take the water
" of life freely :" though 1 could not pretend to handle the
iubjedt methodically among them.
The Lord, I am perfuacled, enabled me in a manner fome-
what uncommon, to fet before them the Lord Jefus Chrift as
a kind and compaflionate Saviour, inviting diilrefied and pe-
rifhing finners to accept everlafting mercy. And a furprifmg
concern foon became apparent among them. There were
about twenty adult perfbns together, (many of the In-
dians at remote places not having as yet had time to come
lince my return hither), and not above two that I could fee
with dry eyes. Some were much concerned, and difcovered
vehement longings of foul after Chrift, to fave them from the
milery they felt and feared.
Lord's Day, Auguft 4. Being invited by a neighbouring
minifter, to affift in the adminiftration of the Lord's Supper,
I complied with his requeft, and took the Indians along with
me, not only thofe that were together the day before, but
many more that were coming to hear me j fo that there were
near fifty in all, old and young.
They attended the feveral difcourfes of the day, and fome
of them that could underltand Englilh were much affected,
and all feemed to hare their concern in fome meafure raifed.
Now a change in their manners began to appear very vili-
ble. In the evening when they came to fup together, they
374 DIVINE GRACE LI * . _ A Y E D
wouii not taite a moriel till they had fent to me to come and
afk a bleffing on their food j at which time fundry of them
wept, efpccially when I minded them how they had in time
pafl eat their feafls in honour of devils, and neglected to thank
God for them.
Auguil 5. After a fermon had been preached by another
mintfler, I preached, and concluded the public work of the
foleronity, from John vii. 37 j and in my difcourfe addreiTed
the Indians in particular, who fat by themfelves in a part of
the hotife ; at which time cne or two of them were ftruck
with deep concern, as they afterwards told me, who had been
little affected before : Others had their concern -increafed to a
corJiderable degree. In the evening (the greater part of them
being at the houfe where I lodged) I difcourfecl to them, and
found them univerfally engaged about their fouls' concern, in-
quiring " What they fhould do to be fayed r" And all their
converfation among themfelves turned upon religious matters,
in which they were much sflifted by my interpreter, who was-
with them day and night.
This day there was one woman, that had been much con-
cerned for her foul, ever fince fiie firft heard me preach in June
laft, who obtained comfort, I truft, folid and well grounded :
She feemed to be filled with love to Chriit, at the fame time
behave'd humbly and tenderly, and appeared afraid of nothing
fo much as of grieving and offending .him whom her foul
loved.
Auguft 6. In the morning I difcourfed to the Indians at
the houfe where we lodged : Many of them were then much
affected, and appeared furpriUngly tender, fo that a few words
about their fouls concerns would caufe. the tears to flow free-
ly, and produce many fobs and groans.
In the afternoon, they being returned to the place where I
have ufually preached amongft them, I again difcourfed to
them there. There were about fifty-five perfons in all, about
forty that were capable of attending divine fervice with un-
derftanding. I infilled upon i John iv. 10. ; ' Herein is
" love," &c. They feemed eager of hearing, but there
appeared nothing very remarkable, except their attention, till
near the clofe of my difcourfe, ami then divine truths were
attended with a furprifmg influence, and produced a great can-
AMONG THE INDIANS. 375
cern among them. There were fcarce three in forty that
could refrain from tears and bitter cries. They all, as one,
feemed in an agony of foul to obtain an intereft in Chrift ,
and the more I difcourfed of the love and compaffion of God
in fending his Bon to fuffer for the fins of men, and the more
I invited them to come and partake of his love, the more
their diftrefs was aggravated, becaufe they felt themfelves un-
able to come.
It was furprifing to fee how their hearts feemed to be pier-
ced with the tender and melting 'invitations of the gofpel,
when there was not a word of terror fpoken to them.
There were this dr.y two perfons that obtained relief and
eomfort, which (when I came to difcourfe with them particu-
larly) appeared folid, rational, and fcriptural. After I had
enquired into the grounds of their comfort, and faid many
thiags I thought proper to them, 1 allied them what they
wanted God to do farther for them ? They replied, ** They
" wanted Chrift mould wipe their hearts quite clean," &c.
Surprifing were now the doings of the Lord, that I can fay-
no lefs of this day, (and I need fay no more of it) than that
the arm of the Lord was powerfully and marvelloufly reveal-
ed in it.
Auguft 7. Preached to the Indians from Ifaiah liii. 3. 10.
There was a remarkable influence attending the word, and
great concern in the afTembly ; but fcarce equal to what ap-
peared the day before, that is, not quite fo univerfal. How-
ever, moft were much aifecled, and many in great diftrefc for
their fouls j and feme few could neither go nor Hand, but lay
fiat on the ground, as if pierced at heart, crying inceifantly
for mercy : Several were newly awakened, and it was remark-
able, that as faft as they came from remote places round a-
bout, the Spirit of God feemed to feize them with concern
for their fouls.
After public fervice xvas concluded, I found tivo ' pc-rfons
more that had newly met with comfort, of whom I had good
hopes j and a third that I could not but entertain fjrne hopes
of, whofe cafe did not appear fo clear as the others j fo tr.i.l
here were now fix in all that had got iome relief fiom their
fpiritual diftrefles, and five whofe experience appeared very
clear and fatisfa-flory. And it is worthy of rec-.ark, that
376 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
thofe xvho obtained comfort firfr, were in general deeply af-
fected with concern for their fouls, when I preached to them
in June laft.
Augufl 8. In the afternoon I preached to the Indians ^ their
number was now about 65 perfons, men, women, and chil-
dren : I difcourfed from Luke xiv. 1 6. 23, and was favour-
ed with uncommon freedom in my difcourfe.
There was much vifible concern among them while 1 was
difcourling publicly j but afterwards when I fpoke to one and
another more particularly, whom I perceived under much
concern, the power of God feemed to defcend upon the af-
fembly " like a ruihing mighty wind," and with an aftonifh-
ing energy bore down all before it.
I ftood amazed at the influence that feized the audience al-
molt univeiially, and could compare it to nothing more aptly,
than the iirefifiible force of a mighty torrent, or fwelling de-
luge, that with its infupportable weight and preffure, bears
down and fweeps before it whatever is in its way. Almofl
all perfons of all ages were bowed down with concern toge-
ther, and fcarce one was able to withftand the fhock of this
furprifing operation. Old men and women, who had been
drunken wretches for many years, and fome little children,
not more than fix or feven years of age, appeared in diftrefs
for their fouls, as well as perfons of middle age. And it was
apparent, thefe children (fome of them at lead) were not
merely frighted with feeing the general concern j but were
made feniible of their danger, the badnefs of their hearts,
and their mifcry without Chrift, as fome of them expreiTed it.
The moft flubborn hearts were now obliged to bow\ A prin-
cipal man among the Indians, who before was moll fecure and
fe if- righteous, and thought his ftate good, becaufe he knew
more than the generality of the Indians had formerly done,
and who, with a great degree .of confidence the day before,
told me, " he had been a Chrillian more than ten years," was
ROW brought under foiemn concern for his ioul, and wept bit-
terly. Another ir.an, confiderably in years, who had been a
murderer, a powwow, (or a conjurer), and a notorious drunk-
ard, was likevvife brought now to cry for mercy with many
tears, and to complain much that he could be no more con-
cerned when he fu;v his danger fo very gret.
AMONG THE INDIANS. 377
They were almoft univerfally praying and crying for mercy
in every part of the houfe, and many out of doors, and num-
bers could neither go nor Hand : Their concern was fo great,
each one for himfeif, that none feemed to take any notice of
thofe about them, but eacli prayed as freely for themfelves,
and (I am apt to think) were, to their own apprehenfion, as
much retired as if they had been every one by themfelves in
the thickeit defart ; or, I believe rather, that they thought
nothing about any but themfelves, and their own Mates, and fa
were every one praying apart, although altogether.
It feemed to me there was now an exa6l fulfilment of that
prophecy, Zech. xii. 19, n, 12 j for there was now ** a great
41 mourning, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon j" and
each feemed to " mourn apart," Methought this had a near
refemhlance to the day of God's power, mentioned Jom. x.
14. ; for I miiR fay 1 never faw any day like it in all rcfpe&s :
It was a day wherein I am perfuaded the Lord did much to
deflroy the kingdom of daiknefs among this people.
This concern in general was mofl rational and juft j thofe
who had been awaked any confiderable time, complained more
efpecialiy of the badnefs of their hearts j and thofe newly a-
wakened, of the badnefs of their lives and actions paft j and
all were afraid of the anger of God, and of everlafting mifery
as the defert of their fins.
Some of the white people, who came out of curioiity to
" hear what this babbler would fay" to the poor ignorant In-
dians, were much awakened, and fome appeared to be wound-
ed with a view of their periihing ftate.
Thofe who had lately obtained relief, were filled with com-
fort at this feafon ; they appeared calm and compofed, and
feemed to rejoice in Chrirt Jefus j and fome of them took
their diftrcffed friends by the hand, telling them of the good-
rtefs of Chrlft, and the comfort that is to be enjoyed in him,
and thence invited them to come and give up their hearts to
him. And I could obferve fome of them, in the moil honeil
a'nd unaffected manner (without any defign of being taken
notice of), lifting up their eyes to heaven, as if crying for
mercy, while they faw the diftrefs of the poor fouls around
them.
B bb
DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
There vVas one remarkable inftance of awakening this day,
that I cannot but take particular notice of here. A young
Indian woman, who, I believe, never knew before fhe had a
foul, nor ever thought of any (uch thing, hearing that there
Was fomething ftrar.ge among the Indians, came (it feems) to
fee what was the matter : flie, in her way to the Indians, cal-
led at my lodgings, and when I told her I defigned prefent-
ly to preach to the Indians, laughed, and feemed to mock j
but went however to them. I had not proceeded far in my
public difcourfe, before (lie felt e&edually that fhe had afoul }
and before I had concluded my difcourfe, was fo convinced
of her fin and mifery, and fo diftrclfed with concern for her
foul's falvation, that fne feerned like one pierced through with
a dart, and cried out incelfantly. She could neither go nor
fland, nor lit on her feat without being held up. After pub-
lic fervice was over, flie lay flat on the ground, praying ear-
neftly, and would take no notice of, nor give any anfwer to
any that fpoke to her. 1 hearkened to hear what (he faid,
and perceived the burden of her prayer to be, Guttummaulm
lummeh wcchaumch hne/cb Ndab, i. e. *' Have mercy on me,
*' arid help me to give you my lieart." And thus (lie conti-
nued praying inceflantly for many hours together.
This was indeed a furprifmg day of God's power, and feem-
ed enough to convince an Atheift of the truth, importance,
and power of God's word.
Auguft 9. Spent almoft the whole day with the Indians,
the former part of it in difcouriing to many o them private-
ly, and efpecially to forae who had lately received comfort,
and endeavouring to enquire into the grounds of it, as well
as to give them fome proper inftiuclions, cautions, and direc-
tions.
In the afternoon difcourfed to them publicly. There were
now prefent about feventy perfons, old and young. 1 opened
and applied the parable of the fower, Matth. .\iii. V\ T as en-
nbled to difccurfe \vith much plainnefs, and found afterwards
that this difcourfe was very umrucUre to them. There w r re
many tears among them while I war difcouriing publicly,
but no confiderable cry ; yet fome were much affecled with a
few words fpoken from Matth. xi. :8. with which I concluded
AMONG THE INDIANS, 379
my difcourfe. But while I was difcourfing nrar night to two
or three of the awakened perfons, a divine influence Teemed tp
attend what was fpoken to thqm in a powerful manner, which
caufcd the perfons to cry out in anguiih of foul, although I
fpoke net a word of terror , but, on the contrary, fet before
them the fulnefs and all-fufficiency of Chriit's merits, and his
wiliingnefs to fave all that came to him j and thereupon pre(T-
cd them to come without delay.
The cry of thefe was foon heard by others, who, though
fcattered before, immediately gathered round. I then pro-
ceeded ip the fame flrain of gofpel invitation, till they were
all melted into tears and cries, except two or three j and
feemed in the greateft diftrefs to find and fecure an intereftin
the great Redeemer.. r-Some who had but little more than a
ruffle made in their paflions the day before, feemed now tu
be deeply affected and wounded at heart : and the concern in
general appeared near as prevalent as it was the day before.
There was indeed a very great mourning among them, and
yet every one feemed to mourn apart. For fo great was their
concern, that almoft every one was praying and crying for
himfelf, as if none had been near, Guttummaukahimmsh, gut'
fummaukalummeJ), i. e. " Have mercy upon rne, have mer-
" cy upon me 5" was, the common cry.
It was very affecting to fee the poor Indians, who the other
day were hallooing and yelling at their idolatrous feafts and
drunken frolics, now crying to God with fuch importunity
for an interefl in his dear Son !
Found two cr three perfons, who, J had reafbn to hope, had
taken comfort upon good grounds fince the evening before :
and thefe, with others that had obtained comfort, were to-
gether, and feemed to rejoice much that God was carrying
on his work with fuch power upon others.
Auguft 10. Rode to the Indians, and 'i>egan to difcourfe
more privately to thofe who had obtained comfort and fatif-
faction , endeavouring to inftrufr, direct, caution, and com-
fort them. But others being eager of hearing every word
that related to fpiritual concerns, foon came together one af-
ter another : and when I had Jifcourfcd to the young converts
more than half an hour, they feemed much melted with di-
380 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
vine things, and earneftly defirous to be with CbrifL I told
them of the godly foul's perfect purity, and full enjoyment
of Chrift, immediately upon its feparation from the body j
and that it Would be for ever inconceivably more happy than
they had ever been for any fhort fpace of time, when Chrift
feerned near to them in prayer or other duties. And that I
might make way for fpeaking of the refurrection of the body,-
and thence of the complete bldfednefs of the msn, I faid,
But perhaps fome of you will fay, I love my body as well as
ray foul, and I cannot bear to think that my body (hould lie
dead, if my foul is happy. To which t!;ey all cheerfully re-
plied, nuttoh, mullah, (before I had: opportunity to proftcute
what I defined refpefting the refurreclion')-,-*ifD, no. They
did not regard their bodies, if their fo'uls might be but with
Chriil. Then they appeared " willing to be sbfent frcm the
*' body, that they might be prefert with the Lord. 1 '
When I had fpent fome'time with thefe, L turned to the
other Indians, and fpoke to them from Luke'xix. to. I had
not difcourfed long, before their concern rofe to a great de-
gree, and the houfe was filled with cries and groans. And
when I infifted on the companion and care of the Lord Jefus
Chrift for thofe that were lofl, who thought themfelves un-
done, and could find no way of efcape, this melted them down
the more, and aggravated their diflrefs, that they could not
find and come to fo kind a Saviour.
Sundry perfons who before had been but {lightly awakened,
were now deeply wounded with a fenfe-of their fin and mifery.
And cneman in particular, who was never before awakened,
was now made to feel, that " -the word of the Lord was quick
" and poxverful, (harper than' any two-edged fword." He
feemed to be pierced at heart with diflrefs, and his concern
appeared moil rational and fcriptural : for he faid, u all the
" wiek'ednefs of his paft life was brought freftv-to his remem-
' u -br3PBe, and he faw all the vile actions he had done former-
"ly, Vs if done but yefterday."
Fouild-'bne that had newly received comfort, after prefling
diiirefs fibm day to day. Could ret but rejoice and admire
at divine goodnefs in what appeared this day. There feems
AMONG- THE INDIANS. 381
to be feme good done by every difcourfe j fome newly awa-
kened every day, and fome comforted.
It was refrefhing to obferve the conduct of thofe that had
obtained comfort, while others were d ift rcffed with fear and
concern j thofe were lifting up their hearts to God for them.
Lord's Day Auguftn. Bifcourfed in the forenoon from
the parable of the prodigal fin, Luke xv. Obfcrved no fuch
remarkable cffcft of the word upon the aiTembly as in days
paft There were numbers of carelefs fpeclators of the
white people j forae Quakers, and others.
In the afternoon I difcourfed upon a part of St Peter's
fermon, Acts u. ; and at the clofe of my difconrfe to the In-
dians, made aa addrefs to the white people, and divine truths
feemed then to be attended with power both to Englim and
Indians. Several of the white Heathen were awakened, and
could not longer be idle fpeclators,, bat found they had fouls
to fave or lofe as well as the Indians, and a great concern
fpread through the whole affemblv, fo that this alfo appeared
to be a clay of God's power, cfpecially towards the conclufion
of it, as well asfeveral of the former, although the influence
attending the word feemed fcarce fo powerful now as in fome
days pail.
The number of the Indians, old and young, was now up-
wards of feventy, and one or two were newly awakened this
day, who never had appeared to be moved with concern for
their fouls before.
Thofe that had obtained relief and comfort, and had given
hopeful evidences of having palled a faving change, appeared
humble and devout, and behaved in an agreeable and Chrif-
tian manner. I was refrefhed to fee the tendernefs of con-
fcience manifeft in fome cf them, one infiance of which I
cannot but take notice of. Perceiving one of them very for-
rowful in the morning, 1 enquired into the caule of her for-
ro\v, and found the difficulty was, (he had been angry with
her child the evening before, and was now exercifed with
fears, left her anger had been inordinate and finful, which
fo grieved her, that (he waked, and began to fob before day-
light, and continued weeping for feveral hours together.
Auguft 14. Spent the day with the Indians. There was-
one of them who had fome time lince put away his wife, (as
382 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
is common among them) aiid taken another woman, and be-
ing now brought under fome ferious impreflions, was much
concerned about that affair in particular, and Teemed fully
convinced of the vvickedneis of that practice, and earneflly
dcHiousto know what God would have him do in his prefent
cin 'nntances. When the law cf God refpccling marriage
liu j been opened to them, and the caufe of his leaving his
wife enquired into j und when it appeared (he had given him
no juft occalion by unchatfity to defert her, and that {he was,
willing to forgive his pail mifconducl, and to live peaceably
with him for the future j an-j that (he moreover infilled on it
as !ivr right to enjoy him j he was then tcld, that it was his
indifpenfible duty to renounce the woman he had laft taken,
tnd receive the cthsr, who was his proper wife, and live
peaceably with her during life j with which he readily and
cheerfully complied, and thereupon publicly renounced the-
woman he had lad taken, aqd publicly promifed to live with,
and be kind to his wife during life. : fhe alfo promitTing the
fame to him.- And here appeared 3 clear demonftration of
the power of God's word upon their hearts. I fuppofe, a few
weeks before, the whole world could not have perfuaded this
man to a compliance with Chriftian rules in tMs affair.
I was not without fears, left this proceeding might be Jike
putting ts new wine into old bottles," and that fome might
be prejudiced ?.gainib Chriftianity, when they faw the over-
tures made by it. But the man. being much cencemed abcqt
the matter, the determination of it could be deferred no
longer, and it feemed to have a good, rather than an ill effeft
among the Indians, who generally owned, that the laws of
Chrift were good and right refpecling the affairs of marriage.
In the afternoon I preached to them from the appftle's dif-
courfe to Cornelius, A&s x. 34, &c. There appeared fome
affectionate concern among them, though not equal to what
appeared in feveral of the former days. They ftill attended
and heard as for their lives, and the Lord's work feemed flill
to be promoted, and propagated among them.
Auguft 15. Preached from Luke iv. 16. 21. The word
was attend ed with power upon the hearts of the hearers.
There was much concern, many tears, and affecting cries
among them, and fome in a fpecial manner were deeply
AMONG THE INDIANS. 383
ed and diftrefled for their fouls. There were fome
awakened, who came but this week, and convictions
feemed to be promoted in others. Thofe that had received
comfort were likcwife refrefhed and ftrengthened, and the
work of grace appeared to advance in all refpe&s. The paf-
fions of the congregation in general were not fo much moved
as in fome days pall, but theii hearts feemed as folemnly and
deeply sfTecltd with divine truth as ever, at lead in many in-
fiances, although the concern did not feem to be fo univer-
fal, and to reach every individual in fuch a manner as it hid
appeared to do forne days before.
Auguft 16. Spent confiderable time in conrerfing privately
with fundry of the Indians, Found one that had got relief
and ccrnfmt, after prefling concern, and could not but hope,
when I carne to difctmrfe privately with her, that her comfort
was of the right kind.
In the afternoon preached to them from John vi. 26 34.
Toward the clofe of my difccurfe, divine truths were attend-
ed with confiderable power upon the audience, and more e-
fpecially after public fervice was over, when I particularly
addrefied fundry diftrefted perfons.
There was a great concern for their fouls fpread pretty ge-
nerally among therh ; but especially there were two perfons
newly awakened to a fenfe of their fin and mifery, one of
whom Was lately Come, and the other had all along been very
attentive, and defirtms of being awakened, but could never
before have sr.y lively view of her perifcirg ftate. But now
her concern and fpiritual diftrefs was fuch, that, I thought, I
had never feen any more prefling. Sundry old.men were alfo
in diftrefs for their fouls, fo that they could not refrain from
weeping, and crying out aloud ; and their bitter groans were
the molt convincing, as well as arMing evidence of the rea-
lity and depth of their inward anguifc. God is powerfully
at work among them ! True and genuine convictions of fin
are daily promoted in many inftances, and fome are newly a-
wakened from time to time j although fome few, who felt a
commotion in their paffions in days pail, fcefn now to Jiicover
that their hearts were never duly arTe&ed. I never faw the
work of God appear fa independent of means as at this time.
384 DIVINE feRACE DISPLAYED
I difcourfcd to the people, and fpoke what (I fuppofe) had a
proper tendency to promote convi&ions j and God's manner
of working upon them appeared fo entirely fupernatural, and
above means, that I could fcarce believe he ufed me as an in-
itrument, or what I fpake as means of carrying on his work j
for it feemed, as I thought, to have no connection with, 'nor
dependence upon means in any refpecl. And although I
could not but continue to ufe the means I thought proper for
the promotion of the work, yet God feemed (as I apprehend-
ed) to work entirely without them : So that I feemed to do
nothing, and indeed to Tiave nothing to do, but to " ftsnd iiiil
and fee the falvation of God j" and found myfelf obliged ar.d
delighted to fay, " Not unto us," not unto inilruments and
means, " but to thy name be glory." God appeared to work
entirely alone, and I faw no room to attribute any part of this
work to any created arm.
Auguft 17. Spent much time in private conferences with
the Indians. Found one who had newly obtained relief and
comfort, after a long feafon of fphitual trouble and diflrefs,
(he having been one of my heareis in the Forks of Delaware
for more than a year, and now followed me here under deep
concern for his foul), and had abundant reafon to hope his
comfort was well grounded, and truly divine.
Afterwards difcourfed publicly from Acls viii. 29 39 ;
and took occafion to treat concerning baptifm, in order to their
being inftru6ted and prepared to partake of that ordinance.
They wer* yet hungry and thirfty for the word of God, and
appeared unwearied in their attendance upon it.
Lord's Day, Auguft 18. Preached in the forenoon to an
affembly of white people, made up of Presbyterians, Baptifts,
Quakers, &c. Afterwards preached to ihe,Indians from John
vi. 15 40. There was considerable concern vifible among
them, though not equal to what has frequently appeared of
late.
Auguft 19. Preached from Ifaiah Iv. r. Divine truths
were attended with power upon thofe who bad received com-
fort, and others alfo. The former were fweetly melted and
refrefhed with divine invitations, the latter much concerned
for their foals, that they might obtain an htereit in thefeglo-
AMONG THE INDIANS. 385
rious gofpel provifions that were let before them. There
were numbers of poor impotent fouls, that waited at the pool
for healing, and the Angel feemed, as at other times of late,
to trouble the waters > fo that there was yet a moil defirable
and comfortable profped of the fpiritual recovery of difeafed
periming finners.
Auguft 23. Spent fome time with the Indians in private
difcourfe j afterwards preached to them from John vi, 44
50. There was, as has been ufual, a great attention, and fome
aiTe&ion among them. Several ap'frtf&ffcd deeply concerned
for their fouls, and could not but exp'r'ds their inward anguifh
by tears and cries. But the amazing divine influence' that
has been fo powerfully among them in general, feeras at pre-
fent in fome degree abated, at leaft in regard f ks univerfali-
ty, though many that hve got no fpecial comfort, ftill retain
deep imprefTions of divine things.
Auguft 24. Spent the forenoon in difcourfing to fome of
the Indians in order to their receiving the ordinance of bap-
tifm. When I had opened the nature of the ordinance the
obligations attending it, the duty of devoting ourfelves to
God in it, and the privilege of being in covenant with him,
fundry of them feemed to be filled with love to God, and de-
lighted with the thoughts of giving up themfelves to him in
that folemn and public manner, melted and refrefhed with the
hopes of enjoying the blefled Redeemer.
Afterwards I difcourfed publicly from I Theff. iv. 13 17.
There was a folemn attention, and fome vifible coticern and
affeclion in the time of public fervice, W 7 hicb >-vas afterwards
ihcreafed by fome further exhortation given them to come to
Chrift, and give up their hearts to him, that they might be
fitted to " afcend up and meet him in the air," when he {hall
" defcend with a ftiout, and the voice of the archangel."
There were feveral Indians newly come, who thought their
ftate good, and themfelves happy, becaufe they had fome-
times lived w>th the xvhite people under gofpel-liglit, had
learned to read, were civil &c. although they appeared utter
Grangers to their own hearts, and altogether unacqtrainted
with the power ef religion, as well as with tbe doffrrncs of
.^race. . With thofe I difcourfed particularly after public
Ccc
J86 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
\vorfaip, and was furprilcd to fee their felt- righteous diipo-
fition, their ftrong attachment to the covenant of works for
faivation, and the high value they put upon their fuppofed
attainments. Yet after much difcourfe, one appeared in a
meafure convinced, that " by the deeds of the law no flefli
" living fliould be juftified," and wept bitterly, enquiring,
" what he muft do to be faved ?"
This was very comfortable to others, who had gained fome
experimental acquaintance with their o-wn hearts ; for before
they were grieved with the conduct and converfation of thefe
new-comers, who boafl.ed of their knowledge, and thought
well of themfelves j but evidently difcovered to tho A r e that had
any experience of divine truths, that they knew nothing of
their own hearts.
Lord's Day, Auguft 25. Preacred in the forenoon from
Luke xv. 3 7. There being a multitude of white people
prefrnt, I made an addrefs to them at the clofe of my dif-
courfe to the Indians ; but could not fo much as keep them
orderly, for fccres of them kept walking and gazing about,
and behaved more indecently than ar,y Indians I ever addref-
fed j and a view of their abulive conduct fo funk my fpirits,
that I could fcarce go on with my work.
In the afternoon difcourfed from Rev. in. ;:o. at which
time the Indians behaved ferioufly, though many others were
vain.
Afterwards baptized twenty-five perfons of the Indians,
fifteen adults, and ten children. Moft of the adults I have
comfortable reafon to hope, are renewed perfons; and there
was not one of them but whst I entertained fome hopes of
in that refpedl, though the cafe of two or three of them ap-
peared more doubtful.
After the croud of fpe&ators was gone, I called the bap.
tized perfons together, and difcourfed to them in particular,
at the fame time inviting others to attend, minded them of
the iclcmn obligations they were now under to live to God,
warned them of the evil and dreadful confequences of care-
lefs living, efpecially after this public profeiTion of Chrifli-
anity 5 gave them directions for their future conduct, and
encouraged them to watchfulnefs snd devotion, by fetting
before them the comfort and happy conclufion of a religious
AMONG THE INDIANS. 369
life. This was a deferable and fweet feafon indeed ! Their
hearts were engaged and cheerful in duty, and they rejoiced
that they had in a public and folemn manner dedicated thern-
felves to God. Love feemed to reign among them. They
took each other by the hand with tendernefs and affe&ion,
as if their hearts were knit together, while I ,vas difcourfing
to them : and all their deportment toward each other was
fuch that a ferious fpe&ator might juftly be excited to cry
out with admiration, " Behold how they love one another ! n
Sundry of the other Indians, at feeing and hearing thefe things
\vere much affefted, and wept bitterly, longing to be partak-
ers of the fame joy and comfort that thefe difcovered by their
very countenances as well as conduct.
Auguft 26. Preached to my people from John vi. 5155.
After I had difcourfed fome time, I adrh-efled thofe in par-
ticular who entertained hopes that they were " pafled from
" death to life" Opened to them the perfevering nature of
thofe confolations Chrift gives his people, and which I truft-
d he had beftowed upon fome in that arTembly fhewedthem
that fuch have already the " beginnings of eternal life,"
(verf. 54.) and that their heaven (hall fpeedily be comple-
ted, &c.
1 no fooner began to difcourfe in this drain, but the dear
Chriftians in the congregation began to be melted with affec-
tion to, and dcfire of the enjoyment of Chrirt, and of a rtatc
of perfeft purity. They wept affectionately and yet joyfully,
and their tears and fobs difcovered biokennefs of heart, and
yet were attended with real comfort and fweetnefs ; fo that
this was a tender, affectionate 5 humble, delightful melting,
and appeared to be the genuine efTecl: of a fpirit of adoption,
and very far from that fpirit cf bondage that they not long
fince laboured under. The influence feemed to fpread from
thefe through the whole affenibly, and there quickly appear-
ed a wonderful concern among them. Many who had not
yet found Chrift as an all-fufficient Saviour, were furprifing-
ly engaged in feeking after him. It was indeed a lovely and
very deiirable aiTembly. Their number was now about nine-
ty five pevfons, old and young, and almoft all affected either
380 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
with joy in Chrift Jefus, or with utinoft concern to obtain an
intereft in him.
Being fully convinced it was now my duty to take a jour-
ney far back to the Indians on Sufquehannah river, (it being
now a proper feafon of the year to find them generally at
home), after having fpent fome hours in public and private
difcourfes with my people, I told them that I muft now leave
them for the prefent, and go to their brethren far remote,
and preach to them 5 that I wanted the Spirit of God mould
go with me, without whom nothing could be done to any good
purpofe among the Indians, as they themfelves had opportuni-
ty to fee and obferve by the barrennefs of our meetings at fome
times, when there was much pains taken to affel and awaken
linners, and yet to )ittle or no purpofe j and afked them, if
they could not be willing to fpend the remainder of the day
in prayer for me, that God w r ould go with me, and fucceed
xny endeavours for the converfion of thofe poor fouls. They
cheerfully complied with the motion, and foon after I left
them (the fun being then about an hour and a half high at
night) they began, and continued praying all night till break
of day, or very near, never miftrufting (they tell me) till they
xvent out and viewed the liars, and faw the morning-ftar a con-
fiderable height, that it was later than common bed-time.
Thus eager and unwearied were they in their devotions ! A
remarkable night it was, attended (as my interpreter tells
me) with a powerful influence upon thofe who were yet under
concern as well as thofe that had received comfort.
There xvere, I truft, this day two diftreffed fouls brought
to the enjoyment of folid comfort in him, in whom the weary
find reft.
It was iikewife remarkable, that this day an old Indian,
who has all his days been an obftinate idolater, was brought
to give up his rattles (which they ufe for rnufic in their idola-
trous feafts and dances) to the ether Indians, who quickly
deftroyed them ; and this without any attempt of mine in the
affair, I having laid nothing to him about it ; fo that it feem-
-ed it was nothing but juft the power of God's word, without
any particular application to this lin, that produced this ef-
fet. Thus God has begun, thus he has hitherto furprifingly
AMONG THE INDIANS. 381
carried on a work of grace among thefe Indians. May the
glory be afciibed to him, who is the fole author of it !
Forks of Delaware in Penfyhania, 1745.
Lord's Day, September i. Preached to the Indians here from
Luke xiv. 16. 23. The word appeared to be attended with
fome power, and caufed fome tears in the affembly.
Afterwards preached to a number of white people prefent,
and obferved many of them in tears, and fome who had for-
merly been as carelefs and unconcerned about religion per-
haps as the Indians.
Towards night difcourfed to the Indians again, and per-
ceived a greater attention, and more vifible concern among
them than has been ufual in thefe parts.
September 3: Preached to the Indians from If. liii. 3 6.
The divine prefence feemed to be in the midft of the affem-
bly, and a conflderable concern fpread amongft them. Sundry
perfons feemed to be awakened, amongft whom were too ftu-
pid creatures that I could fearce ever before keep awake while
I was difcourfing to them. Could not but rejoice at this ap-
pearance of things, although at the fame time 1 could not but
fear left the concern they at prefent manifefted, might prove
like a morning-cloud, as fomething of that nature had former-
ly done in thefe parts.
September 5. Difcourfed to the Indians from the parable
of the fower j afterwards converfed particularly with fundry
erfons, which occafioiied them to weep, and even to cry
out in an affe&ing manner, and feized others with furprife
and concern j and I doubt not but that a divine power ac-
companied what was then fpoken. Sundry of thefe perfons
had been with me to Crofweekfung, and had there feen, and
fome of them I truft, felt the power of God's word in an ef-
fectual and faving manner. I afktd one of them, who had
obtained comfort, and given hopeful evidence of being truly
religious, why he now cried ? He . eplied, " When he
" thought how Chrift was {lain like a lamb, and fpilt his
382 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
"blood for finners, he could not help ctying, when he was
" all alone :" and thereupon burft out into tears and cries
again. I then aiked his wife, who had likewife. been abun-
dantly comforted, wherefore flic cried ? She anfvvered, " She
" was grieved that the Indians here would not come to Chrift,
" as well as thofe at Crofweekfung." I alked her if (lie found
a heart to pray for them, and whether Chrift had feeemed to
be near to her of late in prayer, as in time paft ? (which
is my ufual method of expreffinga fenfe of the divine prefence.)
She replied, *' Yes, he had been near to her j and that at
" fometimes when (lie had been praying alone, her heart lo-
" vcd to pray fo, that ilie could not bear to leave the place,
" but wanted to flay and pray longer."
September 7. Preached to the Indians from John vi. 25
39. There was not fo much appearance of concern amonor
them as at feveral other times of late j yet they appeared fe-
rious and at:entive.
Lord's Day, September 8. Difcourfed to the Indians in the
forenoon from John xii. 44. 50 ; in the afternoon from Ac~ls
ii. 36 39. The word of God at this time feemed to fall
with weight and influence upon them. There were but few
prefent, but moil that were, were in tears, and fundry cried
out under diilrcfling concern for their fouls.
There was one man confiderably awakened, who never be-
fore difcovered any concern for his foul. There appeared
a remarkable work of the divine Spirit among them, almcft
generally, not unlike what has been of late at Crofweekfung.
It feemed as if the divine influence had fpread from thence to
this place j although fomething of it appeared here in the
awakening of my interpreter, his wife, and fora? few others.
Sundry of the carelefs white people now prefent were a-
wakened, (or at lead ftartled), feeing the power of God fo
prevalent among the Indian?. I then mnde a particular ad-
drefs to them, which feemed to make feme impreflion upon
them, and excite fome affeclion in them.
There are fundry Indians in thefe parts who have ?lways
refufed to hear me preach, and have been enraged againir.
thofe that have attended my preaching. But of late they are
more bitter than ever, fcoffing at Chriiliiinity, and fometimes
AMONG THE INDIANS. 383
afking my hearers, " How often they have cried ?" and " whe-
*' thcr they ha ve not DOW cried enough to do the turn ?" See.
So that they have already " trial of cruel mockings."
September 9. Left the Indians in the Forks of Delaware,
and fet out oo a journey towards Sufquehannah-river, dire&ing
my courfe towards the Indian-town more than an hundred
and twenty miles weftward from the Forks. Travelled about
fifteen miles, and there lodged.
September 13. After having lodged out three nights, ar-
rived at the Indian town I aimed at on Sufquehannah, called
Shaumoking, (one of the places, and the larger! of them, that
I viiited in May laft), and was kindly received and entertain-
ed by the Indians j but had little fatisfaclion by reafon of
the Heathenifh dance and revel they then held in the houfe
where I was obliged to lodge, which I could not fupprefs,
though I often entreated them to defift, for the fake of one
of their own friends who. 'was then lick in the houfe, and
vvhofe diforder was much aggravated by the noife. Alas !
how deftitute of natural affeclion are thefe poor uncultivated
Pagans ! although they feem fomewhat kind in their own
way. Of a truth, " the dark corners of the earth are full of
" the habitations of cruelty."
This town (as I obferved in my Journal of May laft) lies
partly on the eail fide of the river, partly on the weft, and
partly on a large ifland ift it, and contains upwards ef fifty
houfes, and (they tell me) near three hundred perfons, though
I never faw much more ihan half that number in it ; but of
three different tribes of Indians, fpeaking three languages,
wholly unintelligible to each other. About one half of its
inhabitants are Delawares, the other called Senakas, and
Tutelar. The Indians of this place are counted the moil
drunken, mifchievous, and ruffianly fellows of any in thcfe
parts , and Satan feems to have his feat in this town in an e-
minent manner.
September 14. Vifitcd the Delaware king, (who was fup-
pofed to be at the point of death when I was here in May
laft, but was now recovered), and difcourfed with him and
others refpecling Chriftianity, and (pent the afternoon with
them, and had rnore encouragement than I expected. The
DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
kiag appeared kindly difpoled and willing to be inftrufted.
This gave me forne encouragement that God would open an
effectual door for my preaching the gofpel here, and fet up
his kingdom in this place. Which was a fupport and refrefh-
ment to me in the wildernefs, and rendered my folitary clr-
cumftances comfortable and pleafant.
Lord's Day, September 15. Vifited the Chief of the Dela-
vrares again ; was kindly received by him, and difcourfed to
the Indians in the afternoon. Still entertained hopes that God
would open their hearts to receive the gofpel, though many
of them in the place were fo drunk from day to day, that I
could get no opportunity to fpeak to them. Towards night,
difcourfed with one that underftood the languages of the Six
Nations, (as they are ufually called), who difcovered an in-
clination to hearken to Chriftianity j which gave me feme
hopes that the gofpel might hereafter be fent to thole nations
far remote.
September 16. Spent the forenoon with the Indians, en-
deavouring to inftruft them from houfe to houfe, and to en-
gage them, as far as I could, to be friendly to Christianity.
Towards night went to one part of the town where they
were fober, and got together near fifty perfons of them, and
difcourfed to them, having firft obtained the king's cheerful
confent. There was a furprifing attention among them, and
they mftnifefted a confiderable deiire of being further inftruft-
cd. There were alfo one or two that feemed to be touched
with fome concern for their fouls, who appeared well pleafed
with fome converfation in private, after I had concluded my
public difcourfe to them-
My fpirits were much refreflied with this appearance of
things, and I could not but return with my interpreter (having
no other companion in this journey) to my poor hard lodgings^
rejoicing in hopes that God deiigned to fet up his kingdom.
here, where Satan now reigns in the moil eminent manner j
and found uncommon freedom in addrefling the throne of
grace for the accomplifhment of fo great and glorious a work.
September 17. Spent the forenoon in vifiting and difcour-
fing to the Indians. About noon left Shaumoking, (moil o
AMONG THE INDIANS. 393
the Indians this day going out on their hunting defign,) and
travelled down the river ibuth-weftward.
September 19. Vifited an Indian town called Juneauta,
fituate on an iiland in Sufquehannah. Was much difcouraged
with the temper and behaviour of the Indians here, although
they appeared friendly when I was with them the laft fpring,
and then gave me encouragement to come and fee them a-
gain. But they now feemed refolved to retain their Pagan
notions, and perfift in their idolatrous practices.
September 20. Vifited the Indians again at Juneauta iiland,
and fofcnd them almoft univerfally very bufy in making pre-
parations for a great facrifice and dance. Had no opportuni-
ty to get them together, in order to tijfcourfe with them about
Chriftianity, by reafon of their being fo much engaged about
their facrifice. My fpirits were much funk with a profpeci
fo very tlifcouraging, and efpecially feeing I had now no in-
terpreter but a Pagan, who was as much attached to idolatry
as any of them, (my own interpreter having left me the day
hefore, being obliged to attend upon fome important bufinefs
otherwhere, and knowing that he could neither fpeak nor un-
derftand the language of thefe Indians) ; fothat I was under
the greateft difadvantages imaginable. However, I attempt-
ed to difcourfe privately with fome of them, but without any
appearance of fuccefs j notwithstanding I ftill tarried with
them.
In the evening, they met together, near a hundred of them,
and danced round a large fire, having prepared ten fat deer
for the facrifice j the fat of whofe inwards they burnt in
the fire while they were dancing, and fometimes raifed the
fiarne to a prodigious height j at the fame time yelling and
ftiouting in fuch a manner, that they might eafily have been
heard two miles or more.
They continued their facred dance all night, or near the
matter , after which they ate the flefh of the facrifice, and fo
retired each one to his lodging.
I enjoyed little fatisfa&ion this night, being entirely alone
on the ifland, (as to any Ch.riilian company), and in the midft
of this idolatrous revel ; and having walked to and fro till
body and mind were pained and much oppieffed, I at length
Dd d
394 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
crept into a little crib made for corn, and there flept on the
poles.
Lord's Day, September 21. Spent the day with the Indians
on the ifland. As foon as they were well up in the morning
I attempted to inftrucl them, and laboured for that purpofe
to get them together, but quickly found they had fomething
elfe to do -, for near noon they gathered together all their
powwows, (or conjurers), and fet about half a dozen of them
to playing their juggling tricks, and acting their frantic dif-
tracled poftures, in order to find out why they were then fo
fickly upon the ifland, numbers of them being at that time
difordered with a fever and bloody flux. In this exercife
they were engaged for feveral hours, making all the wild, ridi-
culous and diiira&ed motions imaginable j fometimes fmging ;
fometimes howling ; fometimes extending their hands to the
utmoft ilretch, fprcading all their fingers, and feemcd to pufh
with them, as if they defigned to pufh fomething away, or
at lead keep it off at arms-end ' y fometimes ftroking their
faces with their hands, then fpurting water as fine as mift ;
fometimes fetting flat on the earth, then bowing down their
faces to the ground ^ wringing their fides, as if in pain and
anguiih j twifting their faces, turning up their eyes, grunting,
puffing, &c.
Their monflrous actions tended to excite ideas of horror,
and feemed to have fomething in them (as I thought) pecu-
liarly fuited to raife the devil, if he could be raifed by any-
thing odd, ridiculous, and frightful. Some of them I could
obferve, were much more fervent and devout in the bufinefs
than others^ and feemed to chant, peep, and mutter, with a
great degree of warmth and vigour, as if determined to awaken
and engage t!:e powers below. I fat at a fmall diftance, not
more than thirty feet from them, (though undifcovered), witii
my Bible in my hand, refolving, if pofiible, to fpoil there fport,
and prevent their receiving any anfwer from the infernal
world, and there viewed the whole fcene. They continued
their hideous charms and incantations for more than three
hours, until they had all weariedthemfelves out, although they
had in that fpace of time taken fundry intervals of reft j and at
AMONG THE INDIANS. 395
length broke up, 1 apprehended, without receiving any anfwer
at all.
After they had done powwowing, I attempted to difcourfe
with them about Chriftianity j but they fooi* Scattered, and
gave me no opportunity for any thing of that nature. A view
of thefe things, while I was entirely alone in the wildernefs,
deftitute of the fociety of any one that fo much as " named
" the name of Chrift," greatly funk 'my fpirits, gave me the
moil gloomy turn of mind imaginable, almoil ftripped me of
all refolution and hope refpe&ing further attempts for pro-
pagating the gofpel, and converting the Pagans, and rendered
this the mofl burdenfome and difagreeable Sabbath that ever I
faw. But nothing, I can truly fay, fank and diftrefied me
like the lofs of my hope refpecting their converfion. This
concern appeared fo great, and feemed to be fo much my own,
that I feemed to have nothing to do on earth if this failed :
and a profpecl: of the greateft fuccefs in the faving convrfion
of fouls under gofpel-light, would have done little or nothing
towards compenfating for the lofs of my hope in this refpe6l j
and my fpiiits now were fo damped and depreffed, that I had
no heart nor power to make any further attempts among them
for that purpofe, and could not poflibly recover my hope,
refolution, and courage, by the utmoflof my endeavours.
The Indians of this ifland can many of them underftand
the Engliih language confiderably well, having formerly lived
in fume part of Maryland among or near the white people,
but are very vicious, drunken, and profane, although not
fo favage as thofe who have lefs acquaintance with the Englifh.
Their cuftoms in divers refpeb, differ from thofe of other
Indians upon this *iver. They do not bury their dead in a
common form, but let their flefli confume above ground in
clofe cribs made for that purpofe j and at the end of a year,
or perhaps fornetiiues a longer fpace of time, they take the
bones, when the fiefh. is all confumed, and wafli and fcrape
them, and afterwards bury them with forae ceremony.
Their method of charming or conjuring over the fick, feems
fomewhat different from that of other Indians, though for
fubftance the fame : and the whole of it, among thefe and o-
h?rs ? perhaps, is an imitation of what feems, by NaamanY
396 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
cxpreflion, 2 Kings v. u. to have been the cuftom of the
ancient Heathens. For it feems chiefly to confift in their
" ftriking their hands over the difeafed,' 1 repeatedly ftroking
of them, " and calling upon their gods," excepting the fpurt-
ing of water like a mift, and fome other frantic ceremonies
common to the other conjurations I have already mentioned.
When I was in thefe parts in May laft, I had an opportuni-
ty of learning many of the notions and cuftoms of the Indians,
as well as obferving many of their practices: I then travel-
ling more than an hundred and thirty miles upon the river a-
bove the Englifli fettlcments j and having in that journey a
view of fome perfons of feven or eight diftincl tribes, {peak-
ing fo many different languages. But of all the fights I ever
faw among them, or indeed any where elfe, none appeared fo
frightful, or fo near a-kin to what is ufually imagined of in-
fernal powers j none ever excited fuch images of terror in
my mind, as the appearance of one who was a devout and
zealous reformer, or rather reftorer of what he fuppofed was
the ancient religion of the Indians. He made his appearance
in his pontifical garb, which was a coat of bears fkirts, drefled
with the hair on, and hanging down to his toes, a pair of
bear kin ftockings, and a great wooden face, painted the one
half black, and the other tawny, about the colour of an In-
dian's fkin, with an extravagant mouth, cut very much awry ;
the face fattened to a bear-fkin cap, which was drawn over his
head. He advanced toward me with the inftrument in his
hand that he ufed for mufic in his idolatrous w r orfhip, which
was a dry tortoife-fhell, with fome corn in it, and the neck of
it drawn on to a piece of wood, which made a very conve-
nient handle. As he came forward, he beat his tune with the
rattle, and danced, with all his might, but did not iuffer any
part of his body, not fo much as his fingers, to be feen : and
no man could have gueffed by his appearance and actions,
that he could have been a human creature, if they had not had
fome intimation of it otherwife. When he came near to me,
I could not but fhrink away from him, although it was then
noon- day, and I knew who it was, his appearance and geflures
were fo prodigioufly frightful. He had a houfe confecrated
to religious ufes, wijjh divers images cut out upon the frverai
AMONG THE INDIANS. 397
parts of it 5 I went in, and found the ground beat almoil as
hard as a reck with their frequent dancing in it. Idifcourfed
with him about Chriitianity, and fome of my difcourfe he
feemed to like, but fome of it he difliked entirely. He told
me that God had taught him his religion, and that he never
would turn from it, but wanted to find fome that would
join heartily with him in it ; for the Indians, he faid, were
grown very degenerate and corrupt. He had thoughts, be
laid, of leaving all his friends, and travelling abroad, in order
to find fome that ivould join with him : for he believed God
had fome good people fome where that felt as he did. He
had not always, he faid, felt as he now did, but had formerly
been like the reft of the Indians, until about four or five years
before that time j then, he faid, his heart was very much
diftreffed, fo that he could not live among the Indians, but
got away into the woods, and lived alone for fome months.
At length, he fays, God comforted his heart, and fhewed
him what he (hould do ; and fince that time he had known
God, and tried to ferve him ; and loved all men, be they
who they would, fo as he never did before. He treated
me with uncommon courtefy, and feemed to be hearty in it.
And I was told by the Indians., that he oppofed their
drinking ftrong liquor with all his power j and if at any time
he could not diffuade them from it, by all he cou}d fay, he
would leave them, and go crying into the woods. It was
manifeft he had a fet of religious notions that he had looked
into for himfelf, and not taken for granted upon bare tradi-
tion j and he reliflied or difrelifhed whatever vvasfpoken of a
religious nature, according as it either agreed or difagreed
with his ftandard. And while 1 was difcouifing he would
fometimes. fay, " Now that I like j fo God has taught me/'
&c* And fome of his fentiments feemed very juft. Yet he
utterly denied the being of a devil, and declared there was
no fuch a creature known among the Indfans of old times,
whofe religion he fuppofed he was attempting to revive. He
likewife told me, that departed fouls all went fouthward, and
that the difference between the good and the bad was this,
the former were admitted into a beautiful town with fpiritual
walls, or walls agreable to the nature of fouls j and that the
398 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
latter would for ever hover round thofe walls, and in rain
attempt to get in. He feemed to be fincere, honeft, and con-
fcientious in his own way, and according to his own religious
notions, which was more than ever I faw in any other Pagan j
and I pt rceivecl he was looked upon, and derided among moft
of the Indians as a precife zealot, that made a needlefs noife
about religious matters. But I muft fay, there was fomething
in his temper and difpofition that looked more like true
religion than any thing I ever obferved amongft other Hea-
thens.
But, alas ! how deplorable is the ftate of the Indians upon-
this river ! The brief reprefentation I have here given of their
notions and manners, is fufficient to (hew that they are '* led
** captive by Satan at his will ," in the moft eminent manner ;
and meth inks, might likewife be fufficient to excite the com-
paflion, and engage the prayers of pious fouls for thefe their
fellow-men, who fit in " the regions of the fhadow of death."
Sept. 22. Made fome further attempts to inftruc~l and
chriftianize the Indians on this ifland, but all to no purpofe.
They live fo near the white people, that they are always in,
the way of ftrong liquor, as : well as the ill examples of nomi-
nal Chriftians , which renders it fo unfpeakably difficult tx>
treat with them about Chriftianity.
Forks of Delaware, 1745^
October I. Difcoutfed to the Indians here, and fpent fome
time in private conferences with them about their fouls con-
cerns, and afterwards invited them to accompany, or if not,
to follow me down to Crofweekfung, as foon as their conve-
niency would admit 5 which invitation fundry of them cheer-
fully accepted.
Crofweekfung in New- J erf ty, 1745.
Preached to my people from John xiv. I 6. The divine
prefcnce feemed to be in the affembly. Numbers were affect*
AMONG THE INDIANS. 39^
ed with divine truths, and it was a feafon of comfort to fome
in particular.
O v what a difference is there between thefe and the In-
dians I had lately treated with upon Sufquehannah ! To be
with thofe feemed like being baniftied from God, and all his
people j to be with thefe like being admitted into his family,
and to the erjoymeut of his divine prefence ! How great is
the change lately made upon numbers of thefe Indians, who
not many months ago were many of them as thoughtlefs,
and averfe to Chriftianity, as thofe upon Sufquehannah 1 and
how aflcnifhing is that grace that has made this change !
Lord's day, O&ober 6. Preached in the forenoon from
John x. 7 ii. There was a confiderable melting among my
people : the dear young Chriftians were refrefhed, comforted,
and firengthened, and one or two perfons newly awakened.
In the afternoon I difcourfed on the ftery of the jailor,
Ad~ls xvi. ; and in the evening expounded A&s xx. i. 12.
There was at this time a very agreeable melting fpread thro'
the whole affembly. I think I fcarce ever faw a more defire-
able affcHon in any number of people in mj life. There was
fcarce a dry eye to be feen among them, and yet nothing boif-
terous or unfeemly, nothing that tended to dlflurb the public
worfhip ; but rather to encourage and excite a Chriltian ar-
dour and fpirit of devotion.
Thofe, who, I have reafon to hope, were favingly renewed,
were firft affected, and feemed to rejoice much, but with
brokennefs of fpirit and godly fear j their exercifes were
much the fame with thofe mentioned in my journal of Au-
guft 26, evidently appearing to be the genuine effect of a Spi-
rit of adoption.
After public fervice was over I withdrew, (being much
tired with the labours of the day), and the Indians continued
pr.iying among themfelves for near two hours together j which
continued exercifes appeared to be attended with a bleffed
quickening influence from en high.
I could not but earneftly vvifh that numbers of God's people
had been prefent at this feafon, to fee and hear thefe things
which I am fure muft refrefii the heart of every true lover of
Zion's intereft. To fee thofe, who very lately were favage
4OO DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED.
Pagans and idolaters, " having no hope, and without God in
41 the world," now filled with a fenfe of divine love and grace,
and worfhipping the " Father in fpiiit and in truth," as num-
bers heie appeared to do, was not a little affecting j and efpe-
cially to fee them appear fo tender and humble, as well as live-
ly, fervent and devout in the divine fervice.
October 24. Difcourfed from John ir. 13 16. There
was a great attention, a defirable affection, and an unaffected
malting in the affembly. It is furprifing to fee how eager
they are of hearing the word of God. 1 have oftentimes
thought they would cheerfully and diligently attend divine
worfhip twenty-four hours together, had they an opportunity
fo to do,
October 25. Difcourfed to my people rtfpedting the refur-
icction, from Luke xx. 2736. And when I came to men-
tion the bleffednefs the godly (hall enjoy at that feafon j their
final freedom from death, fin, and forrow j their equality to
the angels in regard of their nearnefs to, and enjoyment of
Chrift, (fome imperfect degree of which they are favoured
with in the prefent life, from whence fprings their fweeteft
comfort) j and their being the children of God, openly ac-
knowledged by him as fuch : I fay, when I mentioned thefe
things, numbers of them were much affected, and melted
with a view of this blefied ftate.
October 26. Being called to afnft in the administration of
the Lord's fupper, in a neighbouring congregation, I invited
my people to go with me, who in general embraced the op-
portunity cheerfully, and attended the feveral difcourfes of
that folemnity with diligence and affection, moil of them now
underfianding fomething of the Engiifh language.
Lord's Day, October 27. While I was preaching to a vafl
aflembly of people abroad, who appeared generally eafy and
fecure enough, there was one Indian woman, a llranger, who
never heard me preach before, nor ever regarded any thing
about religion, (being now perfuaded by fome of her friends
to come to meeting, though much againft her will,) was feized
with a prefling concern for her foul, and foon after expreffed
a great defire of going home, (more than forty miles diftant),
to call her hufband, that he alt J might be awakened to a con-
AMONG THE INDIANS. 40!
cern for his foul. Some others of the Indians alfo appeared to
be affected with divine truths this day.
The pious people of the Englifh (numbers of whom I had
opportunity to converfe with) feemed refrefhed with feeing
the Indians worfhip God in that devout and folemn manner
with the aflembly of his people : and, with thofe mentioned
Afts xi. 1 8. they could not but "glorify God, faying,
" Then hath God alfo to the Gentiles granted repentance un-
" to life."
October 28. Preached again to a great affembly, at which
time fome of my people appeared affected j and when publi c
wormip was over, were inquifitive whether there would not
be another fermon in the evening, or before the facramental
folemnity was concluded j being Hill defirous to hear God's
word.
Crofweekfung.
October 28. Difcourfed from Matth. xxii. i 13. I was
enabled to open the Scripture, and adapt my difcourfe and
expreflions to the capacities of my people, *' I know not how,''
in a plain, eafy, and familiar manner, beyond all that I could
have done by the utmoft fludy and this, without any fpecial
difficulty, with as much freedom as if I had been addreffing a
common audience, who had been instructed in the doctrines of
ChrilHanity all their days.
The word of God at this time feemed to fall upon the af-
fembly with a divine power and influence, efpecially toward
the clofe of my difcourfe : there was both a fweet melting
and bitter mourning in the audience. The dear Chriftians
were refremed and comforted, convictions revived in others,
and fandry perfons newly awakened who had never been with
us before j and fo much of the divine prefence appeared in the
alTembly, that it feemed, " this was no other than the houfe
" of God, and the gnte of heaven." And all that had ar.y
favour and reliQ) of divine things were even conft rained by
the fvveetnefs of that feafcn to fay, " Lord, it is good for us
"to be here !" If ever there was amongft my people an ap-
pearance of the New Jerufalem " as a bride adorned for
" her hufband," there was much of it at this time j and fo
e was the entertainment where fuch tokens of the <li-
E e e
402 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
vine prefence were, that I could fcarce be willing in the even-
ing to leave the place, and repair to my lodgings. I was re-
frefKed with a view of the continuance of this bleffcd work
of grace among them, and its influence upon ftrangers of the
Indians that had of late, from time to time, providentially
fallen into thefe parts.
November I. Dilcourfed from Luke xxiv. briefly explain-
ing the whole chapter, and infilling efpecially upon fame par-
ticular paflages.
The difcourfe was attended with fome affe&ionate concern
upon fome of the hearers, though not equal to what has of-
ten appeared among them.
Lord's Day, November 5. Preached to my people from
Luke xvi. 17. more efpecially for the fake of feveral lately
brought under deep concern for their fouls. There was fome
apparent concern and affection in the affembly, though far
lefs than has been ufualoflate.
Afterwards I baptifed fourteen perfons of the Indians, fix
adults, and eight children : one of thefe was near fourfcore
years of age, and I have reafon to- hope God has brought her
favingly home to himfelf : two of the others were men of
fifty years old, who had been fingular and remarkable, even
among the Indians, for their wickednefs ; one of them had
been a murderer, and both notorious drunkards as well as ex-
ceiiive quarrelfome j but now I cannot but hope both are be-
come fubjefts of God's fpecial grace, efpecially the worft of
them. I deferred their baptifin for many weeks- after they
had given evidences of having palled a great change, that I
might have more opportunities to obferve the fruits of thofe
impreflions they had been under, and apprehended the way
\vas now clear : and there was not one of the adults I bapti-
zed, but what had given me fome comfortable grounds to
hope, that God had wrought a work of fpecial grace in their
hearts j although I could not have the fame degree of fatif-
faftion refpe&ing one or two of them, as the reft.
Novernber 4. Difcourfed from John xi. briefly explaining
mod of the chapter. Divine truths made deep impreffions
upon many in the affembly j numbers were aff-fted with a
view of the power of Chrift, manifefled in his raifing the
AMONG THE INDIANS. 403
-dead j and efpecially when this inftance of his power was im-
proved to (hew his power and ability to raife dead fouls {fucli
as jnany of them then felt themfelves to be) to a fpiritual
life 3 as alfo to raife the dead at the laft day, and difpenfe to
them due rewards and punimments*
There were fundry of the perfons lately come here from
remote places, that were now brought under deep and pref-
fing concern for their fouls ; particularly one, who not long
fince came half drunk, and railed on us, and attempted by all
means to difturb us, while engaged in the divine worfhip, was
now fo concerned and diftrefled for her fouJ, that {he feemed
unable to get any eafe without an intereft in Chrift. There
were many tears and affectionate fobs and groans in the aflem-
bly in general, ibme weeping for themfelves, others ior their
friends. And although perfons are doubtlefs much eafier af-
fected now, than they were in the beginning of this religious
concern, when tears and cries for their fouls were things un-
heard of among them , yet I muft fay their affection in gene-
ral appeared genuine and unfeigned j and efpecially this ap-
peared very confpicuous in thofe newly awakened. So that
true and genuine convictions of fin, feem ftill to be begun
and promoted in many inflances.
Baptifed a child this day, and perceived fundry of the bap-
tized perfons, affected with the adminiftration of this ordi-
nance, as being thereby minded of their own folemn engage-
ments.
I have now baptized in all forty-feven perfons of the Indi-
ans, twenty-three adults and twenty- four children j thirty-
five of them belonging to thefe parts, and the reft to the
Forks of Delaware ; and (through rich grace) they have none
of them as yet been left to difgrace their profeHion of Chrif-
tianity by any fcandalous or unbecoming behaviour.
I might nowjuftly make many remarks on a work of grace
fo very remarkable as this has been in divers refpects j but
mall confine myfelf to a few general hints only.
ijl, It is remarkable that God began this work among the
Indians at a time when I had the reaii hope, ^nd (to my ap-
prehenfion) the le aft rational profpect of feeing a work o
404 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
grace propagated amongft them ; my bodily firength being
then much waded by a late tedious journey to Sufquehannah,
where I was neceiFarily expofed to hardfhips and fatigues a-
mong the Indians : my mind alfo being exceedingly depreii'ed
with a view of the unfuccefsfulnefs of my labours, (fince 1
had little reafon fo much as to hope that God had made me
initrumental of the faving converfion of any of the Indians,
except my interpreter and his wife) whence I was ready to
look upon myfclf as a burden to the Honourable Society
that employed and fupported me in this bufinefs, and began
to entertain ferious thoughts of giving up my miflion j and
almod refolved I would do fo at the conclufion of the pre-
fent year, if I had not then better profpecl of fpecial fuccefs in
my work, than I had hitherto had : although I cannot fay I
entertained thefe thoughts becaufe I was weary of the labours
and fatigues that necefTarily attended my prefent bufinefs, or
becaufe I had light or freedom in my own mind to turn any
other way 5 but purely through dejection of fpirit, prefling
difcouragement, and an apprehenfion of its being unjuft to
ipend money confecrated to religious ufes, only to civilize
the Indians, and bring them to an external profeflion of Chrif-
tianity, which was all that 1 could then fee any profpeft cf
having erFecled v while God feemed (as I thought) evidently
to frown upon the defign of their faving converfion, by with-
holding the convincing and renewing influences of his blef-
fed Spirit from attending the means 1 had hitherto ufed with
them for that end.
And in this frame of mind I firfl vifited thefe Indians at
Crofweekfung, apprehending it was my indifpenfible duty
(feeing I had heard there was a number in thefe parts) to
make fome attempts for their converfion to God, though I
cannot fay, I had any hope cf fuccefs, my fpirits were now
fo extremely funk. And I do not know that my hopes re-
fpeftir.g the converfion of the Indians were ever reduce^ to.
fo low an ebb, fince I had any concern for them, as now.
And yet this was the very feafon that God faw fitted to-
begin this glorious work in ! And thus he *' ordained drength
u out of weaknefs," by making bare his almighty arm at a
time when all hopes and human probabilities mod evident!/
AMONG THE INDIANS. 405
appeared to fail. " Whence I learn, that it is good to
4; follow the path of duty, though in the midll of darknefe
" and difcouragement."
2///y. It is remarkable how God providentially, and in a
manner almoft unaccountable, called thefe Indians together to
be inftru&ed in the great things that concerned their fouls ;
and how he feized their minds with the mod folemn and
weighty concern for their eternal falvation, as fail as they
came to the place where his word was preached. When I
firft came into thefe parts in June, I found not one man at
the place I vifited, but only four women and a few children :
but before I had been here many days, they gathered from all
quarters, fome from more than twenty miles diflar.t j and
when I made them a fecond vifit in the beginning of Auguft,
fome came more than forty miles to hear me.
And many came without any intelligence of what was going
on here, and confcquently without any deiign of theirs, fo
much as to gratify their curiofity -, fo that it feemed as if God
had fummoned them together from all quarters for nothing
elfe but to deliver his mcfTage to them j and that he did this,
(with regard to fome of them), without making ufa of any
human means ; although there was pains taken by fome of
them to give notice to others at remote places.
Nor is it lefs furprifmg that they were one after another
affected with a iolemn concern for their fouls, almoft as foon
as they came upon the fpot where divine truths were taught
them. 1 could not but think often that their coming to the
place of our public worfiiip, -was like Saul and his mefTengers
coming among the prophets j they no fooner came but they
prophefied ; and thefe were almoft as foon affected with a
ferife of their fin and mifery, and with an carneft concern for
deliverance, as they made their appearance in our affembly.
After this work of. grace began with power among them,
it was common for ftrangers of the Indians, before they had
been with us one day, to be much awakened, deeply convin-
ced of their fin and mifery, and to inquire with great folicitude,
" What they mould do tt> be faved."
3<//X, It is likewife remarkable how God preferved thefe
poor ignorant Indians from being prejudifed againft me, and
406 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
the tiuths I taug'-t t' -?u:, l>) tbolc means that were ufed with
them for that pur pofe by ungodly people. There were many
attempts made by fome ill- minded pei ions of the white people
to prcjucife them igainfl, or fright them from Chriftianity.
They ibmetimes told them, the Indians were well enough
on it already that there was no need of all this noife about
ChrifUanity that if they were Chriftians, they wculd be
in no better, no {afer, or happier ftate, than they were al-
ready in, &c.
Sometimes they told them, that I was a knave, a deceiver,
and the like ; that 1 daily taught them a company of lies, and
had no other defign but to impofe upon them, &c.
And when none of thefe, and fuch like fuggeftions, would
avail to their purpoie, they then tried ancclier expedient, and
told the Indians, l ' My defign was to g-ither together as large
** a body of them as I pofiibly could, and then fell them to
*' England for (laves. " Than which nothing could be more
likely to terrify the Indians, they being naturally of a jealous
difpofition, and the moil avtrfe to a ftate of fervitude perhaps
of any people living.
But all thefe wicked infmuations (thro' divine goodnefs
over-ruling) constantly turned againftthe authors of them, and
onlyferved to engage the affections of the Indians more firm-
ly to me : for they being awakened to a folemn concern for
their fouls, could not but obferve, that the perfons who en-
deavoured to imbitter their minds againft me, were altogether
unconcerned about their own fouls, and not only fo, but vi-
cious -and profane j and thence could not but argue, that if
they had no concern for their own, it was not likely they
fliould have for the fouls of others.
It feems yet the more wonderful that the Indians were pre*
ferved from once hearkening to thefe fuggeftions, in as much
as I was an utter ftranger among them, and could give them,
no affurance of my iincere affection to, and concern for them,
by any thing that was pad, while the perfons that infinuated
thefe things, were their old acquaintance, who had had fre-
quent opportunities of gratifying their thirfty appetitres with
ftrong drink, and confequently. doubtlefs. : had -the greateft
intereft in their affections -But from this, inilance of their
AMONG THE INDIANS. 407
prefervation from fatal prejudices, I have had occafion with
admiration to fay, " If God will work, who can hinder pr
" refill ?"
4//J/X, Nor is it lefs wonderful how God was plcafed to pro-
vide a remedy for my want of {kill and freedom in the In-
dian language, by remarkably fitting my interpreter for, and
aflifting him in the performance of his work. It might rea-
fonably be fuppofed I muft needs labour under a vaft difad-
vantage in addrefling the Indians by an interpreter j and that
divine truths would unavoidably loofe much of the energy
and pathos with which they might at firft be delivered, by rea-
fon ci their coming to the audience from a fecond hand But
although this has often (to my forrow and difcouragem^nt)
been the cafe in times paft, when my interpreter had little
or no fenfe of divine things yet now it was quite otherwife.
I cannot think my addreiTes to the Indians ordinarily fince
the beginning of this feafon of grace, have Joft any thing of
the power or pungency with which they were made, unlefs
it wese fometimes for want of pertinent and pathetic terms
and expreflions in the Indian language ; which difficulty
coui :1 not hare been much redreiTed by my perfonal aquaint-
ance with their language. My interpreter had before gained
forae good degree of doftrmal knowledge, whereby he was
rendered capable of underftanding and communicating, with-
out miftakes, the intent and meaning of my difcourfes, and
that without being confined ftri&ly, and obliged to interpret
verbatim. He had likewife. to appearance, an experimental
acquaintance with divine things j and it pleafed God at this
feafon to infpire his mind with longing delires for the con-
verfion of the Indians, and to give him admirable zeal and
fervency in addrefli.ig them in order thereto. And it is re-
markable, that when I was favoured with any fpecial afliftance
in any work, and enabled to fpeak with more than common
freedom, fervency, and power, under a lively and affecting
fenfe of divine things, he was ufually affe&ed in the fame
manner almoft inftantly, and feemed at once quickened and
enabled to fpeak in the fame pathetic language, and under the
fame influence that I did. And a iurprliing energy often ac-
companied the word at fuch feaibns ;, fo that the face of the
408 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
whole affembly would be apparently changed almoft in an in-
ftant, and tears and fobs became common among them.
He alfo appeared to have fuch a clear doctrinal view of
God's ufual methods of dealing with fouls under a preparatory
work of conviction and humiliation, as he never had before ;
fo that I could with his help, difcourfe freely with the di-
ftreffed perfons about their internal exercifes, their fears, dif-
couragements, temptations, &c.
He likewife took pains day and night to repeat and incul-
cate upon the minds of the Indians the truths I taught them
daily ; and this he appeared to do, not from fpiritual pride, and
an affectation of fetting himfelf up as a public teacher, but
from a fpirit of faithfulnefs, and an honcft concern for their
fouls.
His converfation among the Indians has likewife, (fofaras
I know) been favoury, as becomes a Chriftian, and a perfon
employed in his work ; and I may juftly fay, he has been a
great comfort to me, and a great inilrument of promoting
this good work among the Indians : fo that whatever be the
Hate of his own foul, it is apparent God has remarkably fitted
him for this work.
And thus God has manifefted that, without bellowing on
me the gift of tongues, he could find a way wherein I might
be as effectually enabled to convey the truths of his glorious
gofpel to the minds of thefe poor benighted Pagans.
5/M, It is further remarkable that God has carried on his
work here by fuch means, and in fuch a manner as tended to
obviate and leave no room for thofe prejudices and objections
that have often been raifed agair-ft fuch a work. When per-
fons have been awakened to a folemn concern for their fouls,
by hearing the more awful truths of God's word, and the ter-
rors of the divine law infilled upon, it has ulually in fuch cafes
been objected by fome, that fuch perfons were only frighted
with a fearful noife of hell and damnation j and that there
wsfe no evidence that their concern was the effect cf a divine
influence. But Gcd has left no room for this objection in
the prefent cafe, this work of grace hr.vi:,g been begun and
carried on, by ;>lmoft one continued drain of gojpel-invita-
[ lion to penfliing finners, as may reafonaMy be guefred, from
AMONG THE INDIANS. 409
a view of the paffages of fcripture I chiefly infilled upon in
my difcourfes from time to time ; which I have for that piu-
pofe inferted in my Journal.
Nor have I ever feen fo general an awakening in any af-
fembly in my life, as appeared here, while I was opening and
inMing upon the parable of the great /upper, Luke xiv. In
which difcourfe I was enabled to fet before my hearers the
unfearchable tiches of gofpel grace.
Not that I would be underiiood here." that I never inftruft-
ed the Indians refpecling their fallen fiate, and the finfulnefs
and mifery of it : for this was what I at firft chiefly inilfted
upon with them, and endeavoured to repeat and r. c':irvtte in
almoft every difcourfe, knowing that without this foundation
I fhould but build upon the fand ; and that it would be in
vain to invite them to Chrift, unlefs I could convince them of
their need of him, Mark ii. 17.
But ftill this great awakening, this furprifmg concern was
never excited by any harangues of terror, but always appear-
ed mod remarkable when I infilled upon " the compositions
" of a dying Saviour," the " plentiful provifions of the gof-
" pel" and the " free offers of divine grace to needy dif-
" treffed Tinners."
Nor would I be underftood to infinuate, that fuch a reli-
gious concern might juflly be fufpecled as not being genuine,
and from a divine influence, becaufe produced by the preach-
ing of terror : for this is perhaps God's more ufuai way of a-
wukening finners, and appears entirely agreeable to fcripture
and found reafon. But what I meant here to obferve is, that
God faw fit to improve arid blefs milder means for the effec-
tual awakening of thefe Indians, and thereby obviated the
forementioned objection, which the world might otherwiie
have had a more plaufible colour of making.
And as there has been no room for any plaufible objeclion
againft this work, in regard of the means ; fo neither in re-
gard of the manner in which it has been carried on. It is
true, perfons concern for their fouls has been exceeding great,
the convictions of their fin and mifery have rifen to a high
degree 1 , and produced many tr m.-;, cries, ar.d groans : but then
they have not been attended < nil tliofe diforders, cither bo-
F f
4IO DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED:
dily or mental, that have fometimes prevailed among perfons
under religious impreflions. There has here been no ap-
pearance of thofe " convulfions, bodily agonies, frightful
" fcreamings, fwoonings," and the like, that have been fo
much complained of in fome places j although there have
been fome who (with the jailor) have been made to tremble
under a fenfe of their fin and mifery, numbers who have
been made to cry out from a diftrefling view of their perifhing
ftate, and fome that have been, for a time, in a great
meafurr, deprived of their bodily ftrcngth, yet without any
fiich convulfive appearances.
Nor has there been any appearance of mental diforaers here,
fuch as " vifions, trances, imaginations of being under pro-
" phetic infpiration," and the like j or fcarce any unbecoming
difpoiition to appear remarkably affeted either with concern
or joy : though I muft confefs, I obferved one or two perfons
whofe concern, I thought was in a confiderable meafure affect-
ed , and one whofe joy appeared to be of the fame kind.
But thefe workings of fpiritual pride, I endeavoured to crufli
in their firft appearances, and have not fince obferved any af-
feftion, either of joy or ibrrow, but what appeared genuine
and unaffected. But,
6//y, and laftly, The efiedts of this work have likewife
been very remarkable. I doubt not but that many of thefe
people have gained more ooclrinal knowledge of divine truths
ilnce I firfl vifited them in June lad, than could have been in-
filled into their minds by the mcft diligent ufe of proper and
inftrucHve means for whole years together, without fuch a di-
vine influence. Their Pagan notions and idolatrous practices
feem to be entirely abandoned in thefe parts. They are re-
gulated, and appear regularly dilpofed in the affairs of mar-
riage ; .an inftar.ce whereof I have given in my Journal of
Auguft 14. They feem generally divorced from drunkennefs,
their darling vice, " and the fm that eafiiy befets them :" fo
that I do not know of more than two or three who have been
roy fteady hearers, that have drunk to excefs- fince I firft vi-
iked them , although bei<ore it WPS common for fome or o-
ther of them to be diunk almoft every day : and fome of them
feem now to fear this fin in particular more than death itfelf.
A principle of honour and juflice appears in many of their^
AMONG THE INDIANS. 41 1
and they feem concerned to difcharge their old debts, which
they have negle&eJ, and perhaps fcarce thought of for
years pait. Their manner of living is much more decent
and comfortable than formerly, having now the benefit of
that money which they ufed to confume upon ftrong drink,
Love feems to reign among them, efpeci-ally thofe who have
given evidences of having pafTed a laving change : and I ne-
ver faw any appearance of bitternefs or cenforioulnefs in thefe,
nor any difpofition to u efteem thcmfelves better than others'"
who had not received the like mercy.
As their forrows under convictions have been great and
preffing, fo many of them have fince appeared to *' rejoice
*' with joy unfpeakable, and full of glory j" and yet I never
faw any thing ecftaiic or flighty in their joy. Their confo-
Ifttions do not incline them to air and lightnefs j but, on the
contrary, are attended with folemnity, and 'oftentimes with
tears, and an apparent brokennefs of heart, as may be feen in
feveral paflages of my Journal ; and in this refpecl: fome of
them have been furprifed at themfelves, and have with con-
cern obferved tome, that " when their hearts have been glad,
(which is a phrale they commonly make ufe of to exprefs fpi-
ritual joy), they could not help crying for all."
And now, upon the whole, I think I may juftly fay, here
are all the fymptoms and evidences of a remarkable work of,
grace among thefe Indians, that can reafonably be deiired or
looked for. May the Great Author of this work maintain
and promote the fame here, and propagate it every where, till
lt the whole earth be filled with his glory !" Amen.
I have now rode more than three thoufand miles, that I
have kept an exact account of, fince the beginning of March
lafl j and almoft the whole of it has been on my own proper
bulinefs as a miffionary, upon the defign (either immediately
or more remotely) of propagating ChriiHan knowledge among
the Indians. I have taken pains to look out for a colleague,,
or companion to travel with me : and have likewife ufed en-
deavours to procure fomething for his fupport, among religious ,
perfons in New- England, which coft me a journey of feveral
hundred miles in length j but have not as yet found any per-.
Ton qualified and difpofed for this good work, although I had
412 DI-VINE GRACE DISPLAYED
fome encouragement from ministers and others, that it v\as
hopeful a maintair.ance might be procured for one, when thu
roan ihould be found.
I have likewilz of late reprcfented to the gentlemen con-
cerned witli this niiiTion, the neceffity of having an Englifh
fchooi foeecUly fct up among thefe Indian?, who are now wil-
ling to be at the pains of gathering together in a body for thi*
purpoic. And in order hereto, have humbly propcL j d to them
the collecting of money for the maintenance of a fchool-
mafter, and defraying the other necciTary charges in the pro-
motion of this good work j which they are now attempting
M the feveral congregations of Chriilians to which they re-
fjKclively belong.
The feveral companies of Indians I have preached to in
the fummer pafl, live at great diftances from each other. It
is more than feventy miles from Crofweckfang in New- Jer-
fey, to the Forks of Delaware in Pcnfylvanra. And from
thence to fundry of the Indian fettlements I vifited on Suf-
quehannah, is more than an hundred and twenty miles. And
ib much of ray time is neceffarily confumed in journey in^y,
that I can hr.ve but little for any of ray nircefi'ary fludits, and
confequently for the itudy of the Indian languages in particu-
lar , and efpecially feeing I am obliged to difccurfe fo fre-
qucnt;y-tothe Indians at each oi thefe places while I am with
them, in order to redeem time to vifit the reft. I am, at
times, almoft difcouraged from attempting to gain any ac-
quaintance with the Indian languages, they are fo very nume.
rous, (fame account of which I gave in my journal of May
lart) j and efpecially feeing my other labours and fatigues in-
grols almoft the whale of my time, and bear exceeding hard
upon my conftitation, fo that my halth is much impaired.
However, I have taken considerable pains to learn the Dela-
ware* language, raid propofe ftill to do fo, ss far as my other
bufinefs and bodily health will adir.it. I have already made
iume proficiency in it, though I have laboured under many
and great difadvantages in my attempts of that nature. And
it is but juft to obferve here, that ?.ll the pains I took to ac-
quaint myfelf with the language of the Indians I fpent my
f>rft year with, were of little or no fervice to me here among
AMONG THE INDIANS, 413
the Delaware* j fo that ray work, when I came among thefe
Indians, was all to" begin anew 7 .
As thefe poor ignorant Pagans flood in need of having "line
" upon line, and precept upon precept," in order to their be-
ing inftru&ed and grounded in the principles of Chriftianity j
fo 1 preached " publicly, and taught from houfe to houfe,"
almofl every day for whole weeks together, when I was with
them. And my public difcourfes did not then make up the
one half of my work, while there were fo many conftantly
coming to me with that important enquiry, " What muft
" we do to be faved !" and opening to me the various exer-
cifes of their minds. And yet I can fay, (to the praife of rich
grace), that the apparent fuccefs with which my labours were
crowned, unfpeakably more than compenfated for the labour
itfelf, and was likewife a great means of fupporting and carry-
ing me through the bufinefs and fatigues, which (it feems) my
nature would have funk under, without fuch an encouraging
profpedt. But although this fuccefs has afforded matter of
fupport, comfort, and thankfulnefs j yet in this feafon 1 have
found great need of afiiftance in my work, and have been
much oppreffed for want of one to bear a part of my labours
and haidihips.
" May the Lord of the harveft fend forth other labourers
" into this part of his harveft, that thofe who fit in darknefs
" may fee great light 5 and that the whole earth may be filled
" with the knowledge of himfelf ! Amen."
DAVID BRAINERD.
November 20. 1745.
DIVINE GRACE DHPLATED;
o!*g^i
OR, THE
CONTINUANCE 6- PROGRESS
OF A
REMARKABLE WORK OF GRACE
AMONG SOME OF THE INDIANS
IN NEW- JERSEY AND PENSYLVANIA I
REPRESENTED IN A
JOURNAL
KEPT BY ORDER O7 THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY (iN SCOTLAND)
FOR PROPAGATING CHRISTIAN KN9WLEDGE.
WITH SOME GENERAL REMARKS.
To nvhich is fubjoined,
An APPENDIX, containing fome account of fundry thine*, elpe-
cially of the difficulties attending the work of aMiffionary
among the INDIANS.
BY DAVID BRAINERD,
MINISTER OF THE GOSPffL, AND MISSIONARY FROM
THE SAID SOCIETY.
PRINTED; IN THE YEAR M.DCC.XCVIH.
CROSWEEKSUNG IN NEW- JERSEY,
'745-
LOaoN Day, November 24. Preached both parts of the
day from the ftory ofZaccheus, Luke xlx. I 9. In
the Utter exercife, when I opened and infifted upon the lalva-
tion that comes to the finner, upon his becoming afon of Abra-
ham, or a true believer, the word fcemed to be attended with
divine power to the hearts of the hearers. Numbers were
much affected with divine truths j former convictions were
revived j one or two perfons newly awakened ', ind a mofl
aSfelionat2 engagement in divine fervice appeared among
them universally.
The impreflions they were under appeared to be the ge-
nuine effect of God's word brought home to their hearts, by
the power and iniluence of the divine Spirit.
November 26. After having fpent fome time in private
conferences witft my people, I difeourfed publicly among
them from John v. I, 9. I was favoured with fome fpecial
freedom and fervency ia my difcourfe, and a powerful energy
accompanied dirine truths. Many wept and fobbed affec-
tionately, and fcarce any appeared unconcerned in the whole
aflembly. The influence that feized the audience appeared
gentle, and yet pungent and efficacious. It produced no
boiileious commotion of the paHlons, but fcemed deeply to
affccT: tlic hiart, and excited in the perfons under convictions
of their loft ftate, heavy groans and tears j and in others
who had obtained ccmfoit, a fwcet and humble meJtim.'; It
feemed like the gentle but fteady (bowers that effectually wa-
ter the earth, withuot violently beating upon the fur face.
The perfons lately awakened were, fome of them, deeply
cliftreffed for their fouls, and appeared earneflly iolicicous to
obtain an intered in Chrift ; and fome of them, after puolic
worfnip was over, in anguim of fpirit, faid, *' They knew
" not what to do, nor how to get their wicked hearts chan-
" Cd, &C.
G gg
418 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
November 28. Difcourfed to the Indians publicly, after
having ufed fome private endeavours to inftruct and excite
fome in the duties of Chriftianity. Opened and made re-
marks upon the facred ftory of our Lord's tranfiguration,
Luke ix. 28 36. Had a principal view, in my infifting upon
this paffage of fcripture, to the edification and confolation of
God's people. And obferved fome, that I have reafon to
think are truly fuch, exceedingly affected with an account of
the glory of Chrift in his transfiguration j and filled with long-
ing defires of being with him, that they might with open face
behold his glory.
After public fervice was over, I afked one of them, who
wept and fobbed mod affectionately, " What (he now want-
" ed ?" She replied, " Oh to be with Chrift ! Ihe did not
" know how to ftay," &c. This was a bleffed refrefhing
feafon to the religious people in general. The Lord Jefus
Chrift feemed to manifeft his divine glory to them, as when
transfigured before his difciples And they, with the dif-
ciples, were ready univerfally to fay, " Lord, it is good for
" us to be here."
The influence of God's word was not confined to thofe
who had given evidences of being truly gracious, though at
this time, I calculated my difcourfe for, and directed it chief-
ly to fuch : but it appeared to be a feafon of divine power in
the whole affembly } fo that moft were, in forne meafure,
affected. And one aged man in particular, lately awakened,
was now brought under deep and preffing concern for Lis foul,
and was earneftly inquifitive "how he might find Jefus Chrift."
God feems ftill to vouchfafe his divine prefence and the in-
fluence of his bleffed Spirit to accompany his word at leaft
in fome meafure, in all our meetings for divine xvorfhip.
November 30. Preached near night, after having fpent
fome hours in private conference with fome of my people a-
bout their fouls concerns. Explained and infilled upon the
itory of the rich man and Lazarus, Luke xvi. 19. 26. The
word made powerful imprtflions upon many in the affembly,
cfpecially while I difcourfed of the bleffednefs of "Lazarus
" in Abraham's bofom." This I could perceive, affected them
much more than what 1 fpoke of the rich man's mifery and
AMONG THE INDIANS. 419
torments. And thus it has been ufually with them. They
have almoft always appeared much more affected with the
comfortable than the dreadful truths of God's word, And
that which has diftreffcd many of them under convictions,
is that they found they wanted, and could not obtain the
happinefs of the godly j at leaft they have often appeared t
be more affected with this, than with the terrors of hell.
But whatever be the means of their awakening, it is plain,
numbers are made deeply fenfible of their fin and naifery, the
wickedneis and ftubbomnefs of their own hearts, their utter
inability to help themfdve?, or to come to C-hrift for help,
without divine afilftance 5 and fo are brought to fee their
perifliing need of Chrift to do all for them, and to lie at the
foot of iovereign mercy.
Lord's Day, December I. Difcourfed to my people in the
forenoon from Luke xvi. 27, 31, There appeared an unfeign-
ed affection in divers perfons, and fome fecmed deeply im-
preffed with divine truths.
In the afternoon preached to a number of white people ;
at which time the Indians attended with diligence,', and many
of them were able to underftand a confiderable part of the
difcourfe.
At night difcourfed to my people again, and gave thera
fome particular cautions and direction^ relating to their con-
duct in divers refpedts ; and preffed them to watchfulnefs in-
all their deportment, feeing they were encompaffed.with thofe
that *' waited for their halting," and who flood ready to draw
them into temptations of every kind> and, then tojexpofe re-
ligion for their misfteps..
Lord's Day, December 8. Difcourfed on the ft-ory of the
blind man, John ix. There appeared no remarkable effect
of the word npon the aflfembly at this time. The perfons
ivho have lately been much concerned for their fouls, feemed.
now not fo affected nor folicitous to obtain an intereft in,
Chrift as has been ufual j altho' they attended divine fervice.
with ferioufnefs and diligence.
Such have been the doings of the Lord here, in awakening
finners, and affecting the hearts of thofe who were brought to
fojid comfort, with a frefh fenfe of divine things from time.
420 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
to time that it is now ftran^e to fee the affembly fit with dry
eyes, and without fobs and groans.
December 12. Preached from the parable of the ten vir-
gins, Matth. xxv. The divine power feemed in fome meafure
to attend this difcourfe, in which I was favoured with un-
common freedom and plainnefs of addrefs, and enabled to open
divine truths, and explain them to the capacities of my peo-
ple in a manner beyond myfelf. There appeared iu rna-
ry perfons an affectionate concern for their fouls; although
the concern in general feemed not fo deep and prefling as it
had formerly done. Yet it was refreftiing to fee many melt-
ed into tears and unaffefted fobs j fome with a fenfe of di-
vine love, and fome for want of it.
Lord's Day, December 15. Preached to the Indians from
Luke xiii. 24, 28. Divine truths fell with weight and power
upon' the audience, and feemed to reach the hearts of many.
Near night difcourfcd to them from Matth. xxv. 31. to
46- At which feafon aifo, the word appeared to be accompa-
nied with a divine influence, and made powerful impreflions
upon the affembly in general, as wellas upon divers perfons
in a very fpecial and particular manner. This was an ama-
zing feafcn of grace ! " The word of the Lord," this day,
" was quick and powerful, (harper than a two-edged fword,"
and pierced to the hearts of many. The affembly was great-
ly affected, and deeply wrought upon ; yet without fo much
apparent commotion in the paffions as was ufual in the be-
ginning of this work of grace. The imprefilons made by the
word of God upon the audience appeared folid, rational, and
deep, worthy of the folemn truths by means of which they
were produced, and far from being the effects of any fudden
fright, or groundlefs perturbation of mind.
O how the hearts of the hearers feemed to bow under the
weight of divine truths ! And how evident did it now appear
that they received and felt them, "not as the word of man,
" but as the word of God !" None can frame a jutt idea of
the appearance of our affembly at this tine, but thofe who
have feen a congregation, folemnly awed, and deeply imprefled
by the fpecial power and influence of divine truths delivered
to them in the name of God.
AMONG THE INDIANS. 421
December 16. Difcourfed to my people in the evening
from Luke xi. I 13. After having infiRed. fome time upon
the pth verfe, wherein there is a command and encourage-
ment to aik for divine favours, I called upon them to a(k
for a new heart with utmoft importunity, as the rain men-
tioned in the parable I was difcourfing upon, pleaded for
loaves of bread at midnight.
There was much affection and concern in the affembly ;
and efpecially one woman appeared in great diftrefs for her
foul. She was brought to fuch an agony in feeking after
Chrift, that the fa-eat ran off her face for a confiderable time
together, although the evening was very cold j and her bitter
cries were the moll affecting indication of the inward anguiih
of her heart.
December 21. My people having now attained to a confi-
dtrable degree of knowledge in the principles o{ Chriftianity,
I thought it proper to let up a catechetical ItClure among
them j and this evening attempted fome thing in that form ;
propofing queitions to them agteeabk to the Reverend Al*-
fembiy's Shorter Catechifm, receiving their aaf-vers, and then
explaining and infixing as appeared neccffary and proper upon
each queftion. After whic h 1 endeavoured to make fome
practical improvement of the whole. This was the method
I entered upon. Thy were able readily and rationally to
anfwer many important queftions I propofed to them : fo
that, upon trial, I found their doctrinal knowledge to exceed
my own expectations. In the improvement of my dif-
courfe, when t came to infer and open the blcffednefs of
thofe who had fo great and glorious a God, as had before
been fpoken of, " for their eveilafting friend and portion,"
fundry were much affe&ed ; and efpecially when I exhorted,
and endeavoured to perfuade them " to be reconciled to God,"
through his dear Son, and thu5 to fecure an intereft in his
cverlaiting favour, fo that they appeared to be not only en-
lightened and inftru&ed, but aflfecled and engaged in their foul*
concern by this method of difcourfing.
Lord's Day, December 22. Difcourfed upon the (lory of
the young man in the gofpel, Matth. ix. 16 22. God made
it a fenfonablc word, I am perfuaded, to fome fouls.
422 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
There w re. iuuuiy peifous of the Indians newly come
here, who had frequently lived among Quakers j and being
-more civilized and conformed to Engliih manners than the
generality of the Indians, they had imbibed fome of the Qua-
kers errors, efpeciaiiy this fundamental one, vi-z. That if men
will but live foberly and honefily according to the dictates of
th^ir own confciences (or the light within), there is then no
danger or douot of their falvation, &.c. Thefe perfons I
found much worfe to deal with than thofe who are wholly
under Pagan darknefs, who make no pretences to knowledge
in Chriftianity at all, nor have any felf-righteous foundation
to (land- upon. However, they all, except one, appeared
now convinced, that this fober, hone ft life of itfelf, -was not
fufficient for falvation , fince Chrift himieif had declared it fo
in the cafe of the young mar. : And ieemed in fome mea-
fure concerned to obtain that change of heait which I had been
labouring to (hew them the neceility of.
This was likewife a feafon of comfort to fome fouls, and
in particular to one. (the fame mentioned in my journal of
the i6th inftant), who never before obtained any fettled coin-
fort though I have abundant reafon to think (lie had raffed
a faring change fome days before.
She now appeared in a heavenly frame of mind, compofed
and delighted with the divine will. When 1 came to diicourfe
particularly with her, and to enquire of her, how (he got re-
lief and deliverance from the fpiritual diftreffes me had lately
been under, (lie anfwered in broken Englifh, * " Me try, me
" try, fave myfelf, laft my ftrength be all gone, (meaning
" her ability to lave herfeif), could not me ilir bit further.
" Den laft, me forced let Jefus Chrift alone, fend me hell if
" he pleafe." I faid, But you was not willing to go to hell^
was you ? She replied, f " Could not me help it. My
* In proper Epglifli thus : I tried and tried to fave myfelf, till at
laft my Jlreiigth was all gone, and I could notjlir any further. Then
.at laft I *vuas forced to let ^ffus Cbri/l alone, to fend me to bell if he
plcafed."
f In plain Englifli thus, / could not help it. My heart would be
ifickfdfor all that I could do. I could not make it good.
AMONG THE INDIANS. 423
"heart he would wicked for all. Could not me make him
" good ," (meaning (he faw it was right (he mould go to hell,
becaufe h<?r heart was wicked, and would be fo after all (he
could do to mend it). I alked her, How {he got out of this
' cafe ? She anfwered ftill in the fame broken language, $ " By
" by my heart be grad defperately." I alked her why her
heart was glad ? She replied, " Grad my heart Jefus Chrift
*' do what he pleafe with me. Den me tink, grad my heart
" Jefus Chrift fend me hell. Did not me care where he put
" me, me lobe him for all," &c.
And (he could not readily be convinced, but that fhe was
willing to go to hell, if Chrift was pleafed to fend her there.
Though the truth evidently was, her will was fo fwallowed
up in the divine will, that (he could not frame any hell in her
imagination that would be dreadful or undeniable, provided
it was but the will qf God to fend her to it.
Toward night difcourfed to them again in the catechetical
method I entered upon the evening before. And when I
came to improve the truths I had explained to them, and to
anfvver the queflion, " But how (hall 1 know whether God
" has chofen me to everlafling life," by preiTing them to
come and -give up their hearts to Chrift, and thereby "to
" make their eledion fure j" they then, appeared much affect-
ed : and the perfons under concern were afrefh engaged in
feeking after an intereft in him j while fome others, who had
obtained comfort before, were re fre died to find that love to
God in thcmfelves, which was an evidence of his electing
love to them.
December 25. The Indians having been ufed upon Chrift-
mas days to drink and revel among fome of the white people
in thefe parts, I thought it proper this day to call them toge-
ther, and difcourfe to them upon divine things : which I ac-
cordingly did from the,parable of the barren fig tree, Luke
xiii. 6 9. A divine influence, I am perfuaded, accom-
panied the word at this feafon. The power of God appear-
t By and by my heart <was exceeding glad My heart ivat glad
that Jefus Cbrift 'would do with me <wbat he pleafed. TJien I thought
my heart would be glad although Chrift Jhonld fend me to hell. I did
not care where he put me, IJbtxldiovc bin for all ; i. e. do what
be would I'Ath me.
424 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
ed in the affernbly, not by producing any remarkable cries but
by (hocking and routing at heart fas it Teemed) feveral fiupid
creatures, that were fcarce ever moved w ith any concern be-
fore. The power attending divine truths feemed to have the
influence of the earthquake rather than the whirlwind upcn
them. Their paffions were not fo much alarmed as has been
common here in times pad, but their judgments appeared to
be powerfully convinced by the mafterly and conquering in-
fluence of divine truths. The impreffions made upon the
aflembly in general feemed not fuperficial,but deep and heart -
affe&ing. O how ready did they now 1 appear univerfally to
embrace and comply with every thing they heard and were
convinced was duty ! God was in the midft of us of a truth,
bowing and melting flubborn hearts ! How many tears and
fobs were then to be feen and heard among us ! What live-
linefs and ftricl attention ! what eageinefs and intenfenefs of
mind appeared in the whole a-ffembly in the time of divine
fervice ! They feemed to watch and wait for the dropping of
God's word, as the thirily earth for the " former and latter
" rain."
Afterwards I difcourfed to them on the duty of hufbands
and wives, from Eph. v. 22 33 j and have reafon to think
this was a word in feafon. Spent fome time further in the
evening in inculcating the truths I had infifted upon in my
former difcourfe respecting the barren fig tree, and obferved
a powerful influence ftill accompany what was fpoken.
December 26. This evening I was vifited by a perfon un-
der great fpiritual excrcife the mofl: remarkable inflance
of this kind I ever faw. She was a woman of (I believe) more
than fourfcore years old, and appeared to be much broken and
very childifh through age, fo that it feemed impcfTible for
man to inftil into her mind any notions of divine things, not
fo much as to give her any doctrinal infhucticn, becaufe (he
feemed incapable of being taught. She was led by the
hand into my houfe, and appeared in extreme anguifli. I afk-
ed her, what ailed her ! She anfwered, " That her heart was
" ohftfefied, and (he feared (lie ftiould never find Chrift." I
alked her, when fhe began to be concerned ? with divers o-
ther queftions relating to her diltrefs. To all which fhe an-
AMONG THE INDIANS, 425
fwered, for fubftance, to this effecl, viz. That me had
heard me preach many times, but never knew any thing about
it, never" felt it in her heart," till the lafl Sabbath j and then
it came ((he faid) " all one as if a neadle had been thruft into
" her heart j" iince which time, (lie had no reft day nor night.
She added that on the evening before Chriftmas a number
of Indians being together at the houfe where (he was, and
difcourfing about Chrift, their talk pricked her heart, fo that
(he could not (it up, but fell down on her bed j at which time
fiie went away, (as me expreffed it), and felt as if (he dream-
ed, and yet is confident (he did not dream. When (he was thus
gone, (lie (aw, (lie fays, two paths, one appeared very broad and
crooked ; and that, (hejfays, turned to the left hand : The other
appeared llrait and very narrow , and that went up the hill
to the right hand. She travelled, (he fait!, for fome time up
the narrow right-hand path, till at length fomething feemed
to obftruft her journey. She forwetimes called it darknefs,
and then defcribed it otherwife, and feemed to compare it to
a block or bar; She then remembered, fhe fays, what (he
had heard me fay about " driving to enter in at the (Irait
" gate," (although (lie took little notice of it at the time
when (he heard me difcourfe upon that fubjecl), and thought
(he would climb over this bar, But juft a$ (lie was thinking
of this (lie came back again, as (lie termed it, meaning that
(he came to herfelf ; whereupon her foul was extremely dif-
treiTed, apprehending (he had now turned back and forfaken
Chrift, and that there was therefore no hope of mercy for
her.
As I was fenfible that trances, and imaginary views of
things, are of dangeroustendency in religion, when fought after
and depended upon -, fo i could not but be much concerned a-
bout this exercife, efpecially at fSrft : apprehending this might
be a defign of Satan to bring a bleraHh upon the work of
God here, by introducing viiionary fcenes, imaginary terrors,
and all manner of mental diforders and delations, in the room,
of genuine convictions of fin, and t''e enlightening innu >:M:S
of the bleif*d Spirit j and I was almoft refolded toy---' ',
that I looked upon this to be one of Satan's devices, and to
H h h
4^ DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
caution my people againft it, and the like exercifes, as fuch,
However, I determined firft to enquire into her knowledge,
to fee whether (lie had any juft views of things, that might
be the occafion of her prefent diftrefling concern, or whether
it was a mere fright arifing only from imaginary terrors. I
aked her divers queftions refpefting man's primitive, and
more efpecially his prefent flate, and reflecting her own
heart j which (he anfvvered rationally, and to my furprife.
And I thought it was next to impoffible, if not altogether fo,
that a Pagan who was become a child through age, (hould in
that ftate gain fo much knowledge by any mere human in-
ftru&itfn, without being remarkably enlightened by a divine
influence,
I then propofed to her the provifion made in the gofpel for
the falvation of Tinners, and the ability and willingnefs of
Chrift " to fave to the uttermoll all (old as well as young)
" that come to him." To which me feemed to give a hearty
aiTent. But inftantly replied, " Ay, but 1 cannot come ;
" my wicked heart will not come to Chrift ; I do not know
" how to come," &c. And this me fpoke in an'guifli of fpi-
rit, finking on her breaft, with tears in her eyes, and with
&ch earneftnefs in her loeks as was indeed piteous and affect-
ing.
She feems to be really convinced of her fin and mifery,.
aud her neeed of a change of heart : and her concern is abi-
ding and conftant. So that nothing appears but that this ex-
crcife may have a Hiving iffue. And indeed it feems hopefuf,
feeing me is fo folicitous to obtain an interefl in Chrift, that
her heart (as fhe expreffes it) prays day and night.
How far God may make ufe of the imagination in awaken-
ing fome perfons under thefe and fuch like circumftances, I
cannot pretend to determine. Or whether this exeicife I
have given an account of, be from a divine influence, I fhali
leave others to judge. But this 1 muft fay, that its effecls-
hitherto befpeak it to be fuch : nor can it (as I fee) be ac-
counted for in a rational way, but from the influence of
fome fpirit, either good or evil. For the woman I am fure,
never heard divine things treated of in the manner (lie new
viewed them in j and it would feem ftrange {he fliould get fa
AMONG THE INDIANS. 42 7
a rational notion of them from the mere working of her own
fancy, without fome fuperior, or at leaft foregin aid. And
yet I muft fay, I have looked upon it as one of the glories of
this work of grace among the Indians, and a fpecial evidence
of its being from a divine influence, that there has, till novr,
been no appearance of fuch things, no vifionary notions,
trances, and imaginations intermixed with thofc rational con-
victions of fin, and folid confolations, that numbers have
been made the fubjefts of. And might I have had my defire,
there had been no appearance of any thing of this nature at
all.
December 28. Difcourfed to my people in the catechetical
method I lately entered upon. And in the improvement of
my difcourfe, wherein I was comparing man's prefent with
his primitive ftate, and (hewing what he had fallen from,
and the miferies he is now involved in, and expofed to in his
natural flate, and preffing tinners to take a view of their de-
plorable circumftances without Chrift 5 as alfo to ftrive that
they might obtain an intereft in him ; the Lord, I truft,
granted a remarkable influence of his bleffed Spirit to accom-
pany what was fpoken, and theie was a great concern, ap-
peared in the affembly : many were melted into tears and
fobs, and the impreffions made upon them feemed deep aryj
heart affecting, and in particular, there were two or three
perfons who appeared to be brought to the laft exercifes of a
preparatory work, and reduced almoft to extremity } being in
a great meafure convinced of the impofiibility of their help-
ing themfelves, or of mending their own hearts ; and feemed
to be upon the point of giving up all hope of themfelves, and
venturing upon Chrift as naked, helplefs and undone. And
yet were in diftrefs and anguim, becaufe they faw no fafety in
fo doing. $ unlefs they could do fomething towards faving
themfelves.
One of thefe perfons was the very aged woman above mer.r
tion,ed, who now appeared " weary and heavy laden" with a
fenfe of her fin and mifery, and her periming need of an inte.-
reft in Chrift.
Lord's Day, December 29. Preached from John iii. I 5.
A number of white peo.ple were prefent, as is ufual upon thp
4 ? DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
Sabbath. The difcourfc was accompanied with power, and
feemed to have a lilent but deep and piercing influence upon
the audience. Many wept and fobbed affectionately. And
theie were fome tears among the white people as well as the
Indians. Some could not refrain from crying cut, though
there were not many fo exercifed. But the impreflions made
npon their hearts appeared chiefly by the extraordinary
earneftnefs of their attention, and their heavy fighs and tears.
After public wormip was over, I went to my houfe, pro-
pofing to preach again after a fhort feafon of intermiflion.
But they foon came in one after another, with tears in their
eyes, to know *' what they ihould do to be faved." And
the divine Spirit in fuch a manner fet home upon their hearts
what I fpoke to them, that the houfe was foon filled with
cries and groans. They all flocked together upon this oc-
cafion ; and thofe whom I had reafon to think in a Chriillefs
flate, were almofl univerfally ieized with concern for their
fouls.
It was an amazing feafon of power among them, and feem-
cd as if God had " bowed the heavens and come down."
So aftonifliingly prevalent was the operation upon old as well
as young, that it feemed as if none would be left in a fecure
and natural ftate, but that God was now about to convert all
the world. And 1 was ready to think then, that I ihould ne-
ver again defpair of the converfion of any man or woman li-
ving, be they who or what they would.
It is impofllble to give a juft and lively defcription of the
appearance of things at this feafon at leaft fuch as to con-
vey a bright and adequate idea of the efFecl of this influence.
A number might now be feen rejoicing that God had not
taken away the powerful influence of his bleiTed Spirit from
this place. Refredied to fee fo many " ilriving to enter in
" at the ftrait gate j" and animated with fuch concern for
them, that they wanted " to pufh them forward," as fome of
them cxpreffed it. At the fame time numbers both of men
and women, old and young, might be feen in tears, and fome
in anguifh of fpirit, appearing in their very countenances, like
condemned malefaclors bound towards the place of execu-
tion, with a heavy folicilude fitting in their faces : fo that
A M N G THE I N D I A. tf S. 423
there fcemecl here (as I thought) a lively emblem of the fo-
lemn day of accounts a mixture of heaven and hell 5 of joy
unfpeakable and anguiih inexprefiible.
The concern and religious affcdion was fuch, that I could
not pretend to have any formal religious exercifes among them,
but fpend the time in difcourliag to one and another, as I
thought moft proper and feafonable for each, and /ometimes
addieflTed them altogether, and finally concluded with prayer.
Such were their circumftances at this fcafon, that I could
fcarce have half an hour's reft from fpcaking from about half
an hour before twelve o'clock, (at which time I began public
worfhip), till pail (even at night.
There appeared to be four or five perfons newly awakened
this day and the evening before, fome of whom but very late-
ly came among us.
December 30. Was vifited by four or five young perfons
under concern for their fouls, moft of whom were very lately
awakened. They wept much while 1 difcouifed to them,
and endeavoured to prefs upon them the necefiity of flying to
Chrift, without delay, for falvation.
December 31. Spent fome hours this day in vifiting ray-
people from houfe to houfe, and converfing with them about
their fpiritual concerns ; endeavouring to prefs upon Chriftlefs
fouls the neceflity of a renovation of heart j and fcarce left a
houfe without leaving forae or other of its inhabitants in
tears, appearing folicitoufly engaged to obtain an intereft in
Chrift.
The Indians are now gathered together from all quarters
to this place, and have built thrm little cottages, fo that more
than twenty families live within a quarter of a mile of me.
A very convenient fituation in regard both of public and pri-
vate inftru6lion.
January i. 1745-6. Spent fome ccnfiderable time in vifiu
ing my people again. Found fcarce one but what was under
fome ferious imprefiions refpedling their Spiritual concerns.
January 2. Vifited fome perfons newly come among us,
who had fcarce ever heard any thing of Chriftianity except
the empty name before. Endeavoured to initrucl them par-
43 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED.
ticularly in the inft principles of religion, in the molt eafy and
familiar manner I could.
There are ftrangers from remote parts almofl continually
dropping in amon<; us, fo that I have occasion repeatedly to
open and inculcate the firft principles of GhrillJanity.
January 4. Profecuted my catechetical method of inftrucl-
ing.- Found my people able to anfwer queftions with pro^
priety, beyond what could haye been expected from perfcns.
fo lately brought out of heathenifh darknefs.
In the improvement of my difcourfe, there appeared fome
ccacern and affection in the aiTcmbly ; and efpecially thofe of
whoni I entertained hopes as being truly gracious, at lead di-
vers of them, were much affected and refremed.
Lord's Day, January 5. Difcourfed from Matth. xii. to. to
13. There appeared not fo much livelinefs and affection in di-
vine fervice as ufual. The fame truths that have often pro-
duced many tears and fobs in the afTembly, feemed now to.
have no fpecial influence upon any in it.
Near night I propofedto have proceeded in my ufual me-
thod of chatechifing. But while we were engaged in the firft
prayer the power of God feemed to defcend upon the aflem-
b!y in fuch a remarkable manner, and fo many appeared under:
prefling concern for their fouls, that I thought it much more
expedient to infift upon the plentiful provilion made by di-
viae grace for the redemption of periling finners, and to
prefs them to a fpeedy acceptance of the great falvation, than
to afk them queftions about doclrinal points. What was mofl
practical feemed more feafonable to be infilled upon, while
numbers appeared fo extraordinarily folicitous to obtain an in-
tereft inj:be great Redeemer.
Baptized two perfons this day ; one adult (the woman par-
ticularly mentioned in my Journal of December 22.) and one
cliild.
This woman has difcovered a very fweet and heavenly
frame of mind, from time to time, fince her firft reception of
comfort. One morning in particular (he came to fee me, dif-
covering an unufual joy and fatisfaclion in her countenance :
and when 1 enquired into the reafon of it, (he replied, " That
" God had made her feel that it was right for him to do what
AMONG THE INDIANS. 43!
" he pleafcd with 1 I , s :, a...! :'.)it it would be right ifhe
" fnould cafi her hufband andfon both into hell j and (he faw
" it was fo tight for God to do what he pleafed with them,
" that {he could not but rejoice if God fhould fend them into
" hell j" though it was apparent fhe loved them dearly.
She moreover inquired, whether I was not fent to preach to
the Indians by fome good people a great way off. I replied,
Yes, by the good people in Scotland. She anfwered, that
her heart loved thefe good people fo, the evening before,
" that fhe could fcarce help praying for them all night, her
" heart would go to God for them," &c. j fo that " the bleff-
" ing of thofe ready to perifli is like to come upon thofe
" pious perfons who have communicated of their fubftance
" to the propagation of the gofpel."
January n. Difcourfed in a catechetical method, as ufnal
of late. And having opened our firft parents primitive a~
poflacy from God, and our fall in him, I proceeded to im-
prove my difcourfe, by (hewing the neceffity we flood in of
an almighty Redeemer, and the abfolute need every firmer
has of an intereft in his merits and mediation. There was
fome tendernefs and affectionate concern appeared in the
affembly. .
Lord's Day, January 12. Preached from If. Iv. 6. The
word of God feemed to fall upon the audience with a divine
weight and influence, and evidently appeared to be " not the
" word of man." The bleffed Spirit, I am perfuaded, ac-
companied what was fpoken to the hearts of many. So that
there was a powerful revival of conviction in numbers wha
were under fpiritual exercife before.
Toward night, catechifed in my ufual method. Near the
clofe of my difcourfe, there appeared a great concern, and
much affeclion in the audience. Which increafed while I con-
tinued to invite them to come to an all-fufficient Redeemer
for eternal falvation.
The Spirit of God feems, from time to time, to be ftriving
with numbers of fouls here. They are fo frequently and re-
peatedly rouzed, that they feem unable at prefent to lull them-
felves afleep.
January 13. Was vifited by divers perfons under deep
432 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
concern for their fouls ; one oi whom was aewly awakened
It is a mod agreeable work to treat with fouls who are foli-
citoufly enquiring " what they (hall do to be faved." And as
we are never to <; be weary in well-doing," fo the obligation
feenis to be peculiarly ftrcng when the work is fo very defi-
rable. And yet I mu ft fay, my health i&fo much impaired,
and my fpirits fo wafted with my labours and folitary manner
of living there being no human creature in th houfe with
me that their repeated and almoft incefiant application to
me for help and direction, are fometimes exceeding burden-
fome, and fo exhauft my fpirits that I become fit for nothing
at all, entirely unable to profecute my buiinefs fometimes for
days together. And what contributes much toward this diffi-
culty is, that I am obliged to fpend much time in communi-
cating a little matter to them , there being oftentimes many
things neceflary to be premifed, before I can fpeak directly to
what I principally aim at ; which things would readily be ta-
ken for granted, where there was a competency of doctrinal
knowledge.
January 14. Spent fome time in private conferences with
my people, and found fome difpofed to take comfort, as I
thought, upon flighty grounds. They are now generally
awakened, and it is become fo difgraceful, as well as terrify-
ing to the confcience, to be deftitute of religion, that they
are in imminent danger of taking up with any appearances of
grace, father than to live under the fear and difgrace of an un-
regenerate fiate.
January 18. Profecuted my catechetical method of dif-
courfing. There appeared a great folemnity, and fome con-
fiderable affection in the aiicmbly.
This method of inilrucling I find very profitable. When
I firft entered upon it, I was exercifed with fears, left my
difcourfes would unavoidably be fo doctrinal that they would
tend only to enlighten the head, but not to aucct the heart;
But the event proves quite otherwife ; for thefe exercifes have
hitherto been remarkably bleffbd in the latter, as well as the
former refpects.
Lord's Day, January 19. Difconrfed to my people from If.
lv. 7. Toward night catechifed in my ordinary method.
AMONG THE INDIANS. 433
And this appeared to be a powerful feafon of grace among
us. Numbers were much affected Convictions powerfully
revived ^Divers of theChriftians refremed anc} flrengthened.
And one weary heavy-laden foul, I have abundant reafon
to hope, brought to true reft and folid comfort in Chrift, who
afterwards gave me fuch an account of God's dealing with his
foul, as was abundantly Satisfying, as well as refrefliing to
me.
He told me, he had often heard me fay, that perfons muft
fee and feel themfelves utterly helplefs and undone , that they
mud be emptied of a dependance upon themfelves, and of all
hope of faving themfelves by their own doings, in order to
their coming to Chri-il for falvation. And he had long been
ftriving after this view of things ; fuppofing this would be an
excellent frame of mind to be thus emptied of a dependence
upon his own goodnefs j that God would have refpect to this
frame, would then be well pleafed with him, and beftow eter-
nal life upon him. - But when he came to feel himfelf in
this helplefs undone condition, he found it quite contrary to
all his thoughts and expectations ; fo that it was not the fame,
nor indeed any thing like the frame he had been fec.king after:
Inflead of its being a good frame of mind, he now found no-
thing but badnefs in himfelf, and fawit was for ever impoflible
for him to make himfelf any better. He wondered, he faid,
that he had ever hoped to mend his own heart. He was a-
mazed he had never before feen that it was utterly i
for him by all his contrivances and endeavours, to do any
thing that way, fince the matter now appeared to him in fo
clear a light. - Inflead of imagining now, that God would
be pleafed with him for the fake of this frame of mind, ard
this view of his undone eftate, he faw clearly, and felt it would
be jufl with God to fend him to eternal mifery j and "that
there was no goodnefs in what he then, felt ; for he could not
help feeing, that he was naked, finful and miferable, and there
was nothing in fuch a fight to defervc God's love 01 pity.
He faw thefe things in a manner fo clear and convincing,
that it feemed to him, he faid, he could convince every body
of their utter inability ever to help themfelves, and their un-
worthinefs of any help from God.
lii
434 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
In this frame of mind he came to public worfliip this even-
ing ; and while I was inviting finners to come to Chrift naked
and empty, without any goodnefs of their own to recommend
them to his acceptance, then he thought with himfelf, that
he had often tried to come and give up his heart to Chrift, and
he ufed to hope, that fome time or other he fliould be able to
do To. But now he was convinced he could not, and it ftem-
ed utterly vain for him ever to try any more : and he could
Kot, he faid, find a heart to make any further attempt, be-
caufe he faw it would fignify nothing at all : nor did he now
hope for a better opportunity, or more ability hereafter, as
he had formerly done, becaufe he faw, and was fully convin-
ced, his own ftrength would for ever fail.
While he was -muling in this manner, he faw, he faid,
with his heart (which is a common phrafe among them) fome-
thing that was unfpeakably good and lovely, and what he had
never feen before , and " this ftole away his heart whether he
" would or no." He did not, he faid, know what it was he
faw. He did not fay, " this is Jefus Chrift j" but it was fuck
glory and beauty as he never faw before. He did not now
give away his heart fo as he had formerly intended, and at-
tempted to do, but it went away of itfelf after that glory he
then difcovered. He ufed to try to make a bargain with
Chrift, to give up his heart to him, that he might have eter-
nal life for it. But now he thought nothing about himfelf,
or what would become of him hereafter j but was pleafed,
and his mind wholly taken up, with the unfpeakable excellen-
cy of what he then beheld.
After fome time he was wonderfully pleafed with the way
of falvation by Chrift j fo that it feemed unfpeakably better to
be faved altogether by the mere free grace of God in Chrift,
than to have any hand in faving himfelf And the confe-
quence of this exercife is, that he appears to retain a fenfe
and reliih of divine things, and to maintain a life of feriouf-
nefs and true religion;
January 28. The Indians in thefe parts having in times paft
run themfelves in debt by their exceftive drinking j and fome
having taken the advantage of them, and put them to trouble
and charge by arrefting fundry of them > whereby it was fup-
AMONG THE INDIANS. , 435
pofed 3 great body of their hunting lands were much endan-
gered, and might fpeedily be taken from them and I being
fenfible that they could not fubfift together in thefe parts, in
order to their being a Chriftian congregation, if thefe lands
fhould drop out of their hands, which was thought very like-
ly, thought it my duty to ufe my utmoft endeavours to pre-
vent fo unhappy an event. And having acquainted the gentle-
men concerned with this miffion of this affair, according to
the beft information I could get of it, they thought it- proper
to expend the money they had been, and ftill were collecting
for the religious interefts of the Indians^ (at leaft a part of it),
for the difcharging of their debts, and fecuring of tiiefe lands,
that there might be no entanglement lying upon them to hin-
der the fettlernent and hopeful enlargement of a Chritfian con-
gregation of Indians in thefe parts. And having received
orders from them, I anfwered, in behalf of the Indians, Eigh-
ty-two pounds five (hillings, New-Jerfey currency, at eight
millings per ounce j and fo prevented the danger of difficulty.
in this refpecl. .
As God has wrought a wonderful work of grace among
thefe Indians, and now inclines others from remote places to.
fall in among them almoft continually ; and as he has opened
a door for the prevention of the difficulty now mentioned,
which feemed greatly to threaten their religious interefts, as
well as worldly comfort j it is hopeful he defigns to eilablifii
a. church for himfelf among them $ and to hand down true re-
ligion to their pofterity,
January 30. Preached to the Indians from John- iii. 16,
17. There was a folerrm attention and fome affection vilible
in the audience ; efpecially divers perfons who had long been
concerned for their fouls, feemed afrelh excited and engaged,
in feeking after an intereft in Chriit. And one, with much
concern, afterwards told me, " his -heart was fo pricked with,
** my preaching, he knew not where- to turn .nor .what to do."
January 31. This day the perfon I had made choice of and.
engaged for a fchoolmailer, among the Indians, arrived among
us, and was heartily welcomed by my people univerfally.-
Whereupon I diftributed feveral dozen of primers among the,
children and young people.
43$ D I V I N 5 GRACE DISPLAYED
February I. 17456. My fchoolmafter entered upon his
bufinefs among the Indians. He has generally about thirty
children and young perfons in his fchool in t'.ie day-time, and
about fifteen married people in his evening fchool the num-
ber of the latter fort of perfons being lefs than it would be, if
they could be more conltant at home, and fpare time from
their neceffary employments for an attendance upon thefe in-
ftruclions.
In the evening catechifed in my ufual method. Towards
the clofe of my difcourfe, a furprifing power feemed to at-
tend the word, efpecially to fome perfon?. One man confi-
derably in years, who had been a remarkable drunkard, a con-
jurer and murderer, that was awakened fome months before,
was now brought to great extremity under his fp.ritud dif-
treff, fo that he trembled for hours together, and apprehended
himfelf jufl dropping into hell, without any power to refcue
or relieve himfelf. Divers others appeared under great con-
cern as w r ell as he, and felicitous to obtain a faving change.
Lord's Day, February 2. Preached from John v. 24,25.
There appeared (as ufual) fome concern and affection in the
aliembly.
Toward night proceeded in my ufual method of catechiiing.
Obfcrved my people more ready in answering the queftions
propofed to them than ever before. It is apparent they ad-
vance daily in doclrinal knowledge. But what is Hill more de-
firable,the Spirit of God is yet operating among them, where-
by experimental, as well as fpeculative knowledge, is propaga-
ted in their minds.
February 5. Difcourfed to a ccnfiderable Dumber of the
Indians in the evening j at which time divers of them appear-
ed much affected and melted with divine things.
February 8. Spent a confiderable part of the day in vifitirsg
my people from houfe to houfe, and converging with them
about their fouls concerns. Divers perfons wept while I dif-
courfed to them, and appeared concerned for nothing fo much
as for an intereft in the great Redeemer.
In tfee evening catechifed as ufual. Divine truths made
fome impreffion upon the audience, and were attended with
an affectionate engagement of foul in feme,
A M O tt G THE I N D I A !N T S. 437
Lord's Day, February 9. Difcourfed to my people from the
ftory of the blind man, Matth. x. 46 52. The word of
God feemed weighty and powerful upon the afiembly at this
time, and made confiderable irnpreffions upon many j divers
in particular who have generally been remarkably ftupid and
carelefs under the means of grace, were now awakened, and
wept affectionately : And the moil earned attention, as well
as tendernefs and afFe&ion, appeared in the audience univer-
fally.
Baptized three perfons, two adults and oae child. The
adults, I have reafon to hope, were both truly pious. There
was a coniiclerable melting in the affcmbly, while I was dif-
couriing particularly to the perfons, and administering the or-
dinance.
God has been plcafed to own and blefs the admir.iftration
of this, as well as of his other ordinances, among the Indians.
There are fomc here that have been pov.-erfully awakened at
feeing others baptifed ;- and force that have obtained relief
and comfort, juft in the feafon when this ordinance has been
adminiftered.
Toward night catcchifcd. God made this a powerful fea-
fon to fome. There were many affected. Former con-
victions appeared to be powerfully revived. There was like-
wife one, who had been a vile drunkard, remarkably awaken-
ed. He appeared to be in great anguifh of foul, wept and
trembled, and continued fo to do till near midnight.
There was alfo a poor heavy-laden foul who had been long
under fpiritual diftrefs, as conftant and prefling as ever I faw,
that was now brought to a comfortable calm, and feemed to
be bowed and reconciled to divine fovereignty j and told rr.?,
" She now faw and felt it was right God Ihould do with her
** as he pleafed. And her heart felt pleafed and fatisfied it
" mould be fo" Although of late {he had found her
heart rife and quarrel with God becaufe he would, if he plea-
fed, fend her to hell after all Hie had done or could do to
fave herfelf, &c. And added that the. heavy burden (lie had
lain under, was now removed j that ihe had tried to recover
her concern and dillrefs again, fearing that the Spirit of God
43$ DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
was departing from her, anJ wot leave her wholly carelefs,
but that flue could not recover it : that (he felt fhe never
could do any thing to fave herfelf, but muft perifh for ever if
Chrift did not do all for her : that me did not defcrve he
fhould help her ; and that it would be right if he fhould leave
her to perifh.. But Chrift could fave her, though fhe could da
nothing to fave herfelf, &c. And here fhe feemed to reft.
Forks of Delaware^ in Pcnfylvania, 1745-6.
Lord's Day, February 16. I knowing that divers of the In-
dians in thofe parts were obftinately fet againft Chrifliamty,
and that fome of them had refufed to hear me preach in times.
palt, thought it might be proper and beneficial to the Chrif-
tian intereft here to have a number of my religious people
from Grofweekfung with me, in order to converfe with them
about religious matters ; hoping it might be a means to con-
vince them of the truth and importance of Chriitianity, to fee
and hear fome of their own nation difcourfing of divine things,..
and mani letting carneft defires that others might be brought
out of Heathenifh darknefs, as themfelves were.
And having taken half a dozen of the moftferious and know-
ing perfons for this purpofe, I this day met with them and
the Indians of this place, (fundry of whom probably could
not have been prevailed upon to attend the meeting, had it
r.ot been for thefe religious Indians that accompanied me
here), and preached to them.- -Some of them who had in
times pad been extremely aveife to Chriftianity, now be-
haved foberly, and fome others laughed and mocked. How-
ever the word of God fell with fuch w eight and power, that
fundry feemed to be ilunned and expreffed a wilingnefs to*
" hear me again of thefe matters."
Afterwards prayed with, and made an addrefs to the white
people prefent, and could not but obferve fome vifible effects
of the word, fucn as tears and fobs, among them.
After public worfhip, fpent fome time, and took pains to
convince thofe that mocked of the truth and importance of.
what I had been infifting upon , and fo endeavoured to a-
AMONG THE INDIANS. 439
wrken their attention to divine truths. And had reafon to
think, from what I obferved then and afterwards, that my
endeavours took confiderable effect upon one of the worft of
them.
Thofe few Indians then prefent, who ufed to be my hear-
rs in thefe parts, (fome having removed from hence to Crof-
weekfung), feemed fomewhat kindly difpofed toward, and
glad to fee me again, although they had been fo much attack-
ed by fome of the oppofmg Pagans, that they were almoft a-
fhamed or afraid to mamfeft their friendship.
February 17. After having fpent much time in difcourfing
to the Indians in their refpe&ive houfes, I got them toge-
ther, and repeated and inculcated what I had before taught
them.
Afterwards difcourfed to them from A&s viii. 5 8. A
divine influence feemed to attend the word. Sundry of the
Indians here appearad to be fomewhat awakened, and mani-
fefted a concern of mind, by their eaineft attention, tears and
fobs. My people from Crofweekfunj continued with them
day and night, repeating and inculcating the truths 1 had
taught them: and fometimes prayed and fungpfalms among
tbem j difcourfing with each other, in their hearing, of the
great things God had done for them, and for the Indians
from whence they came . which feemed (as my people told
me) to take more effeft upon them, than when they directed
their difcourfes immediately to them.
February 18. Preached to an affembly of Irifli people near
fifteen miles diilant from the Indians.
February 19. P-reached to the Indians again, after having
fpent confiderable tnve in converting with them more private-
ly. There appeared a great folemnity, and fome concern
and affection among the Indians belonging to thefe parts, as
well as a fweet melting among thofe who crime with me.
Divers of the Indians here feemed to have their prejudices
and averfion to Chrifliauity removed, and appeared well dif-
pofed and inclined to hear the word of God.
February 20. Preached to a fmall affembly of High-Dutch
people, who had feidom heard the golpel preached, and were
(fome of them &t leafl) very ignorant 5 but have divers of them
44 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
lately been put upon an enquiry after the way of falvation,
with fome thoughtfulnefs. They gave wonderful attention,
and fome of them were much affc&ed under the word, and
afterwards faid, (as I was informed], that they never had been
fo much enlightened about the way of falvation in their whole
Jives before. They icquefted me to tarry with them, or
come again and preach to them. And it grieved me that I
could not comply with their requeft, for I could not but be
aiFecled with their circure fiances ; they being as " iheeep not
having a fhepherd," and fome cf them appearing under
fome degree of foul-trouble, Handing in peculiar need of the
afllilance cf an experienced fpi ritual guide.
February 21. Preached to a number of people, many of
them Low-Dutch. Sundry of the forementioned High-Dutch
attended the fermon, though tight or ten miles diftant from
their houfes. Divers of the Indians alio belonging to thefe
parts came of their own accord with my people (from Crof-
weekfung) to the meeting. And there were two in particular
who, the laft Sabbath, oppofed and ridiculed Chriftianity. that
vrerenow prefent and behaved foberiy. May theprefent encou-
raging appearance continue.
February 22. Preached to the Indians. They appeared
more free from prejudice, and more cordial to Chriihanity
than before. And fome of them appeared affecled with di-
vine truths.
Lord's Day, February 23. Preached to the Indians from
John vi. 35 37. After public fervice, difcourfed particu-
larly with fundry of them, and invited them to go down to
Crofvveekfung, and tarry there at leaft for fome time j know-
ing they would then be free from the feoffs and temptations
of the oppofing Pagans, as well as in the way of hearing di-
vine truths difcourfed of, both in public and private : And
got a promifc of fome of them, that they would fpeedily pay
-us avifit, and attend fome further inftruaions. They ieera-
ed to be confiderably enlightened, and much freed from their
prejudices again ft Chrirrinnity. But it is much to be feared
their prejudcies will revive again, unlefs they could enjoy the
means of inftrufHon -here, or be removed where they might
AMONG THE INDIANS. 44!
be under fuch advantages, and out of the way of their Pagan
acquaintance.
Crrjfwe styling in New- Jerfey. 1745-6,
March I . Catechifed in my ordinary method. Was plea-
fed and refreihed to fee them anfwer the queitions propofed to
them with fuch remarkable readinefs, difcretion, and know-
ledge.
Toward the clofe of my difcouife, divine truths made con-
fiderable imprefiions upon the audience, and produced tears
and fobs in fome under concern , and more efpecially a fweet
and humble melting in fundry who, 1 have reafon to hope, are
truly gracious.
Lord's Day, March 2. Preached from John xv. I---6
The affembly appeared not fo lively in their attention as ufual,
nor fo much afTe&ed with divine truths in general as has been
common.
Some of my people who went up to the Forks of Dalaware
Tvith me, being now returned, were accompanied by two of
the Indians belonging to the Forks, who had promifed me a
fpeedy vifit. May the Lord meet with them here. They
can fcarce go into a houie now, but they will meet with Chri-
ftian converfation, whereby, it is hopeful, they may be both
inftrufted and awakened.
Difcourfed to t'>e Indians again in the, afternoon, and ob-
ferved among them fome livelinefs and engagment in divine
fervice though not equal to what has often appeared here.
I know of no alterably of Chriftians, where there feems to
be fo much of the prefence of God, where brotherly love fo
much prevails, and where 1 fliould tak*^ fo much delight in
the public worflnp of God, in the general, as in my own con-
gregation : although not more than nine months ago, they
v.-er-e worshipping devils and dumb idols, under the power of
P.igan darknefs and fuperilition. Amazing change this! effected
by nothing lefs than divine power and grace ! " This s the
" doing of the Lord, and it is juftly marvelous in our ey > !"
March 5. Spent fome time juft at evening in grayer, fing-
K kk
44^ DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
ing. a-nd difcourfing to my people upon divine things j and ob-
ferved Tome agreeable tendernefs and affection among them.
Their prefent lituation is fo compact and commodious,
that they are eafily and quickly called together with only the
found of a Conk fliell, (a Ihell like that of a Perwinkle), fo-
that they have frequent opportunities of attending religious
exeicifes publicly ; which feems to be a great means, under
God, of keeping alive the impreflions of divine things in their
mind.
March 8. Catechifed in the evening. My people anfwer-
ed the queltions propofed to them well. I can perceive their
knowledge in religion increafes daily. And what is ftill
more defirable, the divine influence that has been fo remark-
able among them, appears full to continue in fome good mea-
fure. The divine prefence feemed to be in the affembly this
evening. Some, who I have good reafon to think are Chrif-
tians indeed, were melted with a fenfe of the divine goodnefs,
and their own barrennefs and ingratitude, and feerned to hate
themfelvcs, as one of them afterwards expreffed it. Con-
victions alfo appeared to be revived in feveral inftances j and
divine truths were attended with fuch influence upon the af-
fembly in general, that it might juftly be called " an evening
** of divine power."
Lord's Day, March 9. Preached from Luke x. 38 42.
The word of God was attended with power and energy upon
the audience : Numbers were affected and concerned to ob-
tain the one thing needful : And fundry who have given
good evidences of their being truly gracious, were much af-
fected with afenfe of their want of fpirituality ; and faw the
need they flood in of growing in grace. And moft that had
-been under any invprefiions of divine things in time paft,
feemed IK>W to have thofe impreflions revived.
In the afternoon propofed to have catechifed in my ufual
method. But while we were engaged in the firfl prayer m
the Indian language, (as ufual), a great part of the hflembly
was fo much moved, and affected with divine things, that I
thought it feafonable and proper to omit the propofing of quef-
tions for that time, and infill upon the moft practical truths.
And accordingly I did fo 5 making a farther improvement of
AMONG THE INDIANS. 443
the paffage of fcripture I difcourfed upon in the former part
of the day.
There appeared to be a powerful divine influence in the
congregation. Sundry that I have reafon to think are truly
pious, were to deeply arlscied with a fenfe of their own bar-
rennefs, and their unworthy treatment of the bleffed Redeem-
er, that they looked on him as pierced by themfelves, and
mourned, yea, fome of them were in bitternefs as for a firft-
born. Some poor awakened finners alfo appeared to be in an-
guifh of foul to obtain an interefc in Chrlft. So that there
was a great mourning in the aftembly ; many heavy groans,
lobs, and tears! and one or two perfons newly come among
us, were confiderably awakened.
Methinks it would have refi-efhed the heart of any who tru-
ly love Zion's intereft. to have been in the midft of this di^
vine influence, and feen the effects of it upon faints and fin-
ners. The place of divine worfhip appeared both foleron and
fweet ! and was fo endeared by a difplay of the divine prefence
and grace, that thofe who had any relilh of divine things,
could not but cry, " How amiable are -thy tabernacles, O Lord
of hofts !"
After public worfliip was over, numbers came to my houfe,
where we fang and difcourfed of divine things ; and the pre-
fence of God feemed here alfo to be in the midft of us.
While we were Tinging-, there was one, (the woman men-
tioned in my Journal of February 9.) who, I may venture t&
fay, if I may be allowed to fay fo much of any perfon I ever
faw, was " rilled with joy unfpeakable and full of glory," and
could not but burft forth in prayer and praifes to God before
us all, with many tears, crying fometimes in Englifti and fome-
times in Indian, " O bkiTed Lord, do come, do come ! O
" do take me away, do let me die and go to Jefus Chrilr. !
" I am afiaid if I live I mail fin again ! O do let me die
" no i v ! O dear Jefus-, do come ! I cannot ftay, 1 cannot ftay !
" O how can I live in this world ! do take my foul away
u from this finful place ! O let me never fin any more ! O
" what (hall I do, what (hall I do ! dear Jefus, O dear Jefus,"'
&c. In this ecflacy (lie continued fome time, uttering thefe
Sfld.fpch like exprcfuons inceflantly And the grand argii-
444 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
mer.t flie ufed with God to take her away immediately, was,
that " if (he lived, (he fhould fin againfl him."
When (lie had a little recovered herfelf, I afked her, If
Chrift was not now fweet to her foul ? Whereupon, turning to
me with tears in her eyes, and with all the tokens of deep
humility I everfaw in any perfon, (he faicl, " I have many
*' times heard you fpeak of the goodnefs and fweetnefs of
'* Chrift, that he was better than all the world. But O ! I
*' knew nothing what you meant, I never believed you! I ne-
" ver believed you ! But now I know it is true !" Or words
to that effedl. I anfwered, And do you fee enough in Chrift
for the greateft of finners ? She replied, " O ! enough, e-
nough ! for all the fmners in the world, if they would but
" come." And when I afked her, if fhe could not tell, them
of the goodnefs of Chrift j turning herfelf round to fome poor
Chrifilefs fouls who flood by, and were much affected, Hie faid,
" O ! there is enough in Chrift for you, if yea xvoul^ but
" come ? O ftrive, flrive to give up your hearts to hire !" &cc.
And upon hearing fomething of the glory of heaven men-
tioned, that there was no fin in that world, &c. (he again fell
into the fame ecftafy of joy, and defire of Chrift's coming,
repeating her former expreflions, " O dear Lord, do let me
" go ! O what iliall I do, what fliall I do ! I want to go to
' ; Chrift! I cannot live! O do let me die !" &c.
She continued in this fweet frame for more than two hours,
before (he was well able to get home.
I am .very fenfible there may be great joys ariiing'even to
an ecflacy, where their is no fubftantial evidence of their
being well-grounded. But in the pre'ent cafe- there feemed to
be no evidence wanting*, in order to prove this joy to be di-
vine, either in regard of its preparatives, attendants, or con.
fequents.
Of all the perfons I have feen under fpiritual exercife, I
I karce ever faw one appear raore bowed and broken under
conviction of fin and mifery (or what is ufual'y called a pre-
paratory worjv) than this woman. Nor fcarce any who feem-
ed to have a greater acquaintance with her own heart than fhe
i had. She would frequently complain to me of the hardnefs
.aud rebellion of her heart Would tell me, her heart rofo
AMONG THE INDIANS. 445
and quarrelled with God, w en (he thought he would do with
her as he pleafed, and fend her to hell notwithilanding her
m-ayers, good frames, &c. That her heart was not willing to
come to Chritt for fulvation, but tried every where elfe for
help.
And as Ihe feemed to be remarkably fenable of her ftub-
bornnefs and contrariety to God under conviction, io flis
appeared to be no lefs remarkably bowed and reconciled to
divine fovereignty before (he obtained any relief or comfort.
Something of which I have before noticed in my Journal of
February 9. Since which time (he has feemed confiantly to
breathe the fptrit and temper of the new creature : crying
after Chrift, not through fear of hell as before, but with
ftrong defires after him as her only fatisfying portion ; and
has many times wept and fobbed bitterly, becaufe (as fhe ap-
prehended) (he did not and could not love him. When I have
fometimes aiked her, W hy (he appeared fo forrowful, and
xvhethei it was becaufe ihe was afraid of hell ? She woul.l an-
fwer, " No, I be not dill reffed about that j but my heart is
*' fo wicked I cannot love Chrift j" and thereupon bur ft out
into tears. But although this has been the habitual frame of
her mind for feveral weeks together, fo that the exer.-.ife of
grace appeared evident to others, yet (he f earned wholly in-
fenfible of it herfelf, and never had any remarkable comfort,
and fenfible fatisfacYion till this evening.
This fvveet and furprifing ecftacy appeared to fpring from
a true fpiritual difcovery of the glory, ravlihing beauty and
excellency of Chrift ; and nctfiom any grofs imaginary na-
tions of his human nature \ fuch as that of feeing him in fuch
a place or pofture, as hanging on the crofs, as bleeding, dy-
ing, as gently frniling, and the like ; which delufions feme
have been carried away with. Nor did it rife from a fordid,
felfilh apprehenfion of her having any benefit whatfoever con-
ferred on her, but from a view of his perfonal excellency, and
tranfcendent lovelinefs, which drew forth thbfe vehement de-
fires of enjoying' him (he now manifefted, and made her long
" to be abfent from the body, that flic might be prefent with
4 the Lord."
44$ B I VI N E GRACE DISPLAYED
The attendants 01 thib r.\ ihin^ comiort, were fuch as a-
bundantly difcovered it k . fprhigs to t;e divine, and that it was
truly a " joy in the Holy Ghoft." Now (he viewed divine
truths as living realities ; and could fay, " 1 know thefe things
" are fo, I feel they are true !" Now her foul was refign-
ed to the divine will in the mo A tender points j fo that when
I faid to her, What if God (liould takeaway your hufbar.d
from you, (who was then very fick), hew do you thir.lv you
could bear that ? She replied, u He belongs to God and not
" to me ; he may do with him juft what he pleafes.*' Now
file had the moft tender fenf- of the evil of fin, and difcovered
the utmoil averlion to it ; longing to die that (he might be de-
livered from it. Now flie could freely trufl her all \vith
God for time and eternity. And when I queried with her,
how flic could be willing to die and leave her little infant;
and what (he thought would become of it in cafe (lie (liould ?
She anfwertd, " God will take caie of it. It belongs to Kim,
" he will take care of it." Now (lie appeared to have the
moft humbling fenfe of her own meannefs and unworthincfs,
her weaknefs and inability to preferve herfelf from fin, and to
persevere in the way of holinefs, crying, ** If 1 lire, I (hall
" fh." And I then thought I had never feei; fuch an appear-
ance of ecftacy and humility meeting in any one pcrfon in all
my life before.
The confequents of this joy are no lefs defirable and fatif-
faclory than its attendants. She fince appears to be a moft
tender, broken-hearted, affectionate, devout, and humble
Chriitian, as exemplary in life and converfation as any perfon
in my congregation. May (he ftill " grow in grace and in. .
44 the knowledge of Chrift."
March 10. Toward night the Indians met together of
their own accord, and fang, prayed, and difcourfed of divine
things among themfelves. At which time there was much
affection among them. Some who are hopefully gracious,
appeared to be melted with divine things. And fome others
feemed much concerned for their fouls. Perceiving their
engagement and affection in religious exercifes, I went a-
mong them, and prayed, and gave a word of exhortation;
and obferved two or three fomewhat affefted and concerned,.
AMONG THE INDIANS. * 447
who fcarce ever appeared to be under any religious impref.
fions before. It feemed to be a day and evening of divine
power. Numbers retained the warm impreflions of divine
things that had been made upon their minds the day before.
March 14. Was vifited by a confiderable number of my
people, and fpent fome time in religious exercifes with them.
March 15. In the evening catechifed My people anfvver-
ed the questions put to them with furprifing readinefs and
jndgment. There appeared fome warmth and feeling (enfe
of divine things among thofe who, I have reafon to hope, are
real Chriftiins, while I was difcourfing upon " peace of ccn-
" fcicnce, and joy in the Holy Ghoft." Thefe feemed quick-
ened and enlivened in divine fervice, though tfcere was not fo
much appearance of concern among thofe I have reafon to
think in a Chriftlefs ftate
Lord's Day, March 16 Preached to my congregation from
Heb. ii. i 3. Divine truths feemed to have fome confider-
able influence on many of the hearers j and produced many
tears, as well as heavy (ighs and fobs among both thofe who
have given evidences of being real Chriftians, and others alio,
And the impreflions made upon the audience, appeared in
general deep and heart- affecting j not fuperficial, noify, and
Toward night difcourfed again on the great ialvation. The
word was again attended with fome power upon the audience,
Numbers, wept affectionately and, to appearance, unfeigned-
ly -y fo that the Spirit of God feemed to be moving upon the
face of the aflembly.
Baptized the woman particularly mentioned in my Journal
oflaft Lord's Day ; who now. as well as then, appeard to be
in a devout, humble, and excellent frame of mind.
My houfe being thronged with my people in the evening,
I fpent the time in religious exercifes with them, till my na-
ture was almoft fpent. - They are fo unwearied in religious
exe rcifes, and unfatiable in their thirfting after Chriftian
knowledge, that lean fometimes fcarce avoid labouring ib as
greatly to exhaull my ftrength and fpirits.
March 19. Sundry of the perfons that went with ire to
the Forks of Delaware in February laft, having been derained
44^ DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
thereby the dangerous illnefs of ore of their company, re-
turned home but this day. Whereupon my people generally
rntt together of their own accord, in order to fpend tome
time in religious exercifcs j and in fpeciai to give thanks to
God for his prefervinggoodnefa to thofe who had been abfent
from them for feveral weeks, and recovering rntrc% to him
that had been Tick j and that he had new returned them all in
fafety. I being then abfent, they deHred my fchoolmafter
to aflift them in carrying on their religious folemr.ity ; who
tells me they appeared engaged and affectionate in repeated
prayer, Tinging, &c.
March 21. Catechifed in my ufual method in the evening.
My people anfwered queitions to my great fatisfaction.
There appeared nothing very remarkable in the affembly,
confidering what has been common among us. Although I
may juftly fay, the ftrict attention, the tendernefs and affec-
tion, the many tears, and heart effecting fobs appearing in
numbers in the affembly xvculd have been very remarkable,
were it not that God has made thefe things common with us,
and even with ftrangers foon after their coming among us,
from time to time j although I am far from thinking that
every appearance, and particular inftance of affection, that
has-been among us, has been truly genuine, and purely from a
divine influence. I am fenfible of the contrary ; and doubt
not but that there has been feme corrupt mixtures, forne chaff
as well as wheat, efpecislly fir.ce reli^icus concern became fo
common and prevalent here.
Lord's Day,IVIarch 23. There being about fifteen ftrangers,
adult perfons, come among us in the week pali, divers of whom
had never been in any religious meeting till now, I thought it
proper to difcourfe this day in a manner peculiarly fuited to
their circumftances and capacities : and accordingly attempt-
ed it from Hof. xiii. 9. j in the forenoon c^enin^, in the plain-
eft manner I could, man's apoilacy and ruined itale, after ha-
vitfg fpoken fome things refpecting the being and perfections
of God, and his creation of man in a ftate of uprightncfs and
happinefs. In the afternoon, er.deavcur.';d to open the glo-
rious proviiion God has made for the redemption of apoftate
AMONG THE INDIANS. 449
creatures, by giving his own dear Son to fuffer for them, and
fatisfy divine juitice on their behalf.
There was not that affedion and concern in the affembly
that has been common among us, although there was a deilr-
able attention appearing in general, and even in the moft of
the Grangers.
Near fun-fet I felt an uncommon concern upon my mind,
efpecially for the poor ftrangers, that God hath fo much with-
held his prefence, and the powerful influence of his Spirit,
from the affembly in the excrcifes of the day 5 and thereby
denied them of that matter of conviclion which I hoped they
might have had. And in this frame I vifited fundry houfes,
and difcourfed with fome concern and affe&ion to divers per-
fons -particularly j but without much appearance of fuccefs,
till I came to a houfc where divers of the ftrangers were , and
there the folemn truths I difcourfed of appeared to take effeft
firft upon fome children, then upon divers adult perfons that
had been fomewhat awakened before, and afterwards upon
feveral of the Pagan ftrangers.
I continued my difcouife, with fome fervency, till almoft
every one in the houfe was melted into tear?, and divers wept
aloud, and appeared earneftly concerned to obtain an intereft
in Chrift. Upon this, numbers foon gathered from all the
houfes round about, and fo thronged the place, that we were
obliged to remove to the houfe where we ufually meet for
public worihip. And the congregation gathering immediate-
ly, and many appearing remarkably affe&ed, I difcourfed
foine time from Luke xix. 10. Endeavouring to open the mer-
cy, companion, and concern of Chrift for left, helplefs, and
undone finners-
There was much vifible concern and affection in the affem-
bly j and I doubt not but that a divine influence accompanied
what was fpoken to the hearts of many. There were Eve or
fix of the ftrangers (men and women) who appeared to te con-
fiderab!y awakened. And in particular one very nigged
young man, who feemed as if nothing would move him,
was now brought to tremble like the jailor, and n-fen for a
:irr.e.
JL11
450 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
The Pagans that were awakened feemed at once to put off
their favage roughnefs and Pagan manners, and become fo-
ciable, orderly, and humane in their carriage. When they firil
came, I exhorted my religious people to take pains with them
(as they had done with other itrangers from time to time) to
initrudt them in Chriilianity. But when feme of them at-
tempttd icmethh'jg of that nature, the flrangers would ioon
rife up and walk to other houfes, in order to avoid the hear-
ing of fuch difcourfes. Whereupon fome of the ferious per-
fons agreed to difperfe tliemfelves into the feveral parts of
the fettiement. So that where-ever the ftrangers went, they
met with fome inftru&ive difcourfe, and warm addreiTes re-
fpe&ing their foul's concern.- -But now there was no need
of ufing policy in order to get an opportunity of converting
with fome of them about their fpiritual concerns ; for they
were fo far touched with a fenfe of their periling fiate, as
made them tamely yield to the clofeft addrefles that were made
them, refpeling their fin and mifery, their need of an acquain-
tance with, and intereft in the great Redeemer.
March 24. Numbered the Indians, to fee how many fouls
God had gathered together here, fince my coming into thefe
parts j and found there was now about an hundred and thirty
perfons together, old and young. Sundry of thofe that are
my ftated hearers, perh-aps to the number of fifteen or twenty,
were abfent at this feafon. So that if all had been together,
the number would now have been very considerable ; efpecial-
]y confidering how few were together at my firft coming into
thefe parts, the whole number not amounting to ten perfons
at that time.
My people going out this day upon the defign of clearing
fome of their lands above fifteen miles diftant from this fettle-
rcent, in order to their fettling there in a compact form,
where they might be under advantages of attending the pub-
lic worfhip of God, of having their children fchooled, and at
the fame time have a conveniency for planting, &c. ; their
land in the place of our prefent refidence being of little or no-
value for that purpofe. And the defign of their fettling ihus in
a body , and Cultivating their lands (which they have done very
' little at in their Pagan Hate) being of fuch necefiity and iai-
AMONG THE INDIANS. 45!
portance to their religious intereft, as wdl as world Iv com-
fort, I thought it proper to call them together, and fliew them
the duty of labouring with faithfulncfs and induflry ; and that
they muft not now " be flothful in bufinefs," as they had
ever been i.i their Pagan ftate. And endeavoured to prefs
the importance of their being laborious, diligent, and vigorous
in the profecution of their bufinefs, efpecially at the prefent
juncture, (the feafon of planting being now near), in order
to their being in a capacity of living together, and enjoying
the means of grace and inftruclion. And having given them
directions for their work, which they very much wanted, as
well as for their behaviour in divers refpets, I explained, fang,
and endeavoured to inculcate upon them Pfal. cxxvii. common
metre, Dr Watts's verfion. And having recommended thein,
and the defign of their going forth, to God, by prayer with
them, I difmiffed them to their bufmefs.
In the evening read and expounded to my people (thofe of
them who were yet at home, and the ftrangers newly come)
the fubftance of the third chapter of the Acls. Numbers feem-
ed to melt under the word, efpecially while 1 was difcourfing
upon ver. 19. Sundry of the ftrangers alfo were affected.
When I alked them afterwards, Whether they did not
now feel their hearts were wicked, as I had taught them ?
One replied, " Yes, flie felt it now." Although before Pne
came here, (upon hearing that I taught the Indians their
hearts were all bad by nature, and needed to-be changed and
made good by the power of God), (lie had faid, " Her heart
" war not wicked, and (he never had done any thing that was
" bad in her life." And this indeed feems to be the cafe with
them, I think univerfaily, in their Pagan ftate.
They feem to have no confcioufnefs of fin and guilt, unlefs
they can charge themfelves with fome grofs ab of fin con-
trary to the com mands of the fecond table.
March 27. Diicourfed to a number of ray people in one of
their houfes in a more private manner. Enquired particular*-
ly into their fpirituai ilates, in order to fee what imprefllons
QI a religious nature they were under. Laid before them
the marks and tokens of a regenerate, MS well as unregene.
.nU ftate j and endeavoured to fuit and dire6l my difcourfe
452 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
to them feverally according as I apprehended their ftates to
be.
There was a cenfiderable number gathered together before
I fhiifhed my difcourfe j and divers feemed much affected,
while I was urging the neceffity and infinite importance of
getting into a renewed flate: 1 find particular and clofe
dealing with fouls in private is often very luccefsful.
March 29. In the evening 'cntechifed as ufual upon Satur-
day. Treated upon the " benefits which believers receive from
*' Chriir. at death." The queftions were anfwered with
great readinefs and propriety. And thofe who, I have rea-
fon to think, are the dear people of God, were fweetly melted
almoft in general. There appeared fuch a livelinefs and vi-
gour in their attendance upon the word of God, and fuch
e-agernefs to be made partakers of the benefits then mention-
ed, that they fcerned to be not only *' looking for, but haft-
" ing to the coming of the day of God." Divine truths feem-
ed to diftii upon the audience with a gentle, but melting ef-
ficacy, zs the refrefhing '* fhowersupon the new mown giafs."
The affembly in general, as well as thofe who appear truly
religious, were affecled with fome brief account of the blef-
fednefs of the godly at death : and mod then difcovered an af-
feelionite inclination to cry, " Let me die the death of the
" righteous," &c. although many were not duly engaged
to obtain the change of heart that is neceffary in order to
that blefled end.
Lord's Day, March 30. Difcourfed from Matth. xxv. jr.
to 40. There was a very confiderable moving and affeclicnate
melting in the aflembly. I hope there was fome real, deep,
and abiding imyreflions of divine things made upon the minds
of many. Theie was one aged man newly come among us,
v^ho appeared to be confiderably awakened that never was
touched with any concern for his foul before.
In the evening catechifed. There was not that tendernefs
and melting engagement among God's people that appeared
the evening before, and at many other times. Although they
anfwered the queftions diflincl:ly and well, and were devout and
attentive in divine fervice. '-' : '
March 31. Called my people together, as I had done the
Monday morning before^ and difcourftd to them again on the
AMONG THE INDIANA 453
neceflity and importance of their labouring induftrioufiy, in
order to their living together, and enjoying the means of
grace, &.c. And having engaged in folemn prayer to God a-
mong them, for a blefiing upon their attempts, I difmifled
them to their work.
Numbers of them (both men and women) fecmedto offer
themfelves willingly to this fervice ; and foine appeared af-
fe&ionately concerned that Qod might go with them, and
begin their little town for them , that by his blefling it might
be a place comfortable for them and theirs, in regard both of
procuring the necelTaries of life, and of attending the worfhip
of God,
April 5. 1746. Catechifed towards evening. There ap-
peared to be fome affection and fervent engagement in di-
vine fervice through the affembly in general ; efpecially to-
wards the conclufion of my difcourfe.
After public worfhip, a number of thofe I have reafcn to
think are truly religious, came to my houfe, and feemed
eager of fome further entertainment upon divine things.
And while 1 was converfing with them about their fpiritual
exercifes, obferving to them, that God's work in the hearts
of all his children, was, for fubftance, the fame ; and that
their trials and temptations were alfo alike ; and fkswing the
obligations fuch were under to love one another in a peculiar
manner, they feemed to be melted into tendernefs and affec-
tion toward each other ; and I thought that particular token
of their being the difciples of Chrift, viz. of their " having
" love one toward another," had fcarce ever appeared more
evident than at this time;
Lord's Day t April 6. Preached from Matth. vii. 21. 2-j.
There were confiderable effects of the word vifible in
the audience, and fuch as were very deferable j an earned at-
tention, a great folemnity, many tears and heavy fighs, which
were modeflly fupprefTed in a confiderable meafure, and ap-
peared unaffected, and without apy indecent commotion of
the paflions. Divers of the religious people were put upon
ferious and clofe examination of their fpiritual ftates, by
hearing that " not every one that faith to Chrift, Lord, Lord,.
" mail enter into his kingdom," And fome of them expreffed
454 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
fears lead they had deceived themfelves, and taken up a falfe
hope, becaufe they found they had done fo little of the " will
" of his Father who is in heaven.''
There was alto one man brought under very great and
prefling concern for his foul ; which appeared more efpecially
after his retirement from public worfhip. And that which,
he fays, gave him his great uneafmefs, was, not fo much any
particular fin, as that he had never done the W 7 il]of God at
all, but had finned continually, and fo had no claim to the
kingdom of heaven.
In the afternoon I opened to them the difcipline of Chrift
in his church, and the method in which offenders are to be
dealt with. At which time the religious people were much
afffe&ed, efpecially when they heard, that the offender con-
tinuing obftir.ate, muft finally be efieemed and treated " as
" an Heathen man," as a Pagan, that has no part nor lot a-
mcng God's vifibie people. This they feemed to have the
moil ay ful apprchenfions of; a ftate of Heathenifm, out of
which they were fo lately brought, appearing very dreadful to
them.
After public worfhip I vifited fundry houfes, to fee how
they fpent the remainder of the Sabbath, and to treat with
them folemnly on the great concerns of their foals ; and
the Lord feemed to fmile upon my private endeavours, and to
make thefe particular and perfonal addreffesmore effectual upon
fome than ray public difcourfes.
April 7. Difcourfed to my people at evening from I Cor.
xi. 23. 26. And endeavoured to open to them the inftitution,
nature, and ends of the Lord's fupper, as well as the qualifi-
cations and preparations neceffary to the right participation
of that ordinance. Sundry perfons appeared much affecl-
ed with the love of Chrift manifefted in his making this pro-
vifion for the comfort of his people, at a feafon when him-
felf wasjuft entering upon his (harpeft fufferings.
Lord's Day, April 20. Difcourfed both forenoon and after-
noon from Luke xxiv. explaining moil of the chapter, and
making remarks upon it. There was a defirable attention
in the audience, though there was not fo much appearance of
affection and tends rnefs among them as has been ufual. Our
AMONG THE INDIANS. 455
meeting was very fnll, there being fundry Grangers prefent
who had never been with us before.
In the -evening catechifed. My people ar.fwercd the que-
flions propofed to them, readily and diiiinftly j and I could
perceive they advanced in their knowledge of the principles of
Chriftianity.
There appeared an affectionate melting in the affembly at
this time. Sundry, who, I truft, are truly religious, were
refrelhed and quickened, and feemed, by their difcourfc and
behaviour, after public worihip, to have their ** hearts knit
*' together in love."- "This was a fweet and bleffed feafon,
like many others, that my poor people have been favoured
with in months part. God has caufed this little fleece to be
repeatedly wet with the bleffed dews of his divine grace,
while all the earth around has been comparatively dry.
April 25. Having of late apprehended that a number of
perfons in my congregation were proper fubjefts of the or-
dinance of the Lord's Supper, and that it might be feafon-
ble fpeedily to adminifter it to them : and having taken advice
of fome of the reverend correfpondents in this folemn affair ;
and accordingly having propofed and appointed the next
Lord's day (with leave of divine providence) for the adminf-
ft rat ion of this ordinance, this day, as preparatory thereto,
was fet apart for folemn fafting aad prayer, to implore
the blcfiing of God upon our deiign of renewing covenant with
him. and with one another, to walk together in the fear of
God, in love and Chriftian fellowship 5 and to intreat that
his divine prefence might be with us in our defigned approach
to his table ; as well as to humble ourfelves before God on ac-
count of the apparent withdrawment (at le?.(l in a mcafure)
of that bleffed influence that has been fo prevalent upon per-
fons of ail aes amonjr us \ as alfo an account of the rifing
appearance of careleffnefs, vanity, and vice among fome,
who, fometime fince, appeared to be touched and affe&ed
with divine truths, and brought to fome fenfibiJity of their
miferable and perifliing fiate by nature. And that we might
alfo importunately pray for the peaceable fettlement of the In-
dians together in a body, that they might be a commodious
congregation for the worfhip of God j and that God would
456 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
blaft and defeat all the attempts that were or might be made
againft that pious defign *.
The folemnity was obfervcd and ferioufly attended, net
only by thofe who propofed to communicate at the Lord's
table, but by the whole congregation univerfally. In the for-
mer part of the day, I endeavoured to open to my people the
nature and defign of a faft, as I had attempted more briefly
to do before, and toinftruft them in the duties of fuch a fo-
lemnity. In the afternoon I infifted upon the fpecial rca-
fons there were for our engaging in thefe folemn exercifes at
this time j both in regard of the need we flood in of divine
afliftance, in order to a due preparation for that facred ordi-
nance we were fome of us propoiing (with leave of divine
providence) fpeedily to attend upon j and alfo in refpeft of
the manifeft decline of God's work here, as to the effectual
onvi&Jon and converfion of finners, there having been few
of late deeply awakened out of a ftatc of fecurity.
The worfhip of God was attended with great folemnity
and reverence, with much tendernefs and many tears, by thofe
who appear to be truly religious ; and there was fome apppcar-
ance of divine power upon thofe who had been awakened
fome time before, and who were {till under concern.
After repeated prayer, and attendance upon the word of
God, I propofed to the religious people, with as much brevity
and phinnefs as I could, the fubftance of the do&rine of the
Chriftian faith, as I had formerly done, previous to their
baptifm, and had their renewed cheerful alTent to it. 1
then led them to a folemn renewal of their baptifmal cove-
nant, wherein they had explicitly and publicly given up them-
fclves to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, avouching
* There being at this time a terrible clamour raifed againft the Indi-
ans in various places in the country, and infinuations as though I was
training them up to cut people's throats. Numbers wifliing to have
them banifhed out of thefe parts, and forae giving out great words, in
erdr to fright and deter them from fettling upon the bed and moil con-
venient track of their own lands, threatning to moled and trouble theru
in the law, pretending a claim to thefe lands themfelvcs, although ne-
ver purchafed of the Indians.
AMONG THE INDIANS. , 457
h.m to be their God ; and at the fame time renouncing their
Heatheniih vanities, their idolatrous and fuperftitious prac-
tices, and iolemnly engaging to take the word of God, fo
far as it was or might be made known to them, for the rule
of their lives, promifing to walk together in love, to watch
over themfelves and one another ; to lead lives of ferioufneis
and devotion, and to difcharge the relative duties incumbent
upon them reflectively, &.C.
This folemn tranfaclion was attended with much gravity
and ferioufnefs 5 and at the Tame time with utmoft readinefs,
freedom, and cheerfulnefs ; and a religious union and har-
mony of fouls feemed to crown the whole folemnity. I
could not but think in the evening, that there had been mani-
fefl tokens of the divine prefence with us in all the feveral fer-
vices of the day j though it was alfo marufeft there was not
that concern among Chriftlefs fouls that has often appeared
here.
April 26. Toward noon prayed with a dying child., and
gare a word of exhortation to the by-ftanders to prepaie for
death, which feerried to take effecl upon fome.
In the afternoon difcourfed to my people, from Matth.
xxvi. 30, of the author, the nature and defign of the Lord's
Tapper j and endeavoured to point out the worthy receivers of
that ordinance.
The religious people were affected, and even melted with
divine truths, with a view of the dying love of Clirift-
Sundry others who had been for fome months under convic-
tions of their periihing (late, appeared now to be much mo-
ved with concern, and afrefh engaged in feeking after an in-
tcreft in Chriit ^ although 1 cannot fay, ** the word of God"
appeared " fo quick and powerful," fo (harp and piercing to
the affitnbly, as it had fometimes formerly done.
Baptized two aduit pertons, both ferious and exemplary in
their lives, and 1 hope, truly religious. One of them was thj
man particularly mentioned in my Journal of the 6th inilant,
who although he was then greatly dinrfle-.l, bccsufc "he had
" never done the willof God," has fince (it is hopeful j oLtain-
ed fpintual comfort upon good grounds.
In the evening I catechifed thofcthat were clefigncd to par-
take of the Lord's fu]:pcr the next day, upon the inflitution,
M ra rn
45 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
nature, and end of that ordinance ; and bad abundant fatif-
faclion reflecting their doctrinal knowledge and fitnefs i
that reipecl; for an attendance upon it. They likewife ap-
peared, in general, to have an afFeding fenfe of the foleranity
of this facred ordinance, and to be bumbled under a fcnfe of
therr own uaworthinefs to approach to God in it ; and to be
earneftly concerned that they may be duly prepared for an
attendance upon it. Their hearts were full of love one to-
ward another j and that was the frame of rnind they feemed
much concerned to maintain, and bring to the Lord's table
with them.
In imging and prayer, after cateehrfing, there appeared an
agreeable tendernefs and melting among them, and fuch
tokens of brotherly love and affection, that would even con -
ftrain one to fay, *' Lord, it is good to be here j" it is good
to dwell- where fuch an heivenly influence dinils.
Lord's Day, April 27. Preached from Tit. ii. 14, " Who
14 gave himfelf for us," &c. The word of God at this
time was attended with forne appearance of divine power up-
on the afiembly ; fo that the aUentian and gravity of the au-
dience was remarkable j and efpecially towards the conclufion
of the exercife, divers pcrfons were much affeded.
Adininiftered the facrarncnt of the Lord's fupper to twenty-
three perfons of the Indians, (the number of men and women
being near equal) divers others, to the nurrberof five or fiy^
being now abfent at the Forks cf Delaware, who would other-
wife have communicated with us.
The ordinance was attended with great folerrnity, and
with a moil defirable tendernefs and affection. And it was
remarkable , that in the feafon of the performance of the facra-
rpental aftions, efpecially in the diltribution of the bread,
tbey feemed to be affected in a moft lively manner, r.s 5
"CliriR had been" really " crucified before them." And the
words of the inftitution, when repeated and enlarged upon
in the feafon of the adminiilration, feemed to meet with the
j:uue reception, to be entertained with the fame full and firm
belief, nnd affectionate engagement of foul, as if the Lord
JefusChrill himfelf had been prefent, and had perfonally fpo-
l:en to them.
AMONG THE INDIANS. 459
The affe&ions of the communicants, although confiderably
raifed, were notwithftanding agreeably regulated, and kept
within proper bounds. So that there was a fweet, gentle,
and affeclionate melting, withdut any indecent or boifterous
commotion of tiie paflions.
Having refted ibme time after the admlniftration of the
facramcnt, (being extremely tired with the neceffary prolixity
of the work), I walked from houfe to hpufe, and cohverfed
particularly with moil of the communicants, and found they
had been almoft univerfally refreihed at the Lord's table "as
" with new wine." And never dtd I fee fuch an appearance
of Chriftian love among any people ia all my life. It was fo
remarkable, that one might well have cried with an agreeable
furprifc, "Behold how they love 'one another !" I think there
could be no greater tokens of mutual a0t&jon among the
people of God in the early days of Chrifiianity, than what
now appeared here. The light was fo deilrable, and fo
well becoming the gofpel, that nothing lefs could be faid of it,
than that it was ** the doing of the Lord," the genuine ope-
rations of him "who is love !"
Toward night difcourfed again on the foreraentioned
Tit. ii. 14. and infilled on the immediate end and defign of
Chi rift's death viz. " That he might redeem his people from
" all iniquity," &c,
This appeared to be a feafdn of divine po wer among us.
The religious people were much refreftied, and feemed re-
markably tender and alfeclionate, full of love, joy, peace-,
and defires of being completely " redeemed from all iniquity j"
fo that fome of them afterwards told me, <k they had never
"felt the like before." Convi&iorre alfo appeared to be re-
vived in many inftaaces ; and divers perlbns were awakened
whom I had never obferved under any religious impreflions
before.
Such was the influence that attended our aflembly, and fo
anfpeakably defirable the frame of mind that many enjoyed
in the divine fervice, that it feemed almoft grievous to con-
clude the public worfiiip. And the congregation when di-
miffed, although it was then almoft dark, appeared loath to
have the place,, and employments that had been rendered fo
460 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
dear to them by the benefits enjoyed, while a bleffed quicken-
ing influence diftilled upon them.
And upon the whole, 1 mult fay, I had great fatisfaclion
with relation to the admin5rlr.?lion of this ordinance in divers
refpedls. I have abundant reafon to think, that thofe who
came to the Lord's table, had a good degree of doclrinal know-
ledge of the nature and deiign of the ordinance j and that they
afted underftahdingly in what they did.
In the preparatory ferviccs I found (I may juflly fay) un-
common freedom in opening to their underrtandings and ca-
pacities the covenant of grace, and in /hewing them the nature
of this ordinance as a feal of that covenant. Although many
of them knew of no fuch things as a feal before my coming
among them, or at leail of the ufe and defign of it in the com-
mon affairs of life. They were likewife thoroughly fen-
iible that it was no mere than a feal or fign, and not the real
body and blood ofChrift Thct it was defigned for the re-
frcfhment and edification of the foul, and not for the feafiing
of the body. They were alfo acquainted with the end of
the ordinance, that they were therein called to commemorate
the dying love of Chrift, &c.
And this competency of doc~hinal knowledge, together
with their grave and decent gttendance upon the ordinance - y
their affe&ionate melting under it j and the fweet and Chrif-
tian frame of mind they difcovered confeqaent upon it, gave
me great fatisfa&ion refpecling my adminiftration of it to
them.
And O what a fweet and bleffed feafon was this ! Gcd.him-
felf, I am perfuaded, was in the midft of his people, attend-
ing his own ordinances. And I doubt not but mat)} 7 in the
conclufion of the day, could fay with their whole hearts,
** Verily, a day thus fpent in God's houfe, is better than a
" thouiand elfewhere." There feemed to be but one heart
among the picus people. The fwef t union, harmony, and
endearing love and tendernefs fubiifting among them, was (I
thought) the moil lively emblem of the heavenly world I had
ever feen.
April 28. Concluded the facramcntal folemnity with a dif-
courfe upon John xiv. 15: " If ye love me, keep my com.-
A M N G T II E INDIANS, 461
" man Jnients." At which time there appeared a very agree-
able tenderncfs in the audience in general, but efpecially in
the communicants. how nee, how engaged and affec-
tbnrite did thefc appear in the fervice of God ! they feemed
willing to have their "ears bored to the door-pofls of God's
" hcufe," and to be his feivants for ever.
Obferving numbers in this excellent frame, and the affem-
bly in general affected, and that by a divine influence, I thought
it proper to improve this advantageous feafon, as Hezekiah
did the definable feufon of his great pafTover, (2Chron. xxxi.)
in order to promote the bleffed reformation begun among
them ; and to engage thofe that appear ferious and religious,
to perfevere therein j and accordingly propofed to them, that
they fhould renewedly enter into covenant before God, that
they would watch over themfelves and one another, left they
fliould difhonour the name of Chrift by falling into Hnful and
unbecoming practices. And efpecially that they would watch
againft the fin of drunkennefs, (the fin that eaGly befets
them), and the temptations leading thereto *, as well as
" the appearance of evil" in that refpecl. They cheerfully
complied with the propofal, and explicitly joined in that co-
venant ^ whereupon I proceeded in the moft io'cnvi manner I
was capable of, to call God to witnefs rcfpecting their facred
engagement ; and minded them of the greatnefs of the guilt
they would contract to thernfelves in the violation of it j as
well as obferved to them, that God would be a terrible wit-
nefs againft thofe who (hould prefume to dj fo, in the " great
" and notable day of the Lord."
It was a feafon of amazing folcmnity ! and a divine awe
appeared upon the face of the whole afTembly in this tranf-
aftion ! AiTeclionate fobs, fighs, arid tears, were now frequent
in the audience : and I doubt not but that many filent cries
were then fent up to the fountain of grace, for- fupplies of
grace fufficient for the fulfilment of thefe foleirm engage-
ments*
Baptized fix children this day.
Lord's Day, May 4. My people being new removed to
their lands mentioned in my Journal of March 24, where
462 DIVINE GRACZ DISPLAYED
they were then, and have fincc been making pio'/ifion for a
compact fettlerfient, in order to their more convenient enjoy-
ment of the gofpe!, and other means of ir.ftruclion, as well
as the coraioits of life j I this day vifited them, (being now
obliged to board with an Englifli family at fome ^ :nce from,
then? ), and preached to them in the forenoon from Mark iv. 5.
Endeavoured to fr.ew them the rcafon there was to fear left
ma: promifing appearances and hopeful beginnings in reli-
gion, might prove abortive, like the " feed dropped upon
" ftony places "
In the afternoon difcourfed upon Rom. viii. 9. " Now if
** any man have not the Spirit of Chrift he is none of his."
I have leafon to think tbis difcourfe was peculiarly fea-
fonable, and that it had a good effcft upon fome of the hear-
ers.
Spent fome hours afterwards in private conferences with
my people, and laboured to regulate fome things I apprehend-
ed amifs among fome of them.
May 5. Vilited my people again, and took care of their
worldly concerns, giving them directions' relating to their
bulinefs.
I daily difcover more and more of what importance it is
like to be to their religious intereits, that they become laborious
and induftrious, acquainted with the affairs of husbandry,
and able, in a good meafure, to raife the nesceflaries and com-
forts of life within themfelves j for their prefent method
of living greatly exptfes them to temptations of various kinds.
May 9. Preached fiom John v. 40, in the open wilder-
nefs j the Indians having as yet no houfe for public wormip
in this place, nor fcarce any flickers for themfelves. Di-
vine truths made confiderable impreflions upon the audience,
and it was a feafon of folemnity, tendernefs, and affection.
Baptized one man this day, (the conjurer, murderer, &c.
mentioned in my Journal of Auguft 8. 1745. and February i.
1746-7), who appears to be fuch a remarkable inftance of
divine grace, that I cannot omit fome brief account of him
here.
He lived near, and fometimes attended my meeting in the,
Forks of Delaware for more than a year together 5 bat was
AMONG THE INDIANS. 463 .
(like many others ofHhem) extremely attached to ftrong
drink, and feemed to be no ways reformed by the means I
ufed with them for their inftru6tion and converfion. In this
time he likewife murdered a likely young Indian, which threw
him into fonvs kind of horror and defperation, fo that he kept
at a diftance from me, aad refufed to.hear me prrach for ie-
veral months together, (as I .noted in a formal Journal of
March 4. 1744-5), till I had an opportnnity of converfmg
freely with him, and giving him encouragement, that his fin
might be forgiven for Chrift's fake. After which he again
attended my meeting at fome times.
Bat that which was the worlt of all his conduct, was his
conjuration. He was one of them who are fometimes called
Powwows among the Indians : and notwithftanding his fre-
quent attendance upon my preaching, he flill followed his old
charms and juggling tricks, " giving out that himfelf was
"fome great one; and to him they gave heed," fuppofing.
him to be pcffeffed of a great power. So that when I have
inftru&ed them refpe&ing the miracles wrought by Clirift in
healing the fick, &c. and mentioned them as evidences of
his divine million, and the truth of his doctrines, they have
quickly obferved the wonders of that kind which this man had
performed by his magic charms : whence they had a high o-
pinion of him, and his fr.perftitious notions, which feemed
to be a fatal obftruftioa to forne of them in regard of their re-
ceiving the gofpel. And I have often thought, it would be
a great favour to the deiign cf gofpellizing the Indians, if
God would take that wretch out of the world j for I had fcarcc
any hope of his ever coming to good : but God, " whofe
*' thoughts are not ns man's thoughts," has been pleafed to
take a much more deiirable method with him , a method a-f
g-rc cable to his own merciful nature, and, 1 truft, advanta-
geous to his own intereft among the Indians, as well as effec-
tual to the falvation of the poor foul himfelf. " And to him
" be the glory pf it."
The fir ft genuine concern for his foul that ever appeared
in him, was excited by feeing my interpreter and his wife bap-
tized at the Forks of Delaware, July 21, 1745 j which fo
prevailed upon him, that, with the invitation of an Indian,
464 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
who was a friend to Chriftianity, he followed me dcwn to
Crofweekfung in the beginning of Auguft in order to he.ir
me preach, and there .continued for feveial weeks, in tic
feafon of the moft remarkable and powerful awakening
among the 'Indians ; at which time he was more effectually a-
wakened, 'and brought under great concern for his foul : and
then, he fays, upon his *' feeling the word of God in his
".heart," (as he expreiTes it), his fpirit gf conjuration left
him entirely 5 that he has had no more power of that nature
lir.ce than any other man living. And declares that he does
not now fo much as know how he ufed to charm and conjure ;
and that he could not do any thing of that nature if he was
never fo defirous of it.
He continued under convictions of his finful and perifhing
ftate, and a confideiable degree of concern for his foul, all
the fall and former part of the winter parl, but was not fo
deeply exercifed till fometime in January ; and then the word
of God took fuch hold upon him, that he was brought into
great diftrefs, and knew not what to do, nor where to turn
himfeif. He thrn told me, when he ufed to hear me
preach from time to time in the fall of the year, my preach-
ing pricked his heart and made him very unea.fy, but did not
bring him to fo great dillrefs, becaufe he ilill hoped he could
do fomething for his own relief : but now, he faid, Idrave
him up into '" fuch a (harp coiner," that he had no way to
turn, and could not avoid being in difirefs.
He continued conilantly under the heavy burden and pref-
fure of a wounded fpirit, till at length he was brought into the
acute anguifli and iitmpfl agony cf foul,- mentioned in my
Journal of February I. which continued thut night, and part
of the next day.
After this, he was brought to the utmoft cn'mnefs and corn-
pofure of mind, his trembling and heavy burden were re-
moved, and he appeared perfectly fcclate ; although he had,
to his appreheniions, fcarce any hope of falvation.
I obferved him to appear remarkably compofed, and there-
upon alked him how he. did ? He replied, " It is clone, it is
44 done, it is all done now." I afked him what he meant ?
He anfwered, " I can never do any more to fave myfelf j it
" is all done for ever 5 I can do no more." I queried with him,
AMONG THE INDIANS*, 465
whether he could not do a little more rather than to go to
hell ? He replied, " My heart is dead, I can never help my-
" felf. I aiked him, what he thought would become cf him
tticn"? He anfwercd, " I muft go to hell." I alked him, if
he thought it was right that God Should fend him to hell ?
He replied, " O it is right. The devil has been in me ever
" fince I was born." I afked him, if he felt this when he
was in fuch great diftrefs the evening before ? He anfwered,
" No, I did not then think it was right. I thought God
** would fend me to hell, and that I was then dropping into it 5
" but my heart quarrelled with God, and would not fay it was
" right he fhould fend me there; But now I know it is right,
" for I have always ferved the devil, and my heart has no
*' goodnefs in it now, but is as bad as ever it was," &.C. -
I thought I had fcarce ever leen any perfon more effectually
brought off from a dependence upon his own contrivances
and endeavours for falvation, or more apparently to lie at the
foot of fovereign mercy, than this man now did under thefe
views of things.
In chis frame of mind he continued for feveral days, paff-
ing fentence of condemnation upon himfelf, and conilantly
owning that it would be right he mould be damned, and that
he expected this would be his portion for the greatnefs of his
lins. And yet it was plain he had a fecret hope of mercy,
though imperceptible to himfelf, which kept him not only from
defpair, but from any prcffing diftrefs ; fo that inftead of be-
ing fad and dejecled, his very countenance appeared pleafant
and agreeable.
While he was in this frame, he fundry times aiked me,
" When I would preach again ?" and feemed defirous to hea r
the word of God every day. I afked why he wanted to
hear me preach, feeing " his heart wasdead,and all was done ?"
That " he could never help himfelf. and expected that he rnuft
" go to hell ?" He replied, " I love to hear you fpeak about
" CTirifi for all."; I added, But what good will that do you
if you muft go to hell at laft ? (ufing now his own language
with him ; having before, from time to time, laboured in the
heft manner I could, to reprefent to him the excellency of
Chrift, his all fuflkiency and willingnefs to fave loll finners,
Nnn
466 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
ard pcrfons juft in his cafe ; although to no purpofe, as to
yielding him any fpeciai comfort). He anfwered, ' I would
" have others come to Chrift, if I muft go to hell myfelf."
It was remarkable in this feafon that he feemed to have a great
love to the people of God, and nothing affected him fo rruch
as the thoughts of being feparated from them. This feemed
to be a very dreadful part of the hell he thought himfeif doom-
ed.-^ It was likewife re -narkable that in this feafon he
was raoft diligent in the ufe of all means for his foul's falva-
tion : although he had the cleareft view of the ir.fufficiercy of
means to afford him help. And would frequently fay, " That
" all he did fignified nothing at all ;" and yet w?s never more
conftant in doing, attending fecret and family prayer daily,
and furprifingly diligent and attentive in hearing the word of
Gcd : fo that he neither defpaired of mercy, nor yet prefumed
to hope upon his own doings, but ufed means, becaufe ap-
pointed of God in order to falvation } and becaufe he would
wait uDcn Gcd in his own way.
After he had continued in this frame of mind more than a
week, while I was difcourflng publicly, he feemed to have a
lively, foul-refrefliing view of the excellency of Chrift, and
the way of falvation by him, which melted him into tears,
andfilledhim with'.adrairation,comfort, fatisfaction, and praife
to God ; fince which he has appeared to be a humble, devout
and affectionate Chriftian ', ferious and exemplary in his con-
verfation and behaviour, frequently complaining of his bar-
rennefs, his want of fpiritual warmth, life and activity, and
yet frequently favoured with quickening ard refrefhing in-
tiuences. And in aJi refpe&s, fofar as I am capable to judge,
he bears the marks and characters of one created anew ia
" Chrift Jefus to good works."
His zeal for the caufe of God was pler.lrg to me, v.-htn he
was with me at the Forks of Delaware in February lafl.
There being an old Indian at the place where I preached, who
threatened to bewitch me, and my religious people who ac-
j companied me there j this man prefently challenged him to
do his worft, telling him, that hircfelf had been as great a
conjurer as he, and that notwithftanding as foon as he felt
that word in his heart which thefe people loved, (meaning t ? : ?
AMONG THE INDIANS. 467
word of God), his power of conjuring immediately left him.
A*id fo it would you, faid he, if you did but once feel it in
ycur heart j and you have no povrer to hurt them, nor fo
much as to toaeh one of them, &.C.
So that I may conclude my account of him, by obferving
(nallufion to what was faid of St Paul), that henow zealoufiy
defends and practically " preaches the faith which he ones
" destroyed," or at lea ft was instrumental of obfl rafting.
Tway God have the g'tory of the amazing change Le has
wrought in him.
Lord's Day, May 18. Difcourfed both parts cf the day from
Rev. iii. 20. There appeared feme affectionate melting to-
wards the concluGon of the forenoon exercife, ard one or two
initances of frefh awakening. In I ..jflion of pub-
lic worihip, I took occailon to difcourfe to numbers in 2 more
private way, on the kindnefs and patience of the biefied Re-
deemer in Handing and knocking, in continuing jus
calls to finners, who had long neglrcied and abufed his grace ;
which feemed to take fome effect upon fundry.
In the afternoon, divine truths were attended v hh folecmity,
and with fome tears, although there was not that powerful a-
wakening, and quickening influence which ia times pail has
teen common in our siTemblies. The appearance of the au-
dience under divine truths, was comparatively difcowaging ;
and I was ready to fear, that God was about to withdraw the
bleiTed influence of his Spirit from us,
y 19. Vifited and preached to my people from Acls
xx. 1 8, 19, and endeavoured to rectify their notions about
religious affections : fhe^ing them on the one hand, the de-
firablenefs of religious affection, teodernefs, and fervent en-
gagement in the worfhip and fervice of God, when fuch
affection flows from a true fpiritual difcovery of divine glo-
ries, from a juitly affecting ienfr of the tranfcendect excel-
lency and perfections of the bleffed God, a view of the
glory and lovelineis of the great Redeemer, and that fucli
views of divine things will naturally excite us to " ferve the
** Lord with many tears," with much affection and fervency,
and yet ' l with all humility of mind." A M d, on the other
g the finfulnefs of feeking after high affections -
468 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
immediately, and for their own fakes, that is, of making
them the object our eye and heart is next and principally
fet upon, when the glory of God ought to be fo ~Shewed
them, that if the heart be directly and chiefly fixed on God,
and the foul engaged to glorify him, fome degree of religious
affection will be the effect and attendant of it. But to feek
after affection dire&ly and chiefly, to have the heart princi-
pally fet upon that, is to place it in the room of God and his
glory. If it be fought, that others may takfe notice of, and
admire us for our fpirituality and forwardnefs in religion, it
is then abominable pride ; if for the fake of feeling the plea-
fure of being affected, it is then idolatiy and felf-gratification.
- Laboured alfo to expofe the difagreeaidenefs of thofe af-
fections that are fometimes wrought up in perfons by the
power of fancy, and their own attempts for that purpofe - ?
while I iUll endeavoured to recommend to them that reli-
gious affection, fervency, and devotion which ought to attend
all our religious exercifes, and without which religion will be
but an empty name and lifelefs carcafe.
This appeared to be a feafonable difcourfe^ an.d proved very
fatisfactory to fome of the religious people, who before were
exercifed with fome difficulties relating to this point.
Afterwards took care of, and gave my people directions a-
bout their worldly affairs.
May 24. Vifited the Indians, and took care of their fecular
bufinels, which they are not able to manage themfelves, with-
out the conflant care and advice of others.?
Afterwards difcourfed to fome particularly about their fpi-
rltual concerns.
Lord's Day, May 25* Difcourfed both parts of the day
from John xii. 44 48. There was fome degree of divine
power attending the word of God. Sundry wept, and ap-
peared considerably affected \ and one who had long been
under fpiritual trouble, now obtained clearncfs and comfort,
and appeared to " rejoice in God her Saviour." It was a day
of grace ajnd divine goodnefs 5 a day 'wherein fomething, I
truft, was done for the caufe of God among my people : a
feafon of fweetnefs and comfort tc divers of the religions
AMONG THE INDIANS, 469
people, although there was not that powerful influence upon
the congregation which was common fome months ago.
Lord's Day, June r, 1746. Pleached both forenoon and
afternoon from Math. xi. 28, 26, The prefence of God
feemed to be in the affembly, and numbers were confiderably
melted and affected under divine truths. There was a de-
finable appearance in the congregation in general, an earned
attention and agreeable tendernefs, and it (eemed as if God
defigned to vifit us with further mowers of divine grace. I
then baptifed ten perfons, five adults and five children, and
was not a little refrelhed. with this " addition made to the
" church of fuch as (I hope) ihall be faved."
I have reafon to hope, that God has lately (at and fincc
our celebration of the Lord's Supper) brought home to hira-
felf fundry fouls who had long been under fpiritual trouble
and concern \ although there have been few inflances of per-
fons lately awakened out of a ftate of fecurity. And tuofe
comforted of late, feem to be brought in, in a more filent
way ; neither their concern nor confolation being fo powerful
and remarkable, as appeared among thofe more fuddeuly
wrought upon in the beginning of this work of grace.
June 6. Difcourfed to my people from part of If. liii.
The divine prefence feemed to be amongft us in fome meafure.
Divers perfons were much melted and refrefhed \ and one man
in particular, who had long been under concern for his foul,
was now brought to fee and feel, in a very lively manner, the
impoflibility of his doing any thing to help himfelf, or to bring
him into the favour of God by his tears, prayers and other re-
ligious performances j and found himfelf undone as to any
power or goodnefs of his own j and that there was no way left
him, but to leave himfelf with God to be difpofed of as he
pleafcd.
June 7. Being defired by the Rev. Mr William Tennent
to be his afliftant in the adminiftration of the Lord's fupper j
my people alfo being invited to attend the facramental folem-
nity, they cheerfully embraced the opportunity, and this day
attended the preparatory fervices with me.
Lord's Day, June 8. Moft of my people who had been
communicants at the Lordls table before, being prefent at this
47 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
facramental occaiion, communicated with others, in this holy
ordinance, at the delire, and, i truil, to the fatisfaclion and
comfort of numbers of God's people, who had longed to fee
this day, and whofe hearts had rejoiced in this work of grace
among the Indians, which prepared the way for what appear-
ed fo agreeable at this time.
'Thofe of my people who communicated feemed in general
agreeably aiYedted at the Lord's table, and fome of them confi-
derably melted with the love of Chrift j although they were
not fo remarkably refre(hed andfeafted at this time, as when
I adminiftercdthis ordinance to them in our own cohgregation
only.
Some of the by-ftanders were afTecled with feeing thefe,
wha had been " aliens from the Commonwealth of Ifracl,
" and (hangers to the covenant of piomife," who of all men
had lived " without God and without hop?! in the w^orld,"
now brought near to God as his profeiTing people, and feal-
ing covenant with him, by a folemn and devout attendance
upon this facred ordinance. And as numbers of God'', people
were refreilied with this fight, and thereby excited to blefs *
God for the enlargement of his kingdom in the world, fo
fome others (I was told) were awakened by it, apprehending
the danger they were in of being themfelves finally caft out,
while they favv others " from eail and weft," preparing, and
hopefully prepared in fome good meafure, to " fit down in
" the kingdom of God."
At this feafon others of my people alfo, who were not com-
municants, were considerably affedled j convictions were re-
vived in divers instances ; and one (the man particularly men-
tioned in my Journal of the 6th inftant) obtained comfort and
latisfaclion j and has fmce given me fuch an account of his fpiritual
exercifes, and the manner in which he obtained relief, as ap-
pears very hopeful. It feems as if he " who commanded
** the light to fliine out of darknefs," had now " fhined in
" his heart, and given him the light of," and experimental
knowledge of " the glory of God in the face of Jefus Chritt."
June 9. A considerable number of my people met together
early in the day, in a retired place of the woods, and prayed,
fang, and converted of divine things, and. were feen by fome
AMONG THE INDIANS. 47!
religious peribns of the white people to be afFefted and enga-
ged, and divers of them in tears, in thefe religious exercifes.
Afterwards they attended the concluding exercifes of the
facramental folenmity, and then returned home, divers of them
" rejoicing for all the goodnefs of God" they had feen and
felt : fo that this appeared to he a profitable, as well as a com-
fortable feafon to numbers of my congregation. And their
being prefent at this occalion, and a number of them commu-
nicating at the Lord's table with others of God's people, was,
I truft, for the honour of God, and the interett of religion in
thefe parts ; as numbers, I have reafon to think, were quicken-
ed by means of it.
June 13. Preached to my people upon the new creature,
from 2 Cor. v. 17. The prefence of God appeared to be in
the alTembly. It was a fvveet and agreeable meeting, where-
in the people of God were refreihed and ftrengthened, behold-
ing their faces in the glais of God's word, and finding in them-
fclves the marks and lineaineats of the new creature.
Some finners under concern were alfo renewedly afFe&ed,
and afrefti engaged for the fecuring of their eternal interefts.
Baptized five peffons at this time, three adults and two chil-
dren. One of thefe was the very aged woman of whofe exer-
cife , I gave an account in my Journal of December 26. She
now gave me a very punctual, rational, and fatisfaclory ac-
count of the remarkable change (he experienced fome months
after the beginning of her concern, which, I muft fay, appear-
ed to be the genuine operations of the divine Spirit, fo far as
I am capable of judging. And although fhe was becpme fo
childiih through old age, that I could do nothing in a way of
queftionirjg with her, nor fcarce make her underlland any that
I alked her j yet when I let her alone to go en with her own
{lory, flie could give a very dillinct and particular relation of
the many various exercifes of foul ftie had experienced j fi>
deep were the imprefficjis left upon her mind by that influence
and exercife {he had been under ! And I have great reafon
to hope fhe is born anew in her old age ; (he being, I prefume,
upwards of fourfcore. I had good hopes of the other adults,
and truft they are fuch as God will own " in the day he makes
" up his jewels. 1 '
DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
June 19. Vifited my people with two of the Reverend Cor-
refpondents. Spent fome time in converfation with fome of
them upon fpiritual things > and took fome care of their world-
ly concerns.
This day makes a complete year from the firft time of
my preaching to thefe Indians in New-Jerfey . What ama-
zing things has God wrought in this fpace of time for thefe
poor people ! What a furprifing change appears in their tem-
pers and behaviour ! How are morofe and favage Pagans in
this fiiort fpace of time transformed into agreeable, affeclion-
ate, and humble Chriftians ! and their drunken and Pagan
howlings turned into devout and fervent prayers and piaifes
to God ! They " who were fometiraes darknefs, are now be-
" come light in the Lord : May they walk as children of the
*' light and of the day. And now to him that is of power to
" ftablifla them according to thegofpel, and the preaching of
" Ghrift - To God only wife, be glory, through Jefus
" Chrift, for ever and ever ! Amen."
Before I conclude the prefent Journal, I would make a few
general remarks upon what to me appears worthy of notice,
relating to the continued work of grace among my people.
And, firft, I cannot but take notice that I have in the ge-
neral, ever fince my firft coming among thefe Indians in New-
Jerfey, been favoured with that afliftance, which (to me) is
uncommon, in preaching Chrift crucified, and making him the
centre and mark to which all my difcourfes among them were
direaed.
It was the principal fcope and drift of all my difcourfes to
this people for feveral months together, (after having taught
them fomcthing of the being and perfections of God, his crea-
tion of man in a ftate of rectitude and happinefs, and the
obligations mankind were thence under to love and honour
him), to lead them into an acquaintance with their deplorable
ftate by nature, as fallen creatures their inability to extri-
cate and deliver themfelves from it the utter infuinciency of
any external reformations and amendments of life, or of anv
AMONG THE I N D I A/N S. 473
religious performances they were capable of while in this
iiate, to bring them into the favour of God, and intereft
them in his eternal mercy. And thence to mew them their
abfolute need of Chrift to redeem and fave them ft ore the rai-
fery of their fallen (late To open his all Sufficiency and
willingnefs to fave the chief of finners The <rcer.efs anr 3 ,
riches of his divine grace, propofed " without money and
" without price," to all that will accept the offer. And
thereupon to prefs them without delay to betake thcmfelvesio
him under ,a fenfe of their mifery and undone eftate, for re-
lief and everlafting falyation. And to (hew them the a-
bundant encouragement the gofpel propofes to needy, periili-
ing, and helplefs tinners, in order to engage them fo to do.
Thefe things I repeatedly and largely infifted upon from
time to time.
And I have oftentimes remarked with admiration, that
whatever fubject I have been treating upon after having fpent
time fufiicient to explain and illuftrate the truths contained
therein, I have been naturally and eafily led to Chrift as
the fubftance of every fubjed. If I treated on the being and
glorious perfections of God, I was thence naturally led to
difcourfe of Chrift as the only " way to the Father." If I at-
tempted to open the deplorable mifery of our fallen ftate, it
v/as natural from thence to mew the neceffity of Chrift to
undertake for us, to atone for our fins, and to redeem us from
the power of them. If 1 taught th commands of God, and
fhewed cur violation- of them, this brought me, in the moft
eafy and natural way, to /peak of and recommend the:
Lord Jefus Chrift, as one who had "magnified the law" we
had broken, and who was " become the end of it for righ-
" teoufnefo, to every cne that believes." -And never did I
find fo much freedom and fflifiar.ce in making all the various
lines of my 4ifcc>urfes meet together, and centre in Chilli, as
I have frequently done amon^ thcie Indians.
Sometimes when I have had thouy'uls of offering but a few
words upon-. Come particular fubj^ct, and faw no occaGon,
nor indeed mue.h room for any confide! able enlargement,
there has at urmvares appeared fuch a f-jtsntain of gofpel-
grace ihir.ing. forth in, or naturally refulting . frcri 'ajr.Ll t- f -
O 6 o
474 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
plication of it, and Chrift has feemed in inch a manner to be
pointed out as the fubftance of what I was considering and
explaining) that I have been drawn in a way not only eafy
and natural, proper and pertinent, but almoft unavoidable to
difcourfe of him, either in regard of his undertaking, incar-
nation, fatisfaclion, admirable fitnefs for the work of man's
redemption, or the infinite need that finners ftand in of an
intereft in him ; which has opened the way for a continued
ftrain of gofpel- invitation to perifhing fouls, to ccme empty
and naked, weary and heavy laden, and cart themfelves upon
him.
And as I have been remarkably influenced and aififled to
dwell upon the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the way of falvation
by him in the general current of my difcourfes Jiere, and
have been at times furprifmgly furnifhed with pertinent
matter relating to him, and the defign of his incarnation j fo
I have been no lefs arTnted oftentimes in regard of an advan-
tageous manner of opening the myileries of divine grace, and
reprefcnting the infinite excellencies, and 1 ' unfearchable riches
" of Chrift, as well as of recommending him to the acceptance
of perifhing finners. I have frequently been enabled to re-
prefent the divine glory, the infinite precioufnefs and tran-
fcendent lovelinefs of the great Redeemer ; the hiitablenefs
of his perfon and purchafe to fupply the xvants, and anfwer
the utmoft defires of immortal fouls To open the infinite
riches of his grace, and the wondeiful encouragement propo-
fed in the gofpel to unworthy, helplefs finners. To call, in-
vite and befeech them to come and give up themfelves to him,
and be reconciled to God through him To expoflulate
with them refpec"Hng their r.egleft of one fo infinitely lovely,
qnd freely offered : And this in fuch a manner, with iuch
freedom, fpertirvency, pathos, and application to the ccr, fai-
ence, as I am fure I never could have irade rcyiclf mailer
of by the moA affiduous application of mind I am capable of.
And have frequently at fuch feu Tons been furprifingly help-
ed in adapting my difcourfes to the capacities of my people,
and bringing them down into fuch eafy, vulgar and familiar
methods of exprcfiion, as has rendered them intelligible
even to P?.an?.
AMONG THE INDIANS. 475
I do not mention thefe thing* as a recoramena:uion of my
own performances , for, I am fure, I found, from time to
time, that I had no ikiil or wiGiom for my great work ; and
knew not how to " chufe out acceptable words" proper to ad-
drsfs poor benighted Pagans with. But thus God was pleated
to help me, " not to know any thing among them, favc Jefus
" Chrift, and him crucified " Thus I was enabled to (hew
them their mifery and undonenefs without him, and to repre-
fent his complete fitnefs to redeem and fave them;
And this was the preaching God made ufe oi for the awa-
kening of iinners, and tlie propagation of this "work of grace
" among the Indians/' And it was remavkabie, horn time
to time, that when I was favoured with any fpeciai freed oru,
in difcourfmg of the " ability and willingnefs of Chrift to lave
" fmners,"' and the '* need they flood in of fuch a Saviour,"
there was then the greater}: appearance of divine power in a-
wakening numbers of fecure fouls, promoting convictions be-
gun, and comforting the diftreffed.
I have fometimes formerly, in reading the apoftle's difcourfe
to Cornelius, ( Acts x.), admired to fee him fo quiddy intro-
duce the Lord Jefus Chriit into his fermon, and fo entirely
dwell upon him through the whole of it, obferving him in ihis
point very widely to differ from any of cur modern preach-
ers , but latterly this has not feemed ihaiige^ fince Chrift has
appeared to be the fubftance of the gofpcl, and the centre in
which the fever::! lines of divine revelation meet. Although
I am ftill fcnfible there are many things neceffary to befpoken
to perfons under Pagan dnrknefs, in order to make way for a
propf-r ir t tro..lu6l!on of the name of Chrilr, and his underta-
k i n g in be h a 1 f o f f a i 1 e n man.
Secondly , It is worthy of remark, that numbers of thefe
people are brought to a ftricl compliance with the rules of
morality and fobrkty^ and to a confcientious performance of
the external duties of Chriftianity, by the internal power and
influence of divine truths (the peculiar doctrines of grace) up-
on their minds j without their having thefe 'moral duties fre-
quently repeated and inculcated upon them, and the contrary
vices particularly expofed and fpoken againil. What has
keen the general {Irnin and drift cf my preaching ^amongJthefe
DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
Indians, what were the truths I principally infilled upon, and
how 1 was influenced and enabled to dwell from time to time
upon the peculiar doctrines of grace, I have already obferved
in the preceding remark. Thofe doctrines which had the
molt direct tendency to humble the fallen creature, to {hew
him the mifery of his natural (late, to bring him down to the
ioot of fovereign mercy, and to exalt the great Redeemer,
difcover his tranfcendent excellency and infinite precioufnefs,
and fo to recommend him to the finner's acceptance, were the
iubject- matter of what was delivered in public and private to
them, and from time to time Tcpeated and inculcated upon
them.
And God was pleafed to give thefe divine truths fuch a
powerful influence upon the minds of thefe people, and fo to
blefs them for the effectual awakening of numbers of them,
that their live* were quickly reformed, without my h. lifting
upon the precepts of morality, and fpending time in repeated
harangues upon external duties. There was indeed no room
for any kind of difcourfes but thofe that refpt cted the effen-
tials of religion, and the experimental knowledge of divine
things, whilft there were fo many enquiring daily, not how
they {hould regulate their external conduct, (for that, perfons.
who are honeftly difpofed to comply with dutv, when known,
may, in ordinary cafes, be eafiiy fatisfied about) ; but how
they {hould efcape from the wrath they feared and felt a dc-
fert of, obtain an effectual change of heart, get an intereil
in Cbrlil, and come to the enjoyment of etemal bleffednefs.
- *-So that my great work itill was to lead them into a fur-
ther view of their utter undonenefs in themfelves, the total de-
pravity and corruption ef their hearts ; that there was no
manner of goodnefs in them j no good difpofitions nor de-
fires ; no love to God, nor delight in his commands : but, on
the contrary, hatred, enmity, and 'all manner of wickednefs
reigning in them. And at the fame time, to open to them the
glorious and complete remedy provided in Chrift for helplefs
perilling finners, and offered freely to thofe who have no
goodnefs of their own, no " works of rightecuyatfs which
ih-ey have done," to recommend them to God.
This was the continued rtrain of my preaching 5 this ray
AMONG THE INDIANS. 4/7
rmr >wi" ." ^.- T -i , ... ^
great concern and conilant endeavour, fo to enlighten the
mind, as thereby duly to affect the heart, and, as far as pof-
fible, give perfons a fenfe and feeling of thefe precious and
important doctrines of grace j at leait, fo far as means might
conduce to it. And thefe were the doctrines, this the me-
thod of preaching, which were blelTed of God for the awaken-
ing, and, I trull, the faving converfion of numbers of fouls,
and which were made the means of producing a remarkable
reformation among the hearers in genet al.
When thefe truths were felt at heart, there was now no
vice unreformed, no external duty neglected. Drunken-
nefs, the darling vice, was broken off from, and fcarce an in-
ftance of it known among my .hearers for months together.
The abufive practice of hufbands and wires in putting away,
each other, and taking others in their (lead, was quickly re-
formed j fo that there are three or four couple who have vo-
luntarily difmiffed thofe they had wrongfully taken, and now
live together again in love and peace. The fame might be
faid of all other vicious practices. The reformation was
general j and all fpringing from the internal iialuence of c"-
vine truths upon their hearts j and not from any external re-
flraints, or becaufe they had heard thefe vices particularly
expofed, and repeatedly fpokcn againfl j for fome of them
I never fo much as mentioned ; particularly that of the part-
ing of men and their wives ^ till fome, having their confcience
awakened by God's word, came, .aid, of their own accord,
confeffed themfelves guilty in that refpecL And when I rlid
at any time mention their wicked practices, and the iins they
were guilty of contrary to the light of nature, it was not with
defign, nor indeed with any hope of working an effectual refor-
mation in their external manners by this means ; for I knew
that while the tree remained corrupt, the fruit would natural-
ly be fo ; but with defign to lead them, by obferving the
wickednefs of their lives, to a view of the corruption of their
hearts, and fo to convince them of the neceflity of a renova-
tion of nature, and to excite them with utmoil diligence, to
feek after that great change, which, if once obtained, I was
ienfible, would of courfe produce a reformation of extsrm'
manners in every refped.
47$ DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
And ?.s all vice was reformed upon their feeling the poxver
cf tLele truths upon their hearts, fo the external duties of
Chriiiianity were complied with, and confcientioufiy perform-
ed from the fame internal influence; family-prayer fet up,
and constantly maintained, unlcfs among fome few more late-
ly come, who had felt little of this divine influence ; this
duty co. crforinfed even in fome families where there
were none but females ; and fcarce a pr?yerlefs perfon to be
found among near an hundred of them 5 the Lord's Day fe-
lioufly and religioufly cbferved, sr.d cr.r^ taken- by parents to
keep their children orderly upon that facred day. &c. And
this, not becaufe I had driven them to the performance of
thefe duties by a frequent inculcating of them, but becaufe
they had felt the poxver of God's word upon their hearts,
were made feniible of their fin and inifery. and thence could
not but pray, and comply with every ihi'\: T t "-ey knew was du-
t :rom what they felt within themfeivcs When their hearts
.-jhed with a fenfe of their etertial concernments, they
c. 'd pray with great freedom, as well as fervency, without-
g at ihe trouble firit to learn fct forms for that purpofe.
And fome of them who were lucL. .xened at their firit
coming among us, were brought to pray and cry for mercy
with utmoll impoitur.ity, without ever ueing inftrufted in the
divy of prayer, or fo much as once directed to a perfoimance
of it.
The happy effects of thefe peculiar dcctrines of grace,
which I have fo much infilled upon with this people, plainly
difcover, even to demonftration, that inflead of their opening
n door to licenticufnefs. (as many vainly imagine, and flancer-
ouily iniinuate), they have a direcl contrary tendency : fo thnt
a c'o'.e appiication, q ff.nfe and feeling of them, will have the
moft powtifu! influence toward the renovation, and effectual
reformation both of heart and life.
Ana happy experience, as well as the word of God, and
the example of Chrift and his apoftles, has tauoht me, that
that method of preaching, which is bell fnited to awaken in
mankind a fen!e and lively apprehenfion of their depravity
and mi^ry in a fallen ftate, to excite them earneftly to ftek
after a change cf heart, and to fly for refuge to free and fovc-
AMONG THE INDIANS. 479
reign grp.ce in Chriii, as the only hope fet before them, is like
to be moft fuccefsful toward the reformation of their exter-
nal conduct. I have found that clofe addreffes, and fo!emn
applications of divine truths to the conference, tend directly to
Itrike death to the root of all vice ; \vhile frnooth and plaufi-
ble harangues upon moral virtues and external dutie-, at beft
are like to do no more than lop off the branches of corruption,
vvhiie the root of all vice remains ftill untouched.
A view of the bleiTed effect of honeft endeavours to bring
home divine truths to the confcience, and duly to affect the
heart with them, has often minded me of thofe words of our
Lord, (which 1 have thought might be a proper exhortation
for minifters in refpect of their treating \\-ith others, as well
as for perfons in general with regard to therafelves), " Cleanfc
" firft the infide of the cup and platter, that the outfide may
" be clean alfo." Cleanfe, fays he, the infide, that the out-
fide may be clean, -^. d. The only effectual way to have the
outfide clean, is to begin with what is within ; and if the foun-
tain be purifisd, the ftreams will naturally be pure. And moft
certain it is, if we can awaken in finners a lively fcnfe of their
inward pollution and depravity, their need of a change of
heart, and to engage them to feck after inward cleanfing,
their external defilement will naturally be cleanfed, their vi-
cious ways of ccurie be reformed, and their converfation and
behaviour become regular.
u
Now, although I cannot pretend that the reformation a-
mong my people does, in every inftance, fpring from a fa-
ving change of heart : yet I may truly fay, it flows from fome
heart-affecting view and fenfe of divine truths that aU have
had in a greater or leiTer degree.
I do not intend, by what I have obferved here, to repreferit
the preaching of morality, and preiTing pciions to the exter-
nal performance of d-.ry to be altogether unnecefiary and
ufelels at any time ; and especially at times when there is lefs
of divine power attending the means of grace, when for
want of internal inriuences, there . is need of external re-
ilraints. It is doubtiefs among the things that " ought to be
" done," while " others are not to be left undone." But
what I principally deflgncd by this remark, was to diicover
480 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
plaia matter of fact, vz-z. that the reformation, the fobriety,
and external compliance with the rules and duties of ChriPiia-
nity, appearing among ray people, are not the efieclof any rr.ere
doctrinal inflru&iort, or merely rational view of the beauty of
morality, but from the internal power and influence that di-
vine truths (the foul-humbling docirines of grace) have had
upon their hearts.
Thirdly, It is remarkable thatGod has fo continued &. renew-
ed the fhowers of his grace here > fo quickly fet up his vifible
kingdom among thefe people j and fo fmiied upon them in rela-
tion to their acquirement of knowledge, both divine and human.
Jt is now near a year fmce the beginning of this gracious out-
pouring of the divine Spirit among them j and although it has
often- feemed to decline and abate for fome ihort fpace of
time, (as may be obferved by feveral paffages of my Journal,
where I have endeavoured ro note things juft as they appear-
ed to me from time to time) ; yet the mower has feemed to
be renewed, and the work of grace revived again j fo that a
divine influence feems ftill apparently to attend the means of
grace, in a greater or lefs degree, in moft of our meetings for
religious exercifes j whereby religious perfons are refrefhed,
ftrengthened, and eftablilhed, convictions revived and pro-
moted in many inftances, and fome few perfons newly awa-
kened from time to time. Although it mult be acknowled-
ged, that for fome time paft, there has, in the general, ap-
peared a more manifeft decline of this work, and the divine
Spirit has feemed, in a confiderable meafure, withdrawn, ei-
pecially in regard of his awakening influences ; fo that the
(trangers who come latterly, are not feized with concern as
formerly j and fome few who have been much affected with
divine truths in time paft, now appear lefs concerned. Yet
^bleffed be God) there is ftill an appearance of divine power
and grace, a deferable degree of tendeir.efs, religious affec-
tion and devotion in our affemblies.
And as God has continued and renewed the ihowers of his
^racc among this people for fome time ; fo has he with un-
common quicknefs fet up his viiible kingdom, and gathered
himfelf a church in the midtt of them. I have now baptized,
fince the conclusion of my laft Journal, thirty perfons, -
AMONG THE INDIANS. 481
teen adults and fifteen children. Which added to the num-
ber there mentioned, makes feventy-feven pcrlbns j whereof
thirty-eight are adults, and thirty-nine children j and all with-
in the fpace of eleven months paft. And it muft be noted,
that I have txtptifed no adults, but fuch as appeared to have a
work of fpecial grace wrought in their hearts j 1'mean fuch
who have had the experience, not only of the awakening and
humbling, but (in a judgment of charity) of the renewing and
comforting influences of the divine Spirit. Although there
are many others under folemn concern for their fouls, who I
apprehend are pcrfons of iufficient knowledge, and vifible fe-
iioufnefs at prefent, to render them proper fubjecrs of the
ordinance of baptifm j yet lince they give no comfortable e-
vidences of having as yet paffed a faving change, but only ap-
pear under convictions of their fin and mifery, and having no
principle of fpiritual life wrought in them, are liable to lo/e
the impreflions of religion they are now under : and confider-
ing the great pro"enfuy there is in this people naturally to a-
bufe themfelves with ftrong drink, and fearing left fome, who
at prefent appear ferious and concerned for their fouls, might
lofe their concern, and return to this iin, and fo (if baptized)
prove a fcandal to their profefiion, I have thought proper hi-
therto to omit the baptifm of any but fuch who give fome
hopeful evidences of a faving change, although I do not pre-
tend to determine pofitively refpefting the dates of any.
I like wife adminiftered the Lord's fupper to a number of
periods, who I have abundant reafon to think (as I elfe where
obferved) were proper fubjeds of that ordinance, within the
fpace of ten months and ten days, after my firft coming a-
mong thefe Indians in New Jerfey* And from the time that,
I am informed, fome of them were attending an idolatrous
feaiV and facrifice in honour* to devils, to the time they fat
down at the Lord's table (I truft) to the honour of God, was
not more than a full year. Surely Chrift's little flock here,
fo fuddenly gathered from among Pagans, may juftly fay,
in the language of the church of old, " The Lord hath done
*' great things for us, whereof we are glad."
Much of the goodnefs of God has alfe appeared in relation
heir acquirement of knowledge, both in religion and in
P p p
482, DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
the affairs of common life. There has been a wonderful
third after Ch rift ian knowledge prevailing among them in ge-
neral, and an eager defire of being 5nftru6ted in Chriftian
doctrines and manners. This has prompted them to ?.ik many
pertinent as well as important qucftions j the arifwers to
which have tended much to enlighten their minds, and pro-
mote their knowledge in divine things. Many of the doc-
trines I have delivered, they have queried with me about, in
order to gain further light and infight into them ; particular-
ly the doclrine of predeftination : and have from time to
time manifefted a good understanding of them, by their an-
fwers to the queilicns propofed to them in my catechetical
leclures.
They have likewife queried with me, refpeling a proper
method as well as proper matter of prayer, and exprefuons
fuitable to be made ufe of in that religious exercife, and have
taken pains in order to the performance of this duty with ua-
cferftanding.
They have likewife taken pains, and appeared remarkably
apt in learning to fing Pfalm-tunes, and are now able to fing
with a good degree of decency in the worfhip of God.
They have alfo acquired a coniiderable degree of ufeful
knowledge in the affairs of common life j fo that they now
appear like rational creatures, fit for human fociety, fiee of
that favage roughnefs and brutifti ftupidity, which rendered
them very difagreeable in their Pagan Hate.
They feem ambitious of a thorough acquaintance with the
Englilh language, and for that end frequently fpeak it among
thernfelves j and many of them have made good proficiency
in their acquirement of it, fince my coming among them ; fo
that moit of them can underftand a considerable part, and
fome the fubftance of my difeourfes, without an interpreter,
(being ufed to my law and vulgar methods of expreflion),
though they could not well underiland other minifters.
And ss they are delirous of inftruftion, and furprifingly apt
in the reception of it, fo divine Providence has fmiled upon
them in regard of proper means m order to it. The at-
tempts made for the procurement of a fchool among them,
fcave been fucceeded, and a kind providence has fent theaa
AMONG THE INDIANS 483
a fchoolmaiier, of whcm I may juftly fay, I know of " no
"man like minded, who will naturally care for their Hate."
He has generally thirty or tUirty-five children in his fchool:
and when he kept an evening fchool (as he did while the
length of the evenings would admit of it) he had fifteen or
twenty people, married and fmgle.
The children learn with fupriiing readinefs *, fo that their
mailer tells me, he never had an li-nglifh fchool that learned
in general comparably fo faft. There were not above two in
thirty, although fome of them were very fmall, but what
learned to know all the letters in the alphabet diftinftly, with-
in three days after his entrance upon his bufincfs ', and divers
in that fpacs of time learned to fpell considerably j and iome
of them, fince the beginning of February laft (at which time
the fchool was fet up) have learned fo much, that they are a-
ble to read in a Pfalter ar Teftament without fpelling.
They are inftrucled twice a week in the Reverend ArTem-
bly's Shorter Catechifm, viz. on Wednefday and Saturday.
And fome of them fince the latter end of February, (at which*
time they began), have learned to fay it pretty diitinclly by
heart confiderably more than half through, and moft of them
have made fome proficiency in it.
They are likewife inltrucled in the duty of fecret prayer,
and moll: of them conftantly attend it night and morning, and
are very careful to inform their mailer if they apprehend any
of their liitle fchool-mates neglect that religious exercife.
Fourthly, It is worthy to be noted, (to the praife.of fove-
reign grace), and amidii fo great a work of conviction, fo
much concern and religious affeclion, there has been no pre-
valency, nor indeed any confiderable appearance cf falfe re-
ligion, (if I may fo term it\ or heats of imagination, intempe-
rate zeal, and fpiritual pride j which corrupt mixtures too
often attend the revival and powerful propagation of religion j
and that there have been fo very few inftances of irregular and
icandalous behaviour among thofe who have appeared feiious.
I may juftiy repeat what I obferved in a remark at the con-
da (ion of my laft Journal, viz. That there has here been no
appearance of bodily agonies, convulfions, frightful fcream-
ings and the like ; and may now farther add, that there hai
484 DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED
bten no prevaleney of vifions, trances, and imaginations of a-
ny kind ; aitho' there has been fome appearance of fomething
of that nature iince the concluiion of that Journal : An in-
ftance of which I have given an account of in my Journal of
December 26.
But this work of grace has, in the main, been carried on
with a furprifing degree of purity, and freedom from trafh and
corrupt mixture. The religious concern that perfons have
been under has generally been rational and juft, anting from a
ienfe of their fins, and expofedr.efs to the divine difpleafure
r,n the account of them, as well as their utter inability to de-
liver themfelves from the mifeiy they felt and feared. And
if there has been in any inflances an appearance of irrational
concern and perturbation of mind when the fubje&s of it knew
not xvhy, yet there has been no- prevaleney of any fuch thing j
and indeed I fcarce know o-f an inftance of that nature at all.-
And it is very remarkable, that although the concern of ma-,
ny perfons under convictions of their perifhing itate has been
very great and prefling, yet I have never feen any thing like
defperation attending it in any one inftance. They have had
the moft lively fenfe of their undonenefs in themfelves, have
been brought to give up all hopes of deliverance from them-
feives, and their fpmtuai exercifes leading hereto have been
attended with reat diftrefs and anguifh of foul ; and yet, in
the feafons of the greateft extremity, there have been no ap-
pearances of defpair in any of them, nothing that has difcott-
raged or in anywife hindered them from the raoft diligent ufe
of all proper means for their converfion and falvation ^whence
it is apparent, there is nojt that danger of perfons being driven
to defpair under Spiritual trouble, unlefs in cafes of deep and
habitual melancholy, that the world in general is ready to im-
agine.
The comfert that perfons have obtained after their diftrefl'-
es, has likewife in general appeared folid, well grounded, and
Icripttiral, arifing from a fpiritual and fupernatural illumina-
tion of mind, a view of divine things, in a meafure, as they
are, a complacency of foul in the divine perfeclions, and a
peculiar fatisfaftion in the. way of {alvation by free fovereign
grace in the great Redeemer.
AMONG T.HE INDIANS. 485
Their joys have feemed to rife from a variety of views and
confederations of divine things, altho' for fubftance the fame.
Some, who, under convictions, feemed to have the liardeft
ft niggles and heart rifings againft divine fovereignty, have
feemed, at the fir ft dawn of their comfort, to rejoice in a pecu-
liar manner in that divine perfection, have been delighted to
think that themfelves, and all things elfe were in the hand of
God, and that he would difpofe of them " juft as he plea-
fed."
Others who juft before their reception of comfort have been
remarkably opprefftd with a fcnfe of their urrdonenefs and po-
verty, who h-we feen themfelves as it were falling down into
remedilefs perdition, have been at firft more particularly de-
lighted with a view of the freenefs and riches of divine grace,
and the offer of falvation made to periihing linners *' without
" money, and without price."
Some have at firft appeared to rejoice efpecially in the wif-
dom of God, difcovered in- the way of falvation by Chrift j
it then appearing to them " a new and living way," a way
they had never thought, nor had any juft conception of, until
o-pened to them by the fpecial influence of the divine Spirit.
And fome of them, upon a lively fpiritual view of this way of
falvation, have wondered at their paft folly in feeking falva-
tion other ways j and have admired that they never faw this
way offalvatio before, which now appeared fo plain and eafy,
as well as excellent to them.
Others again have had a more general view of the beauty
and excellency of Chriil, and have had their fouls delighted
with an apprehension of his divine glory, as unfpeakably ex-
ceeding all they bad ever conceived before ; yet without fing-
ling out (as it were) anyone of the divine perfections in
particular j fo that although their comforts have feemed to
arife from a variety of views and confiderations of divine
glories, Hill they were fpiritual and fupernatural views of them,
aad not groundlcfs fancies, that are the fpring of their joys
and comforts
Yet it muft be acknowledged, that when this work became
fu univerfal and prevalent, and gained fuch general credit and
efleem among the Indians, that Satan feemed to have litrlc
486 DIVINE .GRACE DI SPLAYED
advantage of working againft it in his own proper garb ; he
then transformed himfelf into an angel of light," and made
forae vigorous attempts to introduce turbulent commotions of
the paffiious in the room of genuine convictions of fin, imagi-
nary and fanciful notions of Chrift, as appearing to the men-
tal eye in a human fliape, and being in fome particular pof-
tures, &c. in the room of fpiritual fupernatural difcoveries
of his divine glory and excellency, as well as divers other de-
Jufions. And I have reafon to think that if ihefe things had
met with countenance and encouragement, there would have
been a very confiderable harveft of this kind of converts here.
Spiritual pride aUb difcovered itfelf in various Jnfiances :
Some perfons who had been under great affections, feemed
very defirous from thence of being thought truly gracious 3
who, when I ecu' d not but exprefs to them my fears ref-
pecling their fpiritual ftates, difcovered their refentments
to a confiderable degree upon that occafion. There alfo ap-
peared in one or two of them an unbecoming ambition of
being teachers of others. So that Satan has been a bufy ad-
verfary here, as well as elfe where. But (blefled be God)
though fomething of this nature has appeared, yet nothing of
it has prevailed, nor indeed made any confiderable progrefs at
all. My people are now apprifed of thefe things, are acquain-
ted that Satan in fuch a manner " transformed himfelf into an
" angel of light," in the firft feafon of the great outpouring
of the divine Spirit in the days of the apoftles ; and that fome-
tbing of this nature in a greater or lefTer degree, has attended
almoft every revival and remarkable propagation of true reli-
gion ever fince. And they have learned fo to diftinguilh be-
tween the gold and drofs, that the credit of the latter " is
" trode down like the mire of the ftreets :" and it being na-
tural for this kind of Huff to die with its credit, there is now
fcarce any appearance of it among them.
And as there has been no pre valency of irregular heats, I-
maginary notions, fpiritual pride, and Satnnical delufions a-
mong my people j fo there have been very few inftances of
fcandalous and irregular behaviour among thofe who have
made a profeffion or even an appearance of feriouihefs, I do
not know of more than three or four fuch perfons that have
AMONG THE INDIANS. 487
been guilty of any open mifconducl, fince their firft acquain-
tance with Christianity, and not one that perfiils in any thing
of that nature. And perhaps the remarkable purity of this
work in the latter refpeft, its freedom from frequent inftances
of fcandal, is very much owing to its purity in the former ref-
pecl, its freedom from corrupt mixtures of fpiritual pride,
wild-fire, and delufion, which naturally lay a foundation for
fcandalpus praflices.
'* May this bleffed work in the power and purity of it pre-
" vail among the poor Indians here, as well as fpread elfe-
*' where, till the remoteil tribes (hall fee the falvation of God 1
" Amen."
47 DIVINE G R A C DISPLAY EO
MONEY
COLLECTED AND EXPENDED FOR THE INDIAN.%
As mention has been made in the preceding Journal, of
an Englifti fchool creeled and continued among thefe Indians,
dependent entirely upcu charity j aad as collections have al-
ready been made in divers places for the fupport of it, as well
as lor defraying other charges that have neceflariiy ariien in
the promotion of the religious interefts of the Indians, it may-
be fatisfa6iory, and perhaps will be thought by tome but a
piece of juitice to the world, that an exaft account be here
given of the money already received Ly way of col]eti'~n for
the benefit of tbe Indians, and the mannei in which it has been
expended.
The following is therefore a juft accbunt of this matter.
Money received fince Oftober ]aft by way of public collec-
tion, for promotirg the religious interefts of the Indians in
New- Jerfey, via.
From New-York, ...
L. 23 10 a
Jamaica on Long-lfland,
300
EHfabeth-Town,
- 7 5 o
Elifabeth-Town farms,
I 18 9
Newark. - -
- 4 5 7
Woodbridge, - - -
Morris- Town, -
2 IS 2
153
Freehold -
12 II
Freehold Dutch Congregation,
Shrewsbury .and Sh-rk-river,
4 M 3
3 5
Middle-Town Dutch congregation, 200
The Dutch congregation in and about New-Brunfwick, 35
Nefhaminy and places adjacent in Penfylvania,
Abington in New-Providence, by the hand of the
14 5
Rev.
Mr Treat,
10 5 o
TIip wlinift amounting to
L. ico o o
Money paid out fince October Jaft for promoting the religious,
intereils of the Indians in New-Jerfey, viz.
Upon the occafion mentioned in my Journal of Janua-
ry 28 - - - - L - 8z 5 o
For the building a fchool-houfe, - 35
Xo the fchool-mafter as a part of his reward for his pre-
fent year's fervice, - 17 10 e-
For books for the children to learn in, - 3 '
The whole amounting t L- IO0 '
DAVID BRAINOIX
BRIEF REMARKS
ON THE
INSTRUCTION OF THE INDIANS ;
WITH AN ACCOUNT OF
THE DIFFICULTIES
ATTENDING THE WORK OF A M1SSIONART AMONG THEM.
An Appendix to the Journal
OF
MR DAVID BRA1NERD,
PASTOR Of A CHURCH OF CHRISTIAN INDIANS
NEW JERSEY
* *
APPENDIX
TO MR BRAI NERD'S JOURNAL.
I SHOULD have concluded what I had at prefect to offer
upon the affairs refpe&ing ray miflion, with the preced-
ing account of the money collected and expended for the re-
ligious interefts of the Indians, but that I have not long fince
received from the Reverend Prefident of the Correfpondents,
the copy of a letter directed to him from the Honourable So-
ciety for propagating Chriftian knowledge, dated at Edinburgh,
March 21, 1745 j wherein I find it is exprefsly enjoined up-
on their miflTionaries, " That they give an exact account of
" the methods they make ufe of for inftru&ing themfelves in
" the Indians language, and what progrefs they have already
'* made in it What methods they are now taking to inftrud
" the Indians in the principles of our holy religion And
" particularly, that they fet forth in their Journals what dif-
" faculties they have already met with, and the methods they
*' make ufe of for furmounting the fame."
As to the two former of thefe particulars, I truft that what
I have already noted in my Journals from time to time, might
have been in a good meafure fatisfaclory to the Honourable
Society, had thefe Journals arrived fafely and feafcnably,
which I am fenfible they have not in general done, by reafon
of their falling into the hands of the enemy, although I have
been at the pains offending two copies of every Journal, for
more than two years part, left one might mifcarry in the paf-
fage. But with relation to the latter of tliefc particulars,
I have purpofely omitted faying any thing confiderable, and
that for thefe two reafons : Firft, Becaufe I could not often-
times give any tolerable account of the difficulties I met with
in my work, without fpeaking fcmewhat particularly of the
M E T II O D OF INSTRUCTING, &C. 49 1
caufes of them, and the circumftances conducing to them,
xvhich would neceiTarily have rendered my Journals very
lengthy and tedious. Befides, fome of the caufes of my dif-
ficulties I thought more fit to be concealed than divulged.
And, fecond/y, Becaufe I thought a frequent mentioning of
the difficulties attending my work, might appear as an unbe-
coming complaint under my burdens j or as if I would rather ba
thought to be endowed with a nngular meafure of felf-denia!,
conftancy, and holy refolution, to meet and confront fo many
difficulties, and yet to hold on and go forward a mid ft them
all. But fince the Honourable Society are pleafed to require
a more exal and particular account of thefe things, I fha-il
cheerfully endeavour ibmething for their fatisfaction in rela-
tion to each of thefe particulars : although in regard of the
latter, I am ready to fay, Infandum -jukss renovare dolo-
The moll fuccefsful method I have taken for inftru&ing
myfelf in any of the Indian languages, is to tranflate Englifli
dilcourfes, by the help of an interpreter or two, into their
language, as near verbatim as the fenfe will admit of, and to
obferve ftri&ly how they ufe words, and what conftruclion
they will bear in various cafes 5 and thus to gain fome acquaint-
ance with the root from whence particular words proceed,
and to fee how they are thence varied and diverfified. But
here occurs a very great difficulty j for the interpreters being
unlearned, and unacquainted with the rules of language, it is
ImpofTible fometimes to know by them what part of fpeech
fome particular words are of, whether noun, verb, Q* t>a.r'icipk f >
for they feem to ufe participles fometimes where we mould
ufe noun*) and fometimes where we fhould ufe verbs in the
Englifn language. But l.have. notwithftanding many' cirffi-
culties, gained fome acquaintance with the grounds of the
Delaware language, and have learned mod of the defects in
it ; fo that I know what Engliili words caa, and what cannot
be trar.fiated into it. I have alfo gained fome acquaintance
with the particular phraieologies, as well as peculiarities of
their language, one of which 1 cannot but mention. Their
language does not admit of their fpeaking any word deno-
METHOD OF INSTRUCTING
ting relation, fuch as, father, ion, &.C. abfolutely j that i, with-
out prefixing a pronoun- paffive to it, fuch as my, thy, his,
&.c. Hence they cannot be baptifed in their own language
in the name of the Father, and the Son, &c. ; but they may
be baptifed in the name of Jefus Chrift, and his Father, &tc.
I have gained fo much knowledge of their language, that I
can underiland a confiderable part of what they fay when
they difcourfe upon divine things, and am frequently able to
correct my interpreter, if he miftakes my fenfe. But I can
do nothing to any purpofe at fpeaking the language myfelf.
And as an apology for this defect, I muft renew, or rather
enlarge my former complaint, viz. That *' while fo much of
** my time is necefiarily confumed in journeying," while lam.
obliged to ride four thoufand miles a-year, (as I have done in
the year pail), " I can have little left for any of my neceffary
" ftudies, and confequently for the fhidy of the Indian lan-
" g ua g es< " And tn * s * mav venture to fay, is the great, if
not the only reafon why the Delaware lauguage is not familiar
to me before this time. And it is impoffible I fliould ever be
able to fpeak it without clofe application, which (at prefent)
I fee no profnect of having time for. To preach and cate-
chife frequently , to converfe privately with peifons that need
fo much infraction and direction as thefe poor Indians do j
to take care of all their fecular affairs, as if they were a com-
pany of children j to ride abroad frequently in order to pro-
cure collections for the fupport of the fchool, and for their
help and benefit in other refpects ; to hear and decide all the
petty differences that arife among any of them j and to have
the conftant overfight and management of all their affairs of
every kind, muft needs ingrofs rnoft of my time, and leave me
little for application to the ftudy of the Indian languages.
And when I add to this, the time that is neceffarily confu-
med upon my Journals, I muft fay I have little to fpare for
other bufinefs. I have not (as was obferved before) fent to
the Honourable Society lefs than two copies of every Journal,
for more than two years pail \ moft of which, I fuppofe, have
been taken by the French in their paiTagc. And a third copy
I have conftantly kept by me left the others fliould mifcarry j
which has caufed me not a little labour, and fo ftr;utened me
THE INDIANS. 493
for time, when I have been at liberty from other bufmefs, and
had opportunity to fit down to writing, (which is but rare), I
have been obliged to write twelve or thirteen hours in a day,
till my fpiritshave been extremely wafted, and my life almoft
fpent, to get thefe writings accomplished. And after all ; af-
ter diligent application to the various parts of my work, and
after the moft induftrious improvement of time I am capable
of, both early and late, I cannot oftentimes poflibly gain two
hours in a week for reading, or any other ftudies, tmlefs juft
for what urges and appears of abfolute necefiity for the pre-
fent. And frequently when I attempt to redeem time, by
fparing it out of my deeping hours, I am by that means thrown
under bodily indifpofition, and rendered fit for nothing.
This is truly my prefent (late, and is like to be fo, for aught
I can fee, unlefs I could procure an afliftant in my work, or
quit my prefent bufinefs.
JButaltho"ugh I have not made that proficiency I could wifli
to have done, in learning the Indian languages ^ yet I have u-
fed all endeavours to inftruft them in the Englifli tongue,
which perhaps will be more advantageous to the Chiiftianiii-
terefl among them, than if I fliould preach in their own lan-
guage j for that is very defective, (as I (hall hereafter obferve),
fo that many things cannot be communicated to them without
introducing Englifh terms. Befides, they can have no books
tranflated into their language without great difficulty and ex-
pence j and if ftill accuftomed to their own language only,
they would have no advantage of hearing other minifters oc-
cafionally, or in my abfence. So that ray having a perfe& ac-
quaintance with the Indian language, would be of no great im-
portance with regard to this congregation of Indians in Ncw-
Jerfey, althought it might be of great fervice in treating with
the Indians elfewhere.
The methods I am taking to inilruct the Indians in the prin-
ciples of our holy religion, are, to preach, or open and im-
prove jbme particular points of do&rine ; to expound particu-
lar paragraphs, or fometimes whole chapters of God's word to
them 5 to gire hiftoiical relations from fcripture of the mod
material and remarkable occurrences relating to the church of
494 METHOD OF INSTRUCTING
God .rom the beginniu^ j and frequently to catechife them
upon the principles of Chriftianity. The latter of thefe me-
thods of inft sifting, 1 manage in a twofold manner. I fome-
times catechife fyftematically, propofing queftions agreeable
to the Reverend Affembly's Shorter Catechifm. This I have
carried on o ta confiderable length. At other times I catechife
upon any important fubjeft that I think difficult to them.
Sometimes when I have difcourfed upon fome particular point,.
and made it as plain and familiar to them as I can, I then ca-
techife them upon the moR material branches of my difcourfe^
to fee whether they had a thorough undemanding of it. But
as I have catechifed chiefly in a fyftematical form, I fhall hcie
give fome fpecimen of the method I make ufe of in it, as well
as of the propriety and juftnefs of my people's aafwers to. the,
queftions propoied to them.
QUESTIONS.
Upon the benefits which believers receive from Chrijl at death*.
, I have (hewn you, that the children of God receive a-
great many good things from Chrift while they live, now have
they any more ro receive when they come ro die ? A. Ye/.
SfJ. Are the children of God then made perfectly free from
fin A. Yes.
Q^Do you think they will never more be troubled with vain,
fbolim, and wicked thoughts ? A. No never at all.
Q._ Will not they then be like the good angels I have fo
often told you of ? A. Yes.
Q^ And do you call this a great mercy to be freed from all
fin ? A. Yes.
Q.^ Do all of God's children count it fo ?
A. YeSj all of them.
-^. Do yoy. think this is what they would afk for above all
things, if God mould fay to them, Afk what you will, and it
ilia!! be done for you ?
A. yes, be before, this is 'what they 'want.
Q^ You fay the fouls of God's people at death are made per-
fectly free from fin -y. where do they go then ?
THE INDIANS. 495
A. They go and h've luitb Jffa-r Chrijl.
Q^ Does Chrift (hew them more refpecl and honour, and
make them more happy * than we ean poflibly think of in
this world ? - A. Tcs*
Q^ Do they go immediately to live with Chrift in heaven,
as foon as their bodies ars dead j or do they tarry fome where
clfe a while ? A. They go immediately to Chrift.
Q^ Does Chrift take any care^of the bodies of his people
when they are dead, and their fouls gone to heaven, or does he
forget them ? A. He takes care of them..
Thefe nueftions were all anfwered with furprifing readinefs
and without once miffing, as I remember. And in anfwering
feveral of them which refpe&ed deliverance from fin, they were
much afTecled and melted with the hopes of that happy ftate.
Upon the benefits which believers receive from Chrift at the re-
farreflion.
CX_ You fee I have already (hewn you what good things
Chriil gives his good people while they live, and when they
come to die : now, will he raife their bodies, and the bodies of
others, to life again at the laft day ?
A. Yes, they Jh all be raifed.
Q^Shall they then hare the fame bodies they now have ?
A. Yes.
^. Will their bodies then be weak, will they feel cold,
hunger, tliirft. and wearinefs, as they now do ? A. No,
none of thefe things.
Jj^. Will their bodies die any more after they are raifed to
life? &. No.
^. Will their fouls and bodies be joined together again r
A. Yes.
^. Will God's people be more happy then, than they
were while their bodies were afleep ? A. 1'es.
* The only way I have to exprefs their " entering into "glory," or be-
ing glorified ; there being no word in the Indian language anfwering to
that .general term.
METHODSOF INSTRUCTING
fj. Will Chrift then own thefe to be his people before all
the world ? - A. Yes.
^ But God's peGp ] e find fo much fin in themfelves, that
they are often afhamed of themfelves, and will not Chrift be
afhamed to own fuch for his friends at that day ? - A. No,
he witl never be ajbamed of them.
^. Will Chrift then fhow all the world, that he has put a-
way thefe peoples fins *, and that he looks upon them as if
they had never finned at all ? A. Yes.
^ Will he look upon them as if they had never finned, for
the fake of any good things they have done themfelves, or
for the fake oi his righteoufnefs accounted to them as if it
was theirs ? - A. For the fake of his righteoufnefs counted
to them, not for their own goodnefs.
^. Will God's children then be as happy as they can defirc
to be? - A. Yes.
Q^ The children of God while in this world, can but now
and then draw near to him, and they are ready to think they
can never have enough of God and Chrift j but will they have
enough there, as mueh as they can defire ? A. yes, e-
nough, enough.
Q^Will the children of God love him then as much as they
defire will they find nothing to hinder their love from going
to him ? - A. Nothing at a// t they Jhall Iwe him as much as
they dejlre.
Q. Will they never be weary of God and Chrift, and the
pleafufes of heaven, fo as we are weary of our friends and en-
joyments ke*e, after we have been pleafed with them awhile )
- A. No, never.
Q-^Could God's people be happy if they knew God loved
them, and yet felt at the fame time that they could not love
and hononr him ? - A. No, no.
Q^Will this then make God's people perfectly happy, to
love God above all, to honour him continually, and to feel his
love to them ? - A. Yes.
* The only way I have to exprefs their being openly acquitted,
As when I fyeak of juftification, I hare no other way but to cull i;
God's looking upon UK as good creatures.
THE INDIANS. 497
Q^And will this happinefs laft for ever ? A.. Tes, for e~
<oer, for ever.
Thefe queftions, like the former, were anfwered without
hefitation or milling, as I remember, in any one inftanee.
Upon the duty which God requires of man*
God let us know any thing of his will, or what he
would have us to do to pleafe him ? A. Yes.
Q. And does he require us to do his will, and to pleafe him ?
A. TV.
Q^ Is it right that God (hould require this of us j has he a-
ny buiinefs to command us a father does his children ? A.
Tes.
Qj_Why is it right that God {hould command us to da
what he pleafes ? A. Becaufe he made us t and gives us ait
our good things.
Q^Does God require us to do any thing that will hurt us,
and take away our comfort and happinefs? A. No.
Q^ But God requires finners to repent and be forry for
their fins, and to have their hearts broken j now, does not
this hurt them, and take away their comfort, to be made for-
ry, and to have their hearts broken ? A. No, it does them
good.
Q^Did God teach man his will at firflby writing it down
in a book, or did he put into his heart, and teach him with-
out a book what was right ? A. He put it in his heart, and
made him know what he Jhould do.
Q^ Has God fince that time writ down his will in a book ?
A. Tes.
Q^ Has God written his whole will in his book 5 has he
there told us all that he would have us believe and do ?
A. Tes.
Q^ What need was there of this book, if God at firft put
his will into the heart of man, and made him feel what he
fhould do ? A. There was need of it becaufe
ned> an d made our hearts blind.
Rrr
METHOD OF INSTRUCTING
Q^And has God writ down the fame things in his book>
that he at firft nut into the heart of man ? A. les.
In this manner I endeavour to adapt my inductions to the
capacities of my people ; although they may peihaps feem
ftrange to others who have never experienced the difficulty of
the work. And thefe I have given an account of are the me-
thods 1 am irom time to time purfuing, in order to inftrucl:
them in the principles of Chriftianity. And I think I may
fay, it is my great concern that thefe infuuclions be given
them in fiich a manner, that they may not only be docmnally
taught, but duly affecled thereby, that divine truths may
come to them, *' not in word only, but in power, and in the
" Holy Ghoft," and be received " not as the word of man."
DIFFICULTI ES
ATTENDING THE CHRISTIANIZING OF THE INDIANS.
I (hall now attempt fomething with relation to the laft par-
ticular required by the Honourable Society in their letter,
T/2. To give iqme account of the "difficulties I have already
4 ' met with in my work, and the methods I make ufe of for
" furmounting the fame." And what I have to fay upon this
fubjecl:, I thall reduce ;o the following heads.
'Fir/?, I have met with great difficulty in my work among
thefe Indians, " from the rooted averfion to Chriftianity that
" generally prevails among them." They are not only bru-
tifhly flupid and ignorant of divine things, but many of them
are obftinately fet againil Chriftianity, and feem tV abhor e-
ven the Chriftian name.
This averfion to ChriRianity arifes partly from "a view cf
the " immorality and vicious behaviour of many who are call-
44 ed Chriftians." They obferve tbar horrid wickednefs in
nominal Chriftians, which the light of nature condemns in
t v erafelves , and, not having diftinguiiliing views of things,
are ready to look upon all the white people alike, and to
THE INDIANS. 499
condemn them alike, for the abominable practices of feme.-
Hence when I have attempted to treat with them about Chri-
ftianity, they have frequently objected the fcandalous pracVi-
ces of Chriilians, and cart in my teeth all they could think
of that was odious in the conduct of any of them Have ob-
ferved to me, that the white people lie, defraud, fteal, and
drink wotfe than the Indians ; that they have taught the In-
dians thefe things, efpecially the latter of them 5 who, before
the coming of the Englirh, knew of no fuch thing a& ftrong
drink: that the Englifli have, by thefe means, made them quar-
rel and kill one another j and, in a word, brought them to the
practice of all thefe vices that now prevail among them. So
that they are now vailly moie vicious, as well as much more
miferable, than they were before the coming of the white
people into the country.
Thefe, and fuch like objections, they frequently make a-
gawft Chritlianity, which are not ealily aniwered to their
fatisfation j many of them being facls too notoriom>y true.
The only way 1 have to take in order to furmount this dif-
ficulty, is to diflinguiih between nominal and real Chriftians j
and to (hew them, that the ill conduct of many of the former
proceeds not from their being Chriftians, but from their beiir;
Chridians only in name, not in heart, &c. To which it hai
fometimes been objected, that if ail'thofe who will cheat the
Indians are Chriftians only in name, there are but few left in
the country to be Chriftians in heart. This, and many other
of the remarks they pafs upon the white people, and their mif-
carriages, I am forced to own j and cannot but grant, that ma-
ny ponn;ial Chriftians are more abominably wicked than the
Indians. But then I attempt to mew them, that there are
fome who feel the power of Chriftianity, that are not fo. And
I afk them, when they ever faw me guilty of the vices they
complain of and charge Chriilians in general with ? But flill
the great difficulty is, that the people who live back in the
country neareit to them, and tLc traders that go among them
nre generally of the moftta religious and vicious fort ; and the
conduct of one or two perfon\ be it ever fo exemplary, is not
ilitficient to counterbalance the vicious, behaviour of fo many
50O DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE
of the lame denomination, and fo to recommend Chrifiianity
to "Pagans.
Another thing that ferves to make them more averfe to
Chriltiafiity is, a " fear of being enflaved." They are, per-
haps, fome of the moft jealous people living, and extremely
?.verfe toaftate of fervitude, and hence are always afraid of
fome defign formhVg' againft them. Bt fides, they feem to
have no fentimentS of- 'generofity, bencvolence > and goodnefs j
that if any thing be prppofed to them, as being for their good,
they are ready rather to iu foe 61 that there is at bottom fome
deiign forming againft them', than that fuch propofals rlow
from good will to them,*and a'-delire of their welfare. And
hence, when I have attehipted to recommend Chriftianity to
their acceptance, they have fometinies objecled, that the white
people have come among them, have cheated them out of
their lands, driven them back to'tiie mountains, from the plea-
fant places they ufed to enjoy by the Tea-fide, &.c. ; that there-
fore they have no reafon to think the "white people are now
feeking their welfare ; but rather tHat they have fent me out
to draw them together, under a pretence of kindnefs to them,
that they may have an opportunity to make flaves of them as
they do of the poor negroes, or elfe to ihip them on board their
vefiels, and make them fight with their enemies, &c. Thus
they have oftentimes conftrued all thekindnefs I could mew
them, and the hardftiips I have endured to treat with them a-
bout Chriftianity. " He never would (fay they) take all
" this pains to do us good j he muft have fome wicked defign
41 to hurt us fome way or OtKer." And to give them aflurance
of the contrary is not an eafy matter, while there arc fo many
who (agreeable to their 'appfehenfion) are only " feeking therr
own," not the good of oth^r%. J
To remove this difficult^ 1 : inform them that I am not
fent out among them by thofe ^Hans in thefe provinces, who
they fuppofe have cheated them bin of their lands , but by pi-
ous people at a great diftance,'xvho never had an inch of their
lands, nor even thought of doing them any hurt, &c.
But here will arife fo many frivolous and impertinent quef-
rions, that it would tire one's patience, and wear out one's.
CHRISTIANISING OF THE INDIANS. 50!
ipirits to hear them j fuch as that, " But why did not thefe <'
*' good people fend you to teach us before, while we had our
" lands down by the fea fide ? &c. If they had fent you then,
" we fhould likely have heard you, and turned Chriftians."'
The poor creatures ftill imagining, that I ihould be much be-
holden to them, in cafe they would hearken to Christianity,
and infinuating that this was a favour they could not now be
fo good as to (hew me, feeing they had received fo many in-
juries from the white people.
Another fpring of averfion to Chriftianity in the Indians, is
" their ftrong attachment to their own religious notions, (it
" they may be called religious), and the early prejudices they
" have imbibed for their own frantic and ridiculous kind of
" wormip." What their notions of God are in their Pagan
ftate, is hard precifely to determine. 1 have taken much pains
to enquire of my Chriftian people, whether they, before their
acquaintance with Chriftianity, imagined there was a plurality
of great invifible powers, or whether they fuppofed but one
fuch being, and worfhipped him in a variety of forms and fliapes
but cannot learn any thing of them fo diftincl as to be fully fa-
tisfying upon the point. Their notions in that (late were fo
prodigiouily dark and confufed 5 that they feemednotto know
what they thought themfelves. But fo far as I can learn,
they had a notion of a plurality of invifible deities, and paid
fome kind of homage to them promifcouily, under a great va-
riety of forms and ihapes. And it is certain thofe who yet
remain Pagans pay fome kind of fuperftitious reverence to
beafts, birds, fimes, and even reptiles j that is, fome to one
kind of animal, and fome to another. They do not indeed
fuppofe a divine power effential to, or inhering in thefe crea-
tures, but that fome invifible beings ( I cannot learn that it is al-
ways one fuch being only, but divers j not diilinguiflied from
each other, but by certain names, but only notionally) com-
municate to thefe animals a great power, either one or other
of them (juft as it happens), or perhaps fometimes all of them,
and fo make thefe creatures the immediate authors of good to
certain petfons. Whence fuch a creature becomes facred to
the perfons to whom he is fuppofed to be the immediate au-
502 DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE
thor of good, and through him they muit worfhip the jinvifi-
ble powers, though to others he is no more than another crea-
ture. And perhaps another animal is looked upon to be the
immediate author of good to another, and coafequently he tnuft
woilhip the invifible power's in that animal. And 1 have known
a Pagan burn fine tobacco for incenfe, in order to appeafe the
anger of that invifible power which he fupr-ofed prefided o-
ver rattlefnakes, becaufe one of thefc animals was killed by
another Indian near his houiV.
But after the Uriel: eft enquiry refpccling thejr notions of
the Deity, I find, that in ancient times, before the coming
of the white people, fome fuppofed there were four invifible
powers, who prefided over the fcur corners of the earth. O-
thers imagined the fun to be the only deity, and that all things
were made by him : others at the fame time having a confu-
ied notion of a certain body or fountain of deity, fomewhat
like the anima mundi, io frequently mentioned by the more
learned ancient Heathens, diffufing itfclf to various animal-,
and even to inanimate things, making them the immediate au-
thors of good to certain perfons, as was before obferved, with
refpeft to various fuppofed deities. But after the coming of
the white people, they fcemed to fuppofe there were three
deities, and three only, becaufe they faw people of three dif-
ferent kinds of complexion, vi%, EngliiL, Negroes, and them**
felves.
It is a notion pretty generally prevailing among them, that
it was not the fame God made them who made us, but that
they were made after the white people ; which further (hews,
that they imagine a plurality of divine powers. And I fancy
they fuppofe their god gained fome fpecial skill by feeing the
white people made, and fo made them better : for it is certain
they look upon tbemfelves, and their method of living, (which
thty fay their god exprefsly prescribed for them) vaftly pre-
ferable to the white people and their method. And hence
they will frequently fit and lau^h at them, as being good for
nothing elfe but to plough, and fatigue themft.lv ts with hard
labour ; while they enjoy the fatisfaclion of flretcbing them-
felves on the ground, and fiecping as much as they plcafc, ha-
CHRISTIANISING OF THE INDIANS. 503
Ting no ether trouble but now and then to chak the deer,
which is often attended with pleafure rather than pain. And
hence, by the way, many look upon it as difgraccful to be-
come Chriftians, as it would be efteemed among Chriftians for
any to become Pagans. And altho' they fuppofe our religion
will do well enough for us, becaufe prefcribed by our God,
yet it is no ways proper for them, becaufe not of the fame
make and original. This they have fometimes offered as a
reafon why they did not incline to hearken to ChriRianity.
They feem to have fome confufed notion about a future
ftate of exigence ;-- and many of them imagine that the chi-
ehung, (i. e. the fhadow,) or what furvives the body, will at
death go fouthward ; and, in an unknown but curious place,
will enjoy fome kind of happinefs, fuch as hunting, feafting,
dancing, and the like : And what they fuppofe will contribute
much to their happinefs in that ftate is, that they will never
be weary of thofe entertainments. It feems by this notion of
their goiiigjoulbwara to obtain happinefs, as if they had their
courfe into thefe parts of the world from fome very cold cli-
mate, and found, the further they went fouthward, the more
comfortable they were j---and thence concluded, that perfeft
felicity was to be found farther towards the fame point.
They feem to have fome faint and glimmering notion about
rewards and punifhments, or at leait happinefs and mifery, in a
future ftate,--- that is, fome that I have converfed 'with, -tho*
ethers feem to know of no fuch thing. Thefe that fuppofe
this feem to imagine that moil will be happy, and that thofe
who are nflfcfo will be puniflied only with privation, being on-
ly excluded the walls cf that good world where happy fouls
(hall dwell.
Thefe rewards and punifliments they fuppofe to depend en-
tirely upon their con-duel, with relation to the duties of the fe-
cond table, viz, t!ieir behaviour towards mankind ; and feem,
fo far as I can fee, not to imaoine that they have any reference
to their religious notions or practices, or any thing that relates
to the worfhip of -God. 1 remember I once confulted a very
.ancient but intelligent Jr.dian upon this point, for my own fa-
tisi-5tiori. I r. fl;.ed him, whether the Indians of old times had
504 DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE
fuppofed there was any thing of the man that would furvive
the body j he replied, Yes. I aiked him where they fuppo-
fed its abode w6uld be j he replied, It would go fouthward.
1 aiked him further, whether it would be happy there ; he
anfwered, after a confiderable paufe, That the fouls of good
folks would be happy, and the fouls of bad folks miferable.---
1 then afked him who he called bad folks j his anfwer (as I
remember) was, Thofe. who lie, fteal, quarrel with their neigh-
bours, are unkind to their friends, and efpccially their aged
parents j and in a word, fuch as are a plague to mankind.
JThtfe were his bad folks j but not a word was faid about
their neglect of divine worihip, and their badnefs in that re-
fpeft.
They have indeed fome kind of religious worfhip, are fre-
quently offering facririces to feme fuppofed invifible powers,
and are very ready to impute their calaaiities in the prefent
world to the neglect of thefe facrifices ; but there is no ap-
pearance of reverence and devotion in the homage they pay
them j and what they do of this nature feems to be done
only to appeafe the fuppofed anger of their deities, to engage
them to be placable to themfelves, and do them no hurt j or
at moil, only to invite thefe powers to fucceed them in thofe
enterprifes they are engaged in refpecting the prefent life. So
that in offering thefe facrifices, they feem to have no reference
to a future, ft ate, but only to prefent comfort. And this is.
the account my interpreter always gives me of this matter.
" They facrifice (fays he) that they may have fuccefs in hunt-
" ing and other affairs, acd that ficknefs and other calamities
" may not befal them, which they fear in the pr^fRit world,
** in cafe of neglect ; but they do not fuppofe God will ever
'* punifh them in the coming world for neglecting to facrifice,"
&c. And indeed they feem to imagine, that thofe whom
they call bad folks, are excluded from the company of good
people in that ftate, not fo much becaufe God remembers, and
is determined to puniih them for their fins of any kind, either
immediately againft himfelf or their neighbour, as becaufe they
would be a plague to fociety, and would render others un-
happy if admitted to dwell with them. So that they are ex-
CHRISTIANISING OF THE INDIANS. 505
eluded rather of neceffity, than by God a&ing as a righteous
jud^e.
They give much heed to dreams, 'becaufe 'they foppofe
thcte invifible powers give them directions at fuch times a-
bout certain affairs, and fometime informs them what animal
they would chufe to be worfhipped in. They are like wife
much attached to the traditions and fabulous notions of their
fathers, who have informed them of divers miracles that were
anciently wrought among the Indians, which they firmly
believe, and thence look upon their anceftors to have been
the bed of men. They alfo mention fome wonderful things
which, they fay, have happened iince the memory of fome
who are now living- One I remember affirmed to me, that
himftlf had once been dead four days, that mofl of his friend^
in that time were gathered together to his funeral, and that
he ihould have been buried, but that fome of his relations
at a great diilance, who were fent for upon that occafion,
were not arrived, before whofe coming he came to life again.
In this time, he fays, he went to the place where the fun
rifes, (imagining the earth to be plain), and directly over that
place, at a great height in the air. he was admitted, he fays,
into a great houfe, which he fuppofes was feveral miles in
length, and faw many wonderful things, too tedious as well
as ridiculous to mention. Another perfon, a woman, whom
I have not feen, but been credibly informed of by the Indians,
declares, that (he was dead feveral days, that her foul went
fouthwarJ, and feafled and danced with the happy fpirits, and
that {lie found all things exactly agreeable to the Indian notions
of a future (late.
Tiiefe fuperftitious notions and traditions, and this kind of
ridiculous worihip I have mentioned, they are cxtiemely at-
tached to, and the prejudice they have imbibed in favour of
thefe things, renders them not a little averfe to the doctrines
of Chriilianity. Whence fome of them have told me, when
1 have endeavoured to inftruct them, " that their fathers had
" taught them already, and that they did not want to learn
" now."
It will be too tedious to give any confiderable account of
the methods I make ufe of for furraounting this difficulty.
Ss s
506 DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE
I will juft f.;y, I endeavour, as much as poflib'e, to flicw them
the inconfi^ency of their own notions, and fo to confound
them out of their own mouths. But I mutt alfo fay, I have
fometimes been almoft nonp'ufled wi-n them, and fcarce
knew what to anftver them ; but never have been more per-
plexed with them than when they have pretended to yield to
me as knowing more than they, and confequently have afked
me numbers of impertinent, and yet difficult questions, as,
" How the Indians came firft into this part of the world, a-
u way from all the white people, if what I faid was true," viz,.
that the fame God made them who made us ? " How the In-
14 dians became black, if they had the fame original parents
" with the white people ?" And numbers more of the like
nature.
Thefe things, I muft fay, have been not a little difficult
snd difcouraging, efpecially when withal feme of the In-
dians have appeared angry and malicious againft Chriftianity.
What further contributes to their averfion to Chriftianity
is, the influence that their powwows (conjurers or diviners)
have upon them. Thefe are a fort of perfons who are fup-
pofed to have a power of foretelling future events, of reco-
vering the lick, at leaft oftentimes, and of charming, inchant-
ing, or poifoning perfcns to death by their magic divinations.
And their fpirit, in its various operations, feems to be a Sa-
tanicnl imitation of the fpirit of prophecy that the church in
early ages was favoured with. Some of thefe diviners are
endowed with this fpirit in infancy ; others in adult age.
It feems not to depend upon their own will, nor to be acquir-
ed by any endeavours of the per Ton who is the fubjecl: of it ;
although it is fuppofed to be given to children fometimes in
confequence of feme means the parents ufe with them for
thfit purpofe 5 one of which is to make the child fwa'low a
iraall living frog, after having performed fame fuperilitious
rites and ceremonies upon it. They are not under the in-
fluence of this fpirit always alike,-- -but it comes upon them at
limes. And thole who are endowed with it are accounted
Angularly favoured.
I have laboured to gr.in feme acquaintance with this affair
of their corriuration 5 and have frr that end ccnfulted and
CHRISTIANISING OF THE INDIANS. 507
queried with the man mentioned in my Journal o( Miy 9,
who, fmce his converfion to Chriftianity, has endeavoured to
give me the bed intelligence -he cculd of this matter. But it
feems to be fuch a myftery ot iniquity, that I cannot well un-
derftand it, and do not know-oftentimes what' ideas to affix
to the terms he makes life of; and, fo far as I can learn, he
himf-lf has not any clear notions of the thing, now his fpirit
of divination is gone from him. However, the manner in
which he fays he obtained this fpirit of divination was this.
He was admitted into the prefence of a great man, who in-
formed him, that he loved, pitied, and deiircd to do him
good. It was not in tins world that he faw the great man,
but in a world above, at a vaft c'lilance from this. The great
man, he fays, was clothed with the day j yea* with the
bnghteft day he ever faw ; a day of many years, yen, of ever-
la(ling continuance ! This whole world, he fays, was drawn
upon him, fo that in him the earth, and all things in it,
might be feen. I alked him, if rocks, mountains and feas
were drawn upon or appeared in him ? He replied, that every-
thing that was beautifuland lovely in the earth was upon him,
and might be feen by looking on him, as well as if one was
on the earth to take a view of them there. By the fide of
the great man, he fays, ilcod his (hadow, or fpirit 5 for he
ufed {chickling'] the Word they commonly make r.fe of to
exprefs that of the man which furvives the body, which word
properly fignifies a {hadow. This fhadow, he fays, was as
lovely as the man himfelf, and filled all places,' and was molt
agreeable as well as wonderful to him. Here he, fays he, tar-
ried fome time, and was unfpeakably entertained and delight-
ed with a view of the great man, of his fhadow or fpirit,
and of all things in him. And what is moft of all aftoniming,
he imagines all this to have paffed before he was born. He
never had been, he fays, in this world at that time. And
what confirms him in the belief of this, is, that, the great
man told him, that he mull come down to earth, be born of
fuch a woman, meet with fuch and fuch things, and in par-
ticular that he fhould once in his life be guilty of murder. ,
At this he was difpleafed, ?.nd told the great man he would,
murder. But the great man replied <! I. have faid it,
50 8 DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE
" and it fhall be fo." Which has accordingly happened.
At this time, he fays, the great man aiked him what he would
chufe in life ; he replied, firft to be a hunter, and afterwards
to be a powwow, or diviner. Whereupon the great man told
him, he fhould have what he defired. and that his ihadow
fhould go along with him down to earth, and be with him
for ever. There were, he fays, all this time, no words fpoken
between them. The conference was not carried on by any
human language, but they had a kind of mental intelligence
of each others thoughts, difpofitions, and propofals. After
this, he fays, he faw the great man no more 5 but fuppofcs,
he nov/ came down to earth to be born : but the fpirir or flia-
dow oi the great man flill attended him, and ever after con-
tinued to appear to him in dreams and othervvays, until he
.telt the power of God's word upon his heart j fmce which it
has entirely left him.
This fpirit, he fays, ufed fometimes to direct them in dreams,
to go to fuch a place and hunt, aiTuring him he ihould there
meet with fuccefs, which accordingly proved fa : And when
he had been there fome time, the fpirit would order him to
another place. So that he had fuccefs in hunting, according
to the great man's promife made to him at the time of his
chuiing this employment.
There were fome times when this fpirit came upon him in
a fpecial manner, and he was full of what he faw in the great
man j and then, he fays, he was all light, and not only light
himfelf, but it was light all around him, fo that he could fee
through men, and^knew the thoughts of their hearts, &c.
Thefe depths of Satan 1 leave to others to fathom, cr to
dive into ss they pleafe, and do net pretend for my own part to
know what ideas to affix to fuch terms, and cannot wellguefs
what conceptions of things thefe creatures have at thefe times
when they call themfelves all light. But my interpreter '
tells me, that he heard one of them tell a certain Indian the
fecret thoughts of his heart which he had never divulged.
The cafe was this j the Indian was bitten with a fnake, and was
in extreme pain with the bite ; whereupon the diviner (who
was applied to for his recovery) told him, that fuch a time
he had prcmifed, that the next deer he killed he would fa-
CHRISTIANISING OF THE INDIANS. 509
crifice it to Tome great power, but' had broken his promife :
And now, faid he, that great power has ordered this fhake
to bite you for your neglecl". The Indian confeffed it was fo,
but faid he had never told any body of it. But as Satan, no
doubt, excited the Indian ^to make that promife, it was no
wonder he ihould be able to communicate the matter to the
conjurer.
Thefe things ferve to fix them down in their idolatry, and
to make them believe there is no fafety to be expected, but
by their continuing to ofi'er fuch facrifkes. And the influ-
ence that thefe powwows have upon them, either through
the efteem or fear they have of them, is no fmall hindrance
to their embracing Chriilianity.
To remove this difficulty, 1 have laboured to (hew the In-
dians, that thefe diviners have no power to recover the fick,
\vhcn the God whom Chrittians ferve has determined them
for death, and that the luppofed great power who influences
thefe diviners has himfclf no power in this cnfe ; and that if
they feem to recover, and by their magic charms, they art;
only fuch as the God I preached to them had determined
fhould recover, and who would have recovered without their
conjurations, &c. And when I have apprehended them a-
fraid of embracing Chriftianity leil they ihould be inchant-
ed and poifoned, I have endeavoured to relieve their minds of
this fear, by afking them, why their powwows did not in-
chant and poifon me, feeing they had as much reafon to hate
me for preaching to and defiring them to become Chriftians,
as they could have to hate them in cafe they fhould actually
become fuch. And thst they might have an evidence of the
power and goodncfs of God, engaged for the protection of
Chriflians, I ventured to bid a challenge to nil their powwows
and great powers to do their word on me iiril ot 2!! j and thus
laboured to tread down their influence.
Many things further might be offered upon this head, but
thus much may fuffice for a reprefentation of their averfion
to, and prejudice againft Chriltianity, the fpringi, of it, and
the difficulties thence arillng.
Secondly, Another great difficulty I have met with in my
attempts to Ghriftianize the Indians, has been to " convey di-
510 DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE
" vhi*. i.a L '.s to h.ir understandings, and to gain their af-
" fent to them as <uch."
In the firil place, I laboured under a very great difadvan-
tage, for want of an interpreter, who had a good degree of
doctrinal as v-.tll as experimetal knowledge of divine things ^
in both which refpecls my prefent interpreter was very de-
fective when I firfl employed him, as 1 noted in the account
I h; fere gave of him. And it was fometimes extremely dif-
coui^ging to me, when 1 could not make him understand what
I designed to communicate, when truths of the laft impor-
tance appeared fooiifhnefs to him for want of a fpiritual un-
de'rftar.ding and reliih of them, and when he addreiTed the
Indians in a lifelefs indifferent manner, without any heart-en-
gagement or fervency; and efpecially when he appeared
hcartlefs and irrefolute about making attempts for the conver-
fion of the Indians to Chriftanity, as he frequently did. For
although he had a defiie they ihould conform to Chriilian
manners, (as I elfewhere obferved), yet being abundantly ac-
quainted with their flrong attachment to their own fupeiOi-
tious notion?, and the difficulty cf bringing them off, and ha-
ving no fenfe of divine power and >Jiace ? or dependence upon
an almighty arm ior the accomplishment of this work, he u-
fed to be discouraged, and tell me, " It fignifies nothing for
" us to try, they will never turn," &c. So that he was a
diftrcfflng weight and burden to me. And here I iliould have
funk fcores of times, but that God in a remarkable manner
fupported me *, fometimes by giving me full fatisfaclion that
he himfelf had called me ^a this work, and thence a fecret
hope that fome time or other I might meet with fuccefs in it ;
or if not, that " my judgment ihould not with (landing be with
" the Lord, and my work with my God." Sometimes by giv-
ing me a fenfe of his almighty power, nnd that " his hand was
" not ihortened." Sometimes by affording me a freih and
lively view of fome remarkable freedom and afliftance I had
been repeatedly favoured with in prayer for the ingathering o
thefe Heathens fome years before, even before I was a miilion-
ary, and a refreshing fenfe of the liability and fatthfulnefs of the
dirine promifes, and that the prayer of faith fhould not fail.
CHRISTIANISING OF THE INDIANS. 5! I
Thus I was fupported under thefe trials j and the method
God was pleafed to take for the removal of this difficulty, (re-
fpecling my interpreter), I have fufficiently reprefented elfc-
where.
Another thing that rendered it very difficult to convey di-
vine truths to the underflanditigs of the Indians, was, the de-
feHvenefs of their language, the want of terms to exprefs
and convey ideas of fpiritual things. There are no words in
the Indian language to anfwer owr Englifh words, Lord, Sa-
viour, Salvation, Sinner, Juilice, Condemnation, Faith, Re-
pentance, Justification," Adoption, San&ification, Grace, Glo-
ry, Heaven ; with fcores of the like import
The only methods I can make ufe of for furmcunting this
difficulty are, either to defcribe the things at large defigned
by thefe terms , as, if I was fpeaking of regeneration to call
it " the heart's being changed" by God's Spirit, or, " the
heart's being made good :" or elfe I muil introduce the Eng-
lilh terms into their language, and affix the precife meaning
of them, that they may know what I intend whenever I ufe
them."
But what renders it much more difficult to convey divine
truths to the understandings of thefe Indians, is, that there
feems to be no foundation in their minds to begin upon j- -I
mean, no truths that may be taken for granted as being alrea-
dy known, while I am attempting to inftij. others. And di-
vi-ne truths having fuch a necelTary connection with, and de-
pendence upon each other, I find it extremely difficult in my
firft addrefles to Pagans, to begin and difcourfe of them in
their proper order and connexion, without having reference
to truths not yet known,--- without taking for granted fuch
things as need firft to be taught and proved. There is no
point of Chrirtian do6lrine, but what they are either wholly
ignorant of, or extremely confufed in their notions about :
And therefore it is neceffary they fhculd be inftru&ed in ev-
ery truth, even in thofe that are the moft eafy and obvious to
the understanding-, and which a perfon educated under gofpel
light would be ready to pafs ever in fiience, as not imagining
any rational creature could be ignorant of.
512 DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE
mwimarmc&KiaananKaGBSHmftiiia^ - "^
The method I have ufually taken in my firft addreiTes to
Pagans has been, to introduce my felt by faying that I was
come among them with a defire and defign to teach them fome
things which I presumed they did not know, and which 1
trufted would be for their comfort and happinefs if known j
tieiiring they would give their attention, and hoping that they
might meet with fatisfaftion in my difcourfe. And thence I
have proceeded to cbferve, that there aie two things belong-
ing to every man, which I call the foul and body. Thefe I ,
endeavour to diflinguifh from each other by obferving to them,
that there is fomething in them that is capable of joy and plea-
fure, when their bodies are lick and much pained ; and on the
contrary, that they find fomething within them that is fearful,
forrowful, "fharned, &c. and ccnfequently very uneafy, when
their bodies are in perfecl health. I then obferve to them,
that this which rejoices in them (perhaps at the fight of fome
friend which has been long abfent) when their bodies are fick
and in pain,- this which is forrowful, affrighted, afhamed, &c.
and confequently uneafy, when their bodies are perfectly at
eafe,-- this I call theyiw/. And altho' it cannot be feen like
the other parts of the man, Ws. the body, yet it is as real as
their thoughts, defircs, &c. which are likewife things that
cannot be feen.
I then further obferve, that this part of the man which
thinks, rejoices, grieves, &c. will live after the body is dead.
For the proof of this, I adduce the opinion of their fathers,
who (as I am told by very aged Indians now living) always
fuppofed there was fomething ef the man that would furvive
the body. And if I can, for the proof of any thing I affert,
fay, as St Paul to the Athenians, " As certain alfo of your
own fages have faid," it is fufficient. And having eftablifhed
this point, 1 next obferve, that what I have to fay to them
icfpecls this confcious part of the man, and that with relation
to its flate after the death of the body ; a;:d that I sm not
come to treat with them about the things that concern the
prefent world.
This metbod I am obliged to take, becrmfe they will other-
wife entirely miilake the defigr. cfmy preaching, ind fun:
CHRISTIANISING OF THE INDIANS. 5,13
the bufiutf* I am upon, is fomething that relates to the pre-
fent world, having never been called together by the white
people upon any other occafion, but only to be treated with
about the fale of lands, or fome other fecular bufmefs. And
I find it almoft impoflible to prevent their imagining that I
am engaged in ihe fame or fuch like affairs, and to beat in-
to them, that my concern is to treat with them about therr in-
vifible part, and that with relation to its future ftate.
But having thus opened the way, by diftinguifiiing between
foul and body, and (hewing the immortality of the former,
and that my bufinefs is to treat with them in order to their
happinefs in a future itate ; I proceed to difcourfe of the be-
ing and perfections of God, particularly of his ** eteiuity,
44 unity, felf-fufficiency, infinite wifdom, and almighty power."
It is neceffary, in the fir ft place, to teach them, that God
is from everlafting, and fo diftinguiftied from all creatures j
though it is very difficult to communicate any thing of that
nature to them, they having no terms in their language to
fignify an eternity, a parle ante. It is likewife neceffary to
difcourfe of the divine unity, in order to confute the notions
they feem to have of a plurality of gods. The divine all-
fuiricier.cy muft alfo neceffariiy be mentioned in order to pre-
vent their imagining that God was unhappy while alone, be-
fore the formation of his creatures \ and fomething refpe<5l-
Jn# the divine wifdom and power feems neceffary to be infill-
ed upon, in order to make way for difcourfing of God's
works.
Having offered fome things upon the divine perfections
Tnentioned, I proceed to open the work of creation in gene-
ral, and in particular God's creation of man in a ftate of up-
rightnefs and happinefs, placing them in a garden of pleasure ,
the means and manner of their apoitacy from that ftate, and
lofs of that bappinefs. Eut beiove 1 can give a relation of
their fall from God, I am obliged to make -i large digretiion,
in order to give an account of the original and circumliances
of their tempter, his capacity of affumiug the ill ape of a ier-
peut, rrom his being a -fpint, without a body, ckc. Whence i
;.jo on to iho'.v, the ruins of our fallen iUt.% the naepta! blind-
T t r.
1
514 DIFFICULTIES' Al TENDING THE
nefs and vicious difpolkions our firft parents then contracted
to themfelves, and propagated to all their poftcrity, the nu-
merous calamities brought upon them and theirs 03? this apo-
flacy from God, and the expofcdnefs of the whole human
.race to eternal perdition. And thence labour to (hew them,
the neceflity of an almighty Savioui to deliver us from this
deplorable ftatc, as well as of a divine revelation to inftrucl us
in, and direct us agreeable to the will of God.
And thus the way by fuch an introductory difcourfe is pre-
pared for opening the gofpel fcheme of falvation through the
great Redeemer, and for treating of thofe doctrines that im-
mediately relate to the foul's renovation by tl>e divine Spirit,
and preparation for a ftate of everlafting bhffednefs.
In giving fuch a relation of things to Pagans, it is not a
little difficult (as was obferved before) to deliver truths in
their proper order, without interfering, and without taking
for granted things not as yet known j to difccurfe of them
in a familiar manner, fuited to the capacities of Heathen j to
flluftratc them by eafy and natural firailitudesj nnfwer the ob-
jcfticns they are difpofed to make againft the feveral particulars
of it, as well as to take notice of and confute their contrary
notions.
What has fometimes been very difcouraging in my firfi
difcourfes to them, is, that when I have diftinguiifocd between
the prefent and future ftate, and fhown them, that it was my
bufmefs to treat of thefc things that concern the life to come,
they have fome of them mocked, looking upon thefe things
of no importance ; have fcarce had a curiofity to hear, and
perhaps walked off before I had half done nay difcourfe. And
in fuch a cafe no impreflions can be made upon their minds
to gain their attention. They are not awed by hearing olF
the anger of God engaged againft finners ; of everlaftir.g pu-
mflirhent, as the portion of gofpel negleclers. They are not
allured by hearing of the blefiecl'nefs of thofe who embrace
and obey the gofpel. So that to gain their attention to my
difcourfes, has often been as difficult as to give them a juft
notion of the defign of them, or to open truths in their proper
order.
CHRISTIANISING OF THE INDIANS. 515
Another difficulty naturally tailing under tliis head I am
now upon, is, that " it is next to impoffiole to bring them to
41 a rational conviction that they are finners by nature, and
".that their hearts are corrupt and, finful," unlefs one could
charge them with Tome grofs a6ls of immorality fuch as the
light of nature condemns. If they can be charged with be-
haviour contrary to the commands of the fecond table, with
manifeft abufes of their neighbour, they will generally own
fuch actions to be wrong} but then they feem as if they
thought it was only the actions that were finful, and not their
hearts. But if they cannot be charged with fuch fcandalous
actions, they feem to have no conicivufnefs of fin and guilt
at all, as I had occafion to obferve in ray Journal of March
24. So that it is very jliilicult to convince them rationally
of that which is readily acknowledged (though alas 1 rarely
felt) in the Chriftian world, f/2S. " that we arc all tinners."
The method 1 take to convince them " we are fmners by
** nature," is to lead them to an observation of their little
children, how they will appear in a rage, fight and ftrike
their mothers, before they are able to fpeak. or walk, while,
they are fo young that it is plain they are incapable of learn-
ing fuch practices. And the light of nature in the Indians
condemning fuch behaviour in children towards their parents,
they muft ovrn thefe tempers and actions to be. wrong nd
finful. And the children having never learned thefe things,
they mull have been in their natures, and confequently they
mult be allowed to be " by nature, the children of wrath."
The facie I obferve to them with refpect to the fin of lying, .
(which their children feem much inclined to). They tell lies
without being taught fo to do, from their own natural incli-
nation, as well as againft reftrajnts, and after corrections for
that vice, which proves them (inners by n-ature, Sec.
And further, in order to (hew them their hearts arc all
corrupted and finful, 1 obferve to them, that thiu may be the
cafe, and they not be fenfible of it through the blindnefs of
their min4s : That it is no evidence they are not finful, be-
caufe they do not know and feel it. I then mention all the
vices I know the Indians to be guilty of, and fo make ufe of
thefe fuiful ilreams to coimnce them the fountain is corrupt.
516 DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE
And this is the end for which I mention their wicked practices
to them, not becaufe I cxpeft to bring them to an effectual
reformation merely by inveighing againit their immoralities ,
but hoping they may hereby be convinced of the corruption
of their hearts, and awakened to a fenfe of the depravity and
niifery of their fallen ftate.
And for the fame purpofe, vi-z. " to convince them they
" are finners," I fometimes open to them the great com-
mand of " loving God with all the heart, ftrength, and mind j"
{hew them the reafonablenefs of loving him who has made,
preferved, and dealt bountifully with us ; and. then labour to
fnew them their utter neglecl in this regard, and that they
have been fo far from loving God in this manner, that, on the
contrary, he hrs not been " in all their thoughts."
Thefe, and filch like, are the means I have mj\de ufe of
in order to remove this difficulty j.but if it be a filed after all,
" how it was furmounted r" 1 muft anfwer, God himfelfwas
pleafed to do it with regard to a number of thefe Indians, by
taking his work into his own hand, and making them feel at
heart, that they were both finful and miferable. And in the
day of Go/Ps power, whatever was fpoken to them from-
God's word ferved to convince them they were iinners, (even
the mo ft melting invitations ef the gofpel,) and to fill them
v;ith folicitude to obtain a deliverance from that deplorable
ftate.
Further, it is extremely difficult tc give them any juft no-
tion of the undertaking of Chrift in behalf of finners 5 of his
obeying and fuffering in their room and ftead, in order ( to a-
tone for their fins, and procure their falvatiom j and of their
being juftified by his righteoufnefs imputed to them. They
are in general wholly unacquainted with civil laws and pro-
ceedings, and know of no fuch thing as one performs being
fubflituted as a furety in the room of another, nor have any
kind of notion of civil judicatures, of perfons being arraigned,
tried, judged, condemned, or acquitted. And hence it is
very difficult to treat with them upon any thing of this na-
ture, or that bears any relation to legal procedures. And
although they cannot but have feme dealing with the vvhiifi
CHRISTIANISING OF THE INDIANS. 5 1 J
people, in order to procure cloathing and other neceffaries of
life, yst it is Icarce ever known that any one pays a penny
for another, but each one (lands for himfelf. Yet this is a
thing that may be fuppoied, though feldom pracHfed among
them j and they may be made to understand, that if a friend
of theirs pays a debt for them, it is rioht that upon that con-
fiueration they themfelves fhould be dvfcharged.
And this it> the only way I can take in order to give them a
proper notion of the underltanding and fatisfaclion of Chrifl in
behalf of tinners. But here naturally anfe two questions :
F//y/, What need there was of Chriil's obeying and fuiTering
for us j why God would not look, upon us to be good crea-
tures (to ui'e my common phrafe for juftificatio;)) on ac-
count of our own good deeds? In anfwer to which I fome-
times obferve, that a child's being never io orderly and obe-
dient; to its parents toxjay, does by no means fatisfy for its
contrary behaviour yeilcrday ; and that if it be loving and o-
bedient at feme times only, and at other times crofs and dif-
obedient, it can never be looked upon as n good child for its'
own doings, fince it ought to have behaved in an obedient
manner always. This fimile flrikes their minds In an eafy
and forcible manner, and ferves, in a meafure, to iliuilrate
the point : for the light of nature, as before hinted, teaches
them that, their children ought to be obedient to them, and
that at all times ; and fome of them are very fevere with
them for the contrary behaviour. This I apply in the plain-
eft manner to our behaviour towards God ; and fo fhevv them
that it is impoiiible for us, fince. we have iianed againft God,
to be jurtified before him by our own doings, lince prefent
and future goodnefs, although perfect and conftant, could ne-
ver fatisfy for paft mifconducl.
A fecond queftion is, .If our debt was fo great, and if we
all deferved to fuffer/how one perfon's fuffering was fufncient
to anfwer for the whole. Here I have no better way to illuf-
trate the infinite value of Chrift's obedience and fufferincrs, a-
rHrng fromfhe dignity and excellency of his perfon, than
to (hew them the fuperior value 06 gold to that of bafer
metals., and that a frnall quantity of this will difcharge a -great-
er debt, than a vaft qwantity of the <jfrpper pence.
51 8 DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE
But after all, it is extremely difficult to treat with them
upon this great doctrine of iuftification by imputed righteouf-
nefs.
I fcarce know how to conclude this head, fo many things
occuring that alight property be added here : but what has
been mentioned, rnay Curve for a fpeciir.en of the difficulty of
conveying divine truths to the understandings of thefe Indians,
and of gaining their aiTent to them as fuch.
Thirdly^ Their ** inconvenient fituations, fava^e manners,
" and unhappy method of living," have been an unfpeakablc
difficulty and difcouragement to me in my work.
They generally live in the wildernefs, and fome that I have
viflted at great diftances from ihe E,n<.15fh fettiements, which
has obliged me to travel much, and oftentimes over hideous
rocks, mountains, and fwamps,--- frequently to lie out in the o-
pen woods,---deprived me of the common comforts of life, ar.d
greatly impaired my health.
When I have got among them in the wildernefs, I have of-
ten met with great difficulty in my attempts to difcourfe to
them. Have fometimesfpent hours with them in attempt-
ing to anfwer their objections, and remove their jealoufies, be-
fore I could prevail upon them to give me a hearing upon
Chrifttanity. Have been often obliged to preach in their
houfes in cold and windy weather, when they have been full
of fmoak and cinders, as well as unfpeakabiy filthy \ which
has many times thrown me into violent fick head-achs.
While I have been preaching, their children have frequent-
ly cried to that degree, I could fcarcely be heard, and their
Pagan mothers would take no manner of care to quiet them.
At the fame time perhaos, fome have b^en laughing and mock-
ing at divine truths Others playing with their dogs,---
whittling flick*, and* the like. And this, in many of them,
net from fpite and prejudice, but from want f better manners.
A view of thefe things has been not a little finking and dif-
couraging to me : has fometimes fo far prevailed upon .me as
to render me entirely difpirited, and wholly unable to go on
with my work j and given me fuch a melancholy turn of
mind, that 1 have many times thought I could never more acl-
drefs an Indian upon rcljgious matters.
CHRISTIANISING OF THE INDIANS. 519
The iblitary manner in whica I have generally b- 3 en obliged
to life, on account of their inconvenient fituations, has been
not a little prefling. 1 have fpent the greater part of my time
for more than three years pafc, entirely alone, as to any a-
greeable fociety ; and a very confiderable part of it have lived
in houfes by myfelf, without having the company of any hu-
man creature. And fometirnes have fcarcely feen an Englifli-
man for a month or fix weeks together. Have hsd my
fpirits fo depreffed with melancholy views of the tempers and
coihift of Pagans, when 1 have been for fome time confined
with them, that I have felt as if banifhed from all the people
of God.
I have likewife been wholly alone in my work, there being
no other miiTior.nry among the Indians in either of tbcfe pro-
vinces. And oilier minifters neither knowing the peculiar dif-
ficulties, nor moft advantageous methods of performing my
work, have been capable to afford me little afliftance or fup-
port in any refne<ft.
A feeling of the great diffcd vantages of being alone ia this
work, has difcovered to me the wlfdom and goodnefs of the
great Head of the church in fending forth his difciplts two
and two, in order to proclaim the facred myfteries of his king-
dom j and has made me long for a colleague to be a partner ci
my cares, hopes, and fears, as well as labours arnongii the In-
dians j and excited me to life fome means in order tc procure
fuch an aflirtanf, although I have nat as yet been fo happy as
to meet with fuccefs in that rcfpecl.
I have not only met with great ciiiRcaUy T.I travelling to,
and for feme time rcliciing ?rr,or?g the Indians fnr remote in
the wildernefs, but alfo in living with them in one pl.ire and
another more llatedly. : Have been obliged to rtmove n:v
refidcnce from place to pUce. Hive procured, and, after
fome poor fafhion, furnifhed three houfcs for living among
them, in the fpace of s bout three years pall, one at Kau-
naumeek, about twenty miles diftant from the city of Alba-
ny j one at the Forks of Delaware in Penfylvania : and one
at CrofweeUhng in N^w-Jerfey. And the Indians in the
latter of thefc provinces (with whom i have latterly fpent
itt
52O , DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE
moft of ray time) being not long iince removed from the place
where they lived the lalt winter, (the reafon of which I men-
tioned in my Journal of March 24. and May 4.), I have now
no houfe at all of my own, but am obliged to lodge with an
Englifh family at a confiderahle diftance from them, to the
great difad vantage of my work among them, they being like
children that continually need advice and direction, as well as
incitement to their worldly buiineis.
The houfes I have formerly lived in are at great diftances
from each other ; the two neareft of them being more than
feventy miles apart, and neither of them within fifteen, miles
of the place where the Indians now live.
The Indians are a people very poor and indigent, and fo
deilitute of the comforts of lile, at forne. fealons of the year
efpecially, that it is impoflibie for a peribn who has any pity
to them, and corcern for the Chriitian intereft, to live among
them without coniiderable expence, especially in time of fick-
nefs. If any thing be beftowed on one, (as in fome cafes it
is peculiary neceilary, in order to remove their P.igan jealou-
iies, and engage their friendship to Chriliianity), others, be
there never fo many of them, expect the fame treatment.
And w r hilethey retain their Pagan tempers, they difcover little
gratitude, or even manhood, amidft ail the kindneffes they
receive. If they make any prefects, they expecl double
fatis faction. And Chriitianity itfcif does not at once cure
them of thefe ungrruf hil and unmanly tempers.
They are in genera! unfpeakably indolent and llothfu!,
have been bred up in. idienck, know little about cultivating
land, or indeed ot engaging vigorouily in other buiineis.
60 that I am obliged to inltruct them in, as well as prefsthem
to the performance of their work, and take the ovei fight of
all their fecular bnfmc-fs. They have little or no ambition or
r^folution Not one in a thouiand of ihem tnat has the
ipirit of a man. And it is next to inipoini ie to make them
icniible of the duty and importance ot being a6t'ive, diligent,
and induftrious in the management of thtif. worldly buiineis j
and to excite any {"pint and promptiduue' of that nature ia
them. When 1 have laboured to tiic utmoil of my ability to
(hew them of what impcrtar.ce u -would bet-jci-s Chriftiar) in-
CHRISTIANISING OF THE INDIANS. 52!
tereft among them, as well as to their worldly comfort, for
them to be laborious and prudent in their bufmefs, and to furnim
themfelves with the comforts of life j how ^his w T ould incline
the Pagans to come among them, and fo piit them under the
means of falvation, how it would encourage religious perfons
of the white people fro help them, as well as flop the mouths
of others that were difpofed to cavil againft them ; how they
might thus pay their juft dues, and fo prevent trouble from coming
upon themfelves, and reproach upon their Chriitian profeflion :
I fay, when I have endeavoured to reprefent this matter ia
the moft advantageous light I pofiibly could, they have indeed
affcnted to all that I faid, but been little moved, and confe-
quently have acled like themfelves, or at leafl too much fo.
Though it muft be acknowledged, that thofe who appear to
have a fenfe of divine things, are confiderably amended in this
refpedl:, and it is hopeful, that time will make a yet greater
alteration upon them for the better.
The. concern I have had for the fettling of thefe Indians in
New-Jerfey in a compact form, in order to their being a Chri-
ftian congregation, in a capacity of enjoying the means of
grace j the care of managing their worldly bulmefs in order to
this end, and to their having a comfortable livelihood, have
been more prefTmg to my mind, and coft me more labour and
fatigue, for feveral months paft, than all my other work a-
mong them.
Their " wandering to and fro in order to procure the ne-
" cciTaries of life,*' is another difficulty that attends my
work. This has often deprived me of opportunities to dif-
courfe to them has thrown them in the way of temptation,
either among Pagans further remote where they go to hunt,
who have laughed at them for hearkening to ChrilHanity j or
among white people more horribly wicked, who have often
made them drunk, and then got their commodities, fuch as
fkins, balkets, brooms, (hovels, and the like, (with which they
defigned to have bought corn, and other necefTaries cf life for
themfelves and their families), for it may be, nothing but a
little ftrong liquor, and then fent them home empty. So that
for the labour, perhaps, of feveral weeks, they have got no-
Uu u
DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE
thing but the fatisfaftion of being drunk once j and have not
only loft their labour, but (which is infinitely worfe) the im-
preffions of divine things that were made upon their minds
before.
But I forbear enlarging upon this head. The few hints I
have given may be fufficient to give thinking perfonsfome ap-
prehenfions of the difficulties attending my work, on account
of the inconvenient Situations and favage manners of the ln^
dians, as well as of their unhappy method of living.
Fourthly, The laft difficulty I fiiall mention, as having at-
tended my work, is, " what has proceeded from the attempts
" that feme ill- minded perfons have designedly made, to hin-
" der the propagation of the gofpel, and a work of divine grace
" among the Indians."
The Indians are not only of themfelves prejudifed againft
Chriftianity, on the various accounts I have already mention-
ed, but, as if this was not enough, there are fome in all parts
of the country where I have preached to them, who have
taken pains induftrioufly to bind them down in Pagan daik-
nefs ; " neglecting to enter into the kingdom of God them-
" felvcs, and labouring to hinder others."
After the beginning of the religious concern among the In-
dians in New-Jerfey, fome endeavoured to prejudife them a-
gainft me and the truths I taught them, by the mod fneaking,
unmanly, and falfe fuggeftions of things that had no manner
of foundation but in their own brains. Some particulars of
this kind I formerly took notice of in one of the remarks
made upon my Journal concluded the 2Oth of November laft.
And might have added yet more, and of another nature, than
thofe there mentioned, had not modefty forbidden me to
mention what was too obfcene to be thought of. But, through
the mercy of God they were never able, by all their abomina-
ble infmuations, flouting jeers, and downright lies, to create
in the Indians thofe jealoufies they defired to poflefs them
with, and fo \vere never fuffered to hinder the work of grace
among them.
But when they faw they could not prejudife the Indians a-
gainft me, nor hinder them from receiving the gofpel, they
CHRISTIANISING OF THE INDIANS. 523
then noifed through the country, that I was undoubtealy a
Roman Catholic, and that I was gathering together, and train-
ing up the Indians in order to ferve a Fopiili interefl j that I
(hould quickly head them, and cut people's throats.
What they pretended gave them reafon for this opinion,
was, that they understood I had a comrniiTion from Scotland.
Whereupon they could with great affurance fay, " All Scot-
" land is turned to the Pretender, and this is but -A Popifli
" plot to make a party for him here," &c. And fome ( 1 am
informed) actually went to the civil authority with complaints
agaitift me j but only laboured under this unhappinefs, that
when they came, they had nothing to complain of, and could
give no colour of reafon why they attempted any fuch thing,
or deiired the civil authority to take cognizance of me, ha-
ving not a word to alledge againft my preaching or practice,
only they furtnifed that becaufe the ludians appeared fo very
loving and orderly, they had a dcugu of impoiingupon people
by that means, and fo of getting a better advantage to cut
their throats. And what tempers they would have had the In-
dians appear with in otder to 'have given no occafion, nor have
left any room for fuch a fufpicion, *' I cannot tell." 1 pre-
i'urne if they had appeared with the contrary temper, it would
quickly have been obferved of them, that " they were now
tv grown furly. and in all probability were preparing to cut
44 people's thioati."
From a view of ihefe things, I have had occafion to admire
the Vv'ifdom and goodnefs of God in providing fo full and au-
t'ie:it;c a coiiimifli^n, for the undertaking and carrying on of
this work, witliout which, rotwkh,itandj,i>g the chaiitauleneis
of the dcfion, it had probably met with moleftation.
The Lilians who have been my hearers in Xew-Jerfey
h;ive iikewife been fued for debt, and threatned with iirprifon-
ment more iince I canie among them, (is thfiy inform me)
than in feven years before. t The reafon of this, I fuppofe,
was, they left frequenting the tippling houfes where they ufcd
to confume mcft of xvhat tlit;y gained by hunting and other
means. And thcfe perlons feeing that " the hope of future
" gain was loll," w r ere refolved to make fure of what they..
5*4
DIFFICULTIES ATTENDING THE
could. And perhaps fome of them put the Indians to trouble
purely out of fpite at their embracing Chriftianity.
This condul of theirs has been very diftreffing to me j for I
was fenfible that if they did imprifon any one that embraced
or hearkened to ChrilHanity, the news of it would quickly
fpread among the Pagans, hundreds of miles diftant, who would
immediately conclude, I had involved them in this difficulty,
and thence be filled with prejudice a gain ft Chriftianity, and
ftrengthened in their jealoufy, that the whole of my defign a-
moisg' them was to enfnare and enflave them. And I knew
that fome of the Indians upon Sufquehannah had made this ob-
jecYion againft hearing me preach, vix>. That they underftood
a number of Indians in Maryland, fome hundreds of miles dif-
tant, who had been uncommonly free with the Englifh, were
after a while put in jail, fold, &c. Whence they concluded
it was beft for them to keep at a diftance, and have nothing
to do with Chriftians.
The method I took in order to remove this difficulty, was,
to prefs the Indians with all poffible fpeed to pay their debts,
and to exhort thofe of them that had fkins or money, and were
themfelves in a good meafure free of debt, to help others
that were oppreffed. And frequently upon fuch occafions I
have paid money out of my own pocket, which I have not
as yet received again.
Thefe are fome of the dfficulties I have met witli from the
conduct of thofe who, notwithftanding their actions fo much
tf.nd to hinder the propagation of Chriftianity, would I fup-
pofe be loth to be reputed Pagans.
Thus I have endeavoured to anfwer the demands of the
Honourable Society in relation to each of the particulars men-
tioned in their letter.
If what I have written be in any meafure agreeable and fa-
tisfactory to them, and ferve to excite in them or any of God's
people, a fpirit of prayer and fupplication for the furtherance
of a work of grace among the Indians here, and the propaga-
tion of it to their diftant tribes, 1 {hall have abundant icafon
to rejoice and blefs God in this, as well as^ other refpefts.
DAVID BRAINLRD,
June 2fc. 1746.
SERMON
PREACHED IN NEWARK,
June 12,1744,
THE ORDINATION OF MR. DAVID
Miflionary among the Indians.
BY
E. PEMBERTON, M. A.
PASTOR OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
IN THE CITY OF NEW-YORK.
WITH AN APPENDIX,
TOUCHING
THE INDIAN AFFAIRS.
EDINBURGH ; M.DCCXCVIJF.
S E R M O N,
LUKE xiv. 23.
And the Lord fail unto the'fervant, Go out into the high- ways and hedges,
and compel them to come in, that my houie may be filled.
GOD creeled this vifible world as a monument of his glo-
ry, a theatre lor the difplay of his adorable perfec-
tions. The heavens proclaim his wifdom and power in min-
ing characters, and the whole earth is full of his goodnefs
Man was in his original creation excellently fitted for the fer-
vice of God, and for perfect happinefs in the enjoyment of
the divine favour.
But fin has difturbed the order of nature, defaced the beau-
ty of the creation, and involved man, the lord of this lower
world, in the rnoft difconfolate circumftances of guilt and mi-
fery.
The all-feeing eye of God beheld our deplorable ftate ; in-
finite pity touched the heart of the father of mercies j and
infinite wifdom laid the plan of our recovery. The majefty
of heaven did not fee meet to fuffcr the enemy of mankind
eternally to triumph in his fuccefs ; nor leave his favourite
workmanfhip irrecoverably to perifh in the ruins of the apof-
tacy. By a method, which at once aftonifhes and delights
the fublimeft fpirits above, he opened a way for the difplay
of his mercy, without any violation of the facred claims of his
juftice ; rn which the honour of the law is vindicated, and
the guilty offender acquitted, fin is condemned, and the fin-
ner eternally faved. To accomplish this bleffed defign, the
beloved Son of God afTamed the nature of man j in our na-
ture died a fpotlefs facrince for fin, by the atoning virtue
of his bluod he " made reconciliation for iniquity," and by
A SERMON.
his perfect obedience to the law of God, " brought in ever-
lafting righteoufnefs."
Having finifhed his work upon earth, before he afccnded to
his heavenly Father, he commiflioned the minifters of his
kingdom, to "preach the gofpel to every creature." He
fent them forth to make the moft extenfive offers of falvaticn
to rebellious finners, and by all the methods of holy violence
to " compel them to come in," and accept the invitations of
his grace. We have a lively reprefentation of this in the par-
able in which our text is contained.
The evident defign of which is, under the figure of a mar-
riage-f upper , to fet forth the plentiful proviflon which is
made in our Lord Jefus Chrift for the reception of his people,
and the freedom and riches of divine grace which invites
the moft unworthy and mifcrable finners, to partake of this
(acred entertainment'. The firft invited guefts were the Jews,
the favourite people of God, who were heirs of divine love,
while the reft of the world were ** aliens from the common-
" wealth of Ifrael, &. ftrangers from the covenants of promiie:"
but thefe, through the power of prevailing prejudice and the
influence of carnal affection, abfolutely rejected the invita-
tion, and were therefore finally excluded from thefe invalua-
ble bleflings.
But it was not the defign of infiaite wifdorn that thefe
coftly preparations fliould be loft, and the table he had fpread ,
remain unfurnifhed with guefts. Therefore he fent forth
his fervant *' into the ftreets and lanes of the city," and com-
manded him to bring in " the poor, the maimed, the halt,
" and the blind," 2. e. the moft neceflitous and miferable of
mankind j yea, to " go out into the high-ways and hedges,"
to the wretched and penfhirig Gtntilts, and not only invite,
but even " compel them to come in, that his houfe might be
41 filled."
The words of the text reprefent to u?,
\. The melancholy flate of the Gentile world. They are de-
fcribed as "in the high-ways and hedges," in the moft pt-
rifliing and helplefs condition.
A SERMON. 529
II. The compaffionaiecare, which the bleffed Redeemer takes
of them in thefc their deplorable circumftances. He " fends
" out his fervants" to them, to invite them to partake of
the entertainments of his houfe.
III. The duty of the minijlers of the gofpel, to "compel
" them to come in," and accept of his gracious invitation;
Thcfe I fliall confider in their order, and then apply them
to the prefent occafion.
I. 1 am to confider the melancholy ftate of the Heathen
world, while in the darknefs of nature, and deftitute of divine
r^velation.7 It is eafy to harangue upon the excellency and
advantage of the light of nature. It is agreeable to the pride
of mankind to exalt the powers of human reafon, and pro-
nounce it a fufficient guide to eternal happinefs. But let us
inquire into the records of antiquity, let us confult the experi-
ence of all ages , and we fhall find thatthofe who had no guide
but the light of nature, no inftru&or but unaflifted reafon,
have wandered in perpetual uncertainty, darknefs, and error.
Or kt us take a view of the prefent ftate of thofe countries
that have not been illuminated by the gofpel j and we (hall
fee, that notwithftanding the improvements of near fix thou-
fand years, they remain to this day covered with the groffeft
darknefs, and abandoned to the moft immoral and vicious prac-
tices.
The beauty and good order, every where difcovered in the
vlfible frame of nature, evidences beyond all reafonable dif-
pute, the exigence of an infinite and almighty caufe, who
firft gave bing to tlie univerfe, and ftill preferves it by his
powerful providence. Says the apoftle to the Gentiles, (Rom.
i. 20.) " The invifible things of God, from the creation of
'' the world, are clearly feen, bting underftood by the things
" that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead." And
yet many, even among the philofophers of the Gentile na-
tions, impioufly denied the eternal Deity, from whofe hands
they received their exiftence j and blafphemed his infinite per-
fections, when furrounded with the cleareft demonftrations
of his power and goodnefs. Thofe who acknowledged a
Deity, entertained the moft unworthy conceptions of his
Xxx
53 A SERMON.
nature and attributes, and worlhipped the creature io the
place of the Creator, " who is God blefled for ever." Not
only the illuftrious heroes of antiquity, and the public bene-
faclcrs of mankind, but even the mod defpicable beings in the
order of nature, were enrolled in the catalogue cf their gods,
and becarr>c the object of their impious adoration. " They
*' changed the glory of the incorruptible God, into an image
"made like to corruptible man, to birds, and four-footed
" beafts, and creeping things." Rcm. i. 23.
A few of the fublimeft geniufes of Rome and Athens had
fome faint difcoveries of the fpiritual nature of the human
feu!, and formed fome probable conjectures, that man was
defigned for a future ftate of exiftence. When they confider-
ed the extenilve capacities of the human mind, and the deep
impreffions of futurity, engraven in every breaft, they could
not but infer that the foul was immortal, and at death would
be tranflated to fome new and unknown flate. When they
faw the virtuous oppreflfed with various and fucceflive calami-
ties, and the vile/1 of men triumphing in profperity and plea-
fure, they entertained diftant hopes, that in a future revo-
lution thefe feeming inequalities would be rectified, thefe in-
confiHencies removed, the righteous diftinguifhingly reward-
ed, and the wicked remarkably punifkt-d. But after all their
inquiries upon this important fubjecl, they attained no high-
er than fome probable conjectures, fome uncertain expecta-
tions. And when they came to defcribe the nature and fi-
tuation of thefe invifible regions of happinefs or mifery, they
made the wildeft guefies, and run into the moft abfurd and
vain imaginations. The heaven they contrived for the en-
tertainment of the virtuous, was made up of fenfual pleafures
beneath the dignity of human nature, and inconfiftent with
perfecl felicity ; the hell they dcfcribed for the punifhment
of the vicious, confirmed in ridiculous terrors, unworthy the
belief of a rational and religious creature.
Their practices were equally corrupt with their principles.
As the moft extravagant errors were received among the e-
ftabHfhed articles of their faith, fo the moft infamous vices
obtained in their practice, and were indulged not only with im-
punity, but authorifed by the fanction of their laws. . They
A SERMON.
531
flupidly ere&ed altars to idols of wood and ilone j paid divine
honours to thofe who in their lives had been the greateil
monfters of luft and cruelty j yea, offered up their fons and
daughters as facrifices to devils. The principles of honour,
the reilraints of ilianae, the,precepts of their philofophers, were
all too weak, to keep their corruptions within any tolerable
bounds. The wickednefs of their hearts broke through every
inclofure, and deluged the earth with rapine and violence,
blood and (laughter, and all manner of brutidi and deteilable
impurities. -It is hardly poftible to read the melancholy de-
fcription of the principles and manners of the Heathen world
given us by St Paul, without horror and furprife, to think
that man, once the *' friend of God," and " the lord of this
u lower world," ihould thus " deny the God that made him,"
and bow down to dumb idols j fhould thus, by luft and intem-
perance, degrade himfelf into the character of the beaft,
" which hath no underftinding j" and by pride, malice, and
revenge, transform himfelf into the very image of the devil,
" who was a murderer from the beginning."
This was the (late of the Gentile nations, when the light
o-f the gofpel appeared, to fcatter the darknefs that overfpread
the face of the earth: And this has been the cafe, fo far a*
has yet appeared, of all the nations ever lince, upon whom
the Sun of righteoufnefs has not arofe with healing in fois wings.
Every new difcovered country opens a new fcene of a.ftonifh-
ing ignorance and barbarity j and gives us frefh evidence of
the univerfal corruption of human nature.
II. I proceed now to confider the compadionate care and
kindnefs of our blefled Redeemer towards mankind, in thefe
their deplorable circumftances. He " fends out his fervants,"
to invite them " to come in," and accept the entertainments
of his houfe.
God might have left his guilty creatures, to have eternally
fuffered the difmal effe6ts of their apoftafy, without the leaft
imputation of injuftice, or violence of his infinite perfections.
The fall was the confequence of man's criminal choice, and
a,Ucnded with the higheft aggravations. The angels tbat fin-
SERMON.
ned were made examples of God's righteous feverity, and are
referved " in chains" of guilt, *' to the judgment of the great
" day." Mercy, that tender attribute of the divine nature,
did not interpofe in their behalf, to fbfpend the execution of
their fentence, or avert God's threatened difpleafure j their
puniftiment is unalterably decreed, their judgment is irrever-
fible j they are the awful monuments of revenging wrath, and
are condemned " to blackcefs of darknefs for ever." Now,
juftice might havefhewn the fame inflexible ft verity to rebel-
lious man, and have left the univerfal progeny of Adam to
periih in their guilt and mifery. It was unmerited meicy,
that diftinguifhed the human race, in providing a Saviour for
us j and the moil fignal companion, that revealed the counfels
of Heaven for our recovery.
But though juftice did not oblige the divine Being to pro-
vide for our relief, yet the goodnefs of the indulgent Father
of the univerfe inclined him to me\v pity to his guilty crea-
tures who fell from their innocence, through the fubtlety and
malice of feducing and apoftate fpirits. It was agreeable to
the divine wifdom, to difappoint the devices of Satan, the e-
nemy of God and goodnefs, and recover the creatures he had
made from their fubje&ion to the powers of darknefs.
He therefore gave early difcoveries of his defigns of mercy
to our firft parents, and immediately upon the apoftafy opened
a door .of hope for their recovery. He revealed a SavicJur ta
the ancient Patriarchs, under dark types, and by ditlant pro-
mifes j made clearer declarations of his will, as the appointed
time drew near for the accomplifhment of the promifes, and
the manifeftation of the Sen of God in human flefti. { * And
*' when the fulnefs of time was come, God fent forth his Son,
" made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that
" were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of
" fons."
This divine and illuftrious perfon left the bofom of his Fa-
tker, that he might put on the character of a fervant ; de-
fcended from the glories of heaven, that he might dwell oa
this inferior earth j was made under the law, that he might
fulfil all righteoufnefs} fubmitted to the infirmities of bumaa
A SERMON. 533
ir.-ure, to the (arrows and fufferings of an afflicted life, and
to the agonies of a painful ignominious death on a crofs, that
he might deftroy the power of fin, abolifli the empire of death,
and purchafe immortality and glory for perifhing man.
While our Lord Jefus refidedin this lower world, he preach-
ed the glad tidings of falvation, and publilhed the kingdom cf
God j confirming his doctrine by numerous and undoubted
miracles, and recommending his inftruclions by the charnrs
of ar^potlefs life and converfation. He fent forth his apoftles
to purfue the fame gracious defign of gofpelizing the people,
and furniihed them with fufficient powers to profelyte the
nations to the faith. He alfo appointed a {landing nainifiry,
to carry on a treaty of peace with, rebellious finners, in the
fucceffive ages of the church j to continue, till the number of
the redeemed is completed, and the whole election of grace
placed in ciicumftances of fpotlefs purity and perfed hap-
pinefs.
Thefe minifters are flilcd " the fervants of Chrift," by
way of eminence : they are in a peculiar manner devoted to
the fervice of their divine Matter j from him they receive
their commiflion, by him they are appointed to reprefent his
perfon, prefide in his worfliip, 'and teach the laws of his king-
dom. To aflame this character without being divinely called,
and regularly introduced into this facred officCj is a bold in-
vafion of Chrift's royal authority, and an open violation of that
order which he has eftablidved in his church. Thefe not on-
ly derive their million from Chrift, but it is his do&rine they
are to preach, and not the inventions of their own brain :
it is his glory they are to promote, and not their own intereft
or honour : their bufinefs is not to propagate the defigns of
a party, but the common falvation, and to " befeech all, in
Chrift's name, to be reconciled unto God."
The apoftles, the primitive heralds of the everlafting gof-
pel, were fent to make the firft tender of falvation to ** th
" loft fheep of the houfe of Ifrael j" they were commanded
to begin at Jerufalem, the centre of the Jewifti commonwealth,
but when the Jews obftinately perfifted in their impenitence
and unbelief, they were commiflioned " f preach the gof-
534 A S E R M O N
^
" to every creature under heaven :" the iinners of -the
Gentiles were invited to come in, and accept of the offers of
falvation.
The prophets pointed out a Mcfliah that was to come, and
proclaimed the joyful approach of a Redeemer, at the time
appointed in the fovereign councils of heaven. The minifters
of the gofpel now are lent to declare that the prophecies are
accompliihed, the promife fulfilled, juftice fatisfied, falvation
purchafed ; and all that will come in (hall receive the blef-
fings of the gofpel. They are not only freely to invite fin-
ners, of all orders and degrees* of all ages and nations ; but
to aflure them that " all things are now ready," and to ufe
the mofl powerful and perfuafive methods, that they may en-
gage them to comply with the heavenly call. Which brings
me to the third thing propofed.
III. I am next to (hew, that it is the great duty of the mi-
nifters of the gofpel " to compel finners to come in," and ac-
cept of the bleiTings of the gofpel. This is fo plainly con-
tained in my text, that I {hall not multiply arguments to con-
firm it. My only bufinefs (hall be to' explain the nature of
this compulfion-, or to {hew in what mannner finners are to be
" compelled to come in" to the Chriftian Church. And fare
I am, I muft anfwer negatively, not by the deceitful methods
of fraud and difguife,nor the inhuman practices of perfecu-
tion and violence. This text indeed has often been alledged
by the perfecuting bigots of all ages, and applied to fupport the
caufe of religious tyranny ; to the infinite fcandal of the Chrif-
tian name, and the unfpeakable detriment of the Chriflian in-
tercft.---By this means the enemies of our moil holy faith
have been ilrengthened in their infidelity, the weak have
been turned aude from " the truth, as it is in Jefus," and the
peaceable kingdom of the MeiTiah transformed into a field of
blood, a fcene of hellifh and horrid cruelties. If this were
the compulfion recommended in the gofpel, then abfolute un-
relenting ty: ants would be the proper and moil infallible teach-
ers, then racks and tortures would be the genuine and ;noil fuc-
cefsful method of propagating the faith. But furely every
A S E R M O K. 535
every thing of this kind, every violent and driving meaiure,
is in direcl oppofition to the precept and example of our blef-
fed Saviour, and contrary to the very genius of his gofpel,
which proclaims, *' Glory to God in the higheft, on earth
li peace, good-will towards men." Luke ii. 14.
The princes of this world exrrcife a temporal dominion o-
ver mankind, and by fines levied on their eilates, and punifli-
ments inili6ted upon their bodies, force men to an outward
fubjeclion to their authority and government. But the king-
dom of our Lord is of a ipiritual nature : he creels his empire
in the hearts of men, and reigns over a willing people in the
" day of his power,." External violence may neceflitate men
to an external profefiion of the truth, and procure a diffembled
compliance with the inftitutions of Chrift j but can never en-
lighten the darknefs of the mind, conquer the rebellion o
the will, nor fanclify and fave the foul. It may transfigure
men into accomplished hypocrites j but will never convert
them into real faints.
The gofpel was originally propagated by the powerful
preaching of Chrifl: and Msapoftlts, by taeaftonifliingmiracles
which they wrought in confirmation of their doclrine, and the
.exemplary lives by which they adorned their profeffion and
character. Inftead of propagating their religion by the de ''
truclive methods of fire and fword, they fubmitted to the
rage and cruelty.of a malignant world with furpriiing patience,
and facrificed their very lives in the caufe of God, without a-
ny intemperate difcoveries of anger and refentrnent :-- -inftead
of calling for " fire from heaven" to dcftroy their oppofers,
they compafiionated their ignorance, inftru&ed them with
meeknefs, counfelled and exhorted them with all long- fuffering
" and doclrine," and even fpent their dying breath in praying
for their conviftiorj and converfion, that they might be faved
in the day of the Lord Jefus,
Now, in imitation of thefe primitive doclors of the Chrif-
tian Church, thefe wife and fuccefsful preachers of the gof-
pel, it is the duty of the miniilers of the prefent day to-ufe
the fame methods of compaflion and friendly violence. A dif-
mtciefted zeal for the glory of God, a iledfaft adherence to
536 A SERMON.
the truth, and unfhaken fidelity in cur Mailer's caufc, withuni-
verfal benevolence to mankind, mud conftantly animate our
public difcourfes, and be confpicuous in our private ccnverfa-
tion and behaviour. We muft diligently endeavour to con-
vince the underftanuings, engage the affeclions, and direct the
practice of cur hearers. UpQn this head it may not be amifs
to defcend to a few particulars.
i. Minifters are to 4t compel finners toccmein," by fitting
before them their " guilty and perifliing flate by nature."
Sinners are naturally fond of carnal -cafe and fecurity ;
they are delighted with their pleafant and profitable fins y they
even " drink in iniquity like water," with great greedinefs,
with ir.fatiable thirft, and inceffant gratification, but without
fear or remorfe. Upon this account, there is the higheft ne-
ceflity to found an alarm in their ears, that they may be a-
wakened, to fee and confider tkeir dangerous (late ^ or elfe
they will never be excited to " flee from the wrath to come."
The lecure finner is infenfible of his want of a Saviour ; " The
** whole need not a phyfician, but they that sre f;ck."
To this end, the mmifters of the gofpel are to fet " the
" terrors of the Lord" in array againft the finner, and let him
hear the " thunder of divine curfes," that utter their voice a-
gainft the unbelieving. They are to reprefent in the cleareft
light, and with the moft convincing evidence, the evil of fin,
and the danger it expofes to j that wrath from heaven is re-
" vealed againft all ungodlinefs and unrighteoufnefs of men j"
that the flaming fword of incenfed juftice is unflieathed, and
the arm of the Almighty ready to deflroy fuchas are ' going
'* on ftiil in their trefpa{Tes,"1mpenitent and fecure. They
are not only thus to (hew them their danger, but to fet be-
fore tjiem at the fame time their wretched and helplefs cir-
cumftances j that there is no human eye can fuccefsfully pi-
ty them, nor any created i-.rm can bring th em efri-ftual deliver-
ance j that while in a ftate of unregentiate nature, they are
detfitute of ftrength to perform any acceptable fervice to the
bleffed God, and unable to make any adequate fatisfaclion to
his offended juftice ; that indeed they can neither avoid the
divine difpleafure, ncr endure the punldiment that is due to
A SERMON. 537
their crimes. Thus by a faithful application of the law and
its threatnings, we mould endeavour, by God's blefiing, to
make way for the reception of the gofpel- and its promifes.
This was the wife method obferved by our bleffed Saviour,
the firft preacher of the gofpel, and by the apoftles, his in-
fpired fucceffors. So John the Baptift, who ferved as 44 the
44 morning-ftar," to uflier in the appearance of the '* Sun of
44 righteoufnefs," did thus " prepare the way of the Lord,"
by enlightening the minds of men in the knowledge of their
guilt and mifery, and exciting them to flee from the " damna-
44 tion of hell." The three thoufand that were converted to
the faith at one fermon, in the infancy of the Chriftian church,
were firft awakened with a ienfe of their aggravated guilt, in
*' crucifying the Lord of glory ," and brought in agony and
diftrefs to cry out, " Men and brethren, what (hall we do ?"
Ads ii. 36, 37.
This method, I confefs, is difagreeable to the fentiments
and inclinations of a fecure world j and may expofe us to the
reproach of thofe 4< that are at eafe in Zionj" but is agreea-
ble to the dictates of an enlightened mind, conformable to the
plan laid down in, the facred fcriptures, and has in all ages ap-
proved itfelf the moll fuccefsful method of promoting the in-
terefts of real and vital religion.
2* They are to " compel finners to come in," by a lively
reprefentation of the power and grace of our almighty Re-
deemer. Not all the thunder and terror of curfes from mount
Ebal, not all the tremendous 4< wrath revealed from heaven
44 againft the ungodly," not all the anguifh and horror of a
wounded Ipirit in an awakened fmner, are able to produce
an unfeigned and effectual compliance with the gofpel-terms
of mercy. The miniftry of the law can only give the know-
ledge of fin, roufe the finner'sconfcience, and alarm his fears :
it is the difpenfation of grace that fanclifies and fav?s the
foul. Nor is the former needful but in order to the latter*
So much convi&ion as gives us a fight of our fin and mifery,
as inclines us to * 4 flee from the wrath to come," and difpo-
&s us to fubmit to the gofpd-method of falvation 4 ' by grace
44 through faith^' by fovereign mercy through the Mediator,
Yyy
A SERMON.
fo much is necefiary j and more is neither requifite nor ufe-
fus or defirable.
It is not the oflke of preachers to be perpetually employ-
ed in the language of terror, or exhauft their ftrcngth and zeal
in awakening and cliflrefling fubjefts. No, bat as it is their
diitinguifliing character that they are minifters of the gofpel,
fo it is their peculiar buftnefs to "preach the unfearchabfe
" riches of Chriil," The perfon, and offices, and love of the
great Redeemer, the merits of his obedience, and purchafes
of hrs crofs, the victories of his refurreflion, the triumphs of
his afcenfion, and prevalence of his interceflion, the power of
his Spirit, greatnefs of his falvation, freenefs of his grace,
&c. 5 thefe are to be the chofen and delightful fubjecls of
their difcourfes. They are to reprtfent him as one wha
has completely anfwered the demands of the law, rendered
the Deity propitious to the (inner, and upon this account rs
able eternally to favc us from the vengeance of an offended
God 5 who is clothed with almrghty power, to fubdue the
inveterate habits of fin, fanclify our" polluted nature, and re-
ftore us to fpiritual health and purity : who is Lord of the
vifible and invifible worlds j. who knows how to defeat the
moll artful devices of Satan, and will finally render his peo-
ple victorious over their mofl rnalicrous and implacable ad-
verfaries ^--wha having " made reconciliation for inirjuity"
upon the crofs, is pleading the merits of his blood in heaven,
and powerfully interceding for all fuitable bleflTngs in behalf
of his people j---" who is there exa-lted as a prince and a Sa-
** viour to give repentance and remifllon of fins \ Afls v. $\.
" and is able to fave unto the uttermoft all thofe that come to.
" God jfi and through him j" Hcb*. vii. 25 in fine, who
from nis.illuftrious tlirone in glory {loops to look down with pi-
ty upon guilty and perifhing finners, ftretclies forth the fcep-
tre'of grace, and opens the everlaffing arms, of 'his mercy to'"'
receive them. Thefe'peculiar doclrines of the gofpel they
are frequently to teach, upon thcfe they are to dwell with
conftant pkafure, that Tinners may be perfuaded to 'hearken
to the inviting voice of divine love, and put their truft in tlie
almighty and compaflionate Saviour. In order to which,
A SERMON, 539
3. They are to (hew finners the mighty encouragement
that the gofpel gives them to accept of Chrift, and falvatioa
through his merits and righteouihefs.--As for ignorant pre-
fumers, thefe hear tUe glad tidings of the gofpel with a fatal
indifference ', and fay in their hearts " they (hall have peace,"
though they go on in their evil way, ftupidiy " negle fling fo
>; great falvation," and regardlefs of eternal things. But a-
*vakened roinds are lather apt to draw the darkeil conclufions
with refpecl to their cafe, aad to judge themfelvcs excluded
from the invitations of the gofpel.- Sometimes they ima-
gine, that the number and aggravations of their fins exceed
the deiigns of pardoning mercy j---at other times, that they
have fo long refilled the heavenly call, that now the gate of
heaven is irrecoverably barred againft them : and Satan fur-
ther fuggefts, that it would be the height of preemption in
them to lay claim to the bleffings of the gofpel, till better
prepared for the divine reception. Upon fuch imaginary
and falfe grounds as thefe, multitudes of the invited guefts
make excufes, and exclude themfelres from the " marriage
44 fupper of the Lamb. n It is therefore the bcfmefs of the
fervants of Chrift to (hew that " there is yet room," even for
the greateft and vileft of finners to come in, and partake of the
gofpel- fe fti val ; that ' all things are now ready," for their wel-
come entertainment ; that the door is ftill open, and there is
free accefs, not only for thofe who have efcaped the grouer
positions of the world, but even " for the chief of finners,"
whofe guilt is of a crimfon colour and a fcarlet dye ;--that nei-
ther the number nor aggravations of their iniquities will ex-
clude them a (hare in the divine mercy, if now they fubmit to
the fceptre of grace j that whatever their condition and cir-
cumftanccs may be, it is of prefiiiit obligation upon them to
accept the gofpel- call, and their inftant duty, to come in j the
Matter invites them " to come to him, that they may have
" life : w and whofoever do fo," the Mafter of the houfe has
affured them, that he " will in no wife caft them out."-
John vi. 37.
4. They are to exhibit the unfpeakable advantages that
will attend a compliance with the gofpel call. 1 know, in-
deed, the religion of Jefus is, by its enemies, often rcprefentedU
54 A- SERMON
in the moll frightful and hideous colours, particularly as lay-
ing an unreafonable reftraint on the liberties of mankind, and
finking them into melancholy enthufiafts. It becomes us,
therefore, who are " fet for the defence of the gofpel," to
endeavour the removing this groundlefs prejudice, and to con'
vince mankind by the light of reafon and fcripture, that " the
" ways of vvifdom are ways of pleafantnefs. and all her paths
" are peace :" that verily a life of faith in the bleffed Re-
deemer is the way to be happy, both here and hereafter.
O vrha more honourable than to be * 4 a child of God, an
" heir o the kingdom of heaven !"' What more pleaiing,
than to look back and behold our part iniquities all buried in
the depths of eternal oblivion ! than to look forward, and
view our dear Saviour acknowledging us his friends and fa-
vourites, and adjudging us to a ftate of unperifhing glory !
What more advantageous, than to have the divine f ivour en-
gaged for our protection, the promifes of divine grace for our
confolation^ and an affured title to " an inheritance undefiled,
" incorruptible, and eternal !" This is the portion of the true
believer. Thefe are the privileges that attend a compliance
with the gofnel- call.
Thefe things are to be reprefented in fuch a manner as may
tend to captivate the hearts of men, and engage them in a feli-
citous care and refolution to renounce the degrading fervitude
of fin, and refign themfelves to the power of redeeming grace.
Thus by the moft effe&ual and perfuafive methods, the minif-
ters of Jefus are to compel finners " to come in, that his houfe
" may be filled."
It was not in my defign to confider the duty of the minif-
try in its juft extent j but only to infift upon thofe things that
more properly belong to my fubje6l, and lie directly in the
view of my text.
It will now doubtlefs be expected, that I APPLY my difcourfe
more immediately to the prefent occafion.
And fuffer me, dear Sir, in the firft place, to addrefs my-
felf to you, who are this day coming under a public confe-
cration to the fervice of Chrift, "to bear his name among
"the Gentile sj to whom the Mafter is now fending you
A SERMON. 541
" forth, to compel them to come in, that his houfe may be
*' filled." We truft, you are a chofen veffel, defigned for
extenlive fervice in this honourable though difficult employ-
ment. We adore the God of nature, who has furnimed you
with fuch endowments as fuit you to this important charge.
We adore the great Head of the church for the nobler gifts
and graces of his Spirit j by which, we truft, you are enabled
to engage in this million with an ardent love to God, the uni-
verfal Father of mankind, with a difmterefted zeal for the ho-
nour of Chrift, the compaiTionate friend of finners, and with
tender concern for the perithing fouls of a " people that fit in
darknefs, and in the (hadow of death ." who have for fo ma-
ny ages been wandering out of the way of falvation, " with-
out Clirift, and without God in the world."
The work of the miniftry, in every place, has its diffi-
culties and dangers, and requires much wifdom, fortitude,
patience, and felf- denial, to difcharge it in a right manner,
with an encouraging profpecl: of fuccefs j- but greater degrees
of prudence, humility, aud meeknefs, mortification to the
prefent world, holy courage, and zeal for the honour of God
our Saviour, are neceffary where any are called to minifter
the gofpel unto thofe who through a long fuccefiion of ages
have dwelt in the darknefs of Heathenifm, have from their
infancy imbibed inveterate prejudices againli the Chriftian
faith, and from time immemorial been inured to many fuper-
fliticus and idolatrous practices, direftly oppofite to the na-
ture and defign of the gofpel.
What heavenly fkill is required, to convey the fupernatural
myfteries of the gofpel into the minds of uninftruclcd Pagans,
who are " a people of a ftrange fpeech and hard language ?"
What deep felf-denial is neceffary, to enable you cheerfully
to forfake the pleafures of your native country, with the
agreeable fociety of your friends and acquaintance, to dwell
among thofe who inhabit not indeed " the high ways and
" hedges," but uncultivated defarts, and the remoteft receffes
of the wildernefs ? What unwearied zeal and diligence, to
profelyte thofe to the faith of the gofpel, who have quench-
ed the light of reafon, and, by their inhumane and barbarous
54- A S E R. M O N,
practices, have placed themfclves upon a level with the brute
creation ?
Methinks, I hear you crying O ut t " Who is fufficientfor
" thefe things ?" And indeed, if you had no flrength to de-
pend upon, hut only your own, no encouragement, but
from human aiiiitance, you might jufily fink down in a dif-
confolate defpair, and utter the palTionate language of Mofes,
" O my Lord, fend I pray thec, by the hand of him whom
" thou wilt fend j" thy fervant is infufticient for fo great a
work. But it is at the command of Chrift, the great Head
of the church, that you go forth ; who by a train of furprifing
providences, has been preparing your way for this important
embafly j and therefore you may be affured, that he will fup-
port you in the faithful difcharge of your duty, accept your
unfeigned defires to promote the interefts of his kingdom,
and finally reward your imperfect fervicts with his gracious
approbation. You have his divine promife for your fecurity
and confolatioft j " Lo ! I am with you alway even to the
" end of the world." This will afford you light in every
darknefs, '.defence in every danger, flrength in every weak-
nefc, a final victory over every temptation. If Chrirt be
with you, " in vain do the Heather, rage," in vain will their
confederated tribes unite their forces to obftiu<5l and difcou-
rage yoa. Infinite vvifdom will le your guide, almighty
power your ihield, and God himftlf " your exceeding great
** reward." The prefence of your divine Mailer will make
amends for the abfence of your deareft friends and relatives;
This will transform a wild and uncultivated defart into a para-
dife of joy and pleafure ; and the lonely huts of ravages -into
more delightful habitations than the palaces of princes.
Let not then any difficulties difcourage, any dangers af-
fright you. Go forth in the name and flrength of the Lord
Jefus, to whom you are now to be devoted in the facred of-
fce of the miniflry. * 4 Be not afhamed of the gofpel of
" Chrift ; for it is the power of God unto falvation to every
" one that belitveth j to the Jew firft, and alfo to the Gentile."
Let zeal for the honour of God, and compaflion for the fouls
cf men, animate your public difbourfes and private addrefles
A S E R M O N. 543
to the people committed to your charge. Always remember
that your character is a minifter of Jefus ; and therefore, with
the infpired dodor of the Gentiles, you " are to know no-
" thing among them, fave Chrift and him crucified." Fre-
quently confider, that the gofpei is a divine dffcipline to puri-
fy the heart, and fet up the kingdom of the Redeemer inths
fouls of men, and therefore it is not fufficient to bring iinners
to a profeluon of tbe name of Chrift, and an outward fubjec-
tion to the inftitutions of divine wormip : " You are fent to
** turn them from darknefs to light, and from the power of Sa-
" tan unto God, that they may receive forgiveoefs of fins,
" and an inheritance among them that are fan'ftified by faith
" that is in Chrift." Unlefs this be effefted, (whatever other
improvements they gain), they are left under the dominion of
fin, and expofed to the wrath of God ; and their fuperior de-
grees of knowledge will only ferve to light them down to the
regions of death and mifery, This then is to be the prin-
cipal defign of your miniftry : for this you are to labour with
unwearied application, and with inceflant importunity to en-
compafs the throne of that God, whofe peculiar prerogative
it is " to teach us to profit ;" whofe grace alone can make
tlrem " a willing people in the day of his power."
And for your encouragement, I will only add, when I
confider the many prophecies, in facred fcripture, of the tri-
umpha.it progrefs of the gofpel in the laft ages of the world,
I cannot but lift up ir.y head with joy, in humble expecta-
tion that the day draws near, yea, is even at hand, when ths
promifes made to the Son of God (hall be more illuflrioufly
fulfilled : -when he fhall have the Heathen for his inheritance
" and the utmoft ends of the eaith for his poiTeflion ; when
" his name fliall be great among the Gentiles, and be honour-
" ed and adored from the r : 5ng of the fun to the going down
*' of the fame." But if the appointed time is not yet come,
and the attempts made to introduce this glorious day fail of*
defired fuccefs, " your judgment will be with the Lord,
and the reward with your God." If the Gentiles, " be not
'* gathered" in, you will " be glorious m the eyes of the
" Lord," who accepts and rewards his fervants according to
544 A S E R M O N.
to the fincerity of tlieir defires, and not according to the fuc-
cefs of their endeavours:
I fhall conclude with a few words to the body of the peo-
k.
God our Saviour, in infinite condcfcenfion, hath fent his
fervants to invite you to come in and receive the ble (Tings,
which infinite wifdom has contrived, and aftoniming grace
prepared, for your entertainment. And furely, my brethren,
it is your important duty, and incomparable intereft, not to
defpife ** the falvation of God fent unto the Gentiles," nor
make light of the gofpel-meffage to you.
God has been pleafed to employ us the meffengers of his
grace, men of like paflions with yourfelves, fubjecl to the com-
mon infirmities of human nature : but the meffage comes from
him, who is King oFkings, and Lord of lords j whom you are
under the fliongeft obligations to hear and obey, in point of in-
tereft, gratitude, and duty.
What gracious and comlefcending methods has he taken to
allure and invite you ! Has he not defcended from heaven to
earth ; from the boundlefs glories of eternity, to all the fuffer-
Jngs and afflictions of this mortal life, that he might purchafe
and reveal falvation , that he might engage your love, and per-
fuade you to comply with his faring defigns ? Does he not fend
his " ambaffadors to befeech you in his ftead to be reconciled
" to God ?"
What excufes have you to make, that will ftand the trial of
an enlightened confcience, or juftlfy you at the awful tribunal
of God ? Will the vaniming enjoyments of fin and fenfe, or the
perifhing riches of this tranfitory world, make amends for the
lofs of the divine favour, or fupport you under the terrors of e-
ternal damnation ?
Are there any honours comparable to the dignity and cha-
vxa&er of a child of God, a title to the privilege of his houfe
and family ? Are there any pleafures equal to the fmiles of
God's reconciled face, the refreshing viiits of his love, the
immortal joys of his falvation ?
But how deplorable, how dcfpcrate will be your cafe, if
A SERMON. 545
you finally refufe the gofpei invitation, and perifn in your na-
tural ftate of guilt and miCery ? The cotnpaflionate Jefus, who
now addreiTes you in the inviting language of love, will then
fpeak to you with the voice of terror, and " fwear in his
" wrath, that you mall never enter into his reft, that you
" fhall never tafte of his fupper," the rich proviiion which he
has made for the eternal entertainment of his guefts. " When
" once the Matter of the houfc is rifen up, and hath flmt to
*' the door," you will in vain Hand without, and knock for
ad million.
Tn a word 3 now he declares by his fervants, that " all
" things are ready," arid all that are bidden fliall be wel-
come, upon their coming in, to be partakers of the benefit.
The blood of Chrift is now ready to cleanfe you from all
your guilt and pollution j his righteoufnefs is now ready to
adorn your naked fouls with the garment of falvation, his
Spirit is now ready to take poffeflion of you, and make you
eternal monuments of victorious and redeeming grace. " The
" Spirit and the bride fay, Come ; and whofoever (of the loft
*' and perifhing fons of Adarn) will, let him come,'*- and par-
ticipate of the bleflings of the gofpel " freely, without money,
*' and without price." The arms of eveilafting mercy are o-
pen to receive you j the treafures of divine grace are &pen
to fupply your wants : and every one of you that, now fin-
cerely accepts this gracious invitation, (hall hereafter be ad-
mitted " to lit down with Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, in the
*i kingdom of heaven."
For which, God of his infinite mercy prepare us all, through
Jefus Chrift : to whom be glory and dominion world without.
earl. Ameu.
Z zz
AN APPENDIX,
CONTAINING
A Jhort account of the Endeavours that have been ufed by the
MiJ/ionaries of the Society in. Scotland for propagating Chrtf-
tian Knowledge, to introduce the Gofpel among the Indians
upon the borders of New-York^ &.c.
THE deplorable, perifhing ftate of the Indians in thefe
parts of America, being by feveralminiftershere repre-
fented to the Society in Scotland for propagating Chriftian
knowledge j the faid Society charitably and cheerfully came
into the propofal of maintaining two mijjlonaries among thefe
miferable Pagans, to endeavour their converfion " from dark-
" ncfs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God: And
fent their commiffion to Come minifters and other gentlemen
here, to at as their correspondents, in providing, directing,
and infpefting the faid million.
As foon as the Correfpondents were authorifed by the
Society's commiffion, they immediately looked out for two
candidates of the evangelical miniftry, whofe zeal for the
interefts of the Redeemer's kingdom, and whofe companion
for poor perilling fouls, would prompt them to fuch an ex-
ceeding difficult and felf-denying undertaking. They firft
prevailed with Mr Azariah Horton to relinquiih a call to an
encouraging parilh, and to devote himfelf to the Indian fer-
vice. He was directed to Long-Ifland, in Auguft 1741, at
the eart end whereof there are two fmall towns of the Indians,
and from the eaft to the weft end of the ifland, leffcr compa-
nies fettled at a few miles diftance from one another, for the
length of above a hundred miles. At his firft corning among
thefe, he was well received by "the moft, and heartily wel-
comed by fome of them. They at the eaft end of the iiland
t-fpecially, gave diligert and ferious attention to his inftruc-
54$ - AN APPENDIX.
tions, and were many of them put upon folernn inquiries a-
bout " what they fhbuld do to be faved." A general refor-
mation of manner^ was foon obfervable among the moil of thefc
Indians. They were careful to attend, and ferious and fo-
lernn in attendance, upon both public and private inflruclions.
A number of them were cnder very deep convictions of
dieir miferable penfliing ftate j and about twenty of them give
lading evidences of their faving converiion to God. Mr Hor-
ton has baptized thirty-five adults, and forty-four children.
Pie took pains with them to learn them to read j and fome of
them have made confiderable proficiency. But the extenflve-
ncfs of his charge, and the neceflity of his travelling from
place to place, make him incapable of giving Co conftant at-
tendance to their inftruHon in reading, as is needful. In his
lad letter to the Correfpondents, he heavily complains of a
great defection of tome of them, from their firft reformation
and care of their fouls, occafioned by ftrong drink being
brought among them, and their being thertby allured to a
relapfe in their darling vice of drunkennefs j a vice to which
the Indians are every where fo greatly addicled, and fo vehe-
mently difpofed, that nothing but the power of divine grace
can red rain that impetuous lull, when they have opportunity
to gratify it. He like wife complains, that fome of them are
grown more carelefs and rerrrifs in the duties of religious wor-
Jhip, than they were when firft acquainted with the great
things of their eternal peace. But as a number retain their
jRrfi: imprefTions, and as they generally attend with reverence
upon his miniflry, he goes on in his work, with encouraging
hopes of the pretence and bleffingof God with him in his dif-
ficult undertaking.
This is a general view of the ftate of the mirTion upon Long-
Ifland collected from feveral of Mr Horton*ls letters 5 which
is all lhat could now be offered, not having as yet aparticulai
account from Mr Hovton himielf.
It was fometime after Mr Horton was employed in the In-
dian fervice, before the Correfpondents could' obtain another
qualified candidate for the felf denying million. At length
they prevailed with Mr David Braicerd to refufe feveral invi-
AN APPENDIX. 549
tation* unto places where he had a promifag profpecl: of acorn-
fortable fettlemeat among the Englifti, to encounter the fa-
tigues and perils triat muft attend his carrying the gofpel of
Chrift to thefe poor miferable favages. A general reprefent-
ation of whofe ccndufr. and fuccefs in that undertaking, is
contained in a letter we lately received from himfelf, which is
as follows.
To the Rev. Mr EBENEZER.
REV. SIR,
S!NCE you are pleafed to require of me fome brief and ge-
neral account of my con-duel: in the affair of my miflion
amongft the Indians ; the pains and endeavoures I have ufed
to propagate Chrifiian Knowledge among them j the difficul-
ties I have met with in the purfuance of that great work j and
the hopeful and encouraging appearances I have obferved in
any of them , I (hall now endeavour to aufwer your demands
by giving a brief but faithful account of the moil material
things relating to that important affair, with which I have
been, and am ftill concerned. And this I (hall do with more
freedom and cheerfulnefs, both becaufe I apprehend it will
be a likely means, to give pious perfons, who are concerned
for the kingdom of Chrtit, fome juft nppreheniion of the many
and great difficulties that attend tne propagation of it amongft
the poor Pagans, and confequently it is hopeful, will engage
their more frequent and fervent prayers to God, that thofe
may be fucceeded, who are employed in this arduous
work j and alfo becaufe I perfuade myfelf, that the tidings
of the gofpePs fpreading among the poor Heathen will be,
to thole who are waiting for.. the accomplimment of " the
glorious things fpoken of the city of our God," as good
" news from a far country j" and that thefe will be fo far from
" defmfing the day of fraall things," that, on the contrary,
the kail dawn of encouragement and hope in this important
affair, will rather infpire their pious breads with more generous
and w.-crm defires, that the kingdoms of this world may fpec-
dily become the kingdoms of our Lard and of his Chrift.
559 A N APPENDIX.
I (hall therefore immediately proceed to the bufinefs be-
fore me, and briefly tpuch upon the moft important matters
that have concerned my mifiion, from the beginning to this
prefent time*
On March 15, 1743, I waited on the Correfpondents for
the Indian miflion at New- York j and the week following,
attended their meeting at Woodbridge in New-Jerfey, and
was fpeedily difmifled by them with orders to attempt the in-
ftruftion of a number of Indians in a place fome miles diftant
from the city of Albany* And on the firft day of April fol-
lowing, I arrived among the Indians, at a place called by them
Kanaumeek, in the county of Albany, near about twenty
miles diilant from the city eaftward.
The place, as to its fituation, was fufficiently lonefome,
and unpleafant, being encompaiTed with mountains and woods j
-twenty miles diftant from any Englifti inhabitant ; fixorfeven
from any Dutch ; and more than two from a family that came
fome time iince from the Highlands of Scotland, and had.
then lived (as I remember) about two years in this wildernels
In this family I lodged about the fpace of three months, the
mafter of it being the only perfon with whom 1 could readily
converfe ia thofe parts, except my interpreter j others under-
ftanding very little Englifli.
After I had fpent about three months in this fituation, I
found my diftance from the Indians a very great difadvantage
to my work amongft them,. and very burdenfome to myfelf ;
as I was obliged to travel forward and back ward almoft daily
on foot, having no pafluve in which I could keep my horfe
for that purpofe. And after all my pains, could not be with
the Indians in the evening and morning, which were.ufualJy
the bed hours to find them at home, and when they could
befi attend my inftru6tions.
1 therfore refolved to remove, and -live with or near the
Indians, that I might watch all opportunities, when they were
generally at home, ami take the advantage of fuch ieafons
for their inftruftion.
-Accordingly 1 remcved foon after; and, fora timr, lived
with them in one of their wigwams ^ and not long after,
built me a fmall houfe, where I fpent the remainder of that
AN APPENDIX. 55 1
year entirely alone j my interpreter (who was an Indian) choof-
ing rather to live in a wigwam among his own countrymen.
This way of living I found attended with mary difficulties
and uncomfortable circumftances, ifl a 1 place where I could
get none of the rieceffafics and common comfdrts of life,
(no, hot" fo much as a ihorfel of bread), but what I brought
from places fifteen and twenty miles diftaritj and oftentimes
was obliged, for fome time together, to content myfelf with-
out, for want of ah opportunity to procure the things I need-
ed.
But although the difficulties of this folitary way d living
are not the leaft, or moft inconfiderable, (arid cloubtlefs are in
faft many more and greater to thofe who experience, than
they can readily appear to thofe who only view them at a
diftahce) ; yet lean truly fay, that the burden I felt relpecl>
ing my great work among 'the poor Indians, the far and con-
cern that continually hung upon my fpirit, left they ihould
be prejudifed again ft Chriftianity, and their minds imbittered
againft me and my labour* among them, by mean? of the
iniinaations of fome who (although they are Called Chriftians)
feem to have no concern for Chrift's kingdom, but had rather
(as their conduct plainly difcovers) that the Indians fliould re-
main Heathens, that th'eymay with the more eafe cheat, and
fo enrich themfelves by them', 'the burden, I fay, the fear
and concern I felt in thefe refpec~h were much more prfefling
to me than all the difficulties that attended the circumftances
of my living.
As to the ftate or temper of mind in which I found thefe
Indians at my fir.ft coming among them, 1 may juftly fay,
it was much more deferable and encouraging, than what ap-
pears among thofe who are altogether uncultivated. Their
Heathenifti jealoufies and fufpicion, and their prejudices "a -
gainft Chriftianity, were in a great meafure removed by the
long-continued labours of the Reverend Mr Sergeant among a
number of the fame tribe, in a place little more than twenty
miles diftant : By which means thefe were, ifi foine good de-
gree, prepared to entertain the truths of Chriftianity, infteact
of objecting againft them, and appearing almofl entirely uu-
traftable, as is common with them at firft, arrd as perhaps
55 2 A N APPENDIX.
0MtfMUKMflpHBMBMBC9BB>UiSSiHHHMfctf^^
thefc ap] ca.cd a few years ago. 6.0 BIL oi taem, at -leail, ap-
peared very well difpcfcd toward religion, and feemed much
pleafed with my coming among them.
In my labours with them, in order " to turn them from
" d&rkaefs to light," I ftuciied what was moi* plain and tafy,
and belt fuited to their capacities; and endeavoured to fet
before them from time to time (as they were able to receive
them) the moft important a*>a neceffary truths of Chrif-
tirinity ^ fuch a* moil immediately concerned their fpeedy c<m-
verfion to God, ai;ci fuch as I judged had the ^reateft tendency
(as means) to eff-:cl that glorious change in them. But efpe-
cially I ii:;de it t e Icope and drift of all my U'-.curs, to lead
them into a thorough acquaintance with thefe two things;,
Firit, The finfulnefs and -miieiy of the fiate they wtre.oa-
turaHy in, the evil of their hearts, the polluti' u oi. their na-
tures, the heavy guilt they were under,- and their expofed-
nefs to everlafting punifhment j as alfo their ntter inv~("ity
to fave themfelves, either from their fins, or from thoie : nn-
feries which are the.jufl puniihment of them ; and their un-
worth inefs of any mercy at the hand* of God, on account of
any thing they themfeives could do to procure his favour, and
eonfequently their extreme need of Chrift to fave them :
And, lecOndly, I frequently endeavoured to open to them the
fulnefs, all-fufficiency, andfreenefs of that redemption which
the fon of God has wrought out by his obedience and fufferings,
forperifliing tinners : how this provifion he had made, was
fuited to all their wants j and hgwbe called and invited them
to accept of everlafling life freely, notwithftanding all their
iinfulnefs, inability, unworthinefs, Sec.
After I had been with the Indians feveral months, I com-
pofed fundry forms of prayer, adapted to their circumftances
and capacities ; which, with the help of my interpreter, I
tranflated into the Indian language j and foon learned to pro-
nounce their words, fo as to pray with them in their own
tongue. I alfo tranflated fundry pfc.-ms into their language^
and foon after we were able to fing in the worfliip of God.
When my people had gained fome acquaintance with many
of the truths of Chriitianity, fo that they were capable oi re-
ceiving apd underflanding many others, which at firlt could
AN APPENDIX. 553
not be taught them, by reafon of their ignorance of thofe that
were iieceflary to be previoufly known, and upon which o-
thers depended; I then gave them an hitforical account of
God's dealings with his ancient profeffing people the Jews :
fome of the rites and ceremonies they were obliged to ob-
ferve, as their facrifices, &c. and what thefe were defigned
to reprefent to them , as alib fome of the furprifing miracles
God wrought for their falvation, while they trurled in him,
and the fore puniftiments he fometimes brought upon them,
when they for Cook and finned againft him. Afterwards I pro-
ceeded to give them a relation of the birth, life, miracles, fuf-
ferings, death and refurre&ion of Chrift ; as well as his af-
cenfion, and the wonderful effuflion of the holy Spirit confe-
quent thereupon.
And having thus endeavoured to prepare the way by fuch
a general account of things, I next proceeded to read, and ex-
pound to them the gofpel of St Matthew (at leaft the fub-
ftanceof it) in courfe, wherein they had a more diftinft and
particular view of what they had before fome general notion
of.
Thefe expofitions I attended almofl every evening, when
there was any considerable number of th m at home; except
when I was obliged to be abfent myfe f, n order to learn the
Indian language with the Rev. Mr Sarg;ant. Bi .fides
thefe means of inftruclion, there was likewife an Englim fchool
conftdntly kept by my interpreter among the Indians ; which
I ufed frequently to vifit, in order to give the children and
young people fome proper inftru&ions, and ferious exhorta-
tions fuited to their age.
The degree, of knowledge to which fome of them attained
was confiderable. Many of the truths of Chriilianity feem-
ed fixed in their minds, (efpecially in fome Jnftances), fo that
they would fpeak to me of them, and alk fuch queftions about
them, as were neccflaiy to render them more plain and clear
to their underftandings.
The children alfo, and young people who attended the
fchool, made confiderable proficiency (at leaft fome of them)
in their learning ; fo that had they understood the Englifii lan-
guage well, they would have been able to read Ibmcwhat
readily in a pfalter.
4 A
554 A N APPENDIX.
But that which was moil of all deferable, and gave me the
greateft encouragement amidil many difficulties and difconfo-
late hours, was, that the truths of God's word feemed, at
times, to be attended with fome power upon the hearts and
conferences of the Indians. And efpeciaily this appeared 1 e-
vident in a few inftances, who were awakened to fome fenfe
of their miferable eftate by nature, and appeared felicitous
for deliverance from it. Several of them came, of their own
accord, to difcourfe with me about their fouls concerns ' 7 and
feme, with tears, inquired 4t what they mould do to r3t far-
" ed ?" and whether the God that Chriftians ferved, would be
merciful to thofe that had been frequently drunkY&tc:; ?r
And although I cannot fay I have fatisfaftory evidences
of their being " renewed in the fpirit of their mine*,** and
favingly converted to God j yet the Spirit of God did (1 ap-
apprehend) in fuch a manner attend the means of grace, and
fo operate upon their minds thereby, as might juftly af-
ford matter of encouragement to hope, that God defigned
good to them, aiul that he was preparing his way into their
fouls.
There likewife appeared a reformation in the lives and man-
ners of the Indian*.
Their idolatrous facrifices (of which there was but one or
two, that I know of, after my coming among them) were
wholly laid afide. And their Heathenim'cuftom of dancing,
hallooing, &c. they feemed in a confiderable meafure broken
off from. And I could not but hope, that they were reform-
ed in fome meafure from the fin of drunkennefs. They like-
Vife manifefted a regard to the Lord's day , and not only be-
haved foberly themfelves, but took care alfo to keep their
children in order.
Yet after all I mufteonfefs, that as there were many kope-
ful appearances among them, fo there were fume things more
difcouraging. And while I rejoiced to obferve any feriouf-
nefs and concern arporg them about the affairs of their fouls,
flill 1 was not without continual fear and concern; left luch
encouraging appearances might prove " like a morning cloud
" that paffcth away!"
AN APPENDIX.
When 1 had fpent near a year with the Indians, I inform
ed them that I expe&ed to leave them in the fpring then ap-
proaching, and to be lent to another tribe of Indians, at a
great diftance from them j upon hearing of which they ap-
peared very forrowful, and fome of them endeavoured to
perfuade me to continue with them: urging that they had
now heard fo much about their fouls concerns, that they
could never more be willing to live as they had done > without
a minifker, and further iru^ruclions in the way to heaven, &.c.
Whotfupon I told them, they ought to be willing that others
alfo Ihould hear about their fouls concerns, feeing thofe need-
ed it as mueh ai themfelves. Yet further to diffuade me from
going, they added, that thofe Indians to whom I had thoughts
of going (as they had heard) were not willing to become
Chriftians, as they were, and therefore urged me to tarry with
them. I then told them, that th^y might receive further iu-
ftruction without me ; but the Indians, to whom I expelled
to be fent, could not, there being nominiiler near to teach them.
And hereupon I advifed them, in cafe I (hould leave them,
and be fent otherwhere, to remove to Stockbridge, where
they might be fupplied with land, and conveniences of living,
and be under the miniftiy of the Reverend Mr Sargeaiit :
which advice and propofal, they feemed difpofed to comply
with.
On April 6, 1744, 1 was ordered and direc&ed by the cor-
xefpondents for the Indian million, to take leave of the people,
\vith whom I had then fpent a full year, and to go (as foon
as conveniently 1 could) to a tribe of Indians on Delaware ri-
ver in Pennfylvania. Thefe orders 1 foon attended, and on
April 29th took leave of my people, who were moftly removed
to Stockbridge under the care of the Reverend Mr Sargeant.
I then fet out on my journey toward Delaware j and .on May
zoth, met with a number of Indians in a p/ace called Mi-
niffmks, about 140 miles from Kaunaumeek, (the place
where I.fpent the laft year), and directly in my way to Dela-
ware river. With thefe Indians I fpent fome time, and firft
addreffed theii king in a friendly manner j and after fome dif-
courfe, and attempts to contract a fiiendfhip with him, I told
him I had a defire (for his benefit and happuiefs) to inflru6l
AN APPENDIX.
them in Chriftianity : At which he laughed, turned his back
upon me, and went away. I then add relit d another princi-
pal man in the fame manner, who faid he was willing to hear
me. After fome time, I followed the king into his houfe,
arid renewed my difcourfe to him : but he declined talking,
snd left the affair to another, who appeared to be a rational
man. Ke began and talked very warmly near a quarter of an
hour together j he enquired why 1 defired the Indians to
become Chriftians, feeing the Chriitians were fo much worfe
than the Indians are in their prefcnt ftate. The Chriftians,
he (aid, would lie, fteal, and drink, wode than the Indians.
It was they firft taught the Indians to be drunk j and they
Hole from one another to that degree that their rulers were
obliged to hang them for it, and that was not fuflicient to de-
ter others from the like practice. But the Indians , he added,
were none of them ever hanged for Healing, and yet they did
not fteal half fo much j and he fuppofed that if the Indians
fhould become Chriftians, they would then be as bad asthefe.
And hereupon he faid, they w r ouldlive as their fathers lived,
and go where their fathers were when they died. 1 then join-
ed with him in condemning the ill conduct of fome who are
called Chriftians : told him thefe were not Chriitians in heart,
that I hated fuch wicked practices, and did not defire the In-
dians to become fuch as thefe. And when he appeared calm-
er, I afked him if he was willing that I fhould come and fee
them again j he replied, he fhould be willing to fee me again,
as a friend, if I would not defire them to become Chriiiians.
I then bid them farewell, and profecuted my journey to
Delaware. And, May I3th, I arrived at a place ca.led by the
Indians, Sakhauwotung, within the Forks of Delaware in
Pennfylvania.
Here alfo when I came to the Indies, I fainted their king,
and others, in a manner I thought molt engaging. And loon
after informed the king of my defire to inftrucl them in the
Chriflian religion. After he had confulted two or three old
inen, -he told me, he was willing to hear. I 'then preached to
thofe few that were preent j who appeared very attentive and
well-difpofed. And the king in particular feemed both to
wonder and to be well pleafed with what I taught them ref-
peclicg the Divine Being, &c. And fmce that time he has
AN APPENDIX. 557
ever ihevvn himfelf friendly to me, giving me free liberty to
presch in his houfe, whenever I think fit, Here therefore I
have fuent the greater part of the Cummer pail, preaching u-
Cually in the king's houfe.
The number of Indians in this place is but fmall 5 moll of
thofe that formerly belonged here, are diCperfed and removed
to places farther back in the country. There are not more
than ten houfes hereabouts, that continue to be inhabited ;
and Come of thefe are fevcral miles diftant from others, which
makes it difficult for the Indians to meet together Co frequent-
ly as could be deiired.
When I firil began to preach here, the number of my hear-
ers was very fmall ; often not exceeding twenty-five perfons :
but afterwards, their number increafed, Co that I have fre-
quently had forty perfons, or more, at once *, and oftentimes
the moil of thofe belonging to tliefe parts came together to
hear me preach.
The effecls which the truths of God's word have had u-
pcn Come of the Indians, in this place, are fomewhat encoura-
ging. Sundry of them are brought to renounce idolatry, and
to decline partaking of thofe feafts which they ufed to offer
in Cacriiice to certain CuppoCed unknown powers. And Come
Cew inftances among them have Cor a con Cider able time mam-
Ceiled a Cerious concern Cor their Couls eternal welfare, and (till
continue to enquire the way to Zicn," with Cuch diligence
and becoming Colicitiide, as gives me reaCon to hope, that
" God who (I truft) has begun this work in them," will carry
it on, until it (hall ifi.ue in their Caving converfion to himfelf.
Thefe not only detefl their old idolatrous notions, but ftrive
alCo to bring their friends off from them. And as they are
feeking Calvation Cor their own Couls, Co they Ceem defirous, and
Come of them take pains, that others might be excited to do the
like.
In July laft I heard of a number of Indians reCiding at a
place called KaukCeCauchung, more than thirty miles weflward
from the -place where I ufually preach. I vifited them j found
about thirty perfons, and propofed my defire of preaching to
them ; they readily complied, and I preached to them on-
ly twice, they being jutl then removing from this place to
Sufquehannah river' to which they belonged. While I was
55 AN APPENDIX.
preaching, they appeared fober, .tad attentive. Two or three
fuf'pected I had fome ill defign upon them ; and urged, that
the write people had abufed them, and taken their lands from
tb . <n. ; and therefore they had no reafon to think they were
now c ' -.cerned for their happinefs j but, on the contrary, that
they deiigned to mr.ke them flaves, or get them on board their
v Tels, a:d make t ham fight v\ith t'ie people over the water,
n caning th'j French and Spaniards. However, the mcilof
them ,nr"-' 'd very friendly, ;-nd told me, they were then go-
ing directly home to QufqueSannah. and defired I would make
them a vifit there, and manifeiled a confiderable. defire of far-
ther inftrucYion.
This invitation gave rrfe fome encouragement in my great
tvoik -j and made me hope, that God defignerl to " open an
" effectual door to me" for fpreading the gofpel amon? the
poor Heathen farther we ft ward. In the beginning ot Oc-
tober laft, I undertook a journey to Sufquehannah. And af-
ter three days tedious travel, two of them through a wilder-
nefs alraoit unpaffable by reafon of mountains and rocks, and
two nights lodging in the open wildernefs, I came to an In-
dian iettlement on the fide of Sufquehannah-river, called Ope-
holhaupung j where were twelve Indian houfes, and (as nigh
as I could learn) about feventy fouls, old and young, belong-
ing to them.
Here alfo, foon after my arrival, I vifited the king, addref-
iing him with expreffions ofkindnefsf and after a few words
of friendfliip, informed him of my defue to teach them the
knowledge of Chriftianity. He hefitated not long before he
told me that he was willing to hear. I then preached ; and
continued there feveral days, preaching every day the Indians
were at home : And they, in order to hear me, deferred the
defign of their .general hunting, which they were juft then
entering upon, for the fpace of three or four days.
When 1 had preached to the Indians feveral times, fome of
them very frankly propofed what they had to objecl: againft
Chriftianity ^ and fo gave me a fair opportunity for ufiug my
beft endeavours to remove from their minds thofe fcruples
and jealouiies they laboured under j and when I had endea-
voured to anfwer their objections, fome appeared much fatif-
AN APPENDIX. 559
fied. I then asked the king, if he was willing 1 ihould vilit
them again next fpring : he replied, he fhonld be heartily
willing for his own part} and added, he wiihed the young peo-
ple would learn, &c. 1 then put the fame queflion to the
reft . fomc anfwered, they (hould be very glad ; and none ma-
niftfled any diflike to it.
There were fundry other things in their behaviour, which
appeared with a comfortable and encouraging afpecl ; that,
upon the whole, I could not but rejoice I had taken that jour-
ncy among them, although it was attended with many diffi-
culties and hardftiips. The method I uftd with them, and
the inftruclions I gave them, (I am perfuaded.) were means, in
fome mcafure, to remove their he^theniHi jealoufies and pre-
judices againft Chriftianity : and I cculd not but hope, the
God of all grace was preparing their mi,- Is to receive " the
*' truth as it is in Jelus." if this :-MV be the happy confe-
quence, I (hall net only : . joice in ?.r>v paft labours and fa-
tigues 5 but (hall, I truft, alfo, " be wiiiir.^ tc fpend and be
" fpent,'* if I may thereby be inftrumartal " to turn them
" from darknefs to light. nnJ from the power cf Satan to God.'*
I (hall take leave to add a word or two reipe cling the dif-
ficulties that attend the Chriftiar.izing 1 of thefe poor Pagans-.
In the firft place, their minds are fiikd with prejudices a-
gainft Chriiiianity, on accouKt of the vicious live? and un-
cHriflia.i behaviour of fome that are c**tc:l Clnllinns. Thefe
not only fct before them the worfl examples, but fome of
them take pains, exprefsly in words, to d'ffuade them from
becoming Chrifihns j forefeeing, that if thefe fnouki be con-
verted to God, ' the hope of their unlawful gain" weald
thereby be loll.
Again, they are extremely attached to the cuftcms and fa-
bulous notions of their fathers : And this one feems to be the
foundation of all their other notions, That it was not the fame
God made them v, ho made the white pepit>, but another,
who commanded them to live by hurting, Sec. and not con-
form t6 the cuftoms c'fihe white people. H\nce, when defi-
red to become Chriliiaiis, they reply, They will Jive as their
fatl.ers live, arid go to their fathers when they die. And ir"
the miracles of Chrift and his ipomfsbc mentioned, to piove
560 AN APPENDIX.
the truth of Chriftianity , they alfo mention fundry miracles,
wbich their fathers have told them were anciently wrought a-
mong the Indians, and which Satan makes them believe were
fo. They are much attached to idolatry j frequently ma-
king feafts, which they eat in honour to fooie unknown be-
ings, who, they fuppofe, fpeak to them in dreams -, promifing
them fuccefs in hunting, and other affairs, in cafe they will
facrifice to them. They alfo offer their facrifices to the fpirits
of the dead ; who, they fuppofe, (land in need of favours from,
the living, and yet are in fuch a date as that they can well re-
wr.rd all the offices of kindnefs that are {hewn them. And
they impute all their calamities to theneglecl of thefe facrifices.
Further, they are much awed by their Powwows, who are
fuppofed to have a power of inchanting, poifoning, or at lead
diftrefling them : And they apprehend fuchinchantment would
be their fate, in cafe they fhould become Chriftians.
Laftly, Their manner f living is a great difadvantage to
the defign of their being chriftiatuzed. They are commonly
roving from place to place j and it is rare that an opportuni-
ty can be had with fome of them for inftruction. There is
fcarce any time of tbd year when the men are generally at
home, except a, little before and during the feafon of planting
their cem, and about two months in the end of fumrner, from
the time they begin to roast their corn, till it is gathered in.
As to the hard (hips that neceffarily attend a miflion among
them, the fatigues of frequent journeying in the wildernefs,
the unpleafartnefs of a mean and hard way of living, and the
great difficulty of addrcfiing " a people of a strange language,"
thefe 1 (hall at prefent pafs over in filence ; defigning what I
have already faid of difficulties attending this work, "not for
the clifcouragemeat of any, but rather for the incitement of all
who fc 'love the appearing and kingdom of Christ," to frequent
the throne of grace with earnest Applications, that the Hea-
then, who were anciently promiied to Christ " for his inheri-
" tance," may now actually and fpeedily be brought int.o his
kingdom of grace, ar.d made heirs> of immortal glory.
1 am, &c. DAVID BRAINERD.
Forks of Delaware in Penfylvania, Nov. 5, 1744.
F I N I S>
THE
JOURNAL
OF A
TWO-MONTHS TOUR;
WITH A VIEW OF
PROMOTING RELIGION AMONG THE FRONTIER IN-
HABITANTS OF PENSYLVANIA,
AND OF
Introducing Chriftianity among the Indians
To the Weft-ward, of the Alegh-gcny Mountains.
TO WHICH ARE ADDED,
REMARKS on the LANGUAGE and CUSTOMS of forne particular
TRIBES among the Indians j with a brief account of the
various Attempts that have been made to civilize and con-
vert them, from the firlt Settlement of NEW-ENGLAND to
this day.
BY CHARLES BE ATT Y, A. M.
As cold water to. a thirfty foul; fo is good news from a far country.
PROV. xxv. 2$.
Edinburgh :
FRI1WED BY AND FOR. T. MACCLIESH AND CO. AND FOR J. OGLE,
PARLIAMENT SQUA&S,
JOURNAL,
BEING appointed by the Synod of New York and Phi/a-
delphia to vifit the frontier- inhabitants, that a better
judgment might be formed what afliftance might be neceffary
to afford them, in their prefent low circumftances, in order
to promote the gofpel among them j and like wife to vifit the
Indians, in cafe it could be done with fafety, to know whe-
ther they were inclined to receive the gofpel j I accordingly
fct out on my journey, Tuefday the 12th of Auguft, 1766,
accompanied with Jofeph Peepy, a Chriftian Indian, who
was to ferve as an interpreter-, and, after travelling 122
miles, we arrived at Carlijle on the I5th inftant, where I
met Mr Duffield, who was alfo appointed to accompany us.
Carlijle, Saturday, Auguft 1 6. Remained here, as I un-
deritood that none of the vacant congregations had any no-
tice of my defign of being with them on the morrow. An
oportunity prefenting to-day, we fcnt notice to feveral places
of our purpofe to preach to the people there next week.
Carlijle, lyth. Sabbath. Preached for Mr Duffield in the
afternoon.
1 8th. In the forenoon prepared for our journey j---fet out
with Mr Duffield. After riding about 6 miles, we came to
the north mountain, which is high and fteep. The day being
very warm, and we obliged to walk, or rather climb up it,
the greateft part of the way, were greatly fatigued by the
time we reached the top.-- After travelling 4 miles into Sher-
man's valley, we came in the night to Thomas Rofs's,
where we lodged.
1 9th. Rode 4 or 5 miles to a place in the wood, defigned
for building a houfe for wordiip, and preaclied but to a fmall
auditory ; notice of our preaching not having been fufficient-
fpread. After fermon, 1 opened to the people prefent, the
principal defign of the Synod in fending us to them at this
time \ that it was not only to preach the gofpel, but alfo to
enquire into their circumftances, fituation, numbers, and abi-
lity to fupport it. The people not being prepared to give us
a full anfwer, promifed to fend it to Carlijle before our re-
turn. After fermon, we proceeded on our way about 5 miles,
and lodged at Mr Fergus's.*
20th. This morning, after travelling about 7 miles, we
croffed the Tujkerora mountain, which is very high, and in,
moft places very difficult to pafs.f In riding 3 miles on
the other fide of this mountain, we came to a houfe \
where a number of people were convened, whom I preached
to. They promifed to attend fermon to-morrow, and give
us an account of their fituation, numbers, &.c. After fcr-
* The houfe where he lives was attacked by the Indians in the late
war, the owner of it killed, and fome others. While the Indians were
plundering the houfe and plantation, in order to carry off What fuited
them, a number of the countrymen armed came upon them ; a fmart
(kirftiifh enfued, in which the countrymen had the better. The Indians
were obliged to fly, and carried off their wounded, but left their booty
behind them,
f Not far from where we pafled to-day, after croffing the mountain,
a little fortification was built by a number of the inhabitarts for their
protection in time of war. The Indians took the advantage one day
tvhen moft of the men were about their bufinefs, attacked the place,
r.nd killed or captivated all that were in it : So that the poor rrxrt
found en their return, to their unfpeakable grief, their wives and chil-
dren all carried off; und what ftill added t^ their concern, the fears of
their being put to death in the moft barbarous manner.
\ The houfe I preached at to day was alfo attacked by the Indians:
Some were killed in the boufe, and others captivated. It was truly
affe&inj to fee, almoft in every place on the frontier*, marks of the
ravages of the enemy ;. houfcs and fences burned, houfehold furniture
deftroyed, the cattle killed, ard horfes either killed or carried off ; r.nd
to hear the people relate the horrid fcenes that were acled. Some had
their parents killed and fcalped, in a barbarous manner, before their
eyes, and rhcmfelves captivated. Women law their hufpamls killed and
fcalped, while they themfelycs were led away by the bltody bands, of
the murderer*
mon we rode to Mr William Graham's, about 3 miles from
hence, and lodged at his houfe.
2ift. Afer riding about two miles and a half, we came to
a place where the people had begun to build a houfe for wor-
ihip, before the late war, but by accident had been burned.
Here Mr Duffield preached to a number of people convened,
who after fermon informed us that this valley of Tufterora is
about 32 miles in length j between 6 and 7 miles broad in the
middle, and about 10 miles wide at the lower end next to Jit-
ncata river. There are about 84 families living in this valley,
who propofe to build two houfes for worfliip 5 one about 14
miles from the upper end of the valley, and the other TO miles
below it, towards Juneata river. As their*circumftances at
prefent are fuch that they cannot fupport the gofpel, they pur-
pofe to join with the people fettled on the other fide of Junea-
la \ but hope in a few years to be able to fupport a minifter
in the valley. We muft fay, upon the whole, that they ap-
pear very defirous of having the gofpel fettled among them,
and are willing to exert themfeives to the utmoft for that pur-
pofe j and as foon as it {hall be in their power, they defign to
purchafe a plantation for a parfonage. After fermon we rode
eight miles to Capt. Paterfon's, where we were kindly receiv-
ed*.
* lie re we met with one Leri Hicks, who had been captive with
the Indians from his youth ; and we being very defirous to know their
prefent fituaticn And drcumftances. he gave v\r- the following relation :
That about ico miles weft wan! of Fort Pitt. Was an Indian town cal-
led Tujkalawas ; and at fome considerable diflan-e from that was an-
other town named Kigbalampcgha, where Nat at wh elm an, the king of
the Delawares lived ; and from thence, about 10 miles or more, ws
one called Moghti-bijlon, i. e. Worm Town, having about 20 houfes;
that 17 miles thence was another town, named 0*h-hi-ta r w-m*-ka t w,
i. e. White-corn Town ; that this was the largeft, he fuppofed, in thefe
parts ; that about twenty miles farther was a Sba-<wa-nagb Town ;
that there was another at fome diftance, called Sugb-eha-ungh, that is,
the Salt-hck, of about 20 houies. In this town, he told us, there was
an Indian' that fpoke to the Indians about religion ; that 40 miles far-
ther was a tQv:n called Mizh-cbi-lagbpiefta, that is, the Big-lick. He
22d. Preached in the woods, two miles on the north fide
of Juneata. Here the people, icme years ago- began to build
a houfe for wcrihip, but did not finifh it, but expecl foon to do
it. This congregation extends about twenty miles along the
river, and its breadth from Juniata to the head of the river
called Kochalamis, is- about 10 miles j and in this extent there
are but fifty families, who meet together for worfhip. They
purpofe joining Tu/kerora fettlement, at prefent, till fuch time
as they (hall be able to fupport a minifter themfelves j which
they expect to do in fome years if peace continues j and, as
foon as they can, to procure a plantation for a parfonage. In
fhort, thefe poor people, as well as thofe of Tujkerora, before
mentioned, are ^ry defirous of having the gofpel fettled a-
mongft them, and for that purpofe appeared forward and wil-
ling to do every thing in their power ; but at prefent the peo-
ple here, and in other places, that have fuffered fo much by
the war, have a number of difficulties to ft niggle with ; as
they have to begin the world anew. After fermon, we retur-
ned to Capt. Paterfon's, where Mr Duffield and I agreed to
part for fome days, the better to be able to anfwer the great
defign of our million ; for by thefe means we mould be able to
vifit doable the places, and preach to double the people we
could have done, had we been together. Accordingly Mr
Duffield propofed to go to the Path-valley, great and little
faves, and to fet out this evening in his way to the firft of
thefe places, where he intended to preach next fabbath j and
I purpofed to vifit the new fettlements up the river Juneata.
24th. Sabbath. Preached near the mouth of Tufierora
river (where it empties itfelf into Juneata} to a large congre-
gation colle-fted from different quarters, and fome from afar.
The audience appeared very attentive, and much engaged.
I would fain hope fome good imprefiions were made upon the
minds of a number that attended to-day. In the afternoon,
being in the open air, we were interrupted by a very heavy
told us, that he thought, from fome things he obfeived among the In-
dians, that they woulu be defirous of hearing the gofpel. This intelli-
gence, with fotrse other circumftances related to us by an Indian trader,
gave u? fotue encouragpment to venture" out among them.,
fhower of rain, attended with a high wind and fliarp thunder,
which obliged us to take (heltei in a neighbouring houfe as
well as we cculd. The women, and a great part of the men
crouded into it, and there I finimed my difcouiTe. After fer-
mon, I went to a houfe about a mile off, and baptized a child
born lad night, and returned to Capt. Patsrfon's in the even-
ing.
25th. Set out from Capt, Paterfon's this morning, on our
journey, accompanied with Jofeph the interpreter, and Levi
Hicks, mentioned before as being many years apnfoner among
the Indians. I underftood he was considerably impreiTed un-
der the word yefterday, and therefore was deiirous to hear
more fqrmons. We travelled up j'uneata river, eight miles,
to a place called the Narrows, where a rocky mountain bounds
fa clofc upon the river, as to leave only a frnull path, along the
bank, for the molt part ; and, this for ab >ut tea miles, very
uneven j at this time greatly incumbersd by trees fallen acrofs
it, blown up from the roots, fome time ago, by a hard gale of
wind j fo that we were obliged to walk fome part of the way,
and in fome places to go Along the edge of the water. After
riding about twenty-one miles we came to Mr Thomas Holts,
much fatigued, where we retted an hour or two. We pro-
ceeded on our journey, the road being pretty good, the land
we puffed over, for the moft part, level, fome of it very rich,
yet uninhabited. Night coming on, and it being very dark,
we were at a difficulty to find our way j and rain coming on,
at the fame time, added to our diflrefs. We began to con-
clude we mult take up our lodging in the woods, but a kind
providence at lail brought us to a little houfe, where we were
received kindly, and entertained in the beft manner that was
in the people's power.
2oth. Finding that notice of my preaching to-day had not
been fufficiently fpread through this icttlement, the mm of the
houfe where I lodged, fent this morning betimes, in order to
notify my preaching to the people that lived at iome diftance
up the river. By twelve o'clock a confiderable number of
people were collecctd at a place in the woods, where a mill
\vas building, near to which a houfe for worfliip is intended to
be built. ;: --ciug moii ellentia' to the inhabitants in thole parts
Whik thr [jeonie were convening, it began to rain, and the
rain continuing, obliged as many as could to croud into a fmall
houfe. While I was preaching, and the people very atten-
tive, we were alarmed by a rattlefnake creeping into the houfe
among the people, fuppofed to have got in under the logs of
the houfe, it being prettyopen, but this venemous creature was
happily difcovered, and killed before it did any damage.
Scarcely were the people well compofed again, before we
were alarmed anew by a fnake of another kind, being dif-
covered among the people, which was alfo killed, without any
detriment, befides difturbing us. The providence of God ap-
peared very remarkable in preferving us from the venom of
thefe creatures j and more fo, as the people were fo crouded
together, as that it might be a juft matter of wonder how
thefe creatures could crawl through the congregation without
being f'.smew ay offended by them, which always exciteslthem to
bite j however the auditors all got compofed again, and weie
attentive to the remaining part of the difcourfe, which was the
firft fermon ever preached in thefe parts. Here I baptized
feveral children : and after fermon rode about four miles and
a half with one of the audience, and lodged at his houfe.
This fettlement, on both fides the river Juneata compiling
at prefent of about eigbly families, extends from the place
called the Narrows, mentioned before, to where the river
Slugbweek empties itfelf into the Juneata. The fettlement is
about twenty-five miles in length , and in the center feven
miles broad.
There is another fettlement juft began, confiftrng, at pre-
fent, of fix or feven families, four miles from the center of the
former, over a great mountain, cailed Kitkaquaquilla, or Great
Vallty, extending about thirty miles, and five or fix wide.
As the land here is very good, a greater number of people is
expe&ed to fettle there in the fpring. Both thefe places pro-
pofe joining, in order to make one congregation. They are
deiirous of having a minifter fettled among them as foon as
may be, and appear to be willing to do as much towards his
fupport as their prefent low circumftances will admit.
27th. I baptized a child this morning, brought to my lod
ing, and then fet cut in company with ieveral people. I rod
about eight miles, and preached to a fmall auditory, convene*
for that purpofe, who appeared attentive. I baptized fevera.
children, and lodged near the place, at Mr J. M* Michael -s*.
23th. Rained hit night and< this morning -till 9 o'clock,
when we fef out tor Fort Litl/eton, croifrn^ Jania:a* at the
mouth of jtfugbweek river, and being conduced by the man
in whofe houfe we lodged about 14 miles along a jViall path
which led up the river Augfywetk, croflir.g the bendings of it
a r.umber of times, (the land chiefly level, and fome very rich
near the river) we pa (Ted by an old Indian town, now deferted
where Fort Sbirc/y was built in the late war. Hitherto we
favv but two ov three houfes. We halted a little on a natural
meadow, foliated on a herd of the river dugbweek, to let our
horfes feed. After travelling about- thirty miles to-day, we
arrived a little before night at Fort Littleton, and put up .it
Mr Bird's, a public-houfe.
29th, Preached to a fmall congregation of people, who
live about this place. In the evening Mr Duffield arrived,
And gave the following account of his tour.
23d Auguft. Rode to John Blair's, in the Path-Valley, 30
miles. On Sabbath, preached to a zonfiderable large congre-
gation. On Monday, preached at the place defigned for buil-
ding a houfe for worfliip j and received the following inform-
ation from the people, of thtir fituatiou and circumftances.
* Here, and in many ether places on this viv?r, is very rich land, n-
lually rliflingmlbed by the name of bottom-land, excellent for hemp
asd Im'ian corn ; but it is fo rich, that it mail be cultivated fern: ? years,
and fowed or planted with other grain or hemp, IIP, ore it will nrodura
good wheat. It aboum s with fine black walnut timber; at;d the peo-
ple kttled on this river have an advantage above rnnnv others on the
froiitieis ; ;:nd that is, of carrying J.nvn the rivf-r, v/hc-n the \v;,ter rit'>.s
but a little '.vith the rains, tleir produce, and floating down wahtuc
board* to Harris's or Wright's fen-y, rn .Si-iq-.^hannah river, the former
within thirty-five, and the !. 'ttr .ibeut eioht miles oT L.inc after
to\<-n, (whic-1 1 is fixty-five mi! ' ina \'\\ i^cl.- ,/ni.x) where they have a
Diaiket for their produce; io Ll il ) ^L ;.>!-, they will be able in. fome
years, if peace continues, to fuppott a mip'uVr anio,u r thc.i,.
B
10
This Path-Valley is 23 miles in length, and in genctal about
three miles in breadth. In one tcwnfliip called Fancf, there
are about 70 families, who are defirous of the gofpel, and \\i A .
ling to fupport it according to their abilities ; being very una-
nimous, they have fixed upon a place, about eight or nine
miles from the head of the valley, where they propofe foon to
build a houfc for wor&Sip \ and as this ralley will admit of a
number of people more to fettle in it, they expecl to be able-
to fupport a ininifter, after fome years j but at prefent they
labour under the fame difficulties as their neighbours fn the
other villages and places on the frontiers, juft beginning the
world in a manner, after their late diftrefles by the war. They
have no profpecl at prefent of a glebe for a minifter, as the
Jand is all taken up ; but are defirous to procure one as
foon as it (hall be in their power. Lodged at Mr Francis
Elliot's.
f6th and 27th, Tarried at Cannogocbeegue fettlement. 28th t
At Mr Smith's. 29th. Preached in the fettlement of the great
Cove, to a confiderable congregation. This place rufFered
greatly by the late war. It is abowt 20 miles in length and
three wide. The land is confiderably broken, fo that it will
not accommodate a number of fettlers in proportion to the ex-
tent of it : at prefent there are about fifteen familes, who are
defiroui of, and twilling, according to their cireumftance*, to
fupport the gofpel. They expec~l as many more people to
fettle near them. They propofe joining CanxogGeheogue, and
to build a houfe fur worfhip as foon as they are able, being at
prefent in the fame difficulties with the other places expofed
on the frontiers to the barbarous enemy. They choofc that
what affiftance may be allowed them by the fociety, (hould be
towards building a houfe for worfhip. After fermon I rode
to Fort Littleton, where I met with Mr Beatty.
5Oth. Sat out early this morning, in company with Mr
Duffield j breakfafted at Mr M'ConnePs at the Sideling hill,
(after riding 10 miles), and having travelled 10 miles more,
we croHed the South branch of Juneata river. We proceed-
ed to Mr Thomas Uriels. Here we met with Mr Dougherty
from Bfd/Qrd) who came in order to accompany and condu6l
II
us into that town. We arrived at Bedford in the evening,
having travelled to day about 33 miles, and lodged at Mr
Dougherty's, at his invitation.
3ift. Sabbath. Preached in the forenoon to a large and
attentive audience, affembled in a new houfe in the towri. Mr
Duffield preached in the afternoon. Baptized feveral chil-
dren.
I ft September, Preached at the defire of the people, who
jpromifed to tranfrnit to us on our return to Carlijle, by Mr
Dougherty, an account of their numbers, fituation, &c.
2d. Set out for Fort P/tf, being brought on our way by our
/fiends. Meffrs Ormfby and Dougherty. After riding about
fifteen miles we came to the foot of Alleghg-eny mountain, and
having fed our horfes, we began to afceud the fteep, which is
two miles from the foot to the top of the mountain. We
travelled about eight miles farther, along a twra road, to Ed-
mund's Swawp, and lodged at Mr John Miller's *.
* Hereof met 'with one Benjamin Suttcn, who bad been taken cap-
tive by the Indians, bad been in different nations, and lived many year*
among them-
He informed us, tub en he was with the Chafiaw Nation, or tribe of
Indians, at the Mijn/ipi river, he went to en Indian town, a very
conjiderable diftance from New- Orleans, tuhcfe inhabitants 'were
cf different complexions, xot fo tawny as thofe of the other Indi-
ans, and who fpoke Welch. He faid he faw a book among them, which
be fuppofed was a Welch bible, which they carefully kept wrapped up
in ajkhi, but that they could not read it ; and that he heard fame ofthsff
Indians afterwards in the Lower Shuwanagh town,fpcak Welch with
vne Lewis a Wdcbman, captive there. This VSdch tribt wso live on .
4 be ivefi fide of the MiJJtfip-pi river, a great way above New-Orleans.
Le~ji Hicks, before mentioned as being among the Indians from his
y-outb, told us be had been, nub en attending an etnbajfy, in a town of In-
dian* on the weft fide of the MiJJifippi river, who talked Welch, as he
was told, for he did not underjlanil them ; cad our interpreter jfofepk
fawfome Indians, whom he fupfrojed to be of the fame tribe, who talk-
fd Wtlch, for he told us fame of the word s they fa id, which he kneia
to It Welch, as }*e bad been acquainted with fame Welch people.
Correfyontlent hereto, I have teen informed, that many veers n?-Q
a clergyman went from Britain t o Virginia, and having lived fame
time there, went from thence to South Carolina ; />ut, either becaufe
the clitnatf did not agree with him, orforfome other reafon, refused
to return to Virginia, and accordingly fet tut by land, accompanied,
with
12
jd. Set out early tins morning, havi^ h.id but poc
ing j v/ent about five miles to Stormy Creel, and brca
From thence we went to the foot of Lawrcl Hi//, ei^ht roik-s,
crcffing which we ;;riiveci at Fort Ligon:er. thirteen miles , put
up at fome fort of a public houfe. and waited upon the com-
itfitkjomf ether per fons ; but travelling through the back parts of the
toimtry, which was then very thinly inhabited , fnppcjl?;*, ierv pro-
bably t this was the rcrrcji way, be fell in with a party r,f Indian
warriors, going to attack the inhabitants of Virginia, again]} whom
i/.'fy had declared 'v:c.r
The Indians; upon examining the clergymen, and fueling that he
was going to Virginia, looked upon him and his companion* j belong-
ing to Virginia, and therefor ejook them allprifu;i?rs, and let the??: know
they mn ft die. The clergyman, in p reparation for (mother world, went
to prayer, and be ing a IVelchman, prayed in the Welch language, p r ;f-
- Icccitife tins language was mo]! familiar to him or to prevent t'\ &
faffs under/landing him. One cr more of the party of Indians was
mvcl) fupriftA to hear hiw t ray in their language* Upon this they Ipr.kc
'< '.;,':, and finding that he could under/land their fpcerh, they g f >t the
&f itsatb reverfedand thus this happy circ:uiijla:ic-e ivas tbe
:s a/ 'faying bis life.
T-aey took him back with tbfrn into their country, where he found-
ft tribe, wbofe native langitnge was Welch, though the dialed, was a.
little different from hisoivn^ivhichhefijonfametvurtderfiund. They
Jbeived him a book t which he found to be the bible., but which thev could
not read ; and if I mi /take not, his ability to tea- d it tended t c / a : fe their
regard for him.
He flayed among them for feme time, ani endeavoured to injlniil
them in the Christian religion. He at le?;gth propofed to go back to
bis cwu country, and return to them with fame other teachers, who
ivould be able to instruR them in their own language; to which propoful
they confenti/ig, he accordingly fet out from thence, and arrived in Bri-
tain with full intention to return with fo me of bis countrymen, in or-
der to teach thefc Indians Christianity. Etit I was acquainted, that
net* long after his arrival, he was tukcn ftck and dlt d, which put ait,
e'iZl to his fib ernes.
Suttca farther told us, that amoffgtbe Delaware tribe of LiJ.iuns,
be olferted tleir wovicn to follow exactly the custom of the Jewijl
women, iii keeping feparatc ji07ti the rcstfeveu davs at -sertain l.mes
as prefer wed in the Mofaic law* that ft umf >n. '.id men among them
kf had heard the following traditions That cf eld time their people
were Divided by a river, niu^ parti of ten palTing over the liver, and
one i>it taiVj'ng btliind ; that thrv Lro-.-. jrot. for certainty, hew tlic-y
Jicer, who invited us to fpend the evening with him,
. o accepted of.
Set out and rode 35 miles to Ba/b^-ruh where we
put up f.
5th. Set out early this morning, and rode to Turtle creek,
8 miles, before breakfaft ; and liding 18 miles more, we arri-
ved at Fort Pitt, a little before night. We immediately wait-
came fir ft to this continent ; but account thus for their firft coming into
thele parts, near where they are now fettled That a king of their na-
tion, when thry foimeily iivjrt r ar to the weft, left his kingdom to his
two fons that the one ion making war upon the other, the latter
thereupon determined to depart, and ftek fome new habitation that
accordingly he fet out, accompanied by a number of his people ; and
that, after wandering to and fro, for the fpace of forty years, they a"
length came to Delaware river, where they fettled three hundred and
leventy years ac;o. The way, he fa ;, they keep an accouut of this, is,
by putting on a black bead of wampum ev^ry year fince, on a belt they
have for that purpole.
He further added- That the kin* of that country from whence they
came fome years ago, when the French were in pojfeffion of Fort D/f-
qu?f?ie,fent out fome of his people, in order, ifpqi/I^lf,tofind out that
part cf their nation, that departed to feek a new country -, and that
tbcfe men, after feck'ui? fix years, came at length to the Pickt town, on
toe Qubachc river, and there happened to meet with a Delaware Indi-
an named Jack, after tie Envlijb, who/e language tJ>ey could under-
stand ; and that by htm, (hey -were condiiilsdto the Delaware towns
where they tarried one year , and returned -that the French fent a
'white nuin awing them, properly furnffi: d, to bring back an account of
their country, <who, the Indians faid, could nut return In lef* than four-
teen years, for they lived a great way towards the fun-fettiug. It is
now, S-/<tto?i fayr, about tenor twelve years ft?if*e they went away.
He added, that the Delaware s obferve the feast of firrt-fruitt, or the
grceu cor?i feast. So far Sutton.
f This place is famous for a battle, fought the laft war, with the In-
dians. The enemy attacked a pretty ftrong party of Britifh and pro-
vincial troops, under the command of Col. Boquct, having a convoy
with them, going to relieve Fort Pitt, then inverted by the enemy.
The battle lafted part of one day, and was renewed the next, with great
courage on both fides, and uncertain, till at kit Col. Boquet, by a ftra-
tagem, drew the enemy into n ambufcade, and defeated them. Our
troops got to the fort, and the enemy was obliged to raifc the fiege.
cd upon the comma-iong ctricer, Capt. Murray, who received
us politely, and introduced us to the Rev. Mr M' Lagan,
chaplain tc the $2d regiment, part of which are now in gar-
lifon here
6tH. Remained at Pittjburgb, and received much civility
from the corps of oiTicers here. They invited us to their table,
and the commanding officer ordered us a room in the Fort
while we flayed. Mr M'Lagan with forre other gentle
men of the place, furniflied us with blankets to ileep in,
and fome other ^eceffaries, fo that we fared as well as we could
expecl.
7th. Sabbath. At the invitation of M'Lagan, preached in
the forenoon, to the garrifon in the fort, while Mr Duffield,
at the fame time, preached to the people who live in fome
kind of a town without the fort, Co whom I alfo preached in
the afternoon. The audience were very attentive and much
engaged.
In the evening Mr Gibfon a trader here, who fpeaks the
Indian language, introduced an Indian to us, called the White
Mingoe, the head man of his town. He was one of the fix
nations, who live upon the Allegh g e ny river, four miles from
the fort. We opened to him our defign in coming to thefe
parts, by Mr Gibfon, at which he appeared well pleaied. We
appointed to meet him and his people at a place on this fide
of the river, to-morrow, in order to fpeak to them about reli-
gion.
8th. Rained in the morning. We heard the Mingle Indian
did not return home to give his people notice of our coming
to vifit tVrern, according to promife, and therefore have no
profpecl: of fpeaking farther to him and his people about reli-
gion. Spent the forenoon in acquainting ourfelves with the
fituation and difpofition of the Indians, as far as we had any
opportunity either from fuch of the Indians themfelves, who
are come here to trade, or fuch as are beft acquainted with
them - y and upon the whole we find nothing difcauraging.
In the afternoon we crcffcd the Mocongobfta riv*r, accom-
panied by two gentlemen, and went up the hill, the great hill
oppofite the fort, by a fteep and difficult afcent, in order to
l akc a view of that part of it. more particularly from which
arrifon is [applied with coals, which is not far from the
top. A fire being made by the workmen not far from the
place where they dug the cod, and left burning when they
went away, by the fmall duft communicated itfelf to the body
of coals, and fet it on fire, and has been burning now almoil a
twelvemonth entirely under ground, for the fpace of twenty
yards along the face of the hill or rock, the way the vein
of coal extends, the fraoke afcending up through the chinks
of the rocks. The earth in fome places is fo warm, that we
could hardly bear to (land on it : At one place where the
fmoke came up we opened a hole in the earth, till it v, r as fo
hot as to burn paper thrown into it : The fteam that came
oqt was fo ftrong of fulphur that we could fcarce bear it. We
found pieces of matter there, fome of which appeared to be
falphur, others nitre, and fome a mixture of both. If their
ftrata be large in this mountain, it may become a volcano.
The fmoak anting out of this place appears to be much grea-
ter in rainy weather than at other times; The fire has alrea-
dy undermined fome part of the mountain, fo that great frag-
ments of it, and trees with their roots are fallen down its
face. On the top of the mountain is a very rich foil, cover-
ed with a fine verdure, and has a very eafy flope on the other
fide that which we afccnded, fo that it may be eafily cultiva-
ted.
9th. HavLng fought direction of heaven and the divine pre-
fence, we refolved to attempt a journey to Kighalampbega, an
Indian town about 130 miles from hence. This place \vc
fixed upon becaufe it was mod central to the other Indian
towns, and becaufe the kin? of the Delaware nation lived
there, whom it was neceffary to confult before we attempted
any thing among his people ; and alfo becaufe we were infor-
mevl that the Indians there were confultingr fomsthing about
religion. We defired the Indians who were returning home
from the fort, where they had been trading to let their peo-
ple in their different towns know of our coming and defign,
and alfo to meet us at their head town.
We were much engaged this day in preparing for our jour-
ney. Mr Gibfon, a trader here, who was taken prifoner laft
war by the Indians, and wa^ adopted into one of thsir chief
It)
families, end was well refpe&ed by them, recommended us to
one of the chiefs by a lfr.ter, and a firing of wampum bead?,
according to "their cuftora in fuch cafes, and lent by us force
wampum as a particular prefent to one of them.
- Mr Duirield preached in the evening- in tke town to a ron-
fiderabic, congregation, who appeared very attentive.- From
fome things we obferved, we have good reafon to think our
preaching here has not been in vain.
Our interpreter Jofeph met with an Indian, who appeared
to be a fobtr. !uan, and expreffcd great fatisfa6lion and pica-
fure on heating of our going out to teach the Indians religion.
He told Jofeph that the great Spirit above, r?i? a ?-?'><? God,
had fpoken or told an Iiidi-an in his heart laft fall, (which is
about a year ago) that this lummer fail, two white men (for
fo they diiiinguilhed the English ) ihouldcome and teach the
Indians religion j and he added, he _ believed w r e were the men.
This morning lie came to Joftph's lodging, in oiv~r to fee
and, I fuppofe. to con verfe further with him. We happen-
ing to be there at break faft. he invited this Indian, who ac-
cordingly accepted the invitation. I defired our -interpreter,
after breakfaft. to let him know the meaning of afking a blef-
fing upon our food, and returning thanks for it. He replied,
it was very fit that the great Being above (bouJd L-e acknow-
ledged for his 'goodnefs to us, and that he and fome others did
fo. We heard that this man, and about e ; jhteen or nineteen
more Indians, or fair.ilies, had feparated ficrr. the reft, and li-
ved in a town by their fdvts, called Suka hung, in order to
lead a more fuber life j i?d that there they worHiipped God,
fome way' or ether, ss well as they ki?evv how.
lath While we were much engaged in preparing for our
journey, a j.erfon came to us under deep imprefl'ions, inquiring
what he fliould do to be faved.' After fome converfation I
gave him a book j but he befonght me. and infifted upon my
writing fomething fuitable to his cafe, and what might alfo
be of fervice to others of his companions, to whom he intended
to (litwit. I complied with his re quell, and wrote as much
as my time would any way admit of.
The commanding officer whom we waited upon, being rea-
dy to contribute every tiling in his power to forward our de-
figns, gave us a letter of recommendation, witn a rtnrg of
wampum, to the head men of the Indian tribes, inviting them
likewife to return to their old towns up the Alsgh-geny river.
After a conitant fcene of hurry, we got ready and fet off a-
bout the middle of the afternoon, being accompanied down
to the river fide by our good friend Mr M'Lagan, and feve-
ral other gentlemen, who have (hewn us much kindnefs, and
were greatly affillingto us. We croffed the Alegh geny river
in a canoe, fvvimming our horfes along-fide of it. We then
proceeded down the river Ohio about five miles, having on
our right hand a high hill, and encamped upon the bank of a
river about eight or nine o'clock, where we had plenty of her-
bage for our horfes, the night cloudy and dark.
nth. Set out in the morning, the weather dull and gloomy,
and after travelling 9 or 10 miles, mod part along the river
fide, we came to an old Indian town now deferted, called by
the traders Log-Town, fituated on a fine rich bank, covered
with fine grafs, commanding a mod beautiful profpecl up and
down the river Ohio. W T e halted about noon to let our horfes
feed, then proceeded to Great Beaver creek about ten miles,
which we croffed and made up our fire on the rich high bank
on the weft fide, which afforded our horfes exceeding good paf-
ture equal to a meadow. In the night there fell a havy rain,
which wetted us much, notwithilanding all our efforts tofcreen
ourfelves.
Here the Indians had once a confiderable town, but defert-
ed it the lad. war, in order to get at a greater dillance from
the Englith. The Situation is very pleafant, the land being
rich and level for a confiderable way upon this river, encom-
paffed at a diftance by a rifing ground, or (mall hill. A great
part of this land that had been cleared, is now thrown up a-
gain with final 1 brufh, or under -wood. The land we palled fl-
yer yefterday and to day, appears in general to be ilrrnjj and
good. The low land on the Ohio, and on the fmall rivers that
empty into it, is very rich, and abounds with walnut t'mber.
1 2th. This morning dark and heavy with fmall rain 5
our clothes being wetted laft night, made our condition not
very comfortable. The clouds after fome liirie beginning to
C
Jt8
break, we fet out, but were obliged to travel (low, the road
in many places being hilly, and all the way flippery, from the
rain that fell lail night and to-day In the forenoon we have
had fevera! fhowers, in the hardeft of which we endeavoured
to fhelter outfelyes under the trees.
After travelling about twelve miles, we came to the fecond
Beaver river, which we croffed, and proceeded 6 miles far-
ther to the third Beaver river, where we encamped, having
but poor food for our horfes ; however, we were obliged to
put up with it, not being able, to reach any better place.
Jofeph, our interpreter, who went on before us this morning
in order to hunt for us, returned without any thing, fo that we
had poor living for oarfclves, as well as our horfes : however,
we had fome bread, for which we had reafon to be thankful.
There fell fome rain in the night, but not fo much as to wet us
through our fence which we had ftt up at our backs.
i^th. The morning cloudy j we fet out, but had not tra-
velled far before a heavy (bower from the north weft came
upon us, from which we fheltered ourfelves as well as we could
under trees, as there was no thunder. The weather clearing
up after fome time, xve proceeded, and travelled to-day, as near
as we could conjecture, about 16 or 17 miles. We halted u-
pon a rifing ground, and kindled up a fire, having a fanll
Tcring of water on one fide in a valley.
1 4th. Sabbath. We refted and kept the Sabbath as well
as we could ; and, from a fupoofhion that this was the firft Sab-
bath ever kept in this wild.ernefs, we gave the place the name
of Sabbath-ridge. It grew very dark and heavy towards e-
vening. A number of Indians that live in Tufta/av&A, being
on their return from Fort P//^, where they had been trading,
came up to us a little before night, having about an hundred
gallons of rum with them. They wondered we did not tra-
vel .that day we told them them the reafon. They ei-camp-
ed by us. Their head man feemcd very referved and diitant j
we, however, made ourfelves as agreeable to him as we
could. We took notice of fome of them, particularly thofe
^"ho were iicl; we made forr.e tea, and fent it them, and a
j;iece of chccfcj (the iaft v;c had) with which they were plea-
fed.
Our interpreter converfed with the head man, and fome o-
thers of them that came to fit awhile with us at our fire. A
very heavy rain came on in the night, which wetted us, not-
withllanding the precaution we had taken to guard again l! it.
The heavinefs of the rain drove one of the Indians to take
fhelter under our fence, to which we made him welcome*
S'.eeped and waked the night away as well as we could.
I ^th. The rain continued the forenoon, fo that we began
to give up hopes of being able to travel to-day.
We vifited the Indians who weie ilck, expecting to find
them very bad, as they had been expofed/to fuch a heavy rain j
yet, to my furprife, I found a woman who appeared to be the
worft lad niglit, fitting up preparing fome corn for breakfaft,
for the family. As they had no meat, two or three of the
men went out to hunt in the morning, but returned without
killing any thing, which was a difappointment to us as well
as them, for we expected to have bought fome venifon of them.
The weather clearing up, about three o'clock in the after-
noon, we decamped and fat out in company with the Indians.
Our interpreter, a little before night, went off from us on
one fide of the road, to look for a deer, as we wanted meat j
while we proceeded with the Indians, about eight miles fur-
ther, when we ftopt, and made up a fire on a branch of Tufia-
/aica river.
As our interpreter did not come up with us before dark, it
gave us fome anxiety, left he fhould have miffed his way, and
fo have been loft in this vaft wildernefs, or have met with
fome unfavourable accident j fo that we left caring for the ve-
nifon, out of a greater care for. him.
When I was juft about lying down, without fupper, our in-
terpreter appeared with a young deer on his back to our no
finall joy. We immediately divided the meat among the In-
dians, who were feparated into three parties. We gave to
each party a quarter, and referved the other to our.ovyn ufb.
This fupply came feafonable to them as well as ourfeives.
i6th. Vifited the Indians, our fellow-travellers, this mor-
ning j who, after fome free converfation about fome affairs
refpecling religion, began to be more epen and affable, efpec?-
20
ally Intir chief man, whofe refervedntts and diftance hither-
to, I underftood, was owing to a miftake, for he took us to
be Moravians 5 for, whatever influence thefe people have:had
hitherto on thefe favages,yet their conduft (it feems t of late)
has beenifuch, as to have given them great umbrage.
As foon as the Indians had got up their horfes, we fat out
in company with them. We croffed feveral branches, and
one river much larger than the reft which were all much
iA'elled by the late heavy rains j and, having pruTed over two
or three favannahs, or plains, (fome of which are^two ar three
miles broad) we arrived at Tujka/aiva town, a little before
night, having travelled to-day about twenty miles.
Our fellow traveller, tlje head man of this town, who was
now become very friendly, invited us to tarry at his h.oufe.
We accepted the favour, and weie treated with a great deal
of refpe6l by him and his family, in their way. They brought
us fome green corn in the hufk, and cucumbers, (the fame they
themfclves lived on) which we thankfully received. We
roailed fome of the corn, and eat the cucumbers without fait
or any thing, which would not have been very agreeable at
another time. As we had faved a little piece of venifon left
laft night, we made fome broth in the evening, and gave pait
to our hoft and his family.
1 7th. Part of the family and fome other Indians, being pre-
fent this morning at worihip, we defired our interpreter, af-
ter prayer, to explain it, and let them know, particularly, that
we had prayed, and would pray to the grest Spirit above for
them, at whic.h they appeared to be pleafed. We took leave
of our kind hod, Apa-ma-legh-on, who fent a young man to
biiig us feven or eight miles on our way.
In gaffing through the lower part of this town, we obferved
Indians dijnking, and fome.drunk, with the rum they had late-
ly brought from Fot;t Pitt. In thefe circumfiances they gene-
rally behave like madmen : it is therefore very dangerous for
white people to be with or near them at that time ; however
\ve parTtd by unmolefted, and crofifed the weft branch of Titf-
la/awa river at the fording place a little below the town,
where it is about 100 yards wide. *
We travelled about ten miles well, near to afmall river call-
ed Morgerit creek j we followed the courfe of that river,
which is near fouth, above five or fix miles, then crofted where
it is about fifteen er twenty yards wide. Proceeding about
a mile farther, we encamped on the bank of the river Mujking-
hum, which appears to be near one hundred, or one hundred
and twenty yards broad. This country appears to abound
with favannahs or plains, with little or no wood growing on
them, and the farther weftward the larger they appear to be.
We paffed over one to-day, that does not appear to be lefs
than three or four miles in extent*
1 8th. We fat out early this morning, intending, if poflible,
to reach the Indian town we propofed to vifit before
night. We travelled therefore without halting, through
cxceflive bad ways ; the mod part being nothing but fwamps
or low wet ground, thickets, and deep gutters, for eighteen
or twenty miles, till we came near the town, our courfe hi-
therto being chiefly fouth, inclining fometimes to the eail
and fometimes to the weft.
We at laft came in fight of the town, about three of the
clock 5 ourfelves and horfes being much fatigued, we were ve-
ry glad to have reached -the place we had fo long looked for,
and, I truft, thankful to that gracious God who had hither-
to preferved and conducted us. We. entered the town on one
fide, and at the firft houfc to which we were providentially di-
refted, lived a widow woman, a near relation of our interpre-
ter's, whom he had not feen for many years, nor did he know
where flic lived. They both feemed very agreeably furprifed
on feeing each other fo unexpectedly, and we could not help
looking upon this event as a token for good. The woman ve-
ry kindly invited us to tarry with her, and we accepted of
her kindnefs. She prefently made ready fome venifon, and
baked cakes under the allies in their, way, and fet before
us, which came very feafonable and acceptable.
As foon as our arrival in town was known, a number of the
principal men came to fee us, and took us by the hand, to
whom"our arrival here, fo far we as could judge, appeared to
be very acceptable.
Ai.t'.-r foiue converfation, <\e opened to them the defign of
our coining among them, and font word to Netat whel-man,
the king and head of the Delaware nation, or tribes, that we
fhould be gtad to know when we might wait upon him, in or-
der to make him acquainted with oiu million, and deliver our
We had a little hut afllgae^ us by our land-lady, in which
to put our things, and were furniiheu with fume deer-ikir.s,.
throw r n on the floor to fleep on, which was a much better
way of lodging than we hud hitherto found on our journey.
1 9th. We underftood, that to day, about one of the clock^
we (hould have audience of his majelt) ; \ve therefore prepared
for it as well as we could. One of the old Sachems accord-
ingly was fentto inform us, that the king and his council were
ready to receive us, and hear what we had to fay. We went
accordingly to the council hou'e.
This houfe is a long building, with two fires in it, at a pro-
per diftance from each other, without any chimney or par-
tition. The entry into it is by two doors, one at each end.
Over the door a turtle was drawn, which is the enfign of
their particular tribe. On each doov-poft was cut out the
face of a grave old man, an emblem I fuppofe of that gravi-
ty and wifdom that every fenator there ought to be poffefled
of. On each fide the whole length of the houfe within is a
platform, or bed, five feet wide, raifed above the floor one foot
and a half, made oi broad fplit pieces of wood, which ferves
equally for a bed on which to fleep, and a place on which to
fit down. It is covered with a handfome matt, made of ru fli-
es, near the end of which the king fat.
As foon as we entered, the king rofe from his feat, (which
is not ufual for him, or any of their great men to do, to any
perfon that comes to fee them) took us by the hand, and gave
thanks to the great Being above, the creator and prefervei of
all, that we had opportunity of feeing each other in the wil-
rlemefs, and appeared very glad and rejoiced on the occafion,
We were then conducted to a feat near his majefty j the coun-
cil fat feme of them near him on the fame platform, and others.
on the oppofite fide. After fitting awhile, according to their
cuftom on the like occafions, Irofeup, and delivered our fpeech,
by the interpreter Jofeph j then fat down, all being iilcnt for
fome minutes, and then after fome converfation, not at all re-
lating to our fpeech, we withdrew.
It is an invariable rule with the kings and ouncils of the In-
dians, when they receive an addrefs, not immediately to re-
turn an anfwer to it, but to take time for mature deliberation,
and referve their reply to fome future feafon.
The fubftance of what we delivered to the king and coun-
cil is as follows : ** Firft, a meffage from the commanding
"officer at Fort Pitt, informing them that their fathers the
" Englifh, concerned for them, and pitying their Hate of ig-
" norance, fent now two minifters to afk them, whether they
" would embrace the Chriilian leligior,, that they might fee
" clearly, as we do, and that the evil fpirit might not tempt
" them any mere re what is wrong. That he expecled they
" would treat thefe men lent on fuch a good errand, well j
" and fend their young men to hunt fur them, and bring them
" back fafe to the fort j and that he wifhed they would pat
" in execution what their agent and he, at the laft treaty had in-
" vited them to do j namely, to return back to their old
" towns, and there live, that they might be nearer their bre-
" thren the Englifh, who might more eafily ferid rainifters lo
" teach them.
To the above we added, " that in order to explain the mat-
" ter more fully, and give them an undoubted proof of our
" (incerity in de&ring their welfare, we were farther to in-
" form them, that fome years ago, our Great Council (for fo
*' we called cur fvnod) who met from different provinces,
" once a year to confult ab^ut religion, had refolved to fend
" to them two men to fpcak to them abont religion : but the
" war breaking out, flopped the path, and thereby prevented
" their ;com ing, for which we were very forry, and therefore
41 prayed enrneflly to the great God that the war fo hurtful to
** them and us might come to an end, and peace again be refto-
*' red. That now the great God had granted our requrft.
4k Our great council, therefore, again at their laft meeting
'thought of their poor brethien the Indians, who were fit-
*' ting in darknefs, and appointed us to come out to our bre-
" thren, and to take you by the hand, and fprak to you
*' about the things of Godj and afk you whether you
" would be willing to receive the Chriitian religion, and
"to have fome minifters fent among you, to inftrucl: you
" in the gofpel, that we might all ferve the fame great
" God, and become firmly joined together as one people ;
" that fo all anger and Itrangenefs of mind might for ever be
** done away ; and that we might be happy together here,
" and forever happy hereafter ; and that if it (hall be agrce-
" able to you, our brethren, we iliould be glad you would
" return to vour old towns, that we mi^ht be ncar|you and fo
'* have frequent opportunities of fpeaking to you of the great
" things of the gofpel." We then gave them a firing of wam-
pum, according to their cuftom.
In the evening Tepifs-cow-a-hang, and his fifter, both ad-
vanced in years, came to our houfe, who both had formerly
been in New-Jerfey, at the time of the revival of religion a-
rnong the Indians there, and had received fome good impref-
fions under the miniftry of Mr David Biainerd. They went
afterwards amo^g the Moravians, and were baptized by fome
of their teachers j however, for fome time paft, they feemed
tj have,loft what impreffions of religion they had. They de-
fircd us to talk to them about religion which I did fome time,
by the interpreter, particularly concerning backiliding j and
pointed out to them, in the plained manner I could, how they
Ihould come to God again, through the Lord Jefus Chriit.
I then prayed with them. They were both very much affect-
ed, and took leave of us very affectionately, with tears run-
ning down their cheeks.
20th. Five of the principal men came to our hut, about
two o'clock in the afternoon : and, after fitting awhile, ac-
cording to their ufual cuftom, before they deliver any mef-
fage, they returned our ftring of wampum, faying they could
net underftand it. We readily apprehended their meaning,
fo far as this, that; they could not, confidently, or did not chufe
to receive it, which made us be-in to fufpecr matters to betak-
in<r a more unfavourable turn than we afterwards tound there
* fj
was any real rcafon for. However, be their deiign what it
would, knowing that the hearts of all men are in the hands of
God, we k-.pt a goo 1 countenance, determined to do the beft
we could a> to our mill ion.
We then told them, we were forry they had not underflood,
and would again explain it, which vre did accordingly giving
them back the firing o f wampum, which they held in their
hand a little while, and again returned it, faying, " their great
man, meaning their king, " could not underftand it," where-
upon we put it up. At the fame time they told us, we muft
not be difcouraged, and then taking out a firing of wampum,
of two (ingle threads and one double one, they proceeded t&
(peak on the two (ingle firings, one of which was white, the
other a mixture of black and white, and told us as follows :
" Our dear brothers, What you have faid, we are very well
" pleafed with, as far as we can underftand it. But, dear
" brother?, when William Jolinfon fpake with us fomc time
" ago, and made a peace, which is to be ftrong and for ever,
" he told us, we muft not regard what any 'other might fay
" to us. That though a great many people all. round about,
" snight be fpeaking a great many things ; yet we muft look
u upon all thefe things only as when a dog fleeps, and he
" dreams of fomething, or fomething difturbs him, and he
" rifeshaftily, and gives a bark or two, but does not know a-
" ny thing, or any proper reafon why he barks , and jiift
" fo the people all round, that may be faying, fome one
" thing, and fome another, are to be no more ' regarded, and
" therefore, they cannot underftand, or hear any in any other
* The Indians make great nfe ofjimilies* particularly, in their pub-
lic treaties, and fome of them very -apt and /I r iking, though they may
appear uncouth to fuel as do 'not un.'.zrfiand their language o-nl curtains.
iVr William Jobnfcn, whopL'rfeclly -unler/landi tkt'ir genius and cvs-
I'jms, look Ibisjimile, it is likely, from them, as inoflfit ttfcnfiuer his
fitrpofc^i':'*. To guard tl cm again/! holding trec.tia with other nations
<jr private perfotis, tbrtt tni^l-jf he tampering 'inth tbern-
IVe began now to undfrjtnnci , tl-nt tbt rcnf.n of tbe:r returning cur
[it ing of ~<jua.miwi, and refufing to Treat i<,:tk us in ti-at f^rm^ -u'ns that
D tbey
On the double firing they faid,
" Dear brothers, fome time ago, George Croghon fpake
" to us, that no other were to be regarded j but that as Wil-
" Ham Johnfori and! he ftiould fay, fo we fhould do."
They then brought out, and fhewed us a large belt of wam-
pum of friendftiip, which Sir William Johnfon gave them.
This belt they told us*, he held by one end, and they by the
other j that when they had any thing to fay, they muft go a-
long that path )meaning the white ftreak on the|belt) to him j
and that when he had any thing to fay to them, he muft come
to that council- fire, (referring to the diamond in the middle
of the belt) and there fpeak to them.
To this they added They believed there was a great God
above, and they defired to ferve him in the beft manner they
could, and they thought of him at their rifing up and their
lying down, and hoped he would look upon them, and be
kind -to them, and da them good.
After a little paufe,fome converfation enfued, wherein they
told us, we muft not at all be difcouragcd by any thing that had
paffed in the br.fmcfs we came upon,.brt wait with patience*
We replied, we were not difcouraged, as we faw the propriety
of what they faid,. and defired they would confult, and let us
know whether it would be agreeable that we fliould fpeak to
them about religion on the morraw, which was the fabbatlu
They then withdrew.
they looked upon it as inconjijlent with the treaty of peace they bad en-
tered into 'with S<r William Jobttfon, or lejl it fljonld give umbrage to
him ; they not under ft andiug the difference of treating with them about
rtviland about religious affairs. This difference <u>e tdak pains to ex-
plain to them afterivardt. x
* Belts of wampum, gi-vcn on fitch, occajions, asfolemn pledges Or ra-
tifications of the Treaty, have fc7ne emblem er reprefe utation of tie na-
ture offuch Treaty ', in order, it is like , the better to keep them i>: mind
of it* On each edge of this, gi t vc?i to them by Sir William, <werc fcve-
ralrOTVS of black uampum ; and in the middle federal rows of white
ivarnfiuin, running parallel tuith the black ; the tub it e Jircak be-
tnvcen, they called the path from them to him- and him to them. In the-
middle of the belt was the figure of a diamond, aiad: of. white w^.'/z-
, which they called tke conncil-jire.
About 4 o'clock, two of the council returned, and gave our
interpreter, Jofeph, a belt of wampum, with a Speech j the
purport of which was, to invite the Chriftian Indians in New-
jferfey^ under the care of the Reverend Mr John Brainenl, to
come to ^ai-a-ha-ga^^. town the king and fome of his people
here had lived in, about 70 miles north-weft of this place,
where, as they {aid, there was good hunting, and where they
might have a mmifter with them, and all the Indians who de-
fired to hear the goSpet, as they gave us to under Hand there
was a number of fuch, might then go and Settle with them.
This propoSal (hewed the good diSpofition of the Indians to
the reception of the gofpel among them, as all Indians from,
every quarter, who might be defirous to be i.nftrufted in
Chriftianity, would have a town moft conveniently Situated,
to which they might repair for that purpofe. It appeared to
fee a kind and excellent provifion for the free enjoyment of a
jrofpel-minifter, in cafe Some of their great men ihould them-
felves rejecl: and difcountenance the preaching of it in the
towns where they refided.
Thefe men alfo told us in anSwer to our requeft, that they
would gladly here us to-morrow, and be well pleaSed that
their people would attend, again repeating to us, that we
ihould not be diScouraged. After Some free converSation,
wherein they appeared very agreeable and chearful, they invit-
ed us to vifit any of them in their houfes in town, either now
or at any other time we thought proper.
We told them, we mould be glad if to-morrow was obSer-
ved as a day of reft among them ; and that we fhould have
Something more to fay to them before we took our leave. 7V-
king us by the hand as a mark of their reSpecl:, they withdrew.
We considered matters over this evening, and endeavoured
to commit the affair to God, and look to him for direction
and afiiftance.
21 ft. Sabbath. This morning, Samuel, otherwiSe Tepiifc
cow-a-hang, who is one of the chief men of the council, went
to all the houfes in the town, to give them notice that we
were to Speak to them to day, at the council houSe, about rc,-
iigion, nAt eleven o'clock, one of the council came to our.
2-8
hut, in order to conduct us to the council houfe, vvljt-.re his
majcfty lives. A confiderable number loin of ir.en and \vo-
TCici\ attended.
I b-gan divine wcrfhip by finding part. of a pfalm, having
previoufly explained the genera 1 , drift and meaning cf it to
them (Pfalmody, by the way is exceeding plt.-aiing to the
Indians.) I thi n prayed, and the interpreter repeated to tlitra
my prayer in their own language.
1 then preached to them from the parable of the prodigal
Ton, Luke xv. n By way of introduction, I gave ioaie ihort
account of man's primitive happy ftate then of his fall how
ail mankind were concerned therein, and afTecled by it and
that this the Bible tau ht us, and fad experience and obfer-
vation abundantly confirmed. I then illullrated our fad con-
dition, particularly by the prodigal fon, and (hewed what
hopes of mercy and encouragement there were for us to re-
turn to God the Father, through Cruiit, from the (hiking ex-
ample before them, delivering fo much at a time as the inter-
preter could well retain and deliver exactly again, making
things as plain as poflible, living fuch (imilies as they were
well acquainted with, in order to convey a clear idea of the
truth to their minds. There was a clofe attention paid by
moft of the audience to the, truths that were delivered, not
only as they might appear to them new and ftriking, as I
.hoped, but as matters of the greateft importance, and infi-
nitely interesting. Some, more efpecially the women, feem-
eri really to lay things to heart.
After fermon was over, we fat a-while with them. We
then propofed to fpeak to them again in the afternoon, if it
'was agreeable. We were told it would. We then withdrew.
About 3 o'clock, the King was up in town, and told us, he
would have his people together as foon as he went home, and
would then fend us word. Accordingly a meflcnger was fent
to us for that purpcfe in a little time after, with whom we
v;ent to tbe place of meeting, where Mr Duffield preached
from I Cor. xv. 22, giving juft a plain narration how all be-
.came dead in Adam, and how all true believers were made a-
live, and entitled to life eternal in and through Ckrift.
Tae people appeared to be much engaged, and well pleaf-
(1 with the word, as though they dcfircd truly to know thefe
things ; and we have great reafon to hope, there have been
fome good impreflior.s made on their minds to-day Some of
them appeared very folemn and affefted. After fermon, we
fat a while, according to their cuftom after delivering any
fpeech and then returned to our hut.
Our interpreter, who tarried a- while after us, at his return
told us that all their leading men, and efpecially the King,
deiired we would fpeak to them again on the morrow, which
meffage we received joyfully, and would blefs God for any
hope of fuccefs.
This day, till evening, had fo much the appearance of a
fabbath in this town, that it truly furprifed us, and made us
thankful to God for fuch a favour ; fcarce any noife being to
be heard, except the women .pounding corn for their food, as
is their daily cuftom. Upon the whole, ,thia.gs appeared a-
greeable ; and there is a bleffed profpecl of thefe poor be-
nighted Indians receiving the gofpel, had they an opportunity
of its being faithfully and prudently preached among them,
inlomuch that we could not but once and again think on our
Lord's remark, that the fields appeared white, and ready fortht
harveji.
God knows what he defigns \ but furely there is a glorious
appearance of an effectual door being opened in thefe parts,
if it be not negleded. A feriousi thoughtfulnefs about the
great affair of religion, and a diligent attention to the word
preached among them, feems to prevail with a number of thefe
poor favages.
In the evening feveral came to our lodging, and fat and
heard, while 1 told them about the bible and the great things
it contains. They appeared very grave and attentive. A-
mong thefe was Neolin, a young man, who ufed fome time
paft to fpeak to his brethren, the Indians, about their wicked
ways, who took great pains with them j and fo far as we can
underfland, was the means of reforming a number of them.
I enquired what put him upon this practice j and he told
us, that, about 6 years ago, when alone in his hut or cabin,
mufing by himielf, being greatly concerned on account of
the evil ways he law prevailing among the Indians, a raan im-
mediately appeared, and ftoud in his cabin door, while he fat
by the fire alone, in the night, and was perfectly awake, and
fpoke to him in the following manner : " Thcfe things you
" were thinking of are right, (referring to the miferable con-
" dition of the Indians, which he was thinking of) and all who
" follow evil ways and bad thoughts, (hall go to a miserable
" place after they are dead. But all they who hate all evil
" and live agreeable to the mind of God, ihall, after death, be
".taken up to God, and be made happy for ever."
Having thus fpoken, he laid, the man immediately difap-
peared, but the man's ipeech made fuch an impreflion upon
him, that he could not help fpeaking to the Indians, and en-
deavoured to perfuade them to leave tbt-ir evil ways *.
It alfo deferves our obfcrvation, that the old man Tepifs-
cow a hang, before mentioned, was, from our firll coming
liere, greatly aflifling in forwarding things refpefting religion.
The old man's heart feemed much engaged, and he fpared no
pains.
He told our interpreter, that in cafe the king did not fpeak
about religion, before we went away, that is, as we fuppofed
he meant, if he did not invite and encourage us to return a-
gain to preach to them, that he would himfelf.
22d. As we were informed that there was a young woman
one Elizabeth Henry, a prifcner yet among the nation ; and
as we had defired Mr Gibfon, a trader, who is well acquainted
and has eonfiderable influence with thefe Indians, to mention
* The above is the fubftance of what he declared tons. We were
well informed by a trader, (to ivhom he related a good deal more, re-
fpefting his extraordinary mijjion) who 'was taken frifoner in the late
war, by the Indians, given to this Neolin, and adopted into bis familv,
That this man ufedto boil a quantity of bitter roots, in a large ket-
tle, till the 'water became very strong that he himfelf nfed to drink
plentifully of this bitter liquor, and make his family, and pat titular ly
this prifoner do the fame -the draughts of this liqitar proved a fever e
emetic and that dofe ivas.talen after dofe for fame hours together ; the
end of which, as Neolinfaid, ivas to cleanfe them from their inward Jitn.
Poor endeavours of the light of nature .' How needful^ h(iii>falutury
the knowledge ofthegofpel!
the aiTair, among" other things in his letter to them, which
we read to a number of the principal men, who came to our
hut in the forenoon ; we accordingly defired the king to or-
der the above voung woman to be delivered to us, that we
might take her to her relations.
The king replied, " He was very well pleafed with every
" thing his brother, John Gibfon, had faid, and would fend
44 the prifoner, by us, to hei relations, (had (he been with
44 or near them) but that (lie was at a confiderable diftance,
44 at a town upon the Great Bever creek, or river, about a
44 day's journey from Fort Pitt. However, that we fhould
44 take the ftring of wampum which Mr Gibfon had fent him,
44 (returning it to us) and give it to the great man of that
" town, who would inftantly deliver her up to us.
About four o'clock in the afternoon, the King, (the head
man of this nation) and with him, Tepifs-cow-a hang, Ke-
lagh-pa mahnd, Tuny-e-baw-la-we-hand, and Negh-kaw-
leegh-hung, principal men of the council, came to our hut,
and addreffed us in the following manner :
44 Our dear brothers, What you have faid to us (referring
" to our preaching yefterday) we are well pleafed with. We
* 4 believe there is a great God that has made us, the heavens,
* 4 and the earth, and all things.
'* Brothers, you have fpoken to us againft getting drunk
" What you have faid is very agreeable to our minds. We
44 fee it is a thing which is very bad ; and it is a great grief
44 to u% that rum, or a;.y kind of ftrong liquor, (hould be
" brought among us, us we wi(h the chain of friendship, which
" now unites us and our brethren, (-raSaning the Englilh) to-
** gether, may remain ftrong. But,
* 4 Brothers, the fault is not all with us, but ^begins with
44 our brotheis, the white people j for if they will bring out
* 4 rum, fome of our people will buy it ; theymuft buy it j it is
44 for that purpofe it is brought ; but, if none was brought,
44 then they could not buy it. And, now,
44 Brothers, we befeech you, be faithful, and dcfire cur
44 brothers, the white people, to-brit> no more of it us. Shew
44 this belt to them for this purpose, (at the fame time hold-
u ing forth a large belt of warapum) {hew it to the great man
" of the fort (meaning the commanding oiTicfr of Fort Pitt}
" and to our brothers on the way as you return j and to the
'* great men in Philadelphia (meaning the principal men in the
* 4 government) and in other places, from which rum might be
" brought, and intreat them to bring no more. And, now,
" Brothers, there is another thing we do not like, and
'* complain of very much. There are fome (meaning white
" people) who do at times, hire fome of, our Squaws, (that is
" their women) to let them lie with them , and give them
" rum for it. This thing is very bad. The Squaws then
" fell the rum to our people, and make them drunk.
" We befeech you, advife our brothers againil this thing,
" and do what you can to have it (topped."
After having delivered their fpeech, they gave the belt of
wampum, and dcfired us to take down in waiting what they
had faid, that we might not forget any part of it > for that it
was a matter about which they were much concerned. After
fome friendly converfation they withdrew.
In the evening old Tepif-cow-a-hang came and informed us>
that there were a great many here, and at another town cal-
led Suk-a-hung, and likewife at other towns, that were defi-
rous to hear the gofpel ; and that they intended to go up.
next Spring to ^jui-a ha ga, and there make a large town,
and then try to get a minifter among them He informed us
alfo, that there were three other nations or tribes, viz. the
Chippaways* , Puttkotungs, and Wyendots, that live near the
Lake, that is Erie, who difcovered a great defire to hear tte
gofpel. I told him 1 underflood that thefe tribes ufed to hear
the French rainiflers preach, who worfhipped God in force-
thing of a different way from us, and therefore perhaps would
not hear us. He replied, that he was perfuaded, and that he
knew, if a miniiler of our way would go out among them, it
would be very agreeable to thefe nations, and that many of
* The Chippaways fir? fvppcfed to be 14 or 15 hundred in nnmlcr ;
all in one town. The Puttcotunjrs arecQnJider(ible t A.ttQnttfnber t in
another town. The Wyendots, about 7 hundred perfons, are likeivife
onelown, ivhicb ar? about 60 or 70 miles. dJ/^-nce jro?n Qin-a-ha-ga f/V
intended Delaware CiristUin
33
them would pin us. la (hoit, the old man appeared much
cn^Ti^ed in this matter.
This day has been fo much taken tip, by the chief men in
council, about important affairs and doing bufinefs, that there
was no time for fermon. The King therefore propofed that
it fiiould be to-morrow, before we fet out on our journey ..
23d. The head men met in council this morning. Be-
tween eleven and twelve o'th' clock, we attended at the coun-
cil houfe for public worfhip, and found a eonfiderable num-
ber convened for that purpofe. I fpoke from the parable of
the gofpcl-fsaft, Luke xiv. 16, and in my difcourfe purfued
the following method, namely, that there were rich provi-
fions made in the gofpel for poor finners. 1 then opened the
nature of thefe provifions, and the reafon of their being com-
pared to a marriage and royal feaft. I next mewed that the
minifters of the gofpel were fent out to invite poor mifeiable
finners, the laine, &c. to this feaft. I v fpoke of the ex-
cufes that fome made for their not coming. I then (hewed
how any were brought to comply with the gofpel call, and
then concluded with invitations and arguments to perfuade
them to come to the Lord Jefus Chrift : all which particulars
I treated in the moft plain and eafy way. making ufe of fuch
finriilies as the Indians were moft acquainted with, and beft a-
dapted, fo far as I could judge, to convey a clear idea of the
truths on which I difcourfed to their minds. A folemn awe
appeared on the face ofthe afiembly. Every one feemtd at-
tentive to the things that were fpoken, and a number were af-
feted. The interpreter was fo much affected himfelf, that he
could fcarcely fpeak for fome time j and, indeed, I muft own,
my own heart was warmed with the truths that I delivered,
and the remarkable effeds they appeared to ha^'e upon the
minds of thefe poor benighted heathens. BleiTed be God !
Let all the praife be to him. We have reafon to hope, no
one opportunity we have enjoyed here has been in vain j and
we trult, that the good imprefiio is that appear to have been
made, will remain and iiTue well with fome of thrm. P.lay
the Lord grant, our labours and hopes may not be found vain !
As we had fignif d to fome of the Council that \ve had
E
34
fomething to fay to them before we departed, four of the prin-
cipal men came to our hut in the afternoon, in order to hear
what we had to communicate. We addreffed them in the fol-
lowing manner :
" Dear brethren, as w r e are foon to fet out on our way home,
we have a few things to fay to you before we go. We are
glad, and thank the great God, that brought us out and kept
us by the way, that we might vifit our brethren in this place,
and that we have had an opportunity of fpending ibme time
with you, and fpeaking to you about the great things that con-
ceru another world. We are glad that we have had fo com-
fortable a meeting with you j and thank our brethren for all
their love and kindnefs to us.
" Brethren, It gives us great pleafure and fatisfaclion to
find our brethren holding fo faft that chain of friendfhip which
our good brother, Sir William Johnfon,, made with you, and
we hope and pray it may ever continue to unite us together
as one people.
" Brethren, We are much rejoiced to fee you fo earneftly
fet againft thofe things that are bad, and efpecially againft the
drinking of ftrong liquors, which opens a dcor to fo many e-
ril things. We have carefully attended to what you faid to
us yefterday concerning that matter : and although, as we told
you, our council (meaning cur fynod) does not meddle with
civil government, but confults only afcout the great things of
religion ; yet we do, by this firing (a ftring of wampum) af-
fure you, that we will faithfully deliver the meflage commit-
ted to us. We will tell our great men and our people what
you have faid, and will ufc our bell: endeavours to have your
defires in this thing fulfilled, as far as lies in our power. And,
now,
" Brethren, by this firing of wampum, we bid you farewell ^
and we pray the great God to be with you, and to blefs you,
and tQ lead you in the wry which is right : and when we are
gone we will pray for you 5 ad whca you iliall at any time
defiie it, we will endeavour to have fome of our brethren fcnt
out to you aeain, to tell you more about the great and gnccJ
things of which we have looker- to you,"
35
Here we gave the firing of wampum, agreeable to then cul-
tom, which they accordingly received, and laid up as a mark
of f riendfliip, and appeared very well pleafed on the occaficn.
To one of thefe men, who had learned in his youth to read
a little Englifli, I gave a bible I had with me. He chear-
fully accepted this invaluable treafure. To a woman, who
could alfo read, I gave a little book intitled, A compaiTionite
Addrefs to the Chriilian World, and they propoied to lend
their books to one another.
Upon the whole, there really appears a ftrange, nay a ftrong
defire prevailing in many of thefe poor heathens after the
knowledge of the gofpel, and the things of God, and a door,
as we before obferved, to be effc&ually opening, or rather,. al-
ready opened for carrying to them the glad tidings cf fal-
vation j fo that, if proper meafures were vigorously purfaed,
there is much reafon to hope, that the bleffing of God might
attend and crown attempts of this kind with fuccefs.
This evening Neolin came to fee and lit with us a- while and
and defiredto hear fomething about the Chriftian Religion.- I
defired Mr Duffield to fpeak to him, who accordingly told
him fomething concerning the promifes of a Saviour, Jefus
Chrift, that had been given of old, and recorded in the book
of God, and how, according to thefe promifes, Chrift came.
He then gave him a (liort fummary of the way that a finner
is brought to have an intereft in this Saviour, and of the
change that is wroughtTfi him, and that by the Spirit of God *,
and pointed out to him the effects it produces in a perfon towards
God, his laws, his ways, &c. and that thefe effects are marks
and evidences of an intereft in Chrift, and the promifes. H
appeared very attentive, and much pleafed to hear thefe things*
When we had done, he affectionately took us by the hand,
and withdrew, telling us, if he could, he would fee us again in
the morning.
Some of the Indians obferring us confulting a map of the
country, in order to find out the moft direl way to Fort Pitt,
one of them went and brought a map of his own drawing,
wherein the lakes, rivers, towns, where different tribes or na-
tions live, council fires, that is,- where the different tribes meet,
in oraei to confult about their j. u ;lic affairs, and other remar-
kable places, feemed pretty juftly laid down. On the back ot
the Lake Superior, I obferved a very confiderable river run-
ning a different courfe from the reft (its courfe feemed to be
near N. W.) By this it (hould feem as if there muft bf fome
great lake or fea to the north or north-weft of thefe parts which
has not yet been difcovered, into which this river empties it-
felf. The Indian that pointed out to us thefe places
on his map, faid, where this river was. or near it, was very
cold j that is, far north. Perhaps by following the corfe of
this river, that paffage, which has been long fought for, to the
fouth feas by the north weft, might be found cut.
We underftand by our good friend, Tepiff-cow-a-hang, that
there are about 47 Indians here, who have had fome con-
fiderable impreflions made on their minds by our preaching,
the King and Neolin being among the number ; the latter,
as before mentioned, who had been, according to his light, in
time paft, endeavouring to inftrucl his brethren the Indians,
attended upon us privately as well as publicly, with a defirc
to know more about religion ; and almoft all the young Indi-
ans, exprefled a great defire ta learn to read.
The principal men of this toxvn fent an invitation, by our
interpreter, Jofeph, to the Indians living pretty high up the
Sufquehannah river, in a town called Wia lujlng, to move with
their families to Qui-a-ha ga, wher^they intend to form the
Chriftian town before mentioned, having heard that thefe In-
dians have fome knowledge of Chriftianity, as well as thofe
under the care of Mr Brainerd, that they might fee and know
how r Chriftians live.
In the evening, 20 perfons came to the houfe of TepiiT-
cow-a-hang, under religious impreflions, who exprefled their
concern at our leaving them, and wondered we {hould go a-
way fo foon.
, We {hould have been willing and very defirous to have tar-
ried a longer time in this place, as there is fuch an agreeable
profpeft of a number of thefe Indians being brought to em-
brace the gofpel ; but our time appointed by the Synod being
near expired, and we not being provided for continuing Icng-
37
er here, having fcarcely as much meal left as would fupport
us till we arrived at Fort Pitt ; and the principal defign of
our vifit, in order to know what prcfpeft there might be of
introducing the gofpel among them, having been aufwered,
we determined to return j and the rather as we had no prof-
peel:, had we continued longer, of affembling many of them
together, for it was the time whet) they begin their fall hunt-
ing, upon which their living chiefly depends, a number hav-
ing already gone out of town with that defign 5 fo that upon
the whole, it appeared moft advifable to return: and accor-
dingly, with the leave of Providence, we determined to fet
out to-morrow.*
24th. Neolin came this morning to bring us on our way.
We fet out on our journey by a different way to the Fort
than th t we went, accompanied by an Indian belonging to
the town, called by the Englifh Captain Jacob, a great warri-
or, who appeared to have feme imprefTions of religion. Af-
ter travelling up the bank of the Mujkingbum about 3 miles,
through rich level land, we croffed the river at a fording-
place, and travelled with as great expedition as our circum-
ftances would admit, with a view to reach the Fort by Satur-
day night, in order to preach to the people there. We had
not travelled many miles before there came on a very heavy
* Tliis town (the proper name of which is Negh-ka-unqitt, that is,
the Red Bank), is about one mile and a half in length, confiding of 60
or 70 houfes, built chiefly on the fouth fide of the river Mulkinghum,
and contains about iix or feven hundred perfons, as fap as we could
learn. In focne parts of the town the houfes Hand pretty clofe to each
other; in other parts at a greater diftance, and irregular. Some of the
houfes are made of broad fplit pieces of wood, with one end ftuck in
the ground clofe to each other, {landing up like a ftockade ; others aie
made of logs of wood laid upon one another, notched at the corners in-
to each other ; but moft of them are made of bark fet up on edge, tied
to ftakes drove in the ground, and all covered with bark ; except th?
king's houfe, which is covered with broad fplit pieces of woo.',
with their ends fet to the ridge of the roof, fo clofe together as t
keep out the rain, and appears very neat. The houfes are in
general much longer than they are wide, with a door at each end,
which they clofe or fluit by fettinj up a piece of broad bmk.
Two or three families live Ln fome houfes, and in cold weather have
two or three fires in them at proper diltenccs, but no chimney. The
land on ach fide of the river is a rich foil, but efpecially the north fide,
where
rain, which continued ail the aiternoon, and wetted us pretty
thoroughly, as we had no place of (heller, \\hich obliged us
to flop a little before night at a fmall river, wheie wa feme
food for our hctffes, arid with difficulty we got a fire kindled.
The ground and the blankets we had to lie in being wet, as
will as our clothe*, made our lodgings not very ct>n;foit<>ble.
However, we endeavoured to dry them by the fire j and fo
pa{Ted the night as well as we could.
251(1. Set cut this morning as early a* xve could, and en-
camped a little before night at the beft place we could find
for our horfes, and made up a fire as ufual.
26th. Proceeded on our way. The moft of the country
we have palled through hitherto has been hilly, with high
ridges, and fome part of it much encumbered with trees fallen
down. It rained in the afternoon, but the night was fair.
2yth. Arofe before day, as we have done every n-ormng
fiuce we fet out on our journey, having no great inducement
to keep our beds. We fct out at day- light on our way, in or-
der to make as good a day's journey as poiTible, as we had but
Httle provifion. Capt. Jacob went off the road to hunt for u$,>
where they chiefly plant their Indian corn or maize, beans, pumkins,
&c. The river at the town appears to be considerably more than one
hundred yards wide, and runs near weft ; but lower down turns fouth-
ward, and keeps much that conrie, as far as we could learn, till it emp-
ties itfclf into the Ohio, and is navigable for canoes or flat-bottomed
boats. The Indians fornetimes go frcn:' hence to Fort Pitt in their ca-
nors.
The land, the way we came -.0 this place from Fcrt Pitt, appeared
' to be very good in general, but uneven, having many high ridges and
'fmall caftles, yet abounding with low rich land, ufually called bot
torn ; the little ftrearr.s running through thefe bottoms are generally
very crooked and narrow, with deep and deep banks, owing to the rich-
nefs of the foil. The nearer we approached to this place, we found the
country more level ; and, to the weft and north-weft ef it, at fomc dil-
rance, the country, we are informed, become? quite level, and has^very
'great plains, on which there is no wood but fine grafs, and therefore
plenty of deer. Some of the Indians cf this town aie juft come in from
hunting, on one of thefe plains, which they fay is 100 miles broad, and
about four dcys journey from hence. Another ten days jourrcy frora
hence, is vaf.ly large, like the fca, the Indians fay ; 1 fuppofe they rucnn
one of the great lakts. The climate here ferras to be healthy.
39
but returned without any thing. Having a little meal made
of Indian corn, parched, I took a fpoonful or two of it mixed
with water j and was enabled to travel on foot to-day 25 miles-
We met feveral Indians, from whom we learnt, that Eli-
zabeth Henry, the -prifoner before mentioned, was married to
an Indian, and went fome time ago with her hufband to hunt r
100 miles diftant from the town where (he had been prifoner.
In the afternoon we met an Indian with a deer on his back
that he had killed, part of which we bought and carried with
us . A little before night, we arrived at the Great Beaver
creek, finding our utmoft efforts to reach the Fort this week
in vain, being 25 miles from it. We made our fire on a plea-
fant bank of the river, having near half a mile to go foi our
fire-wood. We dreffed our venifon for fupper, part of which
we gave to an Indian chief and his family, whom we found en-
camped here. The Indian's wife, feeing us carry our fire-
wood fo far on our (hoiilders, took hei hatchet, cut & brought
us, in a little t : me, a great burden of wood on her fcack, and
threw it down by our fire ; (lie not only pityingus, but thinking
it a great fcancLl, I fuppofe, to fee men doing that which is
properly the work of their women.
I fignified great deiire to be at the Fort to morrow, time e-
nough to preach in the afternoon j but having no norfe to
cany me there in that time, Cai t. Jacob very freely offered
his, which was pretty ftrong, and I thankfully accepted his of-
fer.
2th. Sabbath. Arofe before day. Mr Duffield, by the
fatigue of the journey, was taken very ill laft night, fo that I
was afraid to leave him in fuch a fituation ; but he infilled on
ray goinp to the Fort, according to rny propofal to preach to
the people. After we had taken the remains of, our venifon
we. had dreiled lafl night, I parted with my company at dav-
li.-hr. and arrived at the Ohio, oppofite to the Fort, between
12 and I o'clock. I croiTed the river in a carioe, fwimmihg
my horfe along-fide.
In the afternoon, I preached to a confidenible number of
people, affembled in the little town near the Fort. Having
made known the diftrefs Mr Duffield and our company were
in for want of food and proper refrefhments, a young man
went to .them with Ibme bread and other neceffaries.
2pth. Was glad 10 fee Mr Duffield (confiderably recover-
ed from his illncis) and the reft of the company fa fely arrived
at the Fort. Mr Duffield preached in the evening.
3Cth. Waited on the commanding Officer in the fort, to
deliver a meffa;;e to him from the King Netat- whelman, con-
cerning the Indian trade.
(lit October. Capt. Jacob, the Indian, who accompanied
us to th;s place, came to fee us, went with us a little way,, then
took an affectionate leave, and expreffed a confiderable con-
cern at parting with us. It being late in the day, before we
could get ready to fet out on our journey, we were ebliged
to travel fome time in the night, in order to reach an houfe
where we lodged. v
2d. Set oat early. Reached Fort Ligonicr about dark,
which is about 54 miles from Fort P. it.
3d. Mr Duffii'id preached to a imall number of people, li-
ving in and about the Fort. Set out on our journey after
12 o'clock. After we had travelled about 5 miles, we
came to the Lawrel hill, which we croffed. We were oblig-
ed to travel 8 or 9 miles in the night, to Stoney creek,
in order to accompiim our deiign of reaching Fort Bedford
to-morrow evening, where we had fent notice of our intention
to preach next Sabbath. Our lodging, on account of a num-
ber of people being in the houfe, going to Fort Pitt, was not
very agreeable.
4th. Set out in the rain this morning. It both rained and
fnowed in the afternoon, which made it very uncomfortable
travelling over the .Alcgh geny mountain. We arrived at Bed-
ford * little before dark, (which is 105 miles from Fort Pitt)
jth. Sabbath. Was much out of order laft night, but
much better this morning, and enabled to preach one part of
the day. Mr Duffield preached the other.
6th. As I was preparing to preach this morning, I was
feized with a fit of the ague. Mr Duffield therefore preach-
ed in my roo.n.
^th- Sat out from Bedford on cur journey, being tolcr-
bly well, and at night reached a public houfe at Sideling hi'JJ.
8th. A i of- early, in order to proceed on our journey, but
was foon obliged to go to bed again, being feized with a bad
fit of the agae. We being much folicited to preach at the
Cove, a congregation about 10 miles diftance from hence, Mr
Duffield went and preached to them About 12 o'clock rqy
fever began to abate, when I arofe, and fet out on my way
with the interpreter, and with great difficulty travelled about
16 mil.es.
- 9th. Refolved to take the neareft way to Carlijle^ by the
Path-Valley. Accordingly we fet oat. We had not gone
many miles before we afcended a very deep mountain. A
great part of the road, this day, was mountainous and very
rugged, which, with the weaknefs of our horfes, obliged us to
travel on foot fome part of the way. We got to a houfe near
a fmall river, in the evening, where we lodged.
loth. Was taken y^ry bad with the ague this morning be-
fore day. The feve$ began to abate about 9 or 10 o'clock,
when we fet out on our journey. 1 travelled with great dif-
ficulty. Lofing our way, we, after fome time, came in fight
of a houfe j and, being much fatigued, I lay down at the root
of a tree while the interpreter went to the houfe to enquire
the way, when, being directed to the road, we proceeded to
a public houfe, where I lay down a little while to reft me.
Arrived at Carlijle in the evening, much fatigued. This
town is 96 miles from Bedford. Here I got fome bark, which
1 began to take that night.
tith. Mr Duffield returned to his own houfe in this town,
laft night. I fet out with the interpreter about n o'clock,
croffed Sufquekannah river, and lodged at a public houfe.
1 2th. Sabbath. This morning I found the bark had ta-
ken the detired effect, in fome good meafure, as 1 felt hut ve-
ry few fymptoms of the ague. I went to Mr Roan's congre-
gation, where the facrament of the Lord's Supper was to be
admiaiftered. I preached at the defire of Mr Roan, in the
afternoon ; and, after fermon, we went to one of his people's
houfes, where we lodged very agreeably. I got borne on Wed*
nefdav, having travelled 119 miles from Carlifie, and 325
from Frt Pili.
F
APPENDIX.
A copy of a Letter fen i to the Rev. JOHN ERSKINE, D. D. on?
of the Minifters of Edinburgh.
Grcenock, Feb. 27, 1708.
REV. ANJ> DEAR SIR,
^TTfT ITH this you will receive the Journal I promifed to
fend you, of a mifTion to the Indians, living about
450 miles weft of Philadelphia \ previous to which, you will
fee fome account of our frontier inhabitants, that, perhaps, may
not be difagreeable after fo defolating a war. However, this
you can pafs by, if you pleafe, with iuh other things therein
as you will find foreign to the principalobje& in view, and
only taken notice of for our own fatisfadion or amufement.
As the converfion of thefe poor benighted heathens -has beea
long, I am perfuaded, a matter which you earneftly defired
and prayed to God for, fo any profpcft of it mult afford you
proportionable fatisfactiou, and be flill a farther encourage-
ment to pray, and hcpe, that the time to favour them is not
far off, when thofe heathens (hall be given to the fon of God
for his inheritance, and the utmoft parts cf the earth, even of
America, for his poiferTion. May God fulfil his promifes,
and our joys !
I have before hinted to you, that fince I had the pleafure
of feeing you laft, I had taken pains to fearch fnto the ufages
and cuftoms of the Indians, in order to fee what ground there
was for fuppofing them to be patt of the Ten Tribes : And
I muft own. to my no fmall furprife, that a number of their
cuftoms appear fo much to referable thofe of the Jews that
it is a great queiUon with me, whether we can expccl to find
among the Ten Tribes (wherever they are} at this d^y, all
things confide i ed, more of the footaeps of their anccftyjs, than
among the different Indian tribes.
The conduct of the Indian women, in certain circumfl:ances,
feems to be in a manner perfectly agreeable to the law of
Mofes. 'A young woman, at the appearance of the catamenia,
immediately feparates from others, makes up a hut for her-
felf, at fome diftance from the town, or houfe Hie lived in,
and remains there during the whole time of her diforder, that
is, fevcn days. The perfon who brings her victuals is very
careful not to touch her; and fo cautious is (he herfelf, of
touching her own food with her hands, that (lie mikes ufe of
a iliarpened ftick, inftead of a fork, with which to take up
her vcnlfon, and a fmall ladle or fpoon for other food. When
the feven days are ended, (he bathes herfelf in water, (ufually
In fome neighbouring brook or river,) waihes all her clothes,
and cleanfes the vefiels fhe made ufe of during her menfes.
Such as are mide of wood, me fcalds and cleanfes with lye,
made of wood aihes ; and fuch as, are made of earth or iron,
fhe purifies by putting them into the fire : (lie then returns to
her father's houfe, cr the family (he left ; and is, after this,
looked upon fit for marriage, and not before. A woman,
when delivered of a child, is feparated likewife for a time.
I have been at a place in New-Jerfey, more than once, called
Crof-week-fung, that is, the Houfe of feparation, which took its
name, no doubt, from its being a noted place for that pur-
pofe. Near this was formerly an Indian town.
The Indians obferve the feaft of firft-fruits : and, before
they make ufe of any of their coin, or fruits of the ground,
12 of their old men meet j when a deer and fome of tlie
new corn are provided, the venifon is divided into twelve
parts, according to the number of the men 5 and the corn, beat-
en in a mortar, prepared for ufe, by boiling or baking it into
cakes under the afties, is divided into the fame number of parts
with the veaifon ; then thefe men (if I forget not) hold up
the venifon and corn, and pray, as they term it, with their fa-
ces to the eaPr, acknowledging, I fuppofe, the goodnefs and
bounty of heaven to them 5 and perhaps in this prayer, feek
to God, in fome manner, for a bit (ling on their firft-fruits j
the venifon and corn, prepared, <are then eaten by thofe pre-
fent ; a f ter this, they make ufe of their corn "and other fruit?
of., the earth freely.
44
Another public feaft they have in the evening, which looks
foraewhat like the pafibver, when a gre;it quantity of venifon
is provided, with other thing?, drefted in their ufual way, and
proportions thereof diftributed to all the guefts of which they
eat freely that evening j but that which is left is thrown into
the fife and burned, as none of it muft remain till the fun- rife
the next day, nor moft a bone of the venifon he broken.
Once in the year, fome of the tribes of Indians choofe,
from among themfelves, 12 men, who provide 12 deer - 9 and
each of them cuts a fmall pole, from which they drip the bark,
and make a tent, by flicking one end of the poles in the ground
bending the tops over one another, and covering the tent with
their blankets. Then the twelve men choofe each of them a
fione, which they make hot in the fire, and place them toge-
ther, I fuppofe in fome form of an altar, within the tent,
and burn the fat of the inwards of the deer thereon. At the
time- they are offering, the men in the tent, cry to the Indians
without, " We pray, or praife !" Who anlwer, " We hear."
Then the men in the tent cry, Ho ah ! very loud and
long, which appears to be fomewhat like in found to hallelu-
jah. After the fat is thus offered, fome tribes burn tobacco,
cut fine, upon the fame ftones. Seme nations or tribes choofe
only ten men, who provide ten deer, ten poles, ten flones,
&c.
Their cuftom of confulting their pow wo<vs (a kind of pro-
phets who pretend to have converfe with fpirits) upon an-y
extraordinary occafion. either of great or uncommon ficknefe,
or mortality, &c. feems to be an imitation of the Jews e
old enquiring'of the prophet.
There is one tribe of Indians, called Nanticools, that, on
their removal from their old to new habitations, carry the
bones of their anceftors and deceafedrelations with them. I
"am well aiTured that fome of the Indians will not eat the hol-
low of the thigh of the deer, but cat off that part, and throw
it away.
It is a great famion with them to wear bracelets of wam-
pum (a kind of, bead, made of a black fea (hell which they
laave inftead of money) on their arms and I have frequent-
45
ly feen a bead hanging to the bridge of their nofe j and almoft
all wear a kind of mock jewels in their ears, compofed o
fuch things as they like. They make great ufe of bears
oil, with which they anoint thfir heads and bodies. They
have ?.n avenger of blood among them, who is the man near-
eft related to the murdered, wh purfues the homicide, and
takes his life wherever he finds him.
No people in the world, perhaps, have a higher fenfe of li-
berty than the Indians , and, confequently, are more jealous of
it, many of them preferring death to either captivity or flav-
ery. They have a great difpofition for war, and are far from
being deftitute of courage, however they may be looked on
by fome to be daftardly, becaufe their manner of fighting in
the woods and maxims of war are fo dilFerent from ours, and
indeed moft other nations j yet, whoever truly confiders their
fituation and circumftances, muft own their art of war is bed
calculated for them. Britain now, ai well as America , knows
by experience, that they are far. from being contemptible ene?
mies, when 100 of them have courage enough to attack, and
perhaps, are a match for 1000 Bntifti troops in the wilder-
nefs, unacquainted with their manner of fighting. None a-
mong .them are of much account, or admitted to their war
dances, that have not been at war ; and according to their be-
haviour and warlike -* vploits, they are efleecned and promot-
ed in their way. The teftimonies they give of their brave-
ry, are the fcalps and prifoners of their enemies, which they
bring home. Were not the Jews of old remarkable for their
courage, and high fenfe of liberty ! And was it not cuftom-
ary, in the days of Saul and David, to bring home teflimonies
of the number they had {lain in battle, not very diffimilar to
tks fcalps of the Indians.
A Chriftian Indian informed me that an old uncle of his,
who died about 40 years fince, related to him feveral cuftoms
and traditions of the Indians informer times', and, among o-
thers, that cireumcifion was pra6tifed long ago by them j but
that their young men, at length, makkjg a mock of it, brought
it into difrepute, and To it came to be difufed.
The fame perfon likewife told me, that the Indians had a
4-5
t:\:Uvi.i./' , that once the water uwt'rrlo vrd all tr-- -lard, -j:nd
drowned all the people then Jiving except a few, who made a
grrnt Canoe, (which is a kind of boat made of a large tree
hollowed out, and commonly uied by them) and were faved
in it.
Another tradition he heard, was, that a long time ago the
people went to build a high place to reach up a great way ,
and that while they were building it, they loft their language,
and could not underfiand one another ^ that while one perhaps
called for a flick, another brought him a tione, &.c. and that,
from that time, they (the Indians) began to {peak different
languages.
There ieems to be a tradition among fomc of the Indians
refpe&ing the bible, and the way how they came to America.
A fober intelligent Indian enqjired of an Eigiu'h trader,
when in one of the Indian towns, whether the Eng'ifh had not
a book (meaning the bible) among them j and, being inform-
med that they had, the Indian told the .Englilhman, that that-
book was once, or long ago, theirs j and that fo long as they
kept it, and ated according to it, their God was kind to them,
and they prospered ; but that the white people, (which is a
general name they call other nations by that are white) at
length, bought it of the Indians, whereby they learned a great
many things, and profpcred j while the Indians, on the other
hand, began to decline from the time they fold it j and that
their God being very angry with them for parting with this
book, left them, and then other nations began to ufe them ve-
ry ill, fo that they were expofed to many hardiliips, and fuf-
fered many things at their hands ; but, however,, that their
God at length taking pity on them, brought or directed them
to this country of America ', that, on their way to it, they
came to a great water j that one of the Indians, who went be-
fore them, tried the depth of it by a long pole or reed, which
l)e had in his hand, and found it too deep for them to wade.
Upon their being nonpkiiTed, and not knowing what way to
get over it, their God made a bridge over the water in one
night n by which they paffed over fafe j and that next morning,,
after they were all over, God took away the bridge.
47
The fame Indian reprefented the future ftate of good and
bad men, to the trader, in this manner j that all the Indians
who were good, when they died, went in one or t'AO daysto a
fine pleafant place, where there was prepared every thing
that was good to eat and drink, and to give fweet repofe or
reft, and that when they awaked from deep, they found ano-
ther different ccurfe, confirming of a great variety cf things,
moil agreeable to the tafte, and that in this pleafurable man-
ner they fpent their beings j but fuch as were bad, i. e. did
bad things, when they died, went in one or two days to a very
bad place, which he reprefented as the moft difagree-
able the very reverfe of the other where they were as
miferable as the others were happy, having nothing to cat
or drink, though very hungry, without any enjoyment of reit
by fleep.
In thefe and other particular*, deir Sir, I believe you will
obfcrve, with me, a ftrong refemblance between the ancient
Jews and Indians ; to which I might have added fome pecu-
liarities of lefs note, but I am Unwilling t'i tire your patience.
Peimit me only to add that all the cuiloms and traditions a-
bove are not be foui-d among evr.ry tribe of Indians ; nor per-
haps is the fame ufage or cuitom obferved by every Indian or
the fame tribe.
I am, <6'c.
C. BEATTY.
LETTER/ns/;/ the CHRISTIAN INDIAN'S, under the care of the
Rev. Mr JOHN BRAINERD. in New- Jet-fey,' -to-their brethren
the DELAWARE TRIBES, to the we fl ward of Stllegh geny river,
in anfwer tc a mcffage and invitation, fent by JOSEPH our in-
terpreter, to go back and fettle among them, (dated February t
1767) which Message, &c. is mentioned in this "Journal.
To THE CHIEF OF TXE DELAWARE TRIBES OF INDIANS, AND ALL
THAT RESIDE AT KE LA-M1P PA-CHING, ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF ALEGH-CEN'Y.
BROTHERS,
YOU fent us a meflage by our friend Jofeph Peepy, with
a belt of wampum, which we have returned by him,
according to your order, with thefe firings, which he will de-
liver to you at a prop?r time.
Brothers, you tell us we fit near a great water, where we
are in danger of being drowned ; and you take us by the hand
and lead us, and fet us down at !$*ui-a-ha-ga, where we may
have good land, hunting am;! fifhing plenty, and where we may
fit down quietly and worlhip God.
Brothers, We thank you in our hearts, that you take
fo much care of us, and fo kindly invite us to come to you ,
but we are obliged to tell you, that we do not fee. at pre-
fent how we can remove with our old people, our wives, and
our children 5 becaufe we are not able to be at the expence
of moving fo far ; and our brothers the Englifh have taken us
into their arms as fathers take their children, and we do not
think we ought to go without their cdnfent, and indeed we
cannot go without their adiilance and protection. We have
here a good houfe for the worfhip of God, another for our
children to go to fchool in, brfides our dwelling houfes, and
many comfortable aoomtnodations all which we iliall lofc it
we remove.
49
We have alfo a minifter of Chrift to inftruct us in all our
fpiritual concerns, and lead us to heaven and happinefs, which
are of more worth to us than all the reft. Now, whenever
thefe difficulties can be taken out of our way, we fhall chear-
fully embrace your kmd friendly cffer j in the mean time we
define, the path between you and us may be kept open, and
hope that fome of us (hall be able foon to make you a vi/it.
Brothers, You tell us you behold us from a great diftance ?
at our devotions, and defire to join us.
Brothers, We are very glad you have fuch good defirfs.
Certainly the great Spirit above has given you thefe defires.
We alfo (hould be very glad to have you with us in our holy
devotions, but our land here is fo narrow, that we cannot ex-
pect you will leave your wide rich country, and come to us j
but we rather think, that, after fome time, we may be able
to order things fo here, as that a number of us may come to
you, if not all.
Brothers, You tell us, you wonder none of us have been
fo kind as to make you a vifit, and inform you what vre have
met with, and defire we would now tell you.
Brothers, We have not been altogether negligent in this
matter ; fome of us have gone feveral times to Wioming, and
other parts of Sufquehannah, to inform our Brothers there, of
the good things which the Lord has made known to us, and
fome of tfs who were at Lancnjler, with our minifter, when the
laft council fire was kindled there, would^gladly have informed
all the Indians thereof, what we had learned about the Chrif-
tian way j and now alfo we are chearfully willing with all our
hearts to let you know what we have found and met with.
Brothers, We have faund how we may efcape everlafling
mifery, and be made perfectly happy for ever and ever.
Brothers, It is rmde known to us, and we are fure that our
bodies, which now die and turn to duft, (hall be railed again
at the laft day of the world, and that our fouls fhail then be
united to them, and we (hall be alive again ai vrt are now, and
live for ever, never to die more j and that it (hall be fo with
the whole race of mankind,
G
We have alio learned, and do know that fome of our fellow
men, will be put into a place of the moft dreadful torment,
from which they will never be able to get out, but muft bear
intolerable pains and tortures for erer more ; while others (hall
be made as happy as a creature can poflibly be, and this hap-
pinefs to laft for ever.
Now, Brothers, we have learned what we muft be, and what
we muft do to efcape this world of mifery. and obtain this
place of happinefs, ard we wifti you and all the Indians every
where knew it a* we da.
Brothers, We have learned, and are fure that the great God
has fent h's fon into the world to redeem us from our fins, and
from this miferable place, and to make us holy and happy ;
and, that for thisjend, his fen gave up his life, and fuffered f
himfelf to be put to death ; and that the only way for us, or
any, of mankind, to efcape this dreadful mifery, and obtain this
perfect happinefs, is to be good Chriftians, to forfake all our
wicked ways, and keep all God's holy commandments, and
be as much like Chrift as we poiTibly can, and depend on him
alone for the pardon of all our fins, and for every fpiritual
bleffing.
Brothers, We have learned the whole of our duty. We
know \\bat will pleafe God, and what will difpleafe him \
what will bring us to happinefs, and what will make us mifer-
uble : and fo now, if we are not for ever happy, it will be our
own faults. But, alas ! tho' we know all this, we are not fo
^ood as we fhould be. We have alfo learned to prajr, fing
pfalrns, and fome of us can read and write.
Brothers, What we have now told you of, is the fubftance
of what we have learned j but we cannot, on this little piece
of paper, tell you every thing particularly.
Brothers, You tell us, you defire we fhould come, that we
might teach you the Chriftian way, and how you alfo may come
to be happy.
Bi others, We wiih to do this with all our hearts, fo far as
It is in our power, and are forty you are f.i lar from us.
BrotLe s, We have learned many good things, 'tis true,
2nd ILeyld be very glad to fee you, and talk with vou,asbre-
thren j arid forae of us might teach you to ling pfalms, and
to read and to write 5 but we are not fit to be miniilers ; nor
are we called to that high office. Minifters are men that
the great God calls to preach the gofpel, and to teach man-
kind what they muft do to be faved ; ami when they preach
theyfpeakin God's name. From fbch wereceived thegofpelj
and all other Heathen people, that have been made Chrifti-
ans, have been made fo by the preaching of God's mjaifters.
Two fuch men, we are informed, you had with you lad fum-
mer j and we do not doubt, that if you defire it, they, or fome
others, will vifit you again, at which we (hall very much re-
joice.
Brothers, We Have heard our minifter fay, he has a great
concern for you 5 and althoug hwe always want him at home,
yet we fhould be willing to part with him awhile, that he
might teach you, and do you good, as he has done us. He
has lived with us many years, and xve know him to be a good
fibnd to ttoe Indians, and that he fceks their beft cood.
Brothers, We wiih you all good ; that you may have good
minifters to take you gently by the hand, and lead you fafe to
heaven and happinefs ; and that you might obtain this great
good, we think it might be well for you to fpeak to Sir Wil-
liam Johnfon, who you know is the perfon the great king
George hath appointed to fpeak to the Indians, and we
do not doubt he would be willing to help you, He might al-
fo, perhaps, fo order matters, that we, after fome time, might
remove to you, and be very happy in your country.
Brothers, We defire to commit you, and all that concern*
_you and us, to the great God who made all things.
We pray that he would take you under his particular
care, and that you and we may fo know him, and his Son Je-
fus Chrift, as that we may meet in heaven, and be happy with
him for ever more.
We are your Jincere "Friends , and loving Brothers,
Signed, THOMAS STORE, &c,
Further remarks ref petting Indian affairs.
TH E converfion of the Indians in America is, un-
doubtedly, an object worthy of the greateft atten-
tion, efpecially as the Chriftianizing of them would be the
moft effectual way of civilizing them ; for the fchemc of lead-
ing the favages into a civil ftate, previous to inftructing them
in the knowledge of Chriftianity, however plaufible it may
have appeared to thofe unacquainted with their cuftoms and
manners, y?t hath been found (to the befl of my knowledge)
utterly impracticable j for their prejudices are as great againft
the laws and cuftoms of civilized nations, as againft Chriftiani-
ty itfelf - 7 and therefore till fuch time as they come to be fo-
lemnly impreftVd ^ith a fenfe of their miferable heathenifh
ftate, and acquainted with the nature of the glorious gofpel of
Jefus Chiift, and the immenfe advantages accruing thereby to
their precious and immortal fouls, they will pay little regard
to the arguments made ufe of in favour of a civil ftate, which
they look upon as a ftate of bondage and downright Slavery*
The accounts we have had hitherto of the fuccefs of the
gofpel among them, make this obfervation concerning them
abundantly evident ; for as foon as any of them became
true converts to Chriftianity, they then, but not till then,
began to fee the necefiity and benefit of a civil govern-
ment.
The fuccefs of the gofpel among the Indians has been fig-
nal and various. Great pains have been taken- Since the firit
fettlement of North America, with different tribes and nations,
at different times, to bring thefe poor benighted heathens, not
only to the fpeculative, but alfo to the e.tpeiimental know-
ledge of the true God and his Son Jefus Chrift j particular-
ly by fome eminent miniflers, who went from Great Britain
with the firft fettlers of New- England. That great man of
God the Reverend Mr John Elliot, who was called the Indian
apoftlc, laboured indefatigably many years among the Indians,
learned their language translated the bible, and feveral pious
53
tiatls into their tongue j and it pleaicd God to crown his la-
bours with his divine blefling, for v the co verfin of many fouli.
" Mr Thomas May hew, fon of an excellent mmiiter of that
name, (fays the Reverend Dr Chauncy) began in another part
of the province, the work of gofpellizlng the infidel natives fo
far back as the year 1642 ; and this good work has been car-
ried on by one or another of this family, from that day to
this.
" In 1657, many hundred men and women were added to
the Chriftian focieties in this part of the country, of fuch as
might be faid to be holy in their converfation, and that did
not need for knowledge to be taught the principles of the
oracles of God.
"In 17 89, the Inrlian church under the care of Mr John May-
hcw, fon of the above Thomas, confided of above ioc com-
municants walking according to the rule of the fcriptures.
" The Rev. E. Mayhew, fon of the forementioned John,
in 1727 publifhed an 8vo volume, entitled Indian Converts, in
which he has given an account of the lives of 30 Indian mini-
fters, and about 80 Indian men, women, and young perfons, in
the limits of Marthas Vineyard, an ifland in MaffacbuJ/ets
province -, and of thefe it may be faid, they were real con-
verts to the faith of Chrift, and fome of them in a diftinguifti-
ing degree clearly evidenced it by their manner of life j it
was fuch as may make many EngliuS profeffors blufli.
" In the atteftation to his accounts by 1 1 Boftonian mini-
flers, it is faid, They who may ignorantly fay that nothing has
been, may be confuted 5 while thofe who are defirotis to fee
fomething that has been done, may be entertained and grati-
fied.
" There is at this day within the province of the MaiTachuf-
fetts only, r6 minifters, Englifh and Indian, ftatedly labour-
ing, either as paftors of fo many Indian churches, or as preach-
ers to afTemblies of Indians, 9 Englifti lecturers, and 7 ttat-
ed fchoolmafters, befides occafional ones. And there are, at
afettlement called Maflpe, ico Indians under the care of the
Rev. Mr Hawley, who know no God befid the evcrlaftiug
Jehovah."
54
But to come to things within my own knowledge Mr Da-
vid Brainerd, my intimate acquaintance and friend, fpent ma-
ny of his laft years io gofpellizing feveral tribes of the Indi-
ans in New- Jei ley ard Penfylvania. Being of too tender a
frame to fuftain the hardships to which he was expofed, and
too eagerly fet upon the work to quit it, he fell a martyr to
the glorious caufe. A journal of his labours and fuccefs a-
mong the. Indians was publifhed by himfelf. Some of thefe
Indians I have converfed with, when they were firft awaken-
ed out of their dark Hate of heathenifm, and brought under
a religious concern for their fouls, as well as afterwards, when
they obtained fome clearncfs and fatisfa&ion about the fafety,
of their ftate ; and have fiace preached to thtm feveral times.
This worthy rninifter was fucceeded by his brother, JMr J.
Brainerd, who is ftill purfuing the fame laudable deli^n.
I have now in my hands a catalogue. co;it iinine. the names
of Indians belonging to the Nanaganfet tribe in New England,
in number about 315. Mr Samuel Drake, who has furnifh-
ed the catalogue, and aHb wrote an account concerning them,
and w^o has lived 14 years among them as a fchoolmafler,
fays, " he believes, in the judgment of charity, that in the a-
bove number of Indians there are 70 real Chriftians that a-
bout 60 of them have entered into covenant with God and
one another, as a church of Chrift, and are determined to fol-
low the lamb of God whitherfoever he goes that they are
alfo agreed in the articles of faith contained in the Apoftles
creed that on Tuefday, Thurf^ay, and Saturday evenings,
they conftantly meet together tcj fmg and pray to God and
that in their devotions, their afteclions feem to be furprifmg-
ly drawn out that they are not fond of receiving any into
church fellowfhip, but fuch as can give feme good account
of their being born again, renounce their heathenish practi-
ces, fubjecl: themfelves to the ordinance of baptifm, and em-
brace the above articles of faith that they fteadily maintain
religious worfhip in their families that, once in four weeks,.
they have a meeting on the Thurfday, preparatory to the com-
munion that on the Lord's day following, they celebrate the
Lord's fupper j and that at certain facramental feafons, he
55
has thought that the L<-rd J-iiis feemed as it were to be evi-
dently fet forth before them that if at any time any of their
brethren return to their former fmful practices, the rclt will
mourn over them as tho' their hearts would break that if
their backfliding brethren repent of their fin, and manifeft a
defire again to walk with the church, their rejoicing is equal
to their former mourning ; but that if no fruit of repentance
appears, after they have mourned over them for feveral meet-
ings, they bid the offender fareivel, as if they we're going to
pnrt to meet no more, and with fuch a mourning as refem-
bles a funeral. I have been, fays, my worthy informer, at
feveral fuch meetings, and there has been fuch a lamenta-
tion in the aflembly, when they were obliged to part with a
brother, as a heathen man or publican, that even the before
obftinatc fmner would be fo affected, as to appear inwardly in
pain for lin, and continue to cry to God for mercy, till he was
delivered from his load of guilt and admitted into fellowfhip
with the church again."
My informant farther fays, " That this religious concern
began among thefe Indians 26 years fince j and that their mi-
nifter is one of their own number, Mr Samuel Niles. He adds
that now many of tlaeir children are able to read the New-
Teitamentto their parents."
There are feveral other tiibes of Indians in New-England
not far diilant from this fame tiibe, that have icceived the
Chriftian religion ; a number of whom, as I am very credibly
informed in the judgment cf charity, give evidences of their
beiag real Christians, and have occafional communion with
thofe of the Nap-aganfet church, particularly about 30 or 40
of the IVSohigon Indians, of which tribe the Rev. Mr Occu'm,
a perion now well known in England a"d Scotland, is one -, of
the Pequet tribe, about 20 j of the Nehantick tribe, fome
few, 6 or *7 j both thefe Indian tribes live in the colony of
Conne'flicui'. There are alfo fome of the Stoney Town tribe,
that have occafiona) communion with the Nanaganfets, and
about 15 or 16 of the Motitawk tribe o f Indians, who liv* u-
pon the east end of Long Ijland, and for feveral years had the
Rev. Mr Horton "to preach among them j thefe fometimes
crds the \ a great water, in order to join the above
chinch ii. ine ordinances.
Such ha\ :n the endeavours of the New Engenders,
and fuch the luc efs vouchfafed-them in evengelizing the In-
dian?; to which I might add, the prefent very laudable and dif-
jnteretfed attempts of the Reverend Dr Wheelcck, in fetting
up an Indian fchool, to furnifh thofe poor benighted heathens
Trith minirlers and fchool- matters, as well to inftruft them in
all the arts of agriculture and civil life, as the great things
pertaining to God ; an undertaking that hath met with re-
markable encouragement, particularly in the very large col-
lections which have lately been made in Great Britain for
its fupport and the countenance and patronage of thofe very
refpeclable and worthy gentlemen, who have condefcended to
become aboard of truft for the distribution of the faid monies.
I would only beg leave to fuhjoin my earneft and moft im-
portunate wifhes, that whoever after may be ftirred up,
and employed in the great work of evangelizing the Indians,
may, like their forementioned worthy predcceffors, approve
themfelvcs able minifters of the New Teiiament, be truly pi-
ous and exemplary Chriftians, holy in all manner of converfa-
tion and godlinefs, Otherwifc, I am well perfuaded, that the
beft preaching will be fo far from having any falutary influ-
ence upon the Indians, that they will rather become more har-
dened in their native heathenifm, by the vicious and unholy
lives of fuch as attempt to profelyte them to the religion of
Jcius, but yet exhibit in their temper and conduit, nothing of
the parity cf the gofpel, or difpofition and practice oi its di-
vine Author.
FINIS.
eii r
HOME USE
CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT
HOME USE
CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT
MAIN LIBRARY
This book is due on the last date stamped below.
1-month loans may be renewed by calling 642-3405.
6-month loans may be recharged by bringing books
to Circulation Desk.
Renewals and recharges may be made 4 days prior
to due date.
ALL BOOKS ARE SUBJECT TO RECALL 7 DAYS
AFTER DATE CHECKED OUT.
REC. CIR. MAR 1
LD
KEI'U
LD21 A-40Tn-8,'75
(S7737L)
Gencn
University >.
Berke,