The Life of Rev. David Brainerd, Chiefly Extracted from His DiaryBrainerd, David
Religion
The Life of Rev. David Brainerd, Chiefly Extracted from His Diary
Brainerd, David
Indians of North America -- Missions -- Early works to 1800
_Aug. 26._—“Preached to my people from John, 6:51-55. After I had
discoursed some time, I addressed them in particular who entertained
hopes that they were passed from death unto life. Opened to them the
persevering nature of those consolations which Christ gives his people,
and which I trusted he had bestowed upon some in that assembly; showed
them that such have already the beginnings of eternal life, and that
their heaven shall speedily be completed.
“I no sooner began to discourse in this strain than the dear Christians
in the congregation began to be melted with affection to, and desire of
the enjoyment of Christ, and of a state of perfect purity. They wept
affectionately, yet joyfully; and their tears and sobs discovered
brokenness of heart, and yet were attended with real comfort and
sweetness. It was a tender, affectionate, humble and delightful meeting,
and appeared to be the genuine effect of a spirit of adoption, and very
far from that spirit of bondage under which they not long since labored.
The influence seemed to spread from these through the whole assembly;
and there quickly appeared a wonderful concern among them. Many, who had
not yet found Christ as an all-sufficient Savior, were surprisingly
engaged in seeking after him. It was indeed a lovely and very
interesting assembly. Their number was now about _ninety-five_ persons,
old and young, and almost all affected with joy in Christ Jesus, or with
the utmost concern to obtain an interest in him.
“Being now convinced that it was my duty to take a journey far back to
the Indians on the Susquehanna, it being now a proper season of the year
to find them generally at home; after having spent some hours in public
and private discourse with my people, I told them that I must now leave
them for the present, and go to their brethren far remote, and preach to
them; that I wanted the Spirit of God should go with me, without whom
nothing could be done to any good purpose among the Indians—as they
themselves had opportunity to see and observe by the barrenness of our
meetings at some times, when there was much pains taken to affect and
awaken sinners, and yet to little or no purpose; and asked them if they
could not be willing to spend the remainder of the day in prayer for me,
that God would go with me, and succeed my endeavors for the conversion
of these poor souls. They cheerfully complied with the motion, and soon
after I left them, the sun being about an hour and a half high, they
began and continued praying till break of day, or very near; never
mistrusting, as they tell me, till they went out and viewed the stars,
and saw the morning star a considerable height, that it was later than
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 those who were yet under concern, as well as
those who had received comfort. There were, I trust, this day, two
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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