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
and disposition which looked more like true religion than any thing I
ever observed among other heathens.
“But alas! how deplorable is the state of the Indians upon this river!
The brief representation which I have here given of their notions and
manners, is sufficient to show that they are ‘led captive by Satan at
his will,’ in the most eminent manner; and methinks might likewise be
sufficient to excite the compassion, and engage the prayers, of God’s
children for these their fellow-men, who sit ‘in the regions of the
shadow of death.’
_Sept. 22._—“Made some further attempts to instruct and Christianize the
Indians on this Island, but all to no purpose. They live so near the
white people that they are always in the way of strong liquor, as well
as of the ill examples of nominal Christians; which renders it so
unspeakably difficult to treat with them about Christianity.”
_Forks of Delaware, Oct. 1745._
_Oct. 1._—“Discoursed to the Indians here, and spent some time in
private conference with them about their souls’ concerns, and afterward
invited them to accompany, or if not, to follow me to Crossweeksung as
soon as they could conveniently; which invitation numbers of them
cheerfully accepted.”
_Crossweeksung, Oct. 1745._
_Oct. 5._—“Preached to my people from John, 14:1-6. The divine presence
seemed to be in the assembly. Numbers were affected with divine truth,
and it was a comfort to some in particular. O what a difference is there
between these, and the Indians with whom I had lately treated upon the
Susquehanna! To be with those seemed to be like being banished from God
and all his people; to be with these, like being admitted into his
family, and to the enjoyment of his divine presence! How great is the
change lately made upon numbers of those Indians; who, not many months
ago, were as thoughtless and averse to Christianity as those upon the
Susquehanna; and how astonishing is that grace which has made this
change!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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