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
_June 22._—“Preached to the Indians again. Their number, which at first
consisted of seven or eight persons, was now increased to nearly thirty.
There was not only a solemn attention among them, but some considerable
impression, it was apparent, was made upon their minds by divine truth.
Some began to feel their misery, and perishing state, and appeared
concerned for a deliverance from it.
_Lord’s day, June 23._—“Preached to the Indians, and spent the day with
them. Their number still increased; and all with one consent, seemed to
rejoice in my coming among them. Not a word of opposition was heard from
any of them against Christianity, although in times past they had been
as much opposed to any thing of that nature as any Indians whatsoever.
Some of them, not many months before, were enraged with my Interpreter
because he attempted to teach them something of Christianity.
_June 24._—“Preached to the Indians at their desire and upon their own
motion. To see poor Pagans desirous of hearing the gospel of Christ,
animated me to discourse to them; although I was now very weak, and my
spirits much exhausted. They attended with the greatest seriousness and
diligence; and some concern for their soul’s salvation was apparent
among them.
_June 27._—“Visited and preached to the Indians again. Their number now
amounted to about forty persons. Their solemnity and attention still
continued, and a considerable concern for their souls became very
apparent among numbers of them.
_June 28._—“The Indians being now gathered, a considerable number of
them, from their several and distant habitations, requested me to preach
twice a day to them; being desirous to hear as much as they possibly
could while I was with them. I cheerfully complied with their request,
and could not but admire the goodness of God, who I was persuaded had
inclined them thus to inquire after the way of salvation.
_June 29._—“Preached twice to the Indians. Saw, as I thought, the hand
of God very evidently, and in a manner somewhat remarkable, making
provision for their subsistence together, in order to their being
instructed 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
three deer, which were a seasonable supply for their wants, and without
which, they could not have subsisted together in order to attend the
means of grace.
_Lord’s day, June 30._—“Preached twice this day also. Observed yet more
concern and affection among the poor heathen than ever; so that they
even constrained me to tarry yet longer with them, although my
constitution was exceedingly worn out, and my health much impaired by my
late fatigues and labors; and especially by my late journey to the
Susquehanna in May last, in which I lodged on the ground for several
weeks together.
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