From His Birth, and During His Preparations for the Ministry
PART IE.
From his birth, to the time when he began to devote himself to the study of divinity, in order to his being fitted for the work of the ministry.
Mr. David Brainerd was born April 20, 1718, at Haddam, a town belonging to the county of Hertford, in the colony of Connecticut, New England. His father, who died when this his son was about nine years of age, was the Worshipful Hezekiah Brainetd, Esq. an assistant, or one of his Majesty’s council for that colony, and the son of Daniel Brainerd, Esq. a justice of the peace, and a deacon of the church of Christ 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 Hempstead on Long-Island, and afterwards removed from Hempstead, by reason of numbers turning Quakers, and many others being so irreligious, that they would do nothing towards the support of the ministry, and came and settled in the work of the ministry at Haddam; where he died in the 85th year of his age: of whom it is remarkable, that he went to the public worship in the forenoon, and died in his chair between meetings. And this reverend gentleman was son of the Reverend Mr. Peter Hobart, who was, first, minister of the gospel at Hingham, in the county of Norfolk in England; and, by reason of the persecution of the Puritans, removed with his family to New England, and was settled in the ministry at Hingham in the Massachusetts. He had five sons, viz. Joshua, Jeremiah, Gershom, Japheth, and Nelttemiah. His son Joshua was minister at Southold on B Long Island; Jeremiah was Mr. David Brainerd’s grandfather, minister at Haddam, as was before observed; Gershom was minister of Groton in Connecticut; Japheth was a physician, and went in the quality of a doctor of a ship to England, before the time for the taking his second degree at college, and designed to go from thence to the East Indies, and never was heard of more; Nehemiah was sometime fellow of Harvard college, and afterwards minister at Newton in the Massachusetts. The mother of Mrs. Dorothy Hobart, who was afterwards Brainerd, was daughter to the Reverend Mr. Samuel Whiting, minister of the gospel, first at Boston in Lincolnshire, and afterwards at Lynn in the Massachusetts, New-England: he had three sons that were ministers of the gospel.
Mr. David Brainerd was the third son of his parents. They had five sons and four daughters. Their eldest son is Hezekiah Brainerd, Esq. a justice of the peace, and for several years past a representative of the town of Haddam, in the general assembly of Connecticut colony; the second was the Reverend Mr. Nehemiah Brainerd, a worthy minister at Eastbury in Connecticut, who died of a consumption. Nov. 10, 1742; the fourth is Mr. John Brainerd, who succeeds his brother David, as missionary to the Indians, and pastor of the same church of Christian Indians in New-Jersey; and the fifth was Israel, lately student at Yale college in New Haven, who died since his brother David.—Mrs. Dorothy Brainerd, having lived several years a widow, died, when her son, whose life I am about to give an account of, was about fourteen years of age: so that in his youth he was left both fatherless and motherless. What account he has given of himself and his own life, may be seen in what follows.
Was, I think, trom my youth, something sober, and in-
clined rather to melancholy, than the contrary extreme; but do not remember any thing of conviction of sin, worthy. of remark, till I was, I believe, about seven or eight years of age; when I became something concerned for my soul, and terrified at the thoughts of death, and was driven to the performance of duties: but it appeared a melancholy business, and destroyed my eagerness for play. And, alas! this religious concern was but short-lived. However, I sometimes attended secret prayer; and thus lived at “ ease in Zion, without God in the world,” and without much concern, as I remember, till I was above thirteen years of age. But sometime in the winter 1782, I was something roused out of carnal security, by 1 scarce know what means at first; but was much excited by the prevailing of a mortal sickness in Haddam. I was frequent, constant, and something fervent in duties, and took delight in reading, especially Mr. Janeway’s Toker for Children; 1 felt sometimes much melted in duties, and took great delight in the performance of them; and I sometimes hoped, that I was converted, or at least in a good and hopeful way for heaven and happiness, not knowing what conversion was. The Spirit of God at this time proceeded far with me; I was remarkably dead to the world, and my thoughts were almost wholly employed about my soul’s concerns; and I may indeed say, “ Almost I was persuaded to be a Christian.” I was also exceedingly distressed and melancholy at the death of my mother, in March 1732. But afterwards my religious concern began to decline, and J by degrees fell back into a considerable degree of security, though I still attended secret prayer frequently.
About the 15th of April 1733, I removed from my father’s house to East Haddam, where I spent four years, but still “ without God in the world ;” though, for the most part, I went a round of secret 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 frolick in my life, with so good a conscience as I Went with; it always added new guilt to me, and made me afraid to come to the throne of grace, and spoiled those. good frames [ was wont sometimes to please myself with. But, alas! all my good frames were but self righteousness, not bottomed on a desire 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 so continued the year out, or nearly, till I was twenty years old; frequently longing, from a natural inclination, after a liberal education. When I was about twenty years of age, I applied myself to study; and sometime before, was more than ordinarily excited to and in duty: but now engaged more than ever in the duties of religion. I
very strict, and watchful over my thoughts, words, and actions; and thought I must be sober indeed, because BQ I designed to devote myself to the ministry; and imagined 1 did dedicate myself to the Lord.
Some time in April 1738, I went to Mr. Fiske’s, and lived with him during his life.* And I remember, he advised me wholly to abandon young company, and associate myself with grave, elderly people: which counsel J followed;: and my manner of life was now exceeding regular, and full of religion, such as it was; for I read my Bible more than twice through in less than a year, I spent much time every day in secret prayer and other secret duties; | gave great attention to the word preached, and endeavoured to my-utmost to retain it. So much concerned was I about religion, that I agreed with some young persons to meet privately on Sabbath evenings for religious exercises, and thought myself sincere in these duties; and after our meeting was ended, I used to repeat the discourses of the day to myself, and recollect what I could, though sometimes it was very late in the night. Again, on Monday mornings I used sometimes to recollect the same sermons. And | had sometimes considerable movings of affections in duties, and much pleasure, and had many thoughts of joining to the church. In short, I had. a very good outside, and rested entirely on my duties, though 1 was not sensible of it.
After Mr. Fiske’s death, I proceeded in my learning with my brother; and was still very constant in religious duties, and .often wondered at the levity of professors; it was a trouble to me, that they were so careless in religious mat-_ ters. Thus 1 proceeded a considerable length on a se/frighteous foundation; and, should have been entirely lost and undone, had not the mere mercy of God prevented.
Some time in the beginning of winter, anno 1738, it pleased God, on one Sabbath day morning, as I was walking out for some secret duties, as | remember, to give me on a sudden such a sense of my danger and the wrath of God, that I stood amazed, and my former good frames, that I had pleased anyself with, all presently vanished; and from the view that | had of my sin and vileness, | was much distressed all that day, fearing the vengeance of God. would soon overtake ‘me; I. was much dejected, and kept much alone, and sometimes begrud ged the birds and beasts their happiness, because they were not exposed to eternal. misery, as 1 evidently saw I was
© Mr. Fiske was the pastor of the church in Haddam.
And thus I lived from day to day, being frequently in great distress: sometimes there appeared mountains before me to obstruct my hopes of mercy; and the work of conversion appeared so great, I thought I should never be the subject of it: but used, however, to pray and cry to God, and perform other duties with great earnestness, and hoped by some means to make the case better. And though I hundreds of times re- © nounced all pretences of any worth in my duties, as I thought, even in the season of the performance of them, and often confessed to God that I deserved nothing for the very best of them, but eternal condemnation; yet still I had a secret latent hope of recommending myself to Ged by my religious duties; aud when I prayed affectionately, and my heart seemed in some measure.to melt, | hoped God would be thereby moved to pity me, my prayers then looked with some appearance of goodness in them, and | seemed to mourn for sin: and then I could in some measure venture on the mercy of God in Christ, as 1 thought, though the preponderating thought and foundation. of my hope was some imagination of goodness in my heart-meltings, and flowing of affections in duty, and sometimes extraordinary enlargements therein. Though at some times the gate appeared so very strait, that it looked next to impossible to enter, yet at other times I flattered myself that it was not so very difficult, and hoped I should by diligence and watchfulness soon gain the point. Sometimes after enlargement in duty and considerable affection, 1 hoped I had made a good step towards heaven, and imagined that God was affected as I was, and that he would heay such Sincere cries, as I called them: and so sometimes when I withdrew for secret duties in great distress, I returned some. - thing comfortable; and thus healed myself with my duties.
Some time in February 1738-9, I set apart a day for secret fasting and prayer, and spent the day in almost incessant cries to God for mercy, that. he would open my eyes to see the evil of sin, and the way of life by Jesus Christ. And God. was pleased that day to make considerable discaveries of my: heart to me. But still I érusted in all the duties I performed though there was no manner of gagdness jn the duties I then performed, there being no manner of respect to the glory of God ip them, nor any such principle in my heart; yet God was pleased to make my endeavours that day, a means to. shew me my helplessness in some measure.
B $ 1 Sometimes I was greatly encouraged, and imagined that God loved me, and was pleased with me, and thought I should soon be fully reconciled to God; while the whole was founded on mere presumption, arising from enlargement in duty, or flowing of affections, or some good resolutions, and the
_like. And when, at times, great distress began to arise, on a sight of my vileness, and nakedness, and inability to deliver myself from a sovereign God, I used to put off the discovery, as what I could not bear. Once, I remember, a. terrible pang of distress seized me, and the thoughts of renouncing myself, and standing naked before God, stripped of all goodness, were so dreadful to me, that I was ready to say to them as Felix to Paul, “ Go thy way for this time.’ Thus, though I daily longed for greater conviction of sin, supposing that I must see more of my dreadful state in order to a remedy; yet when the discoveries of my vile, hellish heart were made to me, the sight was so dreadful, and shewed me so plainly my exposedness to damnation, that I could not endure it. I constantly strove after whatever qualifications I imagined others obtained before the reception of Christ, in order to recommend me to his favour. Sometimes I felt the power of a hard heart, and supposed it must be softened before Christ would accept of me; and when I felt any meltings of heart, I hoped now the work was almost done: and hence, when my distress still remained, I was wont to murmur at God’s dealings with me; and thought, when others felt their hearts softened, God shewed them mercy; but my distress remained still.
Sometimes I grew remiss and sluggish, without any great convictions of sin, for a considerable time together; but after such a season, Convictions sometimes seized me more violently. One night I remember in particular, when I was walking solitarily abroad, I had opened to me such a view of my sin, that I feared the ground would cleave asunder under my feet, and become my grave, and send my soul quick into hell, before I could get home. And though I was forced to go to bed, lest my distress should be discovered by others, which I much feared; yet I scarce durst sleep at all, for I thought it would be a great wonder if I should be out of hell in the morning. And though my distress was sometimes thus great, yet I greatly dreaded the loss of convictions, and returning back to a state of carnal security, and to my former insensibility of impending wrath; which made me exceeding
exact in my behaviour, lest [ should stifle the motions of God’s Spirit. When at any time I took a view of my con-
victions of my own sinfulness, and thought the degree of them
to be considerable, I was wont to trust in my convictions:
but this confidence, and the hopes that arose in me from it,
of soon making some notable advances towards deliverance,: would ease my mind, and I soon became more senseless and
remiss: but then again, when I discerned my convictions to
grow languid, and I thought them about to leave me, this
immediately alarmed and distressed me. Sometimes I ex-
pected to take a large step, and get very far towards conver-
sion, by some particular opportunity or means | had in
view.
The many disappointments, and great distresses and perplexity I met with, put me into a most horrible frame of contesting with the Almighty; with an inward vehemence and virulence, finding fault with his ways of dealing: with mankind. I found great fault with the imputation of Adam’s. sin to his posterity: and my wicked heart often wished for some other way of salvation, than by Jesus Christ. And being like the troubled sea, and my thoughts confused, I used to contrive to escape the wrath of God by some other means, and had strange projections, full of Atheism, contriving to disappoint God’s designs and decrees concerning me, or to escape God’s notice, and hide myself from him. But when, upon reflection, I saw these projections were vain, and would not serve me, and that I could contrive nothing for my own relief, this would throw my mind into the most horrid frame, to wish there was no God, or to wish there were some other God that could controul him. These thoughts and desires were the secret inclinations of my heart, that were frequently acting before I was aware; but, alas! they were mine, although I was affrighted with them, when I came to reflect on them: when I considered of it, it distressed me, to think, that my heart was so full of enmity against God; and it made me tremble, lest God’s vengeance should suddenly fall upon me. I used before to imagine my heart was not so bad, as the scriptures and some other books represented. Sometimes I used to take much pains to work it up into a good frame, a humble submissive disposition; and hoped there was then some goodness in me: but it may be ona sudden, the thoughts
j B4
8 -. THE LIFE OF
of the strictness of the law, or the sovereignty of God, would 80 irritate the corruption of my heart, that 1 had so watched over, and hoped I had brought to a good frame, that it would break over all bounds, and burst forth on all sides, like floods of waters when they break down their dam. But being sensible of the necessity of a deep humiliation in order to a saving close with Christ, I used to set myself to work in my own heart those convictions that were requisite in such an humiliation; as, a conviction, that God would-be just, if he cast me off for ever; and that if ever God should bestow mercy on me, it would be mere grace, though I should be in distress many years first, and be never so much engaged in duty; that God was not in the least obliged to pity me the more for all past duties, cries, and tears. These things I strove to my utmost to bring myself to a firm belief of, and hearty assent to; and hoped that now | was brought off from myself and truly humbled and bowed to the. _ ‘divine sovereignty; and was wont to tell God in my prayers,
that now I had those very dispositions of soul that he required,
and on which he shewed mercy to others, and thereupon to
beg and plead for mercy to me. But when I found no relief, and was still oppressed with guilt and fears of wrath, my
soul was in a tumult, and my heart rose against God, as
dealing hardly with me. Yet then my conscience flew in my
face, putting me in mind of my late confession to God of. his justice in my condemnation. And this giving me a
sight of the badness of my heart, threw me again into dis-
tress, and I wished I had watched my heart more narrowly,
to keep it from breaking out against God’s dealings with
me, and I even wished I had not pleaded for mercy on
account of my humiliation, because thereby 1 had lost all
my seeming goodness.
“Thus, scores of times, I vainly imagined myself humbled
and repared for saving mercy.
While I was in this distressed, bewildered, and tumultuous state of mind, the corruption of my heart was especially irritated with these things following.
1. The strictness of the divine Jaw. For I found it was impossible for me, after my utmost pains, to answer the demands of it. I often made new resolutions, and as often broke them. I imputed the whole to carelessness, and the want of being more watchful, and used to call myself a fool. for my negligence. But when, upon a stronger resolution, and greater endeavours, and clase application of myself to fasting and prayer, I found all attempts fail, then I quarrelled with. the law of God, as unreasonably rigid. 1 thought, if it extended only to my outward actions and behaviour, I could bear with it; but I found it condemned me for my evil thoughts, and sites of my heart, which [ could not possibly. prevent. I was extremely loth to give. out, and own my. utter helplessness in this matter: but after repeated disappointments, thought that, rather than perish, I could do a little more still, especially if such and such circumstances, might but attend my endeavours and strivings; I hoped, that I should strive more earnestly than ever, if the matter came to extremity, though I never could find the time to do my utmost, in the manner I intended: and this hope of future more favourable circumstances, and of doing something: great hereafter, kept me from utter despair in myself, and from seeing myself fallen into the hands of a sovereign God, and dependent on nothing but free and boundless grace.
2. Another thing was, that faith alone was the condition of salvation; and that God would not come down to lower terms, that he would not promise life and salvation upon my sincere and hearty prayers and endeavours. ‘hat word, —Mark xvi. 16, ““ He that believeth not, shall be damned,” cut off all hope there: and | found, faith was the sovereign gift of God; that [ could not get it as of myself, and could not oblige God to bestow it upon me, by any of my perfor; mances, Eph. ii. 1—8.. “ This,” I was ready to say, “ is a “hard saying, who can hear it?” I could not bear, that all I had done should stand for mere nothing, who had been very conscientious .in duty, and had been exceeding religious a great while, and had, as I thought, done much more than many others that had obtained mercy. I confessed indeed the vileness of my duties; but then, what made them at that time seem vile, was my wandering thoughts in them; not because - I was all over defiled like a devil, and the principle corrupt from whence they flowed, so that I could not possibly do any - thing that.was:good. And therefore I called what I did, by the name of honest, faithful endeavours;.and could not bear it, | that God had made no promises of salvation to them.
8. Another thing was, that I could not find out what faith, was; .or-what it was to believe, and come to Christ. I read. the calls of Christ, made to the weary and heavy laden; 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 directed to were never so difficult. I read Mr. Stoddard’s Guide to Christ, which I-trust was, in the hand of God, the happy means of my conversion, and my heart rose against the author; for though he told me my very heart all along under convictions, and seemed to be very beneficial to me in his directions; yet here he failed, he did not tell meany thing I could do, that would bring me to Christ, but left me as it were with a great gulph between me and Christ, without any direction to get through. For I was not yet effectually and experimentally taught, that there could be no way prescribed, whereby a natural man could, of his own strength, obtain that which is supernatural, and which the highest angel cannot give.
4. Another thing that I found a great inward opposition to, was the sovereignty of God. I could not bear, that it should be wholly at God’s pleasure, to save or damn me, just as he would. That passage, Rom. ix. 11—@3, was 2 constant vexation to me, especially verse 21. The reading or meditating on this always destroyed my seeming good frames: when I thought I was almost humbled and almost resigned to God’s sovereignty, the reading or thinking on this passage would make my enmity against the sovereignty of God appear. And when I came to reflect on my inward enmity and blasphemy, that arose on this occasion, I was the more afraid of God, and driven further from any hopes of reconciliation with him; and it gave me such a dreadful view of myself, that I dreaded more than ever to see myself in God’s hands, and at his sovereign disposal, and it made me more opposite than ever to submit to his sovereignty; for 1 thought God designed my damnation.
All this time the Spirit of God was powerfully at work with me; and I was inwardly pressed to relinquish all. se/fconfidence, all hopes of ever helping myself by any means whatsoever: and the conviction of my lost estate was sometimes so clear and manifest before my eyes, that it was as if it had been declared to me in so many words, “ It is done, it is done, it is for ever impossible to deliver yourself.” For about three or four days, my soul was thus distressed, especially at some turns, when for a few moments I seemed to eo
myself lost and undone; but then would shrink back immediately from the sight, because I dared not venture myself into the hands of God, as wholly helpless, and at the disposal of his sovereign pleasure. 1 dared not see that important truth concerning myself, that I- was dead in trespasses and sins. But when I had as it were thrust away these views of myself at any time, 1 felt distressed to have the same discoveries of myself again; for I greatly feared being given over of God to final stapidity. When | thought of putting it off to a more conve. tient season, the conviction was so close and powerful with regard to the present time, that it was the best time, and probably the only time, that I dared not put it off. It was the sight of truth, concerning myself, truth respecting my state, as a creature fallen and alienated from God, and that consequently could make no demands on God for mercy, but must subscribe to the absolute sovereignty of the divine Being; the sight of the truth, I say, my soul shrank away from, and trembled to think of beholding. Thus, “ He that doeth evil,” as all unregenerate men continually do, “ hates the light of truth,” neither cares to come to it, because it will reprove his deeds, and shew him his just deserts, John iii. 20. And though some time before, I had taken much pains, as | thought, to submit to the sovereignty of God, yet I mistook the thing; and did not once imagine, that seeing and being made experimentally sensible of this truth, which my soul now so much dreaded and trembled at a sense of, was the frame of soul that I had been so earnest in pursuit of heretofore: for I had “ever hoped, that when I had attained to that humiliation which 1 supposed necessary to go before faith, then.it would not be fair for God to cast me off; but now I saw it was so far from any goodness in me, to own myself spiritually dead and destitute of ali goodness, that, om the contrary, my mouth would be for ever stopped by it; and it looked as dreadful to me, to see myself, and the relation I stood in to God, as a. sinner and I criminal, and he a great Judge and Sovereign, as it would be to a poor trembling creature, to venture off some high precipice. And hence I put it off for a minute or two, and tried for better circumstances to do it in; either I must read a passage or two, or pray first, or something of the like nature; or else put off my submission to God’s sovereignty, with an objection, that I did not know how to submit. Bat the truth was, 1 could see no safety in owning myself in the hands of a sovereign God, and that I could lay no claim to any thing better than damnation.
But after a considerable time spent in such like exercises and distresses, one morning, while 1 was walking in a solitary place, as usual, I at once saw that all my contrivances. and projections to effect or procure deliverance and salvation for myself, were utterly in rain; I was brought. quite to a. stand as finding myself totally lost. I had thought many. times before, that the difficulties in my way were very great; but now I saw, in another and very different light, that it was for ever impossible for me to do any thing towards helping or delivering myself. I then thought of blaming myself, that I had not done more, and been more engaged, while L. had opportunity; for it seemed now as if the season of doing was for ever over and gone: but | instantly saw, that let me bave done what I would, it would no more have tended to. my helping myself, than what I had done; that | had made all the pleas I ever could have made to all eternity; and. that all my pleas. were vain. The tumult that had been before in my mind, was now quieted; and I, was something eased of that distress, which I felt, while struggling against a sight of myself, and of the divine sovereignty. 1! had the greatest certainty, that my state was for ever miserable, for. all that I could do; and wondered, and was almost astonished, that I had never been sensible of it before.
In the time while I remained in this state, my notions re~ specting my duties were quite different from what I had ever entertained in times past. Before this, the more I did. in duty, the more I thought God was obliged to me; or at least the more hard | thought it would be for God to cast me off; though at the same time I confessed, and thought I. saw, that there was no goodness or merit in my duties: but now the more I did in prayer or any other duty, the more I saw I was indebted to God for allowing me to ask for mercy; for I saw, it was self-interest had led me to pray, and that I had never once prayed from any respect to the glory of God. Now I saw, there was no necessary connection between my prayers and the bestowment of divine. mercy; that they laid not the least obligation upon God to bestow his grace upon me; and that there was no more virtue or goodness i in them, than there would be in my paddling -with my hand in the water, which was the comparison I had then in my mind; and this because they were not performed from any love or regard to God. I saw, that I had been heaping up my devotions before God, fasting, praying, &c. pretending, and indeed really thinking, at some times, that I was aiming at the glory of God; whereas I never once truly intended it, but only my own happiness. I saw, that as I had never done any thing for God, I had no claim to lay to any thing from.him, but perdition, on account of my hypocrisy and mockery. Oh how different did my duties now appear from what they used todo! I used to charge them with sin and imperfection; but this was only on. account of the wanderings and vain thoughts attending them, and not because I had no regard to God in them; for this I thought I had: but when I saw evidently that I had.-regard to nothing but self-interest, then they appeared vile mockery of God, self-worship, and a continual course of lies; so that I saw now, there was something worse had attended my duties, than barely a few wanderings; for the whole was nothing but self-worship, atid a horrid abuse of God.
I continued, as I remember, in this state of mind, from Friday morning till the Sabbath evening following, July 12, 1789, when I was walking again in the same solitary place, where 1 was brought to see myself lost and helpless, as was before mentioned: and here, in-a mournful melancholy state, was attempting to pray; but found no heart to engage in that or any other duty; my former concern and exercise, and religious affections were now gone. I thought the Spirit of God had quite left me; but still was not distressed, yet disconsolate, as if there was nothing in heaven or earth could make me happy. And having been thus endeavouring to pray, though being, as I thought, very stupid and senseless, for near half an hour, and by this time the sun was about half an hour high, as I remember, then, as I was walking in a dark thick grove, unspeakable glory-seemed to open to the view and apprehension of my soul: I do not mean any external brightness, for | saw no such thing; nor do I intend any imagination of a body of light, some where away in the third heavens, or any thing of that nature; but it was a new inward apprehension or view that I had of God, such as I never had before, nor any thing which had the least resemblance of it. I stood still, and wondered and ¢dmired! I knew! that I never had seen before any thing comparable to it for excellency and beauty; it was widely different from all the conceptions that ever I bad had of God or things divine. I had no particular apprehension of any one person in the Trinity, either the Father, the Son, or the Holy Ghost; but it appeared to be divine glory, that I then beheld: and my soul rejoiced with joy unspeakable, to see such a God, such a glorious divine Being; and | was inwardly pleased and satisfied, that he should be God over all for ever and ever. My soul was so captivated and delighted with the excellency, loveliness, greatness, and other perfections of God, that I was even swallowed up in him; at least to that degree, that I had no thought, as I remember at first, about my own salvation, and scarce reflected there was such a creature as myself.
Thus God, I trust, brought me to a hearty disposition to exalt him, and set him on the throne, and principally and ultimately to aim at bis honour and glory, as King of the universe.
I continued in this state of inward joy and peace, yet astonishment, till near dark, without any sensible abatement; and then began to think and examine what I had seen; and felt sweetly composed in my mind all the evening following. I felt myself in a new world, and every thing about me appeared with a different aspect from what it was wont to do.
At this time, the way of salvation opened to me with such infinite wisdom, suitableness, and excellency, that I wondered 1 should ever think of any other way of salvation; was amazed, that I had not dropped my own: contrivances, and complied with this lovely, blessed, and excellent way before. If I could have been saved by my own duties, or any other way that I had formerly contrived, my whole soul would now have refused. [ wondered, that all the world did not see and comply with this way of salvation, entirely by the righteousness of Christ.
The sweet relish of what I then felt, continued with me for several days, almost constantly, in a greater or less degree; I could not but sweetly rejoice in God, lying down and rising up. The next Lord’s day I felt something of the same kind, though not so powerful as before. But, not long after, was again involved in thick darkness, and under great distress; yet not of the same kind with my distress under convictions. I was guilty, afraid, and ashamed to come before God; was exceedingly pressed with a sense of guilt: but it was not long before I felt, J trust, true repentance and joy in God.
About the latter end of August, I again fell under.great darkness; it seemed as if the presence of God was clean gone for ever; though I was not so much distressed about my spiritual state, as I was at my being shut out from God’s presence, as I then sensibly was. But it pleased the Lord to return graciously to me, not long efter.
In the beginning of September I went to college,* and entered there; but with some degree of reluctancy, fearing lest I should not be able to lead a life of strict religion, in the midst of so many temptations. After this, in the vacancy, before I went to tarry at college, it pleased God to visit my soul with clearer manifestations of himself and his grace. I was spending some time in prayer, and selfexamination; and the Lord by his grace so shined into my heart, that I enjoyed full assurance of his favour, for that time; and my soul was unspeakably refreshed with divine and heavenly enjoyments. At this time especially, as well as some ‘others, sundry passages of God’s word opened to my soul with divine clearness, power, and sweetness, so as to appear exceeding precious, and with clear and certain evidence of its being the word of God. I enjoyed considerable sweetness in religion all the winter following.
In Jan. 1739-40, the measles spread much in college; and I having taken the distemper, went home to Haddam. But some days before I was taken sick, I seemed to be greatly deserted, and my soul mourned the absence of the Comforter exceedingly: it seemed to me, all comfort was for ever gone; I prayed and cried to God for help, yet found no present comfort or relief. But through divine goodness, a night or two before I was taken ill, while I was walking alone in a very retired place, and engaged in meditation and prayer, I enjoyed a sweet refreshing visit, as Itrust, from above, so that my soul was raised far above the fears of death; indeed I rather longed for death, than feared it O how much more refreshing this one season was, than all the pleasures and delights that earth can afford! After a day’or two I was taken with the measles, and was very ill
* Yale college in New Haven.
16. THE LIFE OF
indeed, so that I almost despaired of life; but had no distressing fears of death at all. However, through divine goodness 1 soon recovered: yet, by reason of hard and close studies, and being much exposed on account of my freshman-ship, I had but little time for spiritual duties; my soul 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 comfort in religion: though indeed my ambition in my studies greatly wronged the activity and vigour of my spiritual life: yet this was usually the case with me, that “in the multitude of my thoughts within me, God’s comforts principally delighted my soul ;” these were my greatest consolations day by day.
One day I remember in particular, (I think it was in June 1740,) I walked to a considerable distance from the college, in the fields alone at noon, and.in prayer found such unspeakable sweetness and delight in God, that 1 thought, if I must continue still in this evil world, I wanted always to be there, to behold God’s glory: my soul dearly loved all mankind, and longed exceedingly that they should enjoy what I enjoyed. It seemed to be a little resemblance of heaven.
On Lord’s day, July 6, being sacrament day, [ found some divine life and spiritual refreshment in that holy ordinance. When I| came from the Lord’s table, I wondered how my fellow-students could live as I was sensible most did. Next Lord’s day, July 13, I had some special sweetness in religion. Again, Lord’s day, July 20, my soul was in a sweet and precious frame.
Some time in August following, I became so weakly and disordered, by too close application to my studies, that I was advised by my tutor to go home, and disengage my mind from study, as much as I could; for I was grown so weak, that I began to spit blood. .I took his advice, and endeavoured to lay aside my studies. But being brought very low, I looked death in the face more stedfastly; and the Lord was pleased to give me renewedly a sweet sense and relish of divine things; and particularly in October 13, I found divine help and consolation in the precious duties of secret prayer and self-examination, and my soul took delight in the blessed God: so likewise on the 17th of October.
Saturday, October 18, in my morning devotions, my soul was exceedingly melted, and I bitterly mourned over my exceeding sinfulness and vileness. I never before had felt so pungent and deep a sense of the odious nature of sin, as at this time. My soul was then unusually carried forth in love to God, and had a lively sense of God’s love to me; and this love and hope, at that time, cast out fear. Both morning and evening I spent some time in self-examination, to find the truth of grace, as also my fitness to approach to God at his table the next day; and through infinite mercy, found the holy Spirit influencing my soul with love to God, as a Witness within myself.
Lord’s day, October 19, in the morning I felt my soul, bungering and thirsting after righteousness. In the forenoon, while I was looking on the sacramental elements, and thinking that Jesus Christ would soon be “ set forth crucified before me,” my soul was filled with light and love, so that I was almost in an ecstasy; my body was so weak, I could scarcely stand. I felt at the same time an exceeding tenderness, and a most fervent love towards all mankind; so that my soul and all its powers seemed, as it were, to melt into softness and sweetness. But in the season of the communion, there was some abatement of this life and fervour; nevertheless my soul longed for perfect grace and glory. This heavenly frame continued till the evening, when my soul was sweetly spiritual in secret duties,
Monday, October 29. J again experienced the assistance of the holy Spirit in secret duties, both morning and evening, and life and comfort in religion throughout the day.
Tuesday, October 21. I had likewise experience of the goodness of God in “ shedding abroad his love in my heart,” and giving me delight and consolation in religious duties; and all the remaining part of the week, my soul seemed to be taken up with divine things. I now so longed after God, and to be freed from sin, that when | felt myself recovering, and thought I must return to college again, which had proved so hurtful to my spiritual interest the year past, [ could not but be grieved, and thought [ had much rather have died; for it distressed me to think of any departure from God. Bat before I went, I enjoyed several other sweet and precious seasons of communion with God, particularly October 30, and Nov. 4, wherein my soul enjoyed unspeakable comfort.
18 THE LIFE OF [PART T.
I returned to college about November 6, and through the goodness of God, felt the: power of religion almost daily, for the space of six weeks.
November 28. In my evening devotion, J enjoyed precious discoveries of God, attd was unspeakably refreshed with that passage, Heb. xii. 22, 23, 24. My soul longed to to wing its way to the paradise of God; 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, most of the day; and my soul rested in him.
Tuesday, December 9. I was in a comfortable frame of soul most of the day, especially in the evening devotions, when God was pleased wonderfully to assist and strengthen me; so that I thought nothing should ever move me from the love of God in Christ Jesus my Lord. Oh one hour with God infinitely exceeds all the pleasures and delights of this lower world.
Some time towards the latter end of January 1740-41, I grew more cold and dull in matters of religion, by means of my old temptation, - viz. ambition in my studies. But through divine goodness, a great and general awakening spread itself over the college, about the latter end of February, by which I was much quickened, and more abundantly engaged in religion.
[The awakening here spoken of, was at the beginning of that extraordinary religious commotion through the land, which is fresh in every one’s memory. This awakening was for a time very great and general at New Haven; and the college had no small share in it; that society was greatly reformed, the students in general became serious, and many of them remarkably so, and much engaged in the concerns of their eternal salvation. And however undesirable the issue of the awakenings of that day have appeared in many others, there have been manifestly happy and abiding effects of the impressions then made on the minds of many of the members of that college. And by all that I can learn concerning ‘Mr. Brainerd, there can be no reason to doubt but that he had much of God’s gracious presence, and of the lively actings of true grace, at that time: but yet he was afterwards abundantly sensible, that his religious experiences and affections at that time were not free from a corrupt mixture, nor was his conduct to be acquitted from many things that were imprudent and blameable; which he greatly Jamented himself, and was willing that others should forget, that none might make an ill improvement of such an example. And therefore although in the time of it, he kept a constant diary, containing a very particular account of what had passed from day to day, for the next thirteen months, from the latter end of January 1740-41, forementioned, in two small books, which he called the two first volumes of his diary, next following the account before given of his convictions, conversion, and consequent comforts; yet, when he lay on his deathbed, he gave orders unknown to me till after his death, that these two volumes should be destroyed; 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 himself: “ The “ two preceding volumes, immediately following the account “ of the author’s conversion, are lost. If any are desirous to “ know how the author lived, in general, during that space “‘ of time, let.them read the first thirty pages of this volume; “ where they will find something of a specimen of his ordi- “ nary manner of living, through that whole space of time, “ which was about thirteen months; excepting that here he “ was more refined from some imprudencies and indecent heats, “than there; but the spirit of devotion running through “ the whole, was the same.”
It could not be otherwise than that one whose heart had been so prepared and drawn to God, as Mr. Brainerd’s had been, should be mightily enlarged, animated, and engaged at the sight of such an alteration made in the college, the town and country; and so great an appearance of men’s reforming their lives, and turning from their profaneness and immorality, to seriousness and concern for their salvation, and of religion’s reviving and flourishing almost every where. But as an intemperate imprudent zeal, and a degree of enthusiasm soon crept in, and mingled itself with that revival of religion; and so great and general an awakening being quite a new thing in the land, at least as to all the living inhabitants of it; neither people nor ministers had learned thoroughly to distinguish between solid religion and its delusive .counterfeits; even many ministers of the gospel, of long standing and the best reputation, were for a time overpowered with the glaring appearances of the latter: and
cg therefore, surely it was not to be wondered at, that young Brainerd, who had not been long at college, should be so. He was not only young in years, but very young in religion and experience, and had but little opportunity for the study of divinity, and still less for observation of the circumstances and events of such an extraordinary state of things; a man must divest himself of all reason, to make a wonder of it. In these disadvantageous circumstances, Brainerd had the unhappiness to have a tincture of that intemperate, indiscreet zeal, which was at that time too prevalent; and was led, from his high opinion of others that he looked upon better than himself, into such errors as were really contrary to the habitual temper of his mind. One instance of his misconduct at that time, gave great offence to the rulers of the college, even to that degree that they expelled him the society; which it is necessary should here be particularly related, with its circumstances.
In the time of the awakening at college, there were several religious students that associated themselves one with ano ther fur mutual conversation and assistance in spiritual things, who were wont freely to open themselves one to another, as special and intimate friends: Brainerd was one of this company. And it once happened, that he and two or three more of these his intimate friends were in the hall together, after Mr. Whittelsey, one of the tutors, had been to prayer there with the scholars; no other person now remaining in the hall, but Brainerd and these his companions. Mr. Whittelsey having been unusually pathetical in his prayer, one of Brainerd’s friends on this occasion asked him what he thought of Mr. Whittelsey; he made answer, “He has no more grace
“than this chair.” One of the freshmen happening at that time to be near the hall, though not in the room, over-heard those words of his; though he heard no name mentioned, and knew not who the person was, which was thus censured. he informed a certain woman that belonged to the town, withal telling her his own suspicion, viz. that he believed Brainerd said this of some one or other of the rulers of the college. | Whereupon she went and informed the rector, who sent for this freshman and examined him; and he told the rector the words that he heard Brainerd utter, and informed him who were in the room with him at that time. Upon which the rector sent for them: they were very backward to inform against their friend, of that which they looked upon as private conversation, and especially as none but they had -heard or knew of whom he had uttered those words: yet the rector compelled them to declare what he said, and of whom he said it. Brainerd looked on himself greatly abused in the management of this affair; and thought, that what he said in private, was-injuriously extorted from his friends, and that then it was injuriously required of him, as it was wont to be of such as had been guilty of some open notorious crime, to make a public confession, and to humble himself before the whole college in the hall, for what he had said only in private conversation. He not complying with this demand, and having gone once to the separate meeting at New Haven, when forbidden by the rector, and also having been accused by one person of saying 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 no proof of it, and Mr. Brainerd ever professed that he did not remember his saying any thing to that purpose; for these things he was expelled the college.
Now, how far the circumstances and exigences of that day might justify such great severity 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 only to do justice to the memory of a persgu, who | think to be eminently one of those whose memor ‘is blessed. The reader will see, in the sequel of the story of Mr. Brainerd’s life,* what his own thoughts afterwards were of his behaviour in these things, and in how Christian a manner he conducted himself, with respect to this affair: though We ever as long as he lived, supposed himself much abused, in the mangement of it, and in what he suffered from it.
His expulsion was in the winter, anno 1741-2, while he was in his third year in college.]
* Particularly ander the date, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1743.