fits of Christ's redemption, having their hearts conformed to him; and that these, these only, are qualified for the employments and entertainments of God's kingdom of glory; as none but these have any relish for the business of heaven, which is to ascribe glory to God, and not to themselves; and that God (though I would speak it with great reverence of his name and perfection) cannot, without denying himself, finally cast such away.

"The next thing I had then to do, was to inquire, whether this was my religion: and here God was pleased to help me to the most easy remembrance and critical review of what had passed in course of a religious nature, through several of the latter years of my life. Although I could discover much corruption attending my best duties, many selfish views and carnal ends, much spiritual pride and self-exaltation, and innumerable other evils which compassed me about; yet God was pleased, as I was reviewing, quickly to put this question out of doubt, by showing me, that I had, from time to time, acted above the utmost influence of mere self-love; that I had longed to please and glorify him, as my highest happiness, &c. This review was through grace attended with a present feeling of the same divine temper of mind. I felt now pleased, to think of the glory of God, and longed for heaven, as a state wherein I might glorify God perfectly, rather than a place of happiness for myself. This feeling of the love of God in my heart, which I trust the Spirit of God excited in me afresh, was sufficient to give me a full satisfaction, and make me long, as I had many times before done, to be with Christ. I did not now want any of the sudden suggestions, which many are so pleased with, 'I'hat Christ and his benefits are mine; that God loves me,' &c. in order to give me satisfaction about my state. No, my soul now abhorred those delusions of Satan, which are thought to be the immediate witness of the Spirit, while there is nothing but an empty suggestion of a certain fact, without any gracious discovery of the divine glory, or of the Spirit's work in their own hearts. I saw the awful delusion of this kind of confidence, as well as of the whole of that religion, from which they usually spring, or at least of which they are the attendants. The false religion of the late day, though a day of wondrous grace, the imaginations, and impressions made only on the animal affectionstogether with the sudden suggestions made to the mind by Satan, transformed into an angel of light, of certain facts not revealed in scripture-and many such like things, I fear have made up the greater part of the religious appearance in many places.

"These things I saw with great clearness, when I was thought to be dying. God gave me great concern for his church and interest in the world, at this time; not so much be

cause the late remarkable influence upon the minds of people was abated, as because that false religion-those hearts of imagination, and wild and selfish commotions of the animal affections-which attended the work of grace, had prevailed so far. This was that which my mind dwelt upon, almost day and night; and this, to me, was the darkest appearance, respecting religion, in the land; for it was this, chiefly, that had prejudiced the world against inward religion. And I saw the great misery of all was, that so few saw any manner of dif ference between those exercises which are spiritual and holy, and those which have self-love only for their beginning, centre,

and end.

"As God was pleased to afford me clearness of thought, and composure of mind, almost continually, for several weeks together, under my great weakness, so he enabled me, in some measure, to improve my time, as, I hope, to valuable purposes. I was enabled to write a number of important letters, to friends in remote places: and sometimes I wrote when I was speechless, i. e. unable to maintain conversation with any body though perhaps I was able to speak a word or two so as to be heard."

Among the letters written at this period, were the following. The reader will perceive that they were written by one, conscious that he was standing on the verge of the grave, and realizing, in no ordinary degree, the infinite importance of eternity.

To his brother Israel, at College: written in the time of his extreme illness in Boston, a few months before his death.

"It is on the verge of Eternity I now address you. I am heartily sorry that I have so little strength to write what I long so 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 state. O, how vast and boundless! O, how fixed and unalterable! O, of what infinite importance is it, that we be prepared for Eternity! I have been just a dying, now for more than a week; and all around me have thought me so. I have had clear views of Eternity; have seen the blessedness of the godly, in some measure; and have longed to share their happy state; as well as been comfortably satisfied, that through grace, I shall do so: but O, what anguish is

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raised in my mind, to think of Eternity for those who are Christless, for those who are mistaken, and who bring their false hopes to the grave with them! The sight was so dreadful, I could by no means bear it: my thoughts recoiled, and I said, under a more affecting sense than ever before, Who can dwell with everlasting burnings! O, methought, could I now see my friends, that I might warn them to see to it, that they lay their foundation for Eternity sure. And for you, my dear brother, I have been particularly concerned; and have wondered Í so much neglected conversing with you about your spiritual state at our last meeting. O, my brother, let me then beseech you now to examine, whether you are indeed a new creature? whether you have ever acted above self? whether the glory of God has ever been the sweetest and highest concern with you? whether you have ever been reconciled to all the perfections of God? in a word, whether God has been your portion, and a holy conformity to him your chief delight? If you cannot answer positively, consider seriously the frequent breathings of your soul; but do not, however, put yourself off with a slight answer. If you have reason to think you are graceless, O, give yourself and the throne of grace no rest, till God arise and save. But if the case should be otherwise, bless God for his grace, and press after holiness.*

"My soul longs, that you should be fitted for, and in due time go into the work of the ministry. I cannot bear to think of your going into any other business in life. Do not be discouraged, because you see your elder brothers in the ministry die early, one after another. I declare, now I am dying, 1 would not have spent my life otherwise for the whole world. But I must leave this with God.

"If this line should come to your hands soon after the date, I should be almost desirous you should set out on a journey to me: it may be you may see me alive; which I should much rejoice in. But if you cannot come, 1 must commit you to the grace of God, where you are. May he be your guide and counsellor, your sanctifier and eternal portion !

“O, my dear brother, flee fleshly lusts, and the enchanting amusements, as well as corrupt doctrines of the present day, and strive to live to God. Take this as the last line from

"Your affectionate dying brother,

66

DAVID BRAINERD."

* BRAINERD afterwards had greater satisfaction concerning the state of his brother's soul, by much opportunity of conversation with him before his death.

To a young gentleman, a candidate for the work of the ministry, for whom he had a special friendship; also written at the same time of his great illness and nearness to death, in Boston.

"VERY DEAR SIR,

"How amazing it is, that the living, who know they must die, should, notwithstanding, put far away the evil,' in a season of health and prosperity; and live at such an awful distance from a familiarity with the grave, and the great concerns beyond it! Especially, it may justly fill us with surprise, that any whose minds have been divinely enlightened to behold the important things of eternity as they are, I say, that such should live in this manner. And yet, Sir, how frequently is this the case! How rare are the instances of those who live and act, from day to day, as on the verge of Eternity, striving to fill up all their remaining moments, in the service and to the honour of their great Master! We insensibly trifle away time, while we seem to have enough of it; and are so strangely amused, as in a great measure to lose a sense of the holiness and blessed qualifications necessary to prepare us to be inhabitants of the heavenly paradise. But O, dear Sir, a dying bed, if we enjoy our reason clearly, will give another view of things. I have now, for more than three weeks, lain under the greatest degree of weakness; the greater part of the time, expecting daily and hourly to enter into the eternal world: sometimes have been so far gone, as to be wholly speechless, for some hours together. O, of what vast importance has a holy spiritual life appeared to me at this season! I have longed to call upon all my friends, to make it their business to live to God; and especially all that are designed for, or engaged in the service of the sanctuary. O, dear Sir, do not think it enough, to live at the rate of common Christians. Alas, to how little purpose do they often converse, when they meet together! The visits, even of those who are called christians indeed, are frequently extremely barren and conscience cannot but condemn us for the misimprovement of time, while we have been conversant with them. But the way to enjoy the divine presence, and to be fitted for distinguishing service for God, is to live a life of great devotion and constant self-dedication to him; observing the motions and dispositions of our own hearts, whence we may learn the corruptions that lodge there, and our constant need of help from God for the performance of the least duty. And O, dear Sir, let me beseech you frequently to attend to the great and precious duties of secret fasting and prayer.

"I have a secret thought, from some things I have observed, that God may perhaps design you for some singular service in

the world. O then labour to be prepared and qualified to do much for God. Read Mr. EDWARDS' piece on the affections, again and again; and labour to distinguish clearly upon experiences and affections in religion, that you may make a dif ference between the gold and the shining dross. I say, labour here, if ever you would be an useful minister of Christ; for nothing has put such a stop to the work of God in the late day as the false religion, and the wild affections which attend it. Suffer me, therefore, finally to entreat you earnestly to give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation on divine truths :' strive to penetrate to the bottom of them, and never be content with a superficial knowledge. By this means, your thoughts will gradually grow weighty and judicious; and you hereby will be possessed of a valuable treasure, 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,' earnestly desiring, that a plentiful portion of the divine Spirit may rest upon you; that you may live to God in every capacity of life, and do abundant service for him in a public one, if it be his will; and that you may be richly qualified for the inheritance of the saints in light.'—I scarce expect to see your face any more in the body, and therefore entreat you to accept this as the last token of love, from

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"Your sincerely affectionate dying friend,
"DAVID BRAINERD."

"P. S. I am now, at the dating of this letter, considerably recovered from what I was when I wrote it; it having lain by me for some time, for want of an opportunity of conveyance; it was written in Boston.-I am now able to ride a little, and so am removed into the country; but have no more expectation of recovering than when I wrote, though I am a little better for the present; and therefore I still subscribe myself, "Your dying friend, &c. "D. B."

To his brother John, at Bethel, the town of Christian Indians, in New-Jersey; written likewise at Boston, when he was there on the brink of the grave, in the summer before his death.

"DEAR BROTHER,

I am now just on the verge of Eternity, expecting very speedily to appear in the unseen world. I feel myself no more an inhabitant of earth, and sometimes earnestly long to depart and be with Christ.' I bless God, he has for some years given me an abiding conviction, that it is impossible for any rational