Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

He sought the prosperity of Zion with all his might; and preferred Jerusalem above his chief joy. How did his soul long for it, and pant after it! how earnestly and often did he wrestle with God for it! and how far did he, in these desires and prayers, seem to be carried beyond all private and selfish views! being animated by a pure love to Christ, an earnest desire of his glory, and a disinterested affection to the souls of mankind.

The consideration of this, not only ought to be an incitement to the people of God, but may also be a just encouragement to them, to be much in seeking and praying for a general outpouring of the Spirit of God, and an extensive revival of religion. I confess, that God's giving so much of a spirit of prayer for this mercy to so eminent a servant of his, and exciting him, in so extraordinary a manner, and with such vehement thirstings of soul, to agonize in prayer for it, from time to time, through the course of his life, is one thing among others, which gives me great hope that God has a design of accomplishing something very glorious for the interest of his church before long. One - such instance as this, I conceive, gives more encouragement, than the common, cold, formal prayers of thousands. As BRAINERD's desires and prayers for the coming of Christ's kingdom, were special and extraordinary; so, I think we may reasonably hope, that the God who excited those desires and prayers, will answer them with something special and extraordinary. And in a particular manner do I think it worthy of notice for our encouragement, that he had his heart, [as he declared,] unusually drawn out in longings and prayers for the flourishing of Christ's kingdom on earth, when he was in the approaches of death; and that with his dying breath, he breathed out his departing soul into the bosom of his Redeemer, in prayers and pantings after the glorious event; expiring in very great hope, that it would soon begin to be fulfilled. I wish that the thoughts which he in his dying state expressed of that explicit agreement, and visible union of God's people, in extraordinary prayer for a general revival of religion, lately proposed in a MEMORIAL to Scotland, which has been dispersed among us, may be well considered by those who hitherto have not seen fit to fall in with that posal. But I forbear to say any more on this head, having already published my thoughts upon it, in a discourse written on purpose to promote that affair; with which, I confess, I wish that every one of my readers might be supplied; not that my honour, but that this excellent design might be promoted.

pro

As there is much in BRAINERD's life to encourage Christians to seek the advancement of Christ's kingdom, in general: so there is in particular, to pray for the conversion of the Indians on this continent, and to exert themselves in the use of proper means for its accomplishment. It appears, that he, in his unutterable longings and wrestlings of soul for the flourishing of VOL. X. 56

religion, had his mind peculiarly intent on the conversion and salvation of these people, and his heart more especially engaged in prayer for them. If we consider the degree and manner in which he from time to time, sought and hoped for an extensive work of grace among them, I think, we have reason to hope, that the wonderful things, which God wrought among them by him, are but a forerunner of something yet much more glorious and extensive of that kind. This may justly be an encouragement, to well disposed charitable persons, to" honour the Lord with their substance," by contributing, as they are able, to promote the spreading of the gospel among them. This also may incite and encourage gentlemen, who are incorporated and intrusted with the care and disposal of those liberal benefactions, which have already been made by pious persons to that end; and likewise the missionaries themselves, that are or may be employed; and it may be of direction unto both, as to the proper qualifications of missionaries, and the proper measures to be taken in order to their success.

One thing I would particularly propose to the consideration of such as have the care of providing and sending missionaries among savages; viz. Whether it would not ordinarily be best to send two together? It is pretty manifest, that BRAINERD'S going, as he did, alone into the howling wilderness, was one great occasion of a prevailing melancholy on his mind; which was his greatest disadvantage. He spoke much of it himself, when he was here in his dying state; and expressed himself, to this purpose, that none could conceive of the disadvantage a missionary in such circumstances was under, by being alone; especially as it exposed him to discouragement and melancholy. He spoke of the wisdom of Christ in sending forth his disciples by two and two; and left it as his dying advice to his brother, never to go to Susquehannah, to travel about in that remote wilderness, to preach to the Indians there, as he had often done, without the company of a fellow missionary.

REFLECTION VIII.

One thing more may not be unprofitably observed in the preceding account of BRAINERD; and that is the special and remarkable disposal of divine providence, with regard to the circumstances of his last sickness and death.

Though he had been long infirm, his constitution being much broken by his fatigues and hardships; and though he was often brought very low by illness before he left Kaunaumeek, and also while he lived at the Forks of Delaware; yet his life was preserved, till he had seen that which he had so long and greatly desired and sought, a glorious work of grace among the Indians,

and had received the wished for blessing of God on his labours. Though as it were" in deaths oft," yet he lived to behold the happy fruits of the long continued travail of his soul and labour of his body, in the wonderful conversion of many of the heathen, and the happy effects of it in the great change of their conversation, with many circumstances which afforded a fair prospect of the continuance of God's blessing upon them; as may appear by what I shall presently further observe. Thus he did not "depart till his eyes had seen God's salvation."

Though it was the pleasure of God, that he should be taken off from his labours among that people to whom God had made him a spiritual father, who were so dear to him, and for whose spiritual welfare he was so greatly concerned; yet this was not before they were well initiated and instructed in the Christian religion, thoroughly weaned from their old heathenish and brutish notions and practices, and all their prejudices and jealousies, which tended to keep their minds unsettled, were fully removed. They were confirmed and fixed in the Christian faith and manners; were formed into a church; had ecclesiastical ordinances and discipline introduced and settled; were brought into a good way with respect to the education of children; had a schoolmaster excellently qualified for the business; and had a school set up and established, in good order, among them. They had been well brought off from their former idle, strolling, sottish way of living; had removed from their former scattered uncertain habitations, were collected in a town by themselves, on a good piece of land of their own; were introduced into the way of living by husbandry; and had begun to experience the benefits of it. These things were but just brought to pass by his indefatigable application and care; and then he was taken off from his work by illness. If this had been but a little sooner, they would by no means have been so well prepared for such a dispensation; and it probably would have been unspeakably more to the hurt of their spiritual interest, and of the cause of Christianity among them.

The time and circumstances of his illness were so ordered, that he had just opportunity to finish his JOURNAL, and prepare it for press; giving an account of the marvellous display of divine power and grace among the Indians in New-Jersey, and at the Forks of Delaware. His doing this was of great consequence and therefore urged upon him by the correspondents who have honoured his Journal with a preface. The world being particularly and justly informed of that affar by BRAINERD before his death, a foundation was hereby laid for a concern in others for that cause, and proper care and measures to be taken for maintaining it after his death. It has actually proved to be of great influence and benefit in this respect; for it has excited and engaged many in those parts, and also more distant parts of

America, to exert themselves for upholding and promoting the good and glorious work, remarkably opening their hearts and hands to that end: and not only in America, but in Great Britain, that Journal, which I have earnestly recommended to my readers, has been an occasion of some large benefactions, made for promoting the interest of Christianity among the Indians.— If BRAINERD had been taken ill but a little sooner, he had not been able to complete his Journal, and prepare a copy for the press.

He was not taken off from the work of the ministry among his people, till his brother was in a capacity and circumstances to succeed him in his care of them; who succeeds him in the like spirit, and under whose prudent and faithful care his congregation has flourished, and been very happy, since he left them; and probably could not have been so well provided for otherwise. If BRAINERD had been disabled sooner, his brother would by no means have been ready to stand up in his place; having taken his first degree at college but about that very time that he was seized with his fatal consumption.

Though in that winter in which he lay sick at Mr. Dickinson's, in Elizabeth-Town, he continued for a long time in an extremely low state, so that his life was almost despaired of, and his state was sometimes such that it was hardly expected that he would live a day; yet his life was spared a while longer; he lived to see his brother arrived in New-Jersey, being come to succeed him in the care of his Indians; and he himself had opportunity to assist in his examination and introduction into his business: and to commit the conduct of his dear people to one whom he well knew, and could put confidence in, and use freedom with, in giving him particular instructions and charges, and under whose care he could leave his congregation with great cheerfulness.

The providence of God was remarkable in so ordering it, that before his death he should take a journey in New-England, and go to Boston; which was, in many respects, of very great and happy consequence to the interest of religion, and especially among his own people. By this means, as before observed, he was brought in acquaintance with many persons of note and influence, ministers and others, belonging both to the town and various parts of the country; and had opportunity, under the best advantages, to bear a testimony for God and true religion, and against those false appearances of it which have proved most pernicious to the interest of Christ's kingdom in the land. The providence of God is particularly observable in this circumstance of the testimony which he there bore for true religion, viz. that he there was brought so near the grave, and continued for so long a time on the very brink of eternity; and from time to time, looked on himself, and was looked on by others, as just leaving the world; and that in these circumstances he should be so particularly directed and assisted in his thoughts and

views of religion, to distinguish between the true and the false, with such clearness and evidence; and that after this he should be unexpectedly and surprisingly restored and strengthened, so far as to be able to converse freely. Then he had an opportunity, and special occasions to declare the sentiments he had in these, which to human apprehension, were his dying circumstances; and to bear his testimony concerning the nature of true religion, and concerning the mischievous tendency of its most prevalent counterfeits and false appearances; as things he had a special, clear, distinct view of at that time, when he expected in a few minutes to be in eternity; and the certainty and importance of which were then, in a peculiar manner, impressed on his mind.

Among the happy consequences of his going to Boston, were those liberal benefactions that have been mentioned, which were made by piously disposed persons, for maintaining and promoting the interest of religion among his people; and also the meeting of a number of gentlemen in Boston, of note and ability to consult upon measures for that purpose; who were excited by their acquaintance and conversation with BRAINERD, and by the account of the great things which God had wrought by his ministry, to unite themselves, that by their joint endeavours and contributions they might promote the kingdom of Christ, and the spiritual good of their fellow-creatures, among the Indians in New-Jersey; and elsewhere.

It was also remarkable, that BRAINERD should go to Boston at that time, after the honourable commissioners there, of the corporation in London for propagating the gospel in NewEngland and parts adjacent, had received Dr. WILLIAMS' legacy for maintaining two missionaries among the heathen; and at a time when they, having concluded on a mission to the Indians of the Six Nations, were looking out for fit persons to be employed in that important service. This was the occasion of their committing to him the affair of finding and recommending suitable persons; which has proved a successful means of two persons being found and actually appointed to that business, who seem to be well qualified for it, and to have their hearts greatly engaged in it. One of them has been solemnly ordained to that work in Boston, and is now gone forth to one of those tribes, who have appeared well disposed to receive him; it being judged not convenient for the other to go till the next spring, by reason of his bodily infirmity.* These happy consequences of BRAINERD's journey to Boston would have been

*The appointment of these gentlemen to this mission has been hitherto much smiled on by providence; as in other respects, so particularly in wonderfully opening the hearts of many to contribute liberally to so excellent a design. Besides the benefactions in Boston, a number of persons at Northampton, with much cheerfulness, have given about 1601. (old tenor); and a particular person in Springfield has devoted a considerable part of his estate to this interest.

« AnteriorContinuar »