Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

usefulness; never wasted his days in figuring to - himself what might be done, and what he would accomplish, at some future time: but his plans were always formed to be executed, as soon as drawn they were acted upon. When he began this journey, his body was very feeble, his mind dark and harassed with discouragement. He had preached and conversed with a view to enlighten the poor savages, to whom he devoted his labors almost every day, at least he embraced every opportunity which presented itself, without ever consulting his own ease or health; and he had travelled on horseback, and on foot, some thousands of miles, through the most dreary regions, and in the most unfavorable weather, with scarcely any prospect of success: yet he was not to be intimidated; he was determined to labor while he had life; to spend, and be spent, in his Master's work. He knew nothing but Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and when brought in competition with the excellency of this knowledge, he counted all things but dung and dross. What will not the love of Christ accomplish! Animated by this heavenly principle, the feeblest mortal will rise above mortality, and exhibit miracles of fortitude, magnanimity, courage, and perseverance. It is only this principle which can reconcile the ministers and the missionaries of the cross to incessant disappointment, and which will lead them to derive from disappointment itself new motives for unwearied and increased exertions. The Savior well knew the difficulties which the apostle Peter must encounter in fulfilling his apostolic mission; and before he sent him forth, he asked, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" And unless Brainerd could have answered this question aright, be would soon have abandoned a station, and an employment, which promised him nothing but poverty, hardships, and an untimely grave. But the love of Christ constrained him; and notwithstanding he had, for two years, almost labored in vain, compassion for perishing souls, a portion of that divine affection which led Jesus Christ to the accursed tree, and

which would not suffer him to come down from the cross, made him resolve, though standing on the shore of a sea of dangers, "to go forward."

CHAPTER VII.

His

Mr. Brainerd's reception at Crosweeksung. preaching. His journies. His amazing success. An abridgment of his journal, and extracts from his private diary. His illness, and return from his last journey to Susquahannah.

In the book of human life, there are generally a few bright pages; and it is now the pleasing task of the biographer of Brainerd, to record events the most delightful and satisfactory. Hitherto, we have seen him the pious missionary, going forth weeping, bearing precious seed. But now, the smile of joy lightens up his countenance, the days of his mourning are ended, and his reception and success at Crosweeksung, abundantly prove, that the conversion of untutored, uncivilized men to Christianity, by the simple means of preaching, is not an impossible, nor a wild and imaginary thing. The Gospel, among bond and free, the civilized and barbarous, when accompanied with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, is the power of God unto salvation. The sons of worldly wisdom, who take only a superficial glance of the subject, who judge of Christianity as a mere human system, exclaim, "civilize, before you attempt to evangelize." But from the success of Brainerd among the American savages it appears, that instruction in the Christian religion is the best and most effectual means of civilization: and as to the difficulties of teaching this religion to barbarians, it was found equally difficult to teach it to polished Athens, and learned Rome. Christ was crucified by a civilized people, and so were his apostles and first evangelists. Divine influence is, at all times, and in

all circumstances, absolutely necessary to render the preaching of the Gospel successful in the conversion of souls; and if this be withheld, whether in Britain, or in Africa, the carnal mind, savage or civilized, will be enmity against God. Like Paul, the missionaries and ministers of Christ "are debtors to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise and to the unwise." And while this command and promise stand on record, "Go ye forth, and preach the Gospel to every creature; and lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world;" the outward circumstances of men can never abrogate a law which provides against every discouragement. Duty is plain, and difficulties should not be considered: they must smooth themselves away before the agency of the Holy Spirit; and missionaries should not tremble at the prospect of what they conceive to be insurmountable barriers, for

"He can add wings when he commands to fly."

The crying sin of Christians in ages that are past, has been that they have conferred with flesh and blood, and staggered at the promise of God through unbelief; and it will be well if the blood of souls be not required at our hands: "Deliver thy servants from blood guiltiness, O Lord."

When Mr. Brainerd arrived at Crosweeksung, he found but few persons, and perceived that the Indians in those parts were very much scattered, there being not more than two or three families in a place; and these small settlements, six, ten, fifteen, twenty, and thirty miles from the spot which he had chosen, on which to commence his labors. To those few, however, who were there at the time, he preached; they appeared well disposed, and when he informed them that he was willing to preach to them again the next day; the women (for he had no male hearers,) like the woman of Samaria, seemed desirous that others might see the man that told them what they had done in their lives past, and the misery that attended their idolatrous ways; and they readily set out, and trav

elled ten or fifteen miles, in order to give notice to some of their friends at that distance. It will be interesting to furnish the reader, at one view, with his private experience and public labors and success. I shall, therefore, present them in connected relation, blending the most important parts of his diary and journal, and interspersing, now and then, a few lines to give information respecting his removals from place to place.

"June 20. Towards night, I preached to the Indians again; and had more hearers than before. In the evening I enjoyed peace and serenity of mind, composure and comfort in prayer: and was enabled to lift up my head, with joy, under an apprehension that my redemption draws nigh. Oh, blessed be God, that there remains a rest to his poor weary people.

21. I was refreshed in secret prayer; but saw myself a poor worthless creature, without wisdom to direct, or strength to help myself. Blessed be God, that lays me under a happy necessity of living upon himself!

"22. About noon, I rode to the Indians again; and near night preached to about thirty of them. I found my body much strengthened, and was enabled to speak with abundant plainness and warmth. And the power of God evidently attended the word; so that sundry persons were brought under great concern for their souls, and made to shed many tears, and to wish for Christ to save them. My soul was much refreshed, and quickened in my work; and I could not but spend much time with them, in order to open both their misery and remedy. While riding, before I came to the Indians, I was enabled to cry to God almost incessantly. In the evening also I found the consolations of God were not small: I was then willing to live, and in some respects desirous of it, that I might do something for the kingdom of Christ; and yet death appeared pleasant: so that I was in a strait between two. I am often weary of this world

[ocr errors]

but it is desirable to be drawn, rather than driven out of it.

"Lord's-day, June 23. I 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, although in times past they had been quite opposite to any thing of that nature.

"24. I 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 with them, although I was very weak, and my spirits much exhausted. They attended with the greatest seriousness and diligence; and there was some concern apparent among them.

"27. I 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 sundry ofthem.

28. The Indians being now gathered a considerable number of them, from their several distant habitations, requested me to preach twice a day to them, being desirous to hear as much as they could while I was with them. I cheerfully complied, and could not but admire the goodness of God, who had inclined them to inquire after the way of salvation.

"I preached twice to the Indians: and could not but wonder at their seriousness, and the strictness of their attention.-Blessed be God that he has inclined their hearts to hear. And O how refreshing it is to me, to see them attend with such uncommon diligence and affection.

"I likewise saw the hand of God making provision for their subsistence together, in order to their being instructed. 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

« AnteriorContinuar »