and then proceed against its author, as against a ❝thief and a robber." I pity the studen ́s who could be awed by the threats of such men, to disclose the subject of a familiar conversation; above all I pity the meanness of these little governors," which involved them in the guilt of a transaction so dishonorable and base. And on the above account, I would only remark, that if the circumstances and exigencies of the college at that time, justified the severity of the superiors, on what principles of Christian charity and kindness are we to account for their subsequent and persevering hostility to a man, who sinned but once, and that in word only; and whose whole life was so blameless, so holy, that the enemies of religion, as well as its friends, pronounce him blessed. Some men are deadly in their hate, and so marvellously wise, that they can decide on a man's character from one or two words and actions; and though the whole tenor of his general spirit and conduct for ever gives the lie to their conclusion, their decision is like the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not: for such persons to forgive an offending brother seven times, would be ture little less than crucifixion, and as for the "seventy times seven," it is one of the passages they would willingly blot from the book of God. My soul, come not thou into their secret, unto their assembly mine honor be not thou united. Brainerd had infinitely the advantage of these cruel governors; from the eater he extracted honey, and from their persevering opposition be learnt a lesson of prudence; he was more weaned from the world, more entirely devoted to God, and his work as a missionary of Jesus. And this is the improvement which every good man will make of unfeeling persecution and hostility.

tor

CHAPTER III.

His removal to Mr. Mills's, at Ripton. The preparatory steps to his becoming a preacher and a missionary.

THE life of a student, is not the field in which the philosopher or the curious will range to collect observations on the human character, or materials for pleasure. From a general barrenness of incidents to seize the attention and captivate the mind, it appears insipid and destitute of interest. From the month of April, 1742, to the July following, Mr. Brainerd was a recluse; his examination and license to preach, and his examination by the correspondents of the society for promoting Christian knowledge, and his appointment to be their missionary, were the only active scenes in which he was engaged. These were certainly events of considerable importance to him; and he would consider the year in which they occurred as a very memorable period of his life. On his expulsion from college he became a resident with the Rev. Mr. Mills, of Ripton; and under this gentleman pursued those studies which, from his persecution, had suffered a temporary interruption. His diary, at this period, discloses the heart of a missionary; and we here discover the first ardent breathings of his soul for the conversion of the heathen. From it we also learn, that an unsuccessful effort was made by his friends to restore him to college, and to reinstate him in the enjoyment of its privileges. This disappointment he must have severely felt, as he was soon to have taken his degree, and would have been the first of a very numerous class. The spirit in which he narrates this mortifying circumstance, and the state of his mind in reference to the event of his expulsion, exhibit him in a very interesting point of view; and we cannot but pity the man whose soul

could suffer him to be the enemy of David Brainerd. -The following extracts must be interesting.

"Tuesday, April 6. I cried to God to wash my soul, and cleanse me from my exceeding filthiness. And I could think of undergoing the greatest sufferings with pleasure; and found myself willing (if God should so order) to suffer banishment from my native land, among the heathen, that I might do something for their salvation, in distresses and deaths of any kind. Then God gave me to wrestle earnestly for others, for the kingdom of Christ in the world, and for my dear Christian friends. I felt myself weaned from the world, and from my own reputation, willing to be despised, and to be a gazing-stock for the world. It is impossible for me to express what I then felt: I had not much joy, but a sense of the majesty of God, which made me tremble: I saw myself mean and vile, which made me more willing that God should do what he would with me; it was all infinitely reasonable.

“Thursday, April 8. 1 had hopes respecting the heathen. O that God would bring in numbers of them to Christ! I cannot but hope I shall see that glorious day. Every thing in this world seems exceeding vile and little to me; I look so myself.

"Monday, April 12. This morning the Lord was pleased to lift up the light of his countenance upon me in secret prayer, and made the season very precious to my soul. I felt myself exceeding calm, and quite resigned to God respecting my future employment, when and where he pleased: my faith lifted me above the world, and removed all those mountains, that I could not look over of late: I wanted not the favor of men to lean upon; for I knew Christ's favor was infinitely better, and that it was no matter when and where nor how Christ should send me, nor what trials he should exercise me with, if I might be prepared for his work and will. I now found sweetly revived in my mind the wonderful discovery of infinite wisdom in all the dispensations of God towards me, which I had a little before 1 met

with my great trial at college: every thing appeared full of the wisdom of God.

"Wednesday, April 14. My soul longed for communion with Christ, and for the mortification of indwelling corruption, especially spiritual pride. O there is a sweet day coming, wherein "the weary will be at rest!" My soul has enjoyed much sweetness this day in the hopes of its speedy arrival.

Thursday, April 15. My desires centered in God, and I found a sensible attraction of soul after him; I long for God, and a conformity to his will, in inward holiness, ten thousand times more than for any thing here below.

"Lord's day, April 18. I retired early this morning into the woods for prayer, and was enabled to plead with fervency for the advancement of Christ's kingdom. At night, I saw myself infinitely indebted to God, and had a view of my short comings: it seemed to me, that I had done nothing for God; and that I had lived to him but a few hours of my life.

"Monday, April 19. I set apart this day for fasting and prayer to God for his grace, to prepare me for the work of the ministry, and in his own time to send me into his harvest. I felt a power of intercession for the advancement of the kingdom of my dear Lord: and withal, a sweet resignation, and even joy, in the thoughts of suffering hardships, distresses, yea, death itself, in the promotion of it. In the afternoon, "God was with me of a truth.' O, it was blessed company indeed! God enabled. me so to agonize in prayer, that I was quite wet with sweat, though in the shade, and the wind cool. My soul was drawn out very much for the world; I grasped for multitudes of souls. I had more enlargement for sinners than for the children of God, though I felt as if I could spend my life in cries for both. I never felt such an entire weanedness from this world, and so much resigned to God in every thing. O that I may always live to and upon my blessed God.

"Tuesday, April 20. This day I am twenty-four years of age. O how much mercy have I received the year past! How often has God Caused his goodness to pass before me!' And how poorly have I answered the vows I made this time twelve-month to be wholly the Lord's; to be forever devoted to his service! The Lord help me to live more to his glory. This has been a sweet day to me-blessed be God. I think my soul was never so drawn out in intercession for others. I had a fervent wrestle with the Lord for my enemies; and I hardly ever so longed to live to God, and to be altogether devoted to him.

"Lord's-day, April 25. This morning spent about two hours in secret, and was enabled, more than ordinarily, to agonize for immortal souls: though it was early in the morning, and the sun scarcely shined at all, yet my body was quite wet with sweat. Felt myself much pressed, frequently of late, to plead for the meekness and calmness of the Lamb of God. O, it is a sweet disposition, heartily to forgive all injuries, to wish our greatest enemies as well as we do our own souls! Blessed Jesus, may I daily be more and more conformed to thee! At night was exceedingly melted with divine love, and had a sense of the blessedness of the upper world. Those words hung upon me with much sweetness, Psal. lxxxiv, 7. "They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." O the near access that God sometimes gives us in our addresses to him! This may well be termed appearing before God; it is so indeed, in the true spiritual sense. I have not had such power of intercession these many months, both for God's children, and for dead sinners. I longed for the coming of my dear Lord: I longed to join the angelic hosts in praises, wholly free from imperfection. O the blessed moment hastens! All I want is to be more holy, more like my dear Lord. O for sanctification! My very soul pants for the complete restoration of the blessed image of my Savior; that I may be fit for the bless