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and tarried there all night; was very kindly entertained, and had considerable refreshment in conversation. Attended family prayers and secret devotions, in which I had comfortable composure of mind and something of freedom. Praised be the Lord!

Tuesday, Aug. 22.-Attended religious duties, and after some time took leave of Dr. Le Count and his spouse, and rode about three miles to a medicinal spring, where were a number of my people, who came there to drink the waters; with these I spent considerable time in conversation and prayer. Took leave of them, and went to several houses in Freehold, where I had business, and in the evening came to Mr. Tennent's; after some conversation with him, attended to religious duties and went to

rest.

Wednesday, Aug. 23.-Took leave of Mr. Tennent and his spouse, and returned home. Visited the sick man mentioned the day before yesterday, and found him still very low, but yet, I hope, something better. In the evening called my people together, and explained to them the four last commandments, concluding with some spiritual improvement.

Returned home; visited the poor sick man again, &c. Spent some time in reading, and attended religious duties with some comfortable freedom. The Lord's name be

praised!

The simplicity of this diary may strike some as almost puerile; but, as a transcript of a real life one hundred years ago, it will be of interest.

We see from it the regularity and specialty of Brainerd's devotions. How constantly he watched

for the Divine Presence in his prayers, and how gratefully he acknowledged any special influence of the Spirit on his own heart! Every hour had its duty, and every duty was assigned to its appropriate hour. This entire absorption in his work; his readiness to sympathize with the poor, to bear their burdens, and improve their character and condition; his humility, prayerfulness, and earnest fidelity to every obligation, marked him as a model missionary and a fit disciple of Him who "fulfilled all righteousness."

15

CHAPTER XIV.

A JOURNEY OVER THE DELAWARE-VISITS PRINCETON-HOPEWELLCROSSES THE RIVER-FINDS SOME INDIANS, AND PREACHES ΤΟ THEM-HIS INTERPRETER RETURNS HOME WITH THREE SQUAWSREV. CHARLES BEATTY, SAMUEL HAZARD, ESQ., REV. RICHARD TREAT.

THURSDAY, Aug. 24.—Visited the sick man; found him considerably better, and had some discourse with him. Blessed be the gracious Lord for his kindness to him!

Visited the sick Indian again, and prayed with him; took leave of him and several others of my people, and set out on a journey about three o'clock in the afternoon. Called at Mr. Wales' as I passed along; tarried a little while, and then came to Princeton. Went to Justice Stockton's,* and tarried there. I spent the evening mostly in conversation, and afterwards attended family and secret duties, in which I was favored with some comfortable composure of mind, but had no special enlargement.

* By Justice Stockton, Mr. Brainerd refers to John Stockton, Esq., of Princeton, father of the Hon. Richard Stockton, of Revolutionary memory. The grandfather of Richard Stockton purchased some five thousand or six thousand acres of land at an early day, and, leaving it to his heirs, founded one of the most affluent families in the State. We believe the present Commodore R. H. Stockton, a lineal descendant of John, still retains a portion of the first purchase. John Stockton was an elder of the church, a gentleman of fortune and influence, a most liberal friend of the College of New Jersey and its early presidents, and a presiding judge in the county court. His house was a frequent home for both the Brainerds. His memory is blessed!

Friday, Aug. 25.-Attended religious duties. Took leave of Mr. Stockton and the family, and proceeded on my journey, but felt very unwell; it being very hot, I could not travel far. Stopped at two or three places, with my friends. Came a little

and spent some time after sundown to Mr. Paine's, at Hopewell,* and there tarried all night. Was much indisposed; notwithstanding, had considerable discourse on divine subjects, and, I trust, some real taste of divine things in family and secret duties.

Saturday, Aug. 26.-Set out with my interpreter towards Delaware. Travelled about twelve miles up the stream, and crossed the river; then rode about eight or nine miles, and found the Indians I was in quest of. Spent the remainder of the day with them, mostly in private conversation and prayer. In the evening went to a house about a mile off, where I was courteously entertained. Was much indisposed, and had no special freedom in holy duties. The Lord graciously quicken me by his Holy Spirit!

Lord's day, Aug. 27.-Had some taste of divine things

* Hopewell was the ancient name of Pennington, in Mercer county. The church was founded in 1709, and is yet flourishing. It is eight miles north of Trenton, and on Brainerd's course from Princeton to Neshaminy, Pa. In 1744, what was termed a "New Light Church" was erected, by persons who seceded from the Presbyterian Church under the labors of Whitefield, Tennent, and others. (Webster's History.) The last preacher of this church was the famous Rev. James Davenport, who died there in 1757, aged forty years. After his death, his congregation, having perhaps accomplished its mission as a witness for holy zeal and eminent earnestness in religion, returned to the old church. The two parties may have been necessary to each other. Mr. Paine doubtless belonged to the new church.

in holy duties this morning; was still very unwell. However, I visited the Indians again, and spent the forenoon with them.

Attended public worship, and had some divine aid in prayer and preaching. One or two persons were considerably affected; the rest attended with commendable decency. In the afternoon I preached to a large number of white persons, who gathered together; and it pleased God to give me very comfortable freedom in speaking to them, and sundry persons seemed to be much affected with divine truths. Afterwards spent some time with the Indians, conversing with them privately.

*

Felt very poorly; not able to sit up long; but it pleased God to give me comfortable freedom of soul in family and secret duties. Forever praised be his holy name!

Monday, Aug. 28.—Visited the Indians again, and spent the forenoon with them. Conversed privately with them some time, and afterwards preached to them. The word was attended unto with decency and much seriousness; and, as they were about to remove, I endeavored to per

*These frequent allusions to ill health are remarkable and painful in a young man of twenty-eight. He shared, we fear, in the feeble constitution that carried his brother David to the grave at twentynine, Nehemiah at thirty-two, Israel at twenty-three, and his sister, Jerusha Spencer, at thirty-four. Though he himself reached sixty, his whole life seems to have been a struggle with physical infirmity. It must, however, be confessed that in the whole Brainerd family for two hundred years there has been a tendency to a morbid depression, akin to hypochondria. They have been generally, in fact, long-lived, and in health relatively better in old age than in youth. But their nervous sensibility, restless activity, and impaired digestion, either as a cause or effect of peculiar temperament, have made them often in imagination "die daily.” Quorum pars fui.

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