might not only clothe themselves at a much cheaper rate, but would be more constantly at home to attend public services, and their children to attend the school; whereas they are now obliged to be much absent from our exercises of divine worship, and frequently to take their children with them. And truly 'tis in vain to pretend to keep these people together without bringing them into an English method of living. In order to make them a Christian people, considered as a body, and to keep up a Christian church among them, they must even in temporal respects conform to the manners of the Christian world.

Indians waiting to see the Result of Christianity.

Many of these people are sensible of this, and are using endeavors to get into such a way. Several of late have discovered an inclination to put out their children to learn trades, and some have actually done it,-a thing that heretofore they have shown a great aversion to. And in sundry other respects they have manifested a disposition to conform to the English; and I cannot but think if we could be at a little more expense with them, they would soon be brought into a better way of living. And the better circumstances these people are under, the more encouragement there would be for the remote Indians to embrace Christianity. They are now, many of them, waiting to see how it fares with their brethren who are become Christians, and whether they are in a better condition than themselves who remain heathen; and doubtless would be much influenced one way or the other, either to reject or embrace the Christian religion, -I mean, as to the outward and external part of it. I am sensible that for a person or people heartily to embrace this religion and become truly Christian, there is

absolute need that the power of Almighty God be exerted, and that nothing short of the irresistible operations of his Holy Spirit will produce such an effect,— which may the Lord grant as an attendant of his gospel throughout the whole world!

Thus I have, after some sort, represented the state of the Indian affairs here and elsewhere, and what appears to me necessary to the further propagating the gospel and carrying on the work of God among them, secretly hoping that, through the blessing of Heaven, it may some way or other be a means of strengthening our hands and helping us forward in so good a work.

May the Lord open the hearts of his people as opportunity shall present to contribute liberally to such a pious and charitable design. May many faithful instruments be raised up and sent forth, who shall be willing to spend and be spent in so good a cause; and may the effectual operations of the Divine Spirit attend a preached gospel to the most distant parts of the world, till the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

(Signed)

BETHEL, August 30, 1751.

JOHN BRAINErd.

CHAPTER XXIV.

MR. BRAINERD'S SALARY-HIS LONDON LETTER.

1752.

THE salary of David Brainerd, as we have said, was forty pounds (two hundred dollars) a year. He says that, in addition to this, he had spent in less than three years fifteen hundred dollars of his own means to carry on his mission,all this in addition to his support of a candidate for the ministry in Yale College. John Brainerd probably had less means, and, as he was about to marry and settle in life, and was subjected otherwise to extraordinary expenses in his labors, it is no wonder he felt pinched and sought an "augmentation of stipend." His first application failed, but he succeeded to a moderate extent the next year. We quote again from the records of the Scotch Society in Edinburgh:

Extract from the Minutes, dated Edinburgh, 21st September, 1752.

"Read the minutes of the correspondent members at London, at their meeting held the sixth day of August; that he had paid twenty pounds, as a half-year's salary, to Mr. John Brainerd, from the fifteenth day of Septem

ber, one thousand seven hundred and fifty-one years, to the fifteenth day of March last, as missionary-minister abroad, whereby there is a balance in Mr. Johnston their cashier's hands of one hundred and eighty-five pounds, nine shillings, and nine pence; that the said Correspondents at London have recommended to this Society to augment the salary of the said Mr. John Brainerd, in respect of his very great fatigue and expense in his missions. The Committee, after reasoning, resolved that the said Mr. Brainerd have ten pounds of augmentation to his salary, commencing from the fifteenth day of September instant."

To whom the following letter is addressed we have no certain knowledge.

Brainerd corresponded with the Rev. Philip Doddridge, the Marquis of Lothian, and many others in England. As the prefix "Rev." is attached, I am inclined to think it was sent to Dr. Doddridge, who in his "Life of David Brainerd" says he had invited John Brainerd's correspondThe letter lies before us in a neat pamphlet. An extract from it has been often republished, but the entire letter has never been reprinted in this country. We give the title verbatim:

ence.

* See Gillies' Collection, Glasgow, 1754, p. 448; "Dwight's Life of Brainerd," 449, and elsewhere.

A GENUINE

LETTER

FROM

Mr. JOHN BRAINERD,

Employed by the

SCOTCH SOCIETY for Propagating the
GOSPEL,

A MISSIONARY to the Indians in America, and MINISTER to a Congregation of Indians, at Bethel in East Jersey,

To his FRIEND in ENGLAND.

Giving an Account of the Success of his Labours, as well as the Difficulties and Discouragements that attend his MısSION among those Savages.

LONDON:

Printed for J. WARD, at the King's-Arms in Cornhill.
M.DCC.LIII.

(Price 2 d. or 18 d. per Dozen.)