with my long epistle. And now, that all needed provision may be made for the promotion and perfecting of this good work among the Indians, and you, among others, be made an happy instrument of the same; that many faithful laborers may be thrust forth, and all vacant parts of the harvest be supplied; that this wilderness in ticular may be turned into a fruitful field, and even the whole earth be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, is the fervent prayer of, Madam, your most obedient, humble servant, P.S. Since my settlement here, I have been obliged to advance above £200 for the building of the meetinghouse, for some necessary repairs of an old piece of an house that was on the spot, and for my support and other necessary expenses. This letter somewhat anticipates our narrative; alluding to his labors in the field which he was just entering in 1759. But, as it includes also facts occurring at an earlier period, it is relevant here. CHAPTER XXXII. ACTION OF SYNOD-WAS HE PASTOR AT NEWARK?-HIS LETTERS. 1760. THE Synod of New York and Philadelphia this year adopted the following minute, alike considerate in them and honorable to Mr. Brainerd: "It is known to many in the bounds of this Synod that some ministers, moved with an holy zeal to promote the kingdom of Christ among the Indian tribes, applied to the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, and obtained a grant of a certain sum of money yearly to support two missionaries to promote the conversion of the savage nations. They employed Mr. David Brainerd, whose praise is in the churches of Christ, and whose endeavors were blessed with success in this great work of bringing the Indians to a knowledge of Christ. "It pleased God soon to remove him from his useful labor on earth to the joys of his heavenly kingdom. As the name of Brainerd was dear to these poor tribes, his brother was chosen to succeed him in the mission, in which station he continued for seven or eight years; but, as the prospect of a troublesome war made the mission dangerous and disagreeable, the Commissioners, who employed him, dismissed him from his care of the Indians, and he was employed to preach the gospel at Newark. "At an Indian treaty, the province of New Jersey bought all the small tracts of land that the Indians claimed in different parts of the government; and, that they might still encourage the native inhabitants to reside among them in their own country, they bought and bestowed on the remnant of these people about four thousand acres of land, which they gladly accepted, and, as many of them were converted to Christianity, they earnestly requested that Mr. Brainerd might be granted to them again as a gospel minister. "The annuity which the Society in Scotland had allowed to the missionary was stopped upon Mr. Brainerd's dismission, though there was and is hope of procuring it again: Mr. Brainerd was requested by the Governor and Commissioners of Jersey to undertake the Indian mission. He applied to the Synod for advice; and, though he had a very comfortable settlement at Newark, yet the Synod, through an earnest desire to promote the kingdom of Christ among these poor Indians, advised him to give up these temporal advantages and settle as a missionary among those poor Indians, with which advice he readily and generously complied. But, as there is no provision yet made to support him, and to answer many and various expenses in preaching to and settling schools among those people, the Synod think themselves obliged to use all lawful endeavors to support said mission, and have now, at their Synodical meeting, agreed to contribute themselves and to make application to the congregations in the bounds of this Synod for a general collection to promote this pious and good design; and do order that a collection for this purpose be made in every congregation under the care of this Synod, and the respective collec tions be sent by the Moderators of the Presbyteries before the beginning of September to Mr. Jonathan Sergeant, near Princeton, who is to receive it and pay it to the Correspondents of the Indian mission, to be by them used for this purpose. "Ordered, that a copy of this minute be taken by the Moderators of such Presbyteries as are present, and sent to such as are absent."* The question has been raised, whether Mr. Brainerd was in fact settled as a pastor in Newark, inasmuch as the Rev. Dr. McWhorter fails to mention him in his "Century Sermon." The Synod, speaking deliberately and of its own knowledge, seems to conclude the matter: it says "he was comfortably settled in Newark." Why Dr. McWhorter totally ignored his pious and self-sacrificing predecessor is a mystery difficult of explanation or apology. As he succeeded Mr. Brainerd, there may have been personal relations of the parties to explain this strange omission. Probably Mr. Brainerd was never installed officially; but all the ecclesiastical writers recognize him as pastor in Newark, and he claims the same for himself. He says he had "some encouragement as a preacher there;" and, though his name is not in the catalogue of its ministers, we trust the influence of his teaching and prayers had a place in forming the character of a congregation so blessed of God and so wide-spread in its useful * Records of Presbyterian Church, pp. 299, 300. ness to the Church and the world during the century gone by. Let us now hear from Mr. Brainerd at his new home at Brotherton : BROTHERTON, NEW JERSEY, November 24, 1760. REV'D AND DEAR SIR: Yours to Mr. William Tennent by Mr. Whitaker he received at the Commencement, and immediately delivered it to me. I thought with an answer to have sent two little Indian girls to the care of Mr. Whitaker, at Norwich; but the fever and ague has so prevailed among the Indians, and continued so long, it is now become too late for this season: I hope to send them as early in the spring as will do. Both parents and children are pleased with the offer; and I am much pleased to hear that your school flourishes. I hope God will make it a distinguished blessing. I likewise rejoice to hear that more provision is made for the support of missionaries to the Indians: I could not tell you of one for Onohquanga. It is hoped such a person may present after a while: I shall make all the inquiry I can. My best regards to Mrs. Wheelock, etc.; love to the little boys. And please to accept the most respectful and affectionate salutations from, Reverend and honored sir, Your very humble servant, To the Rev'd Mr. WHEELOCK (LEBANON.) JOHN BRAINErd. We find Mr. Brainerd the next month still seek ing a missionary for another field. |