LIBRARY OF THE LELAND STANFORD UNIVERSITY. This Volume is Electrotyped by the liberality of COLONEL H. S. MCCOMB, of the Central Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, Delaware. A40063 MAR 29 1900 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by the in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States in and for the Electrotyped by L. Johnson & Co., Philadelphia. JAS. B. RODGERS, PR., PREFACE. THE inclination of the author has heretofore led him to "hoe short rows" in the field of literature. He has edited a Child's Paper, a Youth's Magazine, a Religious Newspaper, and aided in a Quarterly. He has printed articles in Literary Monthlies, published Sermons and Tracts often; but this is his first attempt in making a book. If he have but imperfectly succeeded, there need be no alarm among his friends: he is not likely to repeat the offence. Dr. Livingstone, after escaping from sixteen years' travel and peril in Africa, said he "would rather repeat his journey than rewrite his journal." We sympathize with him. The author's full professional labors and incidental duties have so absorbed his time and taxed his energies, that leisurely, discriminating, and accurate authorship would imply a miracle of self sacrificing ability. Failing to satisfy himself, he cannot hope to satisfy his critical friends. In sending this volume into the world, the author has, however, some consolations: 1. The work is finished, and off his hands. 2. His investigations have kept his eye on a pure and benevolent character, and led him into communion with a holy enterprise and the sainted fathers of the Church in the Middle States and New England. 3. Possessing the diary of his namesake and remote kinsman, and impressed by the holiness and consecration of his life, the author first projected this publication from family as well as public motives, with no expectation of gain or reputation; and, therefore, in any event he is not likely to be greatly disappointed. 4. His labor has been lightened and cheered by the ready aid of many friends, whose names it gives the author a grateful pleasure to record wherever he has appropriated their contributions. 5. By the ready insertion of such relevant documents as time has spared, and allowing John Brainerd to speak for himself by all the records he has left of his life, the author has aimed to illustrate his subject rather than himself, even if thereby he subordinated the temporary popularity of the volume to its final utility. 6. As to the literary execution of his task, the author is satisfied that he has used all accessible materials fully, and that he has written intelligibly. He has. furnished the historic facts set in plain English. If the critical ask for a better arrangement, higher coloring, and richer ornament, the world is wide, and they can employ a more skilful artist. 7. The book is sent into the world with a cheerful conviction that, if it accomplish no miraculous good, it certainly threatens no harm: for it attacks no religious denomination and stimulates no sectarian bitterness; but, like the "Life of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards," is adapted to those of all religious names, creeds, and forms, in all times and in all lands, "who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." Besides the persons to whom we have given credit for their aid, we desire to add those of Rev. Charles Bliss, of Reading, Mass., James C. Walkley, Esq., of Haddam, Conn., Cephas Brainerd, Esq., of New York, Rev. J. Addison Henry, O. H. Willard and George Young, Esqs., of Philadelphia. From our cousin, the Rev. Davis S. Brainerd, of Lyme, Conn., a native of Haddam and graduate of Yale College, and also at present one of its Corporators, we have had great sympathy in our labors. In a letter, under date of January 30, 1865, he says: "It affords me the truest gratification to learn that a living hand has lifted up the memory of an able and most estimable Christian minister from the almost complete oblivion under which it has so long lain. What there was of true eternal life in him will now be seen and profitably incorporated into the great Christian commonwealth of coming times." Our anxiety is not lest our work should be undervalued and censured: in the secularities of the age and the excitements of the country, its great peril is that IT WILL NOT BE THOUGHT OF AT ALL. PHILADELPHIA, March, 1865. THOMAS BRAINERD. |