REFLECTION VI.

There is much in the preceding account to excite and encourage God’s people to earnest prayers and endeavors for the advancement and enlargement of the kingdom of Christ in the world. Brainerd set us an excellent example in this respect. He sought the prosperity of Zion with all his might; and preferred Jerusalem above his chief joy. How did his soul long for it, and pant after it! how earnestly and often did he wrestle with God for it! and how far did he in these desires and prayers seem to be carried beyond all private and selfish views! being animated by a pure love to Christ, an earnest desire of his glory, and a disinterested affection to the souls of mankind.

The consideration of this, not only ought to be an incitement to the people of God, but may also be a just encouragement to them, to be much in seeking and praying for a general outpouring of the Spirit of God, and an extensive revival of religion. I confess, that God’s giving so much of a spirit of prayer for this mercy to so eminent a servant of his, and exciting him in so extraordinary a manner, and with such vehement thirstings of soul, to agonize in prayer for it, from time to time, through the course of his life, is one thing, among others, which gives me great hope that God has a design of accomplishing something very glorious for the interest of his church before long. One such instance as this, I conceive, gives more encouragement than the common, cold, formal prayers of thousands. As Brainerd’s desires and prayers for the coming of Christ’s kingdom were very special and extraordinary; so I think we may reasonably hope, that the God who excited those desires and prayers, will answer them with something special and extraordinary. And in a particular manner do I think it worthy of notice for our encouragement, that he had his heart unusually drawn out in longings and prayers for the flourishing of Christ’s kingdom on earth when he was in the approaches of death; and that with his dying breath he breathed out his departing soul into the bosom of his Redeemer, in prayers and pantings after the glorious event; expiring in very great hope that it would soon begin to be fulfilled.

I would not conclude these reflections without a grateful acknowledgment of the mercy of God in the circumstances of Brainerd’s death, and especially the gracious dispensation of Providence to me and my family, in so ordering that he, though the ordinary place of his abode was more than two hundred miles distant, should be brought to my house in his last sickness, and should die here. Thus we had opportunity for much acquaintance and conversation with him, to show him kindness in such circumstances, to see his dying behavior, to hear his dying speeches, to receive his dying counsels, and to have the benefit of his dying prayers. May God in infinite mercy grant, that we may ever retain a proper remembrance of these things, and make a due improvement of the advantages we have had in these respects! The Lord grant also, that the foregoing account of Brainerd’s life and death may be for the great spiritual benefit of all who shall read it, and prove a happy means of promoting the revival of true religion! Amen.

Perpetuated by the Donations of Messrs. George Douglass, Charles Starr and William A. Hallock, of New-York.

Transcriber’s Note

The frequent dated quotations from Brainerd’s diaries usually employ opening double-quotation marks, which are only sometimes closed before continuing to the next dated entry. The missing opening marks are supplied unless the narrative is clearly not directly from the diaries.

Punctuation (commas and full-stops) is restored where the text obviously has an appropriate space.

Other errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original. The following issues should be noted, along with the resolutions.

[6.2]	in bearing testimony against it[. /, l]iving and dying	Replaced.
[16.1]	or means I had in view[.]	Added.
[19.5]	by any of my performances[,] Eph. 2:1, 8.	Restored.
[20.21]	All this time the Spirt> of God	Inserted.
[24.8]	I was brought to see mysel[f]	Added.
[32.13]	under date of Septem[p/b]er 14	Replaced.
[38.19]	as I have had this evening[.]	Added.
[38.29]	“Your charms may gratify a SENSUAL mind[;]	Restored.
[43.1]	spent most of the day in that duty[,]	Restored.
[44.8]	and find him a “present help.[’/”]	Replaced.
[47.5]	My thoughts were much in eternity[,]	Restored.
[47.7]	Rode home to[ /-]night with Mr. Bellamy	Restored.
[48.22]	In the afternoon preached at Bethlehem[,]	Restored.
[48.25]	rejoice on this account[,] to all eternity	Restored.
[60.5]	March[.] 19.	Removed.
[88.7]	with the Rev. Mr. S[a/e]rgeant.	Replaced.
[88.29]	the hearts and consciences of the Indians[.]	Restored.
[108.34]	who commanded them to live by hunting[,]	Restored.
[118.1]	Dec. 7.[—]“Spent some time in prayer,	Added.
[125.34]	sent out his disciples two and two[·/;]	Presumably.
[134.20]	Lord’s day, June 23.—[“]Preached	Inserted.
[137.3]	would mantain and promote it	Inserted.
[150.26]	were filled with comfort at this season[.]	Restored.
[151.23]	Guttummau[k/h]alummeh	Replaced.
[152.34]	'Have mercy upon me[\b\b/; ]have	Restored.
[157.26]	August[.] 16.	Removed.
[160.10]	deep impressions of divine things[.]	Restored.
[162.33]	with real comfort and sweetness[.]	Restored.
[164.22]	Lord’s day, Sept. 1[.]—	Inserted.
[167.2]	Sept. 13.[“]After	Inserted.
[181.5]	Nov. 4.—[“]Discoursed	Inserted.
[186.34]	and obliged to interpret verbatim[.]	Restored.
[209.22]	Jan. 1, 1746.—“Spent	Inserted.
[217.1]	Feb. 1[.]—“My schoolmaster	Inserted.
[221.34]	Feb. 21.—[“]Preached	Inserted.
[222.31]	March[,] 1'.	Removed.
[223.7]	Lord’s day, March 2.—[“]Preached	Inserted.
[227.7]	O do let me die,[”/’] &c.	Replaced.
[227.34]	O strive[,] strive	Inserted.
[236.13]	to the commands of the second table[’]	Removed.
[240.28]	April 25[.]—“Set apart	Inserted.
[279.34]	to my latest moment[.]	Restored.
[285.9]	this day[,] this blessed, glorious season	Inserted.
[305.7]	Feb. 28.—[“]Was visited	Inserted.
[306.33]	But [‘]having obtained help from him,’ I yet live.	Inserted.
[344.28]	as I apprehend[,]	Added.