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From the journal of David Brainerd
As composed by Jonathon
Edwards
A letter to his brother John, at Bethel, the town of
christian Indians in New Jersey; written likewise at Boston, when he was
there on the brink of the grave, in the summer before his death.
Dear brother,
I am now just on the verge of eternity, expecting very speedily to
appear in the unseen world. I feel myself no more an inhabitant of
earth, and sometimes earnestly long to “depart and be with Christ.” I
bless God, he has for some years given me an abiding conviction, that it
is impossible for any rational creature to enjoy true happiness without
being entirely “devoted to him.” Under the influence of this conviction
I have in some measure acted. Oh that I had done more so! I saw both the
excellency and necessity of holiness in life; but never in such a manner
as now, when I am just brought to the sides of the grave. Oh, my
brother, pursue after holiness; press towards this blessed mark; and let
your thirsty soul continually say, “I shall never be satisfied till I
awake in thy likeness.” Although there has been a great deal of
selfishness in my views; of which I am ashamed, and for which my soul is
humbled at every view; yet, blessed be God, I find I have really had,
for the most part, such a concern for his glory, and the advancement of
his kingdom in the world, that it is a satisfaction to me to reflect
upon these years.
And now, my dear brother, as I must press you to pursue after personal
holiness, to be as much in fasting and prayer as your health will allow,
and to live above the rate of common Christians; so I must entreat you
solemnly to attend to your public work; labour to distinguish between
true and false religion; and to that end, watch the motions of God’s
Spirit upon your own heart. Look to him for help; and impartially
compare your experiences with his word. Read Mr. Edwards on the
Affections, where the essence and soul of religion is clearly
distinguished from false affections.
Value religious joys according to the subject matter of them: there are
many who rejoice in their supposed justification; but what do these joys
argue, but only that they love themselves? Whereas, in true spiritual
joys the soul rejoices in God for what he is in himself; blesses God for
his holiness, sovereignty, power, faithfulness, and all his perfections;
adores God that he is what he is, that he is unchangeably possessed of
infinite glory and happiness. Now when men thus rejoice in the
perfections of God, and in the infinite excellency of the way of
salvation by Christ, and in the holy commands of God, which are a
transcript of his holy nature; these joys are divine and spiritual. Our
joys will stand by us at the hour of death, if we can be then satisfied
that we have thus acted above self; and in a disinterested manner, if I
may so express it, rejoiced in the glory of the blessed God. I fear you
are not sufficiently aware how much false religion there is in the
world; many serious Christians and valuable ministers are too easily
imposed upon by this false blaze. I likewise fear, you are not sensible
of the dreadful effects and consequences of this false religion. Let me
tell you, it is the devil transformed into an angel of light; it is a
brat of hell, that always springs up with every revival of religion, and
stabs and murders the cause of God, while it passes current with
multitudes of well-meaning people for the height of religion. Set
yourself, my brother, to crush all appearances of this nature among the
Indians, and never encourage any degrees of heat without light. Charge
my people in the name of their dying minister, yea, in the name of him
who was dead and is alive, to live and walk as becomes the gospel. Tell
them, how great the expectations of God and his people are from them,
and now awfully they will wound God’s cause, if they fall into vice; as
well as fatally prejudice other poor Indians. Always insist, that their
experiences are rotten, that their joys are delusive, although they may
have been rapt up into the third heavens in their own conceit by them,
unless the main tenour of their lives be spiritual, watchful, and holy.
In pressing these things, “thou shalt both save thyself, and those that
hear thee. ”
God knows, I was heartily willing to have served him longer in the work
of the ministry, although it had still been attended with all the
labours and hardships of past years, if he had seen fit that it should
be so: but as his will now appears otherwise, I am fully content, and
can with utmost freedom say, “The will of the Lord be done.” It affects
me to think of leaving you in a world of sin: my heart pities you, that
those storms and tempests are yet before you, which I trust, through
grace, I am almost delivered from. But “God lives, and blessed be my
Rock:” he is the same Almighty Friend: and will, I trust, be your guide
and helper, as he has been mine.
And now, my dear brother, “I commend you to God, and to the word of his
grace, which is able to build you up, and give you inheritance among all
them that are sanctified. May you enjoy the divine presence both in
private and public; and may “the arms of your hands be made strong, by
the right hand of the mighty God of Jacob!” Which are the passionate
desires and prayers of Your affectionate dying brother,
DAVID BRAINERD. |
