Life and Diary of David Brainerd - Edwards - I - Preface & Part 1

Required reading
Life and Diary of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the Preface and Part 1.

My summary
Today we begin the Life and Diary of David Brainerd.

In the Preface Edwards explains that God has two ways of recommending true religion to the world:
(i) doctrine and precept;
(ii) instance and example.

Edwards suggests that Brainerd is an excellent example and can motivate Christian growth.  However Edwards does point out two imperfections:
(i) Brainerd's melancholy spirit;
(ii) Brainerd's excessiveness in his labours.

Then in Part 1 we are given:
(i) a brief family history;
(ii) an extended account of his conversion;
(iii) his commencement of studies at Yale;
(iv) a brief account from Edwards of Brainerd's expulsion from Yale.

Before his conversion, Brainerd gives four things that particularly irritated his mind:
(i) the strictness of divine law;
(ii) that faith alone was the condition of salvation;
(iii) that he could not find out what faith was;
(iv) the sovereignty of God.

What grabbed me
I liked how Edwards pointed out the two imperfections of Brainerd at the beginning, particularly excessiveness in work: 'Another imperfection in Mr. Brainerd, which may be observed in the following account of his life, was his being excessive in his labours; not taking due care to proportion his fatigues to his strength. Indeed the case was very often such, by the seeming calls of Providence, as made it extremely difficult for him to avoid doing more than his strength would well admit of; yea, his circumstances and the business of his mission among the Indians were such, that great fatigues and hardships were altogether inevitable. However, he was finally convinced, that he had erred in this matter, and that he ought to have taken more thorough care, and been more resolute to withstand temptations to such degrees of labour as injured his health; and accordingly warned his brother, who succeeds him in his mission, to be careful to avoid this error.'

I think I do have the tendency to work too much.  And I think one of the best remedies to this is having a wife and child, they remind you to take time off.

Next week's reading
Read Parts 2 and 3.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.