Brainerd continues to preach with power and in addition to preaching spends his time:
- catechising from the Shorter Catechism;
- baptising adults and children;
- administering the Lord's Supper;
- counselling those convicted by their sin;
- encouraging days of fasting and prayer;
- teaching church discipline.
Brainerd describes his Indians in the following way: 'I know of no assembly of Christians, where there seems to be so much of the presence of God, where brotherly love so much prevails, and where I should take so much delight in the public worship of God, in the general, as in my own congregation: although not more than nine months ago, they were worshipping devils and dumb idols under the power of pagan darkness.'
I can see why this section has been published separately! What a wonderful account of the work of God among sinners. Although to read it on its own without hearing of the agonising that Brainerd had over them would be dishonest.
I particularly enjoyed his interview with one woman: 'When I came to discourse particularly with her, and to inquire of her, how she got relief and deliverance from the spiritual distresses she had lately been under, she answered in broken English, “Me try, me try, save myself, last my strength be all gone, (meaning her ability to save herself,) could not me stir bit further. Den last, me forced let Jesus Christ alone, send me hell if he please.” I said, But you was not willing to go to hell, was you? She replied, “Could not me help it. My heart he would wicked for all. Could not me make him good;” (meaning she saw it was right she should go to hell because her heart was wicked, and would be so after all she could do to mend it). I asked her, how she got out of this case? She answered still in the same broken language, “By by my heart be grad desperately.” I asked her why her heart was glad? She replied, “Grad my heart Jesus Christ do what he please with me. Den me tink, grad my heart Jesus Christ send me hell. Did not me care where he put me, me lobe him for all,” &c. And she could not readily be convinced but that she was willing to go to hell, if Christ was pleased to send her there. Though the truth evidently was, her will was so swallowed up in the divine will, that she could not frame any hell in her imagination that would be dreadful or undesirable, provided it was but the will of God to send her to it. '
Happy to be sent to hell because she trusts that God's will would always do what is for her good - what amazing commitment to God!
Read the First Appendix.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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