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discourse with his brother John, concerning his congregation in New Jersey, and the interest of religion among the Indians. In the latter part of the night, his bodily distresses seemed to rise to a greater height than ever; and he said to those then about him, that 'It was another thing to die than what people imagined;' explaining himself to mean they were not aware what bodily pain and anguish are undergone before death. Toward day, his eyes were fixed; and he continued lying immovable, until about six o'clock in the morning, and then expired, on Friday, October 6, 1747, when his soul was received by his dear Lord and Master, as an eminently faithful servant, into a state of perfection, of holiness, and fruition of God, which he had so ardently longed for."

Thus died, in the 30th year of his age, the excellent and indefatigable David Brainerd, after having been engaged four years in the arduous labor of a missionary of Christ.

"Much respect was shown to his memory at his funeral; which was on the Monday following, after a sermon preached the same day, on that occasion. His funeral was attended by eight of the neighboring ministers, seventeen other gentlemen of liberal edu. cation, and a great concourse of people."

If the greatness of a character is to be estimated by the object which it pursues, the dangers it braves, the difficulties it encounters, and the purity and energy of its motives, David Brainerd is one of the greatest characters that ever appeared in the world. Compared with this standard of greatness, what little things are the Alexanders, the Cæsars, the conquerors, and the tyrants of the whole earth. A nobler object no human or angelic mind could ever

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propose to itself, than to promote the glory of the great Governor of the universe, in studying and laboring to diffuse purity and happiness among his unholy and miserable creatures. To pursue this object with unwearied and unchangeable firmness, to make every thought, wish, and action to center in it, and to suffer the greatest hardships rather than for one moment to abandon it, displays an ele vation of character which excites in the beholder the profoundest reverence. But it is motive which is mighty in the eye of heaven. And who will impeach the motives of a man who endured all his afflictions, who encountered all his difficulties in the promotion of a cause which the world despises, and in opposition to ambition, the love of wealth, the love of ease, and a passion for fame. Take away these stimuli from the little creatures we call great, and they sink into insipid negligence and fatuity. Purity of motive is essential to real worth, and that worth is to be estimated by the energy of the principle. Love to God and man, as we have before remarked, led Brainerd to renounce the quiescent feelings, nor was there any thing in the feeble state of his body, and the apparently insurmountable barriers which surrounded him on every side that could damp his ardor. His benevolence was an immortal flame. Many waters could not quench it, neither could the floods drown it, and at this moment, it warms the spirit that tunes the loudest and the sweetest harp in heaven.

The life of Brainerd presents a conduct worthy of the closest imitation. Twenty such men in Britain laboring for ten years, what would they not accomplish, not a town, not a village in the empire would have reason to complain "No man careth for our

souls." Lord of the harvest send forth many such laborers. "Thou that hast the seven stars in thy right hand, appoint thy chosen priests according to their orders and courses of old, to minister before thee, and duly to press and pour out the consecrated oil into thy holy and ever-burning lamps. For this purpose, send out the spirit of prayer upon thy churches, and stir up their vows as the sound of many waters round about thy throne."

We learn from the life of holy Brainerd the value and honor which we ought to put upon the missionaries of Christ. If we esteem ministers who labor in civilized places, surrounded by their friends, and protected by law, surely missionaries, whose exertions are far more abundant than theirs, and who are deprived of all the endearments of society, and exposed to the most imminent dangers, have an infinitely higher claim upon our regard.

A missionary demands our admiration. To sacrifice every earthly interest, to choose a dreary exile, to abjure the consolations of friendship in our native country, to labor where we are not known, where the voice of encouragement is never heard, and the tear of affection never mingled with our own, displays a greatness beyond even the conception of common men. I never see a missionary but I think I behold a visible representation of Him who went about doing good.

A missionary claims our sympathy. What! are we brethren in Christ Jesus? Do we long for the glory of Messiah's kingdom? And shall we not remember, with sympathizing kindness, those who, because the love of Christ constraineth them, are voluntary sufferers in heathen countries. Yes! ye missionaries of Jesus; if we forget you, "May our right hand forget its cunning."

Missionaries need our prayers. In this respect we are bound to hold up their hands. We should never bow before a throne of grace without earnestly imploring the choicest blessings of heaven to be poured forth upon them.

Missionaries likewise deserve our support; we should give of the 'Gold of Sheba,' to those who are the most active and devoted laborers in the vineyard of our Lord. They should suffer no pri vation when we can furnish them with the comforts they require. "Supported is their right," and I dare believe that the liberality of Christians will always encourage the work of missions, that they will ever exert themselves for the glorious object which they have solemnly pledged themselves to promote at the altar of devotion.

We have abundant reason to rejoice in the diffu sion of a missionary spirit, and in the increase of missionaries. Holy Brainerd feels his heaven enriched while he contemplates the enlargement of Emmanuel's empire. He was but the morning. star of a missionary day. The twilight has now passed away, the morning dawns, the star gives place to the glorious sun, and that sun shall enlighten the whole globe at one and the same moment: the earth shall be full of his glory, and it shall be a glory of grace and truth, of righteousness and peace. "O thou Prince of the kings of the earth, come forth out of thy royal chambers, put on the visible robes of thy imperial majesty, take up that unlimited sceptre, which thy Almighty Father hath bequeathed thee, for now the voice of thy bride calls thee, and all creatures sigh to be

renewed."

APPENDIX.
Containing

SOME REFLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE
MEMOIRS OF MR. BRAINERD.

BY PRESIDENT EDWARDS.

WE have here opportunity, as I apprehend, in a very lively instance, to see the nature of true religion; and the manner of its operation when exemplified in a high degree and powerful exercise. Particularly it may be worthy to be observed,

How greatly Mr. Brainerd's religion differed from that of some pretenders to the experience of a clear work of saving conversion wrought on their hearts; who depending and living on that, settle in a cold, careless, and carnal frame of mind, and in a neglect of thorough, earnest religion, in the stated practice of it. Although his convictions and conversion were in all respects exceeding clear, and very remarkable; yet how far was he from acting as though he thought he had got through his work, when once he had obtained comfort, and satisfaction of his interest in Christ, and title to heaven? On the contrary, that work on his heart, by which he was brought to this, was with him evidently but the beginning of his work, his first entering on the great business of religion and the service of God, his first setting out in his race. His obtaining rest of soul in Christ, after earnest striving to enter in at the strait gate, and being violent to take the kingdom of heaven, he did not look upon as putting an end to any further occasion for striving and violence in religion; but these were continued still, and maintained constantly, through all changes, to the, very end of life. His work was not finished, nor his race ended, till life was ended; agreeable to Scripture representations of the Christian life. He continued pressing forward in a constant manner, forgetting the things that were behind, and reaching forth towards the things that were before. His pains and earnestness in the business of religion were rather increased, than diminished, after he had received comfort and satisfaction concerning the safety of his state. Those divine principles, which after this he was actuated by, of love to God, and longings and thirstings after holi

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