love," not more than three or four in the assembly, could refrain from tears and bitter cries. They all seemed in an agony to obtain an interest in Christ. Before this, one woman was rejoicing in hope. Now, two persons gave good evidence of a change. When asked what they wanted God to do for them, they replied, "they wanted Christ should wipe their hearts quite clean."

By this time the Indians from more remote parts began to collect; and it was remarkable that as fastas they came, the spirit of God seemed to fall upon them. Two more soon found hope in Christ.

But we are

now come to a time when the effectual influences of the Spirit were not confined to two or three individuals. About sixty five Indians were collected. In discoursing to them Mr. Brainerd observes he was favoured with uncommon freedom. I shall give an instance of the effect at one time in his own words-" The power of God seemed to descend upon the assembly like a rushing mighty wind.' I stood amazed at the influence which seized the audience almost universally, and could compare it to nothing more aptly than a mighty torrent, that bears down, and sweeps before it, whatever is in its way. Almost all persons, of all ages, were bowed down together; and scarce one was able to withstand the shock of this surprising operation. Old men and women who had been drunken wretches for many years, and some little children not more than six or seven years of age, appeared in distress for their souls; as well as persons of middle age. And it was apparent these children were not merely frighted with seeing the general concern, but were made sensible of their danger, the badness of their hearts, and their misery without Christ. The most stubborn hearts were now obliged to bow. A principal man, who before that thought his state good, because he knew more than the generality of the Indians, and who, with great confidence, the day before, told me he had been a Christian more than ten years, was now brought under sol

emn concern for his soul, and wept bitterly. Another man, considerable in years, who had been a murderer, a powaw and a notorious drunkard, was likewise brought now to cry for mercy with many tears, and to complain much that he could be no more concerned when he saw his danger was so great."—"They were, almost universally, praying and crying for mercy, in every part of the house; and many out of doors; and num. Ders could neither go nor stand. Their concern was so great, each for himself, that none seemed to take any notice of those about him; but each prayed for themselves, and were, to their own apprehension, as much retired as if every one had been by himself in a desert; or rather, they thought nothing about any, but themselves, and so were every one praying apart, although all were together."

Similar effects attended the preaching of the word, for several days; and they were especially powerful when the preacher insisted on the invitations of the gospel, and dwelt on the love of Christ for sinners. Within less than three weeks from this time, Mr. Brainerd baptized twenty five persons, fifteen adults, and ten children, and this number before the close of the year, was increased to seventy seven persons, thirty eight adults and thirty nine children. These were, principally, from the Indians at Crosweeksung, but some from the Forks of the Delaware. This place, he soon visited again, and was attended with the influence of the Spirit. In a little time twelve persons there received baptism.

It would be interesting to follow this indefatigable missionary in his various journeyings, and to witness his success among these heathen. But our limits do not permit. He continued to preach alternately at Crosweeksung and the Forks of the Delaware, besides making a third journey to Susquehannah, and visiting the Indians in several other places.

That he was eminently successful we have already The whole number of hopeful converts is not

seen.

6

known. That many had a real work of grace on their hearts we have reason to believe from what has already been said, and from particular instances of Chris tian experience, which might be mentioned. Of these I will give one. It is of a female. "When I came," says Mr. Brainerd, "to inquire of her how she got relief from the distresses she had lately been under, she answered in broken English, Me try, me try, save my. self-last my strength 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 are not willing to go to hell, were you? She replied, "Could not me help it. My heart he would be wicked for all. Could not me make him good.'-I asked her how she got out of this case. She answered, still in the same broken language, 'By and by, my heart be glad desperably.' I asked her why her heart was glad. She replied, Glad my heart, Jesus Christ, do what you please with me. Den me tink glad my heart, Jesus Christ send me to hell. Did not me care, where he put me, me love him for all.'" We shall not often find among more enlightened Christians, a better state of feeling. The same beneficial result, in a temporal point of view, followed the preach ing of Brainerd, as that of the other missionaries. The Indians, a hundred and fifty of whom had been collect-ed together, became moral, industrious, and in a good degree civilized.

After Mr. Brainerd had spent, with them, about three years and a half, he was obliged, in 1746, to leave them on account of his declining health. He had long. been apparently on the borders of the grave; but he seemed resolved actually to wear out in the service. He often travelled, sleeping in the wilderness upon the ground, or in some tree, when he raised blood most. profusely, and when his garments were wet through with his night sweats.

What Foster said of Howard has been well applied to Brainerd, "The energy of his determination was

so great, that if instead of being habitual, it had been shown only for a short time on particular occasions, it would have appeared a vehement impetuosity; but by being unintermitted, it had an equability of manner, which scarcely appeared to exceed the tone of a calm constancy, it was so totally the reverse of any thing like turbulence, or agitation. It was the calmness of an intensity, kept uniform, by the nature of the human mind forbidding it to be more, and the character of the individual forbidding it to be less. His conduct implied an inconceivable severity of conviction that he had one thing to do; and that he who would do some great thing, in this short life, must apply himself to the work, with such a concentration of his forces, as, to idle spectators who live only to amuse themselves, looks like insanity." Brainerd, indeed, displayed a memorable example, of this dedication of his whole being to his office, this eternal abjuration of the quiescent feelings. Such was the man whom God raised up to befriend the Indians, and such the glorious success which attended his short exertions. He died Oct. 6, 1747, in the

30th year of his age.

He was succeeded by his brother, John Brainerd, whose labours among the Indians appear to have been blessed for a time. The congregation increased to two hundred, old and young. These were fixed by the government of New-Jersey on 4000 acres of land. But owing to various causes, such as have usually destroyed the Indians in the vicinity of the Whites, they afterwards dwindled away. Even before the death of Mr. John Brainerd, at the close of the American war, their number had become small; and, of those who remained, some had gone back to paganism. After his death an ordained Indian, Daniel Simon, was placed over the congregation; but he being afterwards suspended for drunkenness, they were left without a teacher. In 1802, those who remained, 85 in number, were conducted, by commissioners from New-Jersey, to New-Stockbridge, and placed under the care of

o

Mr. Sergeant. Thus the bright morning which cheered the labours, of, perhaps, the most pious missionary in these latter ages, did not bring in "a day without clouds." It is, certainly melancholy to reflect, that the early progress of Christianity among the Aborigines of this country, has left very few permanent traces behind. Efforts to convert the Indians seem to have been too much like ploughing the sand. The next wind fills up the furrows. But may it not be asked "Would this have been the case, had the labour been continued? Certainly we may hope, that had there been incessant, pious exertions, to counteract those causes which corrupt the Indian, and make him melt away before the White man, the congregation, whose history has been sketched would have been preserved from dissolution, and the barren heath been changed into a "fruitful field."

CHAPTER V.

Further efforts among the Indians-Mr. Kirkland with the Senecas-the Oneidas-His sufferings--Driven away by the war-Indians request his return--Success -Low state of the mission-Mr. Jenkins--Speech of an Indian Chief-Mr. Horton-Mr. Parks-Mr. Blackburn-Mr. Badger.

To bring the history of attempts to convert the Aborigines of America, down to the present time, it is necessary briefly to notice some missions of inferior magnitude. In 1764, Mr. Samuel Kirkland, having just finished his course at college, proceeded in company with two Seneca Indians, on snow shoes, and with his pack of provisions on his back, two hundred and fifty miles through the wilderness, where there was no road, and not even a house in which to lodge, until he arrived at