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David Brainerd
David Brainerd (1718–1747). Born on April 20, 1718, in Haddam, Connecticut, to Hezekiah and Dorothy Brainerd, David Brainerd was an American missionary and preacher whose brief life profoundly influenced evangelical missions. Orphaned by 14—his father died in 1727, his mother in 1732—he was raised by relatives, inheriting a modest estate. Converted at 21 in 1739 during a spiritual awakening, he sensed a call to ministry and enrolled at Yale College in 1739, but was expelled in 1742 for criticizing a tutor’s faith, aligning with New Light revivalists. Licensed by the New York Presbytery in 1742, he began preaching to Native Americans under the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge. From 1743 to 1747, he ministered to tribes in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, notably the Delaware Indians at Crossweeksung, where his fervent sermons, translated by Moses Tunda Tatamy, led to a 1745–1746 revival with over 100 conversions. Battling tuberculosis and depression, Brainerd kept a diary, later published by Jonathan Edwards as The Life and Diary of David Brainerd (1749), which inspired missionaries like William Carey and Jim Elliot. His books, Mirabilia Dei inter Indicos (1746) and Divine Grace Displayed (1746), detailed his work. Unmarried, he died at 29 on October 9, 1747, in Edwards’ home in Northampton, Massachusetts, saying, “I am going into eternity, and it is sweet to me to think of eternity.”
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David Brainerd preaches about the soul's conformity to God, emphasizing the importance of loving God with a supreme love, acting above selfish desires for His glory, and finding contentment in surrendering to the divine will. He shares his personal experience of clarity of thought and serenity of mind during illness, leading to a deeper understanding of divine truths and the essence of religion.
Conformity to God
"…conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29) How I was, the first day or two of my illness, with regard to the exercise of reason, I scarcely know; I believe I was somewhat shattered with the violence of the fever, at times. But the third day of my illness, and constantly afterwards for four or five weeks together, I enjoyed as much serenity of mind, and clearness of thought, as perhaps I ever did in my life. I think my mind never penetrated with so much ease and freedom into divine things, as at this time. I never felt so capable of demonstrating the truth of many important doctrines of the gospel as now. And as I saw clearly the truth of those great doctrines, which are justly styled the doctrines grace; so I saw with no less clearness, that the essence of religion consisted in the soul's conformity to God, and acting above all selfish views, for His glory, longing to be for Him, to live to Him, and please and honor Him in all things. And this from a clear view of His infinite excellency and worthiness in Himself to be loved, adored, worshiped, and served by all intelligent creatures. Thus I saw, that when a soul loves God with a supreme love, he there in acts like the blessed God Himself, who most justly loves Himself in that manner: So when God's interest and his are become one, and he longs that God should be glorified and rejoices to think that He is unchangeably possessed of the highest glory and blessedness, herein also he acts in conformity to God. In like manner; when the soul is fully resigned to, I and rests satisfied and contented with, the divine will, here it is also conformed to God.
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David Brainerd (1718–1747). Born on April 20, 1718, in Haddam, Connecticut, to Hezekiah and Dorothy Brainerd, David Brainerd was an American missionary and preacher whose brief life profoundly influenced evangelical missions. Orphaned by 14—his father died in 1727, his mother in 1732—he was raised by relatives, inheriting a modest estate. Converted at 21 in 1739 during a spiritual awakening, he sensed a call to ministry and enrolled at Yale College in 1739, but was expelled in 1742 for criticizing a tutor’s faith, aligning with New Light revivalists. Licensed by the New York Presbytery in 1742, he began preaching to Native Americans under the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge. From 1743 to 1747, he ministered to tribes in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, notably the Delaware Indians at Crossweeksung, where his fervent sermons, translated by Moses Tunda Tatamy, led to a 1745–1746 revival with over 100 conversions. Battling tuberculosis and depression, Brainerd kept a diary, later published by Jonathan Edwards as The Life and Diary of David Brainerd (1749), which inspired missionaries like William Carey and Jim Elliot. His books, Mirabilia Dei inter Indicos (1746) and Divine Grace Displayed (1746), detailed his work. Unmarried, he died at 29 on October 9, 1747, in Edwards’ home in Northampton, Massachusetts, saying, “I am going into eternity, and it is sweet to me to think of eternity.”