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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 reflects on his unworthiness and struggles with feeling vile and inadequate to preach the gospel, expressing a deep sense of repentance and self-abhorrence. Despite his inner turmoil, he acknowledges his need for God's special help to be faithful in his ministry and experiences God's goodness and enabling power during a challenging preaching session. Brainerd's journey highlights the constant battle between personal unworthiness and divine empowerment in serving God.
Useful to God
"Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:6). Tuesday, October 26. (At West Suffield) Underwent the most dreadful distresses, under a sense of my own unworthiness. It seemed to me I deserved rather to be driven out of the place than to have anybody treat me with any kindness, or come to hear me preach. Verily my spirits were so depressed at this time (as at many others) that it was impossible I should treat immortal souls with faithfulness. I could not deal closely and faithfully with them, I felt so infinitely vile in myself. Oh, what dust and ashes I am, to think of preaching the gospel to others! Indeed I never can be faithful for one moment, but shall certainly "daub with untempered mortar" if God do not grant me special help. In the evening I went to the meetinghouse, and it looked to me near as easy for one to rise out of the grave and preach, as for me. However, God afforded me some life and power, both in prayer and sermon, and was pleased to lift me up and show me that He could enable me to preach! Oh, the wonderful goodness of God to so vile a sinner! Returned to my quarters and enjoyed some sweetness in prayer alone, and mourned that I could not live more 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.”