Written by Dr. Marcus J. Serven
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ ” Isaiah 52:7
At this time of accelerating interest in Christian missions, it is prudent for Christians everywhere to remember the life, work, and words of a sincere and diligent missionary to the American Indians. The Rev. David Brainerd (1718-1747) lived as a minister of the gospel amongst the Indians for five years until he was overtaken by the ravages of tuberculosis. During that time he conducted lengthy preaching missions with the Indians in places such as Kaunaumeek, at the forks of the Delaware River, the Susquehanah valley, Crossweeksung, and Cranbury. He preached the gospel to thousands of Indians in a time of spiritual “Awakening” throughout New England, and wondrously saw God open the hearts of hundreds. Brainerd went head to head with the pagan religion of the Indians, and saw it for what it actually was—the worship of evil spirits, superstitious slavery to local Shamans, and cruel and unkind treatment of women, children, the aged, and captives. In his Journal and personal Diary he chronicles numerous events which showed the American Indians to be illiterate and without any spiritual hope. Nevertheless, he loved the Indians as those who needed to gain the assurance of eternal life. He did not seek to change their cultural practices, except where these were expressly forbidden in the pages of the Bible. Moreover, he sought to encourage literacy and contemporary practices of farming among them. David Brainerd has become a model of the effective and dedicated missionary for our age and in the past. Let us review the specific events of his short, but energetic, life.
David Brainerd was born on April 20, 1718 at Haddam, Connecticut the third son of his father (Worshipful Hezekiah Brainerd) and his mother (Dorothy Hobart Brainerd). David came from a family background of lawyers on his father’s side and of ministers on his mother’s side. He grew up in a large rollicking family of nine children, five boys and four girls. His father unexpectedly died when he was nine years old, and he was left a complete orphan by age fourteen upon his mother’s untimely death. It seemed certain that he was destined to become a Connecticut farmer working the land that he had inherited from his parents while taking care of his younger siblings. It was during these teenage years that Brainerd became increasingly interested in Christianity. He wrongly thought that by performing “deeds of religion” God would find favor in him. He transparently wrote about this period,
When about twenty years of age, I applied myself to study and was now more engaged than ever in the duties of religion. I became very watchful over my thoughts, words, and actions; and thought I must be sober indeed, because I designed to devote myself to the ministry; and imagined I did dedicate myself to the Lord…My manner of life was now exceedingly regular and full of religion, such as it was; for I read my Bible more than twice through in less than a year, spent much time every day in prayer and other secret duties, gave great attention to the Word preached, and endeavored to my utmost to retain it. So much was I concerned about religion that I agreed with some young persons to meet privately on Sabbath evenings for religious exercises, and thought myself sincere in these duties…In short I had a very good outside, though not sensible of it.
Jonathan Edwards, ed., Life and Diary of David Brainerd, 58-59.
Fortunately, God broke into the midst of his erroneous way of thinking and he was profoundly converted in 1739. It was by the mercy of God and the abandonment of “works righteousness” that his heart was opened to the transforming wonders of the “new birth.” He subsequently entered Yale College to pursue ministerial preparation and theological studies. In this erudite institution he excelled as a student relishing in his studies of theology and the Bible. As in many people’s life, there can often be a “defining moment” that shapes that person’s attitudes in a negative way or a positive way—in 1742 such an event happened to Brainerd. His biographer, Jonathan Edwards, explains what occurred,
And it once happened that he and two or three…intimate friends were in the hall together, after Mr. Whittelsey, one of the tutors, had been to prayer there with the scholars; no other person now remaining in the hall but Brainerd and his companions. Mr. Whittelsey having been unusually pathetical in his prayer, one of Brainerd’s friends on this occasion asked him what he thought of Mr. Whittelsey; he made the answer, “He has no more grace than this chair.” One of the freshmen happening at this time to be near the hall (though not in the room) overheard those words. This person, though he heard no name mentioned and knew not who was thus censured, informed a certain woman in the town, withal telling her of his own suspicion, namely that he believed Brainerd said this of someone or other of the rulers of the college. Whereupon she went and informed the Rector, who sent for this freshmen and examined him. He told the Rector the words he heard Brainerd utter and informed him who were in the room at that time. Upon which the Rector sent for them: they were very backward to inform against their friend what they looked upon as a private conversation, and especially as none but they had heard or knew of whom he had uttered those words; yet the rector compelled them to declare what he had said, and of whom he had said it…for these things he was expelled from the college.
Jonathan Edwards, ed., Life and Diary of David Brainerd, Appendix 1, 381-382.
Although Brainerd could have harbored ill feelings toward the Rector and the College, and allowed his frequent melancholy spirit to dominate him with sorrow, he did not. Instead, he saw these events as the divine providence of God and as a means of humbling him for future service to God’s kingdom. In addition, as a leader amongst the students Brainerd was heavily criticized for his attendance at a nearby revival meeting where the fiery Presbyterian preacher the Rev. Gilbert Tennant (1703-1764) was speaking. Rev. Tennant had become famous by his sermon “The Dangers of an Unconverted Ministry.” In this message he criticized the New England clergy for their uniform lack of evidence of regeneration. Such animosity was generated by Tennant’s sermon, which had been widely published, that the Rector at Yale had forbidden the students to attend any meetings where he was speaking. Brainerd, out of curiousity, attended a meeting and when this became known Brainerd was unable to assuage the authorities—their minds were made up to make an example of him for the rest of the students. As a result, he never graduated although he stood first in his class at the time of his expulsion.
A few years later, Brainerd actually attended Commencement Day proceedings at Yale College when he would have graduated. At the urging of others he submitted a public confession and apology to the directors of the college. They voted to readmit Brainerd so that he could continue his studies, but since he was then deeply engaged in his ministry to the Indians he reluctantly declined. For him what could have been an extremely bitter experience, was used by the Lord to further refine his character and prepare him for the hardships of missionary service. Here was a man who was willing to go and do exactly what God required of him, no matter what the personal sacrifice.
Brainerd pursued private studies in divinity through several ministers and in short order received his License to preach. Although he had several invitations to preach in established settlements and towns he felt sure that God had called him to spread the gospel to the Indians. Thus, in November of 1742 he was commissioned as a missionary of the “Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge” (also known as the S.P.C.K.). This organization had been founded in 1709 to encourage missionary work amongst American Indians. He began a permanent work near Stockbridge, Massachusetts among the Indians and settlers. His daily Diary reads not as an adventure story, living in the wilderness in the midst of heathen savages, but as a sober chronicle of preaching to a people that he truly came to love as his brothers. Here is a revealing entry from his Diary,
I live in the most lonesome wilderness; have but one single person to converse with, that can speak English (the Indian who served as Brainerd’s interpreter, Wauwaumpequunnaunt). Most of the talk I hear is either Highland Scotch or Indian. I have not a fellow Christian to whom I might unbosom myself or lay open my spiritual sorrows; with whom I might take sweet counsel in conversation about heavenly things and join in social prayer. I live poorly with regard to the comforts of this life. Most of my diet consists of boiled corn, hasty-pudding, etc. I lodge on a bundle of straw, my labor is hard and extremely difficult, and I have little appearance of success, to comfort me. The Indians have no land to live on but what the Dutch people lay claim to; and these threaten to drive them off. They have no regard for the souls of the poor Indians; and by what I can learn, they hate me because I come to preach to them. But what makes all my difficulties grievous to be borne is that God hides His face from me.
Jonathan Edwards, ed., Life and Diary of David Brainerd, 124.
During the years that David Brainerd was laboring in the wilderness, the preaching of the itinerant Anglican evangelist, Rev. George Whitefield (1714-1770), was being mightily used by God to further revival in America. Those who favored the Great Awakening were referred to as the “New Lights” or the “New Side Presbyterians.” Although, Brainerd was congregational in his understanding of church polity, he did have an appreciation for the work of God’s Spirit in the revival and strongly identified with the “New Lights.” He felt that New England was being drenched by “showers of God’s Grace” through the preachers of the Awakening. Essentially, “New Light” theology was a warm-spirited evangelical Calvinism which emphasized man’s complete inability to respond to the offer of the gospel. Salvation was seen as completely of God’s grace, without a shred of human cooperation. This became the studied view and firm belief of David Brainerd. Over the five years of missionary service he labored at several locations in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. In June 1744 he was ordained by the Presbytery of Newark, New Jersey. By November 1745 he had ridden over 3,000 miles on horseback throughout the American wilderness. A typical entry in his Diary reads like this,
Lord’s Day, April 10. Rose early in the morning and walked out and spent a considerable time in the woods, in prayer and meditation. Preached to the Indians, both forenoon and afternoon. They behaved soberly in general; two or three in particular appeared under some religious concern, with whom I conversed privately. One told me her heart had cried ever since she heard me preach first.
Jonathan Edwards, ed., Life and Diary of David Brainerd, 120.
During the final two years of his ministry in the forests of New Jersey he saw “a remarkable work of grace” with the conversion of more than one hundred and thirty Indians. He baptized thirty-eight Indians and formed churches at Crossweeksung, and Cranbury. He lovingly referred to the Indians in these congregations as “my people.” Brainerd’s general pattern of ministry consisted of daily preaching, frequent spiritual counseling, and evening catechism. This revival was thoroughly described in his Journal which was published in 1746. Consider this entry from that year,
Lord’s Day, December 29. Preached from John 3:1-5. A number of white people were present, as is usual upon the Sabbath. The discourse was accompanied with power, and seemed to have a silent, but deep piercing influence upon the audience. Many wept and sobbed affectionately. There were some tears among the white people, as well as the Indians. Some could not refrain from crying out, though there were not so many exercised, but the impressions made upon their hearts appeared chiefly by extraordinary earnestness of their attention, and their heavy sighs and tears. After public worship was over, I went to my house, proposing to preach again after a short season of intermission. But they soon came in one after another, with tears in their eyes, to know “what they should do to be saved.” The Divine Spirit in such a manner set home upon their hearts what I spoke to them that the house was soon filled with cries and groans. They all flocked together upon this occasion, and those whom I had reason to think in a Christless state were almost universally seized with concern for their souls. It was an amazing season of power among them, and seemed as if God “had bowed the heavens, and come down.”
Jonathan Edwards, ed., Life and Diary of David Brainerd, 265.
It was in April of 1747 he had a serious bout with the tuberculosis from which he had suffered from for years. This illness finally led to his having to leave the work with the Indians that he loved so much. His younger brother, John Brainerd, eagerly continued the ministry with David’s Indian congregation at Cranbury, New Jersey. In July of 1747 he retreated to the home of his old friend, Rev. Jonathan Edwards, for recuperation. While there Brainerd became engaged to be married to Jonathan Edward’s oldest daughter, Jerusha. She lovingly nursed him during his agonizing illness, yet he finally succumbed to the effects of tuberculosis on October 9, 1747 and died at twenty-nine years of age. Sadly, Jerusha Edwards also contracted tuberculosis and she died on February 14, 1748, five months after Brainerd’s death. She was 19 years old at the time of her death. In recognition of the love they shared for each other, Jerusha Edwards was laid to rest in a grave next to David Brainerd in the Old Cemetery in Northampton, MA.
Following Brainerd’s his death, his work was fully taken over by his younger brother, John Brainerd. In 1749 Jonathan Edwards published a stirring account of his Diary and Journal which has had a deep influence on Christian missionaries through the years. Such notables as William Carey, Henry Martyn, and Thomas Coke were deeply influenced by Brainerd’s activities and attitudes. This account has become a devotional classic used by God to encourage hundreds to become missionaries in the Lord’s work. In closing, consider these stirring words of David Brainerd as he reflected on the purpose of his life, “I longed to be as a flame of fire, continually glowing in the Divine service, preaching and building up Christ’s kingdom to my latest, my dying hour.” He fulfilled his purpose, and he faithfully served his Lord unto his “dying hour.” Soli Deo Gloria!
An Addendum:
On July 6, 2009, we (the Serven family) diligently searched for Brainerd’s grave in the Old Cemetery of Northampton, MA. Alas, we could not find it. However, my wife Cheryl spotted a county worker and asked for the location of the grave site. The worker replied that he would be glad to show us where it was and then laughingly remarked that it was only “Bible-thumpers” who seemed to be interested in finding that particular grave. As we stood before David Brainerd’s grave I was glad to be considered a “Bible-thumper” since he also suffered the ridicule of the world for the sake of his Lord, Jesus Christ. We noted that Jerusha Edwards was buried right next to him, although sadly her gravestone has now fallen over. Nearby, can be found the grave of Rev. Solomon Stoddard (Jonathan Edwards’ maternal grandfather), and the graves of several members of the extended Edwards family. To us, this is holy ground.
Resources for Further Study:
Ahlstrom, Sydney E. A Religious History of the American People. 2 Volumes. Garden City, NY: Image Books, 1975.
Douglas, J. D., ed. The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church. Revised edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1978.
- “Brainerd, David,” by J. G. G. Norman
- “Calvinism,” by W. S. Reid
- “Edwards, Jonathan,” by Paul Helm
- “Eliot, John” by J. D. Douglas
- “Great Awakening, The,” by Bruce L. Shelley
- “Presbyterianism,” by W. S. Reid
- “Tennent, Gilbert,” by Howard A. Whaley
- “Whitefield, George,” by Arthur Pollard
Edwards, Jonathan, ed. The Life and Diary of David Brainerd. Originally published in Boston, MA: 1749; Reprint, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1989.
Elwell, Walter A., ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001.
- “Edwards, Jonathan,” by Mark A. Noll
- “New England Theology,” by Mark A. Noll
- “New Light Schism,” by W. A. Hoffecker
- “Old School Theology,” by W. A. Hoffecker
- “Revivalism,” by M. E. Dieter
- “The Great Awakenings,” by Mark A. Noll
Houghton, S. M. Sketches from Church History. Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1980.
Marshall, Peter, and David Manuel. The Light and the Glory. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1977.
Murray, Iain H. Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography. Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1987.
Noll, Mark A. A History of Christianity in the United States. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing House, 1992.
Reid, Daniel G., ed. Dictionary of Christianity in America. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1990.
- “Brainerd, David,” by J. Conforti
- “Edwards, Jonathan,” by J. H. Edwards
- “Edwards, Sarah Pierpont,” by R. A. Tucker
- “Eliot, John,” by G. W. Harper
- “Great Awakening,” by H. S. Stout
- “Missions, Evangelical Foreign,” by H. M. Conn
- “Missions to Native Americans, Protestant,” by M. S. Joy
- “New Lights,” by H. S. Stout
- “New Side Presbyterians,” by A. C. Guelzo
- “Old Lights,” by H. S. Stout
- “Old Side Presbyterians,” by A. C. Guelzo
- “Revivalism,” by W. G. Travis
- “Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge,” by E. C. Nordbeck
- “Tennant, Gilbert,” by S. T. Logan
Wells, David F., ed. Eerdman’s Handbook to Christianity in America. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdman’s Publishing House, 1983.
Dr. Marcus J. Serven, ThM and DMin
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