Diary and Journal of David Brainerd

Preface and Reflections by Jonathan Edwards

Weight 0.75 kg
Dimensions 19.56 × 13.34 × 4.57 cm
ISBN 9781800403796
Binding

Cloth-bound, eBook (ePub & Kindle), Cloth-bound & eBook (ePub & Kindle)

format

Book

page-count

528

Original Pub Date

1749

This Edition

2023

*Newly re-typeset edition just released*

Book Description

The Diary and Journal of David Brainerd is of much more than merely historical interest. The first internationally recognized biography ever to be published, it has had a profound impact on successive generations of Christians around the world.

The Diary covers the period from April 1742 to October 1747, and although written as a private and personal record, was published in abridged form by the great New England pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards in 1749.

Brainerd wrote the Journal, which covers the twelve months from June 1745 to June 1746, at the request of the Scottish Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, which was supporting his missionary work amongst the indigenous peoples of North America. As Sir Marcus Loane has noted in They Were Pilgrims, ‘the Diary and Journal were each written for a distinct purpose, and each had its separate character. The Diary is a remarkable record of the interior life of the soul, and its entries still throb with the tremendous earnestness of a man who whose heart was aflame for God. The Journal is an objective history of the missionary work of twelve months, and its details are an astonishing testimony to the grace of God in the lives of men.’

Jonathan Edwards’ own ‘Reflections and Observations’ on Brainerd’s life, included in this volume, are, according to Iain H. Murray in his Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography, ‘among the most important descriptive pages on the Christian life which Edwards ever wrote.’

Between 1742 and his death in 1747 David Brainerd took the gospel to the North American Indians of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. He willingly ran any risk and accepted any hardship to fulfil his calling as a missionary. The amount of work which he achieved in such unpromising and difficult circumstances now seems almost incredible. Moreover his total dedication to the cause of making Christ known inspired the finest of missionaries who followed in his footsteps.

Few books have done so much to promote prayer and missionary action as The Diary and Journal of David Brainerd.

Table of Contents Expand ↓

VOLUME ONE
INTRODUCTION ix
JONATHAN EDWARDS’ PREFACE xli
THE DIARY OF DAVID BRAINERD
I From His Birth, and during His Preparation for the Ministry 1
II His Experience and Religious Exercises until the Time he was Licensed to Preach 34
III From the Time of His Appointment to His Entering on the Work of the Mission 59
IV From the Time of His Examination to His First Entrance on the Business of His Mission 80
V From His first Beginning to Instruct the Indians at Kaunaumeek to His Ordination 97
VI His Removal to Crossweeksung, where He Had His Most Remarkable Success 167
VII His Return to Susquehanna, and Last Illness 231
VIII The Return to Boston, and the Circumstances of His Death 307
VOLUME TWO
PREFACE vii
THE JOURNAL OF DAVID BRAINERD
PART ONE: Mirabilia Dei inter Indicos; or, The Rise and and Progress of a Remarkable Work of Grace amongst a Number of the Indians in the Provinces of New Jersey and Pennsylvania 1
PART TWO : Divine Grace Displayed; or, The Continuance and Progress of a Remarkable Work of Grace among the Indians 78
THE FIRST APPENDIX TO THE JOURNAL 183
THE SECOND APPENDIX TO THE JOURNAL 236
THE REMAINS OF DAVID BRAINERD
I A Dialogue between the Various Powers and Affections of the Pious Mind 259
II Desponding Thoughts of a Soul under Convictions of Sin 268
III Signs of Godliness, or the Distinguishing Marks of a True Christian 269
IV Letters 270
SOME REFLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRECEDING MEMOIRS, &C. OF DAVID BRAINERD, by Jonathan Edwards 293

Endorsements

‘Brainerd’s life is a vivid, powerful testimony to the truth that God can and does use weak, sick, discouraged, beat-down, lonely, struggling saints, who cry to him day and night, to accomplish amazing things for his glory.’ JOHN PIPER

‘I was much humbled today by reading Brainerd. O, what a disparity betwixt me and him! He always constant; I as inconstant as the wind.’  WILLIAM CAREY

‘Oh! blessed be the memory of that beloved saint! No uninspired writer ever did me so much good.’  HENRY MARTYN

Reviews

We asked people how reading Edwards had benefitted them; this is what they said …

Here’s What You Said About Jonathan Edwards

Testimonials

Submit your testimonial

There are no testimonials yet, would you like to submit yours?

More items to consider:

    Evangelicalism Divided
       

    Evangelicalism Divided

    A Record of Crucial Change in the Years 1950 to 2000

    by Iain H. Murray


    price £14.50
    Avg. Rating

    Description

    Brainerd’s life is a vivid, powerful testimony to the truth that God can and does use weak, sick, discouraged, lonely, struggling saints . . . to accomplish amazing things for his glory’—John Piper. 792pp.

    John E. Marshall
       

    John E. Marshall

    Life and Writings

    by John E. Marshall


    price £14.50

    Description

    Brainerd’s life is a vivid, powerful testimony to the truth that God can and does use weak, sick, discouraged, lonely, struggling saints . . . to accomplish amazing things for his glory’—John Piper. 792pp.

    Ernest Reisinger
       

    Ernest Reisinger

    A Biography

    by Geoffrey Thomas


    price £16.50

    Description

    Brainerd’s life is a vivid, powerful testimony to the truth that God can and does use weak, sick, discouraged, lonely, struggling saints . . . to accomplish amazing things for his glory’—John Piper. 792pp.