His sufferings both of body and mind were great beyond description: but when we consider, thus did God permit concerning him, it puts to silence every doubtful, evil reasoning on the head. By constituting him a perfect sufferer, God thereby, made him the more conformable to his suffering, conquering Son; that _Man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs_! And rendered his condition not that of a bastard, or base-born child, abandoned of God, and rejected; but on the contrary, that of a beloved Son scourged and purified by his heavenly Father, that he might thereby, more eminently partake of his holiness and glory. And should heaven permit his conveying to us his present sentiments, concerning his momentary afflictions, we should certainly hear him pronounce to this effect.
For _all_ I bless thee; most, for the _severe_; Amidst my list of blessings infinite, Stand this the foremost, “_that my heart has bled_.”
He had hope in his end, and therefore ceased not to cry to Jesus, who was with him in _reality_ all the while, in the furnace; and finally appeared his _friend_ and his _beloved_!
“Tryed to the last but not forsook; But honour’d with distinguish’d grace, Heaven-ward he cast a dying look, And saw once more his Saviour’s face.
‘He’s come! My well-belov’d, he said, And I am his, and he is mine!’ He spake, he gaz’d, he bow’d his head, And sunk into the arms divine!”
On the whole, I profess, that although on my first hearing of the afflictive scene through which he passed, I was more astonished than at any thing I ever remember to have happened to myself or others; remaining in dumb suspense, at what could be the cause of so unexpected a procedure? Nevertheless, I am now inclined to consider the whole affair as an argument, rather of his strength than the contrary. His supporting at all under such extreme sufferings, not a little demonstrates his great soul, and nearness of conformity to God his Saviour,
“Who drank in his sad days of flesh The potion by his Father given; And bids his members feel afresh The fierceness of the wrath of heaven.”
If thou faintest, saith _Solomon_ in the day of adversity, thy strength is but small: and by parity of reason, to stand in a time of sore trial argues proportionable strength. Avert, my God, avert from my soul, ill able to bear it, such a time of trial! O Jesus, by all thou hast done and suffered; by thine agony, and bloody sweat, by thy cross and bitter passion, by thy meritorious death; thy resting in the chambers of the grave, thy triumphant resurrection, and ascension; and by thy coming again in glory; in the time of sickness, in death, and in judgment, deliver my soul, I beseech thee!
In thy fair book of life divine, My God inscribe my name; There let me fill some humble shrine, Beneath the slaughter’d Lamb!
O might I with my ♦closing eyes, Thee in thy bloody vesture see, And cast me on thy sacrifice, Jesus, my Lord, remember me!
♦ “parting breath” replaced with “closing eyes” per Errata
The thoughts of being quickly loosed from the fetters of the body, had often filled his soul with the most sensible delights, desiring nothing so much as to see God: and the approaches of eternity did often so enflame his desires, that he was sometimes in a degree of transport. But after all that can be said on the head of this his last scene, and indeed of the methods of God’s providential dispensations in general, concerning nations or individual persons, it seems the wisest and best method to rest in that sentiment, namely not curiously to scan them; but rather to adore in humble silence, his unsearchable judgments and impenetrable secrets!
Not deeply to discern not much to know, Mankind was born to _wonder_ and _adore_!
Whatever is permitted to befal them in this world, we are well assured _it shall be well with the righteous_. All things, whether prosperous or adverse, shall work together for their good. He that liveth forever saith, _I come quickly_――――to put a final period to the whole of mortal things, and determine the states of all the children of _Adam_ for ever! His reward is with him! We shall see him as he is! Though now we see him not, yet _believing_ we rejoice! O Jesus, work in our hearts that conformity to and resemblance of thyself, that we may seek nothing, but night and day think of, long for, and joyfully wait for thine appearance!
An EXTRACT of the LIFE OF THE LATE Rev. Mr. DAVID BRAINERD,
MISSIONARY to the INDIANS.