BRISTOL: Printed by WILLIAM PINE, in _Wine-Street_. MDCCLXXII.
THE CONTENTS Of the THIRTEENTH VOLUME.
⭘ Letters written by Mr. _Brainerd_
⭘ An Extract from Miss _Mary Gilbert_’s Journal
⭘ An Extract from _Elizabeth Harper_’s Journal
⭘ A short Account of _Ann Johnson_
⭘ A short Account of _Ann Rogers_
⭘ A short Account of _Mary Langson_
⭘ A short Account of _Hannah Richardson_
⭘ A Letter to the Rev. Mr. _John Wesley_, by a _Gentlewoman_
⭘ An Extract of Mrs. _L****_’s Letters
LETTERS WRITTEN BY Mr. BRAINERD.
To his brother John, then a student at Yale-College in New-Haven.
_Kaunaumeek, April 30, 1743_.
_Dear Brother_,
*I SHOULD tell you, “I long to see you,” but that my own experience has taught me, there is no happiness to be enjoyed in _earthly friends_, though ever so near and dear, or any other enjoyment that is not God himself. Therefore, if the _God of all grace_ would be pleased graciously to afford us each his presence and grace, that we may perform the work, and endure the trials he calls us to, in a tiresome wilderness, till we arrive at our journey’s end; the distance at which we are held from each other at present, is a matter of no great moment.――――But alas! the presence of God is what I want.――――I live in the most lonely melancholy _desert_, about eighteen miles from Albany. I board with a poor Scotchman: his wife can talk scarce a word of English. My _diet_ consists mostly of hasty-pudding, boiled corn, and bread baked in the ashes. My _lodging_ is a little straw, laid upon some boards, a little way from the ground; for it is a log-room, without any floor, that I lodge in. My _work_ is exceeding hard: I travel on foot a mile and half, the worst of way, almost daily, and back again; for I live so far from my Indians.――――I have not seen an English person this month.――――These and many other circumstances as uncomfortable, attend me; and my _spiritual conflicts_ and _distresses_ so far _exceed_ all these that I scarce think of them. The Lord grant that I may be enabled “to endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ!” As to my _success_ here I cannot say much: the Indians seem generally well disposed towards me, and are mostly very attentive to my instructions: two or three are under some convictions; but there seems to be little of the special workings of the divine Spirit among them yet; which gives me many a heart-sinking hour. Sometimes I hope God has abundant blessings in store for them and me; but at other times I am so overwhelmed with distress, that I cannot see how his dealings with me are consistent with covenant love and faithfulness, and I say “surely his tender mercies are clean gone for ever.” But however, I see, I _needed_ all this _chastisement_ already: “it is good for me,” that I have endured these trials. Do not be discouraged by my distresses: I was under great distress, at Mr. Pomroys, when I saw you last; but “God has been with me of a truth,” since that. But let us always remember, that we must _through much tribulation_ enter into God’s eternal kingdom. The righteous are _scarcely_ saved: it is an infinite wonder, that we have hopes of being saved at all. For my part, I feel the most vile of any creature living; and I am sure, there is not such another existing on this side _hell_.――――Now all you can do for me, is, to pray incessantly, that God would make me humble, holy, resigned, and heavenly minded, by all my trials.――――“Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Let us _run_, _wrestle_, and _fight_, that we may obtain the prize, and obtain that compleat happiness, to be “holy, as God is holy.” So wishing ♦and praying that you may advance in learning and grace, and be fit for special service for God, I remain
_Your affectionate Brother_,