*Mr. Brainerd’s comforts were not like those of some other persons, which are attended with a spiritual satiety, and put an end to their religious longings, at least to the ardency of them. On the contrary, how were they always attended with longings and thirstings after greater degrees of conformity to God! And the greater and sweeter his comforts were, the more vehement were his desires after holiness. For his longings were not so much after joyful discoveries of God’s love; as after greater spirituality, an heart more engaged for God, to love and exalt, and depend upon him; an ability better to serve him, to do more for his glory. And his desires were powerful and effectual, to animate him to the eager pursuit of these things. His comforts never put an end to his seeking after God, but greatly enlarged him therein.
His religion did not consist only in _experience_, without _practice_. All his comforts had a direct tendency to practice; and this, not merely a practice _negatively_ good, but a practice _positively_ holy, in a serious, devout, humble, meek, charitable, and beneficent conversation: making the service of God, the business of life, which he pursued with the greatest earnestness and diligence to the end of his days.
♦III. The foregoing account shews, that there is indeed such a thing as true _experimental religion_, arising from immediate divine influences, supernaturally enlightening and convincing the mind, and powerfully quickening, sanctifying, and governing the heart; which religion is indeed of happy tendency, and of no hurtful consequence to human society; notwithstanding there have been many pretences to experimental religion, that have proved to be nothing but _enthusiasm_.
♦ point II. not indicated in text
If any insist, that Mr. Brainerd’s religion was _enthusiasm_, I would ask, if such things as these are the fruits of enthusiasm, _viz._ honesty and simplicity, sincere and earnest desires and endeavours, to know and do whatever is right, and to avoid every thing that is wrong; love to God, placing the happiness of life in him; not only in contemplating him, but in being active in pleasing, and ♦serving him; a firm belief in the Messiah, as the Saviour of the world; together with great love to him, and longing for the enlargement of his kingdom; resignation to the will of God, under all trials; benevolence to mankind, reaching all persons without distinction, manifested in sweetness of speech and behaviour, mercy, liberality, and earnest seeking the good of the souls and bodies of men; attended with extraordinary humility, meekness, forgiveness of injuries, and love to enemies; a modest, and decent deportment, among superiors, inferiors, and equals: a diligent improvement of time, and earnest care to lose no part of it; great watchfulness against all sorts ♠of sin, of heart, speech, and action; and the foregoing amiable virtues all ending in a marvellous peace, unmoveable calmness, and resignation, in the sensible approaches of death: I say, if all these things are _enthusiasm_, that enthusiasm is a desirable and excellent thing.
♦ “serve” replaced with “serving” per Errata
♠ “sin” replaced with “of sin” per Errata
And whereas there are many that are not professed opposers of _experimental religion_, who yet doubt of it, from the _bad lives_ of some professors; and are ready to determine there is nothing in all the talk about being born again, because that many that pretend to it, manifest no abiding alteration in their disposition and behaviour; are as careless, carnal, or covetous as ever; yea, perhaps much worse than ever: it is acknowledged, that this is the case with some; but they may see it is not so with all. There are some indisputable instances of such a change, a “renovation of the spirit of the mind,” and a “walking in newness of life.” In the foregoing instance particularly, they may see the abiding influence of such a work of conversion; the fruits of such experience through a course of years; under a great variety of circumstances, and the blessed event of it in life and death.