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"led captive by Satan at his will," in the most eminent manner; and methinks might likewise be sufficient to excite the compassion, and engage the prayers, of pious souls for these their fellow-men, who sit "in the region of the shadow of death.'

Sept. 22. "Made some further attempts to instruct and Christianize the Indians on this island, but all to no purpose. They live so near the white people that they are always in the way of strong liquor, as well as of the ill examples of nominal Christians; which renders it so unspeakably difficult to treat with them about Christianity."

BRAINERD left these Indians on the 23d of September, to return to the Forks of Delaware, in a very weak state of body, and under great dejection of mind, which continued the two first days of his journey.

Sept. 25. "Rode still homeward. In the forenoon, enjoyed. freedom and intenseness of mind in meditation on Job xlii. 5, 6. "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee; wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." The Lord gave me clearness to penetrate into the sweet truths contained in that text. It was a comfortable and sweet season to me.

Sept. 26. "Was still much disordered in body, and able to ride but slowly. Continued my journey, however. Near night, arrived at the Irish settlement, about fifteen miles from mine. own house. This day, while riding, I was much exercised with a sense of my barrenness; and verily thought there was no creature who had any true grace, but what was more spiritual and faithful. I could not think that any of God's children made so poor a hand of living to God.

Sept. 27. "Spent a considerable time in the morning in prayer and praise to God. My mind was somewhat intense in the duty; and my heart, in some degree, warmed with a sense of divine things. My soul was melted to think that "God had accounted me faithful, putting me into the ministry." My soul was also, in some measure, enlarged in prayer for the dear people of my charge, as well as for other dear friends. Afternoon, visited some christian friends, and spent the time I think profitably; my heart was warmed and more engaged in the things of God. In the evening I enjoyed enlargement, warmth and comfort in prayer: my soul relied on God for assistance and grace to enable me to do something in his cause: my heart was drawn out in thankfulness to God for what he had done for his own glory among my poor people of late. I felt encouraged to proceed in his work; being persuaded of his power, and hoping that his arm might be further revealed for

the enlargement of his dear kingdom. My soul "rejoiced in hope of the glory of God," in hope of the advancement of his declarative glory in the world, as well as of enjoying him in a world of glory. O, blessed be God, the living God, for ever.”

He continued in this comfortable sweet frame of mind the two next days. On the following day, he went to his own house in the Forks of Delaware, and continued still in the same frame. The next day, Tuesday, he visited the Indians.

"Forks of Delaware, Oct. 1745.

Oct. 1. "Discoursed to the Indians here, and spent some time in private conference with them about their souls' concerns, and afterwards invited them to accompany, or if not, to follow me to Crossweeksung as soon as they could conveniently; which invitation numbers of them cheerfully accepted.

Wednesday he spent principally in writing the meditations he had in his late journey to the Susquehannah. On Thursday he left the Forks of Delaware, and travelled towards Crossweeksung, where he arrived on Saturday, Oct. 5; and continued from day to day in a comfortable state of mind.

"Crossweeksung, Oct. 1745.

Oct. 5. "Preached to my people from John xiv. 1-6. The divine presence seemed to be in the assembly. Numbers were affected with divine truths, and it was a comfort to some in particular. O what a difference is there between these, and the Indians with whom I have lately treated upon the Susquehannah! To be with those seemed to be like being banished from God and all his people; to be with these, like being admitted into his family, and to the enjoyment of his divine presence! How great is the change lately made upon numbers of those Indians, who, not many months ago, were as thoughtless and averse to Christianity as those upon the Susquehannah; and how astonishing is that grace, which has made this change!

Lord's day, Oct. 6. "Preached in the forenoon from John x. 7-11. There was a considerable melting among my people; the dear young Christians were refreshed, comforted and strengthened; and one or two persons newly awakened.-In the afternoon I discoursed on the story of the jailer, Acts xvi. and in the evening, expounded Acts xx. 1-12. There was at this time a very agreeable melting spread throughout the

whole assembly. I think I scarce ever saw a more desirable affection in any number of people in my life. There was scarcely a dry eye to be seen among them; and yet nothing boisterous or unseemly, nothing that tended to disturb the public worship; but rather to encourage and excite a christian ardour and spirit of devotion.-Those, who I have reason to hope were seriously renewed, were first affected, and seemed to rejoice much, but with brokenness of spirit and godly fear. Their exercises were much the same with those mentioned in my journal of Aug. 26, evidently appearing to be the genuine effects of a spirit of adoption.

"After public service was over, I withdrew, being much tired with the labours of the day; and the Indians continued praying among themselves for nearly two hours together; which continued exercises appeared to be attended with a blessed quickening influence from on high. I could not but earnestly wish that numbers of God's people had been present at this season to see and hear these things which I am sure must refresh the heart of every true lover of Zion's interest. To see those, who were very lately savage Pagans and idolaters, having no hope, and without God in the world, now filled with a sense of divine love and grace, and worshipping the Father in spirit and in truth, as numbers have appeared to do, was not a little affecting; and especially to see them appear so tender and humble, as well as lively, fervent, and devout in the divine service.

Oct. 7. "Being called by the church and people of EastHampton, on Long-Island, as a member of a council to assist and advise in affairs of difficulty in that church, I set out on my journey this morning before it was well light, and travelled to Elizabethtown, and there lodged. Enjoyed some comfort on the road in conversation with Mr. William Tennent, who was sent for on the same business."

BRAINERD prosecuted his journey with the other ministers who were sent for, and did not return till Oct. 24. While he was at East-Hampton, the importance of the business, on which the council were convened, lay with such weight on his mind, and he was so concerned for the interests of religion in that place, that he slept but little for several nights successively. In his way to and from East-Hampton, he had several seasons of sweet refreshment; wherein his soul was enlarged and comforted with divine consolations in secret retirement; and he had special assistance in public ministerial performances in the house of God; and yet at the same time a sense of extreme vileness and unprofitableness. From time to time he speaks of soul refreshments and comfort in conversation with the ministers who travelled with him, and seems to

have little or nothing of melancholy until he came to the west end of Long-Island in his return. After that he was oppressed with dejection and gloominess of mind for several days together.

"Crossweeksung, Oct. 1745.

Oct. 24. "Discoursed from John iv. 13, 14. There was a great attention, a desirable affection, and an unaffected melting in the assembly. It is surprising to see how eager they are to hear the word of God. I have oftentimes thought that they would cheerfully and diligently attend divine worship twenty-four hours together, if they had an opportunity so to do.

Oct. 25. "Discoursed to my people respecting the Resurrection, from Luke xx. 27-36. When I came to mention the blessedness which the godly shall enjoy at that season; their final freedom from death, sin and sorrow; their equality to the angels in their nearness to and enjoyment of Christ, some imperfect degree of which they are favored with in the present life, from whence springs their sweetest comfort; and their being the children of God, openly acknowledged by him as such-1 say, when I mentioned these things, numbers of them were much affected and melted with a view of this blessed state.

Oct. 26. "Being called to assist in the administration of the Lord's supper in a neighbouring congregation, I invited my people to go with me. They in general embraced the opportunity cheerfully; and attended the several discourses of this solemnity with diligence and affection, most of them now understanding something of the English language.

Lord's day, Oct. 27. "While I was preaching to a vast assembly of people abroad, who appeared generally easy and secure enough, there was one Indian woman, a stranger, who never heard me preach before, nor ever regarded any thing about religion, being now persuaded by some of her friends to come to meeting, though much against her will, was seized with distressing concern for her soul; and soon after expressed a great desire of going home, more than forty miles distant, to call her husband, that he also might be awakened to a concern for his soul. Some others of the Indians appeared to be af fected with divine truths this day. The pious people of the English, numbers of whom I had opportunity to converse with, seemed refreshed with seeing the Indians worship God in that devout and solemn manner with the assembly of his people; and with those mentioned in Acts xi. 18, they could not but glorify God, saying, "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."

"Preached again in the afternoon, to a great assembly; at which time some of my people appeared affected; and, when public worship was over, were inquisitive whether there would not be another sermon in the evening, or before the sacramental solemnity was concluded; being still desirous to hear God's word.

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Oct. 28. "Discoursed from Matt. xxii. 1-13. I was enabled to open the scriptures, and adapt my discourse and expression to the capacities of my people, I know not how, in a plain, easy, and familiar manner, beyond all that I could have done by the utmost study and this without any special difficulty; yea with as much freedom as if I had been addressing a common audience, who had been instructed in the doctrines of Christianity all their days. The word of God, at this time, seemed to fall upon the assembly with a divine power and influence, especially towards the close of my discourse: there was both a sweet melting and bitter mourning in the audience. The dear Christians were refreshed and comforted, convictions revived in others, and several persons newly awakened, who had never been with us before. So much of the divine presence appeared in the assembly, that it seemed this was no other than the house of God and the gate of heaven.' All, who had any savour and relish of divine things, were even constrained by the sweetness of that season to say, "Lord, it is good for us to be here:" If ever there was among my people an appearance of the New Jerusalem, "as a bride adorned for her husband," there was much of it at this time; and so agreeable was the entertainment, where such tokens of the divine presence were, that I could scarcely be willing in the evening to leave the place and repair to my lodgings. I was refreshed with a view of the continuance of this blessed work of grace among them, and with its influence upon strangers among the Indians, who had of late, from time to time, providentially come into this part of the country. Had an evening of sweet refreshing; my thoughts were raised to a blessed eternity; my soul was melted with desires of perfect holiness, and of perfectly glorifying God.

Oct. 29. "About noon, rode and viewed the Indian lands at Cranberry was much dejected, and greatly perplexed in mind: knew not how to see any body again; my soul was sunk within me. Oh that these trials might make me more humble and holy. Oh that God would keep me from giving way to sinful dejection, which may hinder my usefulness.

Oct. 30. "My soul was refreshed with a view of the continuance of God's blessed work among the Indians.

Oct. 31. "Spent most of the day in writing; enjoyed not much spiritual comfort; but was not so much sunk with melancholy as at other times.

VOL. X.

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