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Literary
July 15, 1831
Morning Star
Limerick, York County, Maine
What is this article about?
Biographical account of missionary David Brainerd's intense labors among Indians, his death on October 9, 1747, at age under 30, and excerpts from his memoir showing his pious reflections on death and devotion to glorifying God during his final illness.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE HEART OF DAVID BRAINERD.
This holy man was so intensely laborious in his missionary employment among the Indians, that it probably shortened his useful life. He died October 9, 1747, before he was thirty. In the period of his last illness, his piety seemed to rise to a celestial ardor. If, as Dr. Young says,
"A death-bed 's a detector of the heart."
we may see in Brainerd's prospect of death, an earnest that he was prepared for heaven, and that he was the truly sincere friend of God. The passage which follows is from his Memoir. Ch. Watch.
"As new symptoms of approaching dissolution made their appearance, he became more animated and cheerful.—When he spoke of the period of his death, he used to call it, 'that glorious day;' nor was this because he should then be delivered from sorrow and pain, and raised to dignity and honor, for he considered that as comparatively a low and ignoble consideration; but, because he should then be able to glorify God with a pure and perfect heart. One night when he was attempting to walk a little, he thought with himself, 'How infinitely sweet is it, to love God, and to be all for him.' Upon which it occurred to him: 'You are not an angel, not lively and active.' To this, his whole soul instantly replied; 'I as sincerely desire to love and glorify God, as an angel in heaven.' The same evening, he exclaimed: 'My heaven is to please God, to give all to him, to be wholly devoted to his glory; that is the heaven I long for; that is my religion; that is my happiness, and always was, ever since, I suppose, I had any true religion. I do not go to heaven to get honor, but to give all possible glory and praise. It is no matter where I shall be stationed in heaven, whether I have a high or a low seat there; but to love, and please, and glorify God, is all. Had I a thousand souls, if they were worth any thing, I would give them all to him; but I have nothing to give when all is done. My heart goes out to the burying ground; it seems to me a desirable place; but, Oh, to glorify God! that is it, that is above all. It is a great comfort to me to think, that I have done a little for God in the world! Oh! it is but a very small matter: yet I have done a little, and I lament I have not done more for him.—There is nothing in the world worth living for, but doing good, living to God, pleasing him, and doing his whole will'"
This holy man was so intensely laborious in his missionary employment among the Indians, that it probably shortened his useful life. He died October 9, 1747, before he was thirty. In the period of his last illness, his piety seemed to rise to a celestial ardor. If, as Dr. Young says,
"A death-bed 's a detector of the heart."
we may see in Brainerd's prospect of death, an earnest that he was prepared for heaven, and that he was the truly sincere friend of God. The passage which follows is from his Memoir. Ch. Watch.
"As new symptoms of approaching dissolution made their appearance, he became more animated and cheerful.—When he spoke of the period of his death, he used to call it, 'that glorious day;' nor was this because he should then be delivered from sorrow and pain, and raised to dignity and honor, for he considered that as comparatively a low and ignoble consideration; but, because he should then be able to glorify God with a pure and perfect heart. One night when he was attempting to walk a little, he thought with himself, 'How infinitely sweet is it, to love God, and to be all for him.' Upon which it occurred to him: 'You are not an angel, not lively and active.' To this, his whole soul instantly replied; 'I as sincerely desire to love and glorify God, as an angel in heaven.' The same evening, he exclaimed: 'My heaven is to please God, to give all to him, to be wholly devoted to his glory; that is the heaven I long for; that is my religion; that is my happiness, and always was, ever since, I suppose, I had any true religion. I do not go to heaven to get honor, but to give all possible glory and praise. It is no matter where I shall be stationed in heaven, whether I have a high or a low seat there; but to love, and please, and glorify God, is all. Had I a thousand souls, if they were worth any thing, I would give them all to him; but I have nothing to give when all is done. My heart goes out to the burying ground; it seems to me a desirable place; but, Oh, to glorify God! that is it, that is above all. It is a great comfort to me to think, that I have done a little for God in the world! Oh! it is but a very small matter: yet I have done a little, and I lament I have not done more for him.—There is nothing in the world worth living for, but doing good, living to God, pleasing him, and doing his whole will'"
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
Soliloquy
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Death Mortality
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
David Brainerd
Missionary
Piety
Deathbed
Glorify God
Heaven
Devotion
What entities or persons were involved?
From His Memoir
Literary Details
Title
The Heart Of David Brainerd.
Author
From His Memoir
Subject
Reflections During Last Illness
Key Lines
"A Death Bed 'S A Detector Of The Heart."
"How Infinitely Sweet Is It, To Love God, And To Be All For Him."
"I As Sincerely Desire To Love And Glorify God, As An Angel In Heaven."
"My Heaven Is To Please God, To Give All To Him, To Be Wholly Devoted To His Glory; That Is The Heaven I Long For; That Is My Religion; That Is My Happiness"
"There Is Nothing In The World Worth Living For, But Doing Good, Living To God, Pleasing Him, And Doing His Whole Will"