of his mind at that time, he said, he then found an inexpressible love to those whom he looked upon as belonging to Christ, beyond almost all that he ever felt before. To use his own words, " it seemed like a little piece of heaven to have one of them near him." Being asked whether he heard the prayer that was offered at his desire, he said, "Yes, he heard every word, and had an uncommon sense of the things that were uttered in that prayer, and that every word reached his heart."

On the evening of Tuesday, Sep. 29, as he lay in his bed, he seemed to be in an extraordinary frame; his mind greatly engaged in meditations concerning the prosperity of Zion. Two young gentlemen of his acquaintance being present at that time, who were candidates for the Ministry, he desired us all to unite in singing a Psalm on that subject, even Zion's prosperity. At his desire we sung a part of the 102nd Psalm. This seemed much to refresh and revive him, and gave him new strength. Though before he could scarcely speak at all, he now proceeded, with some freedom of speech, to give his dying counsels to those two young gentlemen forementioned, relative to their preparation for, and prosecution of the work of the ministry for which they were designed; and in particular, earnestly recommended to them frequent secret fasting and prayer. He enforced his counsel with regard to this, from his own experience of the great comfort and benefit of it; which (said he) I should not mention, were it not that I am a dying person. After he had finished his counsel, he prayed in the audience of us all; making supplication for this family, for his brethren, and those candidates for the ministry, and for his own congregation, more especially for the reviving and flourishing of religion in the world.

Till now, he had sat up part of every day; but after this he never rose from his bed.]

Wednesday, Sep. 30. I was obliged to keep my bed the whole day, through weakness. However, I redeemed a little time, and with the help of my brother, read and corrected about a dozen pages in my manuscript, giving an account of my conversion.

Thursday, Oct. 1. I endeavoured again to do something by way of writing, but soon found my powers of body and mind utterly fail. Did not feel so happy as when I was able to do something that I hoped would do some good. In the evening, was discomposed and wholly delirious; but it was not long before God was pleased to give me some sleep, and fully composed my mind. * Blessed be God for his great goodness to me, since I was so low at Mr Bromfield's, on Thursday, June 18. He has, except those few minutes, given me the clear exercise of my reason, and enabled me to labour much for him, in things both of a public and private nature, and perhaps to do more good than I should have done if I had been well. He has also been pleased to refresh my soul with the comfortable influences of his blessed Spirit. May his name have all the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Friday, Oct. 2. My soul was this day sweetly set on God. I longed to be with him, that I might behold his glory. I could commit all to him, even my dearest friends, my dearest flock, my absent brother, and all my concerns for time and eternity. Oh that his kingdom might come, that all might love and glorify him, for what he is in himself; and that the blessed Redeemer might see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied! Oh, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen. †

[The next evening, we very much expected his brother John from New-Jersey, it being about a week after the time he proposed to return. And though our expectations: were still disappointed, yet Mr Brainerd seemed to continue unmoved, in the same calm and peaceful frame before manifested; as having resigned all to God, and having done with his friends, and with all things here below.

On the morning of the next day, being Lord's day, October 4, as my daughter Jerusha (who chiefly tended

*From this time forward, he had the free use of his reason till the day before his death; excepting that at times he appeared a little lost for a moment, at first waking out of sleep.

+ Here ends his Diary: these are the last words that are written in it, either by his own hand, or by any other from his mouth.

him) came into the room, he looked on her very pleasantly, and said, "Dear Jerusha, are you willing to part with me?—I am quite willing to part with you: I am willing to part with all my friends: I am willing to part with my dear brother John, although I love him the best of any creature living. I have committed him and all my friends to God, and can leave them with him. Though, if I thought I should not see you, and be happy with you in another world, I could not bear to part with you. But we shall spend a happy eternity together. In the evening, as one came into the room with a Bible in her hand, he expressed himself thus; "Oh that dear book; that lovely book! I shall soon see it opened: the mysteries that are in it, and the mysteries of God's providence, will be all unfolded."

His distemper now very apparently preyed on his vitals, not by a sudden breaking of ulcers in his lungs, as at Boston, but by a constant discharge of purulent matter in great quantities; so that what he brought up by expectoration seemed to be as it were mouthfuls of almost clear pus, attended with great inward pain and distress.

On Thursday, Oct. 6, he lay for a considerable time as if he were dying. He was then heard to utter in broken

* Since this, it has pleased a holy and sovereign God to take away this my dear child by death, on the 14th of February, next following; after a short illness of five days, in the eighteenth year of her age. She was a person of much the same spirit with Mr Brainerd. She had constantly taken care of and attended him in his sickness, for nineteen weeks before his death; devoting herself to it with great delight, because she considered him as an eminent servant of Jesus Christ. In this time he had much conversation with her on things of religion, and in his dying state, often expressed to us, her parents, his great satisfaction concerning her true piety, and his confidence that he should meet her in heaven; and his high opinion of her, not only as a true Christian, but a very eminent saint; one whose soul was uncommonly fed and entertained with things that appertain to the most spiritual, experimental, and distinguishing parts of religion; and one who, by the temper of her mind, was fitted to deny herself for God, and to do good, beyond any young woman whatsoever that he knew of. She had manifested a heart uncommonly devoted to God, many years before her death; and said on her death-bed, that "she had not seen one minute for several years, wherein she desired to live one minute longer, for the sake of any other good in life but doing good, living to God, and doing what might be for his glory."

whispers, such expressions as these: "He will come, he will not tarry-I shall soon be in glory-I shall soon glorify God with the angels." -But after some time he revived.

The next day, Wednesday, Oct. 7, his brother John arrived, being returned from New-Jersey; where he had been detained much longer than he intended, by a mor tal sickness prevailing among the Christian Indians, and by some other things in their circumstances that made his stay with them necessary. Mr Brainerd was affected and refreshed with seeing him, and appeared fully satisfied with the reasons of his delay; seeing the interest of religion and of the souls of his people required it.

The next day, Thursday, Oct. 8, he was in great distress and agonies of body; and for the greater part of the day, was much disordered as to the exercise of his reason. In the evening he was more composed, and had the use of his reason well; but the pain of his body continued and increased. He told me it was impossible for any one to conceive of the distress he felt in his breast. He manifested much concern lest he should dishonour God by impatience, under his extreme agony; which was such, that he said, the thought of enduring it one minute longer was almost insupportable. He desired that others would be much in lifting up their hearts continually to God for him, that he would support him and give him patience. He signified that he expected to die that night, but seemed to fear a longer delay; and the disposition of his mind with regard to his death appeared still the same as it had been all along. And notwithstanding his bodily agonies, yet the interest of Zion lay still with great weight on his mind; as appeared by some considerable discourse he had that evening with the Rev. Mr Billing, one of the neighbouring ministers, (who was then present,) concerning the great importance of the work of the ministry, &c. Afterwards, very late at night, he had much profitable discourse with his brother John, concerning his congregation in New-Jersey, and the interest of religion among the Indians. In the latter part of the night, his bodily distress seemed to rise to a greater

height than ever; and he said to those then about him, that "it was another thing to die, than people imagined," explaining himself to mean that they were not aware what bodily pain and anguish is undergone before death. Towards day, his eyes fixed; and he continued lying immoveable, till about six o'clock in the morning, and then expired on Friday, October 9, 1747, when his soul, as we may well conclude, was received by his dear Lord and Master, as an eminently faithful servant, into that state of perfection of holiness and fruition of God, which he had so often and so ardently longed for; and was welcomed by the glorious assembly in the upper world, as one peculiarly fitted to join them in their blessed employments and enjoyments.

Much respect was shewn to his memory at his funeral; which was on the Monday following, after a sermon preached the same day, on that solemn occasion. His funeral was attended by eight of the neighbouring ministers, and seventeen other gentlemen of liberal education, and a great concourse of people.]

REMAINS OF THE REV. D. BRAINERD.

I.Scheme of a Dialogue between the various powers and affections of the pious mind. [Mentioned in his Diary, Feb. 3. 1744.]

1. THE understanding introduced, (1.) As discovering its own excellency, and capacity of enjoying the most sublime pleasure and happiness. (2.) As observing its desire equal to its capacity, and incapable of being satisfied with any thing that will not fill it in the utmost extent of its exercise. (3.) As finding itself dependent, not self-sufficient; and consequently unable to spin happiness (as the spider spins its web) out of its own bowels.