The Life of David Brainerd – By Jonathan Edwards

ALWYN YORK, CONFERENCE HISTORIAN

Jonathan Edwards is remembered chiefly as a preacher and theologian. But what was probably the most widely read of all his works was not a sermon or a theological treatise but a missionary biography. His Life of David Brainerd was published in 1749, and has never been out of print since. This biography has inspired countless missionary vocations and has moved Christians through the centuries to aspire to greater holiness and selfless service.

There is a dramatic story behind the publication of this book. David Brainerd worked as a missionary to the Indians in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania from 1742 until his death in 1747. He died at the young age of twenty-nine, a victim of tuberculosis. This disease first manifested itself when he was in college, so his entire ministry was conducted while he was battling a chronic disease. By 1747 his condition had declined to the point that he could no longer carry on his ministry. He made his way to the home of Jonathan Edwards, whose family cared for him until his death. His conversation and prayer while staying with the Edwards family made a deep impression upon Jonathan, who came to see him as an ideal Christian. Brainerd also formed a close friendship with Jerusha, one of the Edwards daughters. (There is a popular tradition that they were sweethearts, but in  light of the state of Brainerd’s health it seems unlikely that their relationship was romantic.) David Brainerd had kept a detailed diary and journal of his personal experience and ministry during his missionary years. His diary was private and intended only for his personal use. He was strongly opposed to its publication. As he sensed death approaching, he ordered that all his personal papers be destroyed. His friends pleaded with him to withdraw this order. He finally agreed, on the condition that the papers would be left in the care of Jonathan Edwards, “to dispose of them as he thought would be most for God’s glory and the interest of religion.”

Brainerd’s ministry was conducted under conditions of great hardship. He struggled with primitive living conditions,loneliness, poor health, along with the great difficulty of bringing Christianity to people with no prior contact with it. He also battled his own feelings of personal inadequacy and unworthiness. Edwards acknowledged that Brainerd had a tendency to melancholy, what we would call depression. Despite the difficulties he faced, he maintained his devotion to his calling. He wrote, “There appeared to be nothing of any considerable importance to me but holiness in heart and life and the conversion of the Indians to God.”

There was little response to his first missionary work in the village of Kaunaumeek in eastern New York. (The site of this village was seven miles from the church I pastored in New Lebanon, New York.) He transferred his efforts to the Indians at the Forks of the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. There was little visible result there as well, and he was very discouraged and considered quitting. But he saw a spiritual awakening among the Indians at Crossweeksung in New Jersey, which gave him great encouragement. Poor health made him give up the work with the Indians in New Jersey, but he had the consolation of having his brother John continue the work there. Readers of Brainerd’s Diary have always been impressed with the spirit of saintliness which pervades it. The fervency of his prayer life comes through on page after page. His focus on the kingdom of God and his longing for its coming is also striking. Jonathan Edward published Brainerd’s biography not just to present an example of a true missionary, but as an example of God’s grace manifesting itself in a true Christian. He presented David Brainerd to the world in the hope of inspiring Christians to be like him. You cannot read The Life of David Brainerd without feeling challenged to live a life of greater devotion to God.