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The diary & journal of David Brainerd

Sparkling for Christ

THE DIARY & JOURNAL OF DAVID BRAINERD
Banner of Truth. 792 pages. £17.00
ISBN 978-0-85151-954-8

When John Newton, William Carey, Henry Martyn, Robert Murray M’Cheyne and John Piper all agree that a book is hugely worth reading, who dares disagree? This is a gem of a book, albeit a large gem, with a marvellous introduction, and a memorable foreword by Jonathan Edwards, who knew David Brainerd personally.

Brainerd worked as an indefatigable and effective itinerant evangelist among American Indians in the 1740s. The Diary records his subjective, inner life, the Journal is a more objective account of his work. They cover roughly the same short period.

The Diary is remarkable for its exposure of a radically Christian soul. Brainerd never meant it for publication. His depressive thoughts are not papered over. Here is a man who appreciates ‘agreeable conversation’ with godly friends. Determined to redeem the time and not waste it. Longing for heaven, and, somewhat morbidly, for death. Yet his view of heaven was not to escape or receive reward, but to serve God perfectly for ever, and thus to glorify him.

Three examples of his reflections seem to have particular relevance today:

* He was vehemently opposed to evangelism that said, ‘“God loves me” in order to give me satisfaction about my state’ (p.340).

* He had a clear view of the kingdom of God as regeneration now and heaven later.

* His challenge to preachers: ‘I longed for a spirit of preaching to descend and rest on ministers, that they might address the consciences of men with closeness and power’ (p.359).

If you want a soft and self-indulgent Christian life, with a minimal smell of sacrifice about it, largely engrossed with this world, then avoid this book. If you want your spiritual fires to be stoked and your vision to be cleared, read a few days of his Diary/Journal every day for a few months.

Brainerd died very young, due to his exertions on the mission field in the poorest of conditions. Of whom the world is not worthy.

And us? If we emulated a fraction of Brainerd’s zeal, what a difference it would make.

John Samuel,
pastor of Grosvenor Road Baptist Church, Dublin