***The article was taken and adapted from David Brainerd: A Constant Stream by David B. Calhoun, Ph.D. Brainerd’s influence grew remarkably within the transatlantic evangelical community through The Life of David Brainerd, Edwards’s most frequently reprinted and widely read book. It was the first American biography to reach a large European audience. It became the best-selling religious book … Continue reading
David Brainerd was special. Not because he was a missionary (every Christian is a missionary), but because of how he lived as a missionary. His words below reveal his heart: “All my desire was the conversion of the heathen… I declare, now I am dying, I would not have spent my life otherwise for the … Continue reading
**This excerpt is taken from John Piper’s mini biography on David Brainerd Brainerd struggled to love the Indians. If love is known by sacrifice, then Brainerd loved. But if it is also known by heartfelt compassion then Brainerd struggled to love more than he did. Sometimes he was melted with love. September 18, 1742: Felt some compassion for souls, … Continue reading
David Brainerd died at the young age of 29. Early death in itself is not unusual, but might the young missionaries’ death been preventable? Jonathan Edwards (author of Brainerd’s diary) explains, “Another imperfection in Mr. Brainerd, which may be observed in the following account of his life, was his life, was his being excessive in … Continue reading
In reading The Life and Diary of David Brainerd, I observed that Brainerd wrote often about his daily, personal struggle with sin. Here are three examples of his sin-focused entries: Lord’s day, June 13: Felt something calm and resigned in the public worship: at the sacrament saw myself very vile and worthless. O that I may … Continue reading
It might surprise you that the journal of David Brainerd has encouraged hundreds of thousands of Christians and missionaries over the last 250 years. Though he never intended it to be read by anyone, Jonathan Edwards gave a gift to Christendom by publishing his experiences, his hurts, his sorrows and his victories. In other words, … Continue reading
Unfortunately, we do not know much about the younger years of Mr. Brainerd except this account, which is firmly established in church history lore. “And it once happened, that he and two or three more of these intimate friends were in the hall together, after Mr. Whittelsey, one of the tutors, had been to prayer … Continue reading
David Brainerd, missionary, born in Haddam, Connecticut, April 20th, 1718; died in Northampton, Massachusetts, October 9th, 1747. From early childhood he had strong” religious feeling, and after entering Yale College in 1739, at the time of the great revival under Whitefield, his zeal led him into indiscretions. The’ attitude of the College toward the “New … Continue reading
Is this true? Did C.S. Lewis believe in the concept of Purgatory? See for yourself. Below are Lewis’ words: “Of course, I pray for the dead (i.e. the dead in Purgatory). The action is so spontaneous, so all but inevitable, that only the most compulsive theological case against it would deter me. And I hardly … Continue reading
One of the most strange (and possibly disturbing) facets of Lewis’ life was his consistent commitment to a woman who is called, “Mrs. Moore”. A recent Lewis’ biographer sets the background, “Jack,” as Lewis was known to his family, enlisted during the First World War while still a teenager. While undergoing training, he befriended a … Continue reading
Past and Present 