MR. BRAINERD'S JOURNAL

body, to find that their generous attempt to send the gospel among the Indian nations upon the 

borders of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, has met with such surprising success. 

It would perhaps have been more agreeable to the taste of politer readers, if the following 

Journal had been cast into a different method, and formed into one connected narrative. But the 

worthy author, amidst his continued labours, had no time to spare for such an undertaking. Besides, 

the pious reader will take a peculiar pleasure to see this work described in its native simplicity, 

and the operations of the Spirit upon the minds of these poor benighted pagans, laid down just in 

the method and order in which they happened. This, it must be confessed, will occasion frequent 

repetitions; but these, as they tend to give a fuller view of this amazing dispensation of divine 

grace in its rise and progress, we trust, will be easily forgiven. 

When we see such numbers of the most ignorant and barbarous of mankind, in the space of 

a few months, "turned from darkness to light, and from the power of sin and Satan unto God," it 

gives us encouragement to wait and pray for that blessed time, when our victorious Redeemer 

shall, in a more signal manner than he has yet done, display the "banner of his cross," march on 

from "conquering to conquer, till the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord 

and of his Christ." Yea, we cannot but lift up our heads with joy, and hope that it may be the dawn 

of that bright and illustrious day, when the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall "arise and shine 

from one end of the earth to the other;" when, to use the language of the inspired prophets, "the 

Gentiles shall come to his light, and kings to the brightness of his rising;" in consequence of which, 

"the wilderness and solitary places shall be glad, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose." 

It is doubtless the duty of all, in their different stations, and according to their respective 

capacities, to use their utmost endeavours to bring forward this promised, this desired day. There 

is a great want of schoolmasters among these Christianized Indians, to instruct their youth in the 

English language, and the principles of the Christian faith; for this as yet, there is no certain 

provision made: [1] if any are inclined to contribute to so good a design, we are persuaded they 

will do an acceptable service to the "kingdom of the Redeemer." And we earnestly desire the most 

indigent to join, at least, in their wishes and prayers, that this work may prosper more and more, 

till the "whole earth is filled with the glory of the Lord." 

* * * * * * * 

The CORRESPONDENTS 

THE 

RISE AND PROGRESS 

OF A 

REMARKABLE WORK OF GRACE, &c. 

PART I 

FROM A.D. 1745 JUNE 19TH TO NOV. 4TH, AT CROSSWEEKSUNG AND FORKS OF 

DELAWARE. 

CROSSWEEKSUNG, in New Jersey, June, 1745. 

June 19. Having spent most of my time for more than a year past amongst the Indians in the 

Forks of Delaware in Pennsylvania; and having in that time made two journeys to Susquehannah 

river, far back in that province, in order to treat with the Indians there, respecting Christianity; and 

not having had any considerable appearance of special success in either of those places, which 

damped my spirits, and was not a little discouraging to me: upon hearing that there was a number 

of Indians in and about a place called (by the Indians) Crossweeksung in New Jersey, near 

fourscore miles south-eastward from the Forks of Delaware, I determined to make them a visit, 

and see what might be done towards the Christianizing of them; and accordingly arrived among 

them this day.