Bio 7d David Brainerd

7. It is chiefly Edwards who ensured his name was preserved for posterity. He preached at the funeral and also edited and published Brainerd's journals and papers to produce An Account of the Life of the Late Rev David Brainerd (1749). It is the most often reprinted and the best known of all Edwards' works. Like Wesley's abridgement of it in England, it quickly became a bestseller.
In the Yale edition Prof Norman Pettit points out that though the text is largely Brainerd's 'the volume as Edwards conceived it belongs to him'. Perry Miller calls it 'a rebuke both to enthusiasts and Arminians' (ie moralists). Edwards had already written several works and was about to work on his famous treatise Freedom of the will when these materials came to hand. (Freedom of the will did not appear until 1754). It seems the Brainerd project took priority because he saw it as providing an excellent example of the sort of qualities extolled in his previous book The Religious Affections (1746). It has been said that Brainerd is the phantom in the background of that work and others. Pettit draws attention to similarities between Brainerd's conversion and that of Edwards's wife Sarah, described anonymously in Some thoughts concerning the revival of religion in New England (1742). Brainerd's journal provided not only his own example but that of other conversions, all judged according to the criteria laid down in Edwards' Distinguishing marks of a work of the Spirit of God in 1741. Brainerd in turn undoubtedly influenced Edwards, who spent most of his last seven years working among Native Americans in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Edwards' work omitted parts of the diary published in 1746 (portions dealing with his work at Crossweeksung Jun 19-Nov 4, 1745; Nov 24, 1745-Jun 19, 1746) [Mirabilia dei inter Indicos: or the rise and progress of a remarkable work of grace among a number of the Indians in the provinces of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Divine Grace Displayed: or the continuance & progress of a remarkable work of grace, etc. Together known as David Brainerd's Journal. Doddridge did an abridgement, 1748.] A complete edition appeared in 1765. Edwards also rewrote parts of Brainerd's testimony and diary, which can be tedious in its repetitions. He also omitted phrases he deemed unsuitable for the Christian public. The book contains a preface (10); Brainerd's edited papers interspersed with Edwards' narrative in 8 parts (378); further 'remains', mostly letters (33); reflections and observations (42); funeral sermon (12) [Page numbers refer to the Yale Edition whcih reinserts missing entries].
In 1822, Sereno E Dwight edited and published the life and diary entire, with letters and other writings. In 1884 a more thorough revision was prepared by J M Sherwood in New York.
These various editions of Brainerd's life, along with subsequent versions, have had great influence over the years. John Wesley (1703-1781) wrote 'what can be done to revive the work of God where it is decayed?' His answer? 'Let every preacher read carefully over the life of David Brainerd'. (He also thought Brainerd rather proud at times and in need of some Christian perfectionist teaching – but Wesley would!). Associates of William Carey (1761-1734) were expected to read the life three times a year! 'Let us often look at Brainerd in the woods of America, pouring out his very soul before God. Prayer, secret, fervent, expectant, lies at the root of all personal godliness.'
Henry Martyn (1781-1812), another missionary giant, said 'I long to be like him; let me forget the world and be swallowed up in a desire to glorify God.'
Among others influenced by it are Francis Asbury ('that model of meekness, moderation, temptation and labour and self-denial'), Thomas Coke, Samuel Marsden, Samuel John Mills, Robert Morrison, Livingstone, Chalmers, M'Cheyne, A J Gordon and Jim Elliott. The 20th Century Canadian preacher Oswald J Smith wrote 'When I feel myself growing cold I turn to Brainerd and he always warms my heart. No man ever had a greater passion for souls. To live wholly for God was his one great aim and ambition.'
'His story,' wrote Sherwood, 'has done more to develop and mould the spirit of modern missions, and to fire the heart of the Christian Church, than that of any man since the apostolic age.' 'Have a good look at him' wrote F W Boreham, 'he is a man in a million; he did more than any other to usher in the world's new day.'