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ADVERTISEMENT.

THE JOURNAL having been so much referred to in the Life and Diary, and beng originally a part of the Diary itself, this work would be very imperfect without it. It was first printed not only in Two Parts, but with some varia tion in the Titles, which are here subjoined. The First Part was,

Mirabilia Dei inter Indicos;

OR,

THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF A REMARKABLE WORK OF GRACE AMONGST A NUMBER OF THE INDIANS,

In the Provinces of New-Jersey and Pensylvania,

Justly represented in a JOURNAL kept by order of the Honourable Society (in Scotland) for propagating Christian Knowledge.

WITH SOME GENERAL REMARKS, BY DAVID BRAINERD, Minister of the Gospel, and Missionary from the said Society.

Published by the Reverend and Worthy Correspondents of the said Society, with a PREFACE BY THEM.

The Second Part was,

DIVINE GRACE DISPLAYED;

OR,

THE CONTINUANCE AND PROGRESS OF A REMARKABLE WORK OF GRACE, AMONG SOME OF THE INDIANS,

Belonging to the Provinces of New-Jersey and Pensylvania,

Justly represented in a JOURNAL kept by order of the Honourable Society (in Scotland) for propagating Christian Knowledge.

With some general REMARKS. To which is subjoined an APPENDIX, containing some Account of sundry Things, especially of the Difficulties attending the Work of a Missionary among the INDIANS.

BY DAVID BRAINERD,

Minister of the Gospel, and Missionary from the said Society.

Published by the Reverend and Worthy Correspondents of the said Society.

PREFACE.

THE design of this publication, is to give God the glory of his distinguishing grace, and gratify the pious curiosity of those who are waiting and praying for that blessed time, when the Son of God, in a more extensive sense than has yet been accomplished, shall receive "the Heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession."

Whenever any of the guilty race of mankind are awakened to a just concern for their eternal interest, are humbled at the footstool of a sovereign God, and are persuaded and enabled to accept the offers of redeeming love, it must always be acknowledged a wonderful work of divine grace, which demands our thankful praises. But doubtless it is a more affecting evidence of almighty power, a more illustrious display of sovereign mercy, when those are enlightened with the knowledge of salvation, who have for many ages dwelt in the grossest darkness and Heathenism, and are brought to a cheerful subjection to the government of our divine Redeemer, who from generation to generation had remained the voluntary slaves of "the prince of darkness."

This is that delightful scene which will present itself to the reader's view, while he attentively peruses the following pages. Nothing certainly can be more agreeable to a benevolent and religious mind, than to see those that were sunk in the most degenerate state of human nature, at once, not only renounce those barbarous customs they had been inured to from their infancy, but surprisingly transformed into the character of real and devout Christians.

This mighty change was brought about by the plain and faithful preaching of the gospel, attended with an uncommon effusion of the divine Spirit, under the ministry of the Reverend DAVID BRAINERD, a Missionary employed by the Honourable Society in Scotland, for propagating CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

And surely it will administer abundant matter of praise and thanksgiving to that honourable body, to find that their generous attempt to send the gospel among the Indian nations upon the borders of New-York, NewJersey, and Pensylvania, 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 dispensa. tion 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 Janguage 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 desart 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 *; 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.

*In the observations intermixed with the diary, after the date June 18th and Sept. 16th, 1747, it appears that some gentlemen from Boston took this affair into their charitable consideration; partly in consequence of this hint, and more especially from Mr. BRAINERD'S application by letter.--W.

THE

RISE AND PROGRESS

OF A REMARKABLE

WORK OF GRACE,

&c.

PART I.

From A.D. 1745 June 19th to Nov. 4th, at Crosweeksung and Forks of Delaware.

CROSWEEKSUNG, 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 Pensylvania; and having in that time made two journeys to Susquahannah 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) Crosweeksung 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.

I found very few persons at the place I visited, and perceived the Indians in these parts were very much scattered, there being not more than two or three families in a place, and these small settlements six, ten, fifteen, twenty, and thirty miles, and some more, from the place I was then at. However, I preached to those few I found, who appeared well-disposed, and not inclined to object and cavil, as the Indians had frequently done elsewhere.

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