reading the Life and Journal of Mr. David Brainerd, if you know where to get it in large.' In 1748, Doddridge himself wrote a Dedication of an Abridgment of Brainerd's Journal to the Honorable Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in Great Britain. It is among the last of his literary performances, and is a well deserved tribute to one of the excellent of the earth.*

* A few months ago the author of this volume, while on a tour through New England, visited the grave of Brainerd, at Northampton. It was on a beautiful summer morning, when a gentle breeze was stirring the green foliage of the thick trees in the cemetery, that we approached the hallowed spot and read the inscription upon his tomb

It will be remembered that Brainerd died at Northampton, on the 9th of October, 1747, in the thirtieth year of his age. He breathed his last in the house of Jonathan Edwards, to whose daughter, Jerusha, a very amiable and pious young lady of seventeen, he was engaged to be married. This young lady, who constantly attended Brainerd during his last illness, survived him only a few months. Her grave is close by the side of Brainerd's, and on the plain white stone which marks her resting place is this inscription: Jerusha Edwards, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Edwards. Born April 26, 1730; died Feb. 14, 1748. "I shall be satisfied when I awake in Thy likeness."

As we stood by the grave of Brainerd, recalling the principal events of his brief but useful life, we were particularly impressed with the Christian triumph of his death. How peaceful, how joyful was his departure! No clouds obscure the brightness of his spiritual vision. As he stands on the borders of the ocean of eternity, and looks above him and be

fore him, the sky is clear and the ocean calm. He passes away from the scene of his earthly labors and conflicts with these words on his pale, quivering lips: 'Come, Lord Jesus! come quickly. Oh, why is His chariot so long in coming? My work is done; oh, to be in heaven to praise and glorify God with His holy angels!'

As peaceful and happy, we may remark, was the departure of Miss Jerusha Edwards. She had manifested,' says her father, a heart uncommonly devoted to God in the course of her life, many years before her death; and said on her deathbed, that she had not seen one minute, for several years, wherein she desired to live one minute longer, for the sake of any other good in life, but doing good, living to God, and doing what might be for His glory!'

An eminent American divine has these beautiful and appropriate remarks respecting the grave of Brainerd: His mortal remains repose in the burying-place at Northampton, and the spot is hallowed to the hearts of thousands by the most grateful associations. The stranger who only passes through the town, is often heard inquiring the way to "Brainerd's grave;" and many a Christian, and many a minister, whose home is on the other side of the ocean, has stood over the spot with tender and sublime emotions, and with a moistened eye. It is within the last few years that, on some public occasion at Northampton, which called together a large number of ministers, a clerical procession walked early in the morning into the grave-yard, to visit this hallowed spot, and, as they stood over it, they offered up thanksgiving to his God and their God, for having made him what he was, and supplications that the remembrance of his example might cheer them onward in their labors, and assist them to win the immortal crown.'- DR. SPRAGUE, in his Annals of the American Pulpit.

CHAPTER V.

HIS LAST DAYS.

N the midst of his excessive labors as pastor, tutor, and author, Doddridge was seized with the disease which, in less than a year, terminated his useful

life. Early in the winter of 1750, as he was going to preach the funeral sermon of his early friend and patron, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Clarke, he caught a cold which troubled him the remainder of the winter, and finally terminated in consumption. On the approach of spring he recovered considerably, but relapsed again in the summer. His end now rapidly approached; and as he drew nigh the grave, and stood on the borders of life, he appeared, as it were, to smile at death. His spirit now soared on the wings of pious contemplation, and was more and more cheered with the hope of future bliss. The light of the divine countenance seemed to beam glo

riously upon his soul; gladness was put in his heart; and that joy which the world can neither give nor take away, caused him to desire still more ardently the full enjoyment of heaven's untold happiness. And as he turns his steadfast eye of faith beyond the dark cold grave, and

'Surveys the brightening regions of the blest,' he seems to possess, in a spiritual sense, 'What nothing earthly gives, or can destroy,

The soul's calm sunshine, and the heartfelt joy.'

In the near prospect of death, he could say, at this time, in the sublime language of Christian triumph: 'I bless God, earth is less and less to me; and I shall be very glad to have done with it once for all, as soon as it shall please my Master to give me leave. Yet for Him I would live and labor; and I hope, if such were His will, suffer too.' 'I thank God, that I do indeed feel my affection to this vanishing world dying and vanishing every day. I have long since weighed it in the balances and found it wanting; and my heart and hopes are above.'

On the 2d of June, 1751, Doddridge administered the Lord's Supper for the last time to his congregation at Northampton. It was a very solemn and affecting occasion. He preached from Hebrews xii, 23: 'Ye are come-to the general

assembly, and Church of the first born, which are written in heaven,' &c.; and very felicitously and beautifully did he expatiate on that glorious and innumerable assembly of all nations, and kindreds, and people and tongues, which shall meet together in that world where sorrow and sighing shall flee away, and where songs of joy and gratitude shall unceasingly be ascribed to Him that hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood. In addressing his people, at the conclusion of this sacramental service, the saintly pastor touchingly alluded to his own departure, and tenderly and pathetically spoke of their final separation. His last sermon at Northampton was delivered on the 14th of July, from that cheering text: Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's: Rom. xiv, 8.

After engaging in his last public service at the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Adams, at Brewdly, on the 18th of July, he visited Shrewsbury, and spent several weeks at the house of his friend. and former pupil, the Rev. Job Orton. During his continuance with Mr. Orton, in the hope of deriving benefit from a change of air and relaxation of mind, he was favored with many letters from his friends, couched in terms expressive of their sincere affection and deep concern for his recovery. Of these letters of sympathy it has been