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Portrait of David Brainerd

David Brainerd

(1718–1747) Missionary

76 quotes in 441 categories

David Brainerd writes that true happiness comes from God, not the world, and that time should be guarded carefully. He thanks retirement for forcing self‑denial and deeper devotion. He describes prayer as an intense experience that expands the soul and brings anguish.

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David Brainerd was a missionary, best known for An account of the life of the late reverend Mr. David Brainerd.

Quick Facts About David Brainerd

Born: April 20, 1718
Died: October 9, 1747
Profession: Missionary
Notable works: An account of the life of the late reverend Mr. David Brainerd

About David Brainerd

David Brainerd was an American Presbyterian minister and missionary to the Native Americans among the Delaware Indians of New Jersey. Missionaries such as William Carey and Jim Elliot, and Brainerd's cousin, the Second Great Awakening evangelist James Brainerd Taylor (1801–1829) cite Brainerd as inspiration.

Quotes by David Brainerd

Be careful to make a good improvement of precious time.

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I am more weary of life, I think, than ever I was.

Life

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God plans all perfect combinations.

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I love to live on the brink of eternity.

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Oh that I may never loiter on my heavenly journey.

Heavenly

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Oh, that I could spend every moment of my life to God's glory!

Every moment

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The Lord help me to press after God forever

Christianity

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I board with a poor Scotchman: his wife can talk scarce any English.

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All my desire was the conversion of the heathen... I declare, now I am dying, I would not have spent my life…

Communication

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Oh, how precious is time, and how it pains me to see it slide away, while I do so little to any…

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I cared not where or how I lived, or what hardships I went through, so I could but gain souls to Christ

Christ

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As long as I see anything to be done for God, life is worth having; but O how vain and unworthy it…

Christian

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It is sweet to be nothing and less than nothing that Christ may be all in all.

Christ

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I am an old sinner; and if God had designed mercy for me, he would have called me home to himself before…

Compassion

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I have a secret thought from some things I have observed, that God may perhaps design you for some singular service in…

Design

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My soul often mourned of more time and opportunity to be alone with God

Alone with god

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When you cease from labour, fill up your time in reading, meditation, and prayer: and while your hands are labouring, let your…

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Oh that God would humble me deeply in the dust before Him! i deserve Hell every day for not lovingmy Lord more,…

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I bless God for this retirement: I never was more thankful for any thing than I have been of late for the…

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Here am I, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage lost of…

Christian

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The whole world appears to me like a huge vacuum, a vast empty space, whence nothing desirable, or at least satisfactory, can…

Comfort

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Saw so much of the wickedness of my heart that I longed to get away from myself...I felt almost pressed to death…

Body

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No amount of scholastic attainment, of able and profound exposition of brilliant and stirring eloquence can atone for the absence of a…

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It is remarkable that God began this work among the Indians at a time when I had the least hope, and to…

Apprehension

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I longed that those who, I have reason to think, owe me ill will, might be eternally happy. It seemed refreshing to…

Benevolence

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In prayer I was exceedingly enlarged, and my soul was as much drawn out as I ever remember it to have been…

Anguish

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I think my soul never was in such an agony before. I felt no restraint, for the treasures of divine grace were…

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O how much mercy have I received the year past! How often has God caused his goodness to pass before me! And…

Blessed

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My desires seem especially to be after weanedness from the world, perfect deadness to it, and that I may be crucified to…

Desert

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In the morning was again distressed as soon as I waked, hearing much talk about the world and the things of it.…

Affair

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It is impossible for any rational creature to be happy without acting all for God. God Himself could not make him happy…

Acting

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“Friday, April 2. In the afternoon I felt, in secret prayer, much resigned, calm, and serene. What are all the storms of…

Divine love

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I fear God never showed mercy to one so vile as I.

Compassion

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Again, Be careful to make a good improvement of precious time.

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I have withstood the power of convictions a long time; and therefore I fear I shall be finally left of God.

Conviction

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I have received my all from God. Oh, that I could return my all to God.

God

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Lord, let me make a difference for you that is utterly disproportionate to who I am.

Christian

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There is a God in heaven who overrules all things for the best; and this is the comfort of my soul.

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Oh! one hour with God infinitely exceeds all the pleasures and delights of this lower world.

Christianity

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Some people can tell what time it is by looking at the sun, but I never have been able to make out…

Time

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David Brainerd by topic

World (17) Soul (15) Time (13) Spirituality (12) Christianity (12) God (11)