Sermon at Ordination of David Brainerd, Half title – Dedication
Mr. Pemberton's SERMON AT THE ORDINATION OF Mr. David Brainerd. WITH A NARRATIVE relating to the Indian Affairs, &c.
A SERMON Preach'd In NEW-ARK, June 12, 1744. AT THE ORDINATION OF Mr. David Brainerd, A MISSIONARY among the Indians Upon the Borders of the Provinces of NEW-YORK, NEW-JERSEY, and PENNSYLVANIA.
By E. PEMBERTON, A. M. Paſtor of the Preſbyterian Church in the City of New-York.
WITH An APPENDIX, touching the Indian Affairs.
BOSTON: Printed by ROGERS and FOWLE, for J. PEMBERTON. 1744.
To the Right Honourable The MARQUIS of LOTHIAN, Preſident, And the reſt of the Members of the incorporated SOCIETY in SCOTLAND For propagating Chriſtian Knowledge.
AUTHORISED by your Commiſſion, we have attempted to ſend the Goſpel to the infidel Indian Natives, that border upon the Provinces of New-York, New-Jerſey, and Pennſylvania: And by Supplies received from your Honourable Society, have been enabled to ſupport that charitable Undertaking.
THE Ordination of one of your Miſſionaries to this great Work, has given us an Opportunity to preſent the following Sermon and Narratives to your candid Acceptance.
WHILE the Princes of the Earth are ſending their Navies to the remoteſt Regions, to protect the Commerce and increaſe the Riches of their reſpective Dominions; You are engaged in the nobler Deſign of enlarging the Kingdom of the Great REDEEMER, and bringing the moſt diſtant Nations to a Subjection to his gracious Sceptre. Certainly nothing can be more worthy the chriſtian Character, or more agreeable to generous and benevolent Minds, than to be in any Meaſure inſtrumental to enlighten thoſe with the Doctrine of Salvation, who for many Ages have dwelt in the Darkneſs of Heatheniſm; and to turn them from the idolatrous Worſhip of the Hoſt of Heaven, and the Spirits of their departed Heroes,—to the Service of the LIVING GOD, who made Heaven and Earth.
OTHER Deſigns may make a louder Noiſe in the World, and appear with greater Splendor in the Opinion of miſtaken Mortals: But this will be approved by the unerring Judgment of Heaven, and ſhine bright in the Records of Eternity; when many of the celebrated Exploits, that now receive the univerſal Applauſe of Mankind, will be buried in perpetual Oblivion.
MANY are the Difficulties, Self-denials, and Diſcouragements, which your Miſſionaries muſt paſs thro', in their Endeavours to propagate the Goſpel among thoſe who renounce the Society of the civilized World, are ſunk into the moſt degenerate State of human Nature, and have been enured from their Infancy to the moſt barbarous Practices. It is with Pleaſure we behold them animated with ſo noble a Zeal for the Glory of GOD, ſo compaſſionate a Regard for the Happineſs of Men,— that they are willing to ſpend and be ſpent, if they may be the Inſtruments of ſpreading the glad Tidings of Salvation among the uninſtructed Pagans, who have hitherto lived without GOD in the World, and been benighted in the Regions of Darkneſs and the Shadow of Death.
THAT this, and all other your pious and benevolent Deſigns for enlarging the Kingdom of CHRIST, and promoting the Welfare of immortal Souls, may be attended with the divine Bleſſing, and crowned with increaſing Succeſs, 'till the whole Earth be filled with the Glory of the LORD,—is the unfeigned Deſire, and ſhall be the daily Prayer of
Your moſt Obedient Humble Servants, The Correſpondents.