Posted by: Joe Holland | June 1, 2007

Tuberculosis and David Brainerd

With all the talk about tuberculosis, my thoughts have been drawn to the life of David Brainerd. What is the connection between the disease and this preeminent American missionary? Well, Brainerd died of tuberculosis. Not only did he die of that disease but he spent the last 19 weeks of his life in the home of Jonathan Edwards. Brainerd was nursed by Edwards own 17 year old daughter, Jerusha. No doubt, the time spent with Brainerd left a deep impression on Edwards. Edwards said of Brainerd’s stay with his family,

I would not conclude my observations on the merciful circumstances of Mr. Brainerd’s death, without acknowledging with thankfulness, the gracious dispensation of Providence to me and my family, in so ordering that he (though the ordinary place of his abode was more than two hundred miles distant) should be brought to my house, in his last sickness, and should die here. So that we had opportunity for much acquaintance and conversation with him, to show him kindness in such circumstance, to see his dying behavior, to hear his dying speeches, to receive his dying counsels, and to have the benefit of his dying prayers.

If it were not for Brainerd’s disease and the ensuing stay in the Edward’s home, Jonathan Edwards may not have been lead to publish The Life and Diary of the Rev. David Brainerd. Many a missionary claim that book as the primary instrument that God used in calling them to missions.

So, as tuberculosis makes headlines, take a moment to think back on the brevity of life, the great commission, service to our God, the sweetness of the gospel, and the lives of holy men and women who have preceded us.

For a short piece on the life of David Brainerd, I heartily recommend John Piper’s biographical essay on Brainerd.

Signature Joe

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Responses

Thank you for this post and encouragment to tolle lege this book. I plan on ordering it for myself and our church.

By: joshua on June 2, 2007
at 5:03 am

You won’t be sorry. If you want to shell out a few more bucks, Brainerd’s diary is also included in the two volume works of Jonathan Edwards.

By: Joe on June 2, 2007
at 7:19 am

Very cogent and timely piece. But one minor correction: David Brainerd spent 19 weeks, not 19 months, at Jonathan Edwards’ house before dying on October 9, 1747. Ironically, Jonathan Dickinson, the Presby. minister of Elizabeth, N.J., and first president of Princeton(College of N.J.)with whom Brainerd stayed in a very ill state for five months before resuming his trip to Edwards’ house, had died two days earlier, Oct. 7, 1747. And, of course, Edwards’ daughter Jerusha, to whom Brainerd was allegedly engaged, died just five months later at age 17.

By: Jim Burns on June 7, 2007
at 2:27 pm

Jim,
Thanks for the correction. I’ve changed the time line in the post to reflect the correction. Consequently, is there any official documentation to the Jerusha engagement. That is the first I’ve heard the term “engagement” used of their close relationship.

By: Joe on June 7, 2007
at 6:33 pm

Dear Joe,

“The Nat’l. Cyclopaedia of American Biography” says in a Brainerd bio sketch, “..The Rev. Jonathan Edwards to whose dau., Jerusha, he was betrothed.” And “The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge” likewise has a Brianerd bio saying “..died at the home of Jonathan Edwards(to whose daughter he was engaged).” But, that said, I’ve seen other sources use qualifiers such as “alleged”, “possible”, “probable” engagement.

I would guess(since the Edwards’ “Life of D.B” does not speak directly to this issue, nor does any of Brainerd’s writings that I’ve seen) that this “engagement” occured late during Brainerd’s 19-week stay with the Edwardses and, given his imminent demise, was largely academic, never formalized since there was no point to a formal engagement. Another source speaks of “Jerusha, who Brianerd greatly admired even as a young teenage girl,” so I suppose he had previously met her during his years at Yale(when she would have been about 10-14 years old). Also another source suggests that she caught TB from Brainerd while caring for him those last few weeks. The first two sources I cited above(which use the “betrothed”, “engaged” terms) are easily available on Wikipedia, go to “David Brainerd”, then to “biographies” at bottom, click on fourth & fifth ones listed, use “edit, find” on “Jerusha” to locate quotes(but one will also give you Brainerd’s sister Jerusha–who also died, at age 34, just a few months before Brainerd died, perhaps also of TB, don’t know–but, yes, TB(also smallpox–Edwards himself died of a smallpox innoculation 2 mos. after becoming president of Princeton), was deadly back in those days. Hope this helps. Jim

By: Jim Burns on June 12, 2007
at 1:24 pm

do you know of any videos of daivid brainerd’s life? i saw one several years ago but i cant seem to find it on the web now. thanks

By: vince on October 1, 2007
at 6:19 pm

sorry, i don’t know of any videos of Brainerd’s life. If you can track down Jim (above), he may know.

By: Joe Holland on October 1, 2007
at 11:33 pm

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