Revival At Crossweeksung

Revival At Crossweeksung

What would a revival be like among the Delaware Indians in 1746?

DAVID BRAINERD, at twenty-eight, had been a missionary to the Indians for four years. Now he was ministering to the Delaware Indians of Crossweeksung, New Jersey.

His diary records the events of March 23, 1746:

There being about fifteen strangers, adult persons, come among us in the week past—divers of whom had never been in any religious meeting till now—I thought it proper to discourse this day in a manner peculiarly suited to their circumstances and capacities; and accordingly attempted it from Hosea 13:9, “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself. . . .” In the forenoon, I opened in the plainest manner I could man’s apostasy and ruined state, after having spoken some things respecting the being and perfections of God, and His creation of man in a state of uprightness and happiness. In the afternoon, endeavored to open the glorious provision God has made for the redemption of apostate creatures, by giving His own dear Son to suffer for them and satisfy divine justice on their behalf. There was not that affection and concern in the assembly that has been common among us, although there was a desirable attention appearing in general, and even in most of the strangers.

Near sunset I felt an uncommon concern upon my mind, especially for the poor strangers, that God had so much withheld His presence, and the powerful influence of His Spirit, from the assembly in the exercises of the day; and thereby denied them that degree of conviction which I hoped they might have had. In this frame I visited sundry houses and discoursed with some concern and affection to divers persons particularly, but without much appearance of success, till I came to a house where divers of the strangers were. There the solemn truths I discoursed of appeared to take effect, first upon some children, then upon divers adult persons that had been somewhat awakened before, and afterwards upon several of the pagan strangers.

I continued my discourse, with some fervency, till almost every one in the house was melted into tears; and divers wept aloud and appeared earnestly concerned to obtain an interest in Christ. Upon this, numbers soon gathered from all the houses round about and so thronged the place that we were obliged to remove to the house where we usually meet for public worship. The congregation gathered immediately, and many appeared remarkably affected. I discoursed some time from Luke 19:10. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” . . .

There was much visible concern and affection in the assembly; and I doubt not but that a divine influence accompanied what was spoken to the hearts of many. There were five or six of the strangers, men and women, who appeared to be considerably awakened. And in particular one very rugged young man, who seemed as if nothing would move him, was now brought to . . . weep a long time.

David Brainerd died of tuberculosis just a year and a half later. He went on ahead to heaven where he would later welcome all the Indians he had led to Christ.

Reflection

Revival broke out among the Indians because Brainerd felt God’s leading to visit their homes in the evening after the worship service. Do you ever feel that God is leading you to do something? Do you follow that leading? You may not experience miraculous results like Brainerd did, but if you will follow God’s leading, you will have the satisfaction of being faithful.

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Romans 8:14