November 27, 2007

• Reasons for Thanks Giving, Part 6: Christian Friends

  In "The Life and Diary of David Brainerd,"[1] David Brainerd spoke often of "dear christian friends." Brainerd wrote of engaging in "religious exercises," singing and conversation with friends. He described his meetings with Christian friends as providing "refreshment," "sweetness," "comfort" and "spiritual warmth."

  Tuesday, June 11 [1745]. Spent the day mainly in conversation with dear christian friends; and enjoyed some sweet sense of divine things. O how desirable it is, to keep company with God’s dear children! These are the "excellent ones of the earth in whom," I can truly say, "is all my delight." O what delight will it afford, to meet them all in a state of perfection! Lord, prepare me for that state.
  

  
  
  Brainerd cherished the company of Christian friends who could encourage, strengthen and refresh him in his faith. On July 2, 1743, Brainerd lamented that he was "without a friend to communicate any of my sorrows to..."
  
  

  Tuesday, Dec. 6 [1743]...Was perplexed to see the vanity and levity of professed Christians. Spent the evening with a christian friend, who was able in some measure to sympathize with me in my spiritual conflicts. Was a little refreshed to find one with whom I could converse of inward trials, &c.
  
  Thursday, Dec. 29 [1743]...Spent the day mainly in conversing with friends; yet enjoyed little satisfaction, because I could find but few disposed to converse of divine and heavenly things. Alas, what are the things of this world, to afford satisfaction to the soul!

  Friday, Jan. 10, [1746]...Near night visited a serious baptist minister, and had some agreeable conversation with him; and found that I could taste God in friends.
  

  
  
  Brainerd also wrote of a time when he received a "reproof from a friend" which he took quite seriously:

  On Wednesday, March 4 [1747]. I met with a reproof from a friend, which, although I thought I did not deserve it from him, yet was, I trust, blessed of God to make me more tenderly afraid of sin, more jealous over myself, and more concerned to keep both heart and life pure and unblamable. It likewise caused me to reflect on my past deadness, and want of spirituality, and to abhor myself, and look on myself as most unworthy. This frame of mind continued the next day; and for several days after, I grieved to think, that in my necessary diversions I had not maintained more seriousness, solemnity, heavenly affection and conversation. Thus my spirits were often depressed and sunk; and yet I trust that reproof was made to be beneficial to me.
  

  Brainerd treasured the privilege of interceding in prayer for his friends:

  Saturday, March 3 [1744]…Could not be content without a very particular mention of a great number of dear friends at the throne of grace; as also the particular circumstances of many, so far as they were known.

  Lord’s day, July 8 [1744]...Was enabled to cry to God with a child-like spirit, and to continue instant in prayer for some time. Was much enlarged in the sweet duty of intercession: was enabled to remember great numbers of dear friends, and precious souls, as well as Christ’s ministers. Continued in this frame, afraid of every idle thought, till I dropped asleep.
  

  
  
  A short time after we left our church home, I heard a song on my itunes that reminded me of a friend from our old church, at which point I became quite unhappy and distressed and began to weep. However, soon after this God brought me to these wonderful words of Brainerd's reassuring me of God's sovereign goodness to us in giving us friends:

  Wednesday, March 6 [1745]...Towards night, and in the evening, was visited by some friends, some of whom, I trust, were real Christians; who discovered an affectionate regard to me, and seemed grieved that I was about to leave them; especially seeing I did not expect to make any considerable stay among them, if I should live to return from New England. O how kind has God been to me! how has he raised up friends in every place, where his providence has called me! Friends are a great comfort; and it is God that gives them; it is he makes them friendly to me. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

  I am trusting that my God will show His kindness to me by raising up friends in a new church home, where His providence might call me.

  Brainerd guarded his heart against his friends taking the place of God. Earlier in the March 6, 1745 diary entry in which Brainerd praised God for His kindness in raising up friends for him, Brainerd had also written:

  Was afraid I should forsake the fountain of living waters, and attempt to derive satisfaction from broken cisterns, my dear friends and acquaintance, with whom I might meet in my journey. I looked to God to keep me from this vanity, as well as others.
  

  I thank God for family and friends, but I am especially thankful for Christian friends. Although we may not share the same earthly father or earthly bloodline, we are children of one Father for we have been washed in the blood of Christ and have been born again into the same family by one Spirit. I am especially thankful for those Christian friends in whom I can "taste God" and who stir me up to love and good works.

  
  

  You, O Lord, are the portion of my inheritance and my cup.
  I thank You for those dear Christian friends you have given me,
  the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.

  Bless the Lord, O my soul,
  and forget not all his benefits...
  including his gift of Christian friends.

  * * *

  from: "For the Beauty of the Earth"
  (Folliot S. Pierpoint, 1864)

  For the joy of human love,
  Brother, sister, parent, child,
  Friends on earth and friends above,
  For all gentle thoughts and mild.

  Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
  This our hymn of grateful praise.

  ---

  [1] "The Life and Diary of the Rev. David Brainerd" from Jonathan Edwards' "The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume Two."

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