Quotes from David Brainerd

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

Oh! how amazing it is that people can talk so much about men's power and goodness, when if God did not hold us back every moment, we should be devils incarnate!

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

Once more, Never think that you can live to God by your own power or strength but always look to and rely on him for assistance, yea, for all strength and grace.

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

We should always look upon ourselves as God's servants, placed in God's world, to do his work and accordingly labour faithfully for him not with a design to grow rich and great, but to glorify God, and do all the good we possibly can.

If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world.

As the most extravagant errors were received among the established articles of their faith, so the most infamous vices obtained in their practice, and were indulged not only with impunity, but authorized by the sanction of their laws.

Further, Take heed that you faithfully perform the business you have to do in the world, from a regard to the commands of God and not from an ambitious desire of being esteemed better than others.

We are a long time in learning that all our strength and salvation is in God.

The all-seeing eye of God beheld our deplorable state infinite pity touched the heart of the Father of mercies and infinite wisdom laid the plan of our recovery.

I bless God for this retirement: I never was more thankful for any thing than I have been of late for the necessity I am under of self-denial in many respects.

Ardent love or desire introduced, as passionately longing to please and glorify the Divine Being, to be in every respect conformed to him, and in that way to enjoy him.

Could not but think, as I have often remarked to others, that much more of true religion consists in deep humility, brokenness of heart, and an abasing sense of barrenness and want of grace and holiness than most who are called Christians imagine

I love to live on the brink of eternity.

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

Saw so much of the wickedness of my heart that I longed to get away from myself…I felt almost pressed to death with my own vileness. Oh what a body of death is there in me…Oh the closest walk with God is the sweetest heaven that can be enjoyed on earth!

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

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

There is a God in heaven who overrules all things for the best; and this is the comfort of my soul. . .How blessed it is to grow more and more like God!

Oh for holiness! Oh for more of God in my soul! Oh this pleasing pain! It makes my soul press after God

The whole world appears to me like a huge vacuum, a vast empty space, whence nothing desirable, or at least satisfactory, can possibly be derived; and I long daily to die more and more to it; even though I obtain not that comfort from spiritual things which I earnestly desire.

Oh, if ever I get to heaven, it will be because God will, and nothing else; for I never did any thing of myself, but get away from God!

I had been heaping up my devotions before God, fasting, praying, &c. pretending, and indeed really thinking sometimes, that I was aiming at the glory of God; whereas I never once truly intended it, but only my own happiness. I