Eliot, in the West, and Schwartz, in the East, have ennobled the name of Missionary; and have displayed, in the latter days of the church, the virtues of the apostolic age. David Brainerd is worthy to rank with these distinguished men. He did not, indeed, survive, like his brethren, to a good old age. His course was short, but laborious and successful. Entering, in his twenty-fifth year, on nearly the same field of labour which Eliot had first broken up about a century before, he departed to his rest in his thirtieth, young in years, but rich in graces.

He was born April 20, 1718, at Haddam, in Connecticut. His father, who died when his son was about nine years of age, was one of his Majesty's council for that colony. His mother was Mrs. Dorothy Hobart, daughter of the Rev. Jeremiah Hobart, of Haddam.

He was the third son of his parents, who had five sons and four daughters. Mrs. Dorothy Brainerd, having lived several years a widow, died when her son David was about fourteen years of age. Deprived thus early of both his parents, their anxious care of him was not lost. The seed soon sprang up and flourished with vigour during his few surviving years.

At a very early age he had strong impressions on his mind of the importance of religion, and was agitated by the fear of death. This fear impelled him to the private duties of religion ; but they were an irksome task to him.