Brainerd's Interpreter Illuminated, 1744

One of the classic written works available is the Journal of David Brainerd, missionary to aboriginals.

He tells of the soul travail of the man who volunteereed to be his interpreter. Months passed with no signs of grace. In the various villages stories of Jesus were pouring through this man’s interpretive effort. But they had remained just stories. Then the inner struggle of conviction began to show. The man Moses would relate that he had discovered that ‘throughout his life he had not done one good thing.’ He understood that there were others within his sphere who had engaged in much more overtly wicked deeds; that he had even extended some charities and helps.

But he understood now that there had been no undivided purity of motive to please and honour the great God in any of this. He also saw that in himself he was incapable of coming to this point. He became miserable and fearful for his condition. Brainerd from time to time would be allowed sketchy reports of this struggle from the man. He was encouraged that this was in fact real awakening, real conviction and not just the workings of imagination in a soulish remorse. Clearly the Spirit of God was at work.

For Moses the breakthrough finally came with glorious revelation. The job was Christ’s and He had been waiting patiently to be allowed without interference to remove all the struggles and doubts and sin for the man.

This particular conversion gave great encouragement to the missionary in his wanderings through the forests and villages of New Jersey and thereabouts.

This volume is highly recommended and a great blessing in my own life.