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DAVID BRAINERD (1718-1747) One of the great missionaries to the American Indians was David Brainerd. He ministered to the natives along the Delaware, Lehigh, and Susquehanna rivers, and his holy life was a great inspiration to many, including missionaries William Carey and Henry Martyn. He was saved at twenty-one years of age and then entered Yale University. He was expelled from Yale in 1742 when he refused to make a public apology for criticizing one of the tutors. He began preaching the same year. Brainerd preached at various churches and places until March of 1743. He then left to work among the Indians. He immediately became plagued with health problems, including tuberculosis of the lungs, but he insisted on laboring with the Indians. He saw little fruit during his first couple years, but he never lost his spiritual vision. In fact, he turned down at least two opportunities to leave the field for the pastorate. God finally blessed Brainerd with around 100 souls between 1745 and 1747. His bad health, coupled with the hardships of his ministry, became too much for him. He died on October 9, 1747, at twenty-nine years of age. Jonathan Edwards preached his funeral. John Wesley later stated that every preacher should carefully read over the life of David Brainerd.