[Hitherto Mr. Brainerd had kept a constant Diary, giving an account of what passed from day to day with little interruption; but henceforward his Diary is very much interrupted by his illness. He was often brought so low as either not to be capable of writing, or not well able to bear the burden of a care so constant as was requisite to recollect every evening what had passed in the day, and set down an orderly account of it in writing. However, his Diary was not wholly neglected; but he took care, from time to time, to take some notice of the most material things concerning himself and the state of his mind, even till within a few days of his death, as the reader will see afterwards.]

Lord's day, September 21, 1746.—I was so weak I could not preach, nor pretend to ride over to my people in the forenoon. In the afternoon, rode out; sat in my chair, and discoursed to my people from Romans xiv. 7, 8. I was strengthened and helped in my discourse, and there appeared something agreeable in the assembly. I returned to my lodgings extremely tired, but thankful that I had been enabled to speak a word to my poor people, from whom I had been so long absent.