Metadata
Title
Gilbert Tennent sermons 1, "The Law of God," 1742 or 1743
Date
1742/1761
Digital Identifier
PHS.TennentSermons001
Description
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening.
"The Law of God" sets forth the ever-present dangers of pervasive sin in the world, in diverting people from moral law and consequent harmony with the purity of God, and the veneration due him as creator. The sermon draws from Greek vocabulary and Judaic law, and is supported by close reading of relevant Bible passages.
Tennent wrote this sermon in 1742 or 1743, but notations on the manuscript indicate he delivered it on other occasions in 1751, 1755, 1758 and 1761.
"The Law of God" sets forth the ever-present dangers of pervasive sin in the world, in diverting people from moral law and consequent harmony with the purity of God, and the veneration due him as creator. The sermon draws from Greek vocabulary and Judaic law, and is supported by close reading of relevant Bible passages.
Tennent wrote this sermon in 1742 or 1743, but notations on the manuscript indicate he delivered it on other occasions in 1751, 1755, 1758 and 1761.
Subject
Place
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Congregation
Second Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA
Holding Institution
Presbyterian Historical Society
Extent
18 pages
Format (Digital)
tiff
Rights
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/
Language
eng
Type
Text
Abstract
De peccato (On Sin).
One of the earliest sermons we have, dating from 1742-43. Lacks title page (Latin title from back cover) and possibly another page or pages. First extant page headed the Law of God. The Bible text citation usual to guide the discourse is lacking but sermon text makes reference to the Apostle, probably Paul, and to the Greek words hamartia, or Sin (missing the mark) and anomos, without law, or lawless.
Moral law is the earthly copy of the divine law, and should be the guide for man. Harmony in man's behavior and in his religious beliefs offer the surest way to happiness. Sinners lose the chance of happiness both in their tendencies and the bad behaviors that result. Reviews the types of law governing the Israelites: moral, ceremonial, and judicial.
Man as a reasoning creature can make the choice between right and wrong, and every sin tarnishes the purity which the Law of God exemplifies.
Reviews the "causes, consequences, and evil" of sin, set forth in plain terms, mirroring the influence of Frelinghuysen and the Dutch Reformed Church, in which a sermon should "divide the word aright:" first frightening the congregation before it soothes with the Gospel and then prescribes for self-examination and solutions.
Sin shows ingratitude and injustice to God, man's creator, to whom he owes everything. Christ the Redeemer comes to bring "the greatest good from the greatest evil." There follows a list of duties for mankind: sorrow for sin, hatred for it, careful avoidance of it and getting rid of sin.
One of the earliest sermons we have, dating from 1742-43. Lacks title page (Latin title from back cover) and possibly another page or pages. First extant page headed the Law of God. The Bible text citation usual to guide the discourse is lacking but sermon text makes reference to the Apostle, probably Paul, and to the Greek words hamartia, or Sin (missing the mark) and anomos, without law, or lawless.
Moral law is the earthly copy of the divine law, and should be the guide for man. Harmony in man's behavior and in his religious beliefs offer the surest way to happiness. Sinners lose the chance of happiness both in their tendencies and the bad behaviors that result. Reviews the types of law governing the Israelites: moral, ceremonial, and judicial.
Man as a reasoning creature can make the choice between right and wrong, and every sin tarnishes the purity which the Law of God exemplifies.
Reviews the "causes, consequences, and evil" of sin, set forth in plain terms, mirroring the influence of Frelinghuysen and the Dutch Reformed Church, in which a sermon should "divide the word aright:" first frightening the congregation before it soothes with the Gospel and then prescribes for self-examination and solutions.
Sin shows ingratitude and injustice to God, man's creator, to whom he owes everything. Christ the Redeemer comes to bring "the greatest good from the greatest evil." There follows a list of duties for mankind: sorrow for sin, hatred for it, careful avoidance of it and getting rid of sin.
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