Metadata
Title
Gilbert Tennent sermons 20, "De Deo us Turri" (On God as a fortified tower), 1744
Date
1744/1761
Digital Identifier
PHS.TennentSermons020
Description
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening.
In this sermon, Tennent discusses the idea of God as a fortified tower, inspired by these two Bible verses: 2 Samuel 22:51, "He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore;" and Proverbs 18:10, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." He describes the qualities of a fortified tower in human warfare, and extends the image to a spiritual tower with the larger powers of God available through faith in "this tyme of common danger."
From dates noted on the manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744 and delivered it again in 1746, 1747, and 1761. The common danger he refers to could include border clashes, skirmishes with Native Americans, and or/tensions between British and French colonists.
In this sermon, Tennent discusses the idea of God as a fortified tower, inspired by these two Bible verses: 2 Samuel 22:51, "He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore;" and Proverbs 18:10, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." He describes the qualities of a fortified tower in human warfare, and extends the image to a spiritual tower with the larger powers of God available through faith in "this tyme of common danger."
From dates noted on the manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744 and delivered it again in 1746, 1747, and 1761. The common danger he refers to could include border clashes, skirmishes with Native Americans, and or/tensions between British and French colonists.
Subject
Place
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Congregation
Second Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA
Holding Institution
Presbyterian Historical Society
Extent
15 pages
Format (Digital)
tiff
Rights
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/
Language
eng
Type
Text
Abstract
De Deo ut Turri (On God as a fortified tower) depicts God as a refuge
from warfare and the worldly. Hermits go to the high mountains to concentrate on God as center of their lives; ordinary folk or tribesmen caught up in danger and conflict seek God as a fortress. Is God such? Or not? This sermon is set in the turbulent world of David against Saul and the Philistines, but we get as well an idea of historical warfare into the 18th century: the construction of towers, thick-walled to fend off battering rams, built on rock to defeat being undermined, built aloft for a good view of surrounding territory and enemy movements, with mention of half-moons and counterscarps.
But towers can fall short of complete protection: if the watchmen are asleep, if food supplies and water run out; by treachery; by ruin.
Faith and hope in an unfailing, loving, protecting God are the strongest defenses against the metaphorical attacks of evil, but our faith must be active, with reliance on God's wisdom. Instances of God's help follow, with his successes over the machinations of men, having their crimes turn against them, and devising an escape for the afflicted. Ends with advice to the distressed.
from warfare and the worldly. Hermits go to the high mountains to concentrate on God as center of their lives; ordinary folk or tribesmen caught up in danger and conflict seek God as a fortress. Is God such? Or not? This sermon is set in the turbulent world of David against Saul and the Philistines, but we get as well an idea of historical warfare into the 18th century: the construction of towers, thick-walled to fend off battering rams, built on rock to defeat being undermined, built aloft for a good view of surrounding territory and enemy movements, with mention of half-moons and counterscarps.
But towers can fall short of complete protection: if the watchmen are asleep, if food supplies and water run out; by treachery; by ruin.
Faith and hope in an unfailing, loving, protecting God are the strongest defenses against the metaphorical attacks of evil, but our faith must be active, with reliance on God's wisdom. Instances of God's help follow, with his successes over the machinations of men, having their crimes turn against them, and devising an escape for the afflicted. Ends with advice to the distressed.
Thumbnail
IIIF Manifest
https://www.philageohistory.org/rdic-images/iiif.cfm/PHS.TennentSermons020/manifest
