White, William, 1748-1836]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Sermons]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> White, William, 1748-1836]]> Bible. Acts]]> Bible. New Testament]]> Episcopal Church]]>
In this sermon for Whitsunday, Reverend White discusses his thoughts on Acts 2:1-4, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."]]> Sermons]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> White, William, 1748-1836]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Sermons]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> White, William, 1748-1836]]> Bible. New Testament]]> Bible. Acts]]> Easter]]> Episcopal Church]]>
In this Easter sermon, Reverend White discusses his thoughts on Acts 26:8, "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?"]]> Sermons]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Sermons]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Great Awakening]]> Presbyterians]]> Baptism]]> Bible. Acts]]> Presbyterian Church]]>
This sermon, which Tennent preached in 1743 or 1744, is an expansion upon his previous sermon "De Baptismo" (On baptism). First he addresses some objections against baptism, then he goes on to discuss the "mode or maner [manner]" of baptism.]]>
Rev. Tennent cites, along with constant reference to the Bible, quite a few commentators from earliest times:  Maimonides from Judaism and theologians of the early Church,  Renaissance and Reformation, down to the Puritans and Nonconformists of the 17th century,  50 to 100 years before his own time.  Christian baptism not according to the Law, but a sacrament with enormous symbolism, according to personal faith and the hope of eternal life, fused with the Holy Spirit.   Includes advice to parents.]]> Sermons]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Sermons]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Great Awakening]]> Presbyterians]]> Baptism]]> Bible. Acts]]> Presbyterian Church]]>
This sermon, which Tennent preached in 1743 or 1744, is a rumination on Acts 10:47, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" Tennent discusses the history of baptism, and compares adults requesting baptism and infants who are allowed the rite.]]>
 Early Christianity was close enough to the Jewish world and Jewish origins; there follows a lengthy and close-argued discussion of baptism as a sign as circumcision is for Jewish infants and an interest in the conversion of adult Jews, the Covenant of Grace applicable in both beliefs, in one by Law, in the other by faith. ]]> Sermons]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Sermons]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Great Awakening]]> Presbyterians]]> Bible. Isaiah]]> Bible. Ezekiel]]> Bible. Acts]]> Bible. Revelation]]> Presbyterian Church]]>
This manuscript contains three sermons by Tennent. The first sermon, "On Christ as foundation," begins by citing Isaiah 28:16. The second sermon, "On repentance," begins by citing Ezekiel 18:30, Acts 17:30-31, and Revelation 2:4-5. Finally, the third sermon begins by citing Acts 17:31 and Revelation 1:7.

From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote these sermons in 1745, and redelivered one or more of them in 1747, 1752, and 1755.]]> Sermons]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Sermons]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Great Awakening]]> Presbyterians]]> Bible. Acts]]> Presbyterian Church]]>
Tennent delivered this farewell sermon in 1745, before leaving New Brunswick for Philadelphia. He begins the sermon by referencing Acts 20:31-32, "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."]]>
Transcribers remarks:

There may well be a farewell sermon to New Brunswick N.J. somewhere in the sermons yet to be transcribed but this sermon seems to be a draft of the one numbered 136, in which Rev. Tennent bids farewell to his 2nd Presbyterian Church congregation before his departure by ship for an overseas stay.

In Nov. of 1753 he voyaged to Britain to canvass for funds for the College of New Jersey, established as a theological school in 1746. In Sermon 65 as again in no. 136, he mentions having labored already 3 times 3 years (and one year more) beyond the three years that Paul spent in Ephesus. In the draft he mentioned that doors were being shut against his progress. Weary of 3rd and Arch? He bids farewell to his hearers as tho he might never see them again on this earth, understandable when anticipating a sea voyage. I'm thinking that somehow no. 65, a draft of his farewell sermon of 1753, got placed beneath a title page for the earlier New Brunswick presentation. (I hope the text for the New Brunswick farewell turns up.)

In both the actual texts of sermons 65 and 136,

he seems to speak with a different voice, sometimes less fluently given the many textual changes, but more openly and urgently. Text of 65 contains many inserted passages and inserted pages, many deletions, sometimes of entire paragraphs, which were not obliterated but kept legible-- even where he was clearly getting something off his chest-- along with draft sentences and re-wordings on the final pages.

The text for 136 is smoother, with personal comments more tempered, but borrows from the draft, sometimes word-for-word, crosses out material for use in another place in the text, and expands considerably on supporting Rev. Tennent's arguments with evidence from the Bible and, after many urgings that his hearers repent, encourages and comforts those who are struggling to grow in their faith.]]> Sermons]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Sermons]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Great Awakening]]> Presbyterians]]> Bible. Acts]]> Bible. Corinthians, 2nd]]> Presbyterian Church]]>
From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent began this sermon in 1758, and added to it in the years following: 1760, 1761 and 1763. In it, he cites Acts 24:16, "And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men." He also cites 2 Corinthians 1:12, "For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward."]]> Sermons]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Sermons]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Great Awakening]]> Presbyterians]]> Bible. Acts]]> Presbyterian Church]]>
Tennent delivered this farewell sermon in anticipation of travel to Europe in 1753. He begins by citing Acts 20:31-32 (Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders:) "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."

Typed transcription of part of the sermon is included in the back of the manuscript.]]>
Sermon 65 contains a draft of 136, some of which was carried word-for-word to 136, and which includes a rephrasing of Reverend Tennent's intent in going overseas. That draft somehow got inserted beneath a cover page for another sermon the Rev. gave on departing New Brunswick, N.J. for Philadelphia.]]> Sermons]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Sermons]]> Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764]]> Great Awakening]]> Presbyterians]]> Bible. Luke]]> Bible. Acts]]> Bible. Psalms]]> Presbyterian Church]]>
Tennent begins this sermon, "On placing one's spirit in God's hands," by citing Luke 23:46, Acts 7:59, and Psalms 31:5. From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1748, then delivered it again in 1757.]]> Sermons]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Dorr, Benjamin, 1796-1869]]> Sermons]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Dorr, Benjamin, 1796-1869]]> Bible. New Testament]]> Bible. Acts]]> Episcopal Church]]> Sermons]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]>