Benjamin Dorr sermon 965, "National Thanksgiving," 1863
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Reverend Benjamin Dorr served as rector for Christ Church from 1839 to 1868, and undertook the difficult job of holding the congregation together during the Civil War.
This Thanksgiving sermon, delivered in 1863, lays out Reverend Dorr's thoughts on 1 Chronicles 29:10-13, "Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel, our Father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven, and in the earth is Thine. Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might, and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee and praise thy glorious name."
The Civil War continues, and Rev. Dorr mentions the incursion of the Confederate Army into Pennsylvania and the threat averted at Gettysburg. In a tacit comparison to Lincoln, Dorr describes David's career, rising from shepherd to king, and his rule amidst warfare and threats external and internal.
Tennent also notes Lincoln's proclamation of a national Thanksgiving to be celebrated each November, which in those times would be celebrated in church on the last Thursday of November. Tenant gives many reasons for thankfulness, including: the significant victories of the North and the promise of better days to come; another good harvest; more good health; work for everyone to do; and the spirit of giving and co-operation - all as granted by God, with a longing for peace.
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1863-11-26
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eng
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ChristChurch.BenjaminDorrSermons965
Gilbert Tennent sermons 146, Sermon on the duty of parents to help their children seek God's wisdom, 1758
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Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening.
Tennent begins this sermon on the duty of parents to help their children seek God's wisdom by citing two Bible verses:
1 Chronicles 28:9, "And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever."
Proverbs 2:3-5, "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."
From dates noted on the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1758, then delivered it again in 1761.
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1758/1761
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PHS.TennentSermons146