Gilbert Tennent sermons 136, Farewell Sermon, 1753
Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Sermons
Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764
Great Awakening
Presbyterians
Bible. Acts
Presbyterian Church
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. 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.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 137, "De Desiderio Dei Domus" (On the longing for God's house), 1755
Bible. Amos
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 longing for God's house," by citing Amos 4:12, "Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel." From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1755, then delivered it again in 1758 and 1760.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 138, "De Securitate" (On security), 1756
Bible. Proverbs
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent wrote this sermon, on the subject of security, in 1756. He begins by citing Proverbs 6, 6-11: "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, Overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, And thy want as an armed man."
Gilbert Tennent sermons 139, "Ministerialicura pro De novo parfu auditorum" (Ministering to the newly created audience), 1756
Bible. Galatians
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent begins this sermon, "Ministering to the newly created audience," by citing Galatians 4:19-20, "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you." From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1756, then delivered it again in 1759.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 14, "De Hexameron" (On the six days of creation), 1744
Bible. Genesis
Bible. Psalms
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. In this sermon, Tennant talks about the six days of creation. In the beginning of the sermon, he cites Genesis 1:1 and Psalms 89:11. Although Tennent mentions aspects of scientific theory, the sermon is Bible-based, geocentric, with the Earth as the center of the universe and man as the being for whom the world was made. The Fall ruined the previous harmony among the animals, plants, and man, and brought about suffering. Tennent exhorts man to live up to the beauty of creation, while at the same time not placing too much value on his Earthly life and gain. From the dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1747, 1751, and 1756.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 140, "De afflictione" (On affliction), circa 1755
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennant wrote this sermon on the subject of affliction; he had written on this subject previously, and this may be a newer version of an older sermon. He begins by citing Psalm 119:71, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1755, then delivered it again in 1757 and 1758.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 141, Sermon on Canticles (Song of Solomon) 1:4, 1757
Bible. Song of Solomon
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent wrote this sermon on Canticles (Song of Solomon) 1:4: "Draw me, we will run after thee: The king hath brought me into his chambers: We will be glad and rejoice in thee, We will remember thy love more than wine: The upright love thee." From dates noted in the manuscript it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1757, then delivered it again in 1761.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 142, "De Sponsu Qu[a]endo Christum in Disertione Cant 3" (On the spouse's search for Christ in Canticles 3), 1757
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 spouse's search for Christ in Canticles 3," by citing verses 1-5: By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. (Canticles is another name for Song of Solomon.) From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1757, then delivered it again in 1761.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 143, Sermon on Peter 1:19, 1757
Bible. Peter, 2nd
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent wrote this sermon on 2 Peter 1:19, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn." From dates noted on the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1757, then delivered it again in 1763.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 144 "invitatio eorum qui sub onere picati [?] ad christum" (Invitation for sinners to come to Christ) and "De amore recipro [?] Christi et Licarum aplicate junioribus" (On the reciprocal love of Christ...) 1757
Bible. Revelation
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. This manuscript contains two sermons by Tennent in 1757. Note: The first sermon begins on image 6, runs to image 12, then pages 8, 9 & 10 run backward from image 3. The second sermon starts on image 13 and runs to the end of the manuscript. "Invitation for sinners to come to Christ" begins with reference to Revelations 22:17, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life." "On the reciprocal love of Christ" begins with reference to Proverbs 8:17, "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me."
Gilbert Tennent sermons 145, Funeral sermon of Rev Mr. John Campbell and Samuel Hazard, Elder in Second Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, 1758
Funeral sermons
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent delivered this sermon at the funeral of Reverend Mr. John Campbell and Samuel Hazard, an elder at Second Presbyterian, in 1758. He begins by citing Revelation 14:13, "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."
Gilbert Tennent sermons 146, Sermon on the duty of parents to help their children seek God's wisdom, 1758
Bible. Chronicles, 1st
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.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 147, "De intregritate" (On uprightness), 1758
Bible. John
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 subject of uprightness, by citing John 1:47, "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" He also cites Psalms 84:11, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1758, then delivered it again in 1759, 1760, 1761, and 1763.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 148, "De conscientia" (On conscience), 1758-1763
Bible. Corinthians, 2nd
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. 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."
Gilbert Tennent sermons 149 "De inimicilia" (On enmity), 1758
Bible. Romans
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 subject of enmity, by citing Romans 8:7, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." He also cites John 15:24, "If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father." From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1758, then delivered it again in 1760 and 1763.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 15, "De Federe Nature" (On the nature of the covenant), 1744
Bible. Hosea
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. This sermon follows "De federe operum (On the covenant of works)." Tennent begins with the following two Bible verses: Hosea 6:7, "But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me." Genesis 2:16-17, "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." The sermon presents a very detailed explication of the covenant of nature that God made with Adam, sometimes called the Adamic covenant, based on Adam's innocence and obedience, with but one order given to him: not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and have his eyes opened to the good that he would lose, and the evil that he would incur by disobedience, this being all the troubles that have plagued man since. Rescue comes with Christ as redeemer through the Second Covenant, but one's everyday effort toward righteousness must not slacken. From dates noted on the manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote the sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1747, 1752, and 1758.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 150 "De [comunione?] operibus tenebrarum" (On fellowship with works of darkness), 1759
Bible. Timothy, 1st
Bible. Ephesians
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent begins this sermon, "On fellowship with works of darkness," by citing 1 Timothy 5:22, "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." He also cites Ephesians 5:7-11, "Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." From dates noted on the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1759, then delivered it again in 1763.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 151, "De timore Dei" (On the fear of God), 1759
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent wrote this sermon, "On the fear of God," in 1759. He begins by citing Hebrews 11:7, "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."
Gilbert Tennent sermons 152, "De afflictione" (On affliction), 1760
Bible. Hebrews
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. This sermon, written in 1760, is one of several Tennent wrote on the subject of "affliction." He begins this sermon by citing Hebrews 11:25, "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."
Gilbert Tennent sermons 153, "De Securitate" (On security), 1756
Bible. Zephaniah
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 subject of security, by citing several Bible verses: Zephaniah 1:12, "And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil." Proverbs 23:34, "Yea thou shalt be as he that lyeth downe in the midst of the sea, or as he that lyeth upon the top of a mast." Amos 6:1, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!" From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1756, then delivered it again in 1761. Note: The first page in the manuscript is numbered as page 12, with page 1 coming after that. Also, the last pages of the manuscript are torn at the corners, obscuring some text.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 154, "De officio prophetico" (On the office of the prophet), 1763
Bible. Deuteronomy
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent wrote this sermon, "On the office of the prophet," in 1763, and begins by citing Deuteronomy 18:15, "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken."
Gilbert Tennent sermons 155 Sermon on Psalms 18:23, 1763
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent wrote this sermon in 1763, and based it on Psalms 18:23, "I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity."
Gilbert Tennent sermons 156, Sermon on Matthew 11:12, 1763
Bible. Matthew
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent wrote this sermon in 1763, and based it on Matthew 11:12, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."
Gilbert Tennent sermons 157, Spiritual life and the requirements of the ministry, 1759-1761
Spiritual life
Pastoral theology
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. This manuscript contains Tennent's many thoughts on the spiritual life and the requirements of the ministry. He begins by citing Psalms 34:8, "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." He also cites Romans 8:5, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent worked on this manuscript from 1759 to 1761.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 158, "De gratadine" (On gratitude), undated
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent wrote this sermon on the subject of gratitude, and begins by citing Psalm 116:12, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?" The manuscript is undated, but was likely written between 1743 and 1763.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 159, Sermon on Ecclesiastes 1:2, undated
Bible. Ecclesiastes
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent wrote this sermon on Ecclesiastes 1:2, "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." The manuscript is undated, but it is likely Tennent wrote it between 1743 and 1763.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 16, "De Federe operum," (On the covenant of works), 1744
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent wrote this sermon about the covenant God made with Adam, and notes the following Bible verse on page 1: Genesis 2:16-17, "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Tennent presents a very detailed explication of the covenant of works that God made with Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In disobeying, Adam, as the first man, introduced sin and death into the world for himself and for all people thereafter. The Second Adam, Christ, also as one man, brings redemption from sin and death for all believers, and shows the continued willingness of the almighty to once again make a covenant with man, even so much lesser and ungrateful a partner. The power of covenants, according to Tennent, extends down the generations. From dates noted on the manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote the sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1747, 1751, and 1758. Tennet's sermon "De federe nature (On the nature of the covenant)" follows this one.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 160, "De ambulando in amore" (On walking in love), undated
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. This manuscript contains two sermons on the subject of love; both are undated, but it is likely that Tennent wrote them between 1743 and 1763. The first sermon begins with reference to Ephesians 5:2, "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." The second sermon begins with reference to Ephesians 3:19, "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."
Gilbert Tennent sermons 161, On the one lawgiver, circa 1752
Bible. James
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. In this manuscript, dated around 1742, Tennent discusses his thoughts on James 4:12, "There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?" (The first scanned page is a typed transcript of page 10 of the manuscript.)
Gilbert Tennent sermons 162, Fragments and notes, circa 1743-1763
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. This manuscript includes fragments of Tennent's sermons and his copious notes on many Biblical subjects. The manuscript is undated, but it is likely that the various components date from 1743 to 1763.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 17, "De violatione Federis" (On the violation of God's covenant), 1744
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. This sermon follows "De federe operum (On the covenant of works)" and "De federe nature (On the nature of the covenant)." Tennent begins this third piece on God's covenant with Adam by referring to Genesis 3:1-7. "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." From dates noted on the manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1747, 1754, and 1758.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 18, "De commune Spiritus" (On communion with the Holy Ghost), 1744
Bible. Luke
Bible. Isaiah
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent wrote this sermon about the ability of man to commune with God's holy spirit. He begins by citing the following Bible verses: Genesis 6:3, "And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." Luke 19:42, "Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." Revelation 22:11, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Isaiah 55:6, "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near." From dates noted on this manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1745.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 19, "De mortificatione Pecatis" (On the mortification of sins) and "De Resignatione Divine voluntate" (On resignation to the divine will), 1744
Bible. Samuel, 2nd
Bible. Samuel, 1st
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. This manuscript contains two sermon topics in three presentations, perhaps presaging papers for a workshop or retreat. Tennent begins by citing 2 Samuel 15:26, "But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him." He goes on to cite further verses from Matthew, Samuel, John, and Hebrews. The first presentation, addressed to "sirs," is almost a tutorial on how to weaken sin and deprive it of nourishment and its rule over people, with a questionnaire for self-examination and encouragement for those struggling. The second presentation talks of resignation, and is addressed to "dear sirs" with a "profession," possibly an audience of fellow ministers. The third paper, on submissive resignation, explores human psychological reactions as they make afflictions worse, and reminds the congregation to refer all to God and Christ, to help regulate and calm overreactions to troubles at their onset, and to ease the bearing of them over time. From dates noted on the manuscript, it seems Tennent wrote these pieces in 1744, and returned to them again in 1745, 1746, 1748, 1749, 1756, 1762 and 1763.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 2, Sermon on Psalms 116, 1743
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. This sermon explores the complicated relationship between man and God, through a meditation on the behavior of David: first under stress and angry, then counseling with his friends and communing with himself, then happy and striving to show publicly his gratitude to God. Tennent ends the sermon in an appeal for funds toward a new church building, as evidence of congregants' gratitude for God's help and mercy.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 20, "De Deo us Turri" (On God as a fortified tower), 1744
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.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 21, "De humiliatione, prece, et reformatione" (On humbling oneself, prayer and reformation), 1744
Bible. Chronicles, 2nd
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent begins this sermon with the Bible verse 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." He urges his congregation to practice earnest humility and heart-felt prayer, and to strive for serious reformation in the face of troubled times - here identified as warfare with France and the withdrawal of God in dissatisfaction with his followers, who have fallen away from established religion and clear-cut truths into Moravianism and other errors. Tennent reminds the Brethren of their obligations to God and his goodness in the face of man's sinfulness. From dates noted on the manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1747, 1751, 1755, and 1763.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 22, "Sermo preparatoria de irado ponpendi cum Deo" (A preparatory sermon concerning the wrath of God), 1746
Bible. Exodus
Bible. Jeremiah
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent begins this preparatory sermon concerning the wrath of God by citing Exodus 24:8, "And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words." He also references Chronicles and Jeremiah. From dates noted on the manuscript, it appears that Tennent wrote this speech in 1744, and delivered it again in 1746, 1749, 1750, and 1756.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 23, "De Providentia morali" (On the heedfulness of morality), 1744
Bible. Peter, 1st
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 heedfulness of morality by citing two Bible verses, 1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you;" and Psalms 37:5 "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." From dates noted on the manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1746 or 1747, 1749, 1750, 1756, and 1758.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 24, "De cognitione" (On cognition) and "De tentationes by Diaboli" (On temptations by the devil), 1744
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. This manuscript contains two sermons. Tennent begins the first sermon, on cognition, by citing Proverbs 22:17, Hosea 4:6, and Proverbs 12:3-9. He begins the second sermon, on temptations by the devil, by citing Ephesians 5:6-15, and later Romans 8:6. From dates noted on the manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote these sermons in 1744 or 1745, then redelivered one or both in 1747 and 1759.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 25, "De spiritus simili ventus & De ecclesia simili hortus" (The holy spirit is like wind and the church is like a garden), 1744
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent begins this sermon, which compares the Holy Spirit to wind and the Church to a garden, by citing Canticles (Song of Solomon) 4:16, "Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits." From dates noted in the manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1746, 1751 and 1760.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 26, "De Sabatto"(On the Sabbath), 1744
Bible. Ezekiel
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent begins this sermon about the Sabbath by citing the following Bible verses: Isaiah 58:13-14, "If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Ezekiel 23:38, "Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths." From dates noted in the manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1745, 1747, 1751, 1755, and 1760.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 27, "De imoderata cura mundana et uno nessesario" (On immoderate care for worldly things and one necessity), 1744"
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent begins this sermon about immoderate care for worldly things by citing Luke 10:41-42, "And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." From dates noted in the manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1753 and 1760.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 28, "De Ebrietate" (On drunkenness), "De helmit" (On hope as a helmet) and "de christo ut fonte" (On Christ as a fountain), 1744
Bible. Zechariah
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. This manuscript contains three sermons. Tennent begins the first sermon, about drunkenness, by citing Luke 21:3-4. He begins the second sermon, comparing hope to a helmet, by citing Ephesians 6:17. Finally, he begins the third sermon, comparing Christ to a fountain, by citing Zechariah 13:1. From dates noted on the manuscript, it looks like the first and second sermons were delivered together, in 1744 or 1745, and the third shortly after. One or all were also delivered in 1748, 1749, 1757 and 1760.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 29, "De impotentia Hominis" (On the impotence of man), 1744
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent begins this sermon, about the impotence of man, by citing Romans 5:6, Ephesians 2:1, John 15:5, and Matthew 7:18. From dates noted in the manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, then delivered it again in 1746, 1747, 1748, 1751, 1755, and 1760.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 3, "Two Parables: Matthew 13:47-50 (fragment) and Matthew 13:45-46," circa 1743
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent wrote this sermon about the Parable of the Net and the Parable of the Pearl. Preaching the Gospel is likened to fishermen using nets to catch fish, with detailed descriptions of the fishermen's tasks and the destinies of the real and allegorical fish. The Parable of the Pearl compares trade and commerce in the physical world with that in the spiritual world, via the search for the Pearl of Great Price. Both presentations employ the numbered lists of "particulars" and close arguments favored by Rev. Tennent.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 30, "De pecato originalis imputato" (On original sin), 1744
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent begins this sermon about original sin by citing Romans 5:12, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." From dates noted in the manuscript, it appears Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1746, 1748, 1750, and 1753.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 31, De Pace cum proximo (On peace with one's neighbor), 1744
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent begins this sermon, on peace with one's neighbor, by citing Romans 12:18, Psalms 34:14, and Hebrews 12:14. From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, then delivered it again in 1747, 1753, and 1756.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 32, "De indicendo Christum" (On proclaiming Christ), 1744
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent begins this sermon on proclaiming Christ by citing Romans 13, which touches on Christians' relationships to government, the obligation to love one's neighbors, and the urgency of walking with God. From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744 and delivered it again in 1748.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 33, "Sermo Sacramentalis" (Sacramental sermon), 1744
Bible. Corinthians, 1st
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Tennent begins this sacramental sermon by citing 1 Corinthians 11:26, "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." From dates noted in the manuscript, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1759.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 34, "De sanctis mundi judicibus" (On the holy judges of the world), 1744
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 holy judges of the world by citing 1 Corinthians 6:2, "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?" From dates noted in the manuscript, it appears that Tennent wrote this sermon in 1744, and delivered it again in 1749 and 1759.