Gilbert Tennent sermons 17, "De violatione Federis" (On the violation of God's covenant), 1744
Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Sermons
Tennent, Gilbert, 1703-1764
Great Awakening
Presbyterians
Bible. Genesis
Presbyterian Church
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 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 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 14, "De Hexameron" (On the six days of creation), 1744
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 13, "Sermo Supra Rev. 3:20" (Sermon on Revelation 3:20), 1743 or 1744
Bible. Revelation
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. Revelation 3:20: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." In this sermon, Tennent enumerates three central points regarding this Bible verse: Christ's patience in standing and knocking; the sinner's first duty, to listen to Christ's word and thereby know human fallibility and receive his mercy; and the sinner's second duty, to open the door to Christ, laying aside ignorance, presumption, and prejudice and taking on acceptance and obedience. In return, the erstwhile sinner is absorbed into the spirit and image of Christ and shares in his love, "the fullness, the freeness, the sweetness." Tennent describes how surprised converts are at these feelings, and how the wrath of God increases if the promises made are rejected: "if you shut him out, you shut the Devil in." From dates noted in the text, it looks like Tennent wrote this sermon in 1743 or 1744, and delivered it again 1751 and 1760.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 12, "De judicio ultimo" (On the last judgement), 1743
Bible. Thessalonians, 1st
Bible. Ecclesiastes
Bible. Hebrews
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. At the beginning of this sermon, Tennent references the following biblical verses: Ecclesiastes 11:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Hebrews 9:27, and Psalms 50:3. He follows with a clear description of what is likely to happen at the coming of Christ, to which he gives a flavor of an English courtroom and which he calls "the last Asize." He describes the separation of sheep and goats, and the qualities of the last judgment: conducted in a setting to terrorize the impious; critical, unavoidable, impartial, and final. The reward for those badly treated in this life is in the next life of recompense. Tennent provides evidence for man's innate fear of judgment and his ability to reason combining to create a bad conscience after evil-doing; and the suddenness of the End of Days, which should keep people alert. He ends with an exhortation to young people at the end, with practical steps to take in preparation for the last judgement. From dates noted on the text, it looks like Tennent wrote the sermon in 1743, and delivered it again in 1745 or 1746, 1748, 1753, 1756, 1758, and 1760.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 11, "De decreto" (On God's Decree), 1743 or 1744
Bible. Proverbs
Bible. Ephesians
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. In this sermon, which Tennent first delivered in 1743 or 1744 and again in 1747, Tennent discusses the theme of Ephesians 1:11, "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will," and Proverbs 19:21, "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand."
Gilbert Tennent sermons 10, "De Electione" (About being chosen), 1743 or 1744
Jews
Bible. Romans
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. The title of this sermon, which Tennent delivered in 1743 or 1744, translates to "About being chosen." It is a rumination on God's rejection of the Jewish people as "neither total nor final," and begins with Romans 11:5, "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace," although Tennent goes on to quote several other Bible passages in his discussion of the subject.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 9, "De Baptismo, sermon 2," 1743 or 1744
Baptism
Bible. Acts
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. 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.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 8, "De Baptismo" (On baptism), 1743 or 1744
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. 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.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 7, "De inimicitia irrenatorum" (On the enmity of the not born-again), 1743
Bible. John
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. The title of this sermon, which Tennent delivered first in 1743, then again in 1746 and 1747, translates to "On the enmity of the not born-again." In the sermon, Tennent argues that "unconverted sinners" actively choose to be strangers to God, and goes so far as to state they "have a possitive hatred against God."
Gilbert Tennent sermons 6, "De securitate carnali" (On the freedom from care or carelessness of mortal man), 1743 or 1744
Bible. Matthew
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. The title of this sermon translates to "On the freedom from care or carelessness of mortal man." Tennent warns against feeling false comfort and joy, as one must be "wounded by the law and spirit of God" and subsequently healed by Christ, as a sort of physician for sick souls, where sin is the metaphorical sickness.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 5, "De timore Dei et Fiducia" (On the fear of God and reliance), 1743 or 1744
French and Indian War (United States : 1754-1763)
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. The title of this sermon translates to "On the fear of God and reliance." Tennet wrote a later revision (discernible by darker ink) during the French and Indian War, around the time of the siege of Fort William Henry, and references calamity and dangers to the nation.
Gilbert Tennent sermons 4, "De Creatione" (On creation), 1743 or 1744
Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) was an Irish-American Presbyterian clergyman, and one of the leaders of the Great Awakening. The title of this sermon translates to "On creation." In it, Reverend Tennet discusses Genesis- who and when and how long creation took; can something be created from nothing? He provides an overview of Aristotle's work in relation to God, then settles into detailed explications and arguments about creation and its purposes.
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 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 1, "The Law of God," 1742 or 1743
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.
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Antislavery movements
Society of Friends
Quakers
A manumission was the legal document wherein an owner freed an enslaved person. As Quakers became convinced that the institution of slavery was contrary to their religious beliefs, they began to free their slaves. In 1773, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting made owning enslaved people a disownable offense.
Record of Endorsements made by Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting on Certificates Given to Ministers
Lay ministry--Society of Friends
A Travelling Certificate was issued by a meeting to a member in good standing (normally a recorded minister), allowing him or her to travel to other meetings to visit or preach.
Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia for the Southern District
Genealogy
A certificate of removal was a document given to persons who were transferring their membership from one monthly meeting to another. Their removal testified that they were members in good standing with the meetings they were leaving.
A certificate of removal was a document given to persons who were transferring their membership from one monthly meeting to another. Their removal testified that they were members in good standing with the meetings they were leaving. Includes Orthodox removals.
A disownment was an involuntary termination of membership in a meeting, when a member of a meeting acted contrary to established discipline. This folder includes disownments from the Orthodox branch of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting after the Separation of 1827.
Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia for the Northern District
A Travelling Certificate was issued by a meeting to a member in good standing (normally a recorded minister), allowing him or her to travel to other meetings to visit or preach. This is the certificate of William Savery.
Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia
A certificate of removal was a document given to persons who were transferring their membership from one monthly meeting to another. Their removal testified that they were members in good standing with the meetings they were leaving. Includes index at front of volume.
A certificate of removal was a document given to persons who were transferring their membership from one monthly meeting to another. Their removal testified that they were members in good standing with the meetings they were leaving. Includes an index at the front of the volume.
Removals Received, Original Certificates Nos. 1951-2095, 1770-1772
A certificate of removal was a document given to persons who were transferring their membership from one monthly meeting to another. Their removal testified that they were members in good standing with the meetings they were leaving. These are the original certificates, mounted in a volume at a later date, as received by Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. Indexed.
Removals Received, Original Certificates Nos. 1800-1950, 1767-1770
Removals Received, Original Certificates Nos. 1651-1800, 1764-1767
Removals Received, Original Certificates Nos. 1501-1650, 1762-1764
Removals Received, Original Certificates Nos. 1351-1500, 1760-1762
Removals Received, Original Certificates Nos. 1051-1200, 1755-1759
Removals Received, Original Certificates Nos. 1201-1350, 1753-1760
Removals Received, Original Certificates Nos. 901-1049, 1750-1755
Removals Received, Original Certificates Nos. 751-900, 1747-1750
Removals Received, Original Certificates Nos. 601-750, 1742-1746
Removals Received, Original Certificates Nos. 451-600, 1736-1742
Removals Received, Original Certificates Nos. 301-450, 1729-1736
Removals Received, Original Certificates Nos. 151-300, 1714-1729