by Samuel Davies
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
2047 pages
The Sermons of the Rev. Samuel Davies offers a profound exploration of Christian faith through the impassioned and convicting voice of Samuel Davies, one of the great 18th-century American preachers. Compiled with the reverence of a historian and the care of a theologian, this volume presents sermons that address the core of Christian life, grappling with themes of divine authority, salvation, repentance, and spiritual life with a clarity that speaks across the centuries. Davies' sermons are not only doctrinally rich but also pastoral, designed to reach the heart of every listener. Each sermon serves as a call to reflection, challenging readers to confront their beliefs and to live in greater alignment with the gospel.
The collection’s thematic range is vast. Davies speaks on the “Divine Authority and Sufficiency of the Christian Religion,” reflecting a deep commitment to the Scriptures as both sufficient and life-giving. His messages on repentance, such as “Sinners Entreated to be Reconciled to God” and “The Nature and Universal Necessity of Spiritual Death,” confront readers with the reality of sin and the transformative power of grace. Davies' compassionate tone shines in “The Compassion of Christ to Weak Believers,” encouraging those struggling in faith with the assurance of Christ’s unfailing love. For Davies, theology is not an abstract discipline; rather, it is intensely practical, aimed at awakening the heart to a vibrant and obedient faith.
The collection is rounded off with poems, mostly on divine subjects, that reflect Davies' poetic sensitivity and his love for God. His poems serve as reflections on human nature, the brevity of life, and the glory of God, giving readers moments of meditation to accompany the theological depth of his sermons. Together, the sermons and poems in this volume provide not only theological insight but also a spiritual companion for those seeking deeper knowledge of God and His ways. Davies’ work remains a powerful resource for individuals longing for both truth and a deeper communion with God, standing as a timeless voice urging us toward faithful devotion.
Biographical Information
Samuel Davies (1723–1761) was an influential American Presbyterian preacher, evangelist, and hymn writer, renowned for his powerful oratory and passionate preaching. Born in New Castle County, Delaware, Davies rose to prominence during the Great Awakening, a period of religious revival across the American colonies. His eloquence in the pulpit and deep pastoral sensitivity earned him the title “the Apostle to Virginia,” as he was instrumental in spreading Presbyterianism in a region where Anglicanism was the established church.
Despite his early years being marked by limited formal education, Davies was called to ministry at a young age. He received his theological training under the guidance of Presbyterian leaders and was licensed to preach by the New Castle Presbytery. In 1747, he was sent to Virginia as a missionary to minister to dissenters from the Church of England, who often faced social and legal opposition. Davies soon gained a reputation for his earnest preaching and became a skilled apologist for religious freedom. He successfully argued for the rights of dissenting religious groups, including Presbyterians, in a region heavily dominated by the established Anglican Church. His legal and persuasive arguments laid an early foundation for the religious liberties later enshrined in American law.
Davies served as pastor of a network of congregations in the Hanover region of Virginia, where his sermons attracted a wide audience, including enslaved African Americans, whom he encouraged to worship and learn hymns. Known for his respectful approach, Davies often preached on themes of repentance, divine judgment, and salvation, appealing to a wide variety of listeners. His messages resonated particularly with those on the margins of colonial society, and he became an early advocate for the Christian instruction of enslaved individuals, even providing them with hymns and catechisms for worship. Davies is remembered for encouraging literacy and hymn-singing among his congregants, including many African American converts.
In 1759, Davies became the fourth president of the College of New Jersey, which would later become Princeton University. Though his tenure was brief due to his untimely death from tuberculosis in 1761, he made a lasting impact by strengthening the college’s academic reputation and emphasizing a commitment to piety and scholarship. Davies' influence extended beyond his own generation; he left behind an impressive legacy of sermons that continued to be read and admired well into the 19th century.
His theological emphasis on God’s sovereignty, man’s need for salvation, and the role of the church in society resonate with the themes of the Great Awakening. His works, including the collection The Sermons of the Rev. Samuel Davies, reveal his deep pastoral care and his ability to connect with listeners in a direct, heartfelt way. Today, Davies is remembered as one of the foremost American Presbyterian preachers of the 18th century, a defender of religious liberty, and an evangelist whose ministry profoundly shaped the early American church.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART. I. THE SERMONS OF THE REV. SAMUEL DAVIES.
1. SERM. I. THE DIVINE AUTHORITY AND SUFFICIENCY OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
2. SERM. II. THE METHOD OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
3. SERM. III. SINNERS ENTREATED TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD.
4. SERM. IV. THE NATURE AND UNIVERSALITY OF SPIRITUAL DEATH.
5. SERM. V. THE NATURE AND PROCESS OF SPIRITUAL LIFE.
6. SERM. VI. POOR AND CONTRITE SPIRITS THE OBJECTS OF THE DIVINE FAVOUR.
7. SERM. VII. THE NATURE AND DANGER OF MAKING LIGHT OF CHRIST AND SALVATION.
8. SERM. VIII. THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST TO WEAK BELIEVERS.
9. SERM. IX. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PRESENT HOLINESS AND FUTURE FELICITY.
10. SERM. X. THE MEDIATORIAL KINGDOM AND GLORIES OF JESUS CHRIST.
11. SERM. XI. THINGS UNSEEN TO BE PREFERRED TO THINGS SEEN.
12. SERM. XII. THE SACRED IMPORT OF THE CHRISTIAN NAME.
13. SERM. XIII. THE DIVINE MERCY TO MOURNING PENITENTS.
14. SERM. XIV. CHRIST PRECIOUS TO ALL TRUE BELIEVERS.
15. SERM. XV. THE DANGER OF LUKEWARMNESS IN RELIGION.
16. SERM. XVI. THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT THE JOY OF OUR WORLD.
17. SERM. XVII. THE NAME OF GOD PROCLAIMED BY HIMSELF.
18. SERM. XVIII. GOD IS LOVE.
19. SERM. XIX. THE GENERAL RESURRECTION.
20. SERM. XX. THE UNIVERSAL JUDGMENT.
21. SERM. XXI. THE ONE THING NEEDFUL.
22. SERM. XXII. SAINTS SAVED WITH DIFFICULTY, AND THE CERTAIN PERDITION OF SINNERS.
23. SERM. XXIII. INDIFFERENCE TO LIFE URGED FROM ITS SHORTNESS AND VANITY.
24. SERM. XXIV. THE PREACHING OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED THE MEAN OF SALVATION.
25. SERM. XXV. INGRATITUDE TO GOD AN HEINOUS BUT GENERAL INIQUITY.
26. SERM. XXVI. THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, AND THEIR CONSEQUENT JOYS AND BLESSINGS.
27. SERM. XXVII. LIFE AND IMMORTALITY REVEALED IN THE GOSPEL.
28. SERM. XXVIII. JESUS CHRIST THE ONLY FOUNDATION.
29. SERM. XXIX. THE NECESSITY AND EXCELLENCE OF FAMILY RELIGION.
30. SERM. XXX. THE RULE OF EQUITY.
31. SERM. XXXI. DEDICATION TO GOD ARGUED FROM REDEEMING MERCY.
32. SERM. XXXII. THE CHRISTIAN FEAST.
33. SERM. XXXIII. THE NATURE AND BLESSEDNESS OF SONSHIP WITH GOD.
34. SERM. XXXIV. A SERMON ON THE NEW YEAR.
35. SERM. XXXV. AN ENROLMENT OF OUR NAMES IN HEAVEN THE NOBLEST SOURCE OF JOY.
36. SERM. XXXVI. THE SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL BY THE DIVINE POWER UPON THE SOULS OF MEN.
37. SERM. XXXVII. THE DIVINE PERFECTIONS ILLUSTRATED IN THE METHOD OF SALVATION, THROUGH THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST.
38. SERM. XXXVIII. RELIGION THE HIGHEST WISDOM, AND SIN THE GREATEST MADNESS AND FOLLY.
39. SERM. XXXIX. REJECTION OF CHRIST A COMMON, BUT MOST UNREASONABLE INIQUITY.
40. SERM. XL. THE DOOM OF THE INCORRIGIBLE SINNER.
41. SERM. XLI. THE NATURE OF LOOKING TO CHRIST OPENED AND EXPLAINED.
42. SERM. XLII. ARGUMENTS TO ENFORCE OUR LOOKING TO CHRIST.
43. SERM. XLIII. THE VESSELS OF MERCY AND THE VESSELS OF WRATH DE LINEATED.
44. SERM. XLIV. THE NATURE AND NECESSITY OF TRUE REPENTANCE.
45. SERM. XLV. THE TENDER ANXIETIES OF MINISTERS FOR THEIR PEOPLE.
46. SERM. XLVI. THE WONDERFUL COMPASSIONS OF CHRIST TO THE GREATEST SINNERS.
47. SERM. XLVII. THE NATURE OF LOVE TO GOD AND CHRIST OPENED AND ENFORCED.
48. SERM. XLVIII. THE NATURE AND AUTHOR OF REGENERATION.
49. SERM. XLIX. THE DIVINE LIFE IN THE SOULS OF MEN CONSIDERED.
50. SERM. L. THE DIVINE LIFE IN THE SOULS OF MEN CONSIDERED.
51. SERM. LI. THE WAYS OF SIN HARD AND DIFFICULT.
52. SERM. LII. THE CHARACTERS OF THE WHOLE AND SICK, IN A SPIRITUAL SENSE, CONSIDERED AND CONTRASTED.
53. SERM. LIII. A SIGHT OF CHRIST THE DESIRE AND DELIGHT OF SAINTS IN ALL AGES.
54. SERM. LIV. THE LAW AND GOSPEL.
55. SERM. LV. THE GOSPEL INVITATION.
56. SERM. LVI. THE NATURE OF JUSTIFICATION, AND THE NATURE AND CONCERN OF FAITH IN IT.
57. SERM. LVII. THE SUCCESS OF THE MINISTRY OF THE GOSPEL, OWING TO A DIVINE INFLUENCE.
58. SERM. LVIII. THE REJECTION OF GOSPEL-LIGHT THE CONDEMNATION OF MEN.
59. SERM. LIX. A NEW YEAR’S GIFT.
60. SERM. LX. ON THE DEATH OF HIS LATE MAJESTY, KING GEORGE II.
61. SERM. LXI. RELIGION AND PATRIOTISM THE CONSTITUENTS OF GOOD SOLDIERS.
62. SERM. LXII. THE CRISIS, OR THE UNCERTAIN DOOM OF KINGDOMS AT PARTICULAR TIMES.
63. SERM. LXIII. THE CURSE OF COWARDICE.
64. SERM. LXIV. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
65. SERM. LXV. THE HAPPY EFFECTS OF THE POURING OUT OF THE SPIRIT.
66. SERM. LXVI. A TIME OF UNUSUAL SICKNESS AND MORTALITY IMPROVED.
67. SERM. LXVII. THE RELIGIOUS IMPROVEMENT OF THE LATE EARTHQUAKES.
68. SERM. LXVIII. SERIOUS REFLECTIONS ON WAR.
69. SERM. LXIX. ON THE DEFEAT OF GENERAL BRADDOCK, GOING TO FORT DUQUESNE.
70. SERM. LXX. GOD THE SOVEREIGN OF ALL KINGDOMS.
71. SERM. LXXI. A THANKSGIVING SERMON FOR NATIONAL BLESSINGS.
72. SERM. LXXII. PRACTICAL ATHEISM, IN DENYING THE AGENCY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE, EXPOSED.
73. SERM. LXXIII. THE PRIMITIVE AND PRESENT STATE OF MAN COMPARED.
74. SERM. LXXIV. THE CERTAINTY OF DEATH; A FUNERAL SERMON.
75. SERM. LXXV. EVIDENCES OF THE WANT OF LOVE TO GOD.
76. SERM. LXXVI. THE OBJECTS, GROUNDS, AND EVIDENCES OF THE HOPE OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
77. SERM. LXXVII. THE LOVE OF SOULS, A NECESSARY QUALIFICATION FOR THE MINISTERIAL OFFICE.
78. SERM. LXXVIII. THE OFFICE OF A BISHOP A GOOD WORK.
79. SERM. LXXIX. A CHRISTMAS-DAY SERMON.
80. SERM. LXXX. CHRISTIANS SOLEMNLY REMINDED OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS.
81. SERM. LXXXI. THE GUILT AND DOOM OF IMPENITENT HEARERS.
82. SERM. LXXXII. THE APOSTOLIC VALEDICTION CONSIDERED AND APPLIED.
PART. II. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS, CHIEFLY ON DIVINE SUBJECTS.
83. I. LORD THOU KNOWEST ALL THINGS, THOU KNOWEST THAT I LOVE THEE.
84. II. EARLY PIETY RECOMMENDED.
85. III. PHILOSOPHIC DEVOTION.
86. IV. SOLOMON.
87. V. I SAID, I WILL BE WISE: BUT IT WAS FAR FROM ME.
88. VI. OF HIM, AND THROUGH HIM, AND TO HIM ARE ALL THINGS.
89. VII. ANOTHER.
90. VIII. SINFUL IMMORTALITY WORSE THAN NON-EXISTENCE.
91. IX. A CLERGYMAN’S REFLECTIONS ON HEARING OF THE DEATH OF ONE OF HIS PIOUS PARISHONERS.
92. X. THE SOUL RELEASED BY DEATH.
93. XI. GRATITUDE AND IMPOTENCE.
94. XII. THE UNIVERSAL LAMENTATION.
95. XIII. THE ASPIRATION.
96. XIV. THE SOUL EARLY ESTRANGED FROM ITS DIVINE PARENT.
97. XV. A SURVEY OF HUMAN NATURE.
98. XVI. WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN BUT THEE?
99. XVII. CONJUGAL LOVE AND HAPPINESS.
100. XVIII. THE MESSIAH’S KINGDOM.
101. XIX. THE INVISIBLE WORLD.
102. XX. THE TRIUMPHS OF CHRIST’S DYING LOVE.
103. XXI. THE OBSTINATE SECURITY OF SINNERS LAMENTED.
104. XXII. PENITENTIAL SORROWS.
105. XXIII. SELF-DEDICATION.
106. XXIV. SIGHT THROUGH A GLASS, AND FACE TO FACE.
107. XXV. THE LAW AND GOSPEL.
108. XXVI. CHRIST THE BELOVED AND FRIEND OF HIS CHURCH.
109. XXVII. THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
110. XXVIII. A GUILTY CONSCIENCE.
111. XXIX. LOVE TO GOD FOR HIS HOLINESS.
112. XXX. BROTHERLY LOVE.
113. XXXI. THE DOUBTING CHRISTIAN.
114. XXXII. CHRIST’S AGONY IN THE GARDEN.
115. XXXIII. SPIRITUAL INACTIVITY LAMENTED.
116. XXXIV. ON A SUDDEN DEATH.
117. XXXV. THE CONFLAGRATION.
118. XXXVI. SEPARATION FROM GOD THE MOST INTOLERABLE PUNISHMENT.
119. XXXVII. EXCLAMATIONS AND SOLILOQUIES - I.
120. XXXVIII. EXCLAMATIONS AND SOLILOQUIES - III.
121. XXXIX. EXCLAMATIONS AND SOLILOQUIES - IV.
122. XL. EXCLAMATIONS AND SOLILOQUIES - V.
123. XLI. EXCLAMATIONS AND SOLILOQUIES - VI.
124. XLII. EXCLAMATIONS AND SOLILOQUIES - VII.
125. XLIII. EXCLAMATIONS AND SOLILOQUIES - VIII.
126. XLIV. EXCLAMATIONS AND SOLILOQUIES - IX.
127. XLV. EXCLAMATIONS AND SOLILOQUIES - X.
128. XLVI. EXCLAMATIONS AND SOLILOQUIES - XI.
129. XLVII. EXCLAMATIONS AND SOLILOQUIES - XII.
130. XLVIII. A DESCRIPTION OF A STORM.
131. XLIX. ON HEARING OF THE REV. MR. SAMUEL BLAIR’S DESPERATE ILLNESS BY COMMON FAME.