American Sermons: The Pilgrims to Martin Luther King Jr.

This volume collects the texts of 58 sermons preached between 1621 and 1968 and presents them in the approximate chronological order of their delivery. The preferred choice of texts for this volume is the first book or pamphlet publication during the lifetime of the preacher; when such a text is not known to be extant, the best available posthumously published text is used. Of the 58 sermons presented here, the texts of 43 are taken from versions published during the lifetime of the preacher; 23 of these are taken from pamphlet printings, 12 from books that collect the preacher's work, six from books that collect sermons or other writings by several authors, and two from periodical publications. The texts of the remaining 15 sermons are taken from posthumously published books, 11 from collections of the preacher's work, and four from books that collect the sermons of several preachers.

Texts are printed here as they appeared in the sources from which they were taken, with a few alterations. Errata that were listed in the original sources have now been incorporated into the texts. Marginalia in the source texts are either run into the body of the text, printed in "windows" (indented spaces within the texts), or, in the case of Biblical citations, listed in the "Notes" section of this volume. The text of "A Modell of Christian Charity" presented here is taken from volume 2 of The Winthrop Papers (Boston, 1931) and is based on a 17th-century manuscript transcription derived from John Winthrop's original holograph manuscript, which is not known to be extant. Bracketed editorial conjectural readings in the Winthrop Papers text in cases where the source manuscript was damaged or difficult to read are accepted in this volume without brackets. Where the Winthrop Papers text used the word blank in italics and within brackets to indicate a blank space in the manuscript, this volume uses a blank two-em space without brackets. Bracketed editorial insertions used in the Winthrop Papers to indicate cancellations in the manuscripts have been deleted in this volume. The text of "Abuses and Uses of the Bible" presented here is taken from Lucretia Mott: Her Complete Speeches and Sermons (New York, 1980) and is based on a stenographic transcript of the sermon. Missing words and punctuation that were editorially inserted within brackets in the source text are printed in this volume without brackets. The text of the sermon delivered by Joseph Smith on April 7, 1844, is taken from Joseph Smith: Selected Sermons & Writings (New York, 1989), but the bracketed editorial insertions used to clarify passages in the source text have been deleted here.

The following is a list of the sermons included in this volume, giving the source of each text and, for 17th- and 18th-century editions, the specific copy. (Titles that have been supplied in this volume are indicated by asterisks.)

Robert Cushman, A Sermon Preached at Plimmoth in New-England December 9. 1621. (London, 1622); Huntington Library copy.

John Winthrop, A Modell of Christian Charity. The Winthrop Papers: Volume 2, 1623-1630 (Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1931), 282-95.

John Cotton, Gal 2.20, Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. The Way of Life, Or, Gods Way and Course, in Bringing the Soule into, keeping it in, and carrying it on, in the wayes of life and peace. Laide downe in foure severall Treatises in foure Texts of Scripture (London, 1641), 268-82; Huntington Library copy.

Thomas Hooker, Of Gods Image in the Affections. The Paterne of Perfection. Exhibited in Gods Image on Adam: And Gods Covenant made with him (London, 1640), 149-79; Princeton Theological Seminary Library copy.

Thomas Hooker, Book X, Doctrine 3: Application of special sins by the Ministry, is a means to bring men to sight of, and sorrow for them. The Application of Redemption by the Effectual Work of the Word, and Spirt of Christ, for the bringing home of lost Sinners to God, the Ninth and Tenth Books (London, 1657), 193-207; British Museum copy.

Thomas Shepard, Of Carnal Security in Virgin Churches. The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened & Applied: Being the Substance of divers Sermons on Math. 25.1-13. Wherein, the Difference between the Sincere Christian and the most Refined Hypocrite, the Nature and Characters of Saving and Common Grace, the Dangers and Diseases incident to most flourishing Churches or Christians, and other Spiritual Truths of greatest importance are clearly discovered and practically improved (London, 1660), I-II; Bodleian Library copy.

Thomas Shepard, Of Ineffectual Hearing the Word. Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances, and appointments, the best means to preserve our liberty. Together with a treatise of ineffectual hearing the Word, How we may know whether we have heard the same effectually: And by what means it may be come effectual unto us (London, 1652), 153-95; British Library copy.

Jonathan Mitchel, Nehemiah on the Wall in Troublesom Times; Or, A Serious and Seasonable Improvement of that great Example of Magistratical Piety and Prudence, Self-denial and Tenderness, Fearlesness and Fidelity, unto Instruction and Encouragement of present and succeeding Rulers of Israel. (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1671); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Samuel Danforth, A Brief Recognition of New-Englands Errand into the Wilderness. (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1671); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Increase Mather, Sermon Occasioned by the Execution of a Man found Guilty of Murder. (Boston, 1686); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Cotton Mather, An Hortatory and Necessary Address, To a Country now Extraordinarily Alarum'd by the Wrath of the Devil. The Wonders of the Invisible World, Observations as well Historical as Theological, upon the Nature, the Number, and the Operations of the Devils (Boston, 1693), 48-78; American Antiquarian Society copy.

Solomon Stoddard, The Tryal of Assurance. (Boston, 1698); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Cotton Mather, A Man of Reason. (Boston, 1718); Library of Congress copy.

Benjamin Colman, Job II: 9,10. "Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thy integrity?" The Case of Satan's fiery Darts in Blasphemous Suggestions and Hellish Annoyances (Boston, 1744), 5-46; American Antiquarian Society copy.

Charles Chauncy, Man's Life considered under the Similitude of a Vapour, that appeareth for a little Time, and then vanisheth away. (Boston, 1731); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Mather Byles, A Discourse On the Present Vileness of the Body And Its Future Glorious Change by Christ. (Boston,1732); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Jonathan Edwards, A Divine and Supernatural Light. (Boston, 1734); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Jonathan Edwards, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. (Boston, 1741); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Samuel Johnson, A Sermon Concerning the Intellectual World. Samuel Johnson, President of King's College: His Career and Writings, Volume 3: The Churchman, edited by Herbert and Carol Schneider (New York: Columbia University Press, 1929), 501-14. ý 1929 Columbia University Press. Reprinted with permission of the publisher.

Jonathan Mayhew, A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-Resistance to the Higher Powers. (Boston, 1750); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Samuel Davies, The Nature and Universality of spiritual Death. Sermons on the most useful and important subjects, adapted to the family and closet in 3 volumes, I (London, 1766), 123-57; Library Company of Philadelphia copy.

Samuel Finley, The Madness of Mankind. (Philadelphia, 1754); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Anon., A Sermon In Praise of Swearing. (Boston, 1767); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Samuel Cooke, A Sermon preached at Cambridge, in the Audience of His Honor Thomas Hutchinson; Esq. (Boston, 1770); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Nathanael Emmons, The Dignity of Man. (Providence, 1787); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Devereux Jarratt, The Nature of Love to Christ, and the Danger of Not Loving Him, Opened and Explained. (Philadelphia, 1792); American Antiquarian Society copy.

Lemuel Haynes, Universal Salvation: A Very Ancient Doctrine: With Some Account of the Life and Character of Its Author. A Sermon Delivered at Rutland, West-Parish in the Year 1805 (Rutland, Vermont, 1806).

Absalom Jones, A Thanksgiving Sermon Preached January 1, 1808, In St. Thomas's, or the African Episcopal, Church, Philadelphia: On Account of The Abolition of the African Slave Trade On That Day, by the Congress of the United States. (Philadelphia, 1808).

John Comly, Sermon Delivered at Darby, April 15, 1827.* The Quaker, Being a series of sermons by members of the Society of Friends Taken in shorthand by Marcus T. C. Gould, stenographer, volume 2 (Philadelphia, 1827), 37-42.

William Ellery Channing, A Discourse Delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. Frederick A. Farley, as Pastor of the Westminster Congregational Society in Providence, Rhode Island, September 10, 1828 (Boston, 1828).

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Sermon Delivered September 9, 1832.* The Complete Sermons of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Volume 4, edited by Wesley T. Mott (Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 1992), 185-94; text copyright ý 1992 by University of Missouri Press.

Joseph Smith, Sermon Delivered April 7, 1844.* Joseph Smith: Selected Sermons & Writings, edited by Robert L. Millet (New York: Paulist Press, 1989), 129-42. ý 1989 by Dr. Robert L. Millet. Used by permission of Paulist Press.

Theodore Parker, A Sermon of War. (Boston, 1846).

Lucretia Mott, Abuses and Uses of the Bible. Lucretia Mott: Her Complete Speeches and Sermons, edited by Dana Greene (New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 1980), 123-34.

Brother Carper, The Shadow of a Great Rock in a Weary Land. Tales and Takings, Sketches and Incidents, from the Itinerant and Editorial Budget of Rev. J. V. Watson, editor of the Northwestern Christian Advocate (New York, 1856), 98-106.

Henry Ward Beecher, Peace, Be Still. Fast-Day Sermons, or The Pulpit on the State of the Country (New York: Rudd and Carleton, 1861), 265-92.

David Einhorn, War with Amalek! (Philadelphia: Stein & Jones, 1864).

Dwight Lyman Moody, On Being Born Again. New Sermons, Addresses, and Prayers (Chicago: Thompson & Wakefield, 1877), 121-26.

Octavius Brooks Frothingham, The Dogma of Hell. The Rising and the Setting Faith and Other Discourses by O. B. Frothingham (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1878), 139-61.

T. De Witt Talmage, The Ministry of Tears. The Brooklyn Tabernacle: A Collection of 104 Sermons Preached by T. De Witt Talmage (New York: George A. Sparks, 1886), 11-15.

Sam P. Jones, Sermon Delivered August 2, 1885.* Sermons Wise and Witty (New York: Cheap Publishing House, 1885), 12-19.

Phillips Brooks, The Seriousness of Life. The Light of the World And Other Sermons (New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., 1890), 73-88.

Francis J. Grimký, A Resemblance and a Contrast between the American Negro and the Children of Israel in Egypt, or the Duty of the Negro to Contend Earnestly for His Rights Guaranteed under the Constitution (Washington D.C., 1902).

J. Gresham Machen, History and Faith. The Princeton Theological Review (July 1915).

Aimee Semple McPherson, The Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This Is That: Personal Experiences, Sermons and Writings (Los Angeles: Bridal Call Publishing House, 1919), 418-24. Reprinted by permission of Garland Publishing Inc.

Reuben Archer Torrey, The Most Wonderful Sentence Ever Written. Sermon Classics by Great Preachers, compiled by Peter F. Gunther (Chicago: Moody Press, 1982), 43-61. Copyright 1982, Moody Institute of Chicago. Used by permission.

Harry Emerson Fosdick, Shall the Fundamentalists Win? (New York, 1922).

Billy Sunday, Food for a Hungry World. The American Pulpit, edited by Charles Clayton Morrison (New York: Macmillan Co., 1925), 331-39.

Abba Hillel Silver, The Vision Splendid. Best Sermons: Book Four, edited by Joseph Fort Newton (New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1927), 207-16. Copyright 1927 by Harcourt Brace & Company, reprinted by permission of the publisher.

C. C. Lovelace, The Sermon as heard by Zora Neale Hurston from C. C. Lovelace, at Eau Gallie in Florida. Negro, edited by Nancy Cunard (London, Wishart & Company, 1934), 50-54.

Paul Tillich, You Are Accepted. The Shaking of the Foundations (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1948), 153-63. Reprinted with permission of Scribner, a Division of Simon & Schuster. Copyright 1948 by Charles Scribner's Sons; copyright renewed ý 1976 by Hannah Tillich.

Reinhold Niebuhr, The Providence of God. Justice and Mercy, edited by Ursula M. Niebuhr (New York: Harper & Row, 1974), 14-22. ý 1974 by Ursula M. Niebuhr, reprinted by permission of Yale University Press.

Fulton J. Sheen, How to Have a Good Time. Life Is Worth Living: Fifth Series (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1957), 130-37.

Martin Luther King Jr., Transformed Nonconformist. Strength to Love (New York: Harper & Row, 1963), 8-15. Reprinted by arrangement with The Heirs to the Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., c/o Writers House, Inc. as agent for the proprietor.

John Courtney Murray, The Unbelief of the Christian. The Presence and Absence of God (New York: Fordham University Press, 1969), 69-83.

Abraham Joshua Heschel, What We Might Do Together: A Vision for Ecumenical Religious Education. Religious Education (March-April 1967).

Martin Luther King Jr., Sermon Delivered April 3, 1968.* A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, edited by James M. Washington (New York: HarperCollins, 1986), 279-86. Reprinted by arrangement with The Heirs to the Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., c/o Writers House, Inc. as agent for the proprietor.

This volume presents the texts of the sermons chosen for inclusion here without change (other than the few alterations cited above), except for the correction of typographical errors and the modernization of the use of quotation marks in 17th- and 18th-century texts (only beginning and ending quotation marks are provided here, instead of placing a quotation mark at the beginning of every line of a quoted passage). It does not attempt to reproduce features of 17th-and 18th-century typography such as the long "s" and the use of "u" for "v" (for example, haue" for "have"), "v" for "u" (for example, "vnder" for "under"), or "j" for "i" (for example, "ioy" for "joy"). Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are often expressive features, and they are not altered, even when inconsistent or irregular.

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