The Works of Thomas Adams (eBook)
BY THOMAS ADAMS
IN EPUB, .MOBI & .PDF FORMATS
BEING THE SUM OF HIS SERMONS, MEDITATIONS, AND OTHER DIVINE AND MORAL DISCOURSES
2382 pages
Adams was not distinctively a doctrinal writer; but sound evangelical doctrine, according to the school of Augustine and Calvin, forms the basis of his writings. Neither does he enter deeply into Christian experience; but perhaps no preacher ever excelled him in faithfully and vigorously, without fear or favour, or respect of persons, denouncing vice and immorality under all disguises. It is evident in every page of his writings that ‘in his eyes a vile person was contemned.’ The reader will go to him in vain for expositions of Scriptural texts, or for insight into the deeper workings of the Christian heart; but not in vain for a hearty appreciation of all that is good, and as hearty a denunciation of all that he considered to be evil.
His extant writings are all to be given in this series, with the exception of his Commentary on the Second Epistle of Peter, which was reprinted not long ago.
The style of Adams, though frequently disfigured by what I must be permitted to call wretched puns and conceits, is exceedingly lively and racy; sometimes rising into pure eloquence, always clear, vigorous, spirited; a style that, in these days, would be deemed more suitable to our light periodical literature, than to the conventional formalities of the pulpit. Every reader who can appreciate genuine English manliness, decided sentiments, and frankness in expressing them, will receive a rich treat in the perusal of the works of Thomas Adams. He has been styled the Shakspeare of the Puritans; and a claim may be laid to the compliment, as the fertility of his imagination, and his intimate acquaintance with human nature in its graver and lighter moods, are frequently evinced with a power which warrants the comparison.
It only remains to explain that Adams was in the exercise of his ministry while the Authorised Version of the Bible was in preparation. He occasionally refers to it as ‘the new translation;’ but does not seem to have habitually made use of it. In some cases his argument depends upon readings of texts different from that in that Version. It will also be noticed that he quotes the Apocrypha with the same freedom with which he quotes the canonical books.
It will be seen from the address ‘to the Candid and Ingenious Reader,’ that the sermons collected by Adams, and published by him in one folio volume, had previously been published separately. In their original form most of them had dedications prefixed; but, for reasons which do not appear, he deleted many of these. They will all be reprinted in connexion with his Memoir, as they are worthy of preservation on many grounds.
The sermons in this series are arranged according to the order of the texts. This seems to be an advantageous arrangement upon the whole; but it involves the inconvenience, that in a few instances references are made to previous sermons, which in this edition occupy a subsequent place.
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Table of Contents
EDITORIAL NOTE
DEDICATIONS—
TO THE CANDID AND INGENIOUS READER
ADVERTISEMENT
MEMOIR OF THE REV. THOMAS ADAMS
SERMONS
I. POLITIC HUNTING, GEN. 25:27
II. PLAIN-DEALING, GEN. 25:27
III. THE SOLDIER’S HONOUR, JUDGES 5:8, 9
IV. THE SINNER’S MOURNING-HABIT, JOB 42:6
V. HEAVEN MADE SURE, PSALM 35:3
VI. A GENERATION OF SERPENTS, PSALM 58:4
VII. THE RAGE OF OPPRESSION, PSALM 66:12
VIII. THE VICTORY OF PATIENCE, PSALM 66:12
IX. GOD’S HOUSE, PSALM 66:13
X. THE SACRIFICE OF THANKFULNESS, PSALM 118:27
XI. GOD’S BOUNTY: THE FIRST SERMON, PROV. 3:16
XII. GOD’S BOUNTY: THE SECOND SERMON, PROV. 3:16
XIII. THE FATAL BANQUET: THE FIRST SERMON, PROV. 9:17, 18
XIV. THE FATAL BANQUET: THE SECOND SERVICE, PROV. 9:17
XV. THE FATAL BANQUET: THE BREAKING-UP OF THE FEAST, PROV. 9:17
XVI. THE FATAL BANQUET: THE SHOT, PROV. 9:18
XVII. THE FOOL AND HIS SPORT, PROV. 14:9
XVIII. MYSTICAL BEDLAM, ECCLES. 9:3
XIX. THE GALLANT’S BURDEN, ISAIAH 21:11, 12
XX. THE SINNER’S PASSING-BELL, JER. 8:22
XXI. PHYSIC FROM HEAVEN, JER. 8:22
XXII. ENGLAND’S SICKNESS, JER. 8:22
XXIII. ENGLAND’S SICKNESS, JER. 8:22
XXIV. HEAVEN AND EARTH RECONCILED, DAN. 12:3
XXV. THE SOUL’S SICKNESS: A DISCOURSE, DIVINE, MORAL, AND PHYSICAL
XXVI. CHRIST’S STAR, MATT. 2:11
XXVII. THE WAY HOME, MATT. 2:12
XXVIII. THE GOOD POLITICIAN DIRECTED, MATT 10:16
XXIX. THE BLACK SAINT, MATT. 12:43–45
XXX. THE LEAVEN, MATT. 13:33
XXXI. THE TWO SONS, MATT. 21:28–30
XXXII. MAJESTY IN MISERY, MATT. 27:51
XXXIII. LYCANTHROPY, LUKE 10:3
XXXIV. THE COSMOPOLITE, LUKE 12:20
XXXV. THE FIRE OF CONTENTION, LUKE 12:49
XXXVI. THE BARREN TREE, LUKE 13:7
XXXVII. FAITH’S ENCOURAGEMENT, LUKE 17:19
XXXVIII. THE LOST ARE FOUND, LUKE 19:10
XXXIX. THE WHITE DEVIL, JOHN 12:6
XL. THE HOLY CHOICE, ACTS 1:24
XLI. A VISITATION SERMON, ACTS 15:36
XLII. THE THREE DIVINE SISTERS: FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY 1 COR. 13:13
XLIII. THE TEMPLE 2 COR. 6:16
XLIV. THE CITY OF PEACE 2 COR. 13:11
XLV. THE BAD LEAVEN, GAL. 5:9
XLVI. MAN’S SEED-TIME AND HARVEST, GAL. 6:7
XLVII. SPIRITUAL EYE-SALVE, EPH. 1:18
XLVIII. THE SAINTS’ MEETING, EPH. 4:13
XLIX. THE CHRISTIAN’S WALK, EPH. 5:2
L. LOVE’S COPY, EPH. 5:2
LI. A CRUCIFIX, EPH. 5:2
LII. A DIVINE HERBAL, HEB. 6:7, 8
LIII. THE PRAISE OF FERTILITY, HEB. 6:7
LIV. A CONTEMPLATION OF THE HERBS, HEB. 6:7
LV. THE FOREST OF THORNS, HEB. 6:8
LVI. THE END OF THORNS, HEB. 6:8
LVII. THE HAPPINESS OF THE CHURCH, HEB. 12:22–24
LVIII. SEMPER IDEM; OR, THE IMMUTABLE MERCY OF JESUS CHRIST, HEB. 13:8
LIX. THE TAMING OF THE TONGUE, JAMES 3:8
LX. THE SOUL’S REFUGE, 1 PET. 4:19
LXI. THE SPIRITUAL NAVIGATOR BOUND FOR THE HOLY LAND, REV. 4:6
LXII. PRESUMPTION RUNNING INTO DESPAIR, REV. 6:16
LXIII. HEAVEN-GATE; OR, THE PASSAGE TO PARADISE, REV. 22:14
MEDITATIONS UPON SOME PART OF THE CREED
LXIV. GOD’S ANGER, PS. 80:4
LXV. MAN’S COMFORT, PS. 94:19
