SERMONS - University of Tennessee, Knoxville

SoutHeRn MAnuScRipt SeRMonS BefoRe 1800
Christ as mediator; catechism; salvation; Catholic Church, criticism of; Holy
Orders; matrimony; grace; Extreme Unction; sacraments, nature of the; sacraments,
symbols of the; penance; covenant of grace; grace, covenant of; man, nature of;
original sin; sin, original; Holy Ghost; infant baptism; Baptism, infant; redemption;
Godfathers; Godmothers;
709. CLAY, CHARLES. (VA; Epis.; 1745-1820; lic. for VA June 7, 1769; ord.
London, 1769)
“[Being Ready for the Son of Man.]” [1777;] 2 blank + 30 + 2 blank + 1 pp. [Acc.
No. 4034] [Entry added January 2010.]
Repository: Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA (Clay family papers, 1769-
1951. Mss1 C5795a, Sermons, folder 44-45)
Bib. Ref.: Matt. 24. 44. Therefore be ye also Ready: for in Such an hour as ye think
not, the Son of man cometh.
Commentary: This sermon is presently located in folder 44-45 and grouped with
accession number 4033. Their relationship is undetermined. The inscriptions
on the inside back cover are blurred, likely from water-staining, but indicate the
dates for whom (or where) the sermon was preached as follows (with a slash
indicating a line break): “Sha. Olglesby Nov. 14. 1777/Mrs. Jordan Dec. 1778/[Jno?]
[Fox’s?] [Children?] 1778/Zac. Gilliam [Oct.?] 1780/Mrs. Powel 84 [1784]/Mrs.
Flemming 88 [1788]”. If the most questionable reading of these names (“/[Jno?]
[Fox’s?] [Children?]) is correct, this may be a funeral sermon. There is no internal
evidence, however, such as an additional prayer for the deceased, to confirm
such a supposition, and these entries may simply be homes where the sermon
was preached, although that is not common in the collection of Clay’s sermons.
Clay uses brackets and boxing lightly and abbreviations heavily throughout the
manuscript.
Keywords: preparation for death; judgment of wicked; will of God; vanity; Oglesby,
Sha.; Jordan, Mrs.; Fox’s, Jno., Children; Gilliam, Zac.; Powel, Mrs.; Flemming, Mrs;
funeral sermon; sermon, funeral; Jerusalem, destruction of; Noah; Christ, second
coming of; last judgment; judgment, last; death, preparation for; God, mercy
of; sins, forgiveness of; Christ, salvation through; Christ, commitment to; spirit,
renewal of; faith; obedience; patience; death, fear of; eternal life; life, eternal; God,
grace of; God, duty to; salvation; rich man, parable of; world, sins of; vice, penalty
for; God’s vengeance; conscience; wickedness;
710. CLAY, CHARLES. (VA; Epis.; 1745-1820; lic. for VA June 7, 1769; ord.
London, 1769)
“[Beware a Death Unprepared.]” [1769-1820;] 28pp. [Acc. No. 4030] [Entry added
January 2010.]
Repository: Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA (Clay family papers, 1769-
1951. Mss1 C5795a, Sermons, folder 40-41)
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