SERMONS - University of Tennessee, Knoxville

SeRMon entRieS
Repository: Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA (Clay family papers, 1769-
1951. Mss1 C5795a, Sermons, folder 38-39)
Bib. Ref.: none
Commentary: This sermon is presently located in folder 38-39 and grouped with
accession number 4027. Their relationship is undetermined. The manuscript is
incomplete and missing an undetermined number of pages at its beginning and
end. Two unbound leaves (4 pages) begin the manuscript, followed by 8 bound
leaves (16 pages), followed by 1 unbound leaf (2 pages); all have some loss of text
at the corners. Clay brackets several sections throughout the manuscript and uses
abbreviations throughout the sermon.
Keywords: Great Flood; repentance; David; sinfulness; world, end of; Adam;
Eden, garden of; Eve; infant damnation; wrath, divine; original sin; sin, original;
sin, punishment of; God, justice of; death; covenant of works; works, covenant
of; covenant of grace; grace, covenant of; God, mercy of; mercy of God; Christ,
salvation through; heaven, joys of; everlasting life; life, eternal; wickedness;
salvation;
724. CLAY, CHARLES. (VA; Epis.; 1745-1820; lic. for VA June 7, 1769; ord.
London, 1769)
“[The Doctrine of the Church.]” [1769-1820;] 32pp. [Acc. No. 4026] [Entry added
December 2009.]
Repository: Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA (Clay family papers, 1769-
1951. Mss1 C5795a, Sermons, folder 36-37)
Bib. Ref.: none
Commentary: This sermon is presently located in folder 36-37 and grouped with
accession number 4025. Their relationship is undetermined. The manuscript lacks
a cover and an undetermined number of pages are missing at the front and the rear.
An offhanded comment by Clay on page 25 disparages the Pope and pages 28 and
32 contain attacks on the Catholic Church, indulgences, and Papal infallibility. Page
27 mentions Oliver Cromwell and “Our Mother Country.” These comments are
described by Clay as illustrating periods of confusion, corruption, and extremes in
religion and society. A bracketed section of text on page 28 extends his idea of the
necessity of moderation in such times to Virginia: “and O Virginia wd [would] to
God thy Children wd [would] take warning from them & avoid the like animosities
& Dissentions.” Page 31 begins a direct address to his congregation after the
apparent end of the sermon proper on not neglecting the duties of worship. Page
32 is the last page of the manuscript and breaks off in mid-sentence. Clay uses
abbreviations throughout the sermon.
Keywords: disciples; spiritual gifts; philosophy, inadequacy of; nature; Seneca;
liberty; reason; Cromwell, Oliver; Pope; olive tree; Church, doctrine of; God,
spirit of; Christ, teachings of; Christ, crucifixion of; salvation; human nature;
nature, human; God, grace of; mind, gifts of; Holy Ghost, gift of; virtue; meekness;
temperance; chastity; self-control; reason, human; reason, Christianity based on;
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