SERMONS - University of Tennessee, Knoxville

SoutHeRn MAnuScRipt SeRMonS BefoRe 1800
61. BEESTON, FRANCIS. (MD; Cath.; 1751-1809; in MD 1786-1809)
“[On the presence of God.]” [1792] 2pp. [Acc. No. 235k]
Repository: Georgetown University, Washington, DC (Woodstock College Archives)
Bib. Ref.: “Son ... behold thy father & I have sought thee sorrowing. Luke 2-48.”
Commentary: The sermon is imperfect. It is incomplete at the end. Notes on the
recto read “1st Sund: After Epiph: Presence of God. 1792-Boha Jany 1792-Elkton-
Feby 1792-Seth’s 1795-Baltre 1797-Baltre 1709-Baltre 1806-Baltre 1808-Balte.”
Beeston, a Jesuit until the suppression in 1773, served in Maryland from 1786 until
his death. He did not re-enter the Society upon its restoration.
Keywords: God, presence of;
62. BEND, JOSEPH GROVE JOHN. (MD; Epis.; 1762-1812; ord. 1787)
“Light for the righteous, &c.” [1794] 1 + 1 blank + 29 + 1pp. [Acc. No. 1990]
Repository: F. Garner Ranney Archives of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland,
Baltimore, MD
Bib. Ref.: Psalm 97, V 11. “Light is sown for the righteous, & gladness for the
upright in heart.”
Commentary: Notes on the cover read “Fin[ished] May 17, 1794,” and “Preached
in St Paul’s B[altimore] A M, May 16, 1794. [St. Paul’s] & Xt Church, [Baltimore]
Jany. 18, 1801. [St. Paul’s & Christ Church, Baltimore, Jan.] 3, [180]8.” The last
page of the sermon contains a list of baptisms to be recorded in the parish register.
Page 29 is written inside the back cover of the sermon. The back cover is sewn on
crookedly, so that some letters at the beginning of each inside line are obscured,
but the meaning of the text is sufficiently clear, and all words would be legible if the
stitching of the cover were removed.
Keywords: backsliding; Christ, sacrifice of; last judgment; worldliness;
63. BEND, JOSEPH GROVE JOHN. (MD; Epis.; 1762-1812; ord. 1787)
“Abiding in Christ &c.” [1795] 1 + 1 blank + 29 + 1 blank pp. [Acc. No. 2028]
Repository: F. Garner Ranney Archives of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland,
Baltimore, MD
Bib. Ref.: St John, Ch 15, V 7. “If ye abide in me, & my words abide in you, ye shall
ask what ye will, & it shall be done unto you.”
Commentary: Notes on the cover read “Fin[ished] Ap’l 9, 1795,” and “Preached
in St Paul’s, B[altimore, Ap’l] 12, 1795. at Curtis Creek Chapel, June 28, [1795]. at
Burlington, [probably NJ] A M, Sep. 13, [17]95. in St Paul’s & Xt Ch, [Baltimore]
Apl. 11, 1802. Xt Church & St Paul’s, [Baltimore] Feb 4, [18]10.” The cover is
severely frayed at the hinge so that page 29, written inside the back cover, has lost
some first letters at the beginnings of lines 4-8 and 10-17, but the meaning remains
clear. Page 8 denounces Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason.
Keywords: Paine, Thomas; Age of Reason, The; worldliness; Bible, infallibility of;
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