Historical Sermons

Election Sermons

Sermons preached to government officials at the state capitol upon the annual opening of the legislature

• 1781 Election Sermon by Rev. Jonas Clark – Preached before John Hancock and Thomas Cushing
• 1788 Election Sermon by Josiah Whitney – Preached before Samuel Huntington and Oliver Wolcott
• 1790 Election Sermon by Rev. Daniel Foster – Preached before John Hancock and Samuel Adams
• 1791 Election Sermon by Chandler Robbins – Preached before John Hancock and Samuel Adams
• 1830 Election Sermon by Charles Boardman
• 1861 Election Sermon by Rev. Henry Parker

Military Sermons

Sermons preached on military topics

Artillery Sermons
Preached annually at the election of the officers of the militia.

• 1803 Artillery Sermon by Rev. Jedediah Morse
• 1809 Artillery Sermon by John Foster
• 1853 Artillery Sermon by J.G. Palfrey

Deployment Sermon

• 1775 Sermon on Liberty by Rev. Jacob Duche´
• 1756 Sermon on Religion and Morality, the Constituents of a Good Soldier by Samuel Davies

Military Related Sermons

• 1861 Sermon on the Civil War by William R. Alger

Current Events/Newsworthy Occurrences

Sermons delivered on events occurring at that time

• 1755 Sermon on Earthquakes by Rev. Jonathan Mayhew
• 1760 Sermon on the Great Fire in Boston by Rev. Jonathan Mayhew
• 1766 Sermon on the Stamp Act Repeal by Charles Chauncy
• 1776 Sermon on the Battle of Lexington by Rev. Jonas Clark
• 1778 Sermon on the Battle of Lexington by Jacob Cushing
• 1796 Execution Sermon by Nathaniel Fisher
• 1797 Execution Sermon by Rev. Nathan Strong
• 1805 Sermon on a Bridge Opening by Joseph Lathrop
• 1805 Sermon on the Infirmities and Comforts of Old Age by Joseph Lathrop
• 1806 Sermon on Saul Consulting Witch of Endor (sorcery and necromancy) by Joseph Lathrop
• 1806 Sermon on a Solar Eclipse by Joseph Lathrop
• 1808 Sermon on a Bridge Opening by Samuel Willard
• 1811 Sermon on Old Age Improved by Joseph Lathrop
• 1813 Sermon on Perjury by Noah Porter
• 1816 Pamphlet on Property Tax by Rev. George Glover
• 1832 Sermon on the Loss of Children by William Bourn Oliver Peabody
• 1837 Sermon on Commercial Distress by Leonard Bacon
• 1845 Sermon on the Moral Uses of the Sea by Horace Bushnell
• 1847 Sermon on a New Planet by Cyrus Augustus Bartol
• 1848 Execution Sermon by Henry A. Rowland
• 1851 Sermon on the Moral View of Rail Roads by Rev. S.C. Aiken
• 1856 Sermon on Snow and Vapor by Cyrus Augustus Bartol
• 1858 Sermon on the Atlantic Telegraph by Joseph A Copp

National Disaster Sermons

Sermons on national disasters (similar to bombing of the USS Cole)

• 1840 Sermon on the Destruction of the Harold and the Lexington by Fire by Rev. William M. Rogers
• 1840 Sermon on the Destruction of the Lexington by Fire by Samuel Kirkland Lothrop

History Sermons

Sermons on significant historical events

• • • 1801 Century Sermon by Rev. Timothy Alden Jr.
    • 1820 Sermon on the Pilgrims by Joel Mann
    • 1832 Sermon on Cholera by Orville Dewey
    • 1853 Massachusetts Oration on the Pilgrims by Charles Sumner
    • 1876 Sermon on American Institutions & the Bible by Jeremiah Eames Rankin

Eulogy Sermons

Sermons pertaining to the death of a famous person

• • • 1793 Eulogy of Roger Sherman (signer of the Declaration & Constitution) by Rev. Jonathan Edwards
    • 1796 Eulogy of Joseph Strong (signer of the Declaration, Governor) by Joseph Strong
    • 1800 Eulogy of George Washington (first President of the United States) by Peter Thacher
    • 1802 Eulogy of Samuel Phillips (Lt. Governor of Massachusetts) by David Tappan
    • 1807 Eulogy of Oliver Ellsworth (signer of the Declaration) by Rev. Henry Rowland
    • 1834 Eulogy of Marquis de Lafayette (Am. Revolution war hero) by Nathaniel Langdon Frothingham
    • 1854 Eulogy of George C Shattuck by Cyrus Augustus Bartol
    • Eulogy on John Quincy Adams (President of the United States) by Joshua Bates

Governmental Sermons

Sermons involving governmental issues

• • • 1681 Sermon Before Judges by Edward Fowler
    • 1800 The Voice of Warning to Christians Sermon by John Mitchell Mason
    • 1822 Capitol Sermon by Jared Sparks
    • 1854 Capitol Sermon by James H. Thornwell
    • 1858 Capitol Sermon by George W. Bassett
    • 1860 Capitol Sermon by Thomas .H. Stockton
    • 1881 Capitol Speech by George B. Loring
    • 1895 People Responsible for Character of Rulers Sermon by Henry Van Dyke

Patriotic Sermons

Sermons regarding American patriotism

• • • 1775 Sermon on Liberty by Rev. Jacob Duche´
    • 1798 Duty of Americans by Timothy Dwight
    • 1840 Sermon on the Christian Patriot by Rev. Mellish Irving Motte
    • 1891 Church and Country Sermon by Bishop William Stevens Perry

Cultural Issue Sermons

Sermons involving cultural issues of the day

• • • 1791 Sermon on Slavery by Jonathan Edwards
    • 1805 Sermon on Dueling by Timothy Dwight
    • 1812 Sermon to State Prison Inmates by Charles Lowell
    • 1832 Sermon on Modern Emigrant by Rev. J. M. Horner
    • 1835 Sermon on the Influence of the Gospel upon Intellectual Powers by George Blagden
    • 1837 Sermon on Marriage by Rev. Henry Handley Norris
    • 1850 Sermon on the Fugitive Slave Bill by Samuel Thayer Spear
    • 1851 Sermon on the Fugitive Slave Bill by John C. Lord
    • 1852 Sermon on the Liquor Law in Massachusetts by Isaac P. Langworthy
    • 1877 Sermon on the Divine Rule Concerning Giving (The Christian Use of Property) by G. D. Carrow
    • 1880 Sermon on Christianity and Infidelity by E. P. Goodwin
    • c. 1960 Sermon on Communism in Churches by Bishop Gerald Kennedy

Holiday Sermons

Sermons preached on the occasion of an annual holiday

• • • 1788 Christmas Sermon by James Dana
    • 1794 Fourth of July Sermon by Joseph Lathrop
    • 1799 New Year Sermon by David McClure
    • 1863 Sermon Honoring George Washington’s Birthday by George Richards
    • 1875 Memorial Day Sermon by Rev. Dr. Jewell
    • 1910 Easter Sermon by Paul Dwight Moody

Special Holiday Sermons

Sermons preached on the occasion of an annual day of fasting or thanksgiving
(To see how to prepare a modern Thanksgiving Day sermon, visit the WallBuilders’ website.)

• • • 1783 Massachusetts Thanksgiving Sermon by Joseph Willard
    • 1795 Thanksgiving Sermon by Joesph Lathrop
    • 1812 Massachusetts Fasting Sermon by Moses Dow
    • 1863 Thanksgiving Sermon by Rev. Francis Wharton
    • 1864 Thanksgiving Sermon by Rev. R.D. Hitchcock
    • 1864 Connecticut Thanksgiving Sermon by Rev Charles Little

Great Awakening Sermons

Sermons preached by First Great Awakening (1730s and 1740s) and Second Great Awakening (1790s to 1830s) ministers

• • 1738 “Thankfulness for Mercies Received a Necessary Duty” Sermon  by George Whitefield
  • 1739 “An Exhortation to Come and See Jesus” Sermon by George Whitefield
  • 1793 “The Knowledge of Jesus Christ the Best Knowledge” Sermon by George Whitefield
  • 1827 “A Sermon Preached in the Presbyterian Church at Troy” by Charles Finney
  • 1820 “The Sufferings, Support, and Reward of Faithful Ministers” Sermon by Lemuel Haynes