(Great Awakening) | An eyewitness to the Great Awakening
(Great Awakening)
A small archive of printed and manuscript material touching on the Great Awakening in Massachusetts and the Reverend Joseph Emerson Jr. in particular
Autograph journal signed, "A Journal Book By Joseph Emerson Jun 1739," title and 39 written pages (162 x 101 mm) plus several blank leaves, written in a hurried hand; very little soiling and marginal chipping. Original sewing. — Clerical transcription of a sermon by Joseph Emerson, "Psal. 145. An Exposition on ye. whole," "begun March 11. 1766," 12 pages (167 x 104 mm) on 6 leaves; light browning, tiny bit of loss to top corners of final two leaves. Original sewing. — An Extract from a Late Sermon on the Death of the Reverend Mr. Joseph Emerson, pastor of the First Church of Malden. Boston: Edes & Gill, for Bulkeley Emerson, 1767. 8vo (195 x 122 mm). Browned and very worn. Stitched (Evans 10608) — Advice of a Father to a Son Engaging in the Work of the Evangelical Ministry: A Sermon Preach'd at the Ordination of the Reverend Joseph Emerson … Feb. 25th. 1746, 7. By His Father. Boston: S. Kneeland and T. Green, 1747. Browned and very worn, lacking final text leaf. Stitched (Sabin 22435)
Together 4 items.
An eyewitness to the Great Awakening. The Rev. Joseph Emerson (1724–1775), like his father, was a significant figure in Congregational church in New England. Emerson was also a significant figure in the foment of Revolution, perhaps best known for his "Stamp Act Sermon": A Thanksgiving-Sermon Preach'd at Pepperrell, July 24th. 1766. A Day Set Apart by Public Authority as a Day of Thanksgiving on the Account of the Repeal of the Stamp-Act. (Boston, 1766).
But the cornerstone of this small archive is the journal that Emerson kept as a young man prior to his ordination, from May 1739 to September 1740. The journal traces Emerson's personal spiritual awakening at the beginning of the Great Awakening. He tells of hearing George Whitefield preaching before a large crowd and also mentions his contacts with other preachers of the Great Awakening, including preaching of Joseph Sewall, Aaron Burr, and Jonathan Mayhew. Emerson was also friends with Jonathan Edwards, who was much his senior, and actually courted one of Edwards’ daughters, Esther. Importantly, the journal includes accounts of a private prayer meeting which was evidently attended by Black congregants.
The manuscript sermon explicating Psalm 145 dates from an important period in Emerson's life, being delivered just four months before the Stamp Act Sermon. This text is evidently the only one surviving from a series of sermons given by Emerson on the Psalms.
Condition Report:
Condition as described in catalogue entry.
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(Great Awakening)
A small archive of printed and manuscript material touching on the Great Awakening in Massachusetts and the Reverend Joseph Emerson Jr. in particular
Autograph journal signed, "A Journal Book By Joseph Emerson Jun 1739," title and 39 written pages (162 x 101 mm) plus several blank leaves, written in a hurried hand; very little soiling and marginal chipping. Original sewing. — Clerical transcription of a sermon by Joseph Emerson, "Psal. 145. An Exposition on ye. whole," "begun March 11. 1766," 12 pages (167 x 104 mm) on 6 leaves; light browning, tiny bit of loss to top corners of final two leaves. Original sewing. — An Extract from a Late Sermon on the Death of the Reverend Mr. Joseph Emerson, pastor of the First Church of Malden. Boston: Edes & Gill, for Bulkeley Emerson, 1767. 8vo (195 x 122 mm). Browned and very worn. Stitched (Evans 10608) — Advice of a Father to a Son Engaging in the Work of the Evangelical Ministry: A Sermon Preach'd at the Ordination of the Reverend Joseph Emerson … Feb. 25th. 1746, 7. By His Father. Boston: S. Kneeland and T. Green, 1747. Browned and very worn, lacking final text leaf. Stitched (Sabin 22435)
Together 4 items.
An eyewitness to the Great Awakening. The Rev. Joseph Emerson (1724–1775), like his father, was a significant figure in Congregational church in New England. Emerson was also a significant figure in the foment of Revolution, perhaps best known for his "Stamp Act Sermon": A Thanksgiving-Sermon Preach'd at Pepperrell, July 24th. 1766. A Day Set Apart by Public Authority as a Day of Thanksgiving on the Account of the Repeal of the Stamp-Act. (Boston, 1766).
But the cornerstone of this small archive is the journal that Emerson kept as a young man prior to his ordination, from May 1739 to September 1740. The journal traces Emerson's personal spiritual awakening at the beginning of the Great Awakening. He tells of hearing George Whitefield preaching before a large crowd and also mentions his contacts with other preachers of the Great Awakening, including preaching of Joseph Sewall, Aaron Burr, and Jonathan Mayhew. Emerson was also friends with Jonathan Edwards, who was much his senior, and actually courted one of Edwards’ daughters, Esther. Importantly, the journal includes accounts of a private prayer meeting which was evidently attended by Black congregants.
The manuscript sermon explicating Psalm 145 dates from an important period in Emerson's life, being delivered just four months before the Stamp Act Sermon. This text is evidently the only one surviving from a series of sermons given by Emerson on the Psalms.
Condition Report:
Condition as described in catalogue entry.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
