Guide to the Lincoln Ripley sermons, 1806-1824
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Lincoln Ripley Sermons, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine
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The Reverend Lincoln Ripley, one of nineteen children of Noah and Lydia Ripley, was born in Pomfret, Connecticut, in 1761. The younger brother of Dr. Ezra Ripley (1751-1841), a minister in Concord, Massachusetts, he moved with his family to Barre, Massachusetts, in 1767. Graduating from Dartmouth in 1796, Ripley pursued theological studies with his brother, Ezra, while serving as a missionary preacher in Waterford during the summers of 1797 and 1798. He was paid thirty dollars each year for his services, plus board for himself and his horse. His work in Waterford led to his appointment as first minister of the Waterford Congregational Church on July 1, 1798, a position he held until his retirement in November of 1821.
About 1798, Ripley married Phebe Emerson, daughter of the Rev. William and Phebe (Bliss) Emerson of Concord, Massachusetts. The Ripleys had four adopted children: Martha Bliss; Ann S. Sargent; his niece, Martha Robinson; and Noah Ripley, who later, with his wife and three children, drowned in the Bay of San Francisco. Phebe was an aunt of Ralph Waldo Emerson and a sister of Mary Moody Emerson and Rebecca (Emerson) Haskins, both of whom also lived in Waterford. Ripley died in1858.
Consists of sermons written and preached by the Rev. Lincoln Ripley between February 16, 1806, and October 17, 1824. Many of the sermons are annotated with multiple dates suggesting the multiple use of orations. Annotations also indicate the locations where Ripley gave the sermons, including Bethel, Norway, Bridgton, Sweden, and Otisfield, Maine. A small cache of biographical materials about Ripley is included at the end of the collection.
1806 Feb 16 ["The evil effects of sin inevitable"]
1808 May 1 ["The sealing of the Holy Spirit..."]
1809 Sept 3 ["On the mutual returns of love between Christ & his followers"]
1809 Oct 2 ["Tears for the afflicted..."]
1809 Apr 2 ["On the providence of God in the death of relatives"]
1809 June 22 ["Of departing from the devine presence"]
1809 June 22 ["Of departing from the devine presence," draft 2]
1809 July 16 ["The character of Peter considered and applied"]
1809 Nov 12 ["Believers of the sheepfold of Christ"]
1809 Nov 19 ["Of that fear in obedience..."]
1809 Nov 19 ["The day of Judgement"]
1810 June 24 ["Of the design of Christ's coming into the world"]
1810 Nov 25 ["The opposition of the wicked to the devine authority"]
1810 Nov 25 ["The opposition of the wicked...," draft 2]
1811 Sept 1 ["On giving alms deeds"]
1811 Sept 22 ["The triumphant song of believers"]
1812 Jan 26 ["Spiritual eagerness in religion"]
1812 Apr 14 ["On the encouragement for ministers to preach repentance to sinners"]
1812 Apr 19 ["On the helpless condition of sinners"]
1813 Apr 4 ["An opinion of Christ"]
1813 May 16 ["The presence of Emmanuel joyous to believers"]
1815 Mar 5 ["The Lord's supper a memorial of Christ's death"]
1816 Dec 8 ["Jesus Christ and Moses"]
1818 May 21 ["Who have need of a physician"]
1818 Sept 6 ["The devine chastenings both righteous and faithful"]
1818 Sept 13 ["The true knowledge of God"]
1818 Dec 13 ["Reflections on the expected approach of death"]
1819 ? ["Of mens' different views of the devine law & of themselves..."]
1819 May 9 ["A warning against the devices of Satan"]
1819 May 9 ["A warning against the devices of Satan," draft 2]
1820 May 14 ["The character of those in whom God hath pleasure"]
1820 Dec 10 ["The properties of spiritual wisdom"]
1824 June 13 ["The glory of God the supreme object of man's pursuit"]
1824 Oct 17 ["Blessings ensured to the believing and obedient"]
Undated ["The watchman's report"]