Archives
The Confessional Presbyterian Archive is a curated digital library dedicated to preserving and promoting the writings of 17th–20th century Presbyterian pastors, teachers, and leaders. Featuring thousands of searchable texts, biographies, and historical resources, the archive provides direct access to the primary-source materials of American Presbyterianism.
Revealed Religion, the Only Source of True Happiness
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Affirms that only revealed religion (the gospel) secures true happiness by assuring immortality, resurrection, and hope beyond death. Natural religion cannot prove a future life.
Review of the Works of the Rev. Robert Hall
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Reviews of The Life of Mohammed and Robert Hall’s collected works. Praises Bush’s biography of Muhammad and profiles Hall’s intellect, ministry, writings and mental-health struggles.
The Probability of Perdition Inferred from Present Impenitence
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Sermon warns that delaying repentance makes eternal perdition likely. Present impenitence, habit, and missed means increase the probability of final judgment.
The Wicked Surprised by Their Own Destruction
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A sermon warning that persistent impenitence accumulates God’s wrath, so sinners will be suddenly and horrifically surprised by final destruction and perdition.
Character and Writings of Dr. Mason
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Sketch of Dr. John M. Mason’s life and writings, noting his education, evangelical convictions, preaching and expository skill, and urging a biography to preserve his legacy.
Choosing the Good Part
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Two sermons: contrasting the Christian God’s fixed, personal character with the infidel’s vague deity (psalms-86), and urging choosing the soul’s eternal "good part" (luke-10).
Dickinson’s Prize Letters
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Argument that educated youth need firm Christian instruction: colleges must teach the evidences of Christianity and cultivate Christian character to resist skepticism and shape the nation’s future.
Lectures on Revivals of Religion
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W.B. Sprague’s 1832 lectures defending and explaining genuine religious revivals—their nature, causes, divine agency, means, pastoral care for converts, abuses, and results.
The God of the Christian and the God of the Infidel
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Sermon contrasts the infidel’s distant, uncertain deity with the Christian God—certain in character, active in providence, revealed in Christ, and sovereign in redemption.
A Discourse Delivered on Sabbath Evening, March 17, 1833, in St. Peter’s Church, in Aid of the Albany Apprentices’ Library, at the Request of the Trustees
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Sermon urging support for the Albany Apprentices’ Library, stressing that combining knowledge and virtue in young apprentices shields them from temptation and benefits society.
Character and Works of Jay
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Profile of William Jay: his character, practical sermons, family devotional books, and support for ministerial education. Commends his humility and lasting pastoral influence.
February 6, 1833 Letter to James Madison
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William B. Sprague (Feb 6, 1833) asks James Madison to endorse a New York State Temperance Society periodical for publication. He mentions his autograph collection and wishes Madison good health.
Lectures on Revivals of Religion (1832)
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Sprague exhorts ministers to grasp the immortality and eternal destiny of souls, making soul-care and revival the driving purpose of ministry. He warns against worldly distractions that dull zeal.
Lectures on Revivals of Religion [w/additional letters] (1832)
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Lectures defending and instructing genuine religious revivals—nature, causes, means, pastoral care, abuses, and results. Includes an appendix of letters from leading American clergy.
Review of Cox on Quakerism
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Review of Samuel H. Cox’s Quakerism not Christianity (1833). Praises his learning, wit, and conversion testimony but faults the book’s excessive length, sarcasm, and harsh tone toward Quakers.
Review of The Annual of the Board of Education of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States
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Surveys German biblical criticism and urges American students to learn from it. Reviews church education societies aiding candidates for ministry, urging economy, modesty, and duty.
A Sermon Preached in the Second Presbyterian Church, Albany, Sabbath Evening, May 11, 1834…in Behalf of the Polish Exiles Lately Arrived in this Country
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A sermon calling for active, enlightened Christian charity—practical aid guided by judgment and God’s will—urging support for persecuted Polish exiles (based on Hebrews 13).
An Oration Commemorative of the Late General Lafayette
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Funeral oration for General Lafayette honoring his selfless patriotism, courage, and lasting influence. Sprague extols Lafayette’s disinterestedness, valor, and public service.
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