The Works of David Clarkson, 3 Volume Set (Clarkson)

Description

David Clarkson’s name is perhaps best known today because of his call (in 1682) to become colleague (and later, successor) to the great Puritan leader, John Owen. Yet this very fact bears eloquent testimony to the esteem in which Clarkson’s contemporaries held him, and the qualities which Owen and his congregation saw in his ministry. Nor was this appreciation limited to his own time. His Sermons and Discourses on Several Divine Subjects would later find a place in dissenting chapels, chained to reading desks, for use by future generations.

The three volumes of Clarkson’s Works published in 1864-65 well illustrate his preaching powers. His expositions are characterised by faithfulness to biblical teaching, by careful analysis and exposition, and by copious application.

As a preacher, Clarkson expressed himself forcefully and memorably. These powers, happily married to a clear and logical mind, gave birth to sermons which are full of striking expressions and fruitful insights. One particularly impressive feature of this work is that here we meet a man who knew how to preach on the great texts of Scripture and how to handle the central things of life.

Contents

Volume 1

Prefatory note

Sermons

1. Of Original Sin – Ps Li 5
2. Of Repentance – Luke Xiii 3
3. Of Faith – Mark Xvi 16
4. Of Living By Faith – Heb X 38
5. Faith In Prayer – James I 6
6. Of Dying In Faith – Heb Xi 13
7. Of Living As Strangers – Heb Xi 13
8. The Excellent Knowledge Of Christ – Philip Iii 8
9. Justification By The Righteousness Of Christ – Philip Iii 9
10. Men By Nature Unwilling To Oome To Christ – John V 40
11. The Lord The Owner Of All Things; An Inducement From Earthly-Mindedness – 1 Chron Xxix 11365 12. Hearing The Word – Luke Viii 18
13. Of Taking Up The Cross – Luke Xiv 27

Volume 2

Sermons

1. The New Creature – Gal Vi 15
2. Christ’s Gracious Invitation To Sinners – Rev Iii 20
3. Man’s Insufficiency To Do Anything Of Himself – John Xv 5
4. Against Anxious Carefulness – Philip Iv 6
5. Pray For Everything – Philip Iv 6
6. God’s End In Sending Calamities And Afflictions On His People – Isa Xxvii 9
7. The Conviction Of Hypocrites – Mat Vii 22, 23
8. Soul Idolatry Excludes Men Out Of Heaven – Eph V 5
9. The Children Of God Should Not Be Partakers With Others In Their Sins – Eph V 7
10. Unconverted Sinners Are Darkness – Eph V 8
11. Of Christ Seeking Fruit, And Finding None – Luke Xiii 6
12. The Lord Rules Over All – Ps Ciii 19
13. Sinners Under The Curse – Gal Iii 10

Volume 3

Sermons

1. The Love Of Christ – Eph V 2
2. Christ’s Sacrifice – Eph V 2
3. Christ’s Dying For Sinners – Rom V 8
4. Christ Touched With The Feeling Of Our Infirmities – Heb Iv 15
5. Of Coming Boldly Unto The Throne Of Grace – Heb Iv 16
6. Of Christ’s Making Intercession – Heb Vii 25
7. Believers’ Communion With The Father And Son – 1 John I 3
8. Public Worship To Be Preferred Before Private – Ps Lxxxvii 2

THE PRACTICAL DIVINITY OF THE PAPISTS DISCOVERED TO BE DESTRUCTIVE OF CHRISTIANITY AND MEN’S SOULS
Contents Of The Preceding Treatise
General Index (With The’ Alphabetical Table’ Of The Original Edition Incorporated)
Index Of Scripture Texts

About the Author

Little is known of the life of the Puritan David Clarkson. Born in Bradford, Yorkshire in 1622, he graduated from Cambridge University, and was a fellow of Clare Hall from 1645 until his marriage to a Miss Holcroft in 1651. He served as rector of Crayford, Kent from 1650 to 1655, and held the perpetual curacy of Mortlake, Surrey, from 1656 to 1661. For about a year, he served as assistant to Samuel Clark at St. Benet Fink, London, until the Act of Uniformity and the Great Ejection in 1662.

For the following twenty years he appears to have ministered in relative obscurity until July 1682 when he became colleague to the fast ailing John Owen, whom he assisted in Leadenhall Street, London, until the latter’s death in 1683. He ministered in Owen’s pulpit for only three more years until his own death on June 14 1686.