1742 JOHN PORTER. MSs Almanack of Convert of George Whitefield & Great Awakening Divine.

A superb interleaved 1742 Almanack, containing 6 MSs leaves in the hand of Rev. John Porter [1716-1802]. Porter came to preach at the North Parish Church in Bridgewater [now Brockton], Massachusetts first in 1739, and was ordained 1740. 

He was, however, to have little success until after his encounter with George Whitefield, in 1742. By his own account, he himself was likely not converted before the Boston meetings under Tennent and Whitefield; 

Be sure, I knew nothing rightly of my sin and danger, of my need of a Savior, of the way of way of salvation by Him, neither was established in the doctrines of grace, (though a preacher, though a preacher and one who endeavoured to instruct others in the way), till I heard that man of God. [Tracy, p. 127]. 

Once converted he himself became a significant voice in the revival. An extensive account of the spiritual effusion at Bridgewater was published in Joseph Tracy's The Great Awakening, written by Porter himself. [see pp. 127-132].

Even in the years that followed, he was ever a defender of the "New Birth" preaching of Whitefield, Tennent, and Edwards, etc., So that when Rev. Lemuel Briant began preaching on the "absurdity of justification without holiness," Porter reproved him publicly in the below sermon, which carried with it recommendatory notices by prominent local Boston divines, Thomas Foxcroft, Charles Chauncy, etc.

The absurdity and blasphemy of substituting the personal righteousness of men in the room of the surety-righteousness of Christ, in the important article of justification before God. A sermon preached at the south precinct in Braintree, December 25th, 1750. 

A long-time friend of President John Adams. John Porter's son, Major John Porter, was prominent in the American War for Independence. He graduated Yale College in 1770, where he studied divinity and began preaching. However, when the war broke out between Great Britain and America, in 1775, he joined and received a Captain's commission. An able, if stern officer, he was soon promoted to the rank of major and of some note during the opening years of the American Revolution. His reputation was somewhat tarnished and he was temporarily relieved of command after mortally wounding Brigadier Commander Enoch Poor in a duel [1780]*. This incident is the subject of some mystery and controversy. See HERE and HERE. 

He was also the father of prominent divine, Eliphalet Porter [1758-1833]. 

The Almanack from the year of Porter's conversion, each month interleaved with a single sheet of paper containing a terse comment on his daily activities. Additionally, a single leaf added later at the beginning of the Almanack detailing the dates of Porter's first preaching at Bridgewater, his ordination, marriages, and the birthdates of his children.

Monthly notes include brief but historically interesting notes such as, "Preached at Mr. Jonathan Packard's;" "Went to Mr. Perkins Evening Lecture." "Preached in the Evening at Edward White's;" "Went a visiting in ye west part of my parish;" "Went to town. Mr. Perkins Sacramental Lecture. Mr. Colton Preached." "Catechized ye children;" "Preached at Captain Carpenter's;" "Blessed be ye Lord for his goodness expressed to me this ye month;" "At Boston, heard Mr. Davenport;" [Radical Great Awakening preacher, James Davenport, who was arrested the same year for causing a disturbance]; "My birthday. Went to Mr. Perkin's evening Lecture. Have lived 26 years. O how little of my time have I spent in serving God & preparing for eternity;" etc., 

Ames, Nathanael. An Astronomical Diary, Or, An Almanack for the Year of Our Lord Christ, 1742. And from the Creation of the World, according to the best of prophane History, 5692 And by the Account of Holy Scriptures, 5644 Being the Second Year after Bissextile, Or, Leap Year, And the Fifteenth Year of the Reign of our most gracious Sovereign King George II. Wherein is Contained the Lunations, Eclipses of the Luminaries, Aspects, Sun & Moon's Rising and Setting, Time of High Water, Courts, Spring Tides, Judgment of the Weather, &c. Calculated for the Meridian of Boston in New-England, Lat. 42 Deg. 25 Min. North. Boston in New-England. Printed by John Draper, for the Booksellers, 1742. 16pp + 12pp MSs.

A well-loved example, though complete and sound. Corners, folder, tears, chips, etc., textually complete.