1791 JOHN WITHERSPOON &c. The American Preacher; First Collection of American Pulpit Sermons Post-Revolutionary War

The "American Preacher" represented the first major attempt at distinguishing the pulpit of the "United States" after the revolution. Many sermons had been published, but the present, which would ultimately include four volumes, presented a systematic attempt at articulating the Gospel in the new democratic republic. Quite scarce.

The present includes, fittingly, John Witherspoon's "Ministerial Character and Duty" as the first sermon, clearly attempting to situate clergy and the preaching of the Gospel as a primary source of influence in the young America. Then follow Witherspoon's Man in His Natural State, An Inducement to Come to Christ, Salvation of Sinners only by the Blood of Jesus, Influences of God as a Sun and the Great Consolation of His People, and The Evil and Danger of Security and Sin. Witherspoon's message, as a Founding Father, signatory to the Declaration of Independence, and delegate to the Continental Congress, is clear. American will prosper by being a nation of people transformed by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. After this we find sermons by John H. Livingston, James Dana, Samuel S. Smith, William Linn, Benjamin Moore, Bryan Fairfax, John Rodgers, Nathan Perkins, and Thomas Reese. The volume has a heavy emphasis on Presbyterians.

Additionally, the volume has a large heraldic bookplate for William P. Smith AM executed by the important American engraver, Thomas Johnston [1708-1767] who worked with Paul Revere, etc., Examples of this bookplate are held by the Yale Art Gallery and the Colonial Society as important early instances of American arts and crafts. He is regarded today as having executed and printed the first engraving of America by an American. His landmark engraving of Quebec, handcolored, usually sells for somewhere between $25,000 and $35,000 in fine condition. 

See Johnston's Biography from the Colonial Society here: https://www.colonialsociety.org/node/770

Austin, David [ed.] The American Preacher; Or, a Collection of Sermons from Some of the Most Eminent Preachers, now Living in the United States, of Different Denominations in the Christian Church. Never Before Published. Vol. I. Elizabeth-Town, (New Jersey). Printed by Shepard Kollock. 1791. 274pp.

Fair in original leather, rubbed with hinges cracked but stable. Some staining, corner folds, etc., but generally sound and clean. The final sermon, by Reese, excised.