Townsend, Jonathan, 1721-1776. Sermon, October 22, 1752. bMS 735/1 (1), Andover-Harvard Theological Library, Harvard Divinity School.

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This unsigned, autograph manuscript sermon is twenty-two pages long and was composed in 1752. It is based on the Gospel of Luke 10:41-42. The end of the sermon notes several other places and dates where it was delivered.

Biographical Notes

Jonathan Townsend was born in 1721 in Needham, Massachusetts to Mary Sugars and Jonathan Townsend. He graduated from Harvard in 1741, and was ordained in 1745. He was installed at the church in Medfield, Massachusetts, and was chaplain in Colonel Bagley’s regiment at Louisburg in 1760. He resigned from his pastorate in 1769, and he died from smallpox in 1776 in Dedham, Massachusetts.

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{Reverend} Mr. Townsend Medford

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{Number} 484 Luke 10 41-42

Text in the 10 {Chapter} of Luke 41-42 verses

And Jesus answered & said {verse} In Speaking to the Words it was proposed

I To Show what we are to under :stand by the One Thing needful Here 'twas Said The One Thing need :ful and the good part Mary chose appears to be attention unto the Word of Christ. A hearty Re :gard to his Doctrine. It may be understood of true Religion or Ser :ious Godliness, which Jesus came to teach & enforce. It is Spoken off un: :der many general Terms, that hea: venly Wisdom, which is the prin: :cipal Thing that good understand: :ing which they have who do Gods Commandments. & that hear of the Lord by wch. men depart from Evil These are One thing & if one thing needful as it is an uniform Course of right Action. Tho it runs thro' all the Branches of civil and religious Life, it is all consistent all of a piece - 'Tis one Steady princi :pal of Love and Obedience or Love influencing to obedience which reigns in the Subjects heart.

II It was proposed to consider or Show [Last line of page lost to wear]

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The One Thing Needful and here it was Said 'Tis needful in Order to our Sui: (1) :table Acknowledgement of God to whom we are indispensably bound. 'Tis neccessary in order to our test- (2.) :ifying that Love to & Jesus Which his Love manifested to Mankind calls for. 'Tis necessary for our own Comfort (3.) and for the Advantage of ManKind in the present Life. It is absolutely necessary in order (4.) to our future well being to our everlasting Happiness. It was proposed to Consider in ye 3d. Place (III) in what Sense this may be Said to be the only Thing needful Where it was premised. That it is not ab- (1) solutely so there are other Things wch. are in some Sense necessary, needful in a way of Subordinatious but it is the only thing needful compar (2.) itively speaking it is to be preferred to all other Cares and in Comparison of that one thing no:thing else is needful. The One Thing No proposed was, to Consider Worldly Cares and Concerns as (IV.) a great impediment to Religion and therefore not to be indulged The anxious Care and Sollicitude for or Concerning the Things of the world choke the Word and render it unfruitful - they clog the memory they engage the Affections and engage the principal Regard and Then they must needs be a great Impediment to [text lost] due Attendance

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upon the Service of Religion & if so They are not to be endulged We must not suffer ourselves to be anxiously careful nor be troubled with disquietude about the Ma :ny Things of ye present State wch might excite Such our Sollici :tude if readily yeilded to And this our present Busi, :ness farther to evince and may the Conviction have free Access unto our Minds; an abiding place there and constant Influ:ence upon our future Actions So We Should endeavour to resist and Suppress Such Cares as we regard the honours and glory of God GOD is a Being very jealous of his Honour and Glory. His Glory he will not give unto Another nor his Praise to graven Images nor hold them guiltless who regard the Creature more than esteem the Creator who is over all GOD blessed for evermore And Such anxious Cares about the Things of the World reflect Dishonour up:on God as they betray a distrust of Him who is ye great Superinten :Ant of the Universe and who has revealed Himself unto us under the Character of the Preserver of Man. The Man of Anxiety and Sollicitude about temporal affairs seems to forget (if he ever noticed) the words of y.h that We cannot by [Lahing?] Wish add one Cubit to our Stature and that the very hairs of our heads are all numbered

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He discovers his Unwillingness to commit his Way unto the Lord, and to put his Trust in Him he is either distrustful or unmind ful of divine Providence who is indulge.t to anxious Cares with Regard to things of the present State and to be either diffid.t or neglig.t in affronting unto God as it is (at least) as practical denials of his perfections of his Power of Wisdom, Goodness, Trust and Truthfulness, And we are especially bound to watch against every thing which reflects Disho= :nour upon God and implys a denial of that honour & Glory which is due unto his Name and if the Indulgence of Such worldly Care is So, 'tis not to be admitted admitted but guarded against & so it Should be {continually} put out of regards to our Selves. own own pre sent Comfort and our Soul's everlasting good. The Cares are very disquieting wearing and fret :ting to the Body vexing, perplexing and distracting to the Mind we have considered them as an Impedi ment to the important Business of Reli gion on our Attendances & regards to which depends the everlasting welfare of our precious and immortal Souls. and What is a man profited if he gains the whole world and looses his own Soul? Nothing at all. but he would be an Infinite Looser upon the Bal: :lance and certainly we should have a regards to these our better

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