3
November 1723 A.D. Samuel
Davies Born—Colonial Presbyterian Minister
Graves,
Dan. “Samuel Davies, Master Preacher.” Christianity.com. Jul 2007.
http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1701-1800/samuel-davies-master-speaker-11630205.html. Accessed 6 Jun 2014.
The masterful sermons of what American preacher
profoundly influenced Patrick Henry to become a great orator and patriot? What
American minister succeeded Jonathan Edwards as President of Princeton
University? The answer to both questions is Samuel Davies.
Samuel was born on this day, November 3, l723. Evidently, his Baptist
mother had difficulty conceiving, for years later Samuel wrote, "I am a
son of prayer, like my namesake Samuel the prophet; and my mother
called me Samuel because, she said, 'I have asked him of the
Lord...'" In that same letter, he remarked that "the most important
blessings of my life I have looked upon as immediate answers to the prayers of
a pious mother."
Davies was determined to make
life count for God. In l740, although Virginia's colonial government discriminated
against denominations other than the official Church of England, it gave Davies
a license to preach as a Presbyterian minister in four counties, and he used it
to promote tolerance for all denominations. The persuasive reasoning of Davies'
eloquent sermons electrified his audiences by combining Scripture with
practical teaching. The patriot orator, Patrick Henry frequently attended
Davies' services, and learned some of his eloquence from him.
Davies also regularly invited
three hundred slaves to his home on Saturday evenings--their only free time. He
taught them to read and to sing hymns, many of which he wrote himself. His
"Great God of Wonders" and other gospel songs are still found in
hymn-books.
Realizing the importance of
education, Davies helped found Princeton University, and was chosen its
president after Jonathan Edward's sudden death. Yet Davies, too, soon died--at
the early at age thirty-eight. Like the Old Testament prophet after whom he was
named, this eighteenth century Samuel dedicated his life to serving his God and
his country.
Bibliography:
2. Ninde, Edward S. The Story of the American Hymn. New
York: Abingdon, 1921.
3. Pilcher, George William. Samuel Davies; apostle of dissent in Colonial
Virginia. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1971.
4. Various encyclopedia and internet articles.
Last updated July,
2007.
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