James Archer sermons
The collection consists of 82 sermons written for Sundays, religious holidays, and as inducements into the religious profession. Only one sermon is dated (1788) although the watermarks on the paper run as late as 1826. The sermons are of varying length but generally run about 12 pages long. For a list of titles of the sermons see the following container list. The text of the sermons contain many corrections and revisions and appear to be intended for delivery rather than for publication although two, item 66 and item 70 in the container list appear exactly as printed in Archers published work Sermons on various Moral and Religious Subjects for All the Sundays and some of the Principal Festivals of the Year, London, 1817. The sermons reveal to the scholar the style and content of a popular English Catholic priest during the period of Roman Catholic persecution in England. Lacking dates the collection remains in the same order in which it was received. The scholar will have to decide if the order is significant.
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A Discourse on the Religious State; John 6:15
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon discusses the ways in which women who choose to join a religious order must isolate themselves from the world in order to achieve a truly religious spirit. -
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A Profession Discourse; Luke 9:23
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon addresses the importance of self-denial for women seeking a religious profession, emphasizing that self-denial prevents one from falling victim to religious enemies, and explaining that entering into a religious life is the best form of religious penance. -
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A Sermon for the 4th Sunday after Pentecost; Luke 5:8
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon examines the virtue of humility, explaining what true humility consists of, outlining methods by which one can become humble, and emphasizing the importance of humility in gaining salvation. -
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A Discourse for Trinity Sunday; Matthew 28:19-20
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon addresses the Holy Trinity, being the Father, Son, and holy ghost. -
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A Discourse for the Religious Profession; Canticles 2:16
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon celebrates the choice of a woman to join a religious order and denounce worldly possessions and vocations. -
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A Discourse for the 3rd Sunday of Lent; John 20:23
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon examines the importance of confession, explaining that the confession of one's sins in their entirety is necessary to receive forgiveness from God, and demonstrating the proper practice of confession. -
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Discourse for the 1st Sunday of Lent; Matthew 1:4
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon celebrates the manner in which Jesus Christ could understand the word of God, describing different calamities and symbols and their significance in the bible. -
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Sermon for the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost; Matthew 22:21
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon examines the sin of theft, explaining the different kinds of theft and injustice, and the obligation and conditions of restoration for theft. -
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A Discourse for the 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany; Matthew 8:1-2
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon addresses the importance of truthful prayer, emphasizing that sinners who have the intent on sinning again disgrace the practice of prayer. -
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On Christmas Eve; Luke 2:10. Bruges 1789
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon addresses the humble birth of Jesus, emphasizing the importance of virtuous humility and revering Jesus's love for humanity. -
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A Sermon for Quinquagesima Sunday; Luke 18:34
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon addresses the linked concpets of Ignorance and False Conscience, cautioning against the desire to seek knowledge of the eternal when it has not been permitted for you to know. -
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A Discourse for a Religious Profession; Psalms 83:1-2
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon discusses the temptations that lead christians away from God, advising how women who seek a religious profession can avoid these temptations and revering their choice to enter into a religious profession. -
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For the Second Sunday of Lent, "On Contrition;" John 26:23
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon discusses the aspects of the sacrament of penance, contrition and confession, as they should be undertaken during Lent. -
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A Sermon for the first Sunday of Lent; Matthew 4:1
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon seeks to instruct Christians on the proper way to embody a true and whole love for God as has been commanded. -
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A Sermon for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost; Matthew 22-37
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon celebrates the love God has for humanity, describing the oath christians have to love God and the manners in which christians should practice their love toward God with prayer being an example. -
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A Sermon for the Feast of All Souls; Jeremiah 1:12
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon explains Purgatory, describing the horrors of purgatory and the obligations and interests christians should have in aiding souls that reside in purgatory. -
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A Discourse for a Religious Profession; Deuteronomy; 26:17-18
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon celebrates the choice of a woman to join a religious order, fully dedicating herself to God, and presents her as an example of the perfected child of God. -
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A Clothing Discourse; no verse [Draft]
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon celebrates the transition of a group of women to join a religious order, outlining the virtues of such a choice and the level of dedication to Christ that is needed to undertake such a spiritual journey. -
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Untitled; Matthew 22:39
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon addresses the importance of loving one's neighbor, explaining why God asks us to love our neighbors and the qualities of a healthy love for one's neighbors. -
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Third of three short discourses, all untitled, concerning candidates for a religious profession
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon addresses the importance of renouncing wordly pleasures in order to enter the religious state, emphasizing that one seeking a religious profession must look to their instructors to learn about spiritual mysteries. -
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Second of three short discourses, all untitled, concerning candidates for a religious profession
Archer, James, 1751-1834This sermon addresses the blessings God has conferred on his followers, describing the Jubilee and the forgiveness of debts.