Background
Samuel Blair was born on June 14, 1712, in Ulster, Ireland, the son of William Blair.
(The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration a...)
The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration and rapidly growing technology and expanding record-keeping made possible by advances in the printing press. In its determination to preserve the century of revolution, Gale initiated a revolution of its own: digitization of epic proportions to preserve these invaluable works in the largest archive of its kind. Now for the first time these high-quality digital copies of original 18th century manuscripts are available in print, making them highly accessible to libraries, undergraduate students, and independent scholars. The Age of Enlightenment profoundly enriched religious and philosophical understanding and continues to influence present-day thinking. Works collected here include masterpieces by David Hume, Immanuel Kant, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, as well as religious sermons and moral debates on the issues of the day, such as the slave trade. The Age of Reason saw conflict between Protestantism and Catholicism transformed into one between faith and logic -- a debate that continues in the twenty-first century. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition identification: ++++ British Library W006691 Dated on p. 7, 1st count: New-Londonderry, April 1. 1743. Philadelphia : Printed by W. Bradford, at the Sign of the Bible in Second-Street, 1743. 7,1,40p. ; 8°
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Samuel Blair was born on June 14, 1712, in Ulster, Ireland, the son of William Blair.
Blair came to America in early youth and was drawn into the movement headed by William Tennent for a broader and more aggressive evangelicalism in the young Presbyterian Church. With Tennent's four sons and a few other young men of talent and devotion Samuel entered the academy at Neshaminy, near Philadelphia, founded by Tennent for the education of ministers and nicknamed by his critics the "Log College" because of its crude domicile and equipment.
Blair was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Philadelphia at the early age of twenty-one, November 9, 1733, and in the following year was settled as pastor of the double charge consisting of the churches at Middletown and Shrewsbury, New Jersey. While occupying these pulpits he joined with some others in the organization of the Presbytery of New Brunswick (1738). His success as a preacher called attention to him and he was invited to the leadership of the more important work at New Londonderry, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He began his labors here in 1739 and was installed in 1740. During his ministry of twelve years in this field, he threw himself into a number of enterprises of importance. First of all, in addition to his pastoral labors he conducted a rudimentary theological seminary. Among his pupils some came to prominence and leadership in the church, notably Samuel Davies, successor to Jonathan Edwards in the presidency of the College of New Jersey (Princeton), and John Rodgers, first moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.
In 1740 the evangelistic fervor aroused by George Whitefield's visit and preaching in America reached Blair's parish and found him ready to place himself in the forefront of the movement. His gifts as a preacher made his pulpit one of the conspicuous centers of the revival. When Whitefield's manner became the subject of criticism and controversy, Blair was called upon to take part in the defense of the movement. In this work he had the cooperation of his old fellow-student, Gilbert Tennent. The struggle became acute and from the mere defense of the revival Tennent and Blair assumed an aggressive attitude, bringing before the Synod of 1740 charges against the ministry of negligence in the performance of their duties and of lack of interest in their spiritual functions. On being challenged to produce their evidence they were obliged to confess that they had not based their charges upon adequate investigations. In the division of the Presbyterian Church which resulted from this controversy, Blair, like all the other followers of Tennent, went with the "New Side" (Synod of New York), became its chief spokesman, and wrote its declaration of principles.
(The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration a...)
Blair is described as "grave and solemn, yet cheerful, pleasant, and witty. "