Sermons
By Hugh Blair
Includes Volumes 2, 4 & 5 of Original 5 Volume Set
Published For T. Cadell and W. Davies: London 1803, 1804 & 1805
Original Leather & Gilt Bindings
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Hugh Blair's Sermons enjoyed extraordinary popularity in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, reflecting the author's reputation as one of Scotland's most eloquent divines and a leading figure of the Scottish Enlightenment. As a Minister of the High Church of Edinburgh and Professor of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres at the University of Edinburgh, Blair brought literary polish and moral clarity to the pulpit, shaping a style of preaching that was both intellectually refined and spiritually accessible. His sermons emphasise practical morality, virtue, taste, and rational Christianity, qualities that ensured their wide readership across Britain and beyond.
The present volumes—II, IV, and V of the original five-volume set—were published in London by T. Cadell and W. Davies between 1803 and 1805, during a period when Blair's works were frequently reprinted to meet sustained demand. These later editions testify to the enduring influence of his preaching, which appealed not only to clergy but also to educated lay readers seeking thoughtful religious instruction expressed in elegant prose. Blair's measured tone and polished rhetoric place these sermons firmly within the cultured Anglican and Presbyterian devotional tradition of the era.
Bound in original leather with gilt tooling and contrasting spine labels, these volumes present a dignified early nineteenth-century appearance, with attractive panelled spines and decorative gilt detail. Though incomplete as a set, they remain a handsome and historically significant grouping, representing one of the most widely read sermon collections of its time. They will appeal to collectors of theological works, Scottish Enlightenment literature, and finely bound Georgian devotional books."
Light wear and fading to covers and spines as shown. No inscriptions. One page sits proud of the text block otherwise binding in general is excellent with no loose pages. Pages clean and well presented with subtle age toning. A nice 3 volume collection in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
