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Robert Hawker
Robert Hawker (1753–1827) was an English preacher and Anglican priest whose powerful evangelical ministry earned him the nickname "Star of the West" in 18th- and early 19th-century Devon. Born in 1753 in Exeter, England, he was the son of Jacob Hawker, a surgeon. Initially trained in medicine under Samuel White in Plymouth and serving briefly as an assistant surgeon in the Royal Marines, Hawker shifted his path to theology. He entered Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1778, and was ordained in 1779. Appointed assistant curate at Charles Church, Plymouth, under John Bedford in 1778, he succeeded Bedford as vicar in 1784, a position he held until his death. In 1772, at age 19, he married Anna Rains, with whom he had eight children. Hawker’s preaching career was marked by his extemporaneous, high-Calvinist sermons, which drew thousands with their passion, biblical depth, and accessibility, often lasting 70 to 80 minutes and necessitating gallery expansions at Charles Church. Known for beginning services with spontaneous prayers—sometimes against clerical norms—he preached annually in London to packed congregations, reportedly impressing King George III, who handed him sermon texts moments before preaching. Beyond the pulpit, he launched one of the earliest Sunday School hymn books around 1787 and, in 1813, founded the Corpus Christi Society to aid distressed Christians across denominational lines. A prolific writer, his works like The Poor Man’s Morning Portion (1809) and Poor Man’s Commentary on the New Testament (1816) were priced affordably for the working class, reflecting his pastoral heart. During the 1809 fever outbreak in Plymouth, he and Anna tirelessly tended to sick soldiers, risking their own health.
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Robert Hawker preaches on the abundance of grace available to those who love the Lord Jesus Christ sincerely, urging believers to come before His throne with affection and love, knowing that Jesus has every grace suited to all needs - grace to pardon, save, renew, strengthen, and bless. He encourages souls to seek Jesus, the Lamb in the midst of the throne, who provides living waters for His church in glory and in the dry wilderness below. Hawker calls on believers to share the message that Jesus has abundant grace for all who come to Him in faith, emphasizing that His grace exceeds all perceptions, thoughts, prayers, praises, and desires.
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All Grace
JUNE 20. MORNING. "Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen." Ephesians 6:24 Do you, my soul, with the same affection and love as the apostle, bend your knee this morning before His throne, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth are named? Do you look up, and pray that all grace may abound? Oh what a delightful thought is it, my soul, to warm your affections, that in the moment you are waiting at the mercy-seat, thousands are waiting also for the morning blessing. Go then, my soul, and tell your Redeemer this; tell him that he has all desired grace, and that the eyes of his redeemed, as the eyes of one man, are all directed towards him. Yes, our glorious, rich, and gracious Saviour, we do behold you still as the Lamb in the midst of the throne, leading your church which is above in glory to fountains of living waters. And, Lord, we know that you are equally attentive to your church in the dry and barren wilderness here below, where no waters are. You have guaranteed, blessed Lord, to supply each soul. You have every grace, and all grace, suited to all wants; grace to pardon, grace to save, grace to renew, grace to strengthen, grace to bless. Oh Lord, awaken, convince, humble, comfort, and pour out of your fullness according to our individual necessities, in calling, cleansing, justifying, adopting, sanctifying, and building up your household, that all grace may abound, according to God's riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Oh you attendants at the heavenly gate, see that you come not away empty. Remember Jesus is on the throne; look on him there. Behold, the very grace you need is in his hand; read the love that is in his heart, and remember that he has not only the very grace you need, but every grace, and every mercy for all that wait upon him. Tell every poor sinner this, and bid him ask in faith, nothing doubting. Tell all you know, and all you meet, and all you see, that He who is on the throne has abundant grace, and wants vessels, the empty vessels of his people, to fill. Tell them that his grace exceeds all perceptions of grace, all thoughts, all prayers, all praises, all desires; nay, that he has exceeding abundantly above all that they can ask or think. Behold, then, O Lord, your children, your redeemed, your family, and let all grace be with all them, and upon all them that love you in sincerity. Amen.
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Robert Hawker (1753–1827) was an English preacher and Anglican priest whose powerful evangelical ministry earned him the nickname "Star of the West" in 18th- and early 19th-century Devon. Born in 1753 in Exeter, England, he was the son of Jacob Hawker, a surgeon. Initially trained in medicine under Samuel White in Plymouth and serving briefly as an assistant surgeon in the Royal Marines, Hawker shifted his path to theology. He entered Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1778, and was ordained in 1779. Appointed assistant curate at Charles Church, Plymouth, under John Bedford in 1778, he succeeded Bedford as vicar in 1784, a position he held until his death. In 1772, at age 19, he married Anna Rains, with whom he had eight children. Hawker’s preaching career was marked by his extemporaneous, high-Calvinist sermons, which drew thousands with their passion, biblical depth, and accessibility, often lasting 70 to 80 minutes and necessitating gallery expansions at Charles Church. Known for beginning services with spontaneous prayers—sometimes against clerical norms—he preached annually in London to packed congregations, reportedly impressing King George III, who handed him sermon texts moments before preaching. Beyond the pulpit, he launched one of the earliest Sunday School hymn books around 1787 and, in 1813, founded the Corpus Christi Society to aid distressed Christians across denominational lines. A prolific writer, his works like The Poor Man’s Morning Portion (1809) and Poor Man’s Commentary on the New Testament (1816) were priced affordably for the working class, reflecting his pastoral heart. During the 1809 fever outbreak in Plymouth, he and Anna tirelessly tended to sick soldiers, risking their own health.