- Home
- Speakers
- John Henry Jowett
- The Lust Of The Eye
John Henry Jowett
John Henry Jowett (1864–1923) was an English preacher and Congregationalist minister whose eloquent sermons and devotional writings earned him a reputation as one of the early 20th century’s most gifted pulpit orators. Born in Halifax, Yorkshire, to a working-class family—his father, Joseph, a tailor, and his mother, Sarah, a devout Christian—he grew up in a religious home and excelled academically at Airedale College and Edinburgh University, where he trained for ministry. Ordained in 1889, he began his career at St. James’s Congregational Church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, serving until 1895, when he succeeded R.W. Dale at Carr’s Lane Chapel in Birmingham, a post he held for 16 years. Married to Mary Jane Langhorne in 1891, with whom he had no children, Jowett’s personal warmth and intellectual depth fueled his pastoral work. Jowett’s ministry reached its zenith in the United States and London, where his preaching drew widespread acclaim—Charles Haddon Spurgeon reportedly called him a successor in spirit. In 1911, he accepted a call to Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, serving until 1918, captivating American audiences with his poetic style and emphasis on Christ’s transformative power. Returning to England, he ministered at Westminster Chapel in London from 1918 until ill health forced his retirement in 1922. Author of over 30 books, including The Passion for Souls and The Preacher: His Life and Work (from his 1912 Yale lectures), Jowett blended mysticism with practical faith. He died in 1923 in London, leaving a legacy as a preacher whose lyrical voice and spiritual insight inspired congregations across two continents.
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
John Henry Jowett contrasts the choices of Lot and Abram in Genesis 13:10-18, highlighting Lot's worldly perspective focused on material gain and self-interest, leading him to overlook the sinful city of Sodom, which ultimately brought his downfall. In contrast, Abram's calm and God-centered approach prioritized peace and fellowship over personal gain, leading him to experience God's blessings and companionship along the unselfish path.
The Lust of the Eye
GENESIS xiii. 10-18. Look at Lot. He was a man of the world, sharp as a needle, having an eye to the main chance. He boasted to himself that he always "took in the whole situation." He said that what he did not know was not worth knowing. But such "knowing" men have always very imperfect sight. Lot saw "all the well-watered plain of Jordan," but he overlooked the city of Sodom and its exceedingly wicked and sinful people. And the thing he overlooked was the biggest thing in the outlook! It was to prove his undoing, and to bring his presumptuous selfishness to the ground. Look at Abram. His spirit was cool and thoughtful, unheated by the feverish yearning after increased possessions. He had a "quiet eye," the fruit of his faithful communion with God. He was more intent on peace than plenty. He preferred fraternal fellowship to selfish increase. And so he chose the unselfish way, and along that way he discovered the blessing of God. "The Lord is mindful of His own. He remembereth His children." In the unselfish way we always enjoy the Divine companionship, and in that companionship we are endowed with inconceivable wealth.
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download
John Henry Jowett (1864–1923) was an English preacher and Congregationalist minister whose eloquent sermons and devotional writings earned him a reputation as one of the early 20th century’s most gifted pulpit orators. Born in Halifax, Yorkshire, to a working-class family—his father, Joseph, a tailor, and his mother, Sarah, a devout Christian—he grew up in a religious home and excelled academically at Airedale College and Edinburgh University, where he trained for ministry. Ordained in 1889, he began his career at St. James’s Congregational Church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, serving until 1895, when he succeeded R.W. Dale at Carr’s Lane Chapel in Birmingham, a post he held for 16 years. Married to Mary Jane Langhorne in 1891, with whom he had no children, Jowett’s personal warmth and intellectual depth fueled his pastoral work. Jowett’s ministry reached its zenith in the United States and London, where his preaching drew widespread acclaim—Charles Haddon Spurgeon reportedly called him a successor in spirit. In 1911, he accepted a call to Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, serving until 1918, captivating American audiences with his poetic style and emphasis on Christ’s transformative power. Returning to England, he ministered at Westminster Chapel in London from 1918 until ill health forced his retirement in 1922. Author of over 30 books, including The Passion for Souls and The Preacher: His Life and Work (from his 1912 Yale lectures), Jowett blended mysticism with practical faith. He died in 1923 in London, leaving a legacy as a preacher whose lyrical voice and spiritual insight inspired congregations across two continents.