Edward Payson

Edward Payson

130 Sermons
Edward Payson (1783 - 1827). American Congregationalist pastor and revivalist born in Rindge, New Hampshire, to a Puritan minister’s family. Graduating from Harvard in 1803, he taught school before studying theology under his father, Seth Payson. Ordained in 1807, he pastored Second Congregational Church in Portland, Maine, for 20 years, growing it from 70 to over 400 members. Known as “Praying Payson,” his intense prayer life fueled the 1816 revival, converting hundreds. He delivered over 2,000 sermons, published posthumously as Sermons for Christian Families (1831), emphasizing God’s sovereignty and personal piety. A leader in Maine’s evangelical awakening, he influenced missions through the American Board. Married to Ann Louisa Shipman in 1811, they had eight children, six surviving. Despite chronic illness, his devotional writings reached thousands, translated into French and German. Payson’s words, “Prayer is the first thing, the second thing, the third thing necessary to a minister,” defined his ministry. His memoirs, edited by Asa Cummings, remain a classic in Reformed circles, inspiring figures like Charles Spurgeon.
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