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William Plumer

William Plumer

2 Sermons

William Swan Plumer (July 26, 1802 – October 22, 1880) was an American preacher, theologian, and author whose intellectual leadership within the Presbyterian Church shaped 19th-century American evangelicalism. Born in Greersburg (now Darlington), Pennsylvania, to William Plumer and Catharine McAlester, he grew up in a frontier family of modest means. After graduating from Washington College (now Washington & Lee University) in Virginia in 1825, he studied at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Brunswick in 1826 and ordained as an evangelist by Orange Presbytery in 1827. Marrying Eliza Garden Hassell in 1829, he began a ministry that spanned over 50 years, fathering two daughters who survived him. Plumer’s preaching career included significant pastorates: First Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia (1834–1846), where he founded The Watchman of the South newspaper; Franklin Street Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland (1847–1854); Central Presbyterian Church in Allegheny, Pennsylvania (1854–1862), alongside teaching at Western Theological Seminary; and shorter terms in Philadelphia and Pottsville. Known for his plain yet profound sermons, he moderated the Presbyterian General Assembly in 1838 (Old School) and 1871 (Southern branch), advocating Old School theology amid denominational splits. His refusal to take a Union stance during the Civil War—praying only for peace, not victory—branded him a “traitor” in the North, prompting his move south in 1867 to teach at Columbia Theological Seminary in South Carolina until 1880, as Professor of Didactic, Polemic, and Pastoral Theology.

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Job's Trials and Mercies

JOB 1:20JOB 13:15JOB 19:25JOB 29:8JOB 29:21JOB 29:25JOB 42:10PRO 18:19ISA 41:10MAT 16:23

William Plumer preaches on the profound story of Job, highlighting his unwavering faith and patience amidst extreme suffering and loss. Job, a man of great piety and wealth, faced unimaginable afflictions, losing his possessions, children, and enduring painful physical ailments. Despite the misguided accusations of his friends and the lack of sensible religious comfort, Job remained steadfast in his trust in God, setting a remarkable example of patience and submission. Ultimately, after fervent prayer for his friends, God restored Job's fortunes twofold, blessing him with even greater prosperity and a long, good life.

Christ a Physician

ISA 1:6

William Plumer, an American Presbyterian minister, delves into the metaphor of sin as a disease and God, particularly Christ, as the Physician in his book 'The Rock of our Salvation.' Sin is portrayed as a dreadful, universal, hereditary, and perpetual disease that corrupts human nature entirely. Plumer emphasizes that sin is the worst disease, as it leads to spiritual death and eternal damnation. However, he offers hope by highlighting the remedy for sin found in the work and death of Christ, who justifies and sanctifies believers, reconciling them to God. Plumer describes Jesus Christ as a tender, approachable, and skilled Physician who is always ready to heal sin-sick souls without charge, showcasing his love, wisdom, and efficacy in saving even the chief of sinners.