Laurence Sterne

Laurence Sterne

Laurence Sterne was an Irish novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He is best known for his novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy; but he also published many sermons, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics...

was an Anglican clergy

Clergy

Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....

man. In that position he delivered many sermon

Sermon

A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...

s. Early in his career, he decided to publish his sermons. At first, only two were published. Sterne later parodied sermon writing in his novel, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman is a novel by Laurence Sterne. It was published in nine volumes, the first two appearing in 1759, and seven others following over the next 10 years....

along with adding semi-serious sermons directly into the text. Throughout his career, Sterne continued to preach and collect his own sermons.

There are 45 recorded sermons, 3 of which are extensions of a previously-discussed topic. Two editions of his sermons were published during his life, and these works outsold all his other works and were the source for much of his fame. These editions were published under Sterne's pseudonym, "Mr. Yorick".

Case of Hezekiah and the Messengers

On 25 March 1764, Sterne delivered a sermon in Paris that was important to Anglo-French relations. The sermon was first printed in Sermons of Mr Yorick Vol. III (1766) with edits and changes to various parts of the text, but was mis-attributed as having been delivered in 1763. This sermon was not notable for its content per se, but for its being given on the opening of the English embassy in Paris at the end of the Seven Years' War

Seven Years' War

The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...

.

The opening of the sermon, a summation of 2 Kings 20:13-17, surprised and shocked many guests, because the passage was viewed as an insult to the embassy's hosts, Lord and Lady Hertford. However, Lord Hertford reacted kindly and thanked Sterne for the sermon. Laurence later rewrote passages of the sermon.

The sermon was written in order to appeal to an audience of mixed religious beliefs. Those like David Hume

David Hume

David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...

 and Diderot were in attendance, and Sterne had joked that the sermon would convert the French from "deism to Shandeism". Regardless, the basis of the sermon was to promote the idea that humans are basically good.

Sermons

According to the 1851 collection of sermons, the complete existing sermons are:

• "Inquiry after Happiness"
• "The House of Feasting and the House of Mourning considered"
• "Philanthropy Recommended"
• "Self-Knowledge"
• "Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath"
• "Pharisee and Publican in the Temple"
• "Vindication of Human Nature"
• "Time and Chance"
• "The Character of Herod"
• "The Shortness and Troubles of Life"
• "Evil-Speaking"
• "Joseph's History considered; - Forgiveness of Injuries"
• "Duty of setting Bounds to our Desires"
• "Self-Examination"
• "Job's Expostulation with his wife"
• "The Character of Shimei"
• "Case of Hezekiah and the Messengers"
• "The Levite and his Concubine"
• "Felix's Behavior towards Paul"
• "The Prodigal Son"
• "National Mercies considered"
• "The History of Jacob considered"
• "Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus"
• "Pride"
• "Humility"
• "Advantages of Christianity to the world"
• "The Abuses of Conscience considered"
• "Temporal advantages of Religion"
• "Our Conversation in Heaven"
• "Description of the World"
• "St. Peter's Character"
• "Thirtieth of January"
• - the above continued
• "Trust in God"
• - the above continued
• "Sanctity of the Apostles"
• "Penances"
• "On Enthusiasm"
• "Eternal Advantages of Religion"
• "Asa. - A Thanksgiving Sermon"
• "Follow Peace"
• "Search the Scriptures"
• - the above continued
• "The Ways of Providence justified unto Man"
• "The Ingratitude of Israel"

Composition

Each of the sermons begins with a scripture quotation that deals with the theme of the sermon.

Reception

Thomas Gray

Thomas Gray

Thomas Gray was a poet, letter-writer, classical scholar and professor at Cambridge University.-Early life and education:...

 wrote: "Have you read his 'Sermons,' with his own comic figure, from a painting by Reynolds, at the head of them? They are in the style I think most proper for the pulpit, and show a strong imagination and a sensible heart; but you see him often tottering on the verge of laughter, and ready to throw his periwig in the face of the audience." 22 June 1760

William Makepeace Thackeray

William Makepeace Thackeray

William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society.-Biography:...

 claimed that Sterne, as a writer of comedy and sermons, was "more than rival of the Dean of St. Patrick's", referring to Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...

.

External links

• Text of "The Case of Hezekiah and the Messengers" sermon