Very fine 23pp unpublished MSs sermon by William Ramsay [1731-1771] on James 1.18, "Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. . . " 

He graduated Princeton, 1754, and was ordained 1756 to the Presbyterian church at Fairfield, Connecticut. Charles Beatty preached the ordination sermon [which was published], Double Honour Due the Laborious Gospel Minister. He was a zealous American patriot and earnest divine. At his decease, a eulogy by Jonathan Elmer was published, as also a funeral sermon, Slothfulness Reproved, by Enoch Green. 

Historians relate that he was particularly interested in the mentorship of young men in Fairfield and note that he had a personal, deep formative effect on a whole host of Revolutionary War heroes [1880, The Old Stone Church]. 

William's brother was the famous American physician historian, and twice Representative from South Carolina to the Continental Congress, David Ramsay [1749-1815]. He is considered one of the most significant historians of the American Revolution. He was murdered by one of his patients, who was mentally ill, and goes down in history as the first American politician to be assassinated. 

23 pages, very good condition, legible, with minor stains and chipping not impeding onto text. An earnest and deeply spiritual sermon.