William Gadsby

William Gadsby (1773-1844) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher, writer and philanthropist. For thirty-nine years served as pastor for the church meeting at Black Lane, Manchester.

William Gadsby Sermons (Complete)
William Gadsby Hymns
William Gadsby, Perfect Law Of Liberty (Complete)
William Gadsby's Catechism (Complete)
William Gadsby's Dialogues
William Gadsby's Fragments (Complete)
William Gadsby's Letters (Complete)

  • William Gadsby's Catechism (Complete)

    Gadsby’s Catechism: Preface

    William Gadsby loved children which led him to become a strong proponent of Sunday Schools. However, he abhorred the custom of parents and teachers training up children to believe they were Christians without having actually experienced the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Although he generally assented to the Baptist Catechism (written by Benjamin Keach and published in 1677), he felt there were answers which misled the unbeliever. Gadsby gave an example of this by referring to the 38th question: “What is adoption? Adoption is an act of God's free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.” He then asserted: “Here the child is taught to consider itself a child of…

  • William Gadsby's Catechism (Complete)

    Gadsby’s Catechism

    Q. 1. Who is the only self-existent Being? A. God is the only self-existent Being. (Ex 3:14; Ps 90:2; Is 45:5, 22; Jn 8:58) Q. 2. Ought everyone to believe that there is a God? A. Everyone ought to believe that there is a God, and it is their great sin and folly who do not. (Ps 9:17; Ecc 12:13; Mk 16:16; Jn 8:24 & 16:8-9; 2 Thess 2:11-12) Q. 3. How may we know that there is a God? A. The works of creation and providence plainly declare that there is a God, but His Word and Spirit only do it effectually to the salvation of His people. (Job 38 & 39; Ps 19; Jn 16:8-14 & 17:8; 1 Cor 2:10) Q. 4. What…

  • William Gadsby Sermons (Complete)

    Preface

    It is one of the griefs of my life that I had not more of my dear father's sermons taken down. It is true that in his day sermon reporting did not flourish as it did afterwards. With two or three exceptions, none of his sermons in Manchester were ever reported. A few “Scraps” I took down in 1835 and one or two following years; and that was nearly all. When he visited London, Mr. Justins, Mr. Paul, and others took a few; and all these I have, excepting one from Isaiah 63:1, which I once had, and for which, as is well known, I have offered £5; but it is not to be had. Thinking I could easily meet with another copy, I sent…

  • William Gadsby Sermons (Complete)

    Contents

    1 God In Our Nature (Matt 1:23) 2 Comfort For Spiritual Mourners (Matt 5:4) 3 Hungering And Thirsting After Righteousness (Matt 5:6) 4 The Pure In Heart (Matt 5:8) 5 Nature And Design Of The Marriage Union (Matt 5:32) 6 Going From Jerusalem To Jericho (Lk 10:30-35) 7 The Publican's Prayer (Lk 18:12) 8 The Fall Of Peter (Lk 22:51-62) 9 On Christian Liberty (Jn 8:36) 10 The Church Commended to the Word of God's Grace (Acts 20:32) 11 The Love Of God (Rom 5:5) 12 The Soul's Death unto Sin (Rom 6:7) 13 Sanctification in Christ (1 Cor 1:2) 14 The Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:28) 15 Another (1 Cor 12:13) 16 Christ And His Church, One (1 Cor 12:18) 17 The Body Sown…

  • William Gadsby Sermons (Complete)

    1. God In Our Nature

    “God with us.”—Matthew 1:23 There will be such a mystery unfolded, in “God in our nature,” as will fill the church of God with immortal wonder for ever and ever. When Christ speaks of it, he says, “Father, I pray for them; I pray not for the world, but for them which thou has given me; for they are thine,” and “that they may be one in us.” This blessed Redeemer, this Person of the Son, takes our nature, and is “God with us.” I believe that our blessed Christ really took soul and body, the whole of humanity. He was “God with us” in his weakness; “God with us” in his conflicts; “God with us” in his victories; “God with us” in his exaltation;…

  • William Gadsby Sermons (Complete)

    2. Comfort For Spiritual Mourners

    “Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.”—Matthew 5:4 Not all kinds of mourners are here intended; for there is the sorrow of the world, which worketh death and produces nothing but sin, misery, and rebellion against God. Some mourn because they cannot increase in riches, honours, and pleasures; but there is no Messing promised to them. The mourners which God has pronounced blessed are such as mourn over themselves and after God. 'The Lord's spiritual mourners mourn over their sinfulness and wretchedness, as sinners against a holy, righteous, good, and kind God. The filth and corruption of their fallen nature give them real grief and pain of heart. Its daily bubblings and risings up are a real plague to them. They are…