The Glory of Grace Effected by Weak Means Being the Substance of a Sermon, Preached on the Death of Samuel Church, Aged Twelve Years. On Sunday Evening, April 14, 1822, by J. Church, at the Surrey Tabernacle.

"The Glory of Grace Effected by Weak Means" by J. Church is a sermon delivered in the early 19th century, specifically in 1822. This religious discourse centers around themes of divine grace and the salvation of children, particularly focusing on the life and death of Samuel Church, the author's son. It intertwines theological principles with personal reflection, emphasizing the wonder of God's workings through seemingly weak vessels. The sermon explores the profound truth that God's glory can be revealed through the faith and experiences of children, using biblical narratives and theological insights to illustrate this. Church reflects on the trials faced by his son during his short life, his spiritual awareness, and his final moments, highlighting Samuel's expressions of hope, assurance, and desire for divine grace. The narrative serves both as a eulogy and an affirmation of Christian faith, ultimately conveying a message of hope and eternal salvation through grace, which resonates deeply with the audience. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

John Church was an Independent minister who was most famous for his involvement in the homosexual scandal of the Vere Street Coterie. He is claimed by some as the first openly ‘gay’ ordained Christian minister in England. Contemporary rumours about this are unproveable one way or the other, though circumstantial evidence may suggest that his "inordinate affections which led me into error" could be referring to homosexuality.