What do you think?
Letters to Young Men: Founded on the History of Joseph
This is a reproduction of the original artefact. Generally these books are created from careful scans of the original. This allows us to preserve the book accurately and present it in the way the author intended. Since the original versions are generally quite old, there may occasionally be certain imperfections within these reproductions. We're happy to make these classics available again for future generations to enjoy!
300 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2007
About the author
W.B. Sprague
569 books5 followersWilliam Buell Sprague (October 16, 1795 Andover, Connecticut - May 7, 1876 Flushing, New York) was an American Congregational and Presbyterian clergyman and compiler of Annals of the American Pulpit (nine volumes, 1857–1869), a comprehensive biographical dictionary of the leading American Protestant Christian ministers who died before 1850.
He was educated at Yale under Timothy Dwight IV, graduating in 1815, then studied at Princeton Theological Seminary under Dr. Archibald Alexander. He became assistant to Rev. Joseph Lathrop at the West Springfield, Massachusetts, Congregational church in 1819. The following year, when Lathrop died after sixty years as pastor there, Sprague became senior minister and served there nine more years. Thereafter, he accepted a call to pastor the Second Presbyterian Church, Albany, New York, where Edward Norris Kirk had been an assistant, and where Sprague ministered for forty years. Sprague wrote numerous books, including Lives of Rev. Edward Dorr Griffin, D. D, (1838), Timothy Dwight (1845), and Rev. Jedidiah Morse (1874), his greatest contribution to literature being his Annals of the American Pulpit, an invaluable compilation of Trinitarian Congregationalist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Unitarian Congregationalist, and other biographies. Although no edition of his collected works ever was published, Sprague's published individual sermons, discourses, and addresses in pamphlet form exceed 150 in number.
Sprague was also a collector of historical documents and pamphlets and became the first person ever to gather a complete set of the autographs of the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence. He completed this task by February, 1833, according to correspondence with friend Jared Sparks at about that time. He also gathered a collection of the signatures of all of the members of the Convention which framed the Constitution of the United States in 1787, and a complete set of the autographs of the Presidents of the United States and all the officers of the United States government during the administrations of Presidents Washington, John Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and John Quincy Adams. This latter collection included signatures of the Presidents, Vice Presidents, all the members of the President’s Cabinet, and all of the Justices of the United States Supreme Court and all of the foreign ministers. Further, he collected the signatures of all the military officers involved in the American revolutionary war, from all nations, during the whole war. He collected signatures of great men of the Reformation and great skeptics. He even owned a copy of the autograph of Saint Augustine. He was America's foremost philographer by the time of his death. His autographs, numbering nearly 100,000, probably the largest private collection in the world at that time, were left to his son.
He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1846.
He was married three times and left a number of children. After his retirement from the Albany pulpit in 1870 he and his wife lived with his son Edward Everett Sprague, a lawyer, in Flushing, New York, where he died in 1876. He was buried in Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.
He was educated at Yale under Timothy Dwight IV, graduating in 1815, then studied at Princeton Theological Seminary under Dr. Archibald Alexander. He became assistant to Rev. Joseph Lathrop at the West Springfield, Massachusetts, Congregational church in 1819. The following year, when Lathrop died after sixty years as pastor there, Sprague became senior minister and served there nine more years. Thereafter, he accepted a call to pastor the Second Presbyterian Church, Albany, New York, where Edward Norris Kirk had been an assistant, and where Sprague ministered for forty years. Sprague wrote numerous books, including Lives of Rev. Edward Dorr Griffin, D. D, (1838), Timothy Dwight (1845), and Rev. Jedidiah Morse (1874), his greatest contribution to literature being his Annals of the American Pulpit, an invaluable compilation of Trinitarian Congregationalist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Unitarian Congregationalist, and other biographies. Although no edition of his collected works ever was published, Sprague's published individual sermons, discourses, and addresses in pamphlet form exceed 150 in number.
Sprague was also a collector of historical documents and pamphlets and became the first person ever to gather a complete set of the autographs of the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence. He completed this task by February, 1833, according to correspondence with friend Jared Sparks at about that time. He also gathered a collection of the signatures of all of the members of the Convention which framed the Constitution of the United States in 1787, and a complete set of the autographs of the Presidents of the United States and all the officers of the United States government during the administrations of Presidents Washington, John Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and John Quincy Adams. This latter collection included signatures of the Presidents, Vice Presidents, all the members of the President’s Cabinet, and all of the Justices of the United States Supreme Court and all of the foreign ministers. Further, he collected the signatures of all the military officers involved in the American revolutionary war, from all nations, during the whole war. He collected signatures of great men of the Reformation and great skeptics. He even owned a copy of the autograph of Saint Augustine. He was America's foremost philographer by the time of his death. His autographs, numbering nearly 100,000, probably the largest private collection in the world at that time, were left to his son.
He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1846.
He was married three times and left a number of children. After his retirement from the Albany pulpit in 1870 he and his wife lived with his son Edward Everett Sprague, a lawyer, in Flushing, New York, where he died in 1876. He was buried in Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 5, 2026
Based on the life of Joseph, the book is composed of 21 letters that outline the dangers to young men, the character young men ought to aspire to, and the blessings young men can obtain through faithful Christian virtues. Very good, practical work that balances promises and grace with commands and exhortations. Live a life of virtue under God’s care!
April 18, 2023
Probably going to the front of the list for “graduation gifts for guys”, if for no other reason than the first seven letters, grouped under the title, “Sources of Danger to Young Men.” Topics and practical concerns more parents SHOULD address with their kids before launching them off into the heathen world, yet for some reason most parents seem to think regular church attendance and following the rules while under Dad and Mom’s roof are a good enough preparation for the temptations that will fly at young adults left and right when they leave the protective barrier of hearth and home. If you don’t take time to consider these upcoming differences, identify where solo-flight Christian faith is likely to be challenged, you’re setting youngsters up to be caught off guard and enticed/ripped from the faith of their youth.
October 1, 2026
This was a perfect book on how to live your life.Sex,dominance,godly living,it covers it all.This book was written 200 hundred years ago and its amazing how much it still relates today.
The history of Joseph and its annologies to it helped guide through the whole book.Would recommend
The history of Joseph and its annologies to it helped guide through the whole book.Would recommend
October 21, 2025
If you can adjust to the older English, this book will very plainly and eloquently guard young men from the dangers that await, explain the exemplary character of Joseph, and display the glory we can give God through our adherence to these pursuits.
February 17, 2012
Sprague is always solid and readable. These letters cover a vast range of characteristics that ought to be cultivated in young Christian men.
Loved it.
Favourite part: the chapter on dignity.
Loved it.
Favourite part: the chapter on dignity.
January 5, 2014
Read and had my sons read when they were younger. Much here to learn and practice, although a bit on the legal side regarding much of the application.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews