THE

WORKS

of the

REV. JOHN WITHERSPOON, d. d. l. l. d.

late president of the college at princeton, new-jersey

to which is prefixed

An Account of the Author’s Life, in a Sermon occasioned by his Death,

by the Rev. Dr. JOHN RODGERS,

of New York

In FOUR VOLUMES.—Vols. I–IV

second edition, revised and corrected

PHILADELPHIA:

Published by William W. Woodward,

No. 52, South Second Street

1802

[Copy Right Secured.]

Volume 1

RECOMMENDATIONS

Philadelphia, July 26th, 1799.

Dr. WITHERSPOON’s character as a writer is so highly and deservedly esteemed by all the friends of Evangelical truth, who have been acquainted with his publications, that it is presumed to be superfluous to solicit their patronage by any commendation of the work now proposed for publication. To those who have not been favoured with the perusal of the Doctor’s Sermons and Essays, the subscriber takes the liberty to observe, that their merit is superior to their praise.

JOHN B. SMITH, Minister of the Third Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia.

Philadelphia, July 30th, 1799.

SIR,

IT has given me much pleasure to hear that you are about to publish an edition of the works of the late Dr. Witherspoon. I know not how you could do a greater service to the public than by this undertaking; and I sincerely hope you may find it advantageous to yourself. In all the Doctor’s tracts there is manifest that closeness and clearness of thought, that acuteness of discernment and accuracy of discrimination, that faculty of separating the matter discussed from every thing extraneous, that constant attention to radical principles, and systematic consistency, that lucid order, and that power of presenting his whole subject in the most striking and impressive manner to the mind of the reader, which distinguish the writer of penetration and comprehensive views. His style is uniformly simple and nervous—perfectly intelligible to those who have not had the advantages of education, and yet pleasing to those whose taste is the most cultivated and correct. The Doctor has given specimens of talent as a critic, a satyrist and a politician, which demonstrate that he might have attained high eminence in each of these characters. But from a sense of duty, as well as from a love to the employment, he devoted himself principally to the discussion of religious truth; and always with a view to its practical application. His Sermons and Essays on various topics in divinity, will be read with pleasure and with profit by serious Christians of all denominations. The pious and eloquent Wilberforce has noticed them with approbation in his late popular book.

If the Doctor’s works had been generally read in this country, it would be equally unnecessary and assuming for me to characterize or recommend them. But for ten years past I believe they have not been vended by any American bookseller, and I am informed they are now out of print in Britain. If, therefore, you suppose that my opinion of them will be any way serviceable to you in their ...