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Over-ruled however, at that time, in thefe and in other objects of importance, he had the fatisfaction of living to see America revert, in almost every inftance, to his original ideas-Ideas founded on a found and penetrating judgment, and matured by deep reflection, and an extensive observation of men and things. But I forbear to trace his political career farther; and fhall only add here, that while he was thus engaged in ferving his country in the character of a civilian, he did NOT lay afide his ministry. He gladly embraced every opportunity of preaching, and of discharging the other duties of his office, as a gospel minister. This he confidered as his highest character, and honor in life.

The college having been collected as foon as poffible after its difperfion, inftruction was recommenced under the immediate care of the vice-prefident.a Dr. Witherspoon's name, however, continued to add celebrity to the inftitution; and it has fully recovered its former reputation.

The glorious struggle for our liberties drawing to an honorable period, and the doctor feeling age advancing upon him, was defirous of refigning his place in congrefs; and would have fain retired, in a measure from the burdens of the college.

But notwithstanding his wifh for repofe, he was induced, through his attachment to the inftitution, over which he had fo long prefided, once more to cross the ocean to promote its benefit. The fruit of that voyage was not in

a The reverend Dr. Samuel S. Smith, who was unanimously chofen Dr. Witherspoon's fucceffor, on the fixth day of May, 1795. This gentleman's character needs no eulogium in this place. His feveral publications, and particularly his ingenious effay on "The causes of the variety of complexion and figure of the human fpecies," delivered before the Philofophical Society, in Philadelphia, February 28th 1787, afford fufficient teftimony of his genius and learning. The laft mentioned work has distinguished him in the estimation of the literati, both in Europe and America. As foon as it made its appearance in Europe, it was read with avidity-it fhortly paffed under more editions than one in Great-Britain-it was tranflated into the French language, and published, with great eclat, at Paris-and has been fince tranflated into the German language, and publifhed with annotations, by a profeffor of moral philofophy, in one of the universities of that empire.

deed answerable to our wifhes; but we are not the lefs indebted to his enterprize.and zeal.

After his return to this country, finding nothing to obftruct his entering on that retirement, which was now become more dear to him; he withdrew, in a great measure, except on fome important occafions, from the exercise of thofe public functions that were not immediately connected with the duties of his office, as prefident of the college, or his character as a minifter of the gospel.

Accustomed to order and regularity in bufinefs from his youth, he persevered in his attention to them through his whole life. And I may add, there was nothing in which his punctuality and exactnefs were more facredly obferved, than in the devotional exercises of the chriftian life. Befides the daily devotions of the clofet, and the family, it was his ftated practice to obferve the last day of every year, with his family, as a day of fafting, humiliation and prayer: and it was also his practice, to set a-part days for fecret fafting and prayer, as occafion fuggefted.

Bodily infirmities began at length to come upon him. For more than two years before his death, he was afflicted with the lofs of fight; which contributed to haften the progrefs of his other diforders. These he bore with a patience, and even a cheerfulness, rarely to be met with, in the most eminent for wifdom and piety. Nor would his active mind, and his defire of usefulness to the end, permit him, even in this fituation, to defift from the exercise of his ministry, and his duties in the college, as far as his health and strength would admit. He was frequently led into the pulpit, both at home and abroad, during his blindnefs; and always acquitted himself with his ufual accuracy, and frequently, with more than his ufual folemnity and animation. And we all recollect the propriety and dignity with which he prefided at the laft commencement. He was bleft with the ufe of his reafoning powers to the very laft.

At length, however, he funk under the accumulated preffure of his infirmities; and on the 15th day of November, 1794, in the feventy third year of his age, he retired to his eternal reft, full of honor and full of days-there to

receive the plaudit of his Lord, "well done thou good and "faithful fervant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, "be thou ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy "of thy Lord."

ESSAY

ON THE

CONNECTION

BETWEEN THE

DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION

BY THE

IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST,

AND

HOLINESS OF LIFE:

With fome reflections upon the reception which that Doctrine hath generally met with in the World.

TO WHICH IS PREFIXED,

A LETTER to the Rev. Mr. JAMES HERVEY, Rector of Wefton-Favell, Northamptonshire, Author of THERON AND ASPASIO.

ALSO, A

TREATISE ON REGENERATION, &c.

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