By JOHN WITHERSPOON, D. D. Prefident of the College of NEW JERSEY.

PHILADELPHIA printed;

LONDON reprinted,

For FIELDING and WALKER, No. 20, Pater-nofter-Row.

M,DCC,LXXVIII.

100.9.76€

ADVERTISEMENT.

TH

HE following fermon, first printed at Philadelphia, wás, fome time fince, reprinted in Scotland, with notes, intended to guard the author's countrymen against his political principles. It is now printed again in England without them; not with a view to inflame the minds of any against the present measures of government, but to inculcate the great moral and religious inftructions which it contains on perfons of all parties; who, if they will read without prejudice, muft acknowledge, that whatever be the truth with regard to the prefent unhappy contest between Great Britain and Ameri

ca,

the difcourfe contains many admirable

hints of advice, which, if properly regarded, will tend to the prosperity of both countries. Should the author be confidered in the most unfavourable light, the old

and

[ iv ]

and well-known maxim may be justly adopted here,

Fas eft ab Hofte doceri.

And it is hoped, that the decency and moderation which fo warm and interested an advocate on the part of the Americans discovers, may tend to promote the fame spirit in those readers on this fide the Atlantic, who have made themfelves parties in the fame cause, as well as to moderate the refentment of their most zealous opponents; and to promote in good men, on both fides, (for fuch there are on both) an hearty difpofition "to "feek the things which make for PEACE," and above all, to promote that "RIGHTEOUSNESS which alone exalteth a na"tion."

The Author's Addrefs to the Natives of Scotland refiding in America, which accompanied this Sermon, may be had in a few days feparate.

Surely the Wrath of Man fhall praise thee, and the remainder of Wrath fhalt thou reftrain.

T

HERE is not a greater evidence either of the reality or the power of religion, than a firm belief of God's univerfal prefence, and a conftant attention to the influence and operation of his Providence. It is by this means that the Chriftian may be faid, in the emphatical scripture-language, to walk with God, and to endure as feeing him that is invisible.

The doctrine of Divine Providence is very full and compleat in the facred oracles. It extends not only to things which we think of great moment, and therefore worthy of notice, but to things the most indifferent and inconfiderable. Are not two fparrows fold for a farthing? fays our Lord, and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered *. It extends not only to things beneficial and falutary, or to the direction and affiftance of thofe who are the fervants of the living God, but to things feemingly most

B

* Matt. x. 29, 3°