United States Founding Fathers

John Witherspoon

Quotes

Age of Reason - by Thomas Paine

  1. "[Paine is] ignorant of human nature as well as an enemy to the Christian faith." - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, "The Works of the Reverend John Witherspoon, (Philadelphia: William W. Woodward, 1802), Vol. III, p. 24, n. 2, from "The Dominion of Providence over the Passions of Men", delivered at Princeton, May 17, 1776

American Revolution

  1. "On the part of America, there was not the most distant thought of subverting the government or of hurting the interest of the people of Great Britain; but of defending their own privileges from unjust encroachment; there was not the least desire of withdrawing their allegiance from the common sovereign till it became absolutely necessary - and indeed, it was his [King George III] own choice." - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, "The Works of John Witherspoon, (Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1802), Vol. III, p. 42, "The Dominion of Providence Over the Passions of Men", May 17,1776

Atheism

  1. "Shun, as a contagious pestilence, ... those especially whom you perceive to be infected with the principles of infidelity or enemies to the power of religion. Whoever is an avowed enemy of God, I scruple not to call him an enemy to his country." - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, "The Works of John Witherspoon, (Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1815), Vol. IX, p. 250, "The Druid", Number III

Christianity

  1. "The Christian religion is superior to every other. ... But there is not only an excellence in the Christian morals, but a manifest superiority in them to those which are derived from any other source." - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, "The Works of John Witherspoon, (Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1815), Vol. III, p. 33, 38, "On the Truth of the Christian Religion", Lecture IV

Christians in Politics

  1. "Shall we establish nothing good because we know it cannot be eternal? Shall we live without government because every constitution has its old age and its period? Because we know that we shall die, shall we take no pains to preserve or lengthen our life? Far from it, Sir: it only requires the more watchful attention to settle government upon the best principles and in the wisest manner that it may last as long as the nature of things will admit." - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, "The Works of John Witherspoon, (Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1815), Vol. IX, p. 129, "Speech in Congress upon the Confederation"

Democracy

  1. "Pure democracy cannot subsist long nor be carried far into the departments of state - it is very subject to caprice and the madness of popular rage." - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, "The Works of John Witherspoon, (Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1815), Vol. VII, p. 101, "Civil Society", Lecture XII

Faith in Jesus Christ

  1. "I shall now conclude my discourse by preaching this Savior to all who hear me, and entreating you in the most earnest manner to believe in Jesus Christ, for "there is no salvation in any other". ... If you are not reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, if you are not clothed with the spotless robe of His righteousness, you must forever perish." - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, "The Works of John Witherspoon, (Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1815), Vol. V, p. 276, 278, "The Absolute Necessity of Salvation Through Christ", January 2, 1758

Government

  1. "To promote true religion is the best and most effectual way of making a virtuous and regular people. Love to God and love to man is the subtance of religion; when these prevail, civil laws will have little to do. ... The magistrate (or ruling part of any society) ought to encourage piety ... [and] make it an object of public esteem. Those who are vested with civil authority ought ... to promote religion and good morals among all their government." - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, "The Works of John Witherspoon, (Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1815), Vol. IV, p. 265, "Sermon Delivered at Public Thanksgiving After Peace"

Leaders

  1. "The people in general ought to have regard to the moral character of those whom they invest with authority either in the legislative, executive, or judicial branches." - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, "The Works of the Rev. John Witherspoon", (Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1815), Vol. IV, pp. 266-267, from "A Sermon Delivered at a Public Thanksgiving after Peace"

  2. "Those who wish well to the State ought to choose to places of trust men of inward principle, justified by exemplary conversation. Is it reasonable to expect wisdom from the ignorant? fidelity from the profligate? assiduity and application to public business from men of a dissipated life? Is it reasonable to commit the management of public revenue to one who hath wasted his own patrimony? Those, therefore, who pay no regard to religion and sobriety in the persons whom they send to the legislature of any State are guilty of the greatest absurdity and will soon pay dear for their folly." - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, "The Works of the Rev. John Witherspoon", (Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1815), Vol. IV, pp. 266-267, from "A Sermon Delivered at a Public Thanksgiving after Peace"

Military

  1. "There is no soldier so undaunted as the pious man - no army so formidable as those who are superior to the fear of death. There is nothing more awful to think of than that those whose trade is war should ... expose themselves to the imminent danger of being [sent] to the blaspheming rage and despairing horror of the infernal pit. Let therefore everyone who ... offers himself as a champion in his country's cause be persuaded to reverence the name and walk in the fear of the Prince of the kings of the earth and then he may with the most unshaken firmness expect [God's protection] either in victory or death." - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, addressing soldiers in the American Revolution

Oaths

  1. "An oath is an appeal to God, the Searcher of hearts, for the truth of what we say and always expresses or supposes an imprecation of His judgment upon us if we prevaricate. An oath, therefore, implies a belief in God and His Providence and indeed is an act of worship. ... Persons entering on public offices are also often obliged to make oath that they will faithfully execute their trust. ... In vows, there is no party but God and the person himself who makes the vow." - United States Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon, "The Works of John Witherspoon, (Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1815), Vol. VII, pp. 139-140, 142, from his "Lectures on Moral Philosophy", Lecture 16 on "Oaths and Vows"

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