Over-ruled however, at that time, in thefe and in other objects of importance, he had the fatisfaction of living to fee America revert, in almost every inftance, to his original ideas Ideas founded on a found and penetrating judg ment, and matured by deep reflection, and an extenfive obfervation 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 aside his ministry. He gladly embraced every opportunity of preaching, and of difcharging the other duties of his office, as a gofpel minifter. 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 ftruggle for our liberties drawing to an honorable period, and the doctor feeling age advancing upon him, was defirous of refigning his place in congress; and would have fain retired, in a measure from the burdens of the college.

requifition on the feveral states. He infifted on the propriety and neceffity, of the government of the union holding in its own hands the entire regulation of commerce, and the revenues that might be derived from that fource. Thefe he contended would be adequate to all the wants of the United States, in a season of peace.

a The reverend Dr. Samuel S. Smith, who was unanimoufly chofen Dr. Whitherspoon'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 last mentioned work has diftinguished 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-Britian-it was trandated into the French language, and publifhed, with great eclat, at Paris-and has been fince tranflated into the German language, aud published with annotations, by a profeffor. of moral philofophy, in one of the univerkties of that empire.

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 crofs the ocean to promote its benefit. The fruit of that voyage was not indeed anfwerable 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 exercife 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 minister 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 exercifes of the chriftian life. Befides the daily devotions of the clofet, and the family, it was his ftated practice to obferve the laft day of every year, with his family, as a day of fafting, humiliation and prayer: and it was also his practice, to fet 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. Thefe he bore with a patience, and even a cheerfulness, rarely to be met with, in the most eminent for wisdom and piety. Nor would his active mind, and his defire of ufefulnefs to the end, permit him, even in this fituation, to defift from the exercife of his miniftry, 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 himfelf with his ufual accura cy, 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 haft been faithful over a few things, be thou ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

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 WestonFavell, Northamptonshire, Author of THERON AMD ASPASIO.

ALSO, A

TREATISE ON REGENERATION, &c.