Jonathan
Witherspoon
1723-1794
—
Scottish-American Presbyterian Clergyman . . . Signer of Declaration of Independence
. . . Served in Continental Congress (1776-82) . . . In 1768 appointed president
of the College of New Jersey and broadened the curriculum and quality of education
there . . . Described as the "man who shaped the men that shaped America" . .
. Responsible for publishing two American editions of the Bible.
"God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable . . ."[2]
"It is certain, I think, that human science and religion have kept company together and greatly assisted each others progress in the world."[9]
"[H]e is the best friend to American liberty who is the most sincere and active in promoting true and undefiled religion, and who sets himself with the greatest firmness to bear down profanity and immorality of every kind. Whoever is an avowed enemy of God, I scruple not to call him an enemy to his country."[12]
"[T]here is no salvation in any other than in Jesus Christ of Nazareth."[12]
The
Works of the Rev. John Witherspoon (Edinburgh:
J. Ogle, 1815), Vol. V, pp. 276, 278, from “The Absolute Necessity of Salvation
Through Christ,” on January 2, 1758:
"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' [Acts 4:12]. . . . [I]f
you are not clothed with the spotless robe of His righteousness, you must forever
perish."[12]