“The Dominion of Providence Over the Passions of Men"

Excerpts taken by Dennis Evans from a sermon by John Witherspoon. The Reverend John Witherspoon was a Scottish Presbyterian and missionary in the American British Colonies. He was the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence.

"A sermon preached at Princeton, on the 17th of May, 1776. Being the general fast appointed by the Congress through the United Colonies.”

Scriptures: Psalm 76:1-12; Acts 4:23-31

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“Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.” Psalm 72:10

There is not a greater evidence either of the reality or the power of religion, than a firm belief of God’s universal presence, and a constant attention to the influence and operation of his providence. It is by this means that the Christian may be said, in the emphatical scripture language, “to walk with God, and to endure as seeing him who is invisible.”

            The doctrine of divine providence is very full and complete in the sacred oracles. It extends not only to things which we may think of great moment, and therefore worthy of notice, but to things the most indifferent and inconsiderable; “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing,” says our Lord, “and one of them falleth not to the ground without your heavenly Father”; nay, “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

            It extends not only to things beneficial and salutary, or to the direction and assistance of those who are the servants of the living God; but to things seemingly most hurtful and destructive, and to persons the most refractory and disobedient. He overrules all his creatures, and all their actions. Thus, we are told, that “fire, hail, snow, vapor, and stormy wind, fulfill his word,” in the course of nature; and even so the most impetuous and disorderly passions of men, that are under no restraint from themselves, are yet perfectly subject to the dominion of the Lord. They carry his commission, they obey his orders, they are limited and restrained by his authority, and they conspire with every thing else in promoting his glory. There is the greater need to take notice of this, that men are not generally sufficiently aware of the distinction between the law of God and his purpose; they are apt to suppose, that as the temper of the sinner is contrary to the law of God, so the outrages of the sinner are able to defeat the purpose of God; than which nothing can be more false. The truth is plainly asserted, and nobly expressed by the psalmist in the text, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.”

            In discoursing on this subject, it is my intention, through the assistance of divine grace: 1.) To point out to you in some particulars, how the wrath of man praises God. 2.) To apply these principles to our present situation, by inferences of truth for your instruction and comfort, and by suitable exhortations to duty in the important crisis.

            In the first place, the wrath of man praises God, as it is an example and illustration of divine truth, and clearly points out the corruption of our nature, which is the foundation stone of the doctrine of redemption. Nothing can be more absolutely necessary to true religion, than a clear and full conviction of the sinfulness of our nature and state. Without this, there can be neither repentance in the sinner, nor humility in the believer.

            Justly does our Savior say, “The whole have no need of a physician, but those that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Those who are not sensible that they are sinners, will treat every exhortation to repentance, and every offer of mercy, with disdain or defiance. But where can we have a more affecting view of the corruption of our nature, than in the wrath of man, when exerting itself in oppression, cruelty and blood?

            Secondly, the wrath of man praiseth God, as it is the instrument in his hand for bringing sinners to repentance, and for the correction and improvement of [God’s] own children. What ever be the nature of the affliction with which he visits either persons, families, or nations; what ever be the disposition or intention of those whose malice he employs as a scourge; the design on God’s part is, to rebuke men for iniquity, to bring them to repentance, and to promote their holiness and peace.

            Thirdly, the wrath of man praiseth God, as he sets bounds to it, or restrains it by his providence, and sometimes makes it evidently a means of promoting and illustrating his glory. There is no part of divine providence in which a greater beauty and majesty appears, than when the Almighty Ruler turns the counsels of wicked men into confusion, and makes them militate against themselves. The scripture abounds with instances, in which the designs of oppressors were either wholly disappointed, or in execution fell far short of the malice of their intention; and in some they turned out to the honor and happiness of the persons or the people, whom they were intended to destroy.

            From the New Testament I will make the choice of that memorable event on which the salvation of believers in every age rests as its foundation: the death and sufferings of the Son of God. This the great adversary, and all his agents and instruments, prosecuted with unrelenting rage. When they had blackened him with slander, when they scourged him with shame, when they had condemned him in judgment, and nailed him to the cross, how could they help esteeming their victory complete? But oh the unsearchable wisdom of God! They were but perfecting the great design laid for the salvation of sinners. Our blessed Redeemer, by his death, finished his work, overcame principalities and powers, and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in his cross. With how much justice do the apostles and their company offer this doxology to God, “They lift up their voice with one accord, and said, Lord thou art God which hast made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is; Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the Heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.”

            (In our own example) The violent persecution, which many eminent Christians met with in England from their brethren, who called themselves Protestants, drove them in great numbers to a distant part of the world, where the light of the gospel and true religion were unknown. Some of the American settlements, particularly those in New-England, were chiefly made by them; and as they carried the knowledge of Christ to the dark places of the earth, so they continue themselves in as great a degree of purity, of faith, and strictness of practice, or rather a greater, than is to be found in any protestant church now in the world. Does not the wrath of man in this instance praise God? Was not the accuser of the brethren, who stirs up their enemies, thus taken in his own craftiness, and his kingdom shaken by the very means which he employed to establish it?

            Proceed now to the second general head, which was to apply the principles illustrated above to our present situation, by inferences of truth for your instruction and comfort, and by suitable exhortations to duty in this important crisis.

            In the first place, I would take the opportunity on this occasion, and from this subject, to press every hearer to a sincere concern for his own soul’s salvation. There are times when the mind may be expected to be more awake to divine truth, and the conscience more open to the arrows of conviction, than at others. A season of public judgment [such as this day of fasting declared by the Continental Congress] is of this kind, as appears from what has been already said. Can you have a clearer view of the sinfulness of your nature, than when the rod of the oppressor is lifted up, and when you see men putting on the habit of the warrior, and collecting on every hand the weapons of hostility and instruments of death? I do not blame your ardor in preparing for the resolute defense of your temporal rights. But consider I beseech you, the truly infinite importance of the salvation of your souls. Is it of much moment whether you and your children shall be rich or poor, at liberty or in bonds? Is it of much moment whether this beautiful country shall increase in fruitfulness from year to year, being cultivated by active industry, and possessed by independent freemen, or the scanty produce of neglected fields shall be eaten up by hungry publicans [tax collectors]? While the timid owner trembles at the tax gatherers’ approach? And is it of less moment my brethren, whether you shall be the heirs of glory or the heirs of hell? Is your state on earth for a few fleeting years of so much moment? And is it of less moment, what shall be your state through endless ages? Have you assembled together willingly to hear what shall be said on public affairs, and to join in imploring the blessing of God on the counsels and arms of the united colonies, and can you be unconcerned, what shall become of you forever, when all the monuments of human greatness shall be laid in ashes, for “the earth itself and all the works that are therein shall be burnt up.”

            I beseech you in the most earnest manner, to attend to “the things that belong to your peace, before they are hid from your eyes.”

            You may rest assured that there is no time more suitable, and there is none so safe, as that [time] which is present, since it is wholly uncertain whether any other [time] shall be yours. Those who shall first fall in battle, have not many more warnings to receive.

            Suffer me to beseech you, or rather to give you warning, not to rest satisfied with a form of godliness, denying the power thereof. There can be no true religion, till there be a discovery of your lost state by nature and practice, and an unfeigned acceptance of Christ Jesus, as he is offered in the gospel. I do not speak this only to the heaven-daring profligate, or groveling sensualist, but to every insensible secure sinner; to all those, however decent and orderly in their civil deportment, who live to themselves and have their part and portion in this life; in fine to all who are yet in a state of nature, for “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The fear of man may make you hide your profanity; prudence and experience may make you abhor intemperance and riot; as you advance in life, one vice may supplant another and hold its place; but nothing less than the sovereign grace of God can produce a saving change of heart and temper, or fit you for his immediate presence.

            It would be criminal inattention not to observe the singular interposition of Providence hitherto, in behalf of the American colonies.

            How many discoveries have been made of the designs of enemies in Britain, and among ourselves, in a manner as unexpected to us as to them, and in such season as to prevent their effect [and success]? What surprising success has attended our encounters in almost every instance? Has not the boasted discipline of regular and veteran [British] soldiers been turned into confusion and dismay, before the new and maiden courage of [our own] freemen, in defense of their property and rights? In what great mercy has blood been spared on the side of this injured country?

Some important victories in the south have been gained with so little loss. The signal advantage we have gained by the [British] evacuation of Boston, and the shameful flight of the army and navy of Britain, was brought about without the loss of a man. To all this we may add, that the counsels may say with truth, that there is hardly any step which they have taken, but it has operated strongly against themselves, and been more in our favor, than if they had followed a contrary course.

            I am satisfied that the confederacy of the colonies has not been the effect of pride, resentment, or sedition, but of a deep and general conviction, that our civil and religious liberties, and consequently, in a great measure, the temporal and eternal happiness of us and our posterity, depended on the issue.

The knowledge of God and his truths have from the beginning of the world been chiefly, if not entirely confined to those parts of the earth where some degree of liberty and political justice were to be seen, and great were the difficulties with which they had to struggle from the imperfection of human society, and the unjust decisions of usurped authority. There is not a single instance in history in which civil liberty was lost, and religious liberty preserved entire. If therefore we yield up our temporal property, we at the same time deliver [our] conscience into bondage.

            I shall now conclude this discourse by some exhortations to duty, founded upon the truths which have been illustrated above, and suited to the interesting state of this country at the present time.

            First, suffer me to recommend to you an attention to the public interest of religion, or in other words, zeal for the glory of God and the good of others.  …What I have in view is to point out to you the concern which every good man ought to take in the national character and [national] manners, and the means which he ought to use for promoting public virtue, and bearing down impiety and vice.

            Second, I exhort all who are not called to go into the field [of war], to apply themselves with the utmost diligence to [work]. [Work} is a moral duty of the greatest moment, absolutely necessary to national prosperity, and the sure way of obtaining the blessing of God.

            In the last place, suffer me to recommend to you frugality in your families, and every other article of expense. [When this spirit of frugality] pervades a people in general, they are fit for every duty, and able to encounter the most formidable enemy.

            Upon the whole, I beseech you to make a wise improvement of the present threatening aspect of public affairs, and to remember that your duty to God, to your country, to your families, and to yourselves, is the same [identical duty]. True religion is nothing else but an inward temper and outward conduct suited to your state and circumstances in providence at any [given] time. And as peace with God and conformity to him, adds to the sweetness of created comforts, while we possess them, so in times of difficulty and trial, it is in the name of piety and inward principle, that we may expect to find the uncorrupted patriot, the useful citizen, and the invincible soldier. God grant that, in America, true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable, and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one may, in the issue, tend to the support and establishment of both.