John Witherspoon skillfully straddled the worlds of Calvinism and Scottish liberalism, theology and revolutionary politics, morality and American republicanism, shaping two generations of American statesmen and churchmen from his Princeton pulpit and lectern. But, like many other founders, he betrayed his own best teachings by owning slaves and condoning chattel slavery. This lucid and learned volume offers a powerful portrait of one of Americas great preachers and teachers, while candidly exposing the clay on his feet and the blood on his hands. -- John Witte Jr. * Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Law and McDonald Distinguished Professor of Religion, Emory University * James Calvin Davis has crafted a significant study that works on a variety of levelsfilling a gap in the historical knowledge of one of the founding figures, politically considering a model of colonial and early republican ideal of Christian and Enlightenment moral support for the nation, and culturally discussing how John Witherspoons contributions can still provide a guide through the polarized morass in which the United States finds itself. Unfailingly sharp, deeply researched, and eloquently argued, this work presents Witherspoon in his glories as well as his foibles. The chastened history that Davis presentsan argument that family, religion, and higher education have a place in todays America, offers a set of models for reviving the virtues that would renew the nations democratic strengths, while valuing all people who live in the multicultural nation that is America. -- R. Ward Holder * Professor of Theology and Politics, Saint Anselm College *
