following that in which his essay on the Connexion, appeared, his still more celebrated work, entitled "A serious Inquiry into the Nature and Effects of the Stage." On this subject, there is much difference of opinion; but there can be none regarding the ability which Dr Witherspoon's work evinces. The reputation which he had now acquired as a zealous minister and profound theologian, procured him one of those spontaneous calls, which so strikingly mark the public sense of a clergyman's usefulness and merits. In the year 1757, he was solicited by the people of Paisley to accept the pastoral charge of the Low Church of that town. Here, as at Beith, he diligently prosecuted his literary labours, and still continued to associate them with a faithful discharge of his pastoral duties. During a portion of the time of his ministry in Paisley, he employed himself in preparing sermons for the press; several of which were published in 1758 and 1759, and were received with marked approbation. His next publication, unfortunately, though written with the best intentions, and well calculated to attain the ends proposed by its author, involved him in difficulties, which pressed hard upon him for several years afterwards. The publication alluded to was a discourse, entitled a "Seasonable Advice to Young Persons," published in 1762. The subject of this discourse was suggested, at the particular moment it appeared, by an account which had reached Dr Witherspoon, of a riotous and extremely disorderly meeting which had taken place in Paisley, on the night before the celebration of the Lord's Supper. To this discourse, the author had prefixed a prefatory address, in which he incautiously set forth, at full length, the names of the persons said to have been concerned in the indecorous meeting alluded to; and the consequence of this unguarded proceeding, on the part of Dr Witherspoon, was an action of damages, in which, being unable to adduce sufficient proof of the accuracy of his information, he was defeated, and involved in serious expenses.
In 1764, he received a degree from one of the Scottish universities, and in the same year went to London, to superintend the publication of his "Essays on Important Subjects," in three volumes. This work, with the exception of his admirable treatise on Regeneration, which was included in these volumes, was merely a reprint, in a collected form, of the detached essays which he had, from time to time, published in Scotland. Their republication, however, had the effect of greatly extending Dr Witherspoon's fame as an able theologian, and useful minister: and its appearance was soon after followed by three different calls to as many different new charges. The first of these was from a large congregation in Dublin; the second, to the Scottish church at Rotterdam; and the third, from the town of Dundee. Dr Witherspoon's attachments in Paisley, however, were too numerous, and too strong, to permit of his accepting of either of these invitations. But one of a more remarkable description, soon after prevailed with him to leave not only Paisley, but his country. This was an invitation from the trustees of the college of Princeton, New Jersey, in America, to become president of that institution. He, at first, declined this appointment, but, on a second application being made to him, thought fit to comply. A sufficient proof that this compliance did not proceed from interested motives, is found in the circumstance of his having been promised, by a gentleman, a relation of his own, who possessed considerable property, that he should be made his heir, if he would remain at home. This promise weighed nothing, however, with Dr Witherspoon, when put in opposition to the sense of duty which called him to an extensive, and peculiarly interesting field for ministerial exertion. Having come to the resolution of crossing the Atlantic, he preached a farewell sermon to his affectionate people in Paisley, on the 16th of April, 1768. This sermon was immediately after
