When John Witherspoon was implored by the New Lights in New Jersey to leave Scotland and come lead struggling Princeton, it was chiefly because of his reputation as a defender of Reformed orthodoxy that they wanted him. And this well-deserved reputation was owing in large part to a satirical work Witherspoon had written lampooning the left wing off the Church of Scotland.
By the middle of the 18th century Presbyterians in Scotland were divided into two parties: the more liberal Moderate Party and the evangelical Popular Party. Witherspoon, siding strongly with the evangelical wing, published (anonymously) biting satire called Ecclesiastical Characteristics (1753) in which he laid out twelve (and later added a thirteenth) maxims for becoming a moderate man. It’s not a long work, but quite humorous and surprisingly contemporary at many points
Here are some Witherspoon’s best maxims for becoming “fierce for moderation.”
Years later when Witherspoon confirmed that he was the author of the Characteristics, he defended himself by saying “A satire that does not bite is good for nothing.” Not a bad rule of thumb. Satire should not be the first weapon chosen in defense of the gospel, but it does have its place in the battle.
