THE GODLY AND THE UNGODLY by Archibald Alexander The godly man is one that, being formerly in a state of sin and misery, both strange and backward to God and heaven and a holy life, and prone to earthly, fleshly pleasures is now, by the powerful work of the word and Spirit of God, converted to sincere faith and repentance; broken-hearted for his former sin and misery, flying to Christ as the only hope and physician of his soul, and so is made a new creature, having his heart set upon God and everlasting life, and despising all the pleasures of the flesh and the things of this world, in comparison of his hopes of glory; hating all known sin, and not willfully living in any, and loving the highest degree of holiness, and willing to use the means that God has appointed to destroy the remnants of sin, and bring him nearer to perfection. This is a truly godly man. And he who is not such is ungodly. He that yet remains in his natural, depraved state, and is unacquainted with this great and holy change; that has any sin that he had rather keep than leave, and any that he willfully lives in; and willfully neglects known duties, as one that had rather be free from them than perform them, and had rather live a fleshly than a spiritual and holy life, and is more in love with the creature than with God—with his life on earth in flesh and sin, than a life with God and his saints in perfect holiness—this man is undoubtedly a wicked and ungodly man , however civilly or religiously he seem to live in the world. |
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Born near Lexington, Virginia, he was the son of a merchant and farmer. At the age of 10, he attended the academy of Rev. William Graham at Timber Ridge meetinghouse, which later became Washington and Lee University. At 17 years of age, he became the tutor to the family of General John Posey.
He then returned to Timber Ridge. He was influenced by the "Great Revival" and began the study of divinity, being licensed to preach October 1, 1791. and ordained as a Presbyterian on June 9, 1794. He was an itinerant pastor for seven years. He was president of Hampton Sydney College (1797-1806). In 1807 he became pastor of Pine Street Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.
He received the Doctor of Divinity in 1810 from the College of New Jersey and also assumed the presidency of the Union college in Georgia. He was the first president of Princeton Theological Seminary (1812-1851).