The
Life Of John Gill
(Most known for his exposition on the entire Bible similar to
that of Mathew Henry, this is a story about most of his life and his
accomplishments)
JOHN GILL was born at Kettering, in
Northamptonshire, Nov. 23, O. S. 1697: his parents were EDWARD GILL, and
ELIZABETH his wife, whose maiden name was WALKER. They were religious and pious
persons; whose circumstances did not reach affluence, but were above contempt.
His father was a Deacon of the Baptist church at Kettering; and was eminent for
his grace, piety, and holy conversation. He first became a member of a
congregation in the same place, consisting of Presbyterians, Independents, and
Baptists: in which congregation, besides the Pastor of it, there was a teaching
Elder of the Baptist denomination Mr. William Wallis, who was the administrator
of Baptism by immersion, to such adult persons as desired it. For some time this
mixed congregation continued in peace and harmony: but, at length, the Baptists
were rendered uneasy and uncomfortable in their communion, through the
opposition made to them by some particular persons. This obliged them to
separate, together with their teacher, Mr. Wallis. They soon formed themselves
into a church-state, and chose Mr. Wallis for their Pastor: which was the rise
and foundation of the Baptist church at Kettering.
About the time of these troubles, Mr. EDWARD GILL, who was one of those that had
separated, entered into the marriage-state: and as those dissensions pressed him
much, and he was often revolving within himself the condition and circumstances
of this little interest and new church-state, lately set up, which had but a
small beginning; and what must be the consequence of things; he had strong
impressions upon his mind, that the child, his wife now became pregnant with,
would he a son, and prove of eminent service in the Baptist interest. He was
even strongly persuaded, that this child would he a Minister of the word; and he
always retained a firm belief of it, when things seemed to be unpromising. He
had other impulses, relative to his son, and to other persons and things which
had their exact accomplishment: and this must be acknowledged by all who knew
him, that he was not a man of a fanciful and melancholy disposition, nor given
to enthusiasm.
The morning this first-born son of his was brought into the world, one Chambers,
a Woodman, came to his house with a load of faggots for fuel: and, as he was
unloading his faggots, Mr. GILL came out of his house to him, and, with a great
deal of joy, told him, that he had a son born to him that morning. At that very
moment, as the Woodman affirmed, a stranger passed by whom he never saw before,
nor since, who added, "Yes, and he will he a Scholar too, and all the world
cannot hinder it." This the Woodman, who was reckoned a man of sobriety,
honesty, and veracity, constantly and confidently affirmed at different; times,
without variation: and even years after when inquired of concerning it; nor
could he have any sinister end to avail himself of, in contriving such a story,
and persisting in it.
However, Mr. GILL’S
son, as soon as he was capable of instruction, discovered a very great aptitude
for learning, and imbibed it in as fast as it could be given: so that he was
quickly out of the reach, and in no need of a common teacher of children. He was
therefore sent to the grammar school, very early; which he attended with
uncommon eagerness and diligence: insomuch that he, soon, not only transcended
his co-equals, but distanced even greatly his seniors. Here he continued until
he was about eleven years of age: during which time, notwithstanding the tedious
manner in which grammatical knowledge was then conveyed, and the drudgery boys
were put to in learning so many unnecessary rules; he, besides going through the
common school-books, read several of the chief Latin classics, and made a
considerable proficiency in the Greek so that he began to be talked of as a
youth of Learning; and was known by several of the neighbouring Clergy, by whom
he was sometimes examined at a Bookseller’s shop (which he constantly frequented
on market-days, when only it was opened); to which he so regularly repaired, for
the sake of consulting different authors, that it became an usual asseveration
with the common people in the town, "such a thing is as sure as JOHN GILL is in
the Bookseller’s shop."
He left the grammar school rather early in life. The occasion was this: the
school-master insisted, that the children of Dissenting parents, as well as
others, should go with him to church, on week-days, at the hours of prayer: upon
which the children of Dissenters were taken away from the school, and he among
the rest. Those Dissenters, who were in affluent circumstances, sent their
children to distant parts for their further education: but this was not the case
with his parents. This was a very discouraging circumstance. Several ways and
means were thought of by his friends; but all proved fruitless. Some efforts
were made by ministers, both of other denominations and of his own, to get him
upon one or other of the funds in London, and that he might be sent to one of
their seminaries of learning, To this end specimens of his progress in
literature were sent up to town: but the answer returned by way of objection
was, that he was too young; and, should he continue, as it might be supposed he
would, to make such rapid advances in his studies, he would go through the
common circle of learning before he could be capable of taking care of himself,
or of being employed in any public service.
If any credit can be given to the story of the Woodman, concerning what the
stranger said on the morning of his birth, which seemed to suppose that some
difficulties and obstructions would be thrown in the way of his becoming a
scholar, they now began to appear. And yet, notwithstanding all this, such was
his desire of learning, that he not only retained what knowledge of the Latin
and Greek languages he had acquired, but he improved himself in both, by
constantly reading all such books in those languages, as he could obtain. In
process of time he studied Logic, Rhetoric, Moral and Natural Philosophy. He
likewise, Suo Marte, learned the Hebrew language, without any living assistance,
by the help of Buxtorf’s Grammar and Lexicon. With only these, he surmounted the
chief difficulties of that language: and could soon read the Hebrew bible with
great ease and pleasure. In this language he always took peculiar delight. He
read books, in various branches of literature, in the Latin tongue, to improve
his mind with whatsoever was useful: and particularly Systems of Divinity. For
some few years his time was daily divided: part of it was employed in his
father’s business; and the other part of it in close studying. And thus he went
on, till he had nearly attained to the nineteenth year of his age.
It is now time to look back, and take some notice of the religious turn of his
mind, and of his inquiries after divine and spiritual things. He had slight
convictions of sin, and occasional thoughts of a future state, from his
childhood. Sometimes he was terrified with the fear of death, hell, and
eternity; and strangely elated with thinking on the joys of heaven, the glories
of another world, and the happiness of saints made perfect above. But these
impressions were, for some time, both superficial and transitory. When he was
about twelve years of age, the workings of his mind became more serious,
settled, and effectual: and especially after hearing a Sermon of Mr. William
Wallis, on Genesis 3:9, And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him,
Where art thou? For a while it was, as it were, continually ringing in his ears,
"Man, where art thou? What a wretched state and condition art thou in? How
miserable wilt thou be, living and dying, in an unconverted state!" Hence he
used to call Mr. Wallis, if any man, his spiritual father, who died soon after.
And now he began clearly to see the depravity of his nature; the exceeding
sinfulness of sin; his need of Christ, and salvation by him; and of a better
righteousness than his own; even the righteousness of Christ, to be received by
faith: and in a short time was favoured with a comfortable hope and faith of
interest in HIM, from several exceeding great and precious promises, powerfully
applied to his soul.
It was, moreover,
his happy lot, to have his mind early irradiated with the light and knowledge of
evangelic truths, by means of the ministry of several gospel-preachers in those
parts of the country, whom at times he had the opportunity of hearing: and these
truths, coming to him with power, failed not of freeing him from the bondage of
the Law, and of filling him with joy and peace in believing; yet though he early
arrived to satisfaction in his mind about his eternal state, he did not make a
public profession of religion until he was almost nineteen years of age; partly
by reason of his youth for some time, and the solemnity of a profession; and
chiefly in the latter part of this period of his life, because he perceived the
eye of the church was upon him to call him forth to the ministry, as soon as
they conveniently could, should he become a member of it; their then present
pastor being greatly involved in worldly business, and much needed assistance.
Nov. 1, 1716, he
made a public profession of his faith in Christ, by declaring to the church with
which he stood connected, the dealings of God with his soul, to their
satisfaction: and was the same day baptized by their pastor, Mr. Thomas Wallis,
who succeeded his father Mr. William Wallis in that office. The ordinance of
Baptism was administered to him by immersion, in a river, in the sight of many
spectators: and the following Hymn, composed by himself, was sung at the same
time.
The Lord’s-day following, Nor. 4th, he was received a member into the church,
and partook of the Lord’s-supper: In the evening of that day, at a meeting of
prayer in a private house, of the members and others, he read the fifty-third
chapter of Isaiah, as suitable to the service of the day, and expounded some
passages of it; and, at the close of the meeting, some of the brethren addressed
him to this purpose, "Friend, we take this as a beginning of the exercise of
your ministerial gift, which we are persuaded the Lord has bestowed upon you."
And accordingly. the next Lord’s-day, in the evening, at the same place, he
delivered a Sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:2. For I determined not to know any thing
among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. For a few days he continued
preaching in this private manner: the church soon called him to exercise his
ministerial gift in public, and sent him forth as a minister of the word.
Quickly after this, at the motion of some of his friends at London, who had seen
and conversed with him in the country, he removed to Higham-Ferrers, about six
or seven computed miles from Kettering. His view, and what inclined him to
attend to this motion, was to carry on his studies under Mr. John Davis, with
whom he was to board; a gentleman of learning, and who now taught in that place
some branches of literature; being lately come from Wales, and settled pastor of
a new church just planted at Higham. In this view, however, young Mr. GILL was
disappointed; but the designs of Mr. GILL’S friends in London in this removal of
him, was, chiefly to be assisting in this new church, and to the young converts
in it, and to preach occasionally in the adjacent villages. Here he continued
the year following: and in this time, and at that place, he contracted
acquaintance with a young Gentlewoman of great piety and good sense, whose name
was ELIZABETH NEGUS; a member of the new gathered church, and whom he married in
1718.
The Doctor was
always of opinion, that his marriage with this excellent person, was the
principal thing for which God in his providence sent him to that place: and he
ever considered his marriage to her, as one of the capital blessings of his
life, For she proved affectionate, discreet, and careful: and, by her
unremitting prudence, took off from his hands all domestic avocations, so that
he could, with more leisure, and greater ease of mind, pursue his studies, and
devote himself to his ministerial service. This wife of his youth lived with him
unto the year 1764,[2] and by her he had many children, all of whom died in
their infancy, except three: one of which, whose name was ELIZABETH (a most
lovely and desirable child for person, sense, and grace) died May 30, 1738, when
she had entered into the thirteenth year of her age, her Funeral Sermon was
preached by her father, from 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14, and was printed, with an
account of some of her choice experiences. The other two are still living:
(July, 1772) the one, a son, whose name is JOHN, a Goldsmith, who lived in
Gracechurch-street, London; since retired from business. The other, a daughter,
whose name is MARY, married to Mr. GEORGE KEITH, a Bookseller, in the same
street. Both these children have been a great happiness to their parents; and
they have always had reason to be thankful to God for their family comfort,
peace, and harmony.
But to return Mr. GILL, during his abode at Higham-Ferrers, very frequently
preached to the church at Kettering; which, as before observed, is but six or
seven miles distant. The circumstances of the pastor there requiring assistance,
Mr. GILL, quickly after his marriage, wholly removed thither: where his
ministry, from beginning, had been blessed, not only to the comfort, but to the
conversion of many: some of which seals of his ministry are yet living. But this
continuance here was not long; for, in the beginning of the year 1719, the
Church of Christ at Horsly-down, Southwark, near London, being deprived of their
pastor by the death of Mr. Benjamin Stinton, (son in law to the famous Mr.
Benjamin Keach, and his successor in his office, as pastor of that church) some
of the members, hearing of Mr. GILL, desired a friend of his to write to him,
and invite him to give them a visit, and preach to them; which he did, in the
months of April and May, the same year; and then returned into the country.
About two months after, the church at Horsly-down wrote to him, requesting his
return to them in the month of August; which he complied with, and continued
preaching to them, till about Michaelmas: when they made choice of him as their
pastor, and called him, young as he was, to the exercise of that office; which,
after taking some time for consideration, he accepted of. And now he met with
much trouble and great opposition from many; partly on account of his youth (he
not being quite twenty-two years of age), and chiefly because of his evangelical
way of preaching. But God was with him, and blessed his ministry to the
conversion of many souls; so that large additions were made to the Church, year
after year, for a considerable time.
In 1723, when he was between twenty-five and twenty-six years of age, it was the
will of God to visit him with an Hectic fever, and other disorders of body;
which greatly wasted and consumed him, and threatened his life: but it pleased
God to bless the means made use of, and to restore him to health again; his time
not being come, and he having more work to do for God in his church, and for the
interest of religion, as the following account will shew.
In 1724, when he was now twenty-six years of age, he began his Exposition of the
Book of Solomon’s Song; which was delivered, on the Lord’s-day morning, to the
church under his care, in one hundred and twenty-two sermons, until the whole
was finished: of which more hereafter. In this year, he printed a Sermon on the
death of Mr. John Smith, a Deacon of his church, from Romans 5:20, 21, which was
the first thing printed by him. And another Sermon, in the following year,
entitled, The Urim and Thummim found with Christ, from Deuteronomy 33:8.
In the year 1728, he also published a treatise concerning the prophecies of the
Old Testament respecting the Messiah. The occasion of which was this: in 1724, a
book was published, called, A discourse of the grounds of the Christian
Religion, &c. well known to he written by Anthony Collins Esq: a Deistical
writer. Many answers were written to one part or other of this book: to which
the author replied, in another book, called, The scheme of literal Prophecy
considered, &c. published in 1727, which was chiefly pointed at Dr. Edward
Chandler, Bishop of Durham, who had written against the former: it was to this
latter book, chiefly, Mr. GILL made answer, and to which he was led by the
following incident: A certain Gentleman asserted in conversation, that no
Calvinist could write in this controversy to any advantage.
What his reason was,
for so saying, or whether any was assigned by him, is not remembered. Some of
Mr. GILL’S friends being present, thought of Him; and took an opportunity of
moving it to him, and importuned him to engage in this controversy. Upon which
he preached a set of sermons on the prophecies relating to the Messiah, in a
regular order, suited to a history of the life of Jesus; and then made extracts
out of them, which he published under the title of "The Prophecies of the Old
Testament, respecting the Messiah, considered and proved to be literally
fulfilled in Jesus;" in answer to the above book. This work of his met with the
approbation of some men of learning and judgment, and even of the very person
above mentioned, whose assertion was the occasion of it.
A list and catalogue of the various pieces published and during this
controversy, was collected by that most indefatigable Inquirer after books, the
learned Fabritius, of Hamburg, in his Salularis Lux Evangelii, &c. c. 9. p. 173,
&c. Hamburg, 1731.
The ministry of Mr. GILL being acceptable not only to his own people, but
likewise to many in other churches, and of other denominations; some gentlemen
moved among themselves to set up a lecture on some day in the week, that they
might have the opportunity of hearing him. Accordingly, several met together,
and forming themselves into a society, agreed to have a lecture on Wednesday
evenings, and set on foot a subscription to support it. Upon their invitation,
Mr. GILL undertook that lectureship, and continued in it with great constancy,
applause, and usefulness, It was set up in the year 1729, and he continued
preaching it (very rarely missing) until 1756, near twenty-seven years when he
gave it up, by reason of age and multiplicity of work upon his hands; and
preached a farewell sermon to the Society, on Acts 26:22, 23, which was
published that year. This lecture was productive of many of his printed works;
not only of single annual sermons on various subjects, but of whole treatises as
on the Trinity, and Justification, the cause of God and Truth, and of several of
his Commentaries on some of the books, both of the Old and of the New Testament,
of all which more hereafter.
In 1730, a set of gentlemen, chiefly of the Independent denomination, thought
fit to set up a temporary lecture for the winter and spring seasons following;
and chose nine ministers to preach in it, on some of the most important
doctrines of christianity: each having his subject allotted to him. The
ministers were, Mr. Robert Bragge, Mr. Thomas Bradbury, Mr. John Hurrion, Mr.
Thomas Hall, Mr. Peter Goodwin, Mr. John Sladen, Mr. Abraham Taylor, Mr. Samuel
Wilson, and Mr. John GILL. These accepted of the invitation given them, and
preached two sermons each, on the subject respectively assigned them and when
they had finished the course of them, the gentlemen desired the sermons might he
printed; which was accordingly done, in two volumes in 1732. Mr. GILL’s subject
was the Resurrection of the Dead. His two sermons upon it have since been
printed separately.
An unpleasing incident happened on the printing the above volumes of sermons.
Mr. Taylor, Mr. GILL, and another or two of the lecturers, agreed to read their
sermons in private concert with each other, before they were printed; that they
might have one another’s friendly assistance, in the correction and improvement
of them, as might seem necessary. Now Mr. GILL had observed some passages in Mr.
Taylor’s Sermons, when delivered from the pulpit, which he thought injurious to
truth, and calculated to offend many worthy persons. He therefore determined,
when those sermons should be read at this private and friendly meeting to have
pointed out, in the kindest and most respectful manner, such passages as he
wished to see softened or expunged; proposing to give his reasons: but when the
sermons were read, these passages did not appear, to the great pleasure and
satisfaction of Mr. GILL; who supposed that Mr. Taylor had seen reason in his
own mind to strike them out. But when the volumes were published, these passages
stood, to the great surprise of Mr. GILL, and, as he thought, with additional
keenness and severity.
This obliged him to
send Mr. Taylor a printed letter on the subject of God’s everlasting love,
eternal Union, and some other things which Mr. Taylor had reproached with great
vehemence: having now no other way of doing justice to truth, and vindicating
the faithful preachers of it. This letter was written with great respect, temper
and candour; without any undue heat, or unbecoming reflections. Nevertheless,
this, together with a treatise on justification, which Mr. GILL had published
before, put some interested persons on raising an hideous cry of Antinomianism
against him. The treatise on Justification is the substance of some sermons,
preached at his Evening-lecture, and which, by the society that supported it,
was desired to be printed. The only thing in it objected to when published, was
what is said concerning the date of justification: and which yet was said in
great agreement. with some of the best and most learned divines, whose
testimonies were produced by Mr. GILL in favour of his sentiments. But all this
could not protect him from the clamour raised against him, by such as did not
wish well to him and his ministry. No answer, however, was given to either of
these tracts, or to the arguments in them; but a continued torrent of din and
noise flowed from some pulpits, for a long time.
In 1731, Mr. GILL published a Treatise on the Doctrine of the TRINITY, which was
the substance of several discourses delivered on that subject at the Wednesday
Evening Lecture, and published at the request of the Society: the occasion of
which was, the progress of Sabellianism among some of the Baptist churches. In
particular, one Mr. Davis, a Physician, and a Baptist member, wrote a treatise
called The great Concern of Jew and Gentile; with some other little pamphlets,
which had a tendency this way; and which, though very trifling things, having
scarce any shew of argument and reasoning in them, yet it seemed expedient they
should he taken notice of in the course of these Sermons on the Trinity: the
Gentleman being a man of a good moral character, and of a soft, insinuating
behaviour: his profession also introduced him into several families, where he
might have the opportunity of inculcating and spreading his notions.
A society of young men, who kept up an Exercise of Prayer, on Lord’s-day
Mornings, at Mr. GILL’S meetinghouse at Horsly-down, desired him to preach a
Sermon to them, December 25, 1732, which he did, on the subject of Prayer: and,
in the year following, on the same day of the month, he preached another, to the
same society, on singing of Psalms, from 1 Corinthians 14:15, which were
successively printed at their request. Both these Sermons were, afterwards,
reprinted together. That upon Singing, some years after the publication of it,
fell into the hands of Mr. Solomon Lowe, a learned and celebrated Grammarian of
Hammersmith who wrote Mr. GILL a Letter upon it, dated Sept. 1747, in which he
informs him, "he took pleasure, at his vacant hours, to read every thing that is
useful, in order to extract the quintessence of its flowers for the use of a
Supplement to Chambers’ Cyclopedia; to the carrying on of which work, he was
nominated, to the proprietors, as the properest person, by Mr. Chambers himself,
a little before his death, and bad the offer of it, but declined it, because of
his stated business.
However, having a great regard to that work, Mr. Lowe was
willing to help it forward to the best of his power: and therefore continued to
digest whatever offered to that purpose. Meeting with the above discourse on
Singing, he extracted from That for the article of Psalmody; and was pleased to
give the following commendation of it: "I find there is no dealing with you, as
with the generality of writers. The afore-mentioned piece is all quintessence:
so that, instead of extracting, I have been obliged to copy the greatest part of
it, to do justice to the article of Psalmody, and know not where to find any
hints for the improvements of it."[3] But Mr. Lowe dying quickly after, it does
not appear that any use was made of his papers in the Supplement published; at
least with respect to any extract from Mr. GILL’S writings.
In 1736, was published, by an anonymous writer, a pamphlet, called, Some
Doctrines in the Supralapsarian Scheme examined, &c. the author of it, it seems,
was one, Job Burt, of Warwick: a man very ill qualified for polemical writing;
being entirely ignorant of the scheme he undertook to examine, as well as of
most other things: however, as this was pointed chiefly at some writings of Mr.
GILL, and at the doctrines of God’s everlasting Love, eternal Union,
Justification, &c. he thought fit to give an answer to him, the same year, in a
tract called Truth Defended, &c. The stupidity, insolence, and impertinence of
the man, sometimes provoked Mr. GILL to use a little more acrimony and severity
than perhaps some might think needful.
In 1749, the Doctor wrote a treatise on The divine Right of Infant-Baptism
examined and disproved; this was occasioned by a pamphlet, printed at Boston in
New England, in 1746, written by Mr. Jonathan Dickinson, of Elizabeth Town in
New Jersey, and afterwards President of the College there, which was entitled, A
brief Illustration and Confirmation of the Divine Right of Infant Baptism. What
put this Gentleman on writing it, was, the increase of the Baptist interest in
New England, and the parts adjacent. This pamphlet being boasted of, and
multitudes of them being spread about, it being printed in several places in
order to hinder the growth of the Baptist interest; the Baptists sent it over to
Dr. GILL, requesting him to write an answer to it: which he did, in the treatise
before observed. To this, Peter Clark, M. A. pastor of a church in Salem,
replied, in a book, called, A Defence of the divine Right of Infant Baptism;
consisting of 450 pages more, stuffed with things impertinent to the
controversy, printed at Boston, 1752. To this also the Doctor returned an
answer, in a Letter to a friend at Boston; which was printed there in 1754, with
a fourth edition of a Sermon of the Doctor’s preached at Barbican, upon Baptism,
Nov. 3, 1750.
A pamphlet, boasted of as unanswerable, being published under the title of The
Baptism of Infants a reasonable Service, founded upon Scripture, and undoubted
apostolic Tradition. The Doctor published an answer to it, 1751, entitled, The
Argument from apostolic Tradition in favour of Infant-Baptism, with others, &c.
considered: along with which was published an answer to a Welch Clergyman’s
Twenty arguments for Infant-Baptism; and to the whole were added, The
Dissenter’s Reasons for separating from the Church of England; written chiefly
for the use of the Baptist churches in Wales; and were therefore translated into
the Welch language, occasioned by reflections cast upon them by the said
Clergyman. On account of the first tract, The Argument from apostolic Tradition,
&c. the Doctor received two Letters from a Franciscan Friar at Seville in Spain,
(who signed himself James Henry) dated 1754, and 1756, in the first, he desired
to be sent him, by a master of a vessel whom he named, The Dissertation on the
Tradition of the Church concerning Infant-Baptism: (induced, as it should seem,
by the title of the tract) declaring himself a lover of all learned men, of
whatsoever profession.
The pamphlet was
accordingly sent to him. In his second Letter, he owns the receipt of it; says,
he had read it with a great deal of pleasure; and purposed to draw up a few
observations upon it in a candid and friendly manner: believing, that Dr. GILL
would yield to inspired apostolic tradition, if clearly made out and proved to
him. He concludes with wishing for peaceable times, that he might have the
pleasure of a correspondence with him. But the Earthquake at Seville, which was
at the same time with that at Lisbon, obliged him (as the Doctor understood by a
master of a vessel) to go up further into the country: and he heard no more of
him afterwards.
In 1752[4], the
Doctor wrote an answer to a pamphlet called Serious Thoughts upon the
Perseverance of the Saints; written, as it after appeared, by Mr. John Wesley:
who, in another pamphlet, shifted the controversy, from Perseverance to
Predestination. Mr. Wesley entitled his piece, Predestination calmly considered:
in which he mostly contents himself with haranguing on Reprobation. To this the
Doctor returned an answer the same year, and to the exceptions Mr. Wesley had
made to part of his Treatise on Perseverance, respecting some passages of
scripture brought into the controversy: without attempting, however, to answer
one argument advanced by the Doctor in vindication of that doctrine.
In 1753, a pamphlet being published, entitled, Pedobaptism; or, a Defence of
Infant-Baptism in point of antiquity, &c. by an anonymous letter writer: the
Doctor replied to it, in a tract, called, Antipedobaptism: or, Infant-sprinkling
an innovation: to which the same author made a rejoinder; but there being
nothing new advanced, nor the antiquity of Pedobaptism cleared, but mere wrangle
and cavil, the Doctor thought fit to take no notice of it.
In 1755 he republished Dr. Crisp’s works, in two volumes, octavo, with
explanatory notes on such passages as had been excepted to in them, or needed
any explanation: with some Memoirs of the Doctor’s Life.
In 1756 he quitted his Wednesday-Evening Lecture, as before related, and
published proposals for printing his Exposition of the prophets, both the larger
and smaller, in two volumes, folio: and which were published in the two
following years, 1757, 1758; with an Introduction to them on prophecy, and with
a Dissertation at the close of them concerning the Apocryphal writings.
In the year 1759, a new Meeting-house was erected, by the church under his care,
in Carter-lane, St. Olave’s-street, Southwark: which was opened October 9, in
the same year, when two Sermons were preached by him on Exodus 20:24, and
afterwards printed, entitled, Attendance in places of religious worship, where
the divine Name is recorded, encouraged.
In 1761 the Doctor published proposals for printing the remainder of his
Exposition of the Old Testament; beginning at Genesis and ending with Solomon’s
Song: the first Volume of which was published in the beginning of the year 1763;
the Second, in the beginning of the year 1764 the Third, in the beginning of the
year 1765: and the Fourth, and last, in the beginning of the year 1766.
In the year 1765, some copies of Mr. Clark’s Defence of the Divine right of
Infant-Baptism, being imported from America, and published here, occasioned the
Doctor to reprint and republish his Reply to it. Another treatise also being
imported and reprinted here, about the same time, called, A fair and rational
vindication of the right of Infants to the Ordinance of Baptism, being the
substance of several discourses from Acts 2:29, by David Bostwick, M. A. late
minister of the Presbyterian church in the city of New York; the Doctor made
some strictures on that performance, which are published at the end of the Reply
to Mr. Clark.
A little after this, the Rev. Mr. Carmichael, minister of the gospel in
Edinburgh, being convinced of the truth of believers’ Baptism by immersion, came
to London to be baptized, and was baptized by the Doctor: at which time, a
Sermon was preached from 1 John 5:3, which a few days after, was reflected upon
in one of the public news-papers. This obliged the Doctor, contrary to his
inclination, to publish his Sermon, which he entitled, Baptism a divine
commandment to be observed: with some marginal notes, vindicating it from the
gross abuses, misrepresentations, and cavils of the letter-writer in the
news-paper. This affair made a great stir: and many things appeared in the said
paper, for and against: until the writer of the news-paper himself put a stop to
it, by refusing to publish any more letters on either side.
The Doctor being called upon, in another news-paper, either to expunge, or
explain, a paragraph in his Preface to his Reply to Mr. Clark’s Defence; he
chose the latter and published a tract, called, Infant-Baptism a part and pillar
of Popery; with a postscript, containing an answer to the Letters of Candidus,
the other writer before mentioned. This tract gave great offense to some
Pedobaptists; but no reply was made to it.
In the same year, Dr. GILL collated the various passages of the Old Testament,
quoted in the Misnah, in the Talmuds, both Jerusalem and Babylonian, and in the
Rabboth; and extracted the variations in them, from the modern printed text;
which he sent to Dr. Kennicott, at Oxford, then collating the several Hebrew
manuscripts of the Old Testament to be met with in any of the libraries in
Europe; and which Dr. Kennicott thus acknowledged his receipt of, in his state
of that collation, published in the year 1767: "I have been highly obliged by
the Reverend and Learned Dr. GILL, who has extracted and sent me the variations
from the modern Bibles in the passages quoted in the Talmuds, both of Jerusalem
and Babylon, and also in the Rabboth: which variations, in these ancient books
of the Jews, affect the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, as the variations in
the ancient christian fathers affect the Greek text of the New."
In the year 1769, he published a Body of Doctrinal Divinity, in Two Volumes,
Quarto; which contain the substance of what he delivered from the pulpit to the
people under his care, for the space of upwards of five years: and gave the
public reason to expect a Third Volume, then preparing, which would contain a
Body of Practical Divinity, and which he proposed to do when he began his course
of doctrinal Divinity, as his Introduction to that shews.
In the year 1770, his Body of Practical Divinity was published: which, with the
other Two Volumes, completes his whole scheme of Divinity; which he thought
would be the last work published by him. At the end of it, is a Dissertation
concerning the Baptism of Jewish Proselytes: This the Doctor had upon his mind
for many years to write; supposing it not very probable, that any of the Baptist
denomination might soon rise up and take the pains in the study of Rabbinical
literature he had done, and which yet was necessary for such a performance. He
therefore thought proper to draw up the whole compass of the argument, in the
above dissertation, and leave it behind him, that any one might make himself
master of it, who should choose it, and use it as occasion should offer. It has
since been published separately, in octavo.
Having collected together such outlines, as we were able, of the LIFE and
WRITINGS of this excellent and learned Divine; we shall close these MEMOIRS with
giving a short CHARACTER of him.
IT pleased God to endue Dr. GILL with strong mental powers, and with an eager
and intense desire after improvement in knowledge. This appeared very early, in
his ardent thirst after learning; which he diligently sought for, and the best
means to obtain it; and with great industry improved every opportunity afforded
him: so that, in a few years, he made a considerable progress in the knowledge
of the learned languages, and all kind of useful literature.
As he grew up in life, he pursued his studies with indefatigable diligence, and
the closest application: by which means, under the blessing of God, he attained
to a very superior degree of solid and useful learning, and acquired on
established character for it, amongst the learned of all denominations.
His natural and acquired abilities were very considerable. He had a quick and
clear understanding, a solid and penetrating judgment, a fertile invention, with
a strong, capacious, and uncommonly retentive memory. Blessed with these gifts,
he was enabled to improve them to the glory of God, which was the grand object
he had in view. But, above all, his soul was enriched with a considerable
measure of GRACE, and the gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT; whereby he was abundantly
fitted and qualified for, and made an able Minister of the New Testament. He was
favoured with a large experience of the grace of God; great acquaintance with
the scriptures; and clear light into the gospel of JESUS CHRIST.
As a minister, his deportment in the pulpit was grave and solemn: his language
plain and expressive: is method natural and easy: his reasoning strong and
nervous: his addresses affectionate: his matter substantial, clear, and
consistent, well digested, and delivered with great fluency and accuracy, which
failed not to command and fix the attention of his hearers. In prayer, he poured
out his soul with great freedom and fervency, with much importunity, familiarity
and liberty; and, like another Apollos, was mighty in the scriptures, and had
the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season.
The great doctrines of the gospel which he espoused, and which he at first set
out with in the work of the Lord, and constantly and firmly abode by through
life, even unto death; were such as respect a Trinity of persons in the
godhead—particular and personal Election—the everlasting love of God—the
Covenant of grace—the Fall of Adam, and the consequences of it—Particular
Redemption, through the Incarnation, Obedience, Sufferings, Death, Resurrection
and Intercession of the Son of God—Pardon through his blood—Justification by his
righteousness—the Efficacious Grace of the holy Spirit in Regeneration—the
perseverance of the Saints in Grace to Glory—the Resurrection of the dead—and
eternal Life—these truths, with all those doctrines connected with or dependent
on them, this faithful servant of Jesus Christ did constantly labour to explain,
illustrate, and defend: at the same time, never omitting to recommend and
enforce the several duties which are enjoined us in the sacred oracles of
eternal truth. He did not shun to declare the whole counsel of God, and kept
back nothing that might he profitable to the people; constantly affirming, that
those who believe should be careful to maintain good works. His ministry, by the
blessing of God, was very much owned, and greatly succeeded to the awakening,
conversion, comfort, instruction, edification, and establishment of many, who
enjoyed the opportunity of attending upon it. And it is worthy of notice, that
three persons, who had been converted under his ministry, were afterwards called
to that important work themselves.[6]
As a Pastor, he constantly and carefully watched over the flock committed to his
charge, and of which he had taken the oversight, with great affection, fidelity
and love; and filled up his place in the house of God with honour and
usefulness. In which office he continued to his death, above FIFTY-ONE years;
labouring, with great assiduity, for the good of souls; earnestly contending for
the faith once delivered to the saints; and zealously concerned for the honour
of the Redeemer, his cause and interest in the world. And nothing more filled
him with grief, than, when the deity and divine filiation of the Son of God were
denied, or any attempts made to lessen, or sink the dignity of his person, the
virtue and efficacy of his blood, and of that full and complete salvation that
is alone in him. Nor was he in the least moved from the glorious truths of the
gospel, by the subtlety of any of its adversaries. He expressed the comfort he
received from those words in Acts 20:24, But none of these things move me;
neither count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with
joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the
gospel of the grace of God. And through divine grace he was enabled to hold out
to the last, and valiantly to contend for the truth on earth.
As an Author, this great man of God discovered uncommon abilities. His numerous
publications, all written with his own hand, are, and will be, standing proofs
of his indefatigable industry. Indeed, his labours were so numerous, that it may
well appear, to posterity, almost incredible, that any one person should be
author of them. Especially considering the vast variety of authors he must have
read: as appears by the many criticisms he has made on the languages in which
the scriptures were written. The judicious elucidations of the historical parts
of scripture, the clear explanation of the Types and Metaphors, the Parables and
Prophecies; the illustrations of the TRUTHS, Doctrinal and Practical, to be
found in his elaborate and voluminous Exposition of the OLD and NEW TESTAMENT;
sufficiently shew, that this eminent minister of the gospel had, by an uncommon
blessing upon his labours, attained to a large compass of useful
knowledge.—Great was his acquaintance with the sacred scriptures; with Jewish
learning; the Oriental tongues; the Rites and Customs of Eastern nations; Greek
and Roman Poets and Historians; the liberal Arts and Sciences; Ecclesiastical
History; the writings of the Fathers, and the several Controversies carried on
in defence of Christianity.
His writings were not only received with great approbation in these kingdoms,
but also in various parts of America. Many were the Letters he received from the
ministers and others in those parts, expressing the high esteem they had for him
and his works, and the great benefit they received from his labours. He was much
solicited to cultivate an extensive correspondence; but this he was obliged to
decline, as it would have proved too great an avocation from his studies.
His controversial tracts abundantly display his consummate ability and skill in
pointing out the evil nature and tendency of erroneous principles. The weakness
and fallacy of the arguments brought to support them, and the inconclusiveness
of the objections raised against the truth: and in clearly stating and solidly
defending the gospel, so as to silence its adversaries, and confirm the faithful
in their adherence to Christ and his Religion.
The numerous SERMONS published by him, are fraught with rich, solid, evangelical
truths; deep christian experience; and the most cogent motives to every good
word and work. The Body of Doctrinal and Practical DIVINITY, which he lived to
see finished and published, shews his profound, clear, and extensive
understanding in the mysteries of God; the respective branches of practical
religion; the nature, use, and extent of the divine law and the positive
institutions of Jesus Christ.
Notwithstanding his exalted attainments, he was meek and humble, of a tender and
sympathizing spirit; weeping with those that wept; and rejoicing with them that
rejoiced: ever ready to acknowledge, that all he had, of parts, learning, and
grace, was freely bestowed upon him by that God, from whom comes every good and
perfect gift. His conversation quite through life, was honourable and
ornamental; such as became the gospel of Christ, which he professed and laboured
in.
His last labours, among the people of his care, was from that part of the song
of Zechariah, the first chapter of Luke, the latter part of the 77th verse, and
former part of the 78th verse. By the remission of their sins,—through the
tender mercy of our God. This was the last text he preached from. His health had
been on the decline for some time; and he himself thought his work was done. The
decay of nature was, however, very gradual. His complaint was loss of appetite;
and frequently a violent pain in his stomach: his appetite continued to fail
more and more, till at last, for some time before his death, it was totally
lost. He bore his visitation with great patience, composure, and resignation of
mind to the divine will; without uttering the least complaint; without ever
saying to God, What dost thou?
He could have wished to have finished the song of Zacharias; and also the dying
song of good old Simeon, in which, he thought, there was something similar to
his own case. And especially he longed to be at his nunc dimittis; Now lettest
thou thy servant depart in peace, with what follows, This was much upon his
mind, and he thought, should he live to go through that, it might be, God would
then give him his dismission, and let him also depart in peace.—But his decline
increasing daily upon him, he grew weaker and weaker; so that he could not
proceed in his delightful work: and yet, notwithstanding he was rendered
incapable of appearing in public, he continued to be employed in his study, till
within two or three weeks of his death; and always appeared calm, serene, and
cheerful.
His faith was steady, and his hope firm, to the last.—To a relation he
thus expressed himself: "I depend wholly and alone upon the free, sovereign,
eternal, unchangeable and everlasting love of God; the firm and everlasting
covenant of grace, and my interest in the persons of the Trinity; for my whole
salvation: and not upon any righteousness of my own, nor any thing in me, or
done by me under the influences of the holy Spirit; nor upon any services of
mine, which I have been assisted to perform for the good of the church; but upon
my interest in the persons of the Trinity, the person, blood and righteousness
of Christ, the free grace of God, and the blessings of grace streaming to me
through the blood and righteousness of Christ; as the ground of my hope. These
are no new things with me; but what 1 have been long acquainted with; what I can
live and die by. And this you may tell to any of my friends. I apprehend I shall
not be long here."
He expressed himself nearly in the same manner to other friends. To one that
visited him, he said, "I have nothing to make me uneasy:" and repeated the
following lines from Dr. WATTS,
He rais’d me from the deeps of sin,
The gates of gaping hell:
And fix’d my standing more secure
Than ‘twas before I fell.
This tranquility of soul, and inward joy and peace of mind, never left him. The
last words he was heard to speak were, "O my Father, my Father." And then gently
fell asleep in Jesus, without a sigh or groan, on the 14th day of October, 1771,
at his house in Camberwell, Surry; aged seventy-three years, ten months, and ten
days.
What follows is drawn by another hand.
SUCH were the indefatigable labors, such the exemplary life, and such the
comfortable death, of this great and eminent person. If any one man can be
supposed to have trod the whole circle of human learning, it was Dr. G ILL. His
attainments, both in abstruse and polite literature, were (what is very
uncommon) equally extensive and profound. Providence had, to this end, endued
him with a firmness of constitution, and an unremitting vigor of mind, which
rarely fall to the lot of the sedentary and learned. It would, perhaps, try the
constitutions of half the literati in England, only to read, with care and
attention, the Whole of what he wrote.
The Doctor was not one who considered any subject superficially, and by halves.
As deeply as human sagacity, enlightened by grace, could penetrate, he went to
the bottom of every thing he engaged in. With a solidity of judgment, and with
an acuteness of discernment, peculiar to few. He exhausted, as it were, the very
soul and substance of most arguments he undertook.—His style, too, resembles
himself; it is manly, nervous, plain: conscious, if I may so speak, of the
unutterable dignity, value, and importance of the freight it conveys; it drives,
directly and perspicuously, to the point in view, regardless of affected
cadence, and superior to the little niceties of professed refinement.
Perhaps, no man, since the days of St. Austin, has written so largely, in
defence of the system of GRACE: and, certainly, no man has treated that
momentous subject, in all its branches, more closely, judiciously and
successfully. What was said of Edward the Black Prince, That he never fought a
Battle, which he did not win; What has been remarked of the great Duke of
Marlborough, That he never undertook a Siege, which he did not carry; may be
justly accommodated to our great Philosopher and Divine: who, so far as the
Distinguishing DOCTRINES of the Gospel are concerned, never besieged an Error,
which he did not force from its strong holds; nor ever encountered an Adversary,
whom he did not baffle and subdue.
His learning and labors, if exceedable, were exceeded only by the invariable
sanctity of his life and conversation. From his childhood, to his entrance on
the ministry; and, from his entrance on the ministry, to the moment of his
dissolution; not one of his most inveterate opposers was ever able to charge him
with the least shadow of immorality. HIMSELF, no less than his writings
DEMONSTRATED, that THE DOCTRINE OF GRACE DOES NOT LEAD TO LICENTIOUSNESS.
Those, who had the honour and happiness of being admitted into the number of his
friends, can go still farther in their testimony. They know, that his moral
demeanor was more than blameless: It was, from first to last, consistently
exemplary. And, indeed, an undeviating Consistency, both in his views of
evangelical Truths; and in his obedience, as a servant of GOD; was one of those
qualities, by which his cast of character was eminently marked. He was, in every
respect, a burning and a shining light. Burning, with love to GOD, to Truth, and
to Souls: Shining, as "an ensample to Believers, in Word, in Faith, in Purity;"
a pattern of good works, and a model of all holy conversation and godliness.
The Doctor has been accused of Bigotry, by some, who were unacquainted with his
real temper and character. Bigotry may he defined, Such a BLIND and FURIOUS
attachment to any particular principle, or set of principles, as disposes us to
WISH ILL to those persons who differ from us in judgment. Simple Bigotry,
therefore, is, The spirit of persecution, without the power: and persecution is
no other than Bigotry, armed with force, and carrying its malevolence into act.
Hence it appears, that to be clearly convinced of certain propositions, as true;
and to be steadfast in adhering to them, upon that conviction; nay, to assert
and defend those propositions, to the utmost extent of argument; can no more he
called Bigotry, than the shining of the Sun can he termed Ostentation. If, in
any parts of his Controversial Writings, the Doctor has been warmed into some
little neglects of ceremony towards his assailants; it is to be ascribed, not to
Bigotry (for he possessed a very large share of Benevolence and Candor) but to
that complexional sensibility, inseparable, perhaps, from human nature in its
present state; and from which, it is certain, the Apostles themselves were not
exempt.
His Doctrinal and Practical Writings will live, and be admired, and be a
standing blessing to posterity; when their opposers are forgot, or only
remembered by the refutations he has given them. While true Religion, and sound
Learning, have a single friend remaining in the British Empire, the Works and
Name of GILL will be precious and revered.
May the Readers of this inadequate sketch, together with him, who (though of a
very different denomination from the Doctor) pays this last and unexaggerated
tribute of justice to the honored memory of so excellent a person; participate,
on earth, and everlastingly celebrate in heaven, that SOVEREIGN GRACE, which its
departed Champion so largely experienced—to which He was so distinguished an
ornament—and of which he was so able a defender!
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