Dr. John Gill ( 1697-1771)

I thought I would start a separate thread on Gill . There has been a lot of misinformation ( intentional at times ) on that grand servant of Christ . I am not claiming he was free of mistakes . I could point out errors at another time . But this hyper-Calvinistic charge is so bogus . That's like saying Charles Finney was a five-point Calvinist .

I will give some quotes from Dr. Thomas Nettles . The following are from his book : By His Grace And For His Glory .

Although Gill's theology differs little from that of Keach and Bunyan ( and at points is even less radical ) , he has doubtless been judged more harshly and even maliciously than any man of comparable repute in Baptist history . ( p.85)

It is unfortunate that such an onus of suspicion has arisen around a man of such sound gospel knowledge , simply because his application of the material does not fit a certain emotive framework . (p.87)

The nomenclature of hyper-Calvinist in speaking of Gill must be questioned seriously in light of his clear , perceptive zeal for the gospel , his earnestness of desire for the salvation of his hearers , his statements regarding the perpetuity of the law as exhibited in the gospel , and his belief concerning the blameworthiness of rejecting the gospel message and all it contains . And perhaps , rather than imputing blame upon Gill for the leanness of the times , he should be credited with preserving gospel purity , which eventuated in the efforts to use means for the comversion of the heathen . (p.107)

 

The following are Gill quotes that Nettles cites .

... the harvest is great and the faithful and painful ministers are few . There are scarcely any that naturally care for the estate and souls of men , and who are heartily concerned for their spiritual welfare : all comparatively seek their own things , their honor and applause from men , their ease , reputation , and riches ; and none or few the things that are Jesus Christ's , or which relate to his honor , glory , kingdom , and interest in the world . (p.99 )

[ Gill commenting on Matthew 11:28 -- against that of Joseph Hussey ]

... by which is meant , not a local coming , or a coming to hear him preach ; ... nor is it a bare coming under the ordinances of Christ ... but it is to be understood of believing in Christ , the going out of the soul to him , in the exercise of grace on him , of desire after him , love to him , faith and hope in him : believing in Christ , and coming to him , are terms synonymous John vi. 35 . Those who come to Christ aright , come as sinners , to a full , suitable , able , and willing Saviour ; venture their souls upon him , and trust in him for righteousness , life , and salvation , which they are encouraged to do , by this kind of invitation ; which shews his willingness to save , and his readiness to give relief to distressed minds . ( p.101-102 )

The ministry of the word is for the conversion of sinners; without which churches would not be increased nor supported , and must in course fail , and come to nothing ; but the hand of the Lord being with his ministers , many in every age believe and turn to the Lord , and are added to the churches ; by which means they are kept up and preserved : and hence it is necessary in the ministers of the word , to set forth the lost and miserable estate and condition of men by nature , the danger they are in, the necessity of regeneration and repentance , and of a better righteousness than their own , and of faith in Christ ; which things are blessed for the turning of men from darkness to light , and from the power of Satan unto God . ( p.106 )

 

A couple of items here . John Gill was the dominant Baptist of his time . He did not come under the influence of John Brine ( 1703-1765 ) , but Brine came under his larger sway . I don't have any books of Brine's sermons -- just some print-outs from the internet . I find him wonderfully uplifting and solidly biblical . John Ryland Sr. ( very wronglyvillified ) said that Bunhill Fields had the ashes of three great Johns -- John Bunyan , John Gill and John Brine . Dr. Gill was 6 years older than Brine though Brine died 6 years earlier than Gill . For almost 30 years Gill delivered lectures at Eastcheap . In 1759 he asked Brine to take it over . That lecture series was attended by not only Baptists , but Anglicans and Independents . So Gill and Brine had considerable influence over much of the English speaking Christian community at that time . At a later time I will cite a Spurgeon quote about Brine which is very favorable . ( Spurgeon even liked Crisp ! ) . But even Joseph Ivimey said that Brine was a holy man and a faithful minister of Christ .

William Carey ( 1761-1834 ) was not influenced by Dr. Gill because they were not adult contemporaries . It was easier for Fuller to be influential in Carey's life because he was just about 7 years older than the famous missionary .

Andrew Fuller released his " Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation " in 1785 . That's 14 years after Gill's death . The so-called " Modern Question " regarding duty-faith was not even addressed by Dr. Gill . It , for the most part , was dealt with by all sides after Fuller's major work was published .

 

Back to Nettles' book , and specifically his chapter on Dr. Gill called : " Bridge Over Troubled Waters " . BTW , his subheading for the chapter is "John Gill : A correction to modern caricatures and misrepresentations " .

Here are some of Gill's words quoted by Nettles regarding the evangelistic work of the public ministry .

In general ; its use is for the enlargement of the interest of Christ in the world ; and it is by means of the gospel being preached to all nations in all the world , that the kingdom of Christ has been spread everywhere ; not only in Judea , where the gospel was first preached , but throughout the Gentile world , multitudes were converted , and churches were set up everywhere , Christianity triumphed , and heathenism everywhere abolished .

Nettles refers to J. M. Cramp's book and says that Cramp devotes 6 pages that are praiseworthy of Dr. Voluminous , but then says things that convey that Gill wasn't anxious for the conversion of souls .

I get suspicious when I hear statements like " these eminent men and all their followers , went far astray from the course marked out by our Lord and his apostles . " Really ? All those men ? That is rather categorical -- does someone have absolue knowledge here aside from the Lord Himself ?! " They did not call upon men to repent and believe the gospel . " The words " and all their followers . " are tricky . Dr. Gill did not rightly fall under that silly charge .

 

The Gill Pill For Today Is ...

... found in his book The Cause Of God And Truth , section 3 : Of Redemption , page 172 .

I shall only oberve , that by the doctrine of particular redemption , the honour of God is more consulted , and his love to souls is more demonstrated , than by that of general redemption ; for according to the former , all the gracious purposes and designs of God , respecting the salvation of men , are fully accomplished ; his justice is fully satisfied by the obedience and sufferings of his Son ; his grace and mercy are wonderfully displayed , and all his people are certainly saved with an everlasting salvation ; whereas , according to the latter , the gracious purposes and designs of God , respecting the salvation of men , are , with regard to a large , if not the largest number of them , entirely frustrated ; his justice does not appear to be satisfied with the sacrifice of his Son for their sins ; nor are his grace and mercy displayed in the application of salvation to them ; this doctrine not providing for the sure and certain salvation of any , but leaving it upon a precarious bottom , to be procured upon conditions of men's own performing ; so that if it is obtained , it is rather to be ascribed to the free will of man , than to the free grace of God ; and if so , how is the honour of God consulted by this doctrine ? And that the love of God is more demonstrated by the doctrine of particular , than by that of general redemption ...

 

Well , It's Anniversay Time -- So ...

I thought I would give this thread a bump due to a continual misunderstanding of Dr.Gill .

 

Squire , Matthew Henry died before completing his commentary of the Bible . Others stepped in for about the last third of the New Testament ( someone correct that ) .

 

Bump , bump , bump ! Note the first 4 posts in particular .