The Works of Mr. George Gillespie Part 2
"MR GEORGE GILLESPIE.
"Mr George Gillespie, first minister of Kirkcaldy, and afterward minister of Edinburgh; when he was a child, he seemed to be somewhat dull and soft like, so that his mother would have stricken and abused him, and she would have made much of Patrick, his younger brother. His father, Mr John Gillespie, minister of Kirkcaldy, was angry to see his wife carry so to his son George; and he would have said, 'My heart, let alone; though Patrick may have some respect given him in the Church, yet my son George will be the great man in the Church of Scotland.' And he said of him when he was a-dying, 'George, George, I have gotten many a brave promise for thee.' And indeed he was very soon a great man; for it's reported, that before he was a preacher, he wrote the 'English Popish Ceremonies.' He was, of all ministers in his time, one of the greatest men for disputing and arguing; so that he was, being but a young man, much admired at the a.s.sembly at Westminster, by all that heard him; he being one of the youngest members that was there. I heard old Mr Patrick Simson say, that he heard his cousin, Mr George Gillespie say, 'Let no man who is called of G.o.d to any work, be it never so great and difficult, distrust G.o.d for a.s.sistance, as I clearly found at that great a.s.sembly at Westminster. If I were to live a long time in the world, I would not desire a more n.o.ble life, than the life of pure and single dependence on G.o.d; for, said he, though I may have a claim to some gifts of learning and parts, yet I ever found more advantage by single looking to G.o.d for a.s.sistance than by all the parts and gifts that ever I could pretend to, at that time.'
"When he was at London, he would be often on his knees; at another time, reading and writing. And when he was sitting in that great a.s.sembly at Westminster, he was often observed to have a little book, and to be marking down something with his pen in that book, even when some of the most learned men, as Coleman and Selden, were delivering their long and learned orations, and all he was writing was for the most part his pithy e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns to G.o.d, writing these words; _Da lucem, Domine; Da lucem!_ When these learned men had ended their oration, the Moderator proposed who should give an answer to their discourse; they all generally voted Mr Gillespie to be the person. He being a young man, seemed to blush, and desired to be excused, when so many old and learned divines were present, yet all the brethren, with one voice, determined he should be the person that should give an answer to that learned oration. Though he seemed to take little heed, yet being thus pressed, he rose up, and resumed all the particulars of that learned oration very distinctly, and answered every part of it so fully, that all that heard him were amazed and astonished; for he died in 1648, and was then but about thirty-six years of age. Mr Calamy, if I be not forgotten, said, we were ready to think more of Mr Gillespie than was truly meet; if he had not been stained by being against our way and judgment for the Engagement.
"He was one of the great men that had a chief hand in penning our most excellent Confession of Faith and Catechisms. He was a most grave and bold man, and had a most wonderful gift given him for disputing and arguing. My father told me, he observed that when there was a considerable number of ministers met, there were several of our great n.o.bles were strongly reasoning with our ministers about the engagement 1648. When Mr Gillespie was busy studying his sermon that he was to preach before the Parliament to-morrow, the ministers sent privately for Mr Gillespie, whom he observed to come in very quietly, and when Lauderdale, Glencairn, and some others, rose up and debated very strongly for the engagement, Mr Gillespie rose up and answered them so fully and distinctly, firstly, secondly, and thirdly, that he fully silenced them all; and Glencairn said, 'There is no standing before this great and mighty man!' I heard worthy Mr Rowat say, that Mr Gillespie said, 'The more truly great a man is, he was really the more humble and low in his own eyes,' as he instanced in the great man Daniel; and, said he, 'G.o.d did not make choice of some of us as his instruments in the glorious work of Reformation, because we were more fit than others, but rather because we were more unfit than others.' He was called _Malleus Mallignantium_, and Mr Baillie, writing to some in this church anent Mr George Gillespie, said, 'He was truly an ornament to our church and nation.' And Mr James Brown, late minister of Glasgow, told me that there was an English gentleman said to him, that he heard Mr Gillespie preach, and he said, he believed he was one of the greatest Presbyterians in the world. He was taken from the Greyfriars' Church to the New Church. He has written several pieces, as 'Aaron's Rod Blossoming,' and 'Some Miscellany Questions,' and his 'a.s.sertion of the Government of the Church of Scotland, about Ruling Elders.' He had several little books wherein he set down his remarks upon the proceedings of the a.s.sembly at Westminster."-WODROW'S a.n.a.lECTA, vol. iii. pp. 109-18.
"What follows here I have in conversation with Mr Patrick Simpson, whose memory was most exact. What concerns Mr Gillespie, and the Marquis of Montrose, I read over to him, and he corrected. The rest are hints I set down after conversation, when two or three days with him in his house at Renfrew, in the year 1707.
(ACCOUNT OF THE LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH OF MR GEORGE GILLESPIE.)
"Mr George Gillespie being moderator of the a.s.sembly held at Edinburgh, July 12th, 1648, was all the time thereof, as also half a year before, in a greater weakness of body than ordinary; that being now come to a height, which long before had been gathering. He had a great hoasting and sweating, which in the time of the General a.s.sembly began to grow worse; but being extraordinarily (so I may say) upheld, was not so sensible as when the a.s.sembly dissolved it appeared to be. On occasion whereof, the next Wednesday after the rising of the a.s.sembly, he went with his wife over to Kirkcaldy, there intending to tarry for a s.p.a.ce, till it should please the Lord, by the use of means, to restore him to some more health to come over again. But when he was come there, his weakness and disease grew daily more and more, so that no application of any strength durst be used towards him. It came to that, he kept his chamber still to his death, wearing and wasting hoasting, and sweating. Ten days before his death his sweating went away, and his hoasting lessened, yet his weakness still encreased, and his flux still continued. On Wednesday morning, which day he began to keep his bed, his pain began to be very violent, his breath more obstructed, his heart oppressed; and that growing all the next night to a very great height, in the midst of the night there were letters written to his brother, and Mr Rutherford, and Mr John Row, his death approaching fast. On Friday all day, and Thursday all night, he was at some ease. Friday at night, till Sat.u.r.day in the afternoon, in great violence, the greatness of pain causing want of sleep. Mr Rutherford and Lord Craigihall came to visit him. Thus much for his body. Now I'll speak a little of what concerns his soul, and the exercise of his mind all the while.
Monday, December 11, 1648, came my Lords Argyle, Ca.s.sils, Elcho, and Warriston to visit him. He did faithfully declare his mind to them, as public men, in that point whereof he hath left a testimony to the view of the world, as afterwards; and the speaking was very burdensome, yet he spared not very freely to fasten their duty upon them. The exercise of his mind all the time of his sickness was vary sad and constant, without comfortable manifestations, and sensible presence for the time, yet he continued in a constant faith of adherence, which ended in an adhering a.s.surance, his grips growing still the stronger.
"One day, a fortnight before his death, he had leaned down on a little bed, and taking a fit of faintness, and his mind being heavily exercised, and lifting up his eyes, this expression fell with great weight from his mouth, 'O my dear Lord, forsake me not forever!' His weariness of this life was very great, and his longing to be relieved, and to be where the veil would be taken away.
"Tuesday, December 14, (1648) he was in heavy sickness, and three pastors came in the afternoon to visit him, of whom one said to him, 'The Lord hath made you faithful in all he hath employed you in, and it's likely we be put to the trial; therefore what encouragement give you us thereanent!'
Whereto he answered in few words, 'I have gotten more by the Lord's immediate a.s.sistance than ever I had by study, in the disputes I had in the a.s.sembly of Divines in England; therefore let never man distrust G.o.d for a.s.sistance that cast themselves on him, and follow his calling. For my own part, the time that I have had in the exercise of the ministry is but a moment.' To which sentence another pastor answered, 'But your moment hath exceeded the gray heads of others! This I may speak without flattery.' To which he answered disclaiming it with a 'no;' for he desired still to have Christ exalted, as he said at the same time, and another.
And at other times, when any such things were spoken to him, 'What are all my righteousnesses but rotten rags? All that I have done cannot abide the touchstone of his justice. They are all but abominations, and as an unclean thing, when they are reckoned between my G.o.d and me. Christ is all things, and I am nothing!' The other pastor when the rest were out, asked, 'Whether he was enjoying the comforts of G.o.d's presence, or if they were for a time suspended! He answered, Indeed they were suspended.' Then within a little while he said, 'Comforts! aye comforts!' meaning, that they were not easily attained. His wife said, 'What reck'd the comfort if believing is not suspended!' He said, 'No.' Speaking farther to that his condition, he said, 'Although that I should never see any more light of comfort than I do see, yet I shall adhere, and do believe that He is mine, and I am his!'
"The next morrow being Friday, he not being able to write, did dictate out the rest of a paper, which he had been before writing himself, and did subscribe it before two witnesses, who also did subscribe; wherein he gave faithful and clear testimony to the work and cause of G.o.d, and against the enemies thereof, to stop the mouths of calumniators and to confirm his children.
"In all his discourses this was mixed as one thing, that he longed for the time of relief, and rejoiced because it was so near. His breath being very short, he said, 'Where the hallelujahs are sung to the Lamb, there is no shortness of breath!' And being in very great pain all the Friday night, his mother said in the morning, 'In all appearance you will not have another night.' To which he said, 'Think you that your word will hold good?' She said, 'I fear it will hold over good.' He said, 'Not over good.' That day he blessed his children and some others, (Mr Patrick Simson, the writer of this) and said, 'G.o.d bless you: and as you carry the name of your grandfather, so G.o.d grant you his graces.' That afternoon, being Sat.u.r.day, came Mr Samuel Rutherford, who, among other things, said, 'The day, I hope, is dawning, and breaking in your soul, that shall never, have an end.' He said, 'It is not broken yet; but though I walk in darkness and see no light, yet I will trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon my G.o.d!' Mr Samuel said, 'Would not Christ be a welcome guest to you?' He answered, 'Welcome! the welcomest guest that ever I saw.' He said further, 'Doth not your soul love Christ above all things?' He answered, 'I love him heartily: who ever knew any thing of him but would love him!'
"Mr James Wilson going to pray, asked 'What pet.i.tions he would have him to put up for him?' He said, 'For more of himself, and strength to carry me through the dark valley.'
"Sat.u.r.day night he became weaker, and inclined to drowsiness and sleeping, and was discerned in his drowsiness a little to rave; yet being till the last half hour in his full and perfect senses, and having taken a little jelly and drink, about half an hour before his death he spake as sensibly betwixt as ever, and blessed some persons that morning with very spiritual and heavenly expressions. About seven or eight of the clock his drowsiness encreased, and he was overheard in it speaking (after he had spoken more imperfectly some words before) those words, 'Glory! Glory! a seeing of G.o.d! a seeing of G.o.d! I hope it shall be for his glory!' After he had taken a little refreshment of jelly, and a little drink through a reed, he said that the giving him these things made him drowsy; and a little afterwards, 'There is a great drowsiness on me, I know not how it comes.'
"His wife seeing the time draw near, spake to him and said, 'The time of your relief is now near, and hard at hand.' He answered, 'I long for that time. O! happy they that are there.' This was the last word he was heard sensibly to speak. Mr Frederick Carmichael being there, they went to prayer, expecting death so suddenly. In the midst of prayer he left his rattling(9) and the pangs and fetches of death begin thence, his senses went away. Whereupon they rose from prayer, and beheld till, in a very gentle manner, the pins of his tabernacle were loosed.
"He said (_supra_) 'Say not over good,' because he thought she wronged him so far in wishing the contrary of what he longed for.
"Mr Carmichael said, 'You have been very faithful, and the Lord has honoured you to do him very much service, and now you are to get your reward.' He answered 'I think it reward enough, that ever I got leave to do him any service in truth and sincerity.' "
This account was dictated to me by Mr Patrick Simson, Mr Gillespie's cousin, who was with him to his last sickness, and at his death, and took minutes at the time of these his expressions. I read it over, after I had written it, to him. He corrected some words, and said to me, "This is all I mind about his expressions toward his close. They made some impression on me at the time, and I then set them down. I have not read the paper that I mind these forty years, but I am pretty positive these were his very words." A day or two after, I went in with him to his closet to look for another paper, for now he had almost lost his sight, and in a bundle, I fell on the paper he wrote at the time, and told him of it. When we compared it with what I wrote, there was not the least variation betwixt the original and what I wrote, save an inconsiderable word or two, here altered; which is an instance of a strong memory, the greatest ever I knew.
(Subscribed) R WODROW
Sept. 8, 1707 WODROW's a.n.a.lECTA, vol. I, pp. 154-159
_What follows about Mr Gillespie I wrote also from Mr Simson's mouth._
"George Gillespie was born January 21st, 1613. He was first minister at Weemyse, the first admitted under Presbytery 1638. He was minister at Weemyse about two years. He was very young when laureate, before he was seventeen. He was chaplain first to my lord Kenmure, then to the Lord of Ca.s.silis. When he was with Ca.s.silis, he wrote his 'English Popish Ceremonies,' which when printed, he was about twenty-two. He wrote a 'Dialogue between a Civilian and Divine,' a piece against Toleration, ent.i.tled 'Wholesome Severity reconciled with Christian Liberty.' He died in strong faith of adherence, though in darkness as to a.s.surance, which faith of adherence he preached much. He died December seventeen, 1648. If he had lived to January 21, 1649, he had been thirty six years.
"The last paper he wrote, was 'The Commission of the Kirk's Answer to the State's Observations on the Declaration of the General a.s.sembly anent the Unlawfulness of the Engagement.' The Observations were penned, (as my relator supposes) by Mr William Colville, who wrote all these kind of papers for the Committee of Estates, and printed during the a.s.sembly whereof he was moderator. They could not overtake it, but remitted it to the Commission to sit on Monday, and Mr Gillespie wrote the answer on Sat.u.r.day and the Sabbath, when he (the thing requiring haste) staid from sermon, and my informer, Mr Patrick Simson, transcribed it against Monday at ten, when it pa.s.sed without any alteration. And just the week after, he went over to Fife, where he died. He was not full ten years in the ministry. He had all his sermons in England, part polemical, part practical prepared for the press, and but one copy of them, which he told the printer's wife he used to deal with, and bade her have a care of them.
And she was prevailed on by some money from the Sectaries, who were mauled by him, to suppress them. He was very clear in all his notions, and the manner of expressing them. There are six volumes in 8vo ma.n.u.script which he wrote at the a.s.sembly of Divines remaining."-WODROW'S a.n.a.lECTA, vol. i.
p. 159-160.
DISPUTE AGAINST THE ENGLISH POPISH CEREMONIES OBTRUDED ON THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.
DISPUTE AGAINST THE ENGLISH POPISH CEREMONIES
OBTRUDED ON THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND;
WHEREIN NOT ONLY OUR OWN ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE SAME ARE STRONGLY CONFIRMED, BUT LIKEWISE THE ANSWERS AND DEFENCES OF OUR OPPOSITES, SUCH AS HOOKER, MORTOUNE, BURGES, SPRINT, PAYBODY, ANDREWS, SARAVIA, TILEN, SPOTSWOOD, LINDSEY, FOSBESSE, ETC., PARTICULARLY CONFUTED
BY GEORGE GILLESPIE,
MINISTER AT EDINBURGH,
1662.
Jer. ix. 12-14.
"Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth?" "And the Lord saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein, but here walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim."
EDINBURGH:
ROBERT OGLE, AND OLIVER & BOYD.
M. OGLE & SON AND WILLIAM COLLINS, GLASGOW.
D. DEWAR, PERTH. G. & R. KING, ABERDEEN. W. M'COMB, BELFAST.
HAMILTON, ADAMS & CO., AND JAMES NISBET & CO., LONDON.
MDCCCXLIV.
Reprinted from Edition of 1660.
A. MURRAY, PRINTER, MILNE SQUARE, EDINBURGH.
DEDICATION
TO ALL AND EVERY ONE IN THE REFORMED CHURCHES OF SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, AND IRELAND, WHO LOVE THE LORD JESUS, AND MEAN TO ADHERE UNTO THE REFORMATION OF RELIGION.
GRACE, MERCY, AND PEACE, FROM G.o.d OUR FATHER, AND FROM THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.