Dæmonologia Sacra; or, A Treatise of Satan's Temptations: In Three PartsGilpin, Richard
Religion
Dæmonologia Sacra; or, A Treatise of Satan's Temptations: In Three Parts
Gilpin, Richard
Devil -- Early works to 1800; Temptation -- Early works to 1800
time! What irreligious, prayerless families do some of them keep,
when they should shew better example to the meaner sort; and yet how
confidently can they censure others for hypocrites—sometime unjustly
concluding against the strictness of God’s ways from the liberty of
some professors—not considering what their own carriage and vanity
do testify against themselves! How do we needlessly multiply our
controversies and disputes! and with what bitterness do we manage them,
even when the strife is merely about words and method! and, generally,
how is the name of God and religion abused to serve the designs of men!
What strange religious people have we! Some must needs be religious
by taking up a singular conceit and opinion, though a man may easily
see their hearts through their lives: others have all their religion
on their tongue’s-end: they can have good discourses, and yet be
unconscionable in their callings, shops, and trading,’ (pp. 33, 34.)
Thus taking a conspicuous part in all that belonged to the interests of
the Church of Christ, our Worthy behind these went out and in before
his flock a ‘master-builder,’ from Sabbath to Sabbath preaching the
very gospel of Jesus Christ, with unequalled power, pungency, and
pathos combined, while he drew all hearts to himself; for he acted on
the maxim—
‘All worldly joys go less
To the one joy of doing kindnesses.’[33]
He was a large-hearted and open-handed man, as well as a faithful
‘preacher’—his life an exemplification of his teaching. He was, says
the ‘Noble’ memorial, ‘a gentleman and a Christian indeed; one of
singular gravity, temper, learning, and all valuable qualifications for
a minister; of a good family too, and an eligible estate; a witness and
an honour to the good cause of a further Reformation,’ (p. 38.) And so
he pursued the ‘even tenor of his way’ in his tranquil sphere. He had
married shortly after coming to Greystoke; but, curiously enough, the
lady’s name has not been preserved in any of the numerous family papers
put into my hands. The Greystoke ‘Registers’ record the baptism of two
of his children, William and Susannah. The ‘entries’ may be given here:—
‘1657. September. Borne the 5th Day in ye afternoune, and ye 23d day
Baptized, William, the Soune of Mr Richard Gilpin, p’son, [= parson],
of Graistock.
‘1659. Susanna, ye Daughter of Mr Gilpin, p’son, of Graistocke,
was borne ye 17th day of October, And Baptized ye 7th of December,
1659.’[34]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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