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
I have now to notice the MANUSCRIPTS of Gilpin. By the courtesy of
the Rev. Bernard Gilpin, Bengeo, Hertford, I have had confided to me
the original holograph of ‘_Dæmonologia Sacra_,’ and in our reprint
I have found it clearing up occasional misprints and mis-pointings.
The MS. is not complete; the collation is as follows: General title
and three special titles, pp. 3. To the Reader, pp. 6, signed ‘Rich.
Gilpin.’ Treatise on to Part II., page 255, (in our edition,) ending
in line 21st from top, 4 disqui[eting].’ The penmanship is clear and
legible, with few erasures, and having a margin on either side. On the
top of the page whereon Part I. begins, there is the date, ‘Newcastle,
July 9, 1671.’[74] Further: Calamy, in his ‘Account,’ thus mentions a
_manuscript_ treatise of which he had heard: ‘Among other things he
hath left behind him in manuscript, a valuable Treatise concerning
The Pleasantness of the Ways of Religion; and in whatsoever hands it
lies, it is pity but it should see the light,’ (vol. ii. p. 157.) It
is to be lamented that this appeal was not responded to, as Prebendary
Gilpin records sorrowfully its loss as follows: ‘Among his other papers
was found a treatise of considerable length, prepared, as it seemed,
for the press, “On the Pleasures of Religion.” This MS., and several
other MSS. of Dr Gilpin’s, consisting chiefly of heads and divisions
of sermons, from which he used commonly to preach, fell into the hands
of the author of this memoir; and being deposited in a box with
other papers, and placed in the corner of a closet, were attacked by
what is commonly called dry damp, and were almost entirely spoiled.
If anything had been interposed between the bottom of the box and
the floor so as to have suffered the air to circulate, the mischief
had been prevented;’ and what levity in the custodier of so precious
a legacy that this little care was neglected. Mr Gilpin of Juniper
Green writes me concerning these spoiled MSS.: ‘Nevertheless [_i.e._,
notwithstanding their utter destruction by the dry-rot] my mother kept
the fragments all the days of her life with great veneration. But now
these relics—they were little better than ashes—of our ancestor have
perished.’
I have thus done my best to revivify the story of RICHARD GILPIN, His
highest ‘record’ is ‘on high;’ but those who love the memory of our
Worthy, will, it is hoped, accept kindly our endeavours to keep his
grave green, and to import, so to speak, personality to the name in an
old title-page—of one who did valiant service for The Master:
‘Sword and spear he might not wield,
But with faith his heart to shield,
Marched he to the battle-field.’—[‘_Paradisus Animæ._’]
And so I close with like verses by leal-hearted Sir Egerton Brydges:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account