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
Few who know the fine old quarto ‘_Dæmonologia Sacra_’ of Dr Gilpin
will dispute its right to a place of honour in the Series of later
Puritan Divines. To those who have not hitherto heard,—or only heard
of it,—we commend it with all confidence and urgency as in various
respects a remarkable book by a remarkable man. It will be found—as
an early writer says of another—‘_matter-full_,’ and nevertheless
suggestive rather than exhaustive—that is, you have many rich lodes
of the ore of thought opened, but many others indicated, not worked;
clear and keen of insight into the deepest places of the deepest
things discussed; wide in its out-look, yet concentrated in its
in-look; sagacious and wise in its general conclusions, and passionate
as compassionate in its warnings, remonstrances, and counsels; full
of faith in all ‘written’ in The Word, and pathetically credulous
in accepting testimony when a given fact (alleged) is fitted to
barb an appeal; curious and quaint in its lore; intense and anxious
in its trackings of sin without and within; pre-Raphaelite in the
vivid fidelity of its portrayals of satanic guiles, and guises
that are always disguises; and above all, tenderly _experimental_
in its consolation to the tried and troubled. The third part is an
exposition of the Temptation of our Lord, which may bear comparison for
thoroughness and power with any extant.
For our Memoir of Dr Gilpin we have had literally to do everything,
inasmuch as next to nothing has thus far been published concerning
him—not even his birthplace, or birth or death dates known. If still we
feel the result of our ‘labour of love’ in prosecuting the necessary
researches, to be very inadequate, it is gratifying that we have
secured so much as we have done.
As in the preparation of former Memoirs, our visits and investigations
have brought us much pleasant intercourse and correspondence with
descendants, representatives, and reverers of the old Worthy. Family
papers of the most private nature have been unreservedly confided to
us—as duly acknowledged in each place where referred to or used; and
altogether the most ungrudging help has been rendered. The various
friends mentioned in the foot-notes of the Memoir will be so good as
accept this further general acknowledgment.
It only remains to state that the present volume has been edited on
the same principle with Sibbes and Brooks. The text is given with
scrupulous integrity; references and quotations are traced, and less
known names and dates annotated; every reference or quotation of
Scripture verified and filled in; and copious indices are subjoined;
the two last the more important, that Dr Gilpin himself seems to have
quoted Scripture from memory, and furnished no ‘table’ or index beyond
the heading of the several chapters as ‘contents.’
May this revised treatise be used at this later day as in the past, to
help in the great warfare against the Adversary.
ALEXANDER B. GROSART.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account