George Gillespie
George Gillespie was a prominent Scottish theologian whose work significantly influenced the development of Presbyterianism in Scotland. Born in 1613, he became known for his passionate advocacy of Reformed theology and his opposition to episcopacy, which was the governance of the church by bishops. Gillespie's theological writings, particularly 'Aaron's Rod Blossoming' and 'The Divine Right of Church Government,' articulated his views on the authority of the church and the importance of a presbyterian system of governance, which emphasized the role of elders and congregational participation in church affairs. Gillespie's contributions to the Westminster Assembly, where he served as a commissioner, were crucial in shaping the Westminster Confession of Faith, a foundational document for many Reformed churches. His arguments against the established church's hierarchical structure were both influential and controversial, earning him a lasting legacy as a key figure in the Scottish Reformation. Gillespie's commitment to his beliefs ultimately cost him his life, as he died at a young age in 1648, but his theological insights continue to resonate within Presbyterian circles today.
Famous Quotes
View all 3 quotes“Though we have clear and full scriptures in the New Testament for abolishing the Ceremonial law, yet we nowhere read in all the new Testament of the abolishing of the Judicial law, so far as it did concern the punishing of sins against the Moral law, of which Heresy and seducing of souls is one, and a great one. Once God did reveal his will for punishing those sins by such and such punishments. He who will hold that the Christian Magistrate is not bound to inflict such punishments for such sins, is bound to prove that those former laws of God are abolished, and to shew some scripture for it.”
“The apostle only commands that each action and ceremony of God's worship be decently and orderly performed, but gives us no leave to excogitate [contrive] or devise new ceremonies, which have not been instituted before. He has spoken in that chapter of assembling in the church, prophesying and preaching, praying and praising there. Now let all these things, and every other action of God's worship, ceremonies and all, be done decently and in order.”
“All your winning or losing of a good conscience, is in your first buying; for such is the deceitfulness of sin, and the cunning conveyance of that old serpent, that if his head be once entering in, his whole body will easily follow after; and if he make you handsomely to swallow gnats at first, he will make you swallow camels ere all be done. Oh, happy they who dash the little ones of Babylon against the stones (Ps. 137:9)!”
Books from the author
