Prefatory Address to the Christian Reader, by David Alfred Doudney
The immortal Toplady has truly declared, that, “while true reUgion, and sound learning, have a single friend in the British Empire, the works and name’cf Gill will he precious and revered.”
My esteemed friend and Christian brother, Doudney, has accomplished his arduous undertaking, and presented us with a beautiful edition of “Dr. Gill’s Commentary,” at an amazingly low price. The Christian JVIinister has now a sound and learned gospel Exposition of the sacred Scriptures. We have also GiU’s whole mind, in doctrine, experience, and practice, in his elaborate “Body of Divuiity;” a new edition of which I carefully resed for the press in the year 1839. And if the reader would be acquainted with a sterling work, that plucks up by the roots the Arminian heresy, and wrests the sacred “Word out of the unhallowed hands of Pelagian Expositors, then let him consult “Gill’s Cause of God and Truth.” But there yet remains (I trust) a great number of plain and precious disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus, that are not ministers, and who have also but little time, or perhaps taste, for polemical and critical Divinity, who nevertheless have a relish for, and an appetite to feed at a table well spread with rich experimental provisions, and are glad to partake of “old wines well refined.” I am truly thankful that these persons, who are “heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ,” are not passed over, but that our good brother has catered for them also, in re-pubhsliing “Dr. Gill’s Exposition of Solomon’s Song;” a most blessed work, originally delivered in 122 sermons. It is very scarce, and exceedingly valuable. I know not a work containing more experimental savour, written by man. I have, during more than forty-five years spent in the Christian IVIinistry, repeatedly obtained marrow and fatness from a perusal of its pages. Nothing from Gill’s pen has perhaps been made so useful to devotional Cluistians as this; so that I can well recommend it to all those who would cry out with the Spouse, “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine” (Song i. 2.) Reader! take the exposition of this verse, as a commencing sample.
The celebrated James Hervey was a very great admirer of this work. In his “Theron and Aspasio,” we have the following high encomium (not too high) upon GiU on the Song: —” It has such a- copious view of sanctified invention running thi’ough it, and is also interspersed with such a variety of delicate brilliant images, as cannot but highly entertain a cmious mind. It presents us also with such rich and charming displays of the ghry of Chrisfs Person, the freeness of his grace to sinners,
and the tenderness of his love to the church, as cannot but administer the most exquisite delight to the believing soul. Considered in both those views, I think the work resembles the paradisaical garden, described by Milton, in which
‘Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue Appear’d, with gay enamell’d colours mix’d.’”
This Exposition has stood the test of exactly 130 years, (the sermons were preached in the year 1724;) it has obtained the meed and high approval of the truly wise and good; so that now all that modern men may allege, in depreciating, will be but as the paper pellets of a school-boy agamst a well-constructed fortification. Gill’s works “praise him in the gates,” Prov. xxxi. 31.
I need add no more: but, I shall consider a long ministerial life to be well closed, in recommending “Gill on Solomon’s Song” to the “Generation following.” Psal. xLviii. 13.
J. A. Jones.
London, March 8ih, 1854.
Beloved! — We are not fond of blank leaves, and therefore, as otherwise there would be a blank leaf in this introductory sheet, we venture to intrude upon the reader with a few remarks.
With what our aged Friend and Fellow-labourer has said of this mvaluable Exposition, we fully concur. Circumstances have occurred during its passing through the press, to prevent our paymg the same close attention to it as to the vohuninous Commentary. It has been read and revised mostly by others. But as far as the proof-sheets have fallen into our hands, we have found, not a close, clear, searching scrutmy of the doctrme of the text merely, but in addition, a savour and a power for which we were scarcely prepared. We love sound, full, so-called liigh-doctrine; but where the grace and the dew of the doctrme is there too, under the teaclimg, power, and application of the Holy Ghost, it fixes that doctrine in the heart and conscience; and we defy men or devils thence to uproot it. An imctious word dropped by the Holy Ghost upon the heart is like “cold water to a thirsty soul;” and whilst it exalts and endears a precious Christ, in his person, work, and offices, it is the most deadly artillery with which Satan and all the powers of darkness can be attacked.
We are of opuiion that many of these savoury sweets, beloved, will drop from this honey- comb into your heart; and thus make
“Sovereign mercy dear to you.
And Jesus all in all.”
One difficulty ofttimes presents itself in reading Solomon’s Song — it is the difficulty to ascertain who is the speaker, whether Christ or the Church. But to our mind there is a blessedness and a satisfaction in this very difficulty. It tends specially and powerfully to set forth the unions the oneness, the identity that subsists between Christ and his Church — the Bridegroom and the Bride. This very union in name, as well as in nature, is sweetly expressed by the prophet Jeremiah; in the 23rd chapter and 6th verse it is written, “And this is ms name whereby HE shall be called [Jehovah-tsidkenu] the Lord our righteousness;” and again in the 33rd chapter and 16th verse it is recorded, “And this is the name wherewith SHE shall be called, [Jehovah-tsidkenu] the Lord our righteousness.”
During the publication of Dr. Gill’s invaluable writings, we have had repeatedly to combat the scruples and objections of those who have marvelled that we, as a member and a minister of the Church of England, could publish the works of one who was opposed to that Church. To the gi-eat and gTand essentials — which are sound doctrine, and “the fruits of good living,” as evidencing the sincere and hearty reception of sound doctrine — which are the very bulwarks of the Church of England — Dr. Gill was not opposed. With regard to minor pomts of discipline we differ and agree to differ. We view these as non-essentials — the mere scaffolding of the true spu-itual temple. “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” There are things m thg Church of England which we could desire altered: and from the mass of its mmisters we differ as widely as light from darkness; but what men of truth in the EstabUshment may say and feel, that men of truth out of the Estabhshment equally say and feel. We have as much freedom and liberty — yea, infinitely more — withua her pale, than others have without her pale. We have no viii TO THE READER,
interference where they have hiterfereuce. They are subjected to a caprice and dictation to which we are not subjected.
But -with respect to the writings of Dr, Gill, and men of the same school, if there be light, if there be life, if there be power, we stay not to ask — for we care not to ^0 so — who they are, and what they are in point of relative position before men. We care not a straw whether they are EpiscopaUan or non-Episcopalian. It is enough for us that they are taught of God, blessed by God; and as such we hold out to them the right hand of fellowship, and wish them good luck in the name of the Lord.” And this is not in mere word. Those who are acquauited with the “Gospel Magazine,” originally edited by the immortal Toplady, can testify that these are the principles upon which we have, through grace, conducted it for fourteen years.
Finally, brethren, we say these are not times for contention: this is not a day for splitting hairs about straws; it little behoves us now to ask, “Who is of Paul, or who of Apollos?” The enemy is at our very gates — yea more, he has scaled the walls, — made a breach, — and is, apparently at least, upon the very point of taldng possession of the citadel. Up then, “to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” Print, preach, and practice (as God shall give you grace) “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Let press, and pulpit, and parlour, echo and re-echo, with a living testimony for covenant love, covenant blood, and covenant salvation: and this shall be found the most* effectual means of counteracting the artifices of Satan, and the cunning devices of Pope, Puseyite, and all such sanctimonious but hypocritical pretenders.
One word more. It does at times cheer our ofttimes drooping heart to reflect, that when our head shall be laid low, the hand that now writes shall be paralyzed in the long sleep of death, and our body be mouldermg in the silent grave; these precious testimonies for God and truth shall be ck-culating far and wide, even to the very ends of the earth. It does cheer us — ‘mid much darkness and many doubts — to think, that there have been, through our feeble instrumentahty, two thousand two hundred and fifty sets (or tMrteen thousand five hundi-ed voliunes) of the incomparable Commentary printed, and nearly all in circulation, from this little, dark, desolate. Popish village! And not only Gill, but the immortal Hawker, though dead, yet speaks afresh to us from the same quarter. Five thousand of his Morning and Evening Portions are at this moment passing through this Villagepress.
Gracious Lord, crown the same with thy covenant blessing: and, when we shall depart this Ufe, oh grant that our children and our children’s children — grant that these Uttle poor benighted villagers — the present helpers in this great work — may rise up to call Thee blessed; and that they may sing of us, as we now smg of ours.
“We ai’e travelling home to God,
In the Waif our fathers trod;
Theij are happy now, and we
Soon their happiness shall see.”
Beloved, we are yours to serve in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,
David Alfred Doudney, Bonmahon, Co. Waterford, Curate of Movksland.
April 7, 1854.