George Gillespie, A Dispute Against the English Popish Ceremonies worth Reading?

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Kinghezy

Puritan Board Sophomore
I keep seeing "George Gillespie, A Dispute Against the English Popish Ceremonies" mentioned in various threads. Is this worth reading? Owning?

Thanks!
 
Well, I've been here since 2005 and may be responsible for some of that. I would say yes. I'm biased and make a few bucks per copy, but if you really want to get into it get the 2013 critical edition at the link. The Naphtali Press 1993 edition is nice with big print but has mistakes and less research (a lot less), if you can find one. http://www.naphtali.com/store/products/
 
Two yeses and a link to purchase that also has Bownd (who was also on my radar) and no nasty Gollum pics. I consider that a successful thread. Thanks.
 
Anything edited by Chris Coldwell, but especially this work by Gillespie, is well worth the time and effort to work through it. It is not the easiest read, but very profitable.

I'll second that and am happy to pile on with another "yes": buy it; own it; read it....
 
I would love to know how much the PB has cost me in book orders...

Actually I would rather live in denial.

First time ordering from Naphtali. Looking forward to reading your work Chris.
 
Off topic question: What other works by a 24 year old would you recommend besides Gillespie?
 
24 when published. Possibly begun work on it when he became tutor for the children of the Earl of Cassillis in 1634 at the age of 21.
Off topic question: What other works by a 24 year old would you recommend besides Gillespie?
 
Read it a lot in the mornings. It was devotional to me. I actually did it during deer Season many years ago at a McDonalds in Brazil, In. I could see Jesus more clearly and the worlds Churches more clearly. I mean world Churches. All abrogations have to deal with who Christ is and his love for us. He loves truth, daily working it out, and not man made worship but worship that comes from Him and His Church. It deals with Sacraments and Ecclesiology. A lot of people remove the laymen from Ecclesiology. That is a problem. Submission is a responsible but intelligent response we neglect sometimes. It is just as important. We are to have the mind of Christ. I am not recommending blind faith. I am recommending we follow our Lord and His leading by his Elders. And yes, that is from Ephesians, Timothy, and Titus.
 
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Thought I would add another note here. When we read older works we need to read them in their historical context. Erastianism was the setting this work was set in. The superstition of Roman Catholic influence, interpretation, and authority was heavily infused in the mind of the European sphere. The RCC ceremonies were naturally binding upon the conscience of the people. This work looks at things in light of Christ and His Word in comparison to the common practices of the Church during that time. Unfortunately today, those same bindings to things indifferent still lay hold and bind mens consciences to things not commanded in the Church today. Our man made ceremonies and submission to man made worship have brought much superstition and false obedience to the world today. Christ is hidden because of this.

I saw the slight of hand exposed and meticulously dealt with by Gillespie as he dealt with false thinking and conjectures men assumed as they knowingly or unknowingly bound the conscience of their hearers to superstition instead of the word of God. This is not a book that supports the Normative Principle as many man made doctrines are exposed and indifference is challenged. It rightly notes our Liberty of conscience to obey Christ and the Law He gave us that he might expose Himself to us.

Anyways, I highly recommend the book. It is easier to read than some books written in a scholarly fashion. Chris did a good job with defining old language so that this pee brain could at least understand most of what was being said.
 
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