The Cause of God and Truth
Overview
In this work, Gill examines the tenets of Calvinism, going over the doctrines, the Scriptures, and the historical figures associated with this controversial topic. Divided into four sections, Gill answers the objections to Calvinism raised by Dr. Whitby, a prominent Arminian scholar, whose arguments are included in this collection. He addresses reprobation, election, redemption, grace, predestination, and original sin. Gill also provides biographies of several theologians—such as Athanasius and Ignatius—and their stances on these doctrines.
Top Highlights
“Angels and man both, have been in a state of probation already, in which their free will, and power to obey the commands of God, have been sufficiently tried; which trial has issued in the fall and ruin of a large number of angels, and of the whole race of mankind; and therefore it is not reasonable to suppose that God would put man into such a state again; but rather provide in another way for the good of those he designed to bring to everlasting happiness.” (Page 13)
“The doctrine of particular redemption is the doctrine of the Scriptures. Christ died not for all men, but for some only; who are called his people, his sheep, his church, unless all men can be thought to be the people, sheep, and church of Christ.” (Page 8)
“Cain failed either in the matter or manner of his sacrifice; probably in the latter; since the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews observes, that by faith, Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain†. Cain offered his sacrifice without faith, without any view to the sacrifice of Christ: he performed this his sacrifice hypocritically, in show and appearance only; he acted from no right principle, nor to any right end; and therefore his works, whatever show of righteousness they might have, are, by the apostle John*, rightly called evil; as are also all the works of wicked and unregenerate men.” (Pages 2–3)
“This may lead us to observe the insufficiency of moral suasion and the external ministry of the word, without the powerful and efficacious grace of the Spirit.” (Page 6)
“Arminianism and Pelagianism, the very life and soul of Popery” (Page vii)
- Title: The Cause of God and Truth
- Author: John Gill
- Edition: A New Edition
- Publishers: J. and S. A. Tegg, Richard Griffin and company, T. Tegg & Son, Tegg & Company
- Print Publication Date: 1838
- Logos Release Date: 2015
- Pages: 616
- Era: era:modern
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Whitby, Daniel, 1638-1726 › Discourse on the five points; Heywood, Henry › Defence of Dr. Whitby’s Treatise of original sin; Calvinism › Doctrinal and controversial works
- Resource ID: LLS:CAUSGODTRUTH
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-11T17:27:50Z
John Gill (1697–1771) was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire. He became a Baptist clergyman, a biblical scholar, and a staunch Calvinist. Gill was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Aberdeen in 1748. Gill pastored at Benjamin Keach’s former church, New Park Street Chapel. Later, he pastored what would become Charles Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle for 51 years.
Gill is the first major Baptist theologian writer. His stance on Calvinism is somewhat a matter of debate. Some say Gill would not describe himself as hyper-Calvinist, while others contend that he indeed was.
Some of Gill’s most important academic works are The Doctrine of the Trinity Stated and Vindicated, The Cause of God and Truth, and A Body of Doctrinal Divinity, all of which appear in The Works of John Gill (19 vols.).