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THE CAUSE OF GOD AND TRUTH: In Four Parts, Being an Examination of the principal passages of Scripture made use of by the Arminians, with the judgment of the ancient Christian Church concerning them.
John Gill
PREFACE
It should be known by the reader, that the following work was undertaken and begun about the year 1733 or 1734, at which time Dr. Whitby's Discourse on the Five Points was reprinted, judged to be a masterpiece on the subject, in the English tongue, and accounted an unanswerable one; and it was almost in the mouth of every one, as an objection to the Calvinists, Why do not ye answer Dr. Whitby? Induced hereby, I determined to give it another reading, and found myself inclined to answer it, and thought this was a very proper and seasonable time to engage in such a work.
In the year 1735, the First Part of this work was published, in which are considered the several passages of Scripture made us of by Dr. Whitby and others in favour of the Universal Scheme, and against the Calvinistic Scheme, in which their arguments and objections are answered, and the several passages set in a just and proper light. These, and what are contained in the following Part in favour of the Particular Scheme, are extracted from Sermons delivered in a Wednesday evening's lecture.
The Second Part was published in the year 1736, in which the several passages of Scripture in favour of special and distinguishing grace, and the arguments from them, are vindicated from the exceptions of the Arminians, and particularly from Dr. Whitby, and a reply made to answers and objections to them.
The Third Part was published in 1737, and is a confutation of the arguments from reason used by the Arminians, and particularly by Dr. Whitby, against the above doctrines; and a vindication of such as proceed on rational accounts in favour of them, in which it appears that they are no more disagreeable to right reason than to divine revelation; to the latter of which the greatest deference should be paid, though the Rationalists of our age too much neglect it, and have almost quitted it; but to the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is not light in them.
In this part of the work is considered the agreement of the sentiments of Mr. Hobbes and the Stoic philosophers with those of the Calvinists, in which the difference between them is observed, and the calumny removed; to which is added, a Defence of the Objections to the Universal Scheme, taken from the prescience and the providence of God, and the case of the Heathens.
The Fourth Part was published in 1738, in which the sense of the ancient writers of the Christian Church, before the times of Austin, is given; the importance and consequence of which is shown, and that the Arminians have very little reason to triumph on that account.
This work was published at a time when the nation was greatly alarmed with the growth of Popery, and several learned gentlemen were employed in preaching against some particular points of it; but the author of this work was of opinion, that the increase of Popery was greatly owing to the Pelagianism, Arminianism, and other supposed rational schemes men run into, contrary to divine revelation. This was the sense of our fathers in the last century, and therefore joined these and Popery together in their religious grievances they were desirous of having redressed; and indeed, instead of lopping off the branches of Popery, the axe should be laid to the root of the tree, Arminianism and Pelagianism, the very life and soul of Popery.
This new edition, with some alterations and improvements, is now published by request.
--John Gill, D.D.
When, in the tumultuous days of the beginning of the Downgrade Controversy, Charles Spurgeon faced the possibility of the loss of friends and finances, he recalled in a letter to his church a moment of poignancy in the ministry of John Gill.
"My eminent predecessor, Dr. Gill, was told, by a certain member of his congregation who ought to have known better, that if he published his book, The Cause of God and Truth , he would lose some of his best friends, and that his income would fall off. The doctor said, 'I can afford to be poor, but I cannot afford to injure my conscience;' and he has left his mantle as well as his chair in our vestry." [C. H. Spurgeon, Autobiography , 2 vols. (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1973) 2:477].
This Spurgeonic remark carries within it the legacy of John Gill to evangelical Christianity, in general, and Baptists, in particular. It is especially appropriate that the remark was made concerning the book now being reprinted by the Baptist Standard Bearer. Alternately applauded and derided, celebrated and lamented, appreciated and opprobriated, Gill remains a significant testimony to the faithfulness of God in giving spiritual gifts for His peoples' benefit.
--From the Introduction by Tom J. Nettles
The Cause of God and Truth, in Four Parts. Being an Examination of the principal passages of Scripture made use of by the Arminians, with the judgment of the ancient Christian Church concerning them. With a Vindication of Part IV. (Paperback)
This volume is a 6 x 9 HARDCOVER. It contains - 356 pages
Original Publisher: W. Collinridge - London
Original Pub. Date: 1855
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