to their family and servants. The bishops George was now able to became a were also stopping those who were minister when the bishops were no longer faithful to the Lord Jesus from becoming ruling the Church. The Church was free ministers. George could not become a to follow the teaching of the Lord Jesus minister, but teaching the family was Christ in the Bible. George had other another way of serving God. It also meant important work too. He had to preach to that he could study the Bible a great deal, the soldiers in the Army because this was along with books that would help him to a time of war. He also went with other understand it better. ministers to speak to the king. He was YOUNG still very young but he had studied so George became friends with a godly much and he was able to speak so clearly minister in that place called Samuel that they could not do without him. BUlwark Rutherford. They often prayed and Someone said that they thought he would talked together. They agreed that they be one of the greatest minds in the whole would always pray for each other. George of Britain. continued to study a lot. He was able to write a very important book. The king and 3. THE his bishops had changed the way that George went to to join a the Church was ruled and how God was special meeting of ministers who were GEORGE worshipped. This book showed that these agreeing on how all churches in Britain changes did not come from the Bible; should worship, and what they should GILLESPIE they were just the ideas of men. The king believe. This was called the Westminster and bishops were punishing people who Assembly. He was the youngest man spoke out against the changes. George there but George was also one of the grew up in Fife in great man in the Church of .” had to get the book printed in Holland most clever and he had to make a lot of Scotland. He had an older brother and Both boys grew up to be ministers and without his name on it. He was only speeches. sister as well as a younger brother called things turned out exactly as their father twenty-four years old but he had written Patrick. Patrick seemed to be a bit more thought they would. Even before he a book that everyone respected and no One or two others wanted the lively and he was his mother’s favourite. was a minister, everyone was going to one could argue against. The only thing government to control the Church, She could be very hard on George because be amazed at the unconquered mind of the government could do was to try to but George showed that only the Lord she said he was “soft and dull”. Perhaps George Gillespie. But John never saw this get all copies of the book and burn them. Jesus can tell the Church what to do. he was quiet and more interested in for himself because he died when the But this would not answer his arguments. He showed how the Bible gives us all we books than playing. Sometimes parents boys were teenagers. As he lay dying he need to know in obeying God and that it can have favourites but this should not said, “George, George, I have received 2. THE was wrong and dangerous to think that happen and it causes trouble. many precious promises for you.” The king wanted to make even more men were wiser than God. changes in the Church now. The ministers Their father John (who was a minister) 1. GODLY LEARNING and people would not accept them. They One time a very clever lawyer spoke called did not like her saying this and it annoyed George was very clever and got a signed a special document called the . Someone said that he was him. He had a diferent view because scholarship to pay for him to go to National Covenant, promising to God that the most clever man in the whole country. while he had been praying he believed university where he worked hard. After they would keep to what the Bible taught He began to use all of his learning to God gave some special promises about finishing he became chaplain for a rich about what we should believe and how argue that the government must control George. He said, “Though Patrick may man called Lord Kenmure. This happened God should be worshipped. The king and the Church. He used all kinds of ancient have some respect given him in the a lot at this time. Men who were very busy bishops could not force them to do what writers in Hebrew and Greek to back up Church, yet my son George will be the could have a minister to teach the Bible they wanted any more. his reasons. People tried to answer but

24 The Bulwark July - September 2019 25 they found it dificult. George’s friend spoke very clearly and answered all the GEORGE GILLESPIE said to him “Rise, arguments. People wondered what George, man, and defend the Church he had been writing in his notebook. which Christ has purchased with His Amongst the notes he made was a WORD own blood.” George rose and gave seven constant prayer repeated over and over: powerful arguments that could not be “Give light, Lord. Give light!” His prayers answered. John Selden was amazed and to God for help were fully answered. With SEARCH said, “That young man, by this single God’s help, his arguments could not be CAN YOU FIND ALL THE HIDDEN WORDS speech, has swept away the learning and answered. IN THIS WORD SEARCH? labour of ten years of my life!” 4. THE END OF A SHORT LIFE Where did George get his help? Was it But George was not going to live a long just from all his learning? No, he was time in this world. He preached before praying for God to help him. He said Parliament and wrote more books. He himself that no one should fear the worked so hard at this important work most dificult work that God calls us to, that he became weak in his body and ill. because God will help us. He said that He went back to Scotland and it was not this is what happened to him at the long before he died even though he was Westminster Assembly. “If I were to still quite young. He was very ill and weak live a long time in this world,” he said, “I with coughing all the time but he longed would not desire a more noble life than for heaven. the life of complete dependence on God.” He said that though he had been gifted People tried to encourage him with all with clear thinking and being able to that he had done in his short life. “You learn a lot, he got more from looking to have been very faithful”, someone said, God for help than from all his gifts. He “and the Lord has honoured you with studied hard but he depended on God very much service, and now you are to rather than himself. This meant he was get your reward.” George was not going as much on his knees praying as he was to see things in this way; he replied: “I studying. think it reward enough that ever I got leave to do him any service in truth and He had a little notebook when these sincerity.” The truth is that, as George important discussions were going said another time: “the more truly great on and he recorded things that were a man is the more humble he is in his own being said. One time John Selden and eyes”. others gave long speeches in favour of government control of the Church. He was not trusting in all his Bible study George Gillespie was busy writing in or serving God to save him. “What are his notebook. The Chairman asked who all my righteousnesses but rotten rags”, should give a speech to answer them. he said. “Christ is all things and I am Everyone said that George should do it. nothing.” We all need to trust the Lord CHAPLAIN UNIVERSITY SPEECHES WESTMINSTER He was embarrassed and went red and Jesus Christ alone and serve him as much COVENANT HOLLAND HEBREW PRAYER said that the older men would be better, as possible with our lives and depend on but they wanted him to speak. He his help. BISHOPS GOVERNMENT NOTEBOOK

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