From the beginning men who obviously never read Gill warned me of what they called his 'tendencies toward Hyper-Calvinism and Antinomianism'. Having read almost everything Gill wrote, I am still searching for even a hint of these 'tendencies'. Instead, I have found in all his writings the most faithful exposition of Holy Scripture, a consistent Christ-centred, Christ exalting theology, and a constant, robust declaration of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ. Very few days have passed since my first introduction to John Gill in which I have not read something from his pen. He, by far, my favourite writer.

George Ella has been used of God to give the Christian public an opportunity to understand and appreciate one of the giants of church history in this thoroughly researched biography. As I recommend Gill's writings to anyone who wants to understand the Bible, I heartily recommend George Ella's biography to anyone who wants to understand Gill.' Don Fortner

Biographical table

1. Introduction

2. The world of 1697

3. The birth of an infant prodigy

4. Making his calling and election sure

5. The Goat Yard Declaration of Faith

6. The voice of the beloved

7. Defender of the faith

8. Good news of God's everlasting love

9. A saint is slandered

10. The pastor in the pulpit

11. Laying the axe to popery's roots

12. His work accomplished

13. The widowed church

14. Three hundred years on: The Modern Question brought up to date

Appendix 1: The full gospel and the free offer

Appendix 2: Gill on linguistics and Hebrew vocalisation

Glossary

Bibliography

Index of persons and places

Index of topics and institutions

Index of works quoted

Index of scriptural references