GILL, JOHN, D.D., an eminent Baptist minister, was bent at Kettering, in Northamptoushiro, on the 23rd of November (old style) 1697. Hie parents, though in humble 'life, gave him a superior education in the grammar-school of his native town, until the euforcing of a rule which required attendance upon episcopal worship occasioned his withdrawal, in common with other children of dissenters. He continued his studies iu private, and attained considerable proficiency in the Greek, Latin, and Hebrew laogueges. About the age of twenty he began to preach at Iligham Ferrara among tho denomination to which both be and his parents belonged, and in 1719 he removed to London, to take charge of a congregation which then assembled at llorsleydown, Southwark ; but removed in 1757 to a new chapel in Carter-lane, near London Bridge, over which he presided until his death, on the 14th of October 1771, a period of more than half a century. Of his numerous publications, which are said to have been equal to 10,000 folio pages, many were of a controversial character and of temporary interest. That by which lie is best known is his 'Exposition of the published at various times in distinct portions. The 'Exposition of the Song of Solomon' appeared in a folio volume in 1728, and was republished with corrections and additions in 1751 and 1767. In this work Gill replies to endeavours to prove the ' Song of to be a spurious book. The ' Exposition of the New Testament appeared in three folio volumes in 1746, 1747, and 1748, in which last year the degree of D.D. was conferred upon
the author from 31arischal College, Aberdeen. The Old Testament was completed at various times in six folio volumes, and a second edition of the whole was published shortly before his death. A third complete edition of the ' Exposition' was published in 1809 and 1810 in nine large quarto volumes, with a very copious memoir of tho life and writings of Dr. Gill, from which the above facts are derived. Among his other works wo may mention ' The Prophecies of the Old Testament respecting the Messiah considered, and proved to be literally fulfilled in published in 1728, in answer to 'Scheme of Literal Prophecy considered; a 'Treatise ou the Doctrine of the published in 1731, and intended to check • then growing teodoucy to Sabellianiam among the Baptists ; the 'Cause of God and in 4 vols. 8vo, published in 1735 and following years, being defence of Calvinistic against Arminian sentiments, in which Gill display ed a strong inclination to Supralarearianiam ; a 'Dissertation concerning the Antiquities of the Hebrew Language, Letters, Vowel 'Mete, and Accents,' 1767, 8ro ; sod a 'Body of Doctrinal Divinity,' 2 vols. 4to, 1769, and 'Body of Practical Divinity,' 1 vol. 4to, 1770, which were republished together in 1795 in 3 vols. large Svo as 'A Complete Body of Doctrinal and Practical with a portrait of Dr. Gill.