Gents Mag 1793 p.1082

Gents Mag 1793 p.1082




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	Gentleman's Magazine 1793 p.1082 proposal made him by Cardinal Wolsey's agents, who designed that his college should be the means of the restoration of learning in England. Into whatever part of Popery Gilpin examined, he found great abuses; the true simplicity and spirit of Christianity were gone, totally lost in mere human inventions. But, what he first began to object to in the Popish creed, and was most disgusted at, were indulgences, prayers before images, and disallowing the public use of the Scriptures. However, Mr. Gilpin took cautious steps before he declared hinmself a Protestant. He continued at Oxford till the 35th year of his age, studiously reading divinity; he hitherto rejected the solicitations of his friends to leave the university, saying, he was not yet enough instructed in religion himself to be a teacher of it to others. About this time he succeeded (at the earnest request of his friends) to the vicarage of Norton, in the diocese of Durham. His presentation bears date, Novermber, 1552. Before he resided on his vicarage he was appointed to preach before the king at Greenwich. The reigning vice of that age, it seems, was avarice; or, more properly, rapine. At Court every thing was venal. In the room of law and justice, gross bribery and wrong were common; in trade grievous extortions and frauds. Accordingly, the avarice of the times was the subject of Mr. Gilpin's discourse, resolving, with an honest freedom, to censure corruption in whatever rank of men he observed it. He first addressed the clergy on their being either pluralists or non-residents. He then turned to the Court. The king being absent - "It grieved him," he said, "to see those absent, who, for example's sake, ought particularly to have been present." He then recommends every pastor to hold but one benefice, and, as far as possible, every one to do his duty. He then elegantly addresse himself to the magistrates and gentry. They all, he said, received their honours, their powers, and their authority, from God, who expected they would make proper use of such gifts, and would certainly call them to account for the abuse of them. Having thus freely addressed his audience, he concluded his sermon with an hearty exhortation, "that all would consider these things, and such as found themselves faulty would amend their lives." Some time after this Mr. Gilpin went abroad; and, while he was pursuing his studies at Louvain, he and all the Protestants in those parts were suddenly alarmed with melancholy news from England - King Edward's death, the Lady Jane's fall, and Queen Mary's accession. Innumerable were the difficulties this good man encountered in those troublesome times; but, his firm resolution was doing what good he could, and setting himself in earnest to reprove vice publicly and privately, to encourage virtue, and to explain the nature of true religion. Wherever he came, he used to visit all the jails and places of confinement; few in the kingdom having at that time any appointed minister. And, by his labours, and affectionate manner of behaving, he is said to have reformed many very abandoned persons in those places. He would employ his interest likewise for such criminals whose cases he thought attended with any hard circumstances; and often procured pardon for them. "To show the esteem in which he was held by every one:" - By the carelessness of his servant, his horses were one day stolen. The news was quickly propogated, and everyone expressed the highest indignation at the fact. The thief was rejoicing over his prize, when, by the report of the country, he found whose horses he had taken. Terrified at what he had done, he instantly came trembling back, confessed the fact, returned the horses, and declared he believed the devil would have seized him directly had he carried them off knowing them to have been Mr. Gilpin's. The charity of Mr. Gilpin was unbounded. The value of his living as about four hundred pounds a year; which, however considerable an income at that time, was yet in appearance very unproportionate to the generous things he did. He never let slip an opportunity of doing good. Strangers and travellers found a cheerful reception at his house. All were welcome that came; and even their beasts had so much care taken of them, that it was humourously said, "if a horse was turned loose in any part of the country, it would immediately make its way to the rector of Houghton's." The load of calumny, ingratitude, and ill-usage, with which he undeservedly met, may justly be supposed heavy upon him, already sinking under a
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