enovation to his health. But the disease had taken too firm a hold of his
enfeebled constitution, and he continued to suffer from increasing
weakness. Still the cares of the distracted Church and country pressed
heavily on his mind. He was now unable to attend the public meetings of
Church courts; but on the 8th of September he addressed a letter to the
Commission of Assembly, in which he stated clearly and strongly his
opinion concerning the duties and the dangers of the time. Continuing to
sink, and feeling death at hand, he partly wrote and partly dictated what
may be termed his dying "Testimony against association with malignant
enemies of the truth and godliness."(5) At length, on the 17th day of
December, 1648, his toils and sorrows ceased, and he fell asleep in Jesus.

So passed away from this world one of those bright and powerful spirits
which are sent in troublous times to carry forward God's work among
mankind. Incessant toil is the destiny of such highly-gifted men while
here below; and not unfrequently is their memory assailed by those mean
and little minds who shrunk with instinctive fear and hatred before the
energetic movements which they could neither comprehend nor encounter. But
their recompense is in heaven, when their work is done; and future
generations delight to rescue their reputation from the feeble obloquy
with which malevolence and folly had endeavoured to hide or defame it.
Thus has it been with George Gillespie to a considerable extent already;
and we entertain not the slightest shadow of doubt that his transcendent
merit is but beginning to be known and appreciated as it deserves, and
that ere very long his well-earned fame will shine too clearly and too
strong to be approached by detractors.

* * * * *

We have but little more to relate respecting George Gillespie. His death
was deeply lamented by all who loved their church and country at the time;
and such was the feeling generally entertained of his great merit, that
the Committee of Estates, or government of the kingdom, by an Act dated
20th December, 1648, did, "as an acknowledgment for his faithfulness in
all the public employments entrusted to him by this Church, both at home
and abroad, his faithful labours, and indefatigable diligence in all the
exercises of his ministerial calling, for his Master's service, and his
learned writings, published to the world, in which rare and profitable
employments,