“Bespangled with Divine Grace” – The Spirituality of John Gill, published by Joshua Press in the Classics of Reformed Spirituality series. This little book was recently reviewed well in the Gospel Standard magazine and would be worth checking out:

John Gill was the greatest and most accomplished Baptist theologian of the eighteenth century and had a major impact on the later Particular Baptists – indeed, it was his defence of the doctrine of the Trinity that largely preserved the Particular Baptists from falling into the Unitarian heresies that afflicted other Nonconformists. Nevertheless, he has sometimes been regarded with wariness by some, who have suspected that this theological output came at the expense of an experiential ministry. This small volume goes a long way to proving these misgivings to be unfounded: it shows that Gill’s theological knowledge formed the foundation of a rich and warm ministry which combined doctrine and experience, capable of touching the heart as well as feeding the mind. It is made up of 34 short extracts from a wide range of Gill’s works – including his commentaries, Body of Divinity, and sermons – with a brief introduction to Gill’s life at the beginning. Topics covered include the Trinity, prayer, God’s presence, and the relationship between Christ and the church. This reviewer found it a helpful introduction to a range of Gill’s writings and was left with a desire to read more of his works – although the short chapters were somewhat dissatisfying. Nevertheless, as each extract is only a few pages long, it would be well-suited to those who lead busy lives and only have short snatches of time in which to read, such as on the morning commute. Each chapter is heart-searching, and leaves something to ponder on over the rest of the day.

Matthew Roe, Gospel Standard magazine, May 2026