A treatise on Satan's temptations - Gilpin - I - Memoir commenced

Required reading
A treatise on Satan's temptations by Richard Gilpin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read 'The Prefatory Note' and begin the 'Memoir of Richard Gilpin' by reading up to the paragraph starting 'It needeth not that in a necessarily brief Memoir such as this we should enter on the merits of the national change of Church 'Polity' which gave supremacy for the time to Presbytery over Prelacy'.

My summary
Today we begin Gilpin's work on Satan's temptations.

Firstly we read some remarks about this edition by Grosart (the editor).

Then we begin a small biography of Gilpin written by Grosart also.

We learn about:
(i) Gilpin's ancestors;
(ii) Gilpin's childhood and schooling;
(iii) Gilpin's arrival at Greystoke church;
(iv) Greystoke's appearance in the time of the editor;
(v) the political unrest at the time of Gilpin and the effect on his father.

What grabbed me
I was interested to read the editor's comments about the book: 'To those who have not hitherto heard, — or only heard of it, — we commend it with all confidence and urgency as in various respects a remarkable book by a remarkable man. It will be found — as an early writer says of another — ' matter-full,' and nevertheless suggestive rather than exhaustive — that is, you have many rich lodes of the ore of thought opened, but many others indicated, not worked ; clear and keen of insight into the deepest places of the deepest things discussed ; wide in its out-look, yet concentrated in its in-look ; sagacious and wise in its general conclusions, and passionate as compassionate in its warnings, remonstrances, and counsels ; full of faith in all 'written' in The Word, and pathetically credulous in accepting testimony when a given fact (alleged) is fitted to barb an appeal ; curious and quaint in its lore ; intense and anxious in its trackings of sin without and within; pre-Raphaelite in the vivid fidelity of its portrayals of satanic guiles, and guises that are always disguises ; and above all, tenderly experimental in its consolation to the tried and troubled.'

Sounds like it will be a great book to read!

Next week's reading
Continue the 'Memoir of Richard Gilpin' by reading up to the paragraph starting 'Until the 'Indulgence' of 1672, Gilpin carried on his 'ministry' in the half-public, half-hidden, manner which these deplorable acts indicate.'

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.