Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gill, John
GILL, JOHN, D.D. (1697–1771), baptist minister, was born of poor parents at Kettering, Northamptonshire, on 23 Nov. 1697. He spent a very short time at Kettering grammar school. In November 1716 he was baptised, and shortly after began preaching. In 1718 he was ordained at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire. In 1719 he removed to the baptist congregation at Horselydown, Southwark, which in 1757 was removed to a chapel near London Bridge. A Wednesday evening lectureship was founded for him in Great Eastcheap by his admirers in 1729, and this he held till 1756. In 1748 he was created D.D. at Aberdeen. He died at Camberwell, 14 Oct. 1771.
Gill's principal works were: 1. ‘Exposition of the Song of Solomon,’ 1728. 2. ‘The Prophecies of the Old Testament respecting the Messiah considered,’ 1728, written in answer to Collins. 3. ‘Treatise on the Doctrine of the Trinity,’ designed to check the spread of Sabellianism among the baptists, 1731. 4. ‘The Cause of God and Truth,’ in answer to Whitby's discourse on the five points, 4 vols. 1735–8. 5. ‘Exposition of the Holy Scriptures,’ his magnum opus, in which he utilises his extensive rabbinical learning. The New Testament portion appeared in 3 vols. folio in 1746–8; the Old Testament, in 6 vols. folio, was completed in 1766. 6. ‘Dissertation on the Antiquity of the Hebrew Language, Letters, Vowel Points, and Accents,’ 1767. 7. ‘A Body of Doctrinal Divinity,’ 1767. 8. ‘A Body of Practical Divinity,’ 1770. 9. A collection of sermons and tracts, with memoir, 1773, 3 vols. 4to.
[Memoir by Dr. Ripon, 1816.]