our church, than whom not
one in the assembly spoke to better purpose, nor with better acceptance
of all the hearers, shewed that the Greek word of purpose, by the
Episcopals, translated ordination, was truly choosing, importing the
people's suffrage in electing their own office-bearers." And elsewhere
says, "We get good help in our assembly debates of lord Warriston (an
occasional commissioner), but of none more than that noble youth Mr.
Gillespie. I admire his gifts, and bless God, as for all my colleagues,
so for him in particular, as equal in these to the first in the
assembly[70]."

After his return from the Westminster assembly, he was employed mostly
in the public affairs of the church, until the year 1648, when he was
chosen moderator to the general assembly, in which assembly several
famous acts were made in favour of the covenanted work of reformation,
particularly that against the unlawful engagement then made against
England by the duke of Hamilton, and those of the malignant faction. In
this assembly, he was one of these nominated to prosecute the treaty of
uniformity in religion with England, but in a short time after this, the
sickness seized him, whereof he died about the 17th of December
following.

Says Mr. Rutherford to him in a letter when on his death bed; "Be not
heavy, the life of faith is now called for; doing was never reckoned on
your accounts (though Christ in and by you hath done more then by
twenty, yea, an hundred grey haired and godly pastors.) Look to that
word, Gal. ii. 20. _Nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me_, &c."

In his life-time he was always firmly attached to the work of
reformation, and continued so to the end of his life.--For about two
months before his decease, he sent a paper to the commission of the
general assembly, wherein he gave faithful warning against every sin and
backsliding that he then perceived to be on the growing hand both in
church and state, and last of all, he emitted the following faithful
testimony against association and compliance with the enemies of truth
and true godliness, in these words.

"Seeing now in all appearance, the time of my dissolution draweth near,
although I have, in my latter will, declared my mind of public affairs,
yet I have thought good to add this further testimony, that I esteem the
malignant party in these kingdoms to be the seed of the Serpent, enemies
to piety and presbyterial government (pretend what t