1751 JOHN GILLIES. Exceptionally Rare Periodical on Scottish and American Revivals. No Other Examples.

We knew of the existence of this little gem, but have never laid eyes on one before. John Gillies [1712-1796] was a minister in Glasgow during the period of revival under Whitefield and others that lit across Scotland in the 1740's. When it began to wain, he became both the primary mouthpiece advocating for new seasons of revival and the revival's primary historian, ultimately issuing his Historical Collections Relating to the Success of the Gospel in 1754. He corresponded with the primary American representatives of the Great Awakening; Edwards, the Tennents, John and David Brainerd, and more. And many of these correspondences were first published here.

From September of 1750 until late in 1751, he issued his revivalist circular, "Exhortation to the Inhabitants of the South Parish of Glasgow." It included his own sermons [which have never been re-issued elsewhere] and accounts of ongoing revivals from both America and the United Kingdom. 

This is the first of two volumes ever issued. Again, we have only ever seen offered just this one.

Gillies, John. An Exhortation to the Inhabitants of the South Parish of Glasgow, And the Hearers in the College Kirk. Wednesday, September 26, 1750 through Saturday, February 2, 1751 [21 issues complete]. Glasgow. John Orr. 1751. 181pp.

Contents include: Sermons by John Gillies [again, available nowhere else]; A Warning to the Prophane, Hypocrites, the Ignorant, and the Unregenerate; Preaching the Kingdom of God; How to Receive the Kingdom of God; A Meditation on God's Love to His People; Report of a Revival in Gelderland [Extensive]; Remarkable Revival Experiences of a Person Yet Alive; Letter from a Minister in Holland giving an Account of a Remarkable Revival in the Dutchy of Gelderland which Began Last Winter and has Greatly Increased to this Day; Confirmation of a late Good Account of the Jews [Account of hundreds of conversions to Christ]; Letters from England and America on Revival; Latest Accounts of the Revival of Religion in America [John Brainerd, Successor to David]; A Letter to Fellowship Meetings [small groups meant to pray and foster revival]; etc. etc.

Good quarter calf, respined probably in the last 50 years. Blank ffep tender, original signature crossed out on title. Handled, but solid and complete.