Andrew Gray

Andrew Gray (1633–1656), was a Scottish divine. He was the fourth son and eleventh child in a family of twenty-one, his father being Sir William Gray of Pittendrum (died 1648), an eminent merchant and royalist, descended from Andrew, first lord Gray. His mother was Geils or Egidia Smyth, sister to Sir John Smyth of Grothill, at one time provost of Edinburgh.

In his childhood Andrew was playful and fond of pleasure, but while he was quite young his thoughts were suddenly given a serious turn by reflecting on the piety of a beggar whom he met near Leith. Resolved to enter the ministry, he studied at the universities both of St. Andrews and Edinburgh. He graduated at the former in 1651. Gray was one of that band of youthful preachers who were powerfully influenced by the venerable [Alexander] Leighton.

His talents and learning favourably impressed Principal Gillespie. He was licensed to preach in 1653, and was ordained to the collegiate charge of the Outer High Church of Glasgow on 3 Nov. 1653, although only in his twenty-first year, notwithstanding some remonstrance. One of the remonstrants, Robert Baillie, refers in his Letters and Journals to the ‘high flown, rhetorical style’ of the youthful preacher, and describes his ordination as taking place ‘over the belly of the town’s protestation.’

His ministry proved eminently successful, and although only of three years’ duration, in the profound impression produced during his lifetime, and the sustained popularity of his published works, Gray had few rivals in the Scottish church. He died on 8 Feb. 1656, after a brief illness, of a ‘purple’ fever, and was interred in Blackadder’s or St. Fergus’s Aisle, Glasgow Cathedral. On the walls of the aisle his initials and date of death may be seen deeply incised.

Gray married Rachael, daughter of Robert Baillie of Jerviswood, and had a son, William, born at Glasgow in March 1655, who probably died young. He had also a daughter, Rachael, who was served heir to her father on 26 June 1669. His widow remarried George Hutcheson, minister at Irvine. [via Wikipedia] [C. Matthew McMahon’s biographical sketch is here]

The Works of Andrew Gray:

A Door Unto Everlasting Life. (330 pages)
[pdf epub mobi txt web via Alan Newble]
Five treatises:

  1. Arguments for Leaving Sin and Living Holily – pdf, 34 pp.
  2. Directions on How to Attain Eternal Blessedness – pdf, 88 pp.
  3. The Characters of a True Believer – pdf, 44 pp.
  4. The Resolution of Many Doubts and Cases of Conscience – pdf, 87 pp.
  5. The Happiness and Privileges of the True Believer – pdf, 74 pp.

The Works of the Reverend and Pious Andrew Gray. (578 pages)
[pdf epub mobi txt web via Internet Archive]
This volume contains the following:

  1. The Mystery of Faith Opened (six sermons on 1 John 3:23)
    [pdf epub mobi txt web] – 69 pp.
  2. On The Great Salvation (two sermons on Hebrews 2:3)
    [pdf epub mobi txt web] – 30 pp.
  3. A Sermon on Death (Psalm 89:48)
    [pdf epub mobi txt web] – 18 pp.
  4. The Great and Precious Promises (2 Peter 1:4) – pdf, 64 pp.
  5. On The Usefulness of Faith in Advancing Sanctification (Acts 26:18) – pdf, 16 pp.
  6. The Faith of Assurance (three sermons on 2 Corinthians 13:3) – pdf, 34 pp.
  7. Directions and Instigations to the Use of Prayer (four sermons on 1 Thessalonians 5:17) – pdf, 53 pp.
  8. The Way How a Christian Ought to Keep His Heart (three sermons on Proverbs 4:23) – pdf, 33 pp.
  9. Arguments for Hearing God’s Threatening Rod (two sermons on Micah 6:9) – pdf, 29 pp.
  10. The Spiritual Warfare (eight sermons on Romans 7:24 and Galatians 5:24) – pdf, 83 pp.
  11. Spiritual Contentment (two sermons on Philippians 4:11) – pdf, 24 pp.
    This title appears in The Digital Puritan, Vol.3, No.2 [link]
  12. Communion Sermons:
    1. On Proverbs 10:4 – pdf, 13 pp.
    2. On Proverbs 10:4 and Psalm 19:2 – pdf, 7 pp.
    3. Three sermons on Job 23:3 – pdf, 30 pp.
    4. On Isaiah 65:1 – pdf, 8 pp.
    5. On 2 Corinthians 5:10 – pdf, 6 pp.
    6. On Exodus 34:6-7 – pdf, 10 pp.
    7. On Malachi 3:6 – pdf, 9 pp.
    8. On 2 Corinthians 12:7 – pdf, 11 pp.
    9. On 2 Corinthians 4:3 – pdf, 10 pp.
  13. An Exhortation Before Communion at Glasgow – pdf, 3 pp.
  14. A Speech Before Communion at Kirklistoun – pdf, 7 pp.
  15. A Word of Exhortation Before Servings Some Tables at Kirklistoun – pdf, 10 pp.
  16. A Letter Written by Gray From His Death-Bed to Lord Warristoun – pdf, 3 pp.

Twelve Select Sermons. (215 pages)
[pdf epub mobi txt web via Alan Newble]
This volume contains the following:

  1. Christ’s Mournful Visit to Obstinate Sinners (Luke 19:41-42) – pdf, 13 pp.
  2. Christ’s Royal Priesthood Sufficient Encouragement for Faith (Hebrews 4:14) – pdf, 16 pp.
  3. Christian Diligence—The Way of Attaining Comfortable Assurance (2 Peter 1:10) – pdf, 13 pp.
  4. Jesus Christ is Precious Unto Believers (two sermons on 1 Peter 2:7) – pdf, 26 pp.
  5. The Brevity of Life—A Call to Improve It (Psalm 39:5) – pdf, 12 pp.
  6. The Believer’s Love to an Unseen Christ (1 Peter 1:5) – pdf, 22 pp.
  7. Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices (2 Corinthians 2:11) – pdf, 31 pp.
  8. Strangers Called to Behold Christ (two sermons on Isaiah 65:1) – pdf, 41 pp.
  9. The Indispensable Duty of Giving the Heart to Christ (Proverbs 23:26) – pdf, 22 pp.
  10. The Necessity and Advantage of Looking Unto Jesus (Isaiah 45:22) – pdf, 19 pp.

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3 thoughts on “Andrew Gray

  1. Puritans generally have proved a great blessing to my soul. Andrew Gray is another Puritan giant that touched me deeply. Thanks a lot.

    • Click on the link that says “pdf” of the sermon you are interested in, which will download the file. Depending on how your computer is set up, this may open the file immediately, or you may have to open it manually by double-clicking on it in your download folder. Then print the file in the usual way (ctrl-P or propellor-P if you are using a Mac). Hope this helps!

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