Some Account of the Author's Life and Writings
HP.HE Rev. Mr, Ralph ,?ikine was honourably -*- descended; his father, the Rev Mr. v Ers&) e, being on of the thirty-r.huv children of Ralph I ftsitiNE, of Shietfield, a family ofconsiderable repute and long standing in the county of Mersfe, originally defecencled from the ancient house of Mar
Our Author, and his brother, the Rev. Mr. !-lnr.Nip zer Erbkne, late minister of the Gospel at Stirling, were two children of the said R**v. Mr. Henky Er.skfne, who was some time minister of the Gospel at Cornwall, afterwards at Chirnside *, a man eminent in his day, and justly distinguished for his piety and firm attachment to Presbyterian principles: for his stedfast adherence to which, lie was subjected to many considerable hardships in the latter part of the last century, during the persecuting period of Charles II. and James VII. See Calamy’s Life of Baxter.
Our Author was born at Monilaws, in the county. of Northumberland, the 15th of March, 1(58.3, and baptized at Chirnside, on the 5th of April said year, by the Rev. Mr. William Violand.
He gave pretty early proofs of a great genius, and several instances of a pious disposition, and solid way of reflecting on matters. On tins account he was, by his parents, early destined for the ministry; accordingly they gave him a regular and liberal education, in order to qualify him for that important work.
When he had acquired a competent degree of
* Cornwall is in the shire of NorthumberbnJ; Chirnside lies about five miles from Berwick wpon Twved, on the Scots side.
Lli’E OF THE AUTIIOH. SVH
grammatical learning* and other introductory parte of education, he went to the university of Edinburgh, to complete his studies; where he went
through the ordinary courses of erudition, making a considerable progress in all the different branches of literature: for he soon became a fine Grecian; an excellent logician, and an accomplished scholar. Having acquired a competent measure of knowledge, in these various branches of erudition, he gave himself up to the study of divinity, his now darling and beloved theme; in which he made great progress, as this present production doth abundantly evidence.
The ordinary course of studies being gone through, at the College of Edinburgh, with success; he was, in the providence of God,, called forth to appear in a public character; and being well reported of, by all who knew him, for a conversation becoming the Gospel, he was accordingly cailed, upon trial, by the presbytery of Dunfermline; and having passed through. the usual pieces, to the entire satisfaction of the presbytery, he was by them licensed to preach, as a probationer, on the 8th of June, 1700. In which capacity he exercised the talents which the Lord had graciously conferred on him, both in vacancies and settled congregations to the great satisfaction of both ministers and people* After this, Providence soon opened another door for him; and he got an unanimous call from the parishioners of Dunfermline, on the 1st of May, 1711, to exercise his ministerial talents and abilities amongst them. Being approved by the presbytery, they set him apart to the oflice of the holy ministry, in the collegiate charge of Dunfermline, on the 7tb of August, 1711.
I uder the public character of a minister of the Gospel, having now a pastoral relation to a particular flock, in the church universal, he seemed rf< mined not to know any thing sace Jesus (
XVill LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.
him crucified. He was instant in season and out of season, in all parts of his ministerial labours, and gave himself wholly thereunto; exhorting the people under his trust, from house to house, in the way of family visitation; examining them more publicly upon the principles of the Gospel; visiting the sick, when called; and preaching the everlasting Gospel, in which he had a very pleasant and edifying gift, labouring, by turns, with his colleague, every Sabbath and Thursday, through the year; and afterwards, when he had no assistant for several years before his death, he officiated alone, punctually, both on Sabbath and week-days.
He was blessed with a rich and fertile gift, a& appears in the agreeable and entertaining diversity, wherewith his heads of doctrine are every where adorned. The poetical genius, with which he was happily endowed, contributed not a little to the embellishment of his discourses, with a variety of pertinent epithets and striking metaphors.
His gift of preaching was both instructing and searching. Few outshone him in the nervous and convincing manner, whereby he confirmed the truth of the doctrines he insisted on; and fewer still in the warm address, in which he enforced the practice and power of them.
He peculiarly excelled in the ample and free manner of exalting Christ, teaching them to rest on him alone for their salvation, as freely and fully exhibited unto them in the Gospel. On all which accounts he was justly esteemed, and much followed, as one of the most popular and powerful preachers of his day. — During his time, sacramental solemnities, at Dunfermline, were very much crowded; numbers of people, from several parts of the kingdom, resorting unto them; the Lord being pleased to countenance these com munions, with signal evidences of his gracious presence and influence, to the sweet refreshment of many drooping souls.
It will easily appear to the judicious and experienced reader, in perusing this book, that he had a singular faculty in describing the plague of the hi art, and the diversified circumstances of tempted and exercised souls; it seems as if they bad communicated their several doubts and cases unto him; while, in the mean time, he was only unfolding the inward experience of his own soul, it being no more than what he himself felt of the workings of corruption and unbelief, against the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit, in oppoition thereunto; which cannot but agree with the same experience in others; for, as in uatcr,face answereth face, so doth the heart of man to man.
This eminent servant of Christ, being early exercised in godliness even from his youth, became, by grace, a scribe well instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, whom our Lord compares to an householder 9 which bringeth forth out of his treasure, things new and old: old truths, newlj experienced, and old experiences, newly confirmed in him, so that it may be said, that there are few perplexities or temptations whic the saints are exercised with, that were not in some measure or other solved and elucidated by him.
At the importunity of many of his acquaintance, ministers and people, he published a number of his sermons, on the most interesting subjects, which were well relished by truly godly souls. They, with several others, were collected together, after his death, and published along with his poems, in two volumes folio in the years 1764 and l?(io; and, since that time, reprinted in ten volumes octavo. But the Sonnets have by far exceeded all his other works, as is evident by the number of editions they have gone through, and this being the twenty-fifth.
The words of the late justly celebrated and pious Mr. Hervey are truly expressive of the high esteem he had for Mr. Lrskine’s works:” Was I to read.
with a single view to the edification of my heart, in true faith, solid comfort, and evangelical holi* ness; 1 would have recourse to Mr. Erskine, for my guide, my companion, and my own familiar friend.”
Dr. Bradbury speaks of hFs works thus t “these,’’ saith lie, “have no need of my recommendation; the reader will find in them a faithful adherence to the design of the Gospel, a clear defence of those doctrines that are the pillar and ground of truth, a large compass of thought, a strong force of argument, and a happy flow of words, which are both judicious and familiar; and they have been greatly blessed to the edification of many, espe* daily the poor of the Rock”
To proceed: he was not only esteemed a judicious divine, but also considered as a good poet. His talents was employed chiefly on divine subjects-, having no relish and taste for any others. In his younger years, at his leisure hours, he composed the Gospel Sonnets. The usefulness of this poetical compendium of the Gospel, for promoting the life of faith in the soul, holiness and happiness -in the heart, will be experienced by many of the saints of God, to the latest posterity.
About the year 1738, he sent into the world his poetical paraphrase upon the whole book of the Song of Solomon: which indeed is an evangelical comment, done in a strain adapted to the JSew-Testament dispensation, upon that allegorical or figurative part of holy writ. — That performance has been acceptable, and undergone some editions.
By the above poetical essays and some smaller performances, our Author’s abilities as a poet came to be known; and induced the reverend synod, of which he was a member, to importune him to employ his vacant hours, in turning the poetical passages of sacred writ into common metre, of the same kind with the Psalms of David. These requisitions he ill part complied with, and his productions made t u ir app arance under the title of Scripture Songs, selected from several pasaages in the Old and lew IVstament, which nave undergone some editions, but are not esteemed equal wit i the Sonnets*
Our Author, besides his sermons and poems, published several tract*, on some points of controversy, in which he displayed his abilities as a writer, particularly ari elaborate treatise, intitled, Faith no 7; or, a Treatise of Mental Images: a book singularly valuable, for the clear and perspicuous manner :n winch he bath handled and established that, important point, every way worthy of our Author. It reflected great honour on him, by give display of his abilities, as a divine and philosopher, and shewed how capable he was of handling v.v.y point, wheti he set himself to it, even in a most abstract way of reasoning: this book effectually silenced all his opponents; and stands to this day unanswered.
As a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, he laboured successfully in the work of the ministry, and continued publicly useful in his Master’s work, till within a few days of his departure; for he preached in his own pulpit on Sabbath the 29th of October, 1752, and was afterwards seized, at the end of the same th, viz. October, 1752, with a nervous fever (wherein, nevertheless, he enjoyed the exercise of his judgment and senses ); it lasted only for a few days, and was then the hasty messenger to free him from the incumbrances of a mortal body, and lead-Big him to the regions of eternal felicity; for, on the eighth day of the fever, he fell asleep in the Lord, being Monday, November (i, 17-V2, in the 08th year of his age, after having laboured unwea- :y and successfully in the work of the ministry, among his flock in Dunfermline, for the space of forty-two years.
Xxtt LIFE OF THE AUTHOR,
Mr. Erskine, as an author and divine, affords room for large commendations, were we disposed to give them; and his complete character is truly great, and his disposition exceedingly amiable. — If lie is considered as to his natural endowments, he possessed many excellent qualities; having a good tempt r, a deal head, a rich invention, a lively imagination, and a great memory, if tie is viewed as to his acquired abilities, he was well acquainted with all the useful branches of literature, necessary to adorn the scholar and the minister. If he is considered as to his office, he was a great and judicious divine, a pious evangelical preacher, and an able casuist. In short, he was not only a learned man, an able divine, an affectionate familiar friend, and a social companion, but that which exceeds it all, he was made rich in the grace of Christ.
By his death, the church lost a great light, a heroic champion for the truth, and a bold contender for the faith; — the congregation he laboured among lost an able faithful minister; — his family and relatives, a true friend ; — and his acquaintance and intimates, a sympathising companion.
Mr. Erskiaie was twice married; first to Margaret Dewar, a daughter of the Laird of Lassodie; which commenced the 15th of July, 1714. She lived with him about sixteen years, during which time she bore ten children, five sons and five daughters. Three of these sons were ministers in the association, viz. the Rev. Messrs. Henry, John, and James; the first ordained minister at Falkirk, the second at Lesslie, and the third at Stirling. All of them died in the prime of life, even after they had given the world just ground to conceive high expectations of their usefulness in the church. — His second marriage was with Margaret Simson, a daughter of Mr. Siftoson, writer to the Signet at Edinburgh, which took place February 84, L732: she bore him four sons, and survived him soiii(j, few years.
LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, Xllll
It appears from what our author has published, that lie was an able, close, and lear reasoner: and could handle a subject in a masterly manner. His style was ofa medium, between the lofty and simple, being natural, unaffected, manly, and scriptural: and free from meanness and lowuess: though indeed he studied much to adapt himself to the capacity of ids auditory. There centered in him gravity, without dulness; and smartness without frothiness; not choosing to come to his hearers, with the inticing words of mans wisdom; but to preach ttie truths of the everlasting Gospel in their genuine purity and naked simplicity. He was possessed with excellent talents for the pulpit; having a pleasant voice, free of any disagreeable tone or false pathos: and every unprejudiced person will readily grant, who has a relish for substantial matter, and for that doctrine which is according to godliness, delivered in an unaffected manner, that he was an agreeable, as well as a faithful, judicious, evangelical preacher.
As to his ministrations in general, it will be readdy acknowledged, that he was an able minister of the New Testament. He madd choice of the most interesting subjects to preach upon; and it was his peculiar delight to preach Christ crucified, and to exalt the doctrine of free grace, through his imputed righteousness; rightly dividing the word of truth; and skilfully parcelling out to every one their portion in due season. He was not a flat, dull, lazy, insipid preacher; but delivered his sermons with pathetic zeal, fervor, and affection. He was a sou of thunder, when he made known the terrors of the Lord to hypocrites, false and carnal professors; and had the tongue of the learned to speak a word of consolation to those who were weary and heavy laden; inviting them to trust in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to stay themselves on him as tue God of their salvation. His miniitry was very trying and searching; he fcXl* LITE OF THE AUTHOIT.
had a peculiar wny of addressing himself to fire conscience; could easily delineate the soul, and repit sent the sinner in his native colours. Being a close and hard student to hisof! age, he took a great deal of pains in the com position of his sermons, and digested them well. When he preached occasionally in other places, abroad from his fixed charge, his ministrations were very acceptable, and often left a deep impression on the minus of the bearers* He was a wise, prudent, iearned,, and accomplished minister; well understood, constantly inculcated, and strenuously defended the truth as it is in Jesus. In short he had the testimony of those who had a true relish for the glorious Gospel of the ever blessed Redeemer.
His conversation was simple, savoury, and refreshing, yet warm and edifying. Every one, who had opportunity to mark his actions, could attest, that he lived up to the truths he preached. He desired and affected to be of that party only who were for advancing the glory of his exalted Lord; pleading for the sufficiency of divine grace; and for debasing the creature. To which Lord andtSaviour be g for ever. Amen.