for the more conveniency of readers and purchasers, with confiderable additions and amendments *.

We cannot difmifs this account of our Author, without taking notice of another particular concerning him, which conftitutes a very material branch of his character. He was not only deservedly esteemed as a judicious DIVINE; but also much refpected as a good POET: And he hath favoured the world with feveral excellent productions of that nature, which have all met with a very favourable reception. His poetical talent was employed chiefly on divine fubjects; he had no relish and taste for any other. In his younger years, at his leifure hours, he compofed the following piece, which is now intitled, GOSPEL SONNETS: or, Spiritual Songs, in fix parts. The usefulness of this poetical compend of the revealed principles of our holy religion, for promoting the life of faith, comfort, and holiness, will be experienced, it is hoped, by many of the faints of God, to the latest pofterity.-This piece was fo well relished, that it hath undergone a multitude of impreffions; and the demand for it is as great as ever.

About the year 1738, he emitted into the world his poetical paraphrafe upon the whole book of the SONG OF SOLOMON; which indeed is an evangelical comment, done in a ftrain adapted to the New-Teftament difpenfation, upon that

* That eminent divine, the late Rev. Dr BRADBURY, in in his preface to a collection of fome of Mr. Erfkine's Sermons, printed at London, in 1738, expreffes himself in the following manner: "Thefe Sermons, faith he, have no need "of my recommendation: the reader will find in them a faithful "adherence to the defign of the gofpel, a clear defence of "those doctrines that are the pillar and ground of truth, a "large compafs of thought, a ftrong force of argument, and a "happy flow of words, which are both judicious, and fami"liar; and they have been greatly blessed to the edification of many, efpecially the poor of the flock.

The words of the late juftly celebrated and pious Mr. HERVEY are very fignificant, and truly expreffive of the high efteem he had for Mr. ERSKINE'S Works." Was I to read "with a fingle view to the edification of my heart, in true "faith, folid comfort, and evangelical holinefs; I would have "recourfe to Mr. ERSKINE, and take his volumes for my guide, my companion, and my own familiar friend.”

allegorical or figurative part of holy writ.-This performance has likewife been very acceptable, and undergone a variety of editions.

By emitting the above poetical effays into the world, and fome fmaller performances, our Author's abilities as a poet came to be known; and induced the Reverend Synod, of which he was a member, repeatedly to importune him, to employ fome of his vacant hours, in turning all the poetical paffages of facred writ, into common metre, of the fame kind with the Pfalms of David. These recommendations he at

last complied with; and his productions at laft made their ap pearance, under the title of SCRIPTURE SONGS, felected from feveral paffages in the Old and New Teftament, which were well relished, and have now undergone feveral editions. Our Author, befides his fermons and poems, published several tracts, on fome points of controverfy, in which he dif played his abilities as a writer: particularly an elaborate treatife, intitled, FAITH NO FANCY; or, a Treatife of Mental Images: a book fingularly valuable, for the clear and perfpicu. ous manner in which he hath handled and established this important point; every way worthy of our Auther, and reflected the greatest honour upon him; in regard it hath given the greateft difplay of his abilities, both as a divine and phi lofopher, and how capable he was to exhauft any point, when he fet himself to it, even in an abstract way of reafoning: -a book that effectually filenced all his opponents; and stands to this day unanswered.

This faithful and laborious fervant of Jefus Chrift, laboured fuccefsfully in the work of the ministry, and continued publicly useful in his Malter'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 he was thereafter seized, in the end of the fame month, viz. October 1752, with a nervous fever, (wherein, nevertheless he enjoyed the exercise of his judgment and fenfes,) which lafted only for a few days, and at last was the happy meffenger of freeing him from the incumbrances of an embodied state, and leading him to the world of fpirits, and the reigons of eternal blifs and felicity; for, on the eight day of the fever, he fell asleep in the Lord, being Monday, Nov. 6th, 1752, in the 68th year of his age, after labouring unweariedly and fuccefsfully in the work of the miniftry, among his flock in Dunfermline, for the space of forty two years.

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Mr. Erfkine, our worthy Author, affords room for large commendations, were we difpofed to give them; and his complete character is truly great, and his difpofition exceed. ingly amiable. If he is confidered as to his natural endowments, he poffeffed many fine qualities; he had a fweet tem per, a clear head, a rich invention, a lively imagination, and a great memory.If he is viewed as to his acquired abili. ties; he was well acquainted with all the useful branches of literature, neceffary to adorn the fcholar, and the minifter.If he is confidered as to his office; he was a great and judici, ous divine, a pious evangelical preacher, and an able cafuift. -In fhort, he was not only a learned mau, and an able divine, but an affectionate familiar friend, a focial companion, a devout Christian, and a burning and shining light.

By his death, the church of Chrift loft a great light, a he
roic champion for the truth, and a bold contender for the
faith, once delivered unto the faints.-The body he was last
connected with, have been deprived of an useful member, and
a fhining ornament to their caufe. The congregation he la-
boured among, lost an able faithful minister, a laborious and
fuccefsful wrestler, and a painful and diligent inftructor.-
His family and relatives, loft a true friend, an affectionate huf-
band, a tender-hearted parent, and a striking pattern of virtue.
-His acquaintances and intimates, an endearing brother, a
focial companion, and an engaging friend.

Mr. Erfkine was twice married. His first marriage was
with Margaret Dewar, a daughter of the laird of Laffodie
which commenced the 15th of July, 1714. She lived with
him about fixteen years; during which time fhe bore ten
children, five fons and five daughters: three of these fons
were ministers in the Affociation, viz. the Rev. Meffrs. Hen-
ry, John, and James; the firft ordained minifter, at Falkirk,
the fecond at Lefslie, and the third at Stirling. All of them
died in the prime of life, when they had given the world juft
ground to conceive high expectations of their usefulness in the
church. His fecond marriage was with Margaret Simfon, a
daughter of Mr. Simfon, writer to the fignet at Edinburgh,
which took place, February 24th, 1732.
She bore him four
fons, and furvived himself fome few years. One of the fons
of this marriage is still in life, and refides at London.
his other children are now removed by death.

August, $763.

All

An ACROSTIC.

MUCH fam'd on earth, renown'd for piety;
A midft bright feraphs now fings cheerfully.
Sacred thine anthems yield much pleasure here:
These songs of thine do truly charm the ear *.
E each line thou wrot'st doth admiration raise;
Roufe up the foul to true feraphic praise.

Religioufly thy life below was spent :
Amazing pleafures now thy foul content.

L

ong didit thou labour in the church below, Pointing out Chrift, the Lamb, who faves from wo Heav'n's bleffedness on finners to bestow.

ERSKINE the great! whofe pen fpread far abroad,
Redeeming love; the fole device of God.
Substantial themes thy thoughts did much pursue ;
Kept pure the truth, efpous'd but by a few.
Integrity of heart, of foul ferene ;

No friend to vice, no cloak to the profane;
Employ'd thy talents to reclaim the vain.

* Alluding to his Poetical pieces.

CHAP. I. A general account of man's fall in Adam, and the remedy provided in Chrift; and a particular account of man's being naturally wedded to the law as a covenant of works,

Sec. 1. The fall of Adam,

Sect. 2. Redemption through Chrift,

Sect. 3. Man's legal difpofition,

Sect. 4. Man's ftrict attachment to legal terms, or to the law as a condition of life,

Sect. 5. Man's vain attempt to feek life by Christ's righteousness, joined with their own; and legal hopes natural to all,

Chap. II. The manner of a finner's divorce from the law in a work of humiliation, and of his marriage to the Lord Jefus Chrift; or, The way how a finner comes to be a believer,

26

ib.

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31

33

35

39

Sect. 1. Of a law work, and the workings of legal pride under it,

ib

Sect. 2. Conviction of fin and wrath, carried on more deeply and effectually on the heart,

Sect. 3. The deeply humbled foul relieved, with fome faving difcoveries of Christ the Redeemer,

Sect. 4. The workings of the Spirit of faith, in feparating the heart from all felf righteoufnefs, and drawing out its confent to, and defire after Chrift alone and wholly,

Sec. 5. Faith's view of the freedom of grace, cordial renunciation of all its own ragged righteousness, and formal acceptance of and closing with the perfon of glorious Chrift,

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48

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