tranfcribed from his notes, were first collected together after his death, and published along with his poems, in two large volumes in folio, in the years 1764 and 1765, printed in an elegant manner; and fince that time, reprinted in ten large volumes octavo, 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 defervedly esteemed as a judicious Divine, but also much refpected as a 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 tafte for any other. In his younger years, at his leisure hours, he compofed the following piece, which is now intitled Gofpel Sonnets; or, Spiritual Songs, in Six Parts. The ufefulness 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 strain adapted to the New Teftament difpenfation, upon that allegorical or figurative part of holy writ. This performance has likewife been very acceptable, and has undergone a variety of editions. By emitting the above poetical effays into the world, and fome smaller 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. Thefe recommendations he at laft complied with; and his productions made their appearance, under the title of Scripture Songs, felected from feveral paffages in the Old Teftament, which were well relifhed, and have now undergone feveral editions. Our author, befides his fermons and poems, published several tracts, on fome points of controverfy, in which he displayed his abilities as a writer; particularly an elaborate treatise, intitled, Faith no Fancy; or, A Treatise of Mental Images: a book fingularly valuable, for the clear and perfpicuous manner in which he hath handled and established this important point, every way worthy of our author, and which reflected the highest honour upon him; in regard it hath given the greatest display of his abilities, both as a divine and philofopher, and how capable he was to exhaust any point, when he fet himfelf to it, even in an abstract way of reafoning: a book that effectually filenced all its opponents, and stands to this day unanswered. This faithful and laborious fervant of Jefus Christ, laboured fuccefsfully in the work of the ministry, and continued publicly useful in his Mafter'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 feized, in the end of the fame month, viz. October 1752, with a nervous fever, (wherein, neverthelefs he enjoyed the exercife of his judgment and fenfes,) which lafted only for a few days, and at laft was the hap-. py meffenger of freeing him from the incumbrances of an embodied state, and leading him to the world of spirits, and the regions of eternal blifs and felicity; for, on the eighth day of the fever, he fell afleep 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 ministry, among his flock in Dunfermline, for the fpace of forty-two years. Mr. Erfkine, our worthy author, affords room for large commendations, were we difpofed to give them; his complete character is truly great, and his difpofition exceedingly amiable. If he is confidered as to his natural endowments, he poffeffed many fine qualities; he had a fweet temper, a clear head, a rich invention, a lively imagination, and a great memory. If he is viewed as to his acquired abil C 26 Some account of the Rev. Mr. Erskine. ities; he was well acquainted with all the useful branches of literature, neceffary to adorn the scholar and the minister. If he is confidered as to his office; he was a great and judicious divine, a pious evangelical preacher, and an able cafuift. In short, he was not only a learned man, and an able divine, but an affectionate and familiar friend, a focial companion, a devout Chriftian, and a burning and fhining light. By his death, the Church of Chrift loft a great light, a heroic champion for the truth, and a bold contender for the faith once delivered unto the faints. The body he was laft connected with, have been deprived of an useful member, and a shining ornament to their caufe. The congregation he laboured among loft an able, faithful minifter, a laborious and fuccessful wrestler, and a painful and diligent inftructor. His family and relatives loft a true friend, an affectionate husband, a tender hearted parent and a striking pattern of virtue. His acquaintance and intimates, an endearing brother, a social 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 about fixteen years; during which time the bore ten children, five fons and five daughters: three of these fons were minifters in the Affociation, viz. the Rev. Meffrs. Henry, John, and James; the first ordained minister at Falkirk, the fecond at Leflie, and the third at Stirling. All of them died in the prime of life, when they had given the world just ground to conceive high expectations of their usefulness in the church. His fecond marriage was with Margaret Simpfon, a daughter of Mr. Simpson, 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. All his other children are now removed by death. AN ACROSTIC. MUCH fam'd on earth, renown'd for piety; Religiously thy life below was fpent: Pointing out Chrift, the Lamb, who faves from wo, ERSKINE the great! whose pen spread far abroad No friend to vice, no cloak to the profane : Alluding to his poetical pieces. } } |