When on his death-bed, company was forbid him, by order of his phyficians; and therefore few had the benefit of his last advices, and dying converfation: fuch who enjoyed it, were fuitably entertained, and fenfibly refreshed. He himself com-' plained, that fo few attended him at that time; which, indeed, is the reafon why fo few of his dying-fentiments can be tranf mitted to pofterity.

Our worthy Author affords room for large commendations, and his character was of the highest kind: want of abilities permits not to do juftice to fo great a man; and attempting to do it, may fhew a deficiency of talents neceffary for giving an exact portrait of him, at full length. On the one hand, as we entirely defpife and abhor that meannefs, of giving flattering titles to any man; fo, on the other, we are glad, that, on this fubject, there is as little occafion for them, as we want inclination to use them.-If Mr. ERSKINE 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 Abilities; he was well acquainted with all the useful branches of literature, being an able fcholár, an accurate logician, and a penetrating philofopher.-If he is confidered as to his Office: he was a great and judicious divine, a pious and evangelical preacher, an accurate critic, a profound reafoner, and an able cafuift. In short, he was not only a learned man, but an affectionate and familiar friend, a focial companion, a devout Chriftian, and a burning and fhining light: he burned with fervent zeal for the truths of the goipel, and was foon alarmed at any attempt to darken, fully, or pervert them; and was a fhining example of piety, holiness, and integrity: for, from what we know of him, we have reason to conclude, he kept his allegiance to his glorious Master, Chrift Jefus, pled his caufe with intrepidity, and honourably finished his Christian

courfe.

By his death, the church of Christ lost a great light, a heroic champion for the truth, and a bold contender for the faith, once delivered to the faints.-The body he was last connected with, have been deprived of an useful member, and a shining ornament to their caufc. The congregation he laboured among, loft an able and faithful minifter, a laborious and fuccefsful wrefller, and a painful and diligent instructor.- His family and relatives, loft a true friend, an affectionate husband, a tender-hearted parent, and a striking pattern of virtue.- His Acquaintances and Intimates, an endearing brother, a focial companion, and an engaging friend.

VOL. I.

B

OUR

OUR Author was twice married. His first marriage was with MARGARET DEWAR, a daughter of the laird of Laflodic *;, who lived with him about fixteen years: In which time fhe bore ten children; five fons and five daughters -His fecond marriage was with MARGARET SIMSON, a daughter of Mr. Simion, writer to the fignet in Edinburgh, who bore hin four fons, and furvived himself fome few years.-Three of his ins of the firit marriage, were minifters in the Affocia-. tion, viz. The Rev. Meffes. FNRY, JOHN, and JAMES; the first was ordained miniter at Falkirk, the fecond at Leflie, and the third at Stirling. All of them died in the prime of their age, when they had given the world jutt, ground to conceive high expectations of their usefulness in the Church. One of the daughters of the firt marriage was married to Mr. JOHN NEWLANDS, merchant in Glafgow, the editor of his Practical Works. His only child now in life, is ROBERT, a fon of the fecond marriage, a merchant, fometime refiding in London.

From the account already given of our Author, the reader will, no doubt, think we fhould now proceed to give fome account of his religious deportment; and their expectations on this head, perhaps, may run very high. We are forry, truly forry, that we find ourfelves unable to gratify our readers in this particular; in regard our Author left no written memoirs of the religious part of his life: True, indeed, he left a diary behind him, from which fomething of this kind was expected; but, upon perufing it, it was found to contain only fome domestic incidents, and providential occurrences; the publication of which would ferve no valuable end.-No queftion, had the experiences of fuch a fingular man been left upon record, they would have been of great fervice, and highly acceptable to the truly devout Chriftian: For he was a man who poffeffed not only a very extraordinary degree of the most valuable natural gifts and endowments, fuch as chearfulness, good-nature, modeity, and gratitude, uniting in him; but remarkable for genuine piety, a heavenly difpofition of mind, and well acquainted with vital religion and practical godliness: yea, in hin centered all the ornaments of the minifter, an ami

*This marriage commenced, July 15th. 1714.

On the death of his first wife, which took place on Nov. 22d. 1730.

he compofed the two following verles.

amiable qualities of the Chriftian, without the leaft affectation, or fmallest appearance of vanity. He was a fhining inftance of the truth and amiablenefs of Chriftianity, and an exemplary pattern of fpiritual mindednefs and fincere devotion. But, we imagine, from the fhort hints already given of him, and a careful perufal of his practical writings, the reader will be at no great lofs to figure out to himfelf what the attainments and experiences of fuch a worthy perfon must have been; and easily conclude that certainly they were very remarkable. Before we finish this account of our Author, it will probably be expected we fhould fay fomething concerning his SERMONS, and other PRACTICAL WRITINGS. Thefe works will fpeak for themfelves. And as the most of them have long ago appeared in the world in fingle tracts; and of late collected into two large volumes in folio, and elegantly printed; fo they have already had their usefulness and praife in the church of Chrift: And for us to attempt giving any recommendation to them, would be highly unbecoming fo great a man, and offering a real indignity to his worthy memory.. Thofe of them which have been taken from Manufcripts, fince his death, it is hoped, will be as acceptable as those formerly published in his life-time; as the fubjects are of equal importance, the fame evangelical fpirit breathes through them, and the fame foul-nourishing food to be found in them.Without flattery it may be faid, that the whole of his doc trine was according to godlinefs; that he took pleasure to exhibit the Redeemer in the glory and riches of his grace; made choice of the most appofite fubjects for inftructing the ignorant, ftrengthening the weak, comforting the dejected, and for winning fouls to the bleffed Jefus.-His writings, after properly informing the judgment in the point of doctrine he made choice of to illuitrate, contain the molt ample and free offers of Chrift; the most warm and pathetic invitations to embrace him; and the most winning perfuafives to influence the heart to a chearful compliance. In the whole of his fermons, the reader will perceive a fervent zeal for the honour and caufe of Chrift, a fteady boldnefs in defending his truths, and a firm attachment to the doctrine, worship, difcipline, and government of the church of Scotland.-But as the judicious and intelligent readers will obtain the jufteft fentiments, and form the best character of him from his writings, we fhall therefore recommend a careful perufal of thefe; fincerely wishing them all manner of spiritual inftruction and edification from fuch a valuable treafure: for by thefe, though he be now dead, he yet fpeaketh.

Pangito, Melpomene! ARESKINI funera, clarum
Cujus ab RADOLPHO fidere nomen habes.
Scotia mata dole: ARESKINO nemo fuperfies?
Seote! is Britannicis contigit altus bonos.

Eja tamen gaude! ARESKINUS carmine vivit ;
Operibus RADOLPHO fama perennis erit.
Interea. ARESKINI! anime pars altera noftræ,
Te Caledonum flens Elegia gemit.

LONG did the mufe * impatient wait to fee,
Some lofty poet defcribe his pedigree:

Waiting in vain fome able pen to fcan,.
The matchlefs virtues of this peerless man ;
Prefum'd, at last, fome rude portrait to draw
Of him, who once could paint without a flaw.
Such boldnefs, fure, does much indulgence claim,
Since lofty flow'rs fhould decorate his name,
And brilliant ftrokes aloud extol his fame.

SCOTIA! what ground haft thou to drop a tear?
Thou haft not loft a fmall, but firft-rate feer!
A feer whole eyes could view celeftial blifs,
And fearch the wonders in that vaft abyfs.
ERSKINE! whofe fame to diftant climes is known;
Chrift's real friend, and Truth's bold champion.
His works divine, to future vages fhall,

Speak forth his real excellence to all;
And found the praifes of Immanuel.

*This elegiac poem was not compofed till the year 1765, being about thirteen years after Mr. Erikine's death.

O Scottish church! how much mayft thou regret Thy faithful paftor, and watchman complete!

Whofe mind could fearch heav'n's myfl'ries moft pro,
Investigate her truths to all around.

Dunfermline too, with fobbing breasts can tell,
How great a prieft has fallen in Ifrael!

(found,

A lofs which heav'n made them long feel the smart,
Becaufe his meffage had not gain'd their heart *.
The Affociate tribe may well lament the cafe,
That fuch a herald great did yield his place.
He of that number was in high repute;
And to defend their caufe was never mute;
And could each prattling fcribe with eafe refute.
This is not all; each friend of God can tell,
How Zion trembled when this pillar fell.
To all he feem'd a blazing flar moft bright:
Nay, he was a burning and a fhining light.

In private life his character's most complete
Gifts natural, and parts acquir'd, unite.
Piety and goodness form'd the early plan,
Of future greatness, in this worthy man.
His early years with gravity were blefs'd,
Which made him foon admir'd and much carefs'd.
A flock of lit'rature adorn'd his name ;.

His parts, like trumpets great, anounc'd his fame.
"His courteous carriage fhew'd his gen'rous mind;
"Fond without fraud, and without flatt'ry kind."
His pray'rs and praises were of divine fiamp;
His walk and practice, all a fhining lamp.
In converfe heav'nly, and behaviour mild;
His words not vain, nor yet his lips defil'd;
His foul fublime, his confcience undefil'd;
Sweetness of temper, friendflip molt fincere,
Of accefs eafy, and deportment fair,
Were his endowments; though to others rare.
Grace and good-nature for'd his humble mind.
In him the focial virtues all conjoin'd;

*They were about eight years vacant after his death, before they ha a fettled paltor.

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