cribed from his fhort-hand characters, and revised by his fon, the Rev. Mr. Henry Erskine, late minister at Falkirk, and published fometime after his death. Befides thefe poetical pieces above-mentioned, there were a variety of other finall poems written, and fome of them published by our Author; fuch as, Smoaking fpiritualized. Scripture authorities for fubjecting to, and praying for, civil magiftrates. With feveral funeral poems, elegies, epithets, &c. upon fome great and celebrated men*.-Those who have any appetite for the fubstantial and folid food of the word, to the nourishment of their precious and immortal fouls, and do not want to be ftarved and decoyed with empty notions and fanciful flights, will readily meet with fuitable and agreeable entertainment in the poetical performances of this reverend Author, which are re-published at the end of his fermons. This faithful and laborious fervant of Jefus Christ, laboured fuccessfully in the work of the ministry, and continued publickly 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. As he always had a peculiar regard for the interesting doctrines of the everlasting gospel; and as his pious foul burnt fervently with a vehement love to our bleffed Redeemer: fo it would feem, providence fo ordered the matter, that his last public exercises here below, were fuitable to, and preparatory for the celestial ones. In the latter part of his life, when not engaged in his ordinary minifterial work, he was employed in compofing his SCRIPTURE SONGS: And may it not with propriety be faid, that this was an agreeable exercife, and highly fuitable, as introductory to finging the fong of Mofes and the Lamb+? The laft fubjects he was directed to handle, * We are certain our Author wrote an elegiac poem to the memory of Mr. James Cuthbert; with elegies on Meffrs. Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Phlenderlieth, George Mair, James Bathgate, and William Moncrief; with an infcription on the grave-ftone of Mr. Wilfon and Provost Brown at Perth, and Mr. Balantine at Sanquhar; and epitaphs on Meffrs. Boston at Etrick, and Hunter at Gatefhall, &c. He wrote alfo two other poems, viz. The forced marriage of Queen SCOTA, on occasion of the union, MSS and Duntermline's addrets to King George I. on his acceffion to the throne; printed.· It would appear he was fome way fenfible, and had fome prefages of his approaching difclution: for, the very day he had finished these SONGS, we the seem to be his appending his feal to the whole Chriftian fcheme, and giving his laft teftimony to a religious course; drawn from thefe words, Wifdom's ways are ways of pleafantnefs; and all her paths are peace: and his firm expectations of a blessed immortality; from thefe words, 1 know that my Redeemer liveth, &c. When he had finished his Master's public work in the world, and been fo fuitably prepared for the heavenly manfions, he was feized, in the end of the forefaid month, viz. October 1750, with a nervous fever, (wherein, nevertheless he enjoyed the exercise of his judgment and fenfes,) which lafted only for a few days, and at laft was the happy meffenger of freeing him from the incumbrances of an imbodied ftate, and leading him to the world of Spirits, and the regions 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 †, and went to take poffeffion of the kingdom prepared for him; where he now refides in the country of everlasting happiness, beholding, in righteoufnefs, the face of his glorious and exalted Redeemer, whofe vifits, while on the body, made him glad, whofe battles he had unweariedly fought, whofe caufe he had zealously defended, whofe truths he had ftrenuously maintained, whofe gofpel he had faithfully published, and to whom he had kept his allegiance, as long as he had his abode in these tents of feparation. He now, in the company of angels and archangels, and in concert with the company of faints made perfect, fings the high praifes of the mighty Saviour, whofe love many times fhed abroad in his foul are told, he said to his fpoufe, (who had been fometimes before acquainting him, that it was uneafy to her to be fo much deprived of his company, by his clofs application to study;) he had got his public work, he intended for the prefs, finifhed; and that he might now expect a little more of his company for fometime, but it would not be long till she should be deprived of it alto gether. He was buried in the church-yard of Dunfermline, on Thursday the 9th of the forefaid month. His corpfe was attended to the place of interment by an inconceivable number of spectators, deeply and juftly regreting the lofs of fo valuable a minister. while here, in his militant state, filled him with heavenly raptures. When on his death-bed, company was forbid him,' by order of his phyficians; and therefore few had the benefit of his laft advices, and dying converfation: fuch who enjoyed it, were fuitably entertained, and fenfibly refreshed. He himself complained, that fo few attended him at that time; which, indeed, is the reason why fo few of his dying fentiments can be tranfmitted 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 justice 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 sweet 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 fcholar, 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 reasoner, and an able cafuift.In fhort, he was not only a learn ed man, but an affectionate and familiar friend, a focial companion, a devout Christian, and a burning and shin. ing light: he burned with fervent zeal for the truths of the gofpel, 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 Mafter, Chrift Jefus, pled his cause with intrepidity, and honourably finished his Chriftian course. 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 laft connected with, have been deprived of an ufeful member, and a shining ornament to their caufe.-The congregation he laboured among, loft an able and faithful minifter, a laborious and fuccefsful wrestler, and a painful and diligent inftructor.-- His family and relatives, loft a true friend, an affectionate husband, a tenderhearted parent, and a striking pattern of virtue.-His acquaintances an intimates, and endearing brother, a fo cial companion, and an engaging friend. OUR Author was twice married. His firft marriage was with MARGARET DEWAR, a daughter of the laird of Laffodie*; 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. Simfon, writer to the fignet in Edinburght, who bore him four fons, and furvived himself fome few years. Three of his fons of the first marriage, were minifters in the Affociation, viz. The Rev. Meffrs. HENRY, JOHN, and JAMES; the first was ordained minifter 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 just ground to conceive high expectations of their usefulness in the Church. One of the daughters of the first marriage was married to Mr. John Newlands, merchant in Glasgow, 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. • This marriage commenced, July 15th, 1714. + On the death of his first wife, which took place on Nov. 2ad, 1730, he compofe the two following verfes. The law brought forth her precepts ten, And then diffolv'd in grace : This vine as many boughs, and then In glory took her place. Her dying breath, triumphantly, O death! where is thy fting? His fecond marriage took place, February 24th, 1732 from From the account already given of our Author, the reader will, no doubt, think we should 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 ourselves 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 domeftic incidents, and providential occurrences; the publication of which would serve 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 moft valuable natural gifts and endowments, fuch as chearfulnefs, good-nature, modefty, and gratitude, uniting in him; but remarkable for genuine piety, a heavenly difpofition of mind, and well acquainted with vital religion and practical godlinefs yea, in him centered all the ornaments of the minifter, and amiable qualities of the Chriftian, without the leaft affectation, or fmalleft appearance of vanity. He was a fhining inftance of the truth and amiableness of Chriftianity, and an examplary 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 himself what the attainments and experiences of fuch a worthy perfon must have been; and eafily conclude that certainly they were very remarkably. Before we finish this account of our Author, it will probably be expected we should say something concerning his SERMONS, and other PRACTICAL WRITINGS. Thefe works will speak for themselves. 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 |