THE

WHOLE WORKS

OF THE LATE

REV. EBENEZER ERSKINE

Minister of the Gospel at Stirling

CONSISTING OF

SERMONS AND DISCOURSES

ON THE

MOST IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING SUBJECTS

A NEW EDITION

IN THREE VOLUMES

VOL. I

EDINBURGH

OGLE & MURRAY; WM. OLIPHANT & CO.; OLIVER & BOYD

GLASGOW: J. PRYDE

LONDON: HAMILTON, ADAMS & CO.

1871

PREFACE

IT would be great presumption to attempt any recommendation of the following discourses, when they have had, hitherto, their approbation, in the judgment and experience of so many serious and well-disposed Christians, both at home and abroad: nor will any such thing be expected from one, to whom the worthy Author stood so nearly related as I do.

His praise is already in the churches; and though he be dead, he yet speaketh. His modesty did not permit him to leave any memoirs of his life, for public use.—He was twenty-eight years minister at Portmoak in Fife, and twenty-three at Stirling.—He died in the seventy-fourth year of his age.

It is hoped, that whoever shall, in a dependence upon the divine blessing, peruse the valuable treasure contained in this volume, shall find many things, (as the renowned Mr Hervey expresses it,) “to the edification of their hearts, in true faith. “solid comfort, and evangelical holiness.”—That this may be the case with multitudes, is the sincere desire of

JAMES FISHER.

Glasgow,

Feb. 10, 1761.

PREFACE

to the first sermon

IT is very probable, that this and some other sermons, now designed for the public, had slept in perpetual silence among my other shorthand manuscripts, if holy and wise providence, which over-rules us in our designs and inclinations, had not in a manner forced me to yield to their publication, for my own necessary defence, when the earnest, entreaty of some (dear to the Lord) could not prevail with me to fall in with any such proposal. The conduct of adorable providence, in this matter, has brought me under such a conviction of a culpable obstinacy, in resisting their solicitations, that I sincerely resolve, through grace, not to be so shy in time coming; especially, if I find that these sermons, which are almost extorted from me, shall prove useful and edifying.

The affair, which gave occasion to the publication of these discourses is briefly this.

In May 1725, Mr A. A.* a reverend brother, with whom I have taken sweet counsel together, and gone unto the house of God in company, and whose name, if it were practicable, out of tenderness to him, I have all the inclination in the world to conceal, was pleased in my absence, and without any provocation from me that I know of, publicly to arraign me before the Commission of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, of having, at a sacrament in Strathmiglo, upon the Monday, anno 1714. preached against the brethren, who had taken the abjuration-oath, notwithstanding of the act of Assembly recommending mutual forbearance on that head. The sermon he pointed at is that which immediately follows, being the first in order, on Rev. 3:4. ...