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THE

CONTENT S,

SERMON I.

The Sword of Justice awakened against God's Fellow,

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ZECH. xiii, 7, Awake, O fword, against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, faith the Lord of bots.

After a brief intraduction, clear analization, and fuccinct explication of t words, the following general topics of difcourfe are treated of, viz.

1. The character of the perfon against whom the fword doth awake, enquired into,

2. The nature and quality of this fword opened up,

3. The manner how this fword did awake, and the import of it,

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4. The fpecial hand Jehovah had in calling this fword to awake against this glorious perfon evinced,

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5. The reafons of the doctrine adduced, why the Lord of hofts ordered the fword of juftice to awake againft his Shepherd,

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6. The application of the fubject in fundry inferences, (1.) The nature of the facrament opened,

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(2.) Who ftand debarred from it,

(4.) Who are invited to it,

(4.) In what manner believers fhould come to it,

SERMO N. II.

The Rent Vail of the Temple; or, Access to the Holy of Holies by the death of Chrift,

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MAT. xxvii. 15. And, behold the rail of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom.

The words being analized and explained, and their proper fignification being afcertained, the following general heads of method are illuftrated, viz.

1. What that vail is that interpofed between God and us enquired into,

2. How the death of Chrift hath rent that vail,

3. In what manner the vail is rent,

4. For what end the vail is rent, narrated,

5. Inferences reduced for application,

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OUR Author was twice married. His firit 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 ions of the firit marriage, were minifters in the Affociation, viz. The Rev. Melles. HENRY, JOHN, and JAMES; the firft was ordained miriller at Falkirk, the fecond at Lelie, and the third at Stirling. All of them died in the prine of their age, when they had given the world just ground to conceive high expectations of their ufefulness in the Church. One of the daughters of the firit marriage was married to Mr. JOHN NEWLANDS, merchant in Glasgow, the editor of Eis 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 thould 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 poffelfed not only a very extraordinary degree of the moit valuable natural gifts and endowments, fuch as chearfulnefs, 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 minister, 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.

The law brought forth her precepts ten,

And then dioly'd in grace:

This vine as many boughs, and then
In glory took her place.

Her dying breath, triumphantly,
Did that fweet anthem ling,
"Thanks be to God for victory;

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O death! where is thy fling?

His fecond marriage took place, February 24th. 1732

amiable qualities of the Chriftian, without the leaft affectation, or fmallet appearance of vanity. He was a fhining inftance of the truth and amiableness of Christianity, and an exemplary pattern of fpiritual mindedness 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 werks 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 praise 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 thofe 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 doctrine 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 juleft fentiments, and form the best character of him from his writings, we fhall therefore recommend a careful perufal of thefe; fincerely wifhing them all manner of fpiritual inftruction and edification from fuch a valuable treafure: for by thefe, though he be now dead, he yet fpeaketh.

GLASGOW, August 12th. 1763.

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Pangito, Melpomene! ARESKINI funera, clarum
Cujus ab RADOLPHO fidere nomen babes.
Scotia mafa dole: ARESKINO nem fuperftes? -
Seote! is Britannicis contigit altus bonos.

Eja tamen gaude! ARESKINUS carmine vivit ;
Operibus RADOLPHO fama perennis crit.
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 scan,
The matchlefs virtues of this peerlefs man;
Prefum'd, at laft, 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 small, but first-rate feer!
A feer whofe eyes could view celestial bliss,
And fearch the wonders in that vaft abyss.
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.

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This elegiac poem was not compofed till the year 1765, being about thir

teen 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 breafts can tell,
How great a prieft has fallen in Ifrael!

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A loss which heav'n made them long feel the fmart,
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 ease 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 fiar 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 greatnefs, in this worthy man.
His early years with gravity were bless'd,
Which made him foon admir'd and much carefs'd.
A ftock of lit'rature adorn'd his name ;

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His parts, like trumpets great, ancunc'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 mott 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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