No. CLXIX.

HENRY ERSKINE, CHIRNSIDE.

He was born in 1624 at Dryburgh, by Melrose, in the county of Berwick. His father was Mr. Ralph Erskine of Shieldfield, descended from the noble house of Mar. He had thirty-three children, of whom the subject of this memoir was one of the youngest. But, though descended from an ancient and noble family, he was more honourable as a Christian, a minister of Christ, and a sufferer for his sake. He was educated in the college of Edinburgh, and passed the ordinary courses with considerable reputation. Some time before the Restoration in 1660, he was ordained at Cornhill, a parish within the English border, Northumberland. When he entered on his ministry in this place, he found the people exceedingly rude and ignorant: sitting in his own house he sometimes heard them cursing him in the open street; but in a little time he gained much upon their affections. Yet, after labouring successfully among

VOL. XXIII. NO. VIII.

them for some years, he was ejected with about two thousand more, for non-conformity to Prelacy, which. was then restored with King Charles the Second. His income in that small parish being somehow withheld for several years ere he was ejected, he was advised to go to London, and apply to his Majesty for relief. Going by sea, it happened that the ship in which he embarked was obliged to put into Harwich, where it continued windbound for three weeks. Even this, which at first was discouraging, was a kind providence to Mr. Erskine. He became acquainted with the good people of that place, exercised his ministry among them, and received much kindness from them, both during his stay, and at his departure. When he got to London, he applied to some Scotch noblemen about the court, soliciting them to forward his petition to the King. But, after presenting his petition, and long and expensive attendance, he was told for answer, that he could have no warrant for payment

3 x

of arrears, unless he would, for the time to come conform to the established Church. Some of the Scotch noblemen made him offers of considerable benefices, if he would do so, but he had not so learned Christ. He was therefore under the hard necessity of returning home, with a heavy heart and empty purse; having exhausted what money he had brought along with him. Being on ship-board, in order to his return, with only a crown left to support him, he offered to exchange it for smaller money, when purchasing some refreshment; but to his great surprise he was told that his crown was not worth a farthing. Upon this he told his case to the master of the vessel, and asked him to lend him some money, promising payment for whatever he should furnish him with when once they got to Edinburgh. Here again providence interposed in his favour. They were a second time compelled to put into Harwich by a severe storm, and detained six weeks. But he was among his friends. He had an opportunity for the exercise of his ministry among them, and they kindly supplied his wants in the mean time, and at his departure furnished him with what was necessary for his voyage. Nay, so much did they regard him, that they earnestly solicited him to come and settle as their minister. He would willingly have yielded, but he could not prevail with his wife to go so far from her friends and native country.

After his return he removed his family from Cornhill to Dryburgh, and lived in a house belonging to his brother, Mr. Erskine of Shieldfield. Depending on a good providence for subsistence to himself and family, he exercised his ministry as he had opportunity, preaching sometimes in the fields, and frequently in his own house, to such as ventured to attend. Here he re

sided without meeting with moles. tation, as far as is known, till 1682; but in April that year he was seized by the Laird of Meldrum with a company of soldiers, when he was worshipping God on the Lord's day with his family. After confinement, first at Melrose and then at Jedburgh, the hardship of which was increased by a violent ague under which he laboured, he was, though still indisposed, carried to Edinburgh, and compelled to appear before a committee of the privy council. When he came before them, after some previous examinations, Sir George M'Kenzie, the King's advocate asked him, if he would give bond to preach no more at conventicles? To which Mr. Erskine answered:-" My lord, I have my commission from Christ, and though I were within an hour of my death, I durst not lay it down at the feet of any mortal man." The advocate having made a report to the council, his affair was delayed till the 6th of June, and he gave bail under four thousand merks to compear at that time, upon the 6th of June; he appeared before the council and a libel was read against him, charging him with preaching at conventicles, and with disorderly baptizing and marrying. Being asked by the chancellor, what he had to say to the libel?he answered, it was well known to those who lived in his neighbourhood, that from September 22, 1681, to the end of February this year, he was under bodily indisposition, so that he was not capable of exercising any part of his ministerial function. The chancellor, according to the custom of those severe times, asked him if he would make oath that he had not preached, baptized, or married from September last? To which he answered, he was not at liberty to give his oath for the whole of that time. Nothing in particular was proved against him, and yet he was fined

five thousand merks, committed to the tolbooth of Edinburgh, and or dered to be carried next day to the Bass, to lie there till his fine was paid, and bond given he should preach no more. To prevent if possible his going to the Bass, which might have been hazardous for him in his present weak condition, in the afternoon he presented a petition to the council, representing that confinement in the Bass must endanger his life, begging he might have liberty to quit the kingdom, and offering to find sureties for his doing so. Through the interest of some friends this was granted as a favour; and Mr. John Brown of Park, Mr. Erskine's nephew, bound himself in a bond of 5000 merks, that his uncle should within fourteen days remove out of Scotland. When he was released out of his imprisonment, the clerks of the council got twenty-one dollars from him, and the jailer and his servant four, which Mr. Erskine could certainly very ill spare.

Thus this good man, of whom the world was not worthy, prepared for going into a voluntary exile, as several of his brethren had done before him. Having prepared himself for his journey, and taken leave of his wife and children, he removed out of the kingdom, within the time determined, like Abraham, not knowing whither he went, nor having a view of any certain abode, but his God provided better things for him than he could foresee. He went first to Northumberland, then into Cumberland, and at length fixed at Parkridge, about ten miles from Carlisle, the proprietor of the place offering him a house. In September he sent for his wife and small children to that place; and here they lived pretty free from external violence for about two years and a half. The following anecdote is told of the success of his ministry in this place:-As he was walking

one day for his recreation he observed several young people, who had been digging peats, diverting themselves during the time of rest with various frolics; in his grave manner he says, "I think you are too merry," to which one of them replied, "Sir, we suppose you are a minister, and if you will preach a sermon, we will sit down and be grave." "I fear," said Mr. Erskine,

you are not in a proper frame for hearing a sermon." They, however, pressed it so much upon him, that at last he consented, and after retiring for a little into a secret place, he came and preached to about thirty work people. This issued in the conversion of eleven of them to the faith and obedience of Jesus.

He was afterwards invited by Mr. Gray of Preston to live under him, in an obscure village called Monilaws, about a mile from Cornhill; but he did not live long here in peace. In the end of July 1685, he was apprehended by eight of the militia horsemen, and carried first to Wooler, and next day to Colonel Struthers at Foreberrie. The Colonel told him that he must go to Sir John Fenwick at Newcastle, by virtue of an order from the King. That night he was sent back to Wooler, and confined in prison, where, to their mutual comfort, he found Mr. Luke Ogle, an ejected minister. On the 4th of July they were carried, under a guard of nine soldiers, on horseback, to the house of a justice of peace at Coldingham. Here they staid till Monday the 6th instant. On the morning of that day Mr. Erskine was seized with a violent cholic, so that he expected death every moment; yet Such was the barbarity of the soldiers, that they would hurry him away though in the greatest extremity, and scarcely able to sit upon his horse. By the kind providence of God they got to Newcastle about seven in the evening. When they came to Sir