of acknowledging his vast obligations to Mr. Erskine's sermons on the Assurance of Faith. He wishes the reader carefully to peruse this excellent performance, in order to direct and enlarge his views of this subject."-In fine, the sermons of both brothers, Ebenezer and Ralph, are mentioned in very respectful terms, by the late Dr. WILLIAMS in his Preacher, in a list of books on Theology, which he recommends to students and ministers; and by the venerable and candid Dr. JOHN ERSKINE of Edinburgh, in a note that occurs in the first volume of his Sermons. These warm and decisive eulogies, pronounced by distinguished individuals of various religious persuasions, are unquestionably worthy of attention. Is there not ground to hope, that the day is yet far distant, which shall consign to oblivion a series of discourses, that have been so highly approved by competent judges, and so abundantly blessed for promoting the best interests of men? That every reader may himself reap some spiritual benefit from these scriptural sermons, is the sincere desire of the writer,-who, though not unwilling to avow his veneration for the memory of the Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, and his connexion with the church, of which, as an instrument in the hand of Christ, that excellent man was the founder, has attempted, in this biographical sketch, after diligently inquiring into the transactions to which it relates, to give a just and unvarnished statement of facts. November 14th, 1825. CONTENTS OF VOL. I. Thou hast a few names in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.-Rev. SERMON III.-The wind of the Holy Ghost blowing upon the dry bones in the valley of vision. Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that Page SERMON V.-The groans of believers under their burdens. We that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened.—2 Cor. v. 4. 125 SERMON VI.-The believer exalted in imputed righteousness. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall SERMON X.-A discourse on the throne of grace. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne.-Psal. lxxxix. SERMON XI.-The assurance of faith, opened and applied. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith.-Heb. x. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there. the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of SERMON XVIII.-The stone rejected by the builders exalted as The stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head-stone 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, will 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 GLASGOW, Feb. 10, 1761. JAMES FISHER. 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 short-hand manuscripts, if a holy and wise providence, which overrules 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 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, 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 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. iii. 4. It was preached before a pretty numerous auditory; but I never heard of its being quarrelled by any, except that brother himself. What ground he had for carping at it, let the world judge. It is true, in the use of lamentation, I took notice of some who defiled themselves and the land by perjury, particularly in taking the abjuration oath, with a design to serve the Pretender's interest. But * Mr. Alexander Anderson, minister at St. Andrew's, |