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Ralph Erskine
Ralph Erskine (1685–1752) was a Scottish preacher and evangelical minister whose dynamic ministry and writings significantly shaped the 18th-century Scottish church, particularly within the Secession movement. Born on March 18, 1685, in Monilaws, Northumberland, England, he was the sixth son of Henry Erskine, a Presbyterian minister, and Margaret Halcro, both of whom were exiled Covenanters who moved to England after Henry’s ejection from ministry in 1662. Raised in a devout family, Ralph studied at the University of Edinburgh, earning an MA in 1704, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Dunfermline in 1709. In 1717, he married Margaret Dewar, with whom he had ten children, though only four survived him; she died in 1739, and he remarried Margaret Simson in 1741. Erskine’s preaching career began with his ordination in 1711 as assistant minister at Dunfermline, Fife, where he served alongside his elder brother Ebenezer until 1737. Known for his fervent, gospel-centered sermons, he drew large crowds with his poetic preaching style, often delivered outdoors during Scotland’s evangelical awakenings, including the Cambuslang Revival of 1742. In 1737, he joined Ebenezer in forming the Associate Presbytery, seceding from the Church of Scotland over issues of patronage and spiritual independence, and became minister of the Queen Street congregation in Dunfermline until his death. A prolific writer, he penned over 400 sermons, published as Sermons and Other Practical Works, and composed evangelical poetry and hymns like “Faith’s Plea Upon God’s Word and Covenant.” Erskine died on November 6, 1752, in Dunfermline, leaving a legacy as a preacher whose eloquence and commitment to free grace theology invigorated Scottish Presbyterianism and influenced revivalist movements. He was buried in Dunfermline Abbey Churchyard.
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Ralph Erskine emphasizes the importance of letting faith take the testimony of Christ concerning His glory, highlighting how all things the Father has are also Christ's, and how Christ offers rest, happiness, and all good things to those who come to Him. He urges listeners to heed Christ's own commendation and invitation, emphasizing that all the treasures of the Father's grace and love are in Christ's hands. Erskine passionately calls for souls to rise and come away to Christ, who offers pardon, peace, grace, and glory abundantly, as all things the Father has are Christ's.
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Hear Christ's Testimony About Himself
The third direction to your faith is, O let faith take the testimony of Christ out of his own mouth concerning his own glory, which is here wrapped into the very midst of the Father's glory! "All things that the Father hath are mine," Christ, the Mediator, is the speaker here: and as he declares, to his Father's praise and honour, that all things he hath for us are originally the Fathers, even that God, who so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son, &c., so he proclaims his own glory that he hath from the Father: "All things that the Father hath are mine." We need not commend Christ to you, as if we could say more than he says himself; there is ten thousand times more in this very word, than men or angels can tell: therefore, O hear his commendation out of his own mouth, "All things that the Father hath are mine." He says, elsewhere, "Come to me, and I will give you rest." Why? What rest? What happiness? What good things? Even all things that the Father hath, they are put in my hand to give. Christ himself is here the preacher, commending himself, and offering himself. O sirs, is there none here hearkening to him, and saying, O! "It is the voice of my Beloved; behold he cometh, skipping on the mountains, and leaping on the hills? It is the voice of my Beloved, saying, Rise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for, lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;" the heavy shower of the Father's wrath for your sins, hath fallen on my head, and now all the treasures of the Father's grace and love are put into my hand and will you not come to me? Rise, my love, my fair one, you shall be fair in my sight, though in yourself a vile monster, and black like hell, by lying among the pots of sin and guilt; yet, rise at my call; let your heart rise, let your soul rise: "Rise, my love, my fair one, and come away: all things are ready, come to the marriage." If you intend to come to the marriage supper, come first to the marriage. All things are ready for you, whatever you lack; pardon, and peace, and grace, and glory, and every good thing; "All things that the Father hath are mine;" and, "I that speak unto you am he;" and, "To you, O men, do I call; my voice is to the sons of men. If any man thirst let him come to me and drink." Come and drink abundantly of all things that your souls stand in need of: only come to me, and then drink. The Father hath put the cup of salvation in my hand: come then, and take a large drink of wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption, and all things that the eternal God hath; for, "All things that the Father hath are mine." A large drink of the Spirit is to be had here. See John 7:37.
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Ralph Erskine (1685–1752) was a Scottish preacher and evangelical minister whose dynamic ministry and writings significantly shaped the 18th-century Scottish church, particularly within the Secession movement. Born on March 18, 1685, in Monilaws, Northumberland, England, he was the sixth son of Henry Erskine, a Presbyterian minister, and Margaret Halcro, both of whom were exiled Covenanters who moved to England after Henry’s ejection from ministry in 1662. Raised in a devout family, Ralph studied at the University of Edinburgh, earning an MA in 1704, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Dunfermline in 1709. In 1717, he married Margaret Dewar, with whom he had ten children, though only four survived him; she died in 1739, and he remarried Margaret Simson in 1741. Erskine’s preaching career began with his ordination in 1711 as assistant minister at Dunfermline, Fife, where he served alongside his elder brother Ebenezer until 1737. Known for his fervent, gospel-centered sermons, he drew large crowds with his poetic preaching style, often delivered outdoors during Scotland’s evangelical awakenings, including the Cambuslang Revival of 1742. In 1737, he joined Ebenezer in forming the Associate Presbytery, seceding from the Church of Scotland over issues of patronage and spiritual independence, and became minister of the Queen Street congregation in Dunfermline until his death. A prolific writer, he penned over 400 sermons, published as Sermons and Other Practical Works, and composed evangelical poetry and hymns like “Faith’s Plea Upon God’s Word and Covenant.” Erskine died on November 6, 1752, in Dunfermline, leaving a legacy as a preacher whose eloquence and commitment to free grace theology invigorated Scottish Presbyterianism and influenced revivalist movements. He was buried in Dunfermline Abbey Churchyard.