t' it^ -h^^j^l^^i^^^ "-^^fteilSftg^ \^ ' |>visioD Scctinf SCO 1 • ::^ ^/^^ ^-"m^ / ^-' •nt ^^^ /•r^ >- ''^Z P R E F AC Et^ ^NHcf .He Re,„e„a A.^gr^ ^ H a Sermons hasS endeared himfeif%jne By ^.w^ fome PoEMSj which he publiihelitftltier the Name of Gofpel-Sonnets, This being a Word very old in the Englijh Tongue, and ne- ver, as I remember, ufed in religious Matters^ I cannot but fear, that as the Title was not well underftood, that excellent Work will be lefs en-? quired for. I would therefore take this Oppor- tunity oi recommending what I have fo much admired, thofe Hymns and. Spiritual Songs, for the Sweetnefs of the J^erfe^ the Difpojttion of the SubjeBsy the Elegance of the Co?npoJition^ and, above all, for that which animates the whole, the Savour of divine and experimental Knowledge, As Poetry has very often no more in it than great and /welling Words of Vanity^ diftorted Images, and monftrous Allulions ; .fo it is a Pleafure to fee the Things of another "World delivered without any heatheniih Figures and Phrafcs, but in fuch an Adorning as be- comes the Gofpel of Jesus Christ. Thefe Sermons were printed at feveral Times in Scotla?7d. They aire coUeded from a greater A 2 Number ii PREFACE. Number, and I could have wiflied they had been ranged in fuch an Order as would agree to the Times of preaching ; and had I k^n them before they were committed to the Prefs in London^ I would have taken the Libe/ty ei- ther to have alter d or explained fome Phrafes that are never heard in the Souths tho' no t only common but very expreffive in the North. The Reader may be furprized at t]\Q familiar Enlargements that feem to draw out thefe Dif- courfes to a greater Length ; but that will be no Offence, if he conliders, that not one of them was ever defigned for the Prefs, nor writ out by the Author in that view. Thefe are only a Tranfcript of his original Preparations by fome that were able to read his fhort-hand, which he looked over, and then left them to the Dif- pofal oi particular Friends. He himfelf never made a GolleEiion of them, though without his Knowledge they have had fever al Editions, The fame Account may be given of Mr. Ebenezer Erjkine's Sermons. They, with feve- ral others, were defigned for a large unlearned Audience^ and have been greatly bleffed to the Edif cation of many, efpecially the Poor of the Flock, I am told by the Author^ ( Mr. /?. E. ) that he and his Colleague have their JVork among Seven Tboufand Perfons^ whom they exannne. And PREFACE. Ill And as thefe Sermons were preached on Sacra- mental Occajions^ it may be proper to acquaint the Reader with their Method^ becaufe it is fo different from what obtains among us here. For almoft a Year, there is a particular Exami- nation of all thofa whopropofe themfelvc:) to be Cofmntinicants ; and, after the Miniftcrs are fa- tisl^y'd about their Knowledge^ the Names of the Ferfofis are read over, that there may be a pro- per Enqtciry into their Converfation ; and lb they are either rejected or received by the Voice of the People. In moft Places the OrdinaiKe of the LordV Supper is adminifier'd but once a Year, in the Summer, which makes a great ConJlue?2ce of Hearers andCo?n?nunicantSy2inA efpecially where the Solemnity is ferved by thofe who have con- tended earneftly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints ; fo that by a Circulation of thefe Meetings, they have an Opportunity of frequent eating that Breads and drinking that Cup^ du- ring the Seafon. The People who live in neigh- bouring Congregations do ufually meet their own Minifters in the Place of general Con- courfe, or otherwife they bring Tokens along with them from thofe who are latisfy'd in them. The Numbers on thefe Occafions are often- times fo great, that they are obliged to have a tent fet up on the outfide of the church, for the iv PREFACE. the Service of fuch as could not find Room within. The firft of thefe DifcourfeSy as they now ftand, was deHvered in three Sermons on Sa- ttirday^ Lord's-Day, and Monday ; and thus it was in moft of the reft. As to the little Pre- face before the fecond Work^ it might have been dropt in this Edition, as it relates to an Affair not known in England^ and haf)pened lome^ time ag5 in Scotland, Thefe Things i thought proper to be mentioned, which I do upon the befl: Information. The Sermons have no need of ,my Recom- mendation, You will find in them a faithful Adherence to the Defign of the Gofpel, a clear Defence of thofe DoBrines that are the Pillar and Ground of Truths a large Compafs of Tho't, a ftrong Force of Argument, a happy Flow of Words that are both judicious and familiar. May the Lord of the Harveji long continue fuch faithful Labourers, and encreafe both their Numbers and their Succeffes ; that though it is not likely I fiiall gyqv fee the Faces of thefe Bre- thren in the Flefo^ I hope our Hearts may be comforted, being knit together to the Acknow- ledgement of Christ Jesus; to whom be Glory for ever and ever. London, March 3. 1737-8. Thomas Bradbury. The CONTENTS. I. THE main Queflion of theGofpel-Catechifm, What think YE OF Christ ? being the fubftance of feme Sermons on Matth. xxii. 42. — ■ What think ye of Chrijl ? Page i By Mr. Ralph Erskine. 11. Chrift in the Believers Arms. In a Sermon on Luke ii. 28. '^hen took he him up in hisArms^and hleffed God. 79 By Mr. Ebenezer Erskine. III. The rent Vail of the Temple : Or, Accefs to the Holy of Holies by the Death of Chrift. In a Sermon on Matth. xxvii. 51. And behold the Vail of the 'Temple was rent in tzvainfrom the 'Top to the Bottom. 11 1 IV. Chrift the Peoples Covenant. In fome Difcourfes on Isaiah xlii. 6. I will give thee for a Covenant of the People.' 143 V- The Comer's Conflid : Or, the Beginner's Battle with the Devil, when efTaying to come to Chrift by Faith. In two Sermons on Luke ix. 42. And as he was yet a coming, the Devil threw him down, and tare him. The firft Serm. 206 The fecond 21^ VI. The female Preacher -, Or, the Woman of Samaria's, Sermon to the Men of the City ; or, the felf-humbling and Chrift- exalting Influence of divine Difcoveries. In a Sermon on John iv. 29. Come ^ fee a Man which told me all Things that ever I did, is not this the Chrijl ? 226 By Mr. Ralph Erskine. VII. Couragious Faith. In a Sermon on Psalm xxiii. 4. 2''ea, tho' Iwalkthro^ the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no Evil: for thou art with me, thy Rod and thy Staff they comfort me. 268 VIIT. The Believer's Journey from the Wildcrnefs of this World to the heavenly Canaan. Being the Subftance of fome Sermons on Song viii. 5. PVho is this that cometh up from the IVtldernefs leaning upon her beloved. 293 Ia. God's little Remnant keeping their Garments clean in an evil Day. In a Sermon on Rev. iii. 4. TLou haji a few Names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their ^ Garments -, and they fJjall walk zvith me in white : for they are worthy ^A-^ The CONTENTS. X. The Wind of the Holy Ghoft blowing upon the dry Bones in tine Valley of Vifion. In a Sermon on EzEK. xxxvii. ^. Come from the four Winds ^0 Breathy and breathe upon thefeflain, that they may live. 9jj± XI. The grones of Believers under their Burdens. In a Sermon on 2 Cor. v. 4. We that are in this 'iaheryt^ck do grone being bur- dened. ^qj ByMr. Ebenezer Erskine. XII. Law-Death, Gofpel-Life : Or, The Death of legal Righteoufnefs, the Life of Gofpel-Holinefs. Being the Subftance of feveral Sermons on Gal. ii. 19. I thro" theLaw am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God. 41 5 XIII. The Harmony of the divine Attributes difplay'd, in the Redemp- tion and Salvation of Sinners by Jefus Chrift. In a Sermon on Psalm Ixxxv. 10. Mercy and Truth are met together : Righteouf nefs and Peace have kiffed each other. 498 XIV. The befl Bond, or fureft Engagement. In a Sermon on Je REM. XXX. 21. For who is this that engaged his Heart to ap- proach unto me ? faith the Lord. 542 And a Discourse after the folemn Work. XV. The gradual Conqueft : Or, Heaven won by little and little. In two Sermons on Deut. vii. 22. And the Lord thy God will put out thefe Nations be- fore thee by little and little. 588 By Mr. Ralph Erskine. XVI. The Rainbow of the Covenant furrounding the Throne of Grace. Being the Subftance of fome Sermons on Rev. iv. 3. — And there was a Rainbow round about the Throne^ in fight like unto an Emerald. 6j^6 By Mr. Ebenezer Erskine. The Tthe main §lueftion of the Gofpel-Cate-r chiftfiy What think ye of Christ ? BEING The Subftance of fome SERMONS preached at Port77ioah^ &c. on a Sacramental Occafion. By the Reverend Ralph Erskine, M. A. M A T T H. XXII. 42. What think ye of CHRIST? Y friends, if you have any regard to the voice of ^3©S?Si^^ the Son of God, fpeaking to you in this text, then, l^?vr' A/T/u^X^'^ to be fure, the application of it is begun, before ^W^^'^P^ ever we come to the exphcation of it. And in- ^^Ivillfe^ deed, if the Lord himfelf would open and apply ^s\S!,^'i5ri^^^) it to you, you would fee more in it than we can tell you. Perhaps many that are here, when the minifter reads his text, turns up their Bibles, and put a mark upon the place of Scripture : Very well, but then they think there is the minifler's text, and fo no more of it ; as if it were only the minifter's con- cern, or at moft, that it is only the minifter's bufinefs to fpeak to his text, and their bufinefs to hear what he fays. But, my friends, you ought to know, that you have here more than a text -, and it IS my bufinefs at this rime, not only to read you a text, but to afk you a queftion ; and I cannot refume my text, without pro- pofing it, iVhat think ye of Chrijl ? And it is your bufinefs, not only to hear ferioufly what is faid, but to anfwer folemnly before B God 2 The main Q^uestion, God what is ask'd, namely, l^hat think ye of Chrift ? If you un- derftand it only fimply as my text, you will think your felves little concerned with it ; but if you apprehend it as Chrift's queflion to you, then your Concern is great. It is not my que- ftion only, but as Chrift propofed it to the Pharifees here, fo your hearing it repeated to you in Chrift's name, and from his word, makes it his queftion to you, PFhat think ye of Chrift ? At fuch folemnities as this, you have occalion to hear much of Chrift; but now the queftion is. What think ye of Chrift, of whom you hear fo much ? Many people, the more they hear of Chrift, the lefs they think of him; like If meJ, when they had the manna fo plentifully rained down about their tent-doors, they thought very little of it : But woe will be to you, who hear much of Chrift, and yet think little or nothing of him. If any man love not our Lord Jefus Chrift, fays the Apoftle, if he hath no efteem of him, let him be Anathema Maran-atha. Ifyou have the facramental fupper in view, you know Chrift hath or- dered you to fearch and try before-hand,faying,Lef a man examine himfelf, and fo let him 'eat. And now, if you would examine to purpofe, I cannot fee a more fliort and fubftantial queftion in all the Bible, to try yourfelves by, than this is, IVhat think ye tf Chrift ? Solomon fays, Prov. 23. j. As a man thinketh in his heart, fo is be; where he declares the man's ftate to be accord- ing as the thoughts of his heart go. Now, fo it is here ; truly according as you think in your heart, efpecially concern- ing Chrift, fo are you, and fo is your ftate in God's fight : Ac- cording as you think highly and duly of Chrift or not, fo are you either a gracious or a gracelefs man, either a believer or unbeliever, either a man fit to goto a communion-table or not; and therefore inquire into it, What think ye of Chrift ? The trial here comes to a narrow point, wherein God only can be the witnefs, who will be the judge. You may deceive men with your words and works, which is all we ha^^e to know you' by ; but here you are called to try your felves by your thoughts, before that God who fearches the heart, and fees the thoughts, What think ye of Chrift ? Theoccafion of Chrift's propounding this queftion, was this, the Pharifees hd.d propofed feveral queftions to him concerning the law, by which they thought to have expofed him, while yet they did but expofe themfelves; particularly from ;;fr/f 15, and downward, thinking to intangle him, they fent forth th^r difciples with the Herodianiy faying^ Mafter, ij^hat thinkeft thou ? is it What think ye of Cn^HT 7 3 it lawful to give tribute to Casfar or not ? what is latvftd ? or^nihatfays the law concerning thisl Chrift anfwers the queftionto their afto- niflimencandconfufion. Again, from ver. 23. and downward, the Sadducees, who denied the refurreftion, come to him with a queftion on that head; and they flart a difficulty out of the law of MofeSy which they thought was irreconcilable with thedoftrine of the refurre6lion ; But Chrift anfwers that alfo, and puts them to filence. Again afterwards, from ^;^r/^ 34, and downwards, the Pharifecs finding that the Sadducees were filenced by him^they ga- ther together their forces to puzzle and tempt him; and one of them that was a lawyer comes with another queflion to him, {"ay- mg,MaJler,what is the great commandment in the law'? Now, they having asked fo many queflions of him, and he having anfwered them all, it was time for him to ask them a queftion ; and he does it while they are gathered together in confederacy againfl him : Tho' their forces were unite, and every one prefenttohelpano- ther,yet he puzzles them;forGod delights to baffle his ad verfaries and conquer hisenemies, when they think themfelves ilrongeft, and have all the advantages they can defire. Now Chrift asked them a queftion,which they could eafily anfwer : It was a queftion in their own catechifm. What think ye of Chrift? and, Whofe Son is he ? They anfwer truly according to fcripture, that he was the Son of David. This they were taught from Pfal. Sg- 35, 3 6. and feveral other places, fliewing, that the Mejftas was to be the feed of David, the rod out of the ftem of ^ejfe. But now Chrift ftarts a difficulty upon their anfwer, which they could noteafily anfwer; nay, which filenced them, and all that fought occafion againft him, ver. 43, 44, 45. If Chrift be David's fon, how then is he David's Lord ? Chrift did not hereby intend to infnare them as they did him,but to inftruft them in a neceflary truth which they were to believe ; namely, that the expefted Meffias is God as well as Man, David's Lord as well as David's Son, and fo both the root and offspring of David ; Rev. 22.16. Now, herein they were puzzled,and put to filence. Many are proud of their knowledge, becaufe they can anfwer fomequeftions of their catechifm, as the Fharifees here did in genera! ; but yet they have reafon to be a- ihamed of their ignorance : When the queftion is opened up, they cannot abide by the truth which they aflert, nor reconcile one truth with another, no more than the Fharifees here could ; by which it was evident, that tho' they anfwered, yet they did not underftand his queftion, which hepropofed, (i.) More ge- nerally, What think ye of Chrift the Meffias ? (2.) More B 2 particularly. 4 The mm (Question, particularly, Whofe Son is he ? It is the queftion, as propofed m general, that I confine myfelf unto, yet not excluding the other branch of it, as the fubjeft may bring it in. When Chrift pro- pofed this queftion to the Pharifees^ IVhat think ye of Chrift ? no doubt they reckoned their thoughts of the MeJJias were found and right every way, while they thought he was the Son of David; but like the damnably deluded ^rw» doftors of our day, they did not think fo highly of him as to apprehend him to be the Son of God^they aid not thinkfo honourably of him, as to own his being the fupreme God, equal with the Father : for all their knowledge, there was more in that queftion than they underftood, What think ye of Chrift ? The Pharifees had asked Chrift feveral queftions concerning the law, the great precepts of the law; and now it was fit that Chrift fliould ask them a queflion concerning the great promife of the Gofpel : They were fo taken up with the law, they had no tho't of the Gofpel j theytho't fo much of MofeSy thu they had no thought of Chrift; therefore fays he, What think ye of Chrift? Many are fo full of the law, that they forget him, who is the end of the law for righteoufnefs to every one that be- lieveth. Here is a queftion to check the pride of Legalifts, PFba^ think ye ofChrifil There is a depth in every place of Scripture, which tho' it feems to be very plain to the carnal eye, yet the fpiritual depth thereof cannot be founded without the help of the Spirit of God : There is alfo a great depth in this queftion ; Angels cannot found the depth thereof, they pry into it, and cannot think enough of Chrift ; they can never think too much of him : And what fhall men fay in anfwer to it, What think ye of Chrift ? To divide this text too critically, would, I fuppofe, be the way to confufe it ,* but I think every word of it hath an emphafis in it. I . There is an emphafis in the i.nterrogative particle what. What think ye of Chrift ? what place do ye give him ? what value do you put upon him ? what grandeur and glory do you afcribe to him ? what efteem have you of him? And fo, 2. There is an emphafis in the verb think: Some think not of him at all; God and Chrift is not in all their tho'ts ; fome think meanly, fome think bafely, fome think difhonourabJy, fome think hardly of him : But what think ye ? what is your judgment of Chrift ? what is your opinion of him ? what is your fentiment'about him? what is your apprehenfion of him? howftand you afFefted to- wards him.? and what confideration have you of him? 3. There is What think ye of Christ ? 5 is an emphafis in the pronoun ye : What think ye of Chrifl 9 jQPharifees Siud Sadducees,W hut thinkyeof Chrift? ye that are fobufy inflarting of queftions about the law, what think ye of Chrifl, the end of the law? ye legalifts and felf-rfghteous per- fons, what think ye of Chrift ? Yea, though it was put to the Pharifees in particular, yet it concerns all in general. The trying queftion that is propofed for the convi6lion of hypo- crites, and to find them out, is ufeful for the confolation and confirmation of believers, and for difcovering their upright- nefs. While the daughters of Jerufalem think no more of Chrifb than of another beloved, hfmg^What is thy beloved more than another ? the fpoufe of Chrifl thinks him to be the chief among ten thoufand. Therefore it comes to you all. What think ye ojf Chrifl, believers and unbelievers ? Surely to them that believe, he is precious. 4. There is an emphafis in the objeft or matter of the queftion Chrijt: What think ye of Chrift ? what think ye of the Mefilas ? what think ye of the anointed of God, the Chrifl of God? It is remarkable, Chrift fays not here. What think ye of me? but. What think ye of Chrifl? that is, God's anointed, and the MeiTias promifed to the Fathers : And hereby it is intimated tons, that as Chrift loves to magnify his office, as the fent, and fealed, and anointed of God ; fo we can- not have right and becoming thoughts of him, unlefs we appre- hend him in his faving offices, to which he is authorifed of the Father: And fo,when he fays not. What think ye of me? but, W'hat think ye of Chrifl? he does not fimply commend himfelf, but his Father alfo, who anointed him to that office ; and him- felf, as bearing his Father's commiffion, and invefled with his au- thority to fave finners: What think ye of Chrift? Here is the proper objeft of efteem of rational creatures, and efpecially mankind-fmners, on whom their thoughts ought to terminate. It is not. What think ye of God abfokitely confidered? for God out of Chrifl is a confumingfire. It is not. What think ye of Mofes? You magnify Mofes d.nd the law ; but a greater than Mofes is here, even he by whom the law is magnified and made honourable. It is not, What think ye of miniilcrs and their fermons? O! they are nothing but the image of death with- out him ; but the queflion is. What think ye of Chrift ? The word itfelf is but a dead letter witiiout Chrifl. It is a remark- able fiiying that Chrifc hath tothatfamepurpofc, ^o/;. 5. 39,40. Search -the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life^ and they are they that teftify of me : And ye mil not cows to me that B q ye 6 The main QuESTt^N^, ye might have life. You think you have eternal life in the Scripture, but the Scripture tedifies of me ; yet ye will not come to me,tho' the Scripture teftifies that eternal life is only to be had in me. Chriffc is the true God and eternallife, ijoh.5. 20. And this is the record^ that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son, ver. 11. Seeing then that the Scripture tefti- SesofChrifl, that eternal life is in him, in vain do men think to have eternal life, even in the Scripture, while they will not come to Chrifl; that they may have life. People may think refpeft- fiilly of thCj Scripture, and yet perifli in their ignorance, and die inadelufion,while they do not think refpeftfully ofChrifl, in a fuitablenefs to the teflimony that the Scripture gives of him ; therefore the great quedion is ftill, What think ye of Chrift?' Observation. That the great queflion of the Chriftian catechifm, hy which the people are to try themfeheSy is this, iVhat think ye of Chrifll Here you fee, Chrifl:, who is the catechifl that puts the que- flion, is alfo the catechifm, the matter of the queflion. It is to this fame purpofe that Chrift demands an anfwer to this queftion, both with refpe6l to the people in general, what they thought ofChrifl;; and alfo with refpe6l to theDifciples them- felves, what they thought of him, Luk. 9. 18, ipj 20. Whom fay the people that I am ? What is the fentiment and opinion of the people about Chrifl? It is anfwered for the people, that fome took him for John the Baptift, fome for Elias, fome for one of the old Prophets : They had an efteem of Chrifl, but not according to his worth and excellency, his grandeur and glory. Well,, but fays Chrifl to his Difciples, Wlwmfay ye that lam? What is your thought and judgment ? Peter anfwers in the name of the refl, faying, Thou art the Chrifl of God. Believers only can anfwer this queflion to ipuvpoCe^What think ye of Chrifl? The method which I would here endeavour, as the Lord may aififl, to profecute, fliall be, I. To premife fome general re- marks for clearing of this do6trinc. II. Tofliewwhat is the import of this queflion in the feveral parts thereof.. III. Offer fome reafons of the do6trine, fliewing why this is the leading and trying queflion in the chriflian catechifm. IV. Deduce fome Inferences, and fo make application of the point, for in- forming of our minds, trying of our flate, and dire6ling of our thoughts and affetlions concerning Chrifl. The JVhat think 3'^ r/ Christ ? j The firft head propofed is, to offer fome general remarks V for clearing of the do61rine. jft Remark. That rnan is a thoughtful or a thinking creature. God created him with a thinking faculty, capable of difcurfive thoughts and ratiocination; capable of rational cogitation concerning God, and fpiritual obje6b, and celefdai things, which beafts, that have fome fort of thoughts, yet arc not capable of. 1 need not infift upon this ; for fome of you know, than even pagan Philofophers are acquainted with this, and that heathen Poets have infer'd it from the very frame and ftru6lure of the human body; as Ovid, Pronaque cum fpe^ent animalia ccetera terrain, Os homini fiiblime dedit : CcBlumqiie ttieri JuJJit, S ei-e^os ad fidera tollere vultus. Man was endowed above beafls with a faculty capable of celeftial contemplation. It is peculiar to the creatures called Men and Angels, to think of God, and to think of Chrifl ; other creatures are not capable of fuch thoughts : This is plainly fup- pofed in this queftion, tVhat think ye of Chriji? 2d Remark. That man's thoughts, together with all thefacul- ties and powers of his foul, have got fuch a daih by the fall of y/- dam, that they were fet a wavering after other objefts befides God, the chief good ; Yea, the fall in a manner dalh'd out his brains ,• and his head being broken, God went out of his head,and the creature came in. Since that time, he could never have a right thought of God in his head, yea, God is not in all his thoughts ; but innumerable other things fill up the room which God fliould have. ^ He created man upright, but they have found out many inventions, infomuchthat now every imagination of the thought of his heart is only evil continually^ Gen. 6.5. I'he world, and the lufts thereof, do monopolize and ingrofs all the thoughts of the chil- dren of men, and God is thruft out of them ; there is no room for - God or the Son of God. This wrong fet of the thoughts is alfo here fuppofed in the queftion. What think ye of Chrifl"? '^d Remark. That whatever confufed thoughts and dark appre- henfions men may naturally have, now in their j-allen ilate, concerning God and his law, like the confufed Chaos,L