Ralph Erskine

Career

Ralph Erskine was the younger brother of another prominent churchman, Ebenezer Erskine. He was chaplain and tutor to the "Black" Colonel John Erskine from 1705 to 1709.

After studying at the University of Edinburgh, Ralph was ordained assistant minister at Dunfermline in 1711.

The Gospel Sonnets have frequently appeared separately. His Life and Diary, edited by the Review

Doctorate Fraser, was published in 1834. There is a larger than life size bronze statue of Ralph Erskine on a pedestal, not far from the High Street in the centre of Dunfermline.

He was a Free Gardener being Initiated in the Dunfermline Lodge of Free Gardeners in 1721.

"Faith, without trouble or fighting, is a suspicious faith. Foreign true faith is a fighting, wrestling faith." - Ralph Erskine, 1733

"A rigid matter was the law,

demanding brick, denying straw,

But when with gospel tongue it sings,

it bids me fly and gives me wings"

- Ralph Erskine.

Achievements

• He was known for his poetical paraphrases and gospel sonnets.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Sermons of Ralph Erskine: Christ and His Followers,The Promising God,The Faithfulness of Christ unto Death

    (Christ and His Followers Throbbing with energy and fervor...)

  • The Sermons, and Other Practical Works, of the Late Reverend and Learned Mr. Ralph Erskine, Minister of the Gospel in Dunfermline, Vol. 8 of 10: ... Pieces; To Which Is Prefixed, an Accou

    (Excerpt from The Sermons, and Other Practical Works, of t...)

  • Gospel Sonnets, or Spiritual Songs: In Six Parts; I. The Believer's Espousals; II. The Believer's Jointure; III. The Believer's Riddle; IV. The ... The Believer's Principles (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from Gospel Sonnets, or Spiritual Songs: In Six P...)

  • The Sermons, Vol. 3: And Other Practical Works of the Late Reverend Ralph Erskine, Dunfermline (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from The Sermons, Vol. 3: And Other Practical Wor...)

Views

Quotations: "Faith, without trouble or fighting, is a suspicious faith. Foreign true faith is a fighting, wrestling faith." - Ralph Erskine, 1733

"A rigid matter was the law,

demanding brick, denying straw,

But when with gospel tongue it sings,

it bids me fly and gives me wings"

- Ralph Erskine.

Membership

He was also present at, though not a member of, the first meeting of the "associate presbytery".

Connections

Brother:

Ebenezer Erskine

a prominent churchman

References

• The Life And Diasy Of The Rev. Ralph Erskine A.m.