BY THE PUBLISHER. POETICAL compositions, it will readily be admitted, are of a very ancient original; and very early specimens of this kind of writing are yet to be found on record, both in facred* and profane history. Writings in poesy have many peculiar excellencies in them, and particular advantages attending them: and when men, endued with poetical talents, employ them on subjects of real importance, the sparkling and flowery images, the magnificent and lofty expreffions, and the striking figures and rhetorical embellishments, add fuch a native grandeur, dignity, and majesty to the subject, that the mind is not only truly elevated, the attention gained, the affections moved, and devotion excited; but the memory is gradually prepared to retain and be benefited by them, on account of the beautiful and elegant manner in which the various topics are elucidated. No fubject is more interesting, or can be a fitter theme, for those vested with a poetical genius, thon those of an evangelical nature, either directly founded upon fome particular portion of facred writ, or drawn from it by just and necessary confequence. No writings, for justness of sentiment and fublimity of stile, can equal or compare with these of divine inspiration and though the mysteries of Christianity, and the wonders of our holy religion, stand in no need of gay trimmings and poetical embellishments to fet them off; yet such is the fuperior excellency of infpired poefy, that the brightest and most elevated defcriptions of a mortal pen must vail to it: and therefore says a celebrated writer, 'If any would attempt to be master of true eloquence, and aim at a • proper elevation of stile, let him read, with unremit * See the Song of Mofes at the Red Sea, Exodus xv. 1-21. This Song is the most ancient and fublime piece of poetry in the world: the images are natural-the arrangement of its ideas is beautiful-and the strain of piety which breathes through the whole, is truly evangelical, A 2 'ting diligence, the ancient prophets, the inspired evan' gelists and apostles; for their writings are an abundant 'fource of all the riches and ornament of speech.' It hath been now a long and just complaint, that poefy, which is of a divine original, should have been fo much debased to the worst of purposes, in decorating vice and profaneness; and that men, endued with fuch a happy talent, should so much employ it in furnishing our theatrical entertainments, or upon ludicrous and profane trifles. How happy would it have been for the world, what an ornament to Christianity and advantage to the church; and how honouring to themselves, as well as beneficial to the interefts of religion, had they employed it on evangelical and divine fubjects, in pointing out the beauties of creation, the bounty of providence, the depth of redeeming love and grace, and the excellency and sweetness of true religion and practical godliness! The Rev. Mr. Erskine, author of the following Poems, was happy in employing his poetical talent to the best of purposes: the subjects he made choice of to handle, were of the utmost importance for mankind to know; his manner of treating them truly evangelical; and the spirit that breathes through them, heavenly and divine; tending to warm the heart, excite to genuine devotion, and to inspire the mind with just and proper sentiments of God and true religion. The fentiments of Dr. Bradbury, relative to our author's poetical talent are very just. Mr. Erskine's Po'ems, fays he, ' are greatly to be esteemed, for the fweet* ness of the verse, the disposition of the subjects, the el'egancy of the composition, and, above all, for that ' which animates the whole, the favour of divine and ex'perimental knowledge.'* * See his preface to fome of Mr. Erskine's Sermons, printed at London, in 1738. PART I. The Believer's Espousals. HAP. I. A general account of man's fall in Aam, and the remedy provided in Christ; and a particular account of man's being naturally wedded to the law as a covenant of Sect. 1. The fall of Adam, ib. Sect. 2. Redemption through Christ, 31. Sect. 3. Man's legal difpofition, 33. Sect. 4. Man's strict attachment to legal terms, or to the law as a condition of life, 35. Sect. 5. Man's vain attempt to seek life by Christ's righteousness joined with their own; and legal hopes natural Chap. II. The manner of a finner's divorce from the law in a work of humiliation, and of his marriage to the Lord Jefus Chrift; or, The way how a finner comes to be a believer, 40 Sect. I. Of a law work, and the workings of legal pride un- der it, ib. Sect. 2. Conviction of fin and wrath carried on more deeply and effectually on the heart, 43. Sect. 3. The deeply humbled foul relieved with fome saving difcoveries of Christ the Redeemer, 46. Sect. 4. The workings of the Spirit of faith, in separating the heart from all felf-righteousness, and drawing out its confent to, and defire after Christ alone and wholly, 48. Sect. 5. Faith's view of the freedom of grace, cordial renunciation of all its own ragged righteousness, and formal acceptance of and clofing with the perfon of glorious Chap. III. The fruits of the believer's marriage with Christ, particularly gospel holiness, and obedience to the law as a Sect. 1. The sweet folemnity of the marriage now over, and the fad effects of the remains of a legal spirit, ib. Sect. 2. Faith's victories over fin and Satan, through new and further discov- eries of Christ, making believers more fruitful in holiness, than all other pretenders to works, 5.5. Sect. 3. True saving faith magnifying the law, both as a covenant and rule. False faith unfruitful and ruining, 57. Sect. 4. The believer only being married to Christ, is justified and fanctified; and the more gof- pel freedom from the law as a covenant, the more holy con- formity to it as a rule, 60. Sect. 5. Gospel Grace giving no Chap. IV. A caution to all against a legal spirit, especially to those that have a profession without power, and learning Chap. V. Arguments and encouragements to gospel minifters to avoid a legal strain of doctrine, and endeavour the fin- ner's match with Christ by gospel means, Sect. 1. A legal spirit the root of damnable errors, ib. Sect. 2. A legal strain of doctrine discovered and discarded, 68. Sect. 3. The hurtfulness of not preaching Christ, and distin- guishing duly between law and gospel, 69. Sect. 4. Damna- ble pride and self-righteousness, so natural to all men, has lit- tle need to be encouraged by legal preaching, 71. Sect. 5. The gospel of divine grace the only means of converting fin- ners; and it should therefore be preached most clearly, fully, Chap. VI. An exhortation to all that are out of Chrift, in or- der to their clofing the match with him; containing alfo Sect. 1. Conviction offered to finners, especially fuch as are wedded to the law, or felf-righteous; that they may fee their need of Chrift's righteousness, ib. Sect. 2. Direction given with reference to the right ufe of the means, that we reft not on these instead of Chrift, the glorious Husband, in whom alone our help lies, 81. Sect. 3. A call to believe in Jesus Christ, with fome hints at the act and object of faith, 84. Sect. 4. An advice to finners to apply to the fovereign mercy of God, as it is discovered through Christ, to the highest honour of juf- tice, and other divine attributes, in order to further their faith in him unto falvation, 87. Sect. 5. The terrible doom of un- believers that reject the gospel match, the offered Saviour and Chap. I. Containing the Privileges of the Believer that is ef- poused to Christ by Faith of Divine operation, Sect. 1. The believer's perfect beauty, free acceptance, and full security, through the imputation of Christ's perfect right- |