Apart from Christ we can only experience the wrath of a dishonored and distant God Who "is angry with the wicked every day" (Psa 7:11). But in Christ God has become to us a reconciled God, a promising God, a glorified God, and a God near to us. Erskine opens up a great deal of the glory of grace that we see when we view God in Christ.
Ralph Erskine was the brother of another prominent churchman, Ebenezer Erskine. After studying at the University of Edinburgh, Ralph was ordained assistant minister at Dunfermline in 1711. He ratified the protests which his brother laid on the table of the assembly after being rebuked for his synod sermon, but he did not formally withdraw from the establishment till 1737.
He was also present at, though not a member of, the first meeting of the "associate presbytery". When the severance took place over the oath administered to burgesses, he adhered, along with his brother, to the burgher section.
His works consist of sermons, poetical paraphrases and gospel sonnets. The Gospel Sonnets have frequently appeared separately. His Life and Diary, edited by the Rev. D Fraser, was published in 1842.
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