Thy food conform to thine array,
Is heavenly and divine;
On pastures green, where angels play,
Thy husband feeds thee fine.
Angelic food may make thee fair
And look with cheerful face;
The bread of life, the double share,
Thy husband's love and grace.
What can he give, or thou desire,
More than his flesh and blood?
Let angels wonder, saints admire,
Thy husband is thy food.
His flesh the incarnation bears,
From whence thy feeding flows;
His blood the satisfaction clears,
Thy husband doth bestows.
Th' incarnate God a sacrifice,
To turn the wrathful tide,
Is food for faith; that way suffice
Thy husband's guilty bride.
This strength'ning food may fit and fence
For work and war to come;
Till through the crowd, some moments hence,
Thy husband bring thee home:
Where plenteous feasting will succeed
To scanty feeding here;
And joyful at the table-head
Thy husband will appear.
Then crumbs to banquets will give place,
And drops to rivers new:
While heart and eye will face to face
Thy husband ever view.
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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.