| Ralph Erskine |
| "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 2:5 |
Ralph Erskine (1685 - 1752), was a Scotch divine
who was educated at the University of Edinburgh. In 1711 he became minister at
Dunfermline, but in 1734 departed thence and joined his elder brother, Ebenezer,
and others in their secession from the Church. These men were contemporary with
Whitefield, Edwards, and others of the Great Awakening, and thus bore much fruit
for the kingdom of Jesus Christ in their lifetimes. The works of both Erskine's
can be found in various places on the web, but printed copies of their works
remain scarce.
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"God’s great end, in all his works, is the
glory of his own name; and especially his work of saving sinners through Christ;
and that which makes it a great work, is, because his great name is so much
concerned therein, and magnified thereby, that it is not so greatly glorified
any other way, as it is here." God's Great Name
"God proposes, in this work [of salvation], that
the loftiness of man shall be brought down, and the Lord alone exalted; and
hence all whom he saves, he humbles them so low for their sin and wickedness, as
that to bring them to this acknowledgment, that, if ever God save them, it will
be owing, not unto them, but unto his own glorious name." God's Great Name
"What thought and concern about salvation ye
have, I know not; but if ye be of these that believe, to the saving of your
souls, you will see so much of your own sinfulness and guiltiness before God,
that you will be brought to despair of salvation in any other way, and upon any
other account, that that which was his method of saving Israel of old;
Nevertheless, he saved them for his name’s sake." God's Great Name
"When God saves sinners, or a sinful people, he
does it for his name’s sake, notwithstanding their provocation, whereby they
forfeit his help, and deserve destruction." God's Great Name
"The salvation and temporal deliverance, that
God, for his name’s sake, wrought for Israel of old, in bringing them out of
Egypt through the Red Sea to Canaan, was typical of the great salvation from sin
and wrath, to eternal life, through Jesus Christ." God's Great Name
"Many unconverted persons, in the visible
church, may be delivered from temporal judgments, and saved of God only in
outward respects, and that for his name’s sake; so, doubtless, many unconverted
persons were among the Israelites; yea, most of them gave discoveries that they
were so... Many whom God will not be merciful to in the world, may yet, for his
name’s sake, be delivered in time." God's Great Name
"God may punish his people for their sin
severely, whom yet he will save eternally, for his name’s sake; yea, and punish
them more than others... Those whom, for his name’s sake, he saved from sin to
eternity, he will make them feel it to be an evil and bitter thing in time."
God's Great Name
"Many are saved with a temporal salvation, for
the sake of those whom God resolves, for his name’s sake to save with eternal
salvation. Hence it is said, with respect to the day of outward calamity, that,
for the elect’s sake, these days shall be shortened. The wicked are more obliged
to God’s people than they are aware of." God's Great Name
"That salvation, wherein God’s name is most
concerned, is salvation in Christ Jesus to eternal life: wherein he brings
sinners from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God; from death
to life; from a hell of sin and misery to a heaven of holiness and happiness."
God's Great Name
"Whatever then is intended by the name of God,
each of the adorable persons of the glorious Trinity, are equally concerned
therein. It is a name common to them all: and in this sense they have not
distinct or diverse names for it is not simply the name Father, and the name
Son, and the name Holy Ghost that is intended, but the name of God, Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost, one God. By the name of God then, is meant God himself; and to
save, for his name’s sake, is to save for his own sake." God's Great Name
"By the name of God, we may understand the
Christ of God for in our Lord Jesus Christ is the whole name and authority of
God... Christ is the very name of God; and when he pardons for his name’s sake,
he pardons for his Christ’s sake... And, O but God hath done much, and will do
much for Christ; because his name is in him, and in him he is well pleased and
reconciled." God's Great Name
"When God saves for his name’s sake, it is for
the sake of his power, to shew, that he is able to do above all that we are able
to ask or think; that he is able to do above our wants, above our deserts, above
our prayers, and above our thoughts: we cannot want more than he can give; we
cannot pray for so much as he can bestow; we are not able to think what he can
do." God's Great Name
"Improve his name in every case; for he hath a
name suiting every want, every need. Do you need wonders to be wrought for you?
His name is Wonderful; look to him so to do, for his name's sake. Do you need
counsel and direction? His name is the Counsellor: cast yourself on him and his
name for this. Have you mighty enemies to debate with? His name is the Mighty
God; seek that he may exert his power for his name's sake. Do you need his
fatherly pity? His name is the everlasting Father; "As a Father pitieth his
children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." Plead his pity, for his
name's sake. Do you need peace external, internal, or eternal? His name is the
Prince of Peace; seek for his name's sake, that he may create peace. O sirs, his
name is JEHOVAH ROPHI, the Lord, the healer and physician; seek, for his name's
sake, that he may heal all your diseases. Do you need pardon? His name is
JEHOVAH TSlDKENU, the Lord our righteousness: seek, for his name's sake, that he
may be merciful to your unrighteousness. Do you need defence and protection? His
name is JEHOVAH NISSI, the Lord your banner; seek, for his name's sake, that his
banner of love and grace may be spread over you. Do you need provision in
extreme want? His name is JEHOVAH JIREH, in the mount of the Lord it shall be
seen, the Lord will provide. Do you need his presence? His name is JEHOVAH
SHAMMAH, the Lord is there: IMMANUEL, God with us: look to him to be with you,
for his name's sake. Do you need audience of prayer? His name is the Hearer of
prayer. Do you need strength? His name is the Strength of Israel. Do you need
comfort? His name is the Consolation of Israel. Do you need shelter? His name is
the City of Refuge. Have you nothing and need all His name is All in all. Sit
down and devise names to your wants and needs, and you will find he hath a name
suitable thereunto; for your supply, he hath wisdom to guide you; and power to
keep you; mercy to pity you; truth to shield you; holiness to sanctify you;
righteousness to justify you; grace to adorn you; and glory to crown you. Trust
in his name, who saves for his name's sake." Treasury Of David, Psalm 106