Ebenezer Erskine | |
|---|---|
 Ebenezer Erskine (unknown artist) National Galleries Scotland | |
| Born | (1680-06-22)22 June 1680 |
| Died | 2 June 1754(1754-06-02) (aged 73) |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Education | University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation(s) | Pastor,Theologian |
| Theological work | |
| Tradition or movement | (1)Church of Scotland (2)Associate Presbytery/Secession Church (3)Burgher Seceder |
| Part of a series on |
| TheMarrow Controversy |
|---|
 Origin of the First Secession from the Kirk of Scotland |
 Reformed Christianity portal |
Ebenezer Erskine (22 June 1680 – 2 June 1754) was aScottish minister whose actions led to the establishment of theSecession Church (formed by dissenters from theChurch of Scotland).
Ebenezer's father,Henry Erskine, served as minister atCornhill-on-Tweed,Northumberland, but was ejected in 1662 under theAct of Uniformity and imprisoned for several years.[1] Ebenezer and his brotherRalph were both born during this difficult period in their father's life. After theGlorious Revolution of 1688 Henry was appointed to the parish of Chirnside,Berwickshire.[2]
In 1703, after studying at theUniversity of Edinburgh, Ebenezer was ordained as minister ofPortmoak, on the edges ofLoch Leven inKinross-shire. A year later, he married Alison Turpie.[3] They remained in Portmoak for 28 years, until, in the autumn of 1731, he moved to the West Church inStirling.[4]
At theGeneral Assembly of 1722, a group of men including Ebenezer had been rebuked and admonished for defending the doctrines contained in the bookThe Marrow of Modern Divinity. In 1732, a sermon he preached onlay patronage at theSynod ofPerth led to new accusations being levelled against him. He was compelled to defend himself from rebuke by appealing to the General Assembly, but the Assembly supported his accusers. After fruitless attempts to obtain a hearing, he, along withWilliam Wilson of Perth,Alexander Moncrieff ofAbernethy andJames Fisher ofKinclaven, was suspended from the ministry by the Commission of Assembly in November of that year.[5]
In protest against this sentence, the suspended ministersconstituted themselves as a separate church court, under the name the "AssociatePresbytery". In 1739 they were summoned to appear before the General Assembly, but did not attend because they did not acknowledge its authority. They were deposed by the Church of Scotland the following year.[5]
In the following years a large number of people joined their communion. The Associate Presbytery remained united until 1747, when a division took place over how the church should respond to a new oath required of all burgesses. Erskine joined with the "burgher" section, becoming their professor oftheology. He continued to preach to a large and influential congregation in Stirling until his death. He was a very popular preacher and a man of considerable force of character. He was noted for acting on principle with honesty and courage. In 1820 the burgher andanti-burgher sections of the Secession Church were reunited, followed, in 1847 by their union with the relief synod as theUnited Presbyterian Church of Scotland.[5]
The majority of Erskine's published works are sermons. HisLife and Diary (edited by Donald Fraser) was published in 1840. HisWorks were published in 1785.
In theUnited States, part of the Associate Presbyterian Church united with most of theReformed Presbyterian Church in 1782, forming theAssociate Reformed Presbyterian Church. This denomination, which continues today, operatesErskine College andSeminary inDue West,South Carolina.[citation needed]
His teachings are also popular in theDutch Reformed Church.
His son-in-law Rev Robert Fisher (died 1775), married to his daughter Jean, was a minister inGlasgow.
Erskine was aFree Gardener. He was Initiated in theDunfermline Lodge of Free Gardeners in 1722 the same year as his patron, John Leslie, 8th Earl of Rothes.
It is worthy of note that after he became a Free Gardener his sermons began to include numerous horticultural allusions.[6]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
