Erskines

THE ERSKINES 147
Sunday, in rural meeting-houses, it was solemnly but
thankfully recognised that the leader of the Secession
was giving proof of the strength and purity of his re-
ligion. Now and then children were taken to his sick-
room for baptism, and fragments of the brief sermons
which, according to Church law, he preached before
each baptism, propped up on pillows, were reported by
the hearers and passed from lip to lip. This concluding
chapter of his ministry made a permanent impression
upon the Church, and went far to remove the acrimony
which controversy had necessarily fostered.
In the spring of 1754 his pains became intense, but
his courage stood the strain. ! Oh, sirs,' he said to his
distressed friends, ' my body is indeed become a very
disagreeable habitation for my soul ; but when my soul
forsakes the tabernacle of clay, it will fly as naturally to
my Saviour's bosom as a bird to its loved nest.' In the
early morning of the 1st of June, he awoke from a brief
sleep, and asked his daughter, Mrs Fisher, who was at
his bedside, what book she was reading. ' Your own
sermon, father,' she replied, ' on the text " I am the
Lord thy God."' 'Oh, woman,' he said, 'that is the
best sermon ever I preached.' It was a sermon which
had led to many conversions. A few minutes later, feel-
ing the approach of darkness, he asked her to bring the
candle quite close to him, and then laid his hand under
his cheek, closed his eyes, and breathed out his soul.
He had all but completed the 74th year of his age
and the 51st year of his ministry. In accordance with
his request, his body was interred in his own church.
The inscription, which is in Latin, states without any
encomium that he fell asleep in Jesus after a very faithful
ministry, and that he desired to be buried there, in order
that, after death, he might confirm the testimony to which
he had adhered throughout life. He was entitled to the de-
sire. He had borne a testimony and he had adhered to it.