1755 M'Laurin, Sermons and Essays

We sold this, and it is not a common book.  Thought we would blog post it to keep a record of it on the site.

M'Laurin, John. Sermons and Essays. By the late Reverend Mr. John M'Laurin, one of the Ministers of Glasgow. Published from the Author's Manuscripts, by John Gillies, one of the Ministers of Glasgow. Glasgow: Printed by James Knox, 1755. First Edition.

Calf, binding is scuffed, worn, with scratches, with a sewn repair at the bottom of the front outer joint. Covers firmly attached. Spine in six panels, gilt rules and devices, red leather title label. 4 1/2 x 6 3/4 inches, recent former owner's signature of front paste -down, front paste-down torn with loss. Lacks the free end papers (blanks) front and back. (vii.), xviii., (ii.), (1)-395 pp., some edge tear and small chipping to margins, particularly at the first leaves. Good.   [3839]

The Life and Character of the Author is by John Gillies; Letters of remembrance are from John Adams, Falkirk; John Erskine of Culross; and Thomas Prince, of Boston, New-England.

"M'Laurin (1693-1754) was one of the foremost Scottish doctrinal preachers of the eighteenth century. He took part in the revivals which occurred at Cambuslang about 1742, and in his correspondence with Jonathan Edwards contrived the transatlantic concert of prayer for revival. He was behind the efforts to provide financial relief when Edwards was impoverished after leaving Northampton, and M'Laurin's circle of friends in the Scottish Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge appointed David Brainerd their missionary to the American Indians.

"M'Laurin was a man of culture, and in many ways a counterpart to Edwards; his brother Colin was professor of mathematics at Edinburgh University, and a friend and interpreter of Isaac Newton. M'Laurin's sermons, and essays on such topics as grace and faith, have been extolled for their evangelical content, profundity of analysis, apologetic skill, and eloquence of composition. John Brown of Edinburgh commented that, 'MacLaurin's thoughts have in a remarkable degree the characteristic mark of original genius — they are singularly pregnant thoughts. They germinate in the mind. . . There is a depth of spiritual feeling corresponding to the extent and clearness of his spiritual discernment.'" - Reformed Perspectives Magazine, Volume 12, Number 42, October 17 to October 23, 2010.

John M’Laurin (1693-1754), “minister of Glasgow, Ramshorn (North-West of St. David’s) (1723-54) and one of the ablest preachers and theologians of eighteenth-century Church of Scotland. His sermon ‘Glorying in the Cross of Christ’ is widely regarded as the epitome of Scottish evangelical preaching of the century. Possibly his most important theological work was his ‘Essay on the nature of Christian Piety’ (in Sermons and Essays, Glasgow, 1755), in the course of which he dealt extensively with the nature of faith. He played an important role in the disputes over patronage in the latter part of his life, producing what was arguably the most effective defence of the ‘Popular’ position in The Nature of Ecclesiastic Government (Glasgow, 1745). In this work, he advanced criticisms of the Moderate position which were never answered, and displayed considerable acquaintance with the work of continental political and philosophical writers. He was also active in improving social conditions and in poor-law reform.” - J. R. McIntosh, Dictionary of Scottish Church History & Theology.

Contents: Some account of the Life and Character of the Author; The sins of Men not chargeable on God; Of glorying in the Cross of Christ; Of God’s chief Mercy; Essay on prejudices against the Gospel; Essay on Christian Piety; Essay on the Scripture-Doctrine of Divine Grace.