Erskine, Ralph. Gospel Sonnets; or, Spiritual Songs. In Six Parts. I. The Believer's Espousals, II. The Believer's Jointure, III. The Believer's Riddle, IV. The Believer's Lodging, V. The Believer's Soliloquy, VI. The Believer's Principles; concerning Creation and Redemption, Law and Gospel, Satisfaction and Sanctification, Faith and Sense, Heaven and Earth. The eighteenth Edition, in which the Scriptures are Extended. Edinburgh: Printed by W. Darling, 1782. Eighteenth Edition. [10077]
Lacks the title page. Imprint taken from WorldCat, where this is the only edition of the time period with 342 pp. "John Charter's 1785, mason(?), New York" in brown ink on front paste-down.
Full leather binding, scuffed, joints good, small chip top of spine, 16 x 10 cm (6 1/4 x 4 inches). Lacks the tp. [3]-342, no free end papers. Several leaves have old repairs, with paper pasted over a torn portion, sometimes obscuring the words beneath. Old paper hinge repair at final hinge. All text leaves other than the title page are present and counted. Fair.
The second photo appears to show a small piece missing at the bottom left corner. This is only from removing the background - our photo skills leave much to be desired - that corner is intact.
Ralph Erskine (1685-1752), Scottish Presbyterian minister. He was pastor of the church at Dumfirmline. He took part in the “Marrow Controversy” as a companion to Thomas Boston. “His published sermons from the time of the controversy, particularly in the 1720’s, illustrate the doctrines of grace, guard against legalism and proclaim the “Marrow” doctrine in general. His sermons are full of the love of God and offers of Christ in the gospel.” Erskine joined with the Associate Presbytery in the secession. Quotations from Dr. David C. Lachman in Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology.
With a signed provenance card from the music collection of A. Merril Smoak, Jr., DWS.