Sermons of Ralph Erskine 1. The Vanity of Earthly Things and Worldly Enjoyments

Extract

Sermons of Ralph Erskine
1. The Vanity of Earthly Things and Worldly Enjoyments “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity” Ecclesiastes 1:2.

The words of a king are commonly reckoned very witty: the words of a wise king, speaking by experience, deserves special consideration; and much more the words of a wise king, speaking by divine inspiration, deserve the greatest regard, attention, and credit: all these do here concur. The words of our text are the words of Solomon king of Israel; the words of the wisest of mere men; the words of one who spoke from his own experience; and, moreover, who spoke by the inspiration of God.

The sum of the discourse stands in these two particulars: 1. That the chief good and chief happiness of the sons of man is not to be had in the creature, or in any worldly thing. And, 2. That it is only to be found in God in Christ, and in the true knowledge of him and gospel conformity of heart and life unto him; which he expresseth by fearing God and keeping his commandments: which presupposes a gospel-state of union to Christ by faith, and communion with him in his merit, for the justification of our persons; and of his spirit, for the justification of our hearts and lives.

The first verse gives an account of the penman of this book. Where we have a threefold description of him: from his present office, his pedigree, and his royal dignity.

1. He is called the Preacher: and commentators observe, that it comes from a word that signifies to “gather;” intimating, that now he was a penitent soul, gathered in from his wanderings, gathered home to his duty, and come at length to himself; and that now he was a preaching soul, gathering in straying souls to God: seeing he himself was reduced, here was his penitential sermon, his recantation sermon; wherein, from the bottom of his soul, he sadly laments his own folly, in promising himself satisfaction, in the things of this world, and in the forbidden pleasures of sense: which …