Erskine, Thomas

Erskine, Thomas of Linlathen, Scotland, a writer on theology and religion, was born October 13, 1788. After being educated at the high-school of Edinburgh and at Durham, he attended the literary and law classes of the University of Edinburgh, and in 1810 became a member of the Edinburgh faculty of advocates. On the death of his elder brother, in 1816, he succeeded to the family estate of Linlathen, near Dundee, and retired from the bar, spending the remainder of his life in the discussion — either by conversation, by letters, or by literary publications — of the most important religious questions. He died at Edinburgh, March 20, 1870. His principal works are, Remarks on the Internal Evidence for the Truth of Revealed Religion (1820): — an Essay on Faith (1822): — and the Unconditional Freeness of the Gospel (1828). These have all passed through several editions, and have also been translated into French. He also wrote, The Brazen Serpent (1831): — The Doctrine of Election (1839): — a posthumous work entitled Spiritual Order and Other Papers (1871), and various essays. Two volumes of his Letters, edited by William Hanna, D.D., with reminiscences by dean Stanley and principal Shairp, appeared in 1877. See Encyclop. Brit. 9th ed. s.v.