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Introduction

On this day 26 August, 1708, Ebenezer Erskine “got his head out of time into eternity,” as he later described it. Although a minister in the Church of Scotland at that time, he performed his duties mechanically, without any love for God, preaching memorized sermons and avoiding eye contact with his congregation. His wife wept in secret at his hardness of heart. Then she became ill. In her ravings she said things that caused her husband to consider Christ. After she recovered, they talked one day of God’s concerns and suddenly Erskine understood the plan of salvation. God’s declaration at Mt. Sinai, “I am the Lord your God,” came to his mind and he wrote a short covenant committing himself to the Lord. Afterwards, he had a powerful ministry among his people.