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wards drew up for themselves; | ago, I could never have left nor for the opinions of the ar- them come what would, whatbitrators; nor for the advice ever I do now. I went home given by the umpire, Mr. Ro- to my house with a heart full binson of Cambridge; nor for of distress, and my strength the remarks upon the whole nearly exhausted with the work proceedings by Mr. Hall; &c. and weeping of the day.* Suffice it to say, that Mr. Fuller concluded to stop at Soham another year.

"The next day, August 12, I devoted to fasting and prayer, and found special outgoings of heart, and encouragement to

scarcely remember such a day for tenderness, and importunity in prayer in my life. Two days after, I felt my spirits all the morning exceedingly depressed; but I got alone, and found a heart to pray, with, I think, greater importunity than I had done before. It seemed as if I must have my petition granted, or I could not live. The last sabbath was a tender day, but not like the sabbath before.

In October, 1782, he came with his family to reside at Ket-pray from many scriptures. I tering. In the preceding August, he wrote to a friend as follows: ****The most unfeigned sorrow, I believe, prevailed in almost every heart. For my own part, I found it exceedingly difficult to go on in preaching, and to keep from weeping quite out. I hastened, as soon as worship was over, to get alone, and there to give a full vent to all my sorrows. We had a private evening meeting, which was more trying to me than the day. I saw a spirit in the church in general, which had I seen half a year

"Truly, Sir, nothing but the thoughts of an open door for greater usefulness in Christ's cause (surely this is not an illu

* Is not this a practical comment upon Philip. i. 7, 8? "Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart;-for God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ." And upon 2 Cor. vii. 3? "Ye are in our hearts to live and die with you."

There was much in the church at Soham to engage his affection. "During the little while," say they, in their case," he hath preached the word among us, about thirty have joined us. Out of these, about twenty were converted under his preaching. Four were baptized and added in the last year. And we hope the word hath been blessed to the conversion of several more, to whom we are ready to say, 'Come in, ye blessed of the Lord; why stand ye without?"-And again, “On July 12, our pastor told us, that we must expect his departure from us. A mournful day was that! That word, to see his face no more,' sounded in our ears so much, that it caused our hearts to be full of sorrow, and the tears to gush out on our cheeks. There were weeping and lamentation heard that day in Israel!' We are all well satisfied with his preaching, and have no itching ears to hear any other preacher when we can hear him. This is fairly seen from some of our bre thren, who live six or seven miles off, and have a convenience of hearing a great deal nearer. Some live about two miles off, where the gospel is preached. Yet these, with many others, scarcely ever miss coming all weathers. We think this shows love to him, and to what is delivered by him."

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sion) and my having been so Mr. Fuller's first wife died much engaged to pray for the on the twenty-third of August. coming of Christ's kingdom, in this year. She was an excould have kept me from drop-cellent woman.

ping all opposition, and yielding to the church's desire."

On the thirtieth of December, 1794, he married his second wife, Miss Ann Coles, daughter of the Rev. William Coles, of Ampthill. She was dismissed. in May, 1795, from the church.

In another letter, he says, "My mind is not happy, yet not so distressed as it has been. I do hope the hand of God is in all this. I feel a secret long-at Maulden, to that at Kettering, ing to have my time, my soul, my all, devoted to Christ's interest, in some respects different from what I can here."

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On the second of April, 1792, died his friend Mr. Beeby Wallis, in whose house some of the most early meetings were held relative to the Mission to India, and in which the Society was formed.

of which she is now a member. Her affection and prudence greatly contributed to his happiness.

It was in the year 1792, that the Baptist Missionary Society was instituted, in which he undertook the office of secretary, how laboriously and successfully he discharged the duties of that office for twenty-three years, by long and painful journey's, by incessant preaching, and by his admirable writings, our readers must very well know; but we mean not to enter into particulars of this (confessedly the most impor[tant) part of his life, as this will be done hereafter.

The following extract of a letter from himself to Mr. Burls, contains a specimen of his persevering labours in this great work, in which he spent so The following Epitaph for him, was and in which, that life was at many years of his valuable life,

written by Mr. Fuller.

KIND sycamore, preserve, beneath thy shade,
The precious dust of him who cherish'd thee:
Nor thee alone; a plant to him more dear
He cherish'd, and with fost'ring hand uprear'd.
Active and generous in virtue's cause,
With solid wisdom, strict integrity,
And unaffected piety, he liv'd
Beloved amongst us, and belov'd he died.
Beneath an Allon-Bachuth Jacob wept :
Beneath thy shade we mourn a heavier loss.

length sacrificed!

Kettering, May 11, 1814. "I have much journeying before me; first, to Olney and Bedford next week; then to the association at Leicester, in Whitsun-week; then into Essex,

* Mr. Fuller delivered the funeral oration for Mr. Hall, March 17, 1791; as did the son of that great and good man for Mr. Fuller, May 15, 1816. Dr. Ryland preached the funeral sermon for both.

on June 6th, where I must be dually, though slowly, recoverat a Missionary Meeting of ing. Since I was laid by from that county, at Bocking, on preaching, I have written out June 8th, and collect what I my sermon, and drawn up a can. between that and our Lon-memoir, for my dear brother don Annual Meeting, which I Sutcliff, which is just gone to suppose is on Wednesday, 22d press. Your partiality for the of June; then I must return and memoir of dear Pearce, will be at Kettering by the 26th, insure ine one reader, at least, which is our Lord's supper day. for that of Sutcliff. I hope Then I must set off and be out the great and good Mr. Charles all July in the North of England, (of Bala) will find some one viz. the first sabbath at Liver- who will do justice to his mepool, second at Manchester, mory. Mrs. Sutcliff, died on third at Leeds, fourth at New- the 3d of September, less than castle, and fifth at Hull. May eleven weeks after her husband. the Lord strengthen me for Death has swept away almost these labours! all my old friends; and I seem to stand expecting to be called for soon. It matters not when, so that we be found in Christ.” In March, 1815, his death evidently drew near. He was, however, at the ordination of Mr. Mack, as pastor over the church at Clipstone, twelve miles from Kettering, on the twentyninth of that month, and addressed the people from 3 John, 8. His last sermon was preached in his own pulpit on Lord's day afternoon, April 2:

Affectionately yours,

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A. F.

We hasten to the concluding part of his life. The following is an extract of a letter, dated October 20, 1814, to a young lady, member of an Independent church, who resides not far from the borders of Wales: "It was addressed," says she, "in his own kind words,-to the child. Every line of his letters was valuable to me; so also was his blessing, which, when he took leave of me last at ****, he laid his hand upon my head and gave me. May that prayer be heard and answered. Amen.".

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"Kettering, Oct. 20, 1814. ***** On my return from London to Kettering, I had a very serious attack of an inflammation in the liver, from which I have not yet recovered. (This attack was after his morning 'sermon, on Lord's day, September 4. He was unable to attend in the afternoon.) I have preached only twice for the last five or six weeks, but am gra

VOL. VII.

In a letter to a friend at Kettering, who was prevented by illness from visiting him, he thus writes, April 19. "I am ordered to go next Monday for Cheltenham. I should be happy to come and see you before

go; but whether the weather and my affliction will permit, I know not. When I shall return is uncertain. The Lord's supper must be suspended. My times are in the Lord's hand: but to me all is uncertainty."

In prospect of his dissolution, he wrote to Dr. Ryland the

20

letter which appeared in our

number for last month.

On the afternoon of the same day, he told a deacon of the church, that his bodily depression was so great, that he appeared to himself as if he could not live. His friend replied, "I do not know any person, Sir, who is in a more enviable situation than yourself; a good man on the verge of a blessed immortality." He modestly acquiesced. He then lifted up his hands, and exclaimed, "If I am saved, it will be by great and sovereign grace," which last words he repeated very emphatically" by great and so vereign grace."

I had strength to worship with you." From eleven till about half-past eleven of that morning, he was engaged in fervent prayer. He sat up in bed, and, at the close, fell back, and in five minutes expired. His daughter, Mrs. Levet, distinctly heard the words, " Help me," whilst he was praying. His hands, at his death, were clasped as in prayer.

Thus expired Mr. Andrew Fuller; a man, unpolished in his manners, but kind and benevolent in his disposition; who paid no reverence to greatness, unless it was accompanied by goodness; who would have exercised all the faithfulness of a Latimer to an irreligious Henry; but who behaved with all the sweetness of a Melancthon, or

His dear friend, Mr. Burls of London, saw him the day before his death; but, on account of his almost unintermit-a Sutcliff, to the bruised reed, ted bilious vomitings, with which he had been afflicted for some days, he could scarcely speak to him.

A few days before this, he said to his son, Mr. John Fuller, "All misery is concentrated in me." "Bodily misery only, I suppose, father?" answered he. "Yes," said he, "nothing else."

and the smoking flax; a man, in whom the intellectual vigour of a Johnson, was united with the indefatigable industry of a Gill; and whose name will be transmitted to the latest posterity, in union with those of Carey, and the other chieftains of the Indian band.* nothing We have been favoured by Mr. Toller, with an extract from his sermon, on the occasion of Mr. Fuller's death, which we insert as an appendix to the preceding memoir.

On the morning of the Lord's day on which he died, he said to one of the family, just loud enough to be heard, "I wish

* Since writing the above, we have received the following extract from the minutes of the British and Foreign Bible Society:

May, 22, 1815, this committee learn, with deep regret, the decease of the late Rev. Andrew Fuller, Secretary to the Baptist Missionary Society; and, impressed with a sense of the valuable services rendered by that excellent individual, in promoting the translation and publication of the Scriptures in the East, desire to unite their condolences, on this afflictive event, with those of their Baptist brethren, to whom he was more particularly allied: and of the Christian world, by whom his memory will deserve to be held in affectionate and grateful veneration.

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EXTRACT

FROM THE

so much the more extraordinary, and reflect the greater credit on

Rev. Mr. TOLLER'S SERMON, his memory. The variety and

AT KETTERING,

compass of his writings, though all bearing on one grand point,

Lord's Day Morning, May 14, 1815. yet serve to shew what sheer

1 Kings, xiii. 30, "ALAS! MY BROTHER!" (Communicated by Mr. Toller, to Mr. Newman, of Stepney.)

With regard to the much respected friend and Christian Minister, lately removed, it might appear unbecoming and indelicate in me to enter far into his character and case, particularly as this will be done to so much greater advantage on the approaching day; but thus much I could hardly satisfy myself without advancing on this occasion.

abilities, sound principle, ardent zeal, and persevering application can do. I have read his works, (some of them more than once,) with much satisfaction, and, I trust, some improvement,

that that improvement has not amounted to more, ought to be attributed to myself. I have. not a doubt but that they have been of real and extensive use in the christian church, in support of the radical principles of evangelical religion, and will continue to be so after his dust shall mingle with the clods of the valley. It is a satisfaction to me to reflect, that, in the great leading views of vital christianity, he expresses very nearly my own sentiments; though it is not to be expected that persons who think for themselves on sacred subjects, should, in every point," see eye to eye;" you will not therefore expect, that I should profess myself able to subscribe to every article in his theological creed; still, how

I trust I am sincerely disposed to join in the general and just tribute, which his friends and the public are disposed to pay to his abilities, his sound sense, and solid understanding; and to his unwearied diligence and unconquerable ardour, in supporting and pursuing the interests of the best of causes; and that, not only in the common duties of his profession, but more particularly in the pro-ever, it is a pleasure to me to pagation of christianity in the foreign climes of India. Perhaps no, individual, next to the unequalled Carey, no individual at least at home, has done so much to promote that cause; and, considering the few advantages of early education which he enjoyed, the eminence to which he has risen, the influence he had acquired, and the means of usefulness which he has collected and secured, are

reflect now, that differing only on points of subordinate importance, wherever that was the case, we always agreed to differ.

Though living in the same, town, engaged in the same profession, and that under the banners of different denominations, for about thirty years, I do not recollect that ever an angry word passed between us, or a single jar occurred, by our means, among our respective

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