PREFACE. EXPECTING very shortly to have all my Had I been able to persuade any one who Concern to be led into the Truth-A Solemn Covenant with God-Brief Notices from his Diary on this head-Remarks on some of his Works interspersed with the Catalogue-List of Mr. Fuller's unwearied Exertions in behalf of the Baptist Missionary Society-The Rise of that Society-Sending out of Messrs. Thomas and Carey-Specimens of Mr. Fuller's Correspondence with the Missionaries-His Journeys into Scotland; connected with Observations on the State of Religion there, and the Sandemanian Controversy; Conversation with a Jew and other Travellers, &c. 237 Extracts from Mr. Fuller's Correspondence, chiefly Mr. Fuller's first Marriage-His Parental Affection- Account of his Daughter Sarah-Mrs. Fuller's Illness and Death-Lines written by himself, in Reference to that Event-His Second Marriage to the Daughter of Rev. Mr. Coles, of whom some Account is given in a Note-His Second Family -Domestic Comfort-Distress respecting his Eldest Son-Account of his Nephew, Joseph Fuller-Mr. Fuller's Concern for the Spiritual Welfare of more Distant Relatives and Friends.. 436 An Account of Mr. Fuller's Frame of Mind under various Personal Afflictions, and in his last Jllness and the immediate Approach of Death-His last Letter to the Editor-Account of his Funeral- Extract from Mr. Toller's Sermon, &c............................ 515 PREFACE. EXPECTING very shortly to have all my springs of action examined at the tribunal of an impartial Judge, I do not hesitate to profess, that I have undertaken this office, of giving a faithful representation of my dear departed Brother's life, not under the influence of any wish to display my skill as a writer of biography, nor yet to appear as a critic on his publications; but with the hope of promoting pure and undefiled religion, founded on truly scriptural and evangelical principles: and also with a desire of securing to the family of my beloved friend, the profits which may result from laying this sketch of his history before the public. Had I been able to persuade any one who could do more justice to his character, to have undertaken the service, I would have gladly resigned my office; trusting that the talents of the writer would have added to the usefulness of the publication; while I should willingly have subserved the undertaking, without being known to have had a share in the compilation. But not being able to prevail in this request, I was unwilling that the public should suffer loss, by the suppression of the valuable materials which had been put into my hands; or that the pecuniary advantage, resulting from their being committed to the press, should be transferred from the afflicted family, whose right it is, to any other person. My avocations, however, were too numerous to admit of my attempting to anticipate another publication, great part of which had evidently been prepared before-hand, consisting chiefly of a review of his works. And I should, indeed, have rejoiced to secure much more leisure, to revise and improve this narrative, than, after all this delay, I have found it possible to obtain: though my highest ambition is, like the biographer of David Brainerd, to show what manner of man my friend was, and to excite others to follow him, so far as he followed Christ. Most of our common acquaintance are well aware, that I was his oldest and most intimate friend; and though my removal to Bristol above twenty years, placed us at a distance from each other, yet a constant correspondence was all along maintained; and, to me at least, it seemed a tedious interval, if more than a fortnight elapsed without my receiving a letter from him. I always considered him, and Brother Sutcliff, and myself, as more closely united to each other, than either of us were to any one else. * No one, of those that grew up with me in the work of the Lord, had an higher share in my esteem than Mr. Fuller; and the task he assign, ed me at his death is some evidence, that I did not impose upon myself, in supposing I possessed a peculiar interest in his friendship. But, as I affirmed at his funeral, so I again avow my persuasion, that our intimate friendship did not blind either of us to the defects or faults of the other; but rather showed itself in the freedom of affectionate remark on whatever appeared to be wrong. I know but one religious subject on which there was any material difference of judgment between us, I do not forget the ardent friendship we all bore to the excellent and amiable Pearce; but this commenced fifteen years later, and was interrupted by death fifteen years gooner, than our acquaintance with each other. |