REV. ANDREW FULLER, Pate Paster of the Captist "shurch at hettere. and her?" to the to aptiste Wissionary Society. Died. May you were tyed on Yeans. Printed by Madlery in 1602. MEMOIR OF REV. ROBERT HALL, Father of the Rev. Robert Hall of Leicester. MR. HALL was justly and highly prized by his brethren in the ministry, especially those who belonged to the Baptist Association, (consisting principally of churches in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire,) which he was greatly instrumental in forming. And sexeral of their annual letters, on the most important articles, were writ. ten by this excellent man. None of them have been more deserved. ly esteemed than that which he wrote in the midst of his most heavy afiliction, viz. in the year 1776, upon the DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY. The letter being much approved by many of different denominations, a second edition was called for, and printed on a larger type, to which, by the desire of Mr. Ryland, jun. he annexed, Some Thoughts on the causes of Salvation and Damnation, in answer to Mr. Fletcher of Madely. In the year 1779, at the Association at Northampton, Mr Hall delivered a discourse from Isa lvii. 14. Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people. This sermon he was earnestly desired to VOL. II. 11 print, with such circumstantial al terations or enlargements as he might judge proper. It was published by subscription in 1781, under the title of HELP TO ZION'S TRAVELLERS: Being an attempt to remove various stumbling blocks out of the way, relating to doctrinal, experimental and practical religion. This little volume, which princi pally contains a vindication of the genuine doctrines of grace, from the objections of Socinians, Sabels lians, Arminians, and Antinomians, has met with considerable appro bation, from godly, judicious, and learned men of various denomina. tions. In December, 1783, he had a very narrow escape from being smothered in the snow; of which he gave a very affecting account, in a letter dated January 15, 1784, and then closed it with these sweet lines: "Since I saw you, I' have had more pleasure in my work, than has been common with me. Indeed (but I beg you not to mention a word of it to any one,) I have had the most blessed half year in my soul, that I remember ever to have enjoyed. The ap proach of Sabbaths has been pleas urable to me; my work a sweet reward; and the worship of God in general attended with meltings of heart, and solemn joy. I have thought, though a poor creature as ever crawled, yet I would not, on the whole, if I could, exchange my relative connexion with Christ, and consequential state, with an angel. Yet I tremble while I thus speak. I would not vaunt, and I dread desertion: but I make free with you, and entreat you to regard the prohibition above. I am, dear brother, yours in love and affection, sincere and fervent, Robt. Hall. his absence and illness was notified to the churches, and their prayers desired for his valuable life: and God granted that which they requested for near three years longer.-The Association at Spaulding, in 1789, was too distant for him to attend, but his letter on Communion with God, was that year printed, which proved the last of his remains from the press. But in 1790 he attended the Association at Olney, where he preached from Acts xx. 24. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. This was the last time he was employed on a public occasion in his own connection. In the beginning of 1788, his valuable life seemed twice exposed to imminent danger, from very trivial accidents. First, by a slight prick in his finger brought on a mortification, which was stopped with difficulty, and the loss of its first joint. A few months after wards he seemed in equal danger from a slight friction in another part, which for several weeks caused an alarming inflammation on the right side of his head, about the temples, and behind the ear. Nor was he sufficiently recovered by the Association, May 27, to be able to attend it, though held so near as Kettering: but he sent the circular letter which he had been desired to draw up, and which was approved and ordered for the press. This letter principally treated on the evil of sin, and the dignity of Christ; and was meant to fortify the churches against every temptation to desert the doctrines of Christ's infinite dignity and invaluable atonement. These principles occupied a first place in his heart; they were his daily bread; it was under their influence that he ripened so much as he did in humility, heavenly-mindedness, and joy in God. The dear and adorable Redeemer, as he used to express himself, was his life in this world, and his hope for that to come. When this letter was printed, Meanwhile his spasms, or fits of the cramp, returned frequently, and often with great violence. In his last letter to his son-in-law, Mr. Isaac James, of Bristol, dated Feb. 4, 1791, he thus writes. "In point of health, when my fits are off, I am as well almost as I could wish; and as to my state generally, rather happy in my mind. The gospel bears my spirits up, A faithful and unchanging God In oaths, and promises, and blood. all more in remembrance than ever. May the Lord say to each, Thou shalt not be forgotten of me.” Feb. 17, 1791, he wrote to his old and intimate friend Mr. Evans, of Northampton. The following remarkable passages, I have extracted from that letter." As to myself, as I write to a dear friend, I may use a little freedom You know I have had many things to crush my natural spirits, and often think, perhaps it was well for me they were broken down in early life. I have long groaned, being burdened, till a low, timorous, pensive frame of mind, became habitual: what you say of your useful ness, affects me to tears. I hope the Lord has made me useful, (and so he has you) but that never was to me a sufficient proof of his approbation. He will call, comfort, and nourish his own, though the instrument be only a nurse for a time, yea, worse, a black unclean raven. Many and many a day and year have I spent habitually bemoaning myself, Surely I am more brutish than any man, &c. I have often dread ed and hung back from the Lord's work, perhaps to the dishonour of his name and the discouragement of my friends, particularly young ministers; which I lament now, as such opportunities are over with me. Yet the Lord has been ever kind to timorous, distrustful, ungrateful me. I have always dread ed long life, having a shattered memory at best, and apprehending that under natural decays, I should be useless indeed; nay, worse, a cumberer of the ground. But, dear brother, I mention it for your encouragement, though I dread saying too much, or that you should think I am more favoured than I really am; yet, I say, I may venture to mention to you, that hith erto my fears have not been verified. I trust the Lord is with me rather more than heretofore; and the word seems blest to some, if not to many. We are well attended, in bad weather excepted; and at evening meetings still more and But sometimes I preach with much difficulty, and Lord's day was fortnight did not at all, having a fit on me from morning to night. I have many that are soon got off, but several have baffled all means of late; at least for a long time. The few last have been very different from what they used to be. My head has not been affected, nor breast in much pain: but I have been very sick, and inclined to swoonings. I have been generally very happy in my mind. Last Lord's day night had a very severe fit, though but of four hours continuance. They called my son more. &c. John out of bed. I was happy be yond expression in my mind. It was a night of sorrow deluged with joy. What my dear wife and son, feared, that I in a measure longed for. I say in a measure, because, though greatly afflicted, yet my comforts were so much superior, that I thought, and said, I cared not how long I lived, though I had fits every day, if the Lord continued me his heart-melting, heart-strengthening presence. had general pain all over, but I could not forbear saying, Pain was pleasant, and sickness sweet, when the Lord is near. I thought of you, brother Ryland, &c. with great delight; and that if the Lord spared me, I would write a few lines on God's behalf, viz. to request you not to dread any thing but sin. I am sure the Lord can make you most happy, when afflictions are most heavy. He has really done so to me, poor me; and if so, can you distrust? One time (a while ago) those words, Fear not, worm Jacob, &c. were so much to me, that I told the Lord it was enough, I wished, I wanted no more. last Lord's day night my cup ran over. O take care, dear brother, and never dishonour God, as I have done, by slavishly dreading old age, sore diseases, devils, or death. But here it becomes me to stop; I am yet in the body, having an evil heart; I know not how I may be yet, I therefore almost repent I have written what I have. However, I must and will say, truly the Lord is good, and if He be with me, I will fear no evil, &c. But "After all, I know not the day of my death. The Lord may spare me to drag on for years. But none of these things move me, so that I may, be it when it will, finish my course with joy." Mr. Hall had been going through the Epistle to the Hebrews in an expository lecture on the Lord's day evening; the last lecture was upon Heb. vi. 12. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. On the Lord's day wherein he was taken to rest, he appeared very well in the morning, and went into the meeting at the usual time, and preached from John iv. 10. If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee LIVING WATER. It was a pleasing circumstance to some, that this subject led him to mention, what they had never been told be fore, the first text he preached from at Arnsby, which was in Prov. XXV. 25. As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Many thought that he spoke with uncommon vigour, beyond what they remembered for many years. He gave out at the close, 168th Hymn of Rippon's Se. lection. The fountain of CHRIST, LORD help us to sing, &c. He afterwards ate his dinner as usual, and then lay down for a while, and slept soundly. About five he arose, as well, or rather better than usual. About six o'clock he retired into the little parlour, and staid about half an hour; when he came out again, Mrs. Hall first perceived him to be indisposed. He asked for some camomile tea, be ing very sick, and complained of a violent pain in his breast, though his sickness rather abated. friend coming in to see how he did, he seemed at first not disposed to say much, but wished him good night, when he was going away; and presently, as if he suddenly recollected himself, he called him back, and said, "Friend Looms, fear nothing: do not be afraid of trouble, trials, nor even death; if the Lord is but with you, you will do." This he said, in a very ani mated manner, and with a cheerful tone of voice, and then wished him good night again. To two others of his people he signified that he was not much inclined to try fresh medicines, "But," added he, "I have not lived so long in the world as to be weary of it, nor am I afraid to die. I don't care whether I live or die."-About eight o'clock he wished to go into the little parlour. Mrs. Hall took the candle to go before and light him, and his friends Palmer and Vice took hold of him as he got up, to lead him along more safely; when he said, "I shall swoon;" and sunk down to the ground, and expired without a groan or struggle. On the Thursday afternoon following, his remains were committed to the grave; at which an oration was made by Mr. Fuller; the funeral sermon was preachad by Mr. Ryland, junior, in the yard, which adjoins both to the meeting and dwelling house, (the concourse of people being too great to be contained in the place of worship,) from the text mentioned before, "It is finished." A letter from a friend, who had been intimately acquainted with Mr. Hall for many years, contain. ing a just delineation of his character, is inserted more for the imitation of the living, than for the honouring of the dead; those who were most intimately acquainted with him, will avouch it to contain the words of truth and soberness. "The distinguished talents of our dear deceased friend, will long live in the remembrance of all who A knew him. His advantages of education were extremely small, but possessing from his infancy a contemplative cast of mind, and an habit of patient thinking, he laid in a large stock of useful knowledge. In the character of a minister of the gospel, there have been but few more generally esteemed. Attentive only to the improvement of his hearers, he forgot himself, and appeared entirely absorbed in his subject. Though he was unacquainted with the graces of oratory, and the embellishments of language, scarce any man spoke with a more striking and visible effect. From nature he derived a |