(and the worst of all spirits would gladly help them to it,) they care but little for sins of omission, and not much for those of commission: godly jealously they discard, and duty they cannot endure. Individuals it is not my province to judge, and gladly would I hope that some men may have their hearts right with God who express themselves very incautiously. I do not know who made the hymn which I have seen printed in more collections than one; but nothing I ever saw is more liable to the worst construction in the world, than such lines as these:

"Barren although my soul remain,
And not one bud of grace appear,
No fruit of all my toil and pain,
But sin and only sin be here;"

Yet I will trust and not be afraid, is the sentiment that follows! Surely no man who lives in the habitual commission of the grossest sins can describe his case in stronger language than this; not even the vilest wretch that ever lived in Admah or Zeboim, or either of the other cities of the plain.

"This I say;" says Dr. Owen, "under an habitual declension or decay of grace in the spirituality of our affections, no man can keep or maintain a gracious sense of the love of God, or of peace with him." Spiritual-mindedness, 278. "Some would very desirously have evangelical joy, peace, and assurance, to countenance them

in their evil frames and careless walking. And some have attempted to reconcile these, to the ruin of their souls. But it will not be. Without the diligent exercise of the grace of obedience, we shall never enjoy the grace of consolation." Meditations on the Glory of Christ. p. 168.

My dear departed friend evidently hungered and thirsted after righteousness; his soul panted after God, the living God: while others admired his zeal, his diligence, his activity, &c. he was often bewailing his lukewarmness, his sloth, and inactivity. He had a deep sense of what a Christian ought to be; he understood the spirituality of the divine law; he felt the obligations of the gospel, which did not supersede, but confirm, enhance, and endear prior obligations; and hence, while he trusted to behold God's face in the imputed righteousness of another, he could not be satisfied till he awoke in the likeness of his blessed Saviour. Now, I am well persuaded, he is with him, and is perfectly like him; for he sees him as he is.

He has fought the good fight, he. has finished his course, he has kept the faith, and has received the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge will give To all them that love his appearing.

CHAP. VI.

An Account of Mr. Fuller's various Publications, both of a Polemical and Practical nature-His earnest concern to be led into the truth-A solemn Covenant with GodBrief Notices from his Diary on this headRemarks on some of his Works interspersed with the Catalogue-List of Magazine Papers -Intimation of unfinished Remains.

THAT Treatise which was written* first by Mr. Fuller, was of a controversial nature, as many of his subsequent publications were. It has been seen in the second chapter, by what means he was led, at a very early period in his religious course, to attend to various theological controversies: and though his first diary, in Chapter III. shows that he was very reluctant to enter into polemical discussions before the public, yet whoever considers the state of our churches, as represented in the

The Sermon on The Nature and Importance of Walking by Faith was first printed, but the other manuscript had been long before prepared for the press.

first chapter, and is aware of the bearing towards Antinomianism which was beginning to infect other denominations also, will find reason to bless God for thus qualifying him to stem the torrent of False Calvinism. His success among good men, whose hearts were attached to true holiness, as well as to sovereign and efficacious grace, was very extensive: though others, respecting whom there is too much reason to fear that their error originated in a mind which could not bear subjection to the divine law, have since waxed worse and worse.

His ardent love of truth, and his earnest concern that God would preserve him from error, on the right hand and on the left, is strongly evinced by the following document, found among his papers since his death.

It was written as early as Jan. 10, 1780, and occasioned by perusing a piece on the Arminian side, written at the time of the controversy between the Calvinistic and Arminian Methodists-a debate which, I have been inclined to think, was not very ably nor fairly conducted on either side. Mr. Fuller's paper is entitled,

A solemn Vow, or renewal of Covenant with God.

"O my God! (Let not the Lord be angry with his servant for thus speaking,) I have,

thou knowest, heretofore sought thy truth. I have earnestly intreated thee, that thou wouldest lead me into it; that I might be rooted, established, and built up in it, as it is in Jesus. I have seen the truth of that saying→ 'It is a good thing to have the heart established with grace,' and now I would this day solemnly renew my prayer to thee, and also enter afresh into covenant with thee,

"O Lord God! I find myself in a world where thousands profess thy name; some are preaching, some writing, some talking about religion. All profess to be searching after truth; to have Christ and the inspired writers on their side. I am afraid lest I should be turned aside from the simplicity of the gospel. I feel my understanding full of darkness, my reason exceedingly imperfect, my will ready to start aside, and my passions strangely volatile. O illumine mine understanding, teach my

reason reason,' my will rectitude, and let every faculty of which I am possessed be kept within the bounds of thy service.

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"O let not the sleight of wicked men, whe lie in wait to deceive, nor even the pious character of good men, (who yet may be under great mistakes,) draw me aside. Nor do thou suffer my own fancy to misguide me. Lord, thou hast given me a determination to take up no principle at second-hand; but to search for every thing at the pure fountain of thy word.