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"In all probability, my bones will be deposited not far from his: God grant that I may die in the same temper, and the same hope; and that our spirits may be united in the day of the Lord!. Amen."

Thus I have endeavoured faithfully to exhibit the man, in life and in death. He that sees not much to admire and to imitate; he that does not exclaim, 'What hath God wrought!' who made a poor sinful man so evidently an eminent saint; would not be convinced nor edified by any encomium I could add.

Doubtless he had his faults, for "in many things we all offend." I might be blind to some of them; although I thought I watched him more carefully than I did any other friend, as being more anxious that he should be right in all points, and more at liberty to speak my mind, if ever I thought him wrong: but whatever they were, he has done with them; and I have done with them. I will deny none that I ever knew; but if I had known more than I ever did, I would not needlessly expose them. I am fully satisfied that he is now "without fault before the throne." His just spirit is made perfect. I long to be as he is. I wish I now were as he was, in all things except those

bonds. O that I were well rid

of all that he

hath laid aside, and were like him in all that is now perfect!

If I knew of his making a golden calf, or in any degree countenancing idolatry, I would acknowledge and reprobate his conduct; or if I knew of his denying his Lord three times over, or even once only, I would both own and lament it. But the sacred writers, though they recorded every material fact impartially, yet they did not needlessly repeat. and exaggerate the imperfections of upright men; nor aim to shew their own acumen in nicely criticising their characters: their impartiality was real, but not ostentatious. Luke entered into no discussion of the controversy between Paul and Barnabas, though he had full opportunity of knowing one side of the story, and that from far the greatest man of the two: and as I anr not divinely inspired to distinguish accurately who was right and who was wrong, wherein Mr. Fuller was separated from some who ouce had a share in his friendship, and from whom he thought it his duty to withdraw it; I shall leave them to write of his faults, who refused to acknowledge any of their own. Though I may have strong grounds for an opinion on that subject, yet I am not eager to shew them. I leave such things to an infallible Judge.

All who have read my funeral sermon for Mr. Fuller can judge for themselves, whether

* See 1 Kings xv. 5.

I have represented him there as "more exempt from the infirmities of our corrupted nature than was the father of the faithful." From such critics as have already insinuated this, and who despise all disinterested love, even of him who is altogether lovely, it were folly for any one, who has neither the means nor inclination to purchase their favour, to look for "candour and fairness." But charges which are not confirmed by my own conscience, I entirely disregard.

Some of my friends may think it was needless to have inserted these remarks, as the whole of this volume will sufficiently show that I wished to write the actual life of my dearly beloved friend, and not his panegyric. By the grace of God he was what he was; and now the work of grace is perfected.

Let grace be admired and magnified for ever, Amen!

APPENDIX.

I RESERVE for this place, some things, the

connection of which I wish to conceal, that the place where they occurred, and persons to whom they refer, may not be known; with some other particulars that I could not so easily introduce in the preceding chapters; and others which I did not receive till it was too late to insert them in the proper place, without more trouble in transcribing the manuscript afresh, than my manifold avocations could possibly allow.

Of the former kind is the following.-He was once conversing freely with an evangelical clergyman, soon after the publication of Mr. Overton's True Churchman, when that work happened to be mentioned. The clergyman observed, That he understood many Dissenters considered some things in it as severe against them. Mr. Fuller said, "I suppose you mean

in calling them schismatics."

66

Yes, in part," "I never

said the other. Mr. Fuller replied, felt it; for it did not appear to me to be aimed to hurt us, but merely to screen himself, in the eyes of his superiors, from the suspicion of favouring us." He added also, "It did not hurt me, because I perceived no justice in it. The term schism is relative, and has reference to the society from which the separation is made. Now before you can fix the guilt of schism upon us, you must prove (1.) That the Church of England is a true church; yea more, (2.) That it is the only true church in the kingdom."

*

At another time he had a free conversation with certain very respectable clergymen, which I purposely have reserved to be thus separately introduced, without reference to place or names; choosing rather to disappoint curiosity than to betray Christian confidence.

"The first Clergyman, after saying many friendly and respectful things, said in a tone of familiarity, I had almost thrown your Gospel

Some, who are often exclaiming against the evil of rending Christ's seamless garment, take it for granted that the crime must lie exclusively on those who take hold of the skirt, and not attach to those who pull ever so violently at the upper end of the robe. But surely the fault of the rent may be as much on their side who impose terms of anion not authorized by the Head of the Church as on those who scruple conforming to them.

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