Obituary.

REV. ANDREW FULLER. ·

of my spirits: yet I have no de spondency. I know whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day. I am a poor guilty creature; but Jesus is an Almighty Saviour. I have preached and written much against the abuse of the doctrine of grace; but that doctrine is all my salva tion, and all my desire. I have no other hope of salvation, than what arises from mere sovereign

NEVER have we had a task so distressing to our feelings, or that will produce so much sorrow in the hearts of our readers, as that of recording the lamented death of the wise, the zealous, and disinterested Secretary of the Baptist Missionary Society- ANDREW FULLER. This eminent and laborious servant of the Lord Jesus, was called to his Master's joy, on Lord's day morning, the 7th of May, in the sixty-second year of his age, after only a few weeks' ill-grace through the atonement ness of a most distressing kind; but, under which, the grace and power of the Saviour mercifully preserved him from that despondency and despair, which, we understand, the nature of his complaint tended greatly to produce.

The following letters will give our Readers some information of the last days of this faithful minister, till a more detailed account can be prepared.

In prospect of his dissolution, Mr. Fuller thus writes to the Rev. Dr. Ryland:

Kettering, April 28th, 1815. MY DEAREST FRIEND,

We have enjoyed much together, which, I hope, will prove an earnest of greater enjoyment in another world. We have also wrought together in the Lord's vineyard, and he has given us to reap together in a measure in his vintage. I expect this is nearly over; but, I trust, we shall meet, and part no more. I have very little hope of recovery; but I am satisfied to drink of the cup which my Heavenly Father giveth me to drink! Without experience, no one can conceive of the depression

of my Lord and Saviour: with
this hope, I can go into eter
nity with composure. Come,
Lord Jesus! Come when thou
wilt, here I am; let him do with
me as seemeth him good! If I
should never more see your face
in the flesh, I could wish one last
testimony of our brotherly love,
and of the truth of the Gospel,
to be expressed by your coming
over and preaching my Funeral
Sermon, if it can be, from Rom.
viii. 10. I can dictate no more;
But am, ever yours,
very dear Sir,
ANDREW FULLER
Mr. Burls having witnessed the
last hours of his highly valued
friend, thus writes:

Kettering, 10th May, 1815. The funeral of our departed friend, is to be on Monday next. Mr. Robert Hall is to speak at the grave, and Dr. Ryland to preach the Funeral Sermon. Respecting our dear friend, many will be disappointed as to his dying experience; so little being known of the feelings of his mind, While he was able to converse, the substance of what he said,

was,-He had no raptures, no despondency. His feelings were not so much in exercise as his judgment. A short time before he was so ill that he could not see, or converse with any one, he said to one of his deacons, "I am a great sinner, and if I am saved, it can only be by great and sovereign grace:" repeating the words very emphatically," by great and sovereign grace!”

misery centres here." His son
said, "bodily misery, father?" "0
yes," said he, "I can think of
nothing else!" Well, my brother,
it is over, all is over with him.
The conflict is done. His rest and
his reward were to be entered upon
together. 'Of him it may be said

"The labours of this mortal life
End in a large reward!"

I was the first person who announced his death to Mr. Robert

is fallen! I scarcely knew a man whose whole life has been so entirely, and laboriously devoted to the cause of God."-O, my brother, may our lives, through the divine blessing, be humbly, constantly, and zealously devoted to God, and our death we may well leave with him. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints, whatever may be the cir cumstances attending their dying,

In the early part of the morn-Hall. He said, "A great man ing of the day, on which he died, he said to one of the family, just loud enough to be heard, "I wish I had strength to worship with you." By this he knew it was the Lord's day. He added, "My eyes are dim:" and he appeared to be nearly blind, For nearly half an hour before he expir ed he was thought to be in fervent prayer. Nothing could be made out of what he said, except two words, which were supposed to be, "Help me!" He then struggled, sighed three times, fell back, and in five minutes expired. I have thought that the peculiar trait

of his character was manifest in

death. You know, that when he had
an important object before him, he
steadily pursued it, looking neither
on this side nor on the other; but
steady to that one object he pur-
sued it with all his might. It was
so with him, even in death. He
had to grapple with the King of
Terrors: he could think of no-
thing else: he felt he had nothing
to do but to die; and, in his case,
it was hard indeed: his sufferings
were inexpressibly great: added
to this, the lowering nature of the
disorder, and that he suffered the
more because of his great remain-
ing natural strength to struggle
with the fatal complaint. He was
heard to say, putting his hand on
his breast, 66
Oh, this deadly
wound!" At another time," All
YOL. VII.

Yours, &c. W, B.

interred ou Monday, the 15th of

The remains of Mr. Fuller weré

tor of the independent church at May. The Rev. Mr. Toller, pasKettering, began in prayer; Dr. Ryland preached the funeral sermon according to the request of Mr. Fuller, from Rom. viii. 10.

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dead because of sin; but the Spirit If Christ be in you, the body is is life because of righteousness:" and Mr. Hall delivered the oration,

At a meeting of the committee of the Baptist Missionary Society, held at Luton, 17th of May, 1815, it was unanimously resolved, "That, in consequence of the lamented death of our invaluable secretary, the Rev. A. Fuller, Dr. Ryland be requested to discharge the business of secretary until the annual meeting of the society, to be held at Northampton in October next." 2 L

MRS. SARAH AINSWORTH,

Of Wicken-Hall, Cheshire.

sometimes fervid, sometimes rather cool, and, at times, leaning too much to a covenant of works seeking for comfortable frames of mind to support her faith, instead of applying directly to Christ, as revealed in the Gospel. But her knowledge was like the light of the morning, shining more and more unto the perfect day.

WHEN young she experienced some convictions of conscience, which, as far as my observation extends, is a general case with those whom God ultimately brings to himself. These convictions were not such as to prevent her For years before her death, her entering into the fashions and afflictions were very great; and amusements which prevailed in it would be difficult to say, whethe circle in which she moved. ther those of her body, or of her While under her parents' roof, she mind, were the greater. In her attended the established church; body she had a complication of but it pleased God, by her mar-disorders, and was thrice the subriage, to bring her into a respect-ject of a paralytic stroke; the able dissenting family. She did not, at the first, much admire the strictness of conduct and devotion she now beheld. However, her father-in-law, with whom the new-married couple resided, continued his religious exercises, with uniform steadiness, like the sun in the heavens. Some time after her marriage, the meeting-house at Ogden was erected. The ministers who came to supply there, found a home at Mr. Ainsworth's, and Mrs. Ainsworth attended upon them, with civility and respect, though she did not, as yet, much value their religion. At the opening of the chapel, God was pleased to speak to her heart, by the ministry of Mr. Hirst. Possessing strong powers of mind, yet capable of the finest feelings, she experienced very keen sensations of sorrow or joy. Hence, her religious feelings were, generally, rather in the extreme. The current of her griefs and pleasures, was rapid and strong.

last of which released her spirit from her afflicted frame. For many months, she laboured under great darkness of mind, sore temptations, and much unbelief. But, during this struggle, religion was her great concern, and, on all occasions, the constant topic of her conversation. She desired the company of the godly more than gold. No serious character could be with her many minutes before she made some inquiry respecting Christ, or faith, or the best evidence of faith, and of an interest in the Saviour's love; or of preparation for death and eternity. What is faith in Christ? How must I do to believe in Christ? Do I believe, think you? If I believe, why do I feel such evil and wandering thoughts, such coldness and indifference, so little love to Jesus, so little relish for divine and spiritual things, and no more delight in religious exercises? These, and similar expressions, were dropping from After many elevations and de- her lips almost continually. Somepressions of mind, she joined the times she concluded she never church, October 15th, 1786, be- had believed, and then, her dising then about twenty-four years tress was beyond expression. of age. From that period, sheOnce, when in this.state of mind, had a diversity of experiences, a friend did not think it right to

persuade her that she had beliey-The church at Ogden, and the poor of the neighbourhood, lost in her one of their best friends. For twenty-eight years, her house and her heart were open to receive the supplies, and ministers who visited the neighbourhood. Blessed be the Lord! he had, before her death, provided another, in her daughter, to fill her place. The deceased was remarkable for her attendance upon the sick, for administering advice, and relieving their necessities.

Her funeral sermon was preach

from a text she had chosen many years before, namely, Psalm xciv. 19. “In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul."

ed, but rather urged her, then, to believe, without attempting to discover, whether she had or had not believed before; directing her to the Lamb of God, with an assurance, that he will cast out none who come unto him. She was harassed, to a great degree, with these unbelieving fears, and with divers temptations, for a considerable time. However, the Lord, in his own time and way, appeared for her relief. Grace prevailed, and triumphed in her rich experience. Light dawned, the 27th of November, 1814, ed again upon her mind, unbelief was conquered, her doubts fled, her confidence revived, and her hope in Jesus became, like an anchor to her soul, sure and steadfast. Months before she died, she could " read her title clear to She mansions in the skies." longed to be with Jesus, that she might praise him for his redeeming love. Many of her remarks respecting herself, as a poor, lost, self-ruined sinner; the person, work, righteousness, and blood of Jesus; and her reliance on him exclusively for her whole salvation, might be recorded, but my limits forbid enlargement. The messenger of death arrived in an unexpected hour. She had been better for some days, than for weeks before.

At Dudley, aged Seventy-five,

THE VENERABLE
BENJAMIN MASON.

ABOUT a month previous to his departure, he buried one of his sons; and a fortnight before, he followed his beloved wife to the grave. The evening preceding his death, he was conversing largely with a friend, on the divine glory of the Saviour, and after commending his family to God, he retired to rest, without any mark of indisposition. Delaying to rise at his usual hour, his son went to call him: but, alas! his ear was closed, no more on earth to listen to the voice of relative or friend. The happy spirit had left the church below, and joined the family of the Saviour in heaven. It is supposed that his death was occasioned by the rupture of a blood-vessel in his head. He was an excellent man, has " come to the grave in a full age, and has been gathered, like a shock of corn, in his season."

The Voice of Years, concerning the late Mr. Huntingdon, being an impar tial recollection of his ministerial Character and Conduct, humbly designed to excite imitation and caution: imitation as to what was right; caution as to what was wrong. By a Disciple of Jesus.

THE late Mr. Huntingdon was, beyond all doubt, an extraordinary man; and his labours have produced extraordinary effects. Whatever opinion we entertain of their good or evil tendency, all know that he has gathered together a great body of people, and impregnated their minds with principles which will not soon become extinct. And as he not only preached, but wrote, his labours may be expected to produce effects for many years to come: on this account, it becomes a duty to ascertain their nature and their tendency.

tend, perfect. Our inquiry, then, is simply this: Whether those "good qualities,” which are here ascribed to him, and weighed against his evil ones, have any thing truly good in them? If they have not, and yet are allowed, notwithstanding all his faults, to prove him a good man, the consequence may be fatal to thousands, who shall venture to follow his example.

To us it appears, that the good qualities ascribed to Mr. Huntingdon, taken in connexion with the comments by which they are explained, are of an equivocal character: they may accompany true religion, or they may not. There is not a Christian grace, nor the exercise of a Christian grace, necessarily contained in any one of them. No one will say, that a "plain and natural” manner of speaking, has any religion in it. If there be any thing of this, it must be looked for in his being

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The author of the piece before us, scriptural, experimental, and evanappears to have been well qualified gelical: yet, when by the first of for his undertaking, both as to his these terms, is meant little more means of knowing Mr. Huntingdon, than that his discourses abounded and the unprejudiced state of his in Seripture quotations, supposed to' mind towards him. He is also evi-be gathered out of a Concordance; dently a man of close observation, and serious reflection.

by the next, that, in preaching, he was wont to tell of his own feelings, which corresponded with those of others like-minded with him; and, by the last, that he dwelt on some of the great truths of the Gospel: what is there, in all this, indicative of true religion? The same may be said of his being "independent, contemplative, and laborious:" they may be connected with true religion, or they may not. They are not the. things which prove" the root of the matter to have been in him.”

There are two questions, however, which, on reading his performance, have arisen in our minds. First, Whether the account which he has given of Mr. Huntingdon's "good qualities," supposing it to be just, includes any indications of personal religion? Secondly, Whether the account of his good and bad qualities çan be made to consist with each other? If our object were to ascertain whether, in a judgment of charity, Mr. Huntingdon was, or was not, a It may be said, that the author true Christian, justice would require does not profess to give Mr. Huntus first to ascertain, as far as pos-ingdon's character as a Christian, sible, the correctness or defective- but as a minister. It is an unhappy ness of these accounts of him; but circumstance, however, in a case this not being our object, we may wherein the good and the bad are to suppose them to be correct, and, as be weighed one against the other, far as human observation can ex- that his good qualities, as a minister,