BAPTIST MAGAZINE.

FEBRUARY, 1813.

A MEMOIR OF Mr. JOSEPH FULLER,

Who died at Little Bentley, in Essex, March 23,.1812, in the 18th year of his age, in a Letter from his Uncle to Dr. Ryland, dated March 25th.

My dear brother,

I HAVE just received a letter from Bentley, dated the 23rd instant, of which the following is an extract:-"This morning, about a quarter after seven, our dear Joseph left this world of sin and sorrow, and we trust has entered into rest. He could not talk much, but said, "That gospel that I have recommended to others, is all my support in the prospect of death." He was sensible to the last.

Thus God has blasted our hopes concerning this dear youth. It was in July 1806, that I and Mrs. Fuller, paying a visit at Bentley, observed in him a talent for literary acquirements. At the same time his parents seemed to think him not much adapted to other business. We therefore agreed for him to come to Kettering the October following, when he would be thirteen years old, and to go to school to our friend Mr. Mason of Rowell. After being at School three months, he spent the holidays at the close of 1806 at my house. One day he was looking over the greek alphabet, and presently getting it by heart, wanted to learn the language. He obtained a few instructions before the holidays were ended, and on his returning to school, I spoke to my worthy friend, the Rev. Mr. Brotherhood of Desborough, whose residence was within two miles of him, requesting him to teach him the latin and greek languages. With this request Mr. B. not only readily complied, but generously declined any recompense for his trouble. On an evening, after the school-hours were over at Rowell, Joseph would walk to Desborough, and spend an hour or two with Mr. B. who with Mrs. B. treated him as a young friend, rather than as a pupil. His diligence,

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"Indeed when I call them sacrifices I am conscious that I do not speak correctly; there can be no sacrifices in foregoing that which never was my own. I know that I am not my own, but God's; that I have no right to seek my own pleasure, but his glory. This ought to be my constant aim, and for me to consult my own gratification by swerving from its pursuit, were an act of direct rebellion against the divine government, and base idolatry in preferring my supposed interests to his. Woe be unto me, therefore, if I preach not the gospel. Woe be unto me if ever I should permit temptations to allure, dangers to terrify, or difficulties to dishearten me from the pursuit of the divine glory. If then there appears in India the likeliest prospect of promoting that object, I ought not, I cannot, and even were I willing, I dare not refuse to go.

"Perhaps I may not know what spirit I am of; I do sometimes however feel such a compassion for perishing souls, such a desire to promote the divine glory, such a concern for the spread of his kingdom, that I could gladly give up all to embark in that cause, and I trust when it comes to the trial, the love of Christ and of immortal souls, will so outweigh every other consideration, as to make me willing to spend and be spent, to suffer all things so that I may but win souls to Christ.

"I know that it is a great work, requiring much zeal, much prudence, much patience, much perseverance. I know that were I to look to myself for strength I should be miserably deficient, and were all to depend upon my own zeal, resolution, and prudence, it must come to nothing; but in the Lord Jehovah is righteousness and strength; and if I sincerely engage in his cause and seek his glory, depending on his strength, he can easily qualify, assist and support me. Thus I trust "I shall go in the strength of the Lord, making mention of his righteousness and of his only."

Such were the workings of his mind at a time when a mortal consumption had begun to undermine his constitution. He does not appear to have been apprehensive of any such thing, but writes of himself as being in "good health." By your letters to me, however, two months before this, you were not without apprehensions concerning him.

It was not long after this that he left the Academy, and went to his father's ho use, in hope that rest and country air might restore him to health; but these hopes were unfounded. At times

he seemed to be getting better, as is common with this disorder, but upon the whole grew worse and worse. Having spent the greater part of the summer of 1811 at Bentley, he wished to avail himself of a kind invitation which he had received from Mr. NEWMAN, as he passed through London, to visit the New Academy at Stepney. Here he stopped about two months, during which all possible kindness was shewn him by Mr. and Mrs. NEWMAN, and the best medical advice obtained for him. Being in London myself early in November, I took him with me to Kettering, where he stopped about six weeks; and so far as his affliction would permit, (for we saw him literally die daily) enjoyed the company of his friends, and they his. In the first week in December he got over to Rowell, and Desborough, to see his dear friends, Mr. M. and Mr. B. On the 18th of that month I took him to Cambridge, from whence after stopping awhile with his relations at Newmarket, he went to his father's house at Bentley. At Cambridge we spent the Lord's day, and there I took leave of him. At parting we both wept, as not expecting to see each other again in the flesh! The last Lord's day in January 1812, his father informed me, he had a great desire to go with them to Thorpe to unite at the Lord's supper, which with much difficulty was accomplished.

His death is one of those mysteries in providence, not of very unfrequent occurrence, in which the Great Supreme after forming and fitting an instrument for usefulness in this world, removes it to another. I do not remember to have known a lad of his years who possessed more maturity of judgment or comtand of temper, and whose mind seemed more habitually directed to the glory of God.

I am affectionately yours,

To the Editors of the Baptist Magazine.

A. FULLER.

P.S When he was about to leave Kettering, I asked him for a few of his Sermons, sketches of which I perceived he had in writing. He gave me a few to keep as a memorial of him. On this account I would not part with them: but if any or all of them be thought worthy of a place in the Magazine they are at

your service.*

* Some of these Sketches will appear in our future Numbers.

50

REMARKS ON 2 PET. 111, 13.

Ox reading from the 10th to the 14th verse of this chapter, I think it very obvious a sentiment is introduced not immediately connected, nor necessary for understanding the chief idea, viz. the dissolution of all things. Consequently the common figure of parenthesis is used by the sacred writer, To make this appear plain, let the passage be read, omitting the 13th verse; we shall perceive that the sense of the paragraph is not in the least violated, but cleared of all difficulty and obscurity. If a parenthesis be admitted, it gives a rational elucidation to the 13th verse and its parallel passages.

It is a quotation from the Prophet Isaiah, Ixv. 17, which without doubt refers to the anticipated AGE of the church's glory in the present state, as the subsequent part of the chapter proves. The moral, and in a degree natural change, which the gospel effects, will, when universally felt, give to Nature a new aspect, and present, as it were, "a new heavens and new earth." The apostle Peter, speaking of the dissolution of nature, wished to remind the primitive christians, that previous to its taking place, the "new heavens and new earth," i. e. the universal spread and influence of the Redeemer's reign, should be accomplished. "Therefore," says he, "Nevertheless," "But still, (A) according to his promise," [Isa. lxv. 17.] (antecedent to the awful eatastrophe of dissolving nature) "we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness;" i. e. the influence of the blessed gospel, which is righteousness and peace.

In support of the above remark I beg leave to add the following one by the learned Parkhurst, on the phrase,* Kan, "New creation"-"New heavens and new earth.” 2 Pet. iii. 13. Rev. xxi. 1. seems to respect the state of the christian church on earth. Compare Isa. lxv, 17, 66, 22. Rec. xxi. 24-26. "And I wish," he adds, "the intelligent and attentive reader to consider whether placing the 13th verse of 2 Pet. iii. in a parenthesis will not greatly clear that difficult passage." And I would wish it to be farther considered whether it does not support the opinion that the splendid description given in Rev. xxi. is symLolical of the church in its millenial glory.

I am aware the ingenious "Theory of the Earth," by Dr. T. Burnett, and all like hypothesises, received by many, are built

* Vide sub voce KAINOE.

upon the contrary interpretation of this passage; viz. that the "new heavens and new earth" is to be literal, consequently posterior to the conflagration; but if the above be correct, it only shews how much of the learned toil of speculative minds is Indere operam.

From the above we observe, how important is the noble work of our brethren in India in translating the "words of eternal life," which is the mean to renovate the world through the Holy Spirit. It is by this the saving health is to be imparted to all Nations. When the prophet's animating prediction shall be realized, "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord--and the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase." Then will be seen the "New heavens and new earth--the holy city, new Jerusalem." Nk. T. J.

ON MINISTERS ENGAGING IN SECULAR BUSINESS.

A LETTER TO A FRIEND.

My dear Sir, In compliance with your wishes, I again address you on the subject of ministers wholly devoting themselves to their work, and not engaging in secular concerns. Some of the inconveniences arising from a contrary course I took the liberty to point out in my last epistle;* in the present I will freely give my thoughts upon the only possible way of remedying these inconveniences, or rather of removing the cause of them. This must arise partly from the ministers themselves, and partly from the congregations to which they minister.

Were I to address the ministers themselves upon this subject, I would venture to say to them,

1. Labour to deserve a support from your people, This you can only do by wholly laying yourself out for their spiritual adyantage. Your demand on them for a support is placed by the apostle on this equitable principle, that they reap your spiritual things. Now in order to this, you must employ your whole time and talents in your work. You must be instant, as the apostle expresses it, in season and out of season; availing yourself of every opportunity to preach the gospel, in your stated place of worship and in places around it; encouraging and at

See Baptist Magazine, vol. iv. p. 231.