Andrew Fuller | Working out Salvation with Fear and Trembling

Andrew Fuller (1754-1815) – New Resource

September 5, 2008

Issue 9 (Spring 2008) of Eusebeia: The Bulletin of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies is now available in print form. This included many of the papers presented at the 1st annual Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies conference held at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007. These articles focus on “reading Andrew Fuller” and deal with his theological influences from men like Owen to Edwards. Included also are articles on Fullers’ view of the atonement and the relationship between John Ryland Sr. and Jr. and John Erskine. The table of contents are as follows:

3 From the editor

Articles

5 “A Great Thirst for Reading”: Andrew Fuller the Theological Reader
Michael A.G. Haykin

27 Andrew Fuller: Heir of the Reformation
Jeffrey K. Jue

53 John Owen and Andrew Fuller
Carl R. Trueman

71 Andrew Fuller’s Reading of John Gill
Barry Howson

97 The Influence of Jonathan Edwards on Andrew Fuller
Thomas J. Nettles

117 “Sense of the Heart”: Jonathan Edward’s Legacy in the Writing of Andrew Fuller
Chris Chun

135 Christ’s Absolute Determination to Save: Andrew Fuller and Particular Redemption
Jeremy Pittsley

167 Andrew Fuller’s Ordination Sermons
Nigel Wheeler

183 The Letters of John Erskine to the Rylands
Jonathan Yeager

To purchase a copy of the journal or subscribe to it contact Steve Weaver at andrewfullercenter [at] sbts [dot] edu.

Leave a Comment » | Andrew Fuller, Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies | Tagged: Andrew Fuller, Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies | Permalink
Posted by allenmickle

The Purpose of Christian Biography

April 24, 2008

“The great ends of Christian biography are instruction and example. By faithfully describing the lives of men eminent for godliness, we not only embalm their memory, but furnish ourselves with fresh materials and motives for a holy life. It is abundantly more impressive to view the religion of Jesus as operating in a living character than to contemplate it abstractedly. For this reason we may suppose the Lord the Spirit has condescended to exhibit, first and principally, the life of Christ; and, after his, that of many of his eminent followers. And for this reason he by his holy influences still furnishes the church with now and then a singular example of godliness, which it is our duty to notice and record. There can be no reasonable doubt that the life of Mr. Pearce ought to be considered as one of these examples. May that same Divine Spirit who had manifestly so great a hand in forming his character teach us to derive from it both instruction and edification.”

Andrew Fuller (1754-1815) from Memoirs of the Rev. Samuel Pearce, M.A. (Complete Works of Andrew Fuller, III, 444)

2 Comments | Andrew Fuller, Biography, Reading | Tagged: Andrew Fuller, Biography, Reading | Permalink
Posted by allenmickle

“Listening to the Past – Lessons from Andrew Fuller” 17

November 11, 2007

Fuller rightly responds to people who want to be part of a broad religious group without a commitment to their local church. It seems the problems we face today existed in Fuller’s day just the same. The following entry comes from The Works of Andrew Fuller, III:797.

“There appears to be a mistaken idea, to commonly prevailing in the religious world at present, respecting what is called a party spirit. Many professors, while they endeavour to promote the interests of religion in general, too often neglect to pay that attention which id due to the interest and welfare of that class or denomination of Christians in particular with which they are or have been connected. It is not uncommon to see one of these “candid” Christian professors keep at a distance from his own denomination, or party, where that denomination stands most in need of his countenance and support; while he associates with another pat, which is sanctioned by numbers and worldly influence. And when the inconsistency of his conduct is hinted at, he will excuse himself by saying, in the cant phrase of the day, That it is his wish to promote the interests of religion in general, and not to serve a party. I wish some of your correspondents would expose the conduct of such fawning professors i its true colours; and endeavour to convince them that in vain are all pretensions to Christian candour where consistency and integrity are wanting.”

Leave a Comment » | Andrew Fuller, Local Church | Tagged: Andrew Fuller, Local Church | Permalink
Posted by allenmickle

“Listening to the Past – Lessons from Andrew Fuller” 16

October 21, 2007

Since I am doing what I promised to do on Saturday’s I better do what I promised to do on Sundays too! So, here again is our weekly lesson from the great Baptist theologian, Andrew Fuller!

This following portion is taken from The Works of Andrew Fuller, I:111. In this passage, Fuller is warning about the dangers of blindly following tradition without letting Scripture be our foundation and guide. He uses a farming analogy to prove his point.

“My father was a farmer, and in my younger days it was one great boast among the ploughmen that they could plough a strait line across the furrows or ridges of a field. I thought I could do this as well as any of them. One day, I saw such a line, which had just been drawn, and I thought, ‘Now I have it.’ Accordingly, I laid hold of the plough, and putting one of the horses in the furrow which had been made, I resolved to keep him walking in it, and thus secure a parallel line. By and by, however, I observed that there were what might be called wriggles in this furrow; and, when I came to them, they turned out to be larger in mine than in the original. On perceiving this, I threw the plough aside, and determined never to be an imitator.”

Leave a Comment » | Andrew Fuller | Tagged: Andrew Fuller, Tradition | Permalink
Posted by allenmickle

Name Change of Fuller Center

September 5, 2007

The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, now located at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, seeks to promote the study of Baptist history and doctrine as well as reflection on contemporary significance of that history. The center is named in honor of Andrew Fuller (1754-1815), a late eighteenth-and early nineteenth-century British Baptist pastor/theologian who opposed aberrant doctrine among Baptists in England and was instrumental in the founding of the Baptist Missionary Society. Fuller was a close friend and theological mentor of William Carey, founder of the modern international missions movement.

“When English Baptist life was threatened by the winter chill of hyper-Calvinism, Andrew Fuller warmed the churches with the free offer of the Gospel, and thus fueled the modern missions movement,” Russel D. Moore, dean of the School of Theology and senior vice president for academic administration, has noted with regard to the theological importance of Andrew Fuller.

The Andrew Fuller Center will hold an annual major conference that will examine various aspects of Baptist History and thought. It will also support the publication of a critical edition of the works of Andrew Fuller, and from time to time, other works in Baptist history. In time, it is hoped the Center will have a role in mentoring junior scholars involved in Baptist studies. Twice each year, the Andrew Fuller Center will also publish Eusebeia, a journal that will carry articles and book reviews related to Baptist history and thought.

If you have any questions regarding the Center please feel free to contact me as I will be serving as Administrative Assistant to the Center.

2 Comments | Andrew Fuller | Permalink
Posted by allenmickle

Andrew Fuller the Reader Conference

August 8, 2007

You are now able to register online for the Andrew Fuller the Reader Conference being held at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on August 27-28, 2007. For more information please e-mail me at allen.mickle@tbs.edu. Many thanks and hope to see you all there! For more information please visit here.

Leave a Comment » | Andrew Fuller, Conference | Permalink
Posted by allenmickle

“Listening to the Past – Lessons from Andrew Fuller” 15

April 30, 2007

In a circular letter to the Northamptonshire Baptist Association in May 1785, Fuller offers some tremendous reasons for pursuing the study of Church History. Specifically he is writing about how to respond to the fact that the church is falling into sin and lethargy. This is his first way to begin to solve the problem.

This portion can be found in The Armies of the Lamb, pp. 105-106.”

First, let us recollect the best periods of the Christian church, and compare them with the present; and the best parts of our lown life, if we know when they were, and compare them with what we are now. A recollection of the disinterestedness, zeal and godly simplicity of the primitive Christians, and their successors in after-ages, millions of who, in Christ’s cause, loved not their lives unto death, would surely make us loathe ourselves for our detestable lukewarmness! As Protestants, let us think of the fervent zeal and holy piety of our Reformers–think what objects they grasped, what difficulties they encountered, and what ends they obtained! As Protestant Dissenters, let us reflect on the spirit and conduct of our Puritan and non-conforming ancestors. Think how they served God at the expense of all that was dear to them in this world, and laid the foundation of our churches in woods, and dens, and caves of the earth! Say, too, was their love to God more than need be? Is the importance of things abated since their death? Might not they have pleaded the anger and cruelty of the times in excuse for a non-appearance for God, with much more seeming plausibility than we can excuse our spirit of hateful indifference? O let us remember whence we are fallen, and repent!”

Leave a Comment » | Andrew Fuller, Church History | Permalink
Posted by allenmickle

Andrew Fuller the Reader Conference Details

April 18, 2007

For all of you have been waiting with baited breath for details about the up-coming Andrew Fuller the Reader Conference at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on August 27-28, 2007 here you go!

Please go here to download a copy of the brochure which now has all the up-to-date information regarding speakers, times, registration, and costs!

Here is the newly revised schedule:

Monday, August 27

7:30-9:15 am Breakfast & Registration

9:30 am Michael Haykin (Toronto Baptist Seminary)
Andrew Fuller the theological reader

11:00 am Jeff Jue (Westminster Theological Seminary)
Andrew Fuller: heir of the Reformation

12:30 pm Lunch

2:00 – 2:40pm Parallel sessions

a. Michael McMullen (Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)
Editing Andrew Fuller’s diary

b. Barry Howson (Heritage College, Cambridge, ON)
Andrew Fuller and his reading of John Gill

c. Allen Mickle (University of Wales, PhD student)
Andrew Fuller and the Johnsonians: early theological reading

2:50-3:30 pm – Parallel sessions

d. Paul Brewster (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Ph.D. student)
Andrew Fuller as a pastor-theologian

e. Nigel Wheeler (Pretoria University Ph.D. student)
Andrew Fuller’s ordination sermons

f. Chris Chun (St.Andrews University Ph.D. student)
Andrew Fuller and the sense of the heart

6:00 pm Dinner

7:30 pm Russell Moore (Vice-President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
Banquet speaker
The contemporary significance of Andrew Fuller

Tuesday, August 28

7:30-8:30 am Breakfast

9:00 am Carl Trueman (Westminster Theological Seminary)
John Owen’s influence on Andrew Fuller

10:30 am Tom Nettles (The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
Jonathan Edwards — theological mentor to Andrew Fuller

12:00pm A closing word

Leave a Comment » | Andrew Fuller, Conference | Permalink
Posted by allenmickle

“Listening to the Past – Lessons from Andrew Fuller” 14

April 10, 2007

I apologize for not posting this past weekend on either my review of Rapture Fiction (sorry again Crawford!) or my weekly quote from Fuller. Being home visiting the family and celebrating the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can be quite a busy feat! This coming weekend is even busier so I doubt I will be able to post anymore this week, let alone again for my Rapture Fiction review or my Fuller quotes. My sister is getting married on Saturday to a godly young man and I am performing the ceremony. Then I am preaching at a local church here in Toronto on Sunday evening so I will be quite busy. Therefore, I wanted to leave you with a quote for the week by our good friend Andrew Fuller. This time, because of the spirit of marriage, I draw this from his commentary on Genesis especially 2:18-25 and the creation of woman.

This selection can be found in Fuller, Works, III:9-10.

“The subject closes with a more particular account of the creation of woman. We had a general one before (chap. i.27); but now we are led to see the reasons of it. Observe, 1. It was not only for the propagation of the human race, but a more distinguished provision for human happiness. The woman was made for the man; not merely for the gratification of his appetites, but of his rational and social nature. It was not good that man should be alone; and therefore a helper that should be meet, or suitable, was given him. The place assigned to the woman in the heathen and Mahomedan countries has been highly degrading; and the place assigned her by modern infidels is not much better. Christianity is the only religion that conforms to the original design, that confines a man to one wife, and that teaches him to treat her with propriety. Go among the enemies of the gospel, and you shall see the woman either reduced to abject slavery, or basely flattered for the vilest of purposes; but in Christian families you may see her treated with honour and respect; treated as a friend, as naturally an equal, a soother of man’s cares, a softener of his griefs, and a partner of his joys. 2. She was made after the other creatures were named; and, consequently, after Adam, having seen and observed all the animals, had found none of them a fit companion for himself, and thus felt the want of one. The blessings both of nature and of grace are greatly endeared to us by our being suffered to feel the want of them before we have them. 3. She was made out of man, which should lead men to consider their wives as a part of themselves, and to love them as their own flesh. The woman was not taken, it is true, from the head, neither was she taken from the feet; but from some where near the heart! 4. That which was now done would be a standing law of nature. Man would ‘leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they twain should be one flesh.’ There was no guilt, and therefore no shame: shame is one of the fruits of sin.”

2 Comments | Andrew Fuller, Marriage | Permalink
Posted by allenmickle

Andrew Fuller – The Reader

April 10, 2007

I just wanted to let everyone know of the incredible opportunity I have been given this August. Amongst other eminent historical scholars, I have been allowed to present a paper at the up-coming Andrew Fuller – The Reader conference being held at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on August 27-28.I will be speaking on “Andrew Fuller and the Johnsonians: Early Theological Study.” Johnson was a writer that held some unorthodox positions on Christology that we know Fuller read and with which he had a difficult time. While Fuller was influenced by Johnson he never wrote anything specifically against him. My task will be to study Fuller thoroughly and see how Johnson’s false views on the person of Christ influenced Fuller. This is a perfect topic because it fits right in with my Ph.D. studies on the apologetic Christology of Fuller.

I will be presenting this paper on August 27 during the first parallel session (2:00 PM – 2:40 PM). Looking forward to you all being there for this excellent conference!

1 Comment | Andrew Fuller, Christology, Conference | Permalink
Posted by allenmickle