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preserving me at a time when my judgment was so immature. When I have seen the zeal which has been expended in maintaining some such peculiarities, I have thought it a pity. They have appeared to me as a sort of spiritual narcotics, for which when a man once gets a taste, he will prefer them to the most wholesome food. It was in recollection of these things that I lately wrote in an Essay on Truth as follows:-'A man who chews opium or tobacco, may prefer them to the most wholesome food, and may derive from them pleasure, and even vigour for a time; but his pale countenance, and debilitated constitution will soon bear witness to the folly of spending his money for that which is not bread.'

A. F."

K

CHAP. III.

His Settlement as Pastor of the Church at Soham The Difficulties he there encounteredHis Removal from thence to Kettering-The Exercises of his Mind on that Occasion-An Account of his Settlement there-His Confession of Faith.

IN the preceding Chapter I chose to give Mr.

Fuller's own account of his early and superficial religious impressions; his subsequent conversion; his joining the church; the pleasure he enjoyed at first, after his public profession of religion; the dissensions which arose in the church, and issued in the removal of their pastor; his own entrance on the ministry; and the doctrinal difficulties with which his mind was embarrassed at that early period.

When Mr. Eve had removed to Wisbeach, in the Isle of Ely, in October 1771, the church book notices, that after much confusion among themselves, they nevertheless assembled with each other, and spent the time in singing and prayer, "some brethren opening a word of scripture, chiefly Brother Diver."

Again, in the year 1772, an entry is made in the book, in Mr. Fuller's writing, who was then eighteen years old-"Time on Lord'sdays was now carried on in opening the word, chiefly by two of the brethren, (Brother Diver and Brother A. Fuller,) and, O! to our unexpected, unlooked for comfort, the Lord was pleased to make use of such weak means, for the conversion of some souls. Two in particular first appeared; namely, E. Kidd, jun. and Ann Peak. This was like life from the dead to us, and no small encouragement to the weak means made use of. We were now almost like people that had found a new world. New life, love, joy, peace, and har mony spread almost throughout every soul; admiring at the goodness of the Lord towards us, in our confused, forlorn condition, often'→→ with thankfulness of heart repeating the language of the church: 'It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.' Evening meetings, which before had been dropped, were now revived."

In 1773, it is mentioned that two brethren were employed in opening the word on the Lord's-day, chiefly Brother A. Fuller,

Oct. 1773.—“ A day was set apart for public fasting and prayer to the Lord. The work of opening the word on Lord's-days was wholly committed to Brother Fuller, though not yet publicly sent into the ministry,"

CHAP. III.

His Settlement as Pastor of the Church at Soham The Difficulties he there encountered— His Removal from thence to Kettering-The Exercises of his Mind on that Occasion-An Account of his Settlement there-His Confession of Faith.

IN the preceding Chapter 1 chose to give Mr.

Fuller's own account of his early and superficial religious impressions; his subsequent conversion; his joining the church; the pleasure he enjoyed at first, after his public profession of religion; the dissensions which arose in the church, and issued in the removal of their pastor; his own entrance on the ministry; and the doctrinal difficulties with which his mind was embarrassed at that early period.

When Mr. Eve had removed to Wisbeach, in the Isle of Ely, in October 1771, the church book notices, that after much confusion among themselves, they nevertheless assembled with each other, and spent the time in singing and prayer, "some brethren opening a word of scripture, chiefly Brother Diver.”

Again, in the year 1772, an entry is made in the book, in Mr. Fuller's writing, who was then eighteen years old-"Time on Lord'sdays was now carried on in opening the word, chiefly by two of the brethren, (Brother Diver and Brother A. Fuller,) and, O! to our unexpected, unlooked for comfort, the Lord was pleased to make use of such weak means, for the conversion of some souls. Two in particular first appeared; namely, E. Kidd, jun. and Ann Peak. This was like life from the dead to us, and no small encouragement to the weak means made use of. We were now almost like people that had found a new world. New life, love, joy, peace, and harmony spread almost throughout every soul; admiring at the goodness of the Lord towards us, in our confused, forlorn condition, often with thankfulness of heart repeating the language of the church: 'It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.' Evening meetings, which before had been dropped, were now revived."

In 1773, it is mentioned that two brethren were employed in opening the word on the Lord's-day, chiefly Brother A. Fuller.

Oct. 1773.-"A day was set apart for public fasting and prayer to the Lord. The work of opening the word on Lord's-days was wholly committed to Brother Fuller, though not publicly sent into the ministry."

yet

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