God, the singular scrupulosity of a faithful conscience, and the self-mistrust in a question where interest might warp the judgement of duty, they give also a striking display of Fuller's capability of affectionate sympathetic feeling. And indeed this is demonstrated by many other things in the memoir, to a degree that will very much surprise those who had little opportunity of observing his temperament, in other exhibitions than these which bore a cast of bluntness, inflexibility, and even sternness. The ample manifestation here made of his possessing so much of the softer qualities, when taken, as they ought to be, into the account of those rougher ones, will strongly tend to shew that, in all probable justice of estimate, there was, in many of the exhibitions of these latter ones, something better than the mere indulgence of natural disposition-That there was a principle of honest resolute integrity, an unyielding sense of the right, not seldom a conscientious prompting of duty. We must even acknowledge, that our own previous impressions of his character, have been considerably modified by reading the present work.

It is well known what a uniform inflexible maintainer Fuller was, of the moral law, as the rule of life and the standard of judgement to all moral agents. The large extracts from his diaries, disclosing his severe retired exercises of self-reproach and self-abasement, as intermingled with his consolations and hopes, derived exclusively from the merits and sacrifice of Christ, may furnish one more to the innumerable practical illustrations, how perfectly the Law and the Gospel can harmonize in a full operation of each and both, in a Christian's mind. And their co-operating influence on Fuller's devotions, as here brought to view, and their practical result in his life, might serve to put to shame, if any thing could, the wretched decriers of that conjunction.

In publishing these extracts, however, his biographer has not improperly thought it fit to premise some sentences of caution.

I begin with cautioning my readers against being, in any degree, reconciled to the workings of evil, because the same defects and defilements have been acknowledged by good men. My soul has long nauseated the thought of taking comfort from the hope that, if I knew all, of the best of men, I should find that they were nearly as poor creatures as myself. All have doubtless to maintain a daily conflict; but God forbid I should piense myself with the idea, that they do not more frequently get the victory than I. I never wish to think otherwise, than that thousands of saints on earth have lived nearer to God than I ever did; though I am sure they will give all the praise to Him that worketh in them to will and to do of his good pleasure. I have no wish, however, to conceal the humiliating complaints of my dear brother, who will no more complain again, as he did in these ex

tracts.

With all his acknowledged defects and painful conflicts, there was an unspeakable difference between his religion and that of some high professors in the present day, whose only concern it is to maintain a confidence of their own safety, a confidence, indeed, without evidence from Scripture, sense, or reason; and if this can be attained, (and the worst of all spirits would gladly help them to it), they care but little for the sins of omission, and not much for those of commis sion. Godly jealousy they discard, and duty they cannot endure. Individuals it is not my province to judge; and gladly would I hope, that some men may have their hearts right with God, who express themselves very incautiously.

My dear departed friend evidently hungered and thirsted after righteousness; while others admired his zeal, his diligence, his activity, &c. he was often bewailing his lukewarmness, his sloth, and inactivity. He had a deep sense of what a Christian ought to be; he understood the spirituality of the divine law; he felt the obligations of the gospel, which did not supersede, but confirm, enhance, and endear prior obligations; and hence, while he trusted to behold God's face in the righteousness of another, he could not be satisfied till he awoke in the likeness of his blessed Saviour. Now, I am well persuaded, he is with him, and is perfectly like him, for he sees him as he is.'

From the extracts we shall but quote one short passage, one of very many that shew the vigilance of his judicial self-observation, as early as the age of twenty-six.

June 29, 1780. O what a horrid depth of pride and hypocrisy do I find in my heart! Surely I am unfit for any company. if I am with a superior, how will my heart court his praise, by speaking diminutively of myself, not forgetting to urge the disadvantages under which I have laboured, to excuse my inferiority; and here is a large vacancy left, in hope he will fill it up with something like this"Well, you must have made good improvement of what advantages you have enjoyed." On the other hand, when in company with an inferior, how full of self am I! While I seem to be instructing him, by communicating my observations, how prone to lose sight of his edification, and every thing but my own self-importance; aiming more to discover my own knowledge, than to increase his!

While I make these observations, I feel the truth of them. A thought has been suggested to write them, not as having been working in my heart to-day, but only as discovered to-day. Oh horridly deceitful and desperately wicked heart! Surely, I have little else in my religious exercises but these workings. I am afraid of being deceived at last. If I am saved, what must the Son of God have endured!'

It is hardly worth while to notice the unpleasing frequency of the recurrence, in these private records of feeling, of a few particular words, as 'teuder,'' sweet,' &c.

After the discontinuance of these documents, it is chiefly by means of his letters that the history is carried forward through the whole progress of his prodigious exertions, and his con

stantly enlarging usefulness and importance, to the last painful labour, for the mortal disease was protracted and extremely oppressive. Some of these letters relate to his heavy domestic afflictions; some of them to his publications, and their results; several are of an admonitory nature, written at the dictate of duty and benevolence, and at much cost of feeling; many are accounts of his journeys to Scotland, Ireland, and in other directions, to preach for the benefit of the Indian Mission. They relate a variety of anecdotes and curious conversations. There are several long and very acutely argumentative ones on controversial subjects, chiefly against the Sandemanian notions. A very few brief sketches of Sermons, are introduced; and there are several pages of very striking reflections on old age. But a very small portion can be read any where without meeting with characteristic and instructive passages. Taking comprehensively the display here presented of ardent, disin terested, indefatigable zeal, for the promotion, in every way, of the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, we own we should greatly envy the reader who has a right to close the book without some very mortifying feelings of self-reproach. And that it is eminently adapted to make this impression, may be a strong testimony to the judgement and the spirit with which it is written and compiled, and a promise, we should hope, of its extensive utility.

If we began with some vague general intention of accompanying, in regular order, the series of this memorial, we must have long since surrendered it in compliment to our own prolixity. But indeed a formal continued abstract would be quite superfluous, and almost idle, of a book which will be in so many hands; especially as it is, in this second edition, by far the cheapest volume that we have lately seen, a management the reverse of what is the usual, and perhaps excusable one, when a biographer's intention is, as here, to serve a surviving family.

The religious public are apprized that this volume precedes, and may be regarded as a kind of introduction to a collective edition of Mr. Fuller's Works, in about ten octavo volumes, of which the printing will commence immediately.

1

ART. XII. SELECT LITERARY INFORMATION.

Gentlemen and Publishers who have works in the press, will oblige the Conductors of the ECLECTIC REVIEW, by sending Information (pot paid) of the subject, extent, and probable price of such works; which they may depend upon being communicated to the Public, if