10 works by Particular Baptists against Priestley's unitarianism

Ellen Sharples, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

1. John Butterworth (1727-1803) A serious address to the Rev Dr Priestley 1790
2. Lawrence Butterworth Thoughts on mora government and agency 1792
3. Caleb Evans (1737-1791) An Address to the Serious and Candid Professors of Christianity 1772, 1773
4. Caleb Evans (1737-1791) Christ Crucified: Or the Scripture Doctrine of the Atonement 1789
5. John Fawcett (1740-1817) The Christian's humble plea for his God and Saviour, a poem in answer to several pamphlets latey published by Dr Priestley 1772
6. Benjamin Francis (1734-1799) The Socinian Champion or Priestleyan divinity 1788
7. Andrew Fuller (1754–1815) The Calvinistic and Socinian Systems examined and compared, as to their Moral Tendency 1793
8. John MacGowan (1726-1780) Socinianism brought to the test 1773
9. Samuel Rowles (1743-1820) Remaks on Dr Priestley's Letters 1784
10. Samuel Rowles (1743-1820) Revealed religion asserted 1786

The Journal of Andrew Fuller Studies

The first edition of a new journal of Andrew Fuller Studies is out this month. It includes articles on Fuller and Gill and I have contributed a Beddome piece reproducing his letters. It is an honour to be involved. More here.

Extant Letters From Beddome

1. Anne Steele Sunday December 23 1742 Marriage proposal (Angus Library)
2. Church at Goodman's Fields November 1750 Concerning call to pastorate (Brooks, Pictures of the Past)
3. Church at Goodman's Fields Sunday February 24 1750/51 Concerning call to pastorate (Brooks, Pictures of the Past)
4. Richard Hall Saturday February 18 1758 or 1764 Includes a hymn (Angus Library)
5. Unknown relative Monday July 23 1759 (part) (Published in Evangelical Magazine)
6. Unknown relative Thursday October 18 1759 (Published in Evangelical Magazine)
7. Unknown relative Monday May 19 1760 Referring to the Diary of Timothy Thomas (Published n Evangelical Magazine)
8. Unknown relative Thursday July 17 1760 (Published in Evangelical Magazine)
9. Unknown relative Saturday September 27 1760 (Published in Evangelical Magazine)
10. Unknown relative Saturday December 13 1760 (Published in Evangelical Magazine)
11. Sister Reynolds March 8 1761 Regarding church discipline (Brooks, Pictures of the Past)
12. The Association May 1765 (Published in The Primitive Church Magazine 1860)
13. Henry Keene Saturday November 14, 1772 (NLW)
14. The Association (with deacons) (part) May 1786 (Brooks, Pictures of the Past)
15. The Association (with deacons) Sunday May 31 1789 (NLW)
16. Andrew Fuller October 1793 Scepticism about the BMS (Angus Library, also in Pickles' Life and Times)

(6 in the Evangelical Magazine, 4 in Brooks, 3 in the Angus Library, 2 in the NLW, 1 in The Primitive Church Magazinel; 1742-1751 - 3, 1758-1761 - 8; 1765-1793 - 5)

Letter to Andrew Fuller 1793

In October, 1793 Beddome wrote to Andrew Fuller. The letter is in the Angus Library. it is quoted in the work and remains of Fuller. He writes

Revd: and dear Sir

The increasing Infirmities of old age being in my 76th: or 77th Year together with some unaccountable and severe Trials I have lately met with have occasion’d such a Depression of Spirits that a Visit from my Christian Friends which us’d to exhilarate will give me little Pleasure as I am persuaded I can afford them none - I make shift being carried in a Sedan to occupy the Pulpit one part of the day & generally speaking feel the least Pain there. On the other part of the Day a Sermon is read and Time spent in Prayer.

I fear least your propos’d Collection would fall greatly short of your Expectation partly because We are behind hand thro’ some unavoidable Expenses partly in that our Auditory lying wide You would have but about half a Congregation. Lastly, because We have few very few open-hearted Persons amongst us - It would perhaps answer much better if put of (sic) to some Sabbath in the Summer When Notice might be previously giv’n - especially as settling Matters with respect to our own Finances is intended at Christmas and this a previous Collection would postpone if not absolutely prevent.

To conclude for I begin to be very much [afraid] I think your Scheme considering the Paucity of well qualified Ministers hath a very unfavourable Aspect with respect to destitute Churches at home, where Charity ought to begin. I had the Pleasure once to see and hear Mr. Carey. It struck me that he was the most suitable Person in the Kingdom, at least who I knew, to supply my Place & make up my great Deficiencees when either disabled or remov’d. A different Plan is form’d and pursued and I fear that the great and good Man tho influenced by the most excellent Motives will meet with a Disappointment. However, God hath his Ends and whoever is disappointed he will not, he cannot be so. My unbelieving Heart is ready to suggest with the Jews of old that the time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built. I have said all that my present State of Body and Mind will permit & therefore with sincere Respects to Mrs. Wallis if living & intreating a particular Remembrance in your Prayers I subscribe.

Your affectionate but much afflicted Brother Benj: Beddome

Bourton 10: 2: 1793

Fuller refers to Beddome

In the works of Andrew Fuller there is an item headed
LXIX. THE YOUNG MINISTER EXHORTED TO MAKE FULL PROOF OF HIS MINISTRY.
It is a sketch of a sermon addressed "to the Students of the Stepney Academical Institution" taking the text "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand." (2 Tim. 3:5, 6).

He talks about
(1) The Work Itself to which you are devoted.

(2) The DUTIES INCULCATED AS NECESSARY TO THE DISCHARGE OF THE MINISTRY. These will be found to consist in four things:

1. Vigilance

2. Patience

3. Activity in the great work of evangelizing men

4. Fidelity in discharging your trust

He then says

"But here allow me to be a little more particular. If you would make full proof of your ministry you must attend

(1) To personal religion.—This is often inculcated by the apostle.—"Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock."—"Take need to thyself and to thy doctrine," &c. Many people will take our personal religion for granted; as though a man who teaches others must needs be religious himself: but woe unto us if we reason in this way. Tremble at the idea of being & graceless minister —a character, it is to be feared, not very unfrequent! To what is it owing that some of our churches have been prejudiced against an educated ministry? I may be told to their ignorance; and in part it is so; but in part it is owing to other causes. The lightness, the vanity, the foppery, and the irreligion of some young men have produced not only this effect, but an abhorrence of the very worship of God, as by them administered. Who were ever known to be prejudiced against a Pearce, a Francis, or a Beddome, on account of their education? If there were individuals of this description, let them be disregarded as ignorant, and let them be told that vicious characters are found among the uneducated as well as the educated. But be it your concern, my dear young men, to shun these evils. The instructions which you receive, if consecrated to Christ, will be a blessing to you; but, if your object be to shine before men, they will be a curse. ...