Anecdotes from Church History: Part 2

It is related of this worthy man, remarkable for his ingenuousness and simplicity of manners, that on a tour which he made for the purpose of soliciting donations for the Baptist mission in India, he called on a certain wealthy lord in England, who was not personally acquainted with Mr. Fuller, but who had heard of his disinterested labors in the cause of missions, and of the report of his talents and piety. After he had stated to him the object of his visit, the lord observed, that he thought he should make him no donation; and Mr. Fuller was preparing to retire: when the former observed, that there was one man, Andrew Fuller, to whom, if be could see him, he thought he would give something for the mission. Mr. F. immediately observed, “My name Sir, is Andrew Fuller.” On this the nobleman, with some degree of coldness, gave him a guinea. Observing the indifference with which the money was presented, Mr. Fuller, looking the nobleman in the face with much gravity, addressed him with this interrogation—“Does the gift, Sir, proceed from your heart? If it does not, I wish not to receive it.” The nobleman, melted and overcome with this honest frankness, spontaneously took from his purse, and presented him ten guineas more, with this remark—“there Sir, this comes from my heart!”

It was an important idea with Mr. Fuller, to enforce this sentiment, that men should do good from a good motive. On a certain occasion, when he preached a charity sermon, after stating to his hearers their duty in the case, he warned them against giving from the opinion of thereby meriting the favor of God; and instead of flattering them in order to draw from them their money, he plainly stated to them, “If any of you propose to give with such a corrupt motive, I warn you of the danger of such conduct.”

Source: Elizabeth-Town Gazette, July 20, 1819, as seen here.