ANDREW FULLER AND THE CLOSE-POCKETED MERCHANT
THE Rev. Andrew Fuller, who was the first Secretary of the English Baptist Missionary Society, happened to visit Rochdale when the Rev. Thomas Littlewood was pastor of the Baptist church there. The fame of this distinguished preacher for the mission preceded him. A Rochdale gentleman was very anxious to hear him, but the idea of the collection somewhat chilled the fervor of his curiosity. It did not, however, extinguish it. He eventually accompanied a friend to the place of worship. On his way, he said: "I want to hear Mr. Fuller, but I shall be proof against all his appeals for money. I have come intentionally without a farthing in my pocket." Both listened with interest to the attached friend of Pearce and Carey, of Marshman and Ward, as he chose for his text: "Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty." Judges 5:23. Slowly the words are read by the sonorous voice of the great preacher, and solemnly they fall on every ear. Their portentous meaning is being elucidated. All eyes are riveted on the pulpit, and as particular after particular of the discourse is being clenched with the terrible anathema of the text on every one indifferent to the cause of God, the empty-pocketed gentleman looked uneasy. He at length can bear it no longer. In anxious tones he whispers to his friend, "Have you a pound? Lend it to me." The money was lent, and shortly afterwards found its way into the plate.—Baptist Flug.