Constructing a Theology of Prayer

Andrew Fuller’s (1754–1815) Belief and Practice of Prayer

Matthew C. Bryant

• Publisher: Pickwick Publications
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN:
  9781725276383
  9781725276390
• eBook ISBN:
  9781725276406
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Denominations

Constructing a Theology of Prayer: Andrew Fuller's (1754-1815) Belief and Practice of Prayer fills a lacuna in Fuller studies. Bryant's work is the first full treatment of Fuller's theology of prayer, demonstrating the vitality of prayer for Fuller's ministry and theological reflection. Bryant constructs Fuller's theology of prayer through a systematic analysis of six major doctrines: the doctrine of God, the Son, the Spirit, Humanity, the Church, and Last Things. Each chapter explores both how Fuller's doctrine influences his belief and practice of prayer, and how belief and practice of prayer influence doctrine. The study convincingly demonstrates how each major doctrine finds prayer as its corollary. As Fuller states, "Holy practice has a necessary dependence on sacred principle."

1

Foundational Considerations for Fuller’s Theology of Prayer

The following chapter sets out to accomplish two things: (1) situate Fuller within his ecclesial context, especially as it relates to prayer; and (2) introduce Fuller’s practice of prayer. Situating Fuller within his ecclesial context means briefly surveying beliefs and practices regarding prayer from late-seventeenth and early-eighteenth-century Britain in general and specifically those within the Particular Baptist tradition and the Northamptonshire Baptist Association. Finally, introducing Fuller’s practice of prayer means surveying the pertinent literature regarding his thoughts and actions regarding prayer with respect to his private duty as a Christian and public duty as a pastor. The reader will be introduced to Fuller’s major works concerning prayer and his practice of prayer through a brief spiritual biography. Fuller’s ecclesial context and personal practice of prayer are foundational for considering his theology of prayer.

Fuller’s Ecclesial Context

The following section explores Fuller’s ecclesial context concerning basic beliefs and practices regarding prayer. Surveying the beliefs and practices regarding prayer in Britain’s broader ecclesial landscape in the late-seventeenth century sets the stage for understanding Baptist beliefs and practices regarding prayer from the late-seventeenth to early-eighteenth century.

The brief survey will progress chronologically from the Act of Uniformity 1662 to the mid-eighteenth century. Additionally, the survey will move from more general beliefs and practices regarding prayer to the specific beliefs and practices of the Particular Baptist tradition. The survey concludes by considering Fuller’s immediate context: the early years and figures of the Northamptonshire Baptist Association.

Prayer in Britain

In the late-seventeenth century, Britain was divided broadly into two ecclesial groups, Anglicans and Nonconformists. The Anglicans were those belonging to the Establishment, that is, the Church of England. The Nonconformists, or Dissenters, as they were lumped together, included Baptists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians.106 The divide between eighteenth-century Anglicans and Nonconformists may be traced to the seventeenth-century divide between Anglicans and Puritans. Horton Davies traces the divide between Puritans and Anglicans to the liturgical divide between the Magisterial Reformers, Luther and Calvin. He states,

The results of the Lutheran and Calvinist liturgical reforms are admittedly different . . . The real difference between Lutheran and Calvinist reforms in worship may be summed up as follows: Luther will have what is not specifically condemned by the Scriptures; whilst Calvin will have only what is ordained by God in the Scriptures. That is their fundamental disagreement. It is of vital importance in the history of Puritan worship, since the Puritans accepted the Calvinist criterion, whilst their opponents, the Anglicans, accepted the Lutheran criterion.107

In the seventeenth century, the divide between Anglicans and Nonconformists continued along these same lines and was accentuated by differing opinions regarding prayer. Davies states, “If the main theological difference between Puritan and Anglican worship consists in the attempt of the Puritans to model their worship more closely on the Biblical criterion, this resolved itself practically in the Puritan emphasis on free prayer over against the ‘stented forms’ of the Establishment.”108 Although some Puritans advocated for their own prayer books or various revisions of the BCP, their use and appropriateness was a source of controversy in the British Isles for nearly a century prior to the Act of Uniformity.109 John Bunyan’s dialogue with the several Justices during his imprisonment reflects the divide in belief regarding set and extemporaneous forms of prayer. The clerk read the charge against Bunyan. Among other items, Bunyan was accused of not atten...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Foundational Considerations for Fuller’s Theology of Prayer
• Chapter 2: The Father and Prayer
• Chapter 3: The Son and Prayer
• Chapter 4: The Spirit and Prayer
• Chapter 5: Humanity and Prayer
• Chapter 6: The Church and Prayer
• Chapter 7: Eschatology and Prayer
• Conclusion: Evaluation of the Multifaceted Approach
• Appendix 1: Chronology of Prayer Quotations or Entries Associated with Prayer in Fuller’s Diary, January 1780–July 1800
• Appendix 2: Timeline of Fuller’s Expositions, June 6–August 29, 1784
• Vita: Matthew C. Bryant
• Bibliography