When Socinianism was at the height of its power, Andrew Fuller challenged it in its self-professed point of greatest strength --the virtue encouraged by its principles of theistic rationality. Do the extended implications of its principles compare favorably with Calvinism in the development of virtue? Using their own writings and the admissions they make concerning piety and virtue among Socinians, Fuller compared both systems in their tendency to convert profligates to a life of holiness, to convert professed unbelievers, their development of a standard of morality, to encourage love to God, candor and benevolence toward men, encourage humility and charity, promote love for Christ and veneration of Scripture, develop happiness, cheerfulness, gratitude, obedience, and heavenly-mindedness in the followers of the respective systems. If challenged that he is being judgmental and has focused on subjective criteria, Fuller replied that he is merely engaging the Socinians at the place where they have invited investigation. Fuller intended to lay bare the emptiness of the Socinian boast to virtue. The work first was published in 1793.

Internationally recognised for his scholarship in the philosophy of religion and Christian Doctrine, and for his ecclesiastical connections as former Theological Secretary of the Geneva-based World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Reformed theologian Alan Sell has an established reputation amongst theologians, church and intellectual historians, ecumenists, and ministers of religion. This collection of Alan Sell's work on the Reformed and Dissenting traditions - which includes the Presbyterian, Congregational and United Reformed Church - spans key doctrinal, philosophical, ethical, historical and ecumenical topics. The author illuminates central themes within the history and thought of the Reformed and Dissenting traditions including: the catholicity of the Church and danger of sectarianism, the importance of church meeting, the centrality of the Cross in Christian thought, the need for a viable Christian apologetic. Alan Sell also includes the only modern study of Henry Grove and papers on Andrew Fuller and P. T. Forsyth, in whose work there is currently a revival of interest. With growing interest world wide in the Reformed family, which is the third largest Christian world communion, this book offers an invaluable resource.

Andrew Fuller (1754–1815), perhaps the most prominent Particular Baptist of the eighteenth century, has been the subject of much scholarly interest in recent years. No comparative study, however, has been done on the two biographies that give us much of our knowledge of Fuller’s life. John Ryland Jr. (1753–1826), Fuller’s closest friend and ministry partner, not only supervised the publication of Fuller’s works, but sought to give a careful accounting of his friend’s piety. But Ryland’s volume stood in contrast with the less-flattering portrait painted by publisher and pastor, J.W. Morris (1763–1836). This critical edition of Ryland’s 1816 biography provides contextual background and comparative analysis of the two volumes, and shows how Ryland amended his text for its 1818 republication in light of Morris' work. It also demonstrates the profound influence of Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) on Ryland’s biographical approach. While Edwards’s influence on Ryland and Fuller is widely known, this volume shows how Edwards’s biographical work, especially that of David Brainerd, influenced Ryland’s aim to promote “pure and undefiled religion” through recounting the life of his friend.