Interest in the thought of Andrew Fuller (1754–1815), British Particular Baptist pastor and theologian, has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years. Energized by the ongoing publication of the critical edition of his works as well as a journal devoted to his theology, scholars are finding in Fuller’s thought a rich source for historical research. To date, most of that scholarship has focused on Fuller’s pastoral theology, apologetics, and theology of missions. Scholars agree that Fuller, influenced profoundly by the theology of Jonathan Edwards, effectively engaged several theological errors of his day and laid the theological foundation for the modern missionary movement.
Fuller’s political theology, however, remains largely unexamined. This neglect may be warranted since Fuller never wrote a major work of political theology. Nevertheless, Fuller’s sermons, tracts, and letters contain consistent pastoral warnings about the dangers of engaging in partisan disputes, and, as Michael A.G. Haykin has recently shown, his sermon, “Christian Patriotism,” continued the British Baptist legacy of viewing the church and the state as “cordial friends.” Although Fuller never intentionally systematized a distinct approach to politics, his writings disclose consistent themes that merit examination. When these writings are considered as a whole, a clear political vision emerges.
This paper will show that Fuller’s political theology attempted to balance two coinciding priorities. On the one hand, Fuller sought to prioritize the biblical call to submit to governing authorities and encouraged his fellow British citizens as well as missionaries living in foreign lands to support government as an institution ordained by God for the purpose of the flourishing of citizens. On the other hand, Fuller, informed by both an Edwardsean theology of the heart’s affections and Protestant biblicism, warned contemporaries to stand above partisan disputes both for the sake of their own spiritual health and for the cause of Christ’s kingdom advancing. Thus, for Fuller, Christian duty required heartfelt adherence to governmental institutions for the benefit of the temporal world but jealous avoidance of partisanship for the sake of Christ’s eternal kingdom.