---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,transcriber's ,note3 ,this version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects4 ,italics are delimited with the #8' character as italic4 ,footnotes have been moved to follow the paragraphs in which they are referenced4 ,the occasional ,greek word was printed without diacritical marks4 ,minor errors1 attributable to the printer1 have been corrected4 ,please see the transcriber's note at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,wesley',s ,,designated ,,successor4 ,illustration3 ,j ,fletcher_/,madeley ,,wesley',s ,,designated ,,successor3 ,the ,life1 ,letters1 and ,literary ,labours ,,of ,,the ,,rev4 ,,john ,,william ,,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 ,shropshire4 ,,by ,,rev4 ,l4 ,,tyerman1 ,,author ,,of 8,,the ,,life ,,and ,,times ,,of ,,the ,,rev4 ,,samuel ,,wesley1 ,m4,a41 ,,rector ,,of ,,epworth20 8,,the ,,life ,,and ,,times ,,of ,,the ,,rev4 ,,john ,,wesley1 ,m4,a420 8,,the ,,life ,,of ,,the ,,rev4 ,,george ,,whitefield1 ,b4,a420 ,,and 8,,the ,,oxford ,,methodists40 ,new ,york3 ,,phillips ,,and ,,hunt4 ,cincinnati3 ,,walden ,,and ,,stowe4 ,,mdccclxxxiii4 ,i dedicate this ,book to my ,wife1 ,who has shared my joys and sorrows for nearly thirty years4 ,l4 ,,tyerman4 ,,preface4 --- 8,jean ,guillaume de la ,flechere10 wrote ,robert ,southey1 8was a man of rare talents1 and rarer virtue4 ,no age or country has ever produced a man of more fervent piety1 or more perfect charity2 no ,church has ever possessed a more apostolic minister4 ,he was a man of whom ,methodism may well be proud1 as the most able of its defenders2 and whom the ,church of ,england may hold in remembrance1 as one of the most pious and excellent of her sons40 8,fletcher was a saint10 said ,isaac ,taylor1 8as unearthly a being as could tread the earth at all40 8,fletcher10 remarked ,robert ,hall1 8is a seraph who burns with the ardour of divine love4 ,spurning the fetters of mortality1 he almost habitually seems to have anticipated the rapture of the beatific vision40 ,dr4 ,dixon1 one of the greatest of ,methodist preachers1 observed1 8,i conceive ,fletcher to be the most holy man who has been upon earth since the apostolic age40 ,no apology is needed for publishing the life of such a man1 unless it can be shown that a life worthy of him is already in existence4 ,excepting the brief and exceedingly imperfect biography by the ,rev4 ,robert ,cox1 in #ahbb1 only two ,lives of ,fletcher have been published since his death1 ninety-seven years ago2 namely1 ,wesley's in #aghf1 and ,benson's in #ahjd4 ,it is true that1 in #agij1 the ,rev4 ,joshua ,gilpin1 ,vicar of ,rockwardine1 appended twenty-nine biographical 8,notes0 to different chapters of ,fletcher's 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul20 but the facts they contained1 in addition to those which ,wesley had already given1 were not many4 ,a year later1 in #agia1 the ,rev4 ,melville ,horne1 ,curate of ,madeley1 published 8,posthumous ,pieces of the late ,rev4 ,john ,william ,de ,la ,flechere10 a volume of #dce pages1 nearly #djj of which are filled with ,fletcher's ,letters to his friends4 ,this volume has been of great service to me in the present work4 ,many quotations are made from it1 and are indicated by the footnotes1 8,letters1 #agia40 ,when ,fletcher died1 some of his admirers wished ,mr4 ,ireland to be his biographer2 others desired ,fletcher's widow to undertake the task4 ,both of them judiciously declined4 ,wesley was then fixed upon4 ,he asked ,mr4 ,ireland to supply him with materials1 but ,mr4 ,ireland refused3 ,mrs4 ,fletcher1 however1 rendered him important help4 ,in unpublished letters to ,sarah ,crosby1 she writes3-- 8,mr4 ,ireland knew and loved my dear husband as scarcely any other person did2 and if he chooses to print a journal of their travels and of the great spiritual labours of which he was an eye-witness1 it would not be wrong4 ,but this is not his intention4 ,he only wishes to gather materials for me4 ,with a good deal of labour1 ,i have collected some sweet fragments1 on different subjects1 from little pocket-books1 but ,i have handed them to ,mr4 ,wesley1 who1 however1 tells me he has done nothing towards the ,life1 and that he has enough to occupy his time for a year to come4 ,indeed1 he seems to be in doubt whether he will be able to write the ,life at all4 ,i hope the accounts ,i have given him will not be shortened2 if they be1 ,i shall repent that ,i did not print them myself40 ,this was written on ,june #bj1 #aghf1 and shows that ten months after ,fletcher's death1 ,wesley had not even begun ,fletcher's biography4 ,fourteen weeks afterwards1 he made a start4 ,an extract from his journal is worth quoting3-- 8#aghf4 ,september #be4 ,monday4 ,we took coach0 at ,bristol1 8in the afternoon2 and on ,tuesday morning reached ,london4 ,i now applied myself in earnest to the writing of ,mr4 ,fletcher's ,life1 having procured the best materials ,i could4 ,to this ,i dedicated all the time ,i could spare till ,november1 from five in the morning till eight at night4 ,these are my studying hours2 ,i cannot write longer in a day without hurting my eyes40 ,for little more than a month the venerable biographer1 now in the eighty-fourth year of his age1 devoted all the time he 8could spare0 in preparing the ,life of one whom he pronounced the most 8unblameable man1 in every respect1 that1 within four-score years10 he had 8found either in ,europe or ,america60 ,the biography was finished in the month of ,november1 and in ,december was published with the title 8,a ,short ,account of the ,life and ,death of the ,rev4 ,john ,fletcher4 ,by the ,rev4 ,john ,wesley4 ,sequor1 non passibus quis4 ,london1 #aghf40 ,it certainly was a 8,short ,account10--a #abmo volume of #bbg pages1 which would have been much smaller if the type and the space between the lines had been different4 ,this was the first ,life of ,wesley's greatest friend1 and his 8,designated ,successor86 ,the veteran was far too busy to do justice to his great 8helper40 ,eighteen years elapsed before another and larger ,life was given to the public4 ,this was undertaken in #ahja by the ,rev4 ,joseph ,benson1 at the request of ,fletcher's widow1 and of the ,methodist ,conference of that year4 ,in #ahjd it was published with the following title3--8,the ,life of the ,rev4 ,john ,w4 de la ,flechere1 compiled from the ,narratives of the ,reverend ,mr4 ,wesley2 the ,biographical ,notes of the ,reverend ,mr4 ,gilpin2 from his own ,letters2 and other ,authentic ,documents1 many of which were never before published4 ,by ,joseph ,benson40 ,this is the only ,life of ,fletcher which1 in a separate form1 has been circulated during the last seventy-eight years4 ,of course1 during this long period of nearly fourscore years1 many new facts and incidents concerning ,fletcher have come to light2 and1 among these new biographical materials1 special mention must be made of the ,fletcher ,,mss4 deposited in the ,wesleyan ,mission ,house1 ,london1 in #ahfb4 ,since then1 the ,methodist 8,committee on ,book ,affairs0 has repeatedly expressed the opinion that a new ,life of ,fletcher ought to be prepared1 and1 at least1 two of the foremost men in ,methodism have been requested to undertake the work4 ,one of the two is dead1 and the other seems to have as much literary labour in hand as he is able to accomplish4 ,under such circumstances1 ,i have had the temerity to attempt the task4 ,i have carefully used all the biographical matter that ,i have found in the 8,short ,account0 by ,wesley2 in the ,letters published by ,melville ,horne2 in ,gilpin's 8,notes20 in the ,life by ,benson2 in the ,fletcher ,,mss41 just mentioned2 in other ,,mss4 belonging to myself2 in ,,mss4 kindly lent to me2 and in all the ,methodist and other publications relating to ,fletcher with which ,i am acquainted4 ,i have no artistic talent2 and if ,i had1 ,i should not employ it in writing biographies4 ,in such publications ,i am only desirous to see the man1 not the artist's drapery4 ,i want to know his doings1 sayings1 and sufferings1 rather than to read philosophic discourses concerning them4 ,my aim1 therefore1 from first to last1 has been to let ,fletcher speak for himself4 ,his ,letters are invaluable2 the man who can read them without being profited is greatly to be pitied4 ,the extracts from his sermons show how the first ,methodists used to preach4 ,the chapters respecting the ,calvinian controversy may1 to some readers1 be somewhat dry1 but they could not be omitted1 because that controversy was the great event in ,fletcher's life1 and hastened his death4 ,besides1 it was by his publications on this subject that he rendered service to ,wesley and the ,methodist movement1 which neither ,wesley himself nor any other of ,wesley's friends could have furnished4 ,i have refrained from discussing the truths which ,fletcher's pen defended2 but ,i have said enough to indicate what the doctrines were which created ,methodism1 and which alone can perpetuate its spiritual life and power4 ,the portrait of ,fletcher is taken from an exceedingly scarce engraving1 in the ,methodist ,museum1 at ,centenary ,hall1 ,london4 ,i think ,i may say1 without exposing myself to the charge of arrogance or conceit1 that1 in this volume1 the reader will find all the facts of any importance that are known concerning ,fletcher1 and that here1 more than in any previous publication1 is illustrated the intellectual and saintly character of one of the holiest men that ever lived4 ,l4 ,,tyerman4 ,,stanhope ,,house1 ,,clapham ,,park1 ,s4,w4 ,october #g1 #ahhb4 ,,general ,,contents --- ,,introduction4 ,,page ,wesley requests ,fletcher to be his successor--,others who might have been designated #a-c ,,chapter ,i4 ,,from ,,fletcher',s ,,birth ,,to ,,his ,,coming ,,to ,,england ,,in #ageb4 ,parentage--,birthplace--,early piety--,remarkable deliverances from danger---,education at ,geneva--,removed to ,lentzburg--,wishes to be a soldier #d-i ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,from ,,his ,,coming ,,to ,,england ,,to ,,his ,,ordination1 #ageb-ageg4 ,arrives in ,london-,admitted to ,mr4 ,burchell's school--,becomes tutor to sons of ,thomas ,hill1 ,esq4--,letter to his brother ,henry--,introduced to ,methodists--,his conversion--,a millenarian--,a ,catechumen--,acquaintance with ,mr4 ,vaughan--,richard ,edwards1 his class-leader--,letters to ,wesley--,his ordination #aj-bg ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,from ,,his ,,ordination ,,to ,,his ,,settlement ,,at ,,madeley1 #ageg-agfj4 ,a favourite among the first ,methodists--,preaches in ,shropshire--,letter to ,wesley--,thomas ,walsh--,letter to his class-leader--,introduced to ,lady ,huntingdon--,preaching to ,french prisoners--,letter to ,charles ,wesley--,letter to ,sarah ,ryan--,christian ,perfection--,fletcher and his foes--,proposal to go to the ,west ,indies--,death of ,thomas ,walsh--,letter to ,charles ,wesley--,a ,convert--,conversion of ,mr4 ,richard ,hill--,temptation--,letters to ,charles ,wesley--,dorothy ,furley--,visits ,lady ,huntingdon--,her ladyship's proposal--,fletcher's first published sermon--,earl ,ferrars--,glorious services at ,everton--,choosing a benefice--,letters to ,lady ,huntingdon--,commencement of ministry at ,madeley #bh-fj ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,first ,,two ,,years ,,at ,,madeley1 #agfj-agfb4 ,madeley--,branded a ,methodist--,increasing labours--,madeley ,wood and ,coalbrook ,dale--,rev4 ,mr4 ,prothero's sermon--,the publicans--,fletcher's first sermons at ,madeley--,mary ,matthews--,answers to an objection--8,the ,rock ,church0--,letter to a ,papist--,persecutions--,letter to ,rev4 ,mr4 ,hutton--,testimony of ,rev4 ,mr4 ,gilpin #fa-hc ,,chapter ,v4 ,,three ,,quiet ,,successful ,,years4 #agfb-agfe4 ,fanaticism among the ,london ,methodists--,rules of ,fletcher's ,methodist ,societies--,a troublesome member--,a quiet year--,reasons for and against matrimony--,the furious butcher--,letters to ,miss ,hatton--,wesley's first visit to ,madeley--,simplicity of living--,alexander ,mather--,fletcher at ,breedon--,fletcher's first pastoral letter--,fletcher and his relatives #hd-aje ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,two ,,years ,,more4 #agff-agfg4 ,fletcher depressed--,rejoicing on account of other men's success--,letters to ,miss ,hatton and ,miss ,ireland--,thanks for a present--,an excursion to ,brighton1 etc4--,pastoral letter--,miss ,hatton dying--,letter to ,whitefield--,lady ,huntingdon at ,madeley--,captain ,scott--,fletcher in ,yorkshire--,letter to ,lady ,huntingdon--,rev4 ,cradock ,glascott--,trevecca ,college--,fletcher appointed chaplain of the ,earl of ,buchan--,james ,glazebrook--8,manifestations of the ,son of ,god0 #ajf-acj ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,trevecca ,,college3 ,,visit ,,to ,,switzerland1 ,,etc4 #agfh-aggj4 ,joseph ,easterbrook--,books for ,trevecca ,college--,letter on ,conversation--,expulsion of six students at ,oxford--,letter to ,whitefield--,opening of ,trevecca ,college--,letters to ,mr4 and ,miss ,ireland--,rev4 ,john ,jones--,mr4 ,john ,henderson1 ,b4,a4--,first anniversary of ,trevecca ,college--,rev4 ,walter ,sellon--,anti-,popery sermon--,joseph ,benson--,letter to ,mr4 ,ireland--,visit to ,switzerland #aca-afc ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,commencement ,,of ,,the ,,calvinian ,,controversy4 #aggj-agga4 ,letter to masters and students of ,trevecca ,college--,fletcher at ,trevecca ,college--,letter to ,rev4 ,david ,simpson--,wesley's ,doctrinal ,minutes--,second anniversary of ,trevecca ,college--,wesley's sermon on the death of ,whitefield--,letter of ,lady ,glenorchy--,joseph ,benson dismissed from ,trevecca ,college--,fletcher's unpublished letter to ,wesley--,fletcher resigns his office at ,trevecca--,important unpublished manuscript--,the storm brewing--,shirley's ,circular ,letter--,fletcher's 8,first ,check to ,antinomianism0--,shirley's 8,narrative0--,fletcher's ,letter to ,shirley--,fletcher's ,vindication of ,wesley's 8,minutes0 #afd-bje ,,chapter ,,ix4 8,,second ,,check ,,to ,,antinomianism40 #agga4 ,letters in the ,gospel ,magazine--,unpublished letter to ,joseph ,benson--,prevalent ,antinomianism--,richard ,hill's pamphlet respecting a conversation with a monk #bjf-bag ,,chapter ,x4 8,,third ,,check ,,to ,,antinomianism40 #aggb4 ,edward ,elwall--,unpublished letter to ,sellon--,letter to the ,dublin ,methodists--,richard ,hill's ,five ,letters--,fletcher's reply to them--,divine ,grace given to all--,good men doing the ,devil's work--,advices to ,arminians #bah-bcc ,,chapter ,,xi4 8,,fourth ,,check ,,to ,,antinomianism40 #aggb4 ,richard ,hill's 8,review of all the ,doctrines taught by the ,rev4 ,j4 ,wesley8--,richard ,hill's 8,six ,letters0 to ,fletcher--,rowland ,hill's 8,friendly ,remarks0--8,logica ,genevensis0--,wesley's 8,remarks on ,mr4 ,hill's ,review0--,unpublished letter by ,john ,pawson--,fletcher rebukes ,rowland ,hill--,absurdities of ,calvinism--,free ,will--,unpublished letter by ,richard ,hill to ,walter ,sellon #bcd-bec ,,chapter ,,xii4 8,,appeal ,,to ,,matter ,,of ,,fact ,,and ,,common ,,sense40 #aggb4 ,manuscript lost--,dedication--,doctrine of ,original ,sin--,colliers1 bargemen1 and iron-workers--,england's favourite amusements--,ten inferences #bed-bfb ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,wesley',s ,,designated ,,successor1 ,,etc41 ,,etc4 #aggc4 ,wesley requests ,fletcher to be his successor--,fletcher's reply--,wesley respecting ,fletcher and ,whitefield--,samuel ,bradburn visits ,fletcher--,correspondence in #aggc--,the penitent thief--,the earthquake--,fletcher's sermon on it #bfc-bgh ,,chapter ,,xiv4 8,,the ,,finishing ,,stroke10 ,,etc4 #aggc4 8,the ,finishing ,stroke0--8,the ,farrago ,double ,distilled0--,berridge's 8,christian ,world ,unmasked0--,letters by ,berridge--,richard ,hill desiring peace--,richard ,hill's 8,three ,letters0 to ,fletcher--8,creed for ,arminians and ,perfectionists0 #bgi-bic ,,chapter ,,xv4 8,,fifth ,,check ,,to ,,antinomianism40 #aggd4 ,toplady's letter to ,ambrose ,serle--8,logica ,genevensis continued0--,remaining differences--,fletcher answering ,berridge--,wesley on ,fletcher's 8,checks0--,lady ,huntingdon wishes an interview with ,fletcher--,fletcher's reply--,fletcher writing and weary #bid-cja ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,further ,,publications ,,in #aggd4 8,equal ,check to ,pharisaism and ,antinomianism0--,doleful picture--,letter to ,lady ,huntingdon--,saving ,faith--,the ,athanasian ,creed--,letters to ,j4 ,benson and ,c4 ,wesley #cjb-caa ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,publications ,,in ,,the ,,year #agge4 8,equal ,check to ,pharisaism and ,antinomianism continued0--8,scripture ,scales0--8,the ,fictitious and the ,genuine ,creed0--,the controversy has done ,fletcher good--,rev4 ,thomas ,reader visits ,fletcher--,christian perfection--,letter to ,j4 ,benson--,wesley dangerously ill--,charles ,wesley writes to ,fletcher--,fletcher's reply--8,checks to ,antinomianism0--,reconciliations--,dr4 ,coke's ,letter to ,fletcher--,letter to ,c4 ,wesley #cab-ccc ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,publications ,,in ,,the ,,year #aggf4 ,toplady--,fletcher's 8,answer to the ,vindication of the ,decrees0--,toplady attacks ,wesley--,fletcher answers ,toplady--,review of six years' work--,rev4 ,caleb ,evans' letter on ,wesley's 8,calm ,address0--,fletcher's 8,vindication of the ,calm ,address0--,mr4 ,evans' 8,reply0 to ,fletcher's 8,vindication0--,fletcher publishes 8,american ,patriotism0--,a ,public ,fast--8,the ,bible and the ,sword0--,the ,monthly ,review on ,fletcher--,government desires to reward ,fletcher #ccd-cec ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,correspondence ,,in #aggf4 ,fletcher's labours and abstinence--,again objects to become ,wesley's successor--,an excursion with ,wesley--,fletcher discouraged--,unpublished letter by ,j4 ,benson--,another work for the press--8,driving ,methodism and ,still ,mysticism0--,fletcher dangerously ill--,c4 ,wesley's hymn--,michael ,onions--,letters--,fletcher apparently dying--,an impromptu hymn--,wesley escorts ,fletcher to ,london--,another excursion with ,wesley--,second visit to ,berridge--,fletcher and ,venn at ,st4 ,neots--,charles ,greenwood--,fletcher resides with him--,letter 8to the parishioners of ,madeley0 #ced-cge ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,publications ,,and ,,correspondence ,,in #aggg4 8,the ,doctrines of ,grace and ,justice equally ,essential to the ,pure ,gospel0--,fletcher a millenarian--8,bible ,arminianism and ,bible ,calvinism0--8,the ,plan of ,reconciliation0--,another letter to his parishioners--,letter to ,w4 ,wase--,letters to ,rev4 ,v4 ,perronet and his daughter--,fletcher visited by his friends--,fletcher's letter to his bishop--,charles ,perronet dies--,fletcher's sojourn at ,stoke ,newington--,removes to ,mr4 ,ireland's1 at ,brislington--,meets ,henry ,venn--,attends ,wesley's ,conference--,rev4 ,david ,lloyd--,james ,rogers visits ,fletcher--,letter to ,rev4 ,v4 ,perronet--,unpublished letter to ,miss ,bosanquet--,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald--,letters to her and to ,mrs4 ,thornton--,preparing to leave ,england--,farewell letters #cgf-djh ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,a ,,long ,,retirement4 #aggh-agha4 ,journey to the south of ,france--,unpublished letter to ,miss ,bosanquet--,sermon concerning the ,new ,birth--,letters to ,rev4 ,mr4 ,greaves1 ,w4 ,perronet1 the ,wesley ,brothers1 and ,dr4 ,conyers--,the ,perronet estate in ,switzerland--,unpublished letter to ,mr4 ,power--,fletcher among children--,fletcher and his nephew--,messages to ,madeley--,preaching at an execution--,william ,perronet joins ,fletcher--,a perilous journey--,letter to ,mr4 ,ireland--,letters to ,madeley--,other letters--,trials in ,switzerland--,an attack of rheumatism--,letter to his curate--,national distress--,methodist meeting house at ,madeley ,wood--,w4 ,perronet's unpublished letter--,in a 8miserable lodging0--,loss of manuscripts--,religion in ,switzerland--,letters to ,madeley--,house of ,fletcher's nativity--,letters to ,w4 ,wase1 ,j4 ,owen1 and ,m4 ,onions--,joins ,mr4 ,ireland at ,montpelier--,return to ,england--,thomas ,rankin visits ,fletcher at ,brislington--,unpublished letter to ,miss ,bosanquet #dji-dej ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,literary ,,work ,,done ,,in ,,retirement4 8,la ,grace et la ,nature0--8,the ,portrait of ,st4 ,paul40 #dea-dei ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,the ,,first ,,three ,,months ,,after ,,the ,,return ,,to ,,madeley4 #agha ,affairs in confusion--,letter to ,wesley--,rev4 ,cornelius ,bayley--,correspondence with ,miss ,loxdale--,letters to ,wesley and ,t4 ,rankin--,attends ,wesley's ,conference at ,leeds--,joseph ,pescod's letter--,fletcher the guest of ,miss ,bosanquet--,a remarkable meeting at ,leeds--,sanctification--,visits ,sheffield #dfj-dgb ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,fletcher',s ,,marriage4 #agha4 ,letters to ,miss ,perronet and to ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald--,history of ,miss ,bosanquet--,her ,orphanage at ,leyton--,her fortune and her debts--,her removal to ,yorkshire--,she turns farmer and maltster--,debts and difficulties--,fletcher proposes to marry her--,fletcher on celibacy--,unpublished love-letter--,unpublished letters to ,miss ,bosanquet's uncle and her brother--,further correspondence--,settling affairs in ,yorkshire--,the wedding and letters respecting it #dgc-ejj ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,two ,,years ,,of ,,married ,,life ,,at ,,madeley4 #aghb-aghc4 ,how ,fletcher began the year #aghb--;,husband and wife go to ,madeley--,wesley visits them--,william ,tranter--,dr4 ,jobson and ,l4 ,tyerman at ,madeley--,letter to author of 8,the ,fool of ,quality0--,the ,methodists of ,dublin invite ,fletcher and his wife to visit them--,mrs4 ,fletcher's letter to ,wesley--,fletcher has an accident which disables him--,letter to ,charles ,wesley--,a new poem--,nathaniel ,gilbert and ,melville ,horne--,letters to ,mrs4 ,thornton and to ,john ,valton--,fletcher and his wife visit the ,dublin ,methodists--,their successful labours--,unpublished letter1 thanking them for their services--,unpublished pamphlet by ,fletcher--,fletcher begins ,sunday schools at ,madeley--,rev4 ,h4 ,venn visits ,fletcher #eja-ebi ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,last ,,days ,,on ,,earth4 #aghd-aghe4 ,dr4 ,coke and his friends begin the ,methodist ,missionary ,society--,fletcher one of the first subscribers--,unpublished letter by ,dr4 ,coke--,fletcher's unpublished letter to ,rev4 ,mr4 ,bouverot--,dr4 ,priestley--,fletcher's 8,rational ,vindication of the ,catholic ,faith0--,fletcher's 8,socinianism ,unscriptural0--,fletcher's ,millenarianism--,unpublished letters to ,mrs4 ,smyth and to ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald--,fletcher at ,wesley's ,conference at ,leeds--,sermons preached--,fletcher a peacemaker--,remarkable scene--,fletcher objected to--,enoch ,wood and ,fletcher's discourse on ,wesley's bust--,fletcher in his 8,sentry ,box0--,letter to his god-son--,rev4 ,charles ,simeon visits ,fletcher--,modified millenarianism--,letters to ,rev4 ,peard ,dickenson and ,rev4 ,melville ,horne--,mrs4 ,fletcher ill of fever--,letter to ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald--,fletcher ill of fever--,mrs4 ,fletcher's account of him--,last service in ,madeley ,church--,dying--,death and burial--,mrs4 ,fletcher's letter to ,c4 ,wesley--,wesley preaches ,fletcher's funeral sermon--,testimonies concerning ,fletcher--,inscription on his tombstone--,inscription on the tablet in ,city ,road ,chapel #ecj-ege ,,introduction4 ,,eighteen years before his death1 ,wesley wrote the following letter to ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley-- 8,january1 #aggc4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,what an amazing work has ,god wrought in these kingdoms1 in less than forty years6 ,and it not only continues1 but increases1 throughout ,england1 ,scotland1 and ,ireland2 nay1 it has lately spread into ,new ,york1 ,pennsylvania1 ,virginia1 ,maryland1 and ,carolina4 ,but the wise men of the world say1 #8,when ,mr4 ,wesley drops1 then all this is at an end6' ,and so it surely will1 unless1 before ,god calls him hence1 one is found to stand in his place4 ,for1 4 4 ,i see more and more1 unless there be one 1 the work can never be carried on4 ,the body of the preachers are not united3 nor will any part of them submit to the rest2 so that either there must be one to preside over all1 or the work will indeed come to an end4 8,but who is sufficient for these things8 ,qualified to preside both over the preachers and people8 ,he must be a man of faith and love1 and one that has a single eye to the advancement of the kingdom of ,god4 ,he must have a clear understanding2 a knowledge of men and things1 particularly of the ,methodist doctrine and discipline2 a ready utterance2 diligence and activity1 with a tolerable share of health4 ,there must be added to these favour with the people1 with the ,methodists in general4 ,for1 unless ,god turns their eyes and their hearts towards him1 he will be quite incapable of the work4 ,he must likewise have some degree of learning1 because there are many adversaries1 learned as well as unlearned1 whose mouths must be stopped4 ,but this cannot be done unless he be able to meet them on their own ground4 8,but has ,god provided one so qualified8 ,who is he8 ,thou art the man6 ,god has given you a measure of loving faith1 and a single eye to ,his glory4 ,he has given you some knowledge of men and things1 particularly of the old plan of ,methodism4 ,you are blessed with some health1 activity1 and diligence1 together with a degree of learning4 ,and to these ,he has lately added1 by a way none could have foreseen1 favour both with the preachers and the whole people4 ,come out in the name of ,god6 ,come to the help of the ,lord against the mighty6 ,come while ,i am alive and capable of labour6 #8,dum superest ,lachesi quod torqueat1 et pedibus me ,porto meis1 nullo dextram subeunte bacillo4' ,come while ,i am able1 ,god assisting1 to build you up in faith1 to ripen your gifts1 and to introduce you to the people4 ,nil tanti4 ,what possible employment can you have1 which is of so great importance8 8,but you will naturally say1 #8,i am not equal to the task2 ,i have neither grace nor gifts for such an employment4' ,you say true2 it is certain you have not4 ,and who has8 ,but do you not know ,him who is able to give them8 perhaps not at once1 but rather day by day3 as each is1 so shall your strength be4 #8,but this implies1' you may say1 #8a thousand crosses1 such as ,i feel ,i am not able to bear4' ,you are not able to bear them now1 and they are not now come4 ,whenever they do come1 will ,he not send them in due number1 weight1 and measure8 ,and will they not all be for your profit1 that you may be a partaker of ,his holiness8 8,without conferring1 therefore1 with flesh and blood1 come and strengthen the hands1 comfort the heart1 and share the labour of 8,your affectionate friend and brother1 8,,john ,,wesley40#a ,footnote #a3 ,dr4 ,whitehead's 8,life of ,wesley10 vol4 ii41 p4 #cee4 ,in all respects1 ,wesley's letter is remarkable4 ,he wished ,methodism to be perpetuated2 but he was convinced that this could not be done unless the ruling and administrative power could be confided1 not to the ,conference1 or to a committee of the ,conference1 but to a single person4 ,his description of the necessary qualifications of such a ruler is worthy of being studied4 ,especially ought ,methodist preachers and the ,methodist people all over the world1 and in all generations1 to notice the fact that ,wesley's first and pre-eminent qualification was that he who 8presided both over the preachers and people must be a man of faith and love1 and one who had a single eye to the advancement of the kingdom of ,god40 ,for thirty-eight years1 since he left the ,oxford ,university1 ,wesley's labours had been herculean and incessant4 ,his health had begun to fail2 so much so1 that1 only a few months before he wrote to ,fletcher1 his friends in ,london had become alarmed by signs of age and debility1 and had contributed to provide him a carriage in which to pursue those extensive and laborious journeys1 which hitherto he had made on horseback4 ,in ,edinburgh1 he had undergone a medical examination by ,dr4 ,monro1 ,dr4 ,gregory1 and ,dr4 ,hamilton1 after which he wrote3 8#aggb1 ,may #ah4 ,they satisfied me what my disorder was2 and told me there was but one method of cure4 ,perhaps but one natural one2 but ,i think ,god has more than one method of healing either the soul or the body40 ,under such circumstances1 it is not surprising that ,wesley wished to have in training his successor2 and he seems to have had no difficulty in nominating him4 ,his brother ,charles was living1 and1 among his itinerant preachers1 there was a small band of remarkable men1 including ,alexander ,mather1 ,thomas ,olivers1 ,george ,shadford1 ,john ,pawson1 ,thomas ,hanby1 ,william ,thompson1 ,thomas ,taylor1 ,john ,nelson1 ,thomas ,rankin1 ,christopher ,hopper1 ,joseph ,benson1 ,george ,story1 ,thomas ,rutherford1 ,richard ,whatcoat1 ,joseph ,pilmore1 ,francis ,asbury1 and others2 but all these were passed over1 and the man he desired and nominated to be his successor was the saintly ,swiss1 ,john ,william de la ,flechre1 ,vicar of ,madeley4 ,the character and the life of such a man must be worthy of attention4 ,wesley1 a keen judge of men1 thought him qualified to be the 80 of the ,methodists4 ,his reply to ,wesley's proposal need not be inserted here4 ,the position was the highest ,wesley could offer him4 ,was he worthy of it8 ,let the reader of the following pages form his own opinion4 ,enough has been said to justify the present attempt to delineate the man4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,from ,,fletcher',s ,,birth ,,to ,,his ,,coming ,,to ,,england ,,in #ageb4 ,,jean ,,guillaume ,,de ,,la ,,flech,,re was a descendant of one of the most respectable families in ,switzerland2 a family1 in fact1 which was a branch of an earldom of ,savoy4 ,after his marriage1 ,fletcher's wife found in his desk a seal4 8,is this yours80 she asked4 8,yes10 replied the poor country parson2 8but ,i have not used it for many years40 8,why80 8,because it bears a coronet1 nearly such as is the insignia of your ,english dukes4 ,were ,i to use that seal1 it might lead to frivolous inquiries about my family1 and subject me to the censure of valuing myself on such distinctions40#b ,footnote #b3 ,cox's 8,life of ,fletcher10 p4 #adj4 ,for some time the father of ,john ,fletcher was a general officer in the ,french army1 but1 on his marriage1 he retired from the service4 ,later in life1 he accepted a colonelcy in the militia of ,switzerland4 ,john1 his father's youngest son1 was born at ,nyon1 on ,september #abth1 #agbi4 ,his birthplace was a fine old mansion1 that had withstood the storms of centuries1 and1 like many of the ancient houses in ,switzerland1 was entered by a spiral stone staircase1 which opened into a spacious hall4 8,the house where ,i was born10 said ,fletcher1 8has one of the finest prospects in the world4 ,we have a shady wood1 near the lake1 where ,i can ride in the cool all the day1 and enjoy the singing of a multitude of birds40 ,from one of the windows of ,fletcher's ancestral home1 there was a magnificent view of hill and dale1 vineyards and pastures1 stretching right away to the distant ,jura mountains4 ,at a few paces from the chteau1 there was a terrace overlooking ,lake ,leman1 with its clear blue waters and its gracefully-curved and richly-wooded bays4 ,on the right hand1 at a distance of fifteen miles1 was ,geneva1 the cradle of the ,reformation2 on the left1 ,lausanne and the celebrated castle of ,chillon4 ,high up in the heavens were ,alpine peaks1 embosoming scenes the most beautiful2 and1 not far away1 was ,mont ,blanc1 robed in perpetual and unsullied snow4 ,not much is known of the early life of ,fletcher4 ,a few anecdotes concerning him have been preserved by his biographers1 and these shall be given in as brief a form as possible4 ,wesley relates that ,fletcher1 8in his early childhood1 had much of the fear of ,god1 and great tenderness of conscience40 ,one day1 when he was about seven years of age1 his nurse1 who had occasion to reprove him1 said1 8,you are a naughty boy4 ,do you not know that the devil is to take away all naughty children80 ,the maid's remark troubled him4 ,he fell upon his knees and began to pray1 and did not cease till he believed ,god had forgiven him4 ,his filial obedience was exemplary1 but1 on one occasion1 he1 undesignedly1 offended his mother1 whom he dearly loved4 ,the good lady was speaking in too warm a manner to one of the family4 ,young ,fletcher turned a reproving eye upon her4 ,she was much displeased with what she conceived to be unfilial forwardness1 and punished him4 ,with a look of tender affection1 he meekly replied1 8,when ,i am smitten on one cheek1 and especially by a hand ,i love so well1 ,i am taught to turn the other also40 ,the mother's indignation was instantly turned into admiration of her boy4#c ,footnote #c3 ,gilpin's 8,account of ,fletcher40 ,while yet a youth1 he had several near escapes from an untimely death4 ,once1 when walking upon a high wall enclosing his father's garden1 his foot slipped1 and he must have been killed had he not fallen into 8a large quantity of fresh-made mortar40 ,at another time1 when swimming by himself in deep water1 a strong ribbon1 which bound his hair1 became loose1 twisted about his leg1 and tied him 8as it were neck and heels40 8,i strove10 said he1 8with all my strength to disengage myself1 but to no purpose4 ,no person being within call1 ,i gave myself up for lost2 but when ,i had ceased struggling1 the ribbon loosed itself40 ,on another occasion1 he and four other young gentlemen agreed to swim to a rocky island1 five miles from the shore4 ,young ,fletcher and one of his adventurous friends succeeded in reaching the island1 but the cliff was so steep and smooth that they found it impossible to scale its heights4 ,after swimming round the islet again and again1 they concluded that their being drowned was inevitable4 ,immediately after1 however1 they discovered a place of safety2 and1 in due time1 a boat arrived and took them home4 ,the other three1 when only half way to the island1 were rescued by a boat just as they were sinking4 ,a still more remarkable deliverance from a watery grave was the following3 ,fletcher was a practised swimmer1 and once plunged into a river broader than the ,thames at ,london ,bridge1 and very rapid4 8,the water was extremely rough1 and poured along like a galloping horse40 ,he endeavoured to swim against it1 but in vain1 and was hurried far from home4 ,when almost exhausted1 he looked for a resting-place1 feeling he must either escape from the water or sink4 ,with great difficulty1 he approached the shore1 but found it 8so ragged and sharp that he saw1 if he attempted to land there1 he would be torn to pieces40 ,in his direful plight1 he recommenced swimming4 8,at last10 says he1 8despairing of life1 ,i was cheered by the sight of a fine smooth creek1 into which ,i was swiftly carried by a violent stream4 ,a building stood directly across it1 which ,i then did not know to be a powder-mill4 ,the last thing ,i can remember was the striking of my breast against one of the piles whereon it stood4 ,i then lost my senses1 and knew nothing more till ,i rose on the other side of the mill4 ,when ,i came to myself1 ,i was in a calm1 safe place1 perfectly well1 without any soreness or weariness at all4 ,nothing was amiss but the distance of my clothes1 the stream having driven me five miles from the place where ,i left them4 ,many persons gladly welcomed me on shore2 one gentleman in particular1 who said1 #8,i looked at my watch when you went under the mill1 and again when you rose on the other side1 and the time of your being immerged among the piles was exactly twenty minutes4'0 ,fletcher passed the early part of his life at ,nyon1 where he began his education4 ,with his two brothers1 he was then removed to the university of ,geneva1 where he was distinguished equally by his superior abilities and his uncommon diligence4 ,the two first prizes for which he stood a candidate he carried away from a number of competitors1 several of whom were nearly related to the professors4 ,he allowed himself but little time either for recreation1 refreshment1 or sleep4 ,after confining himself closely to his studies all day1 he would frequently consume the greater part of the night in making notes of what he had found in the course of his reading worthy of observation4 ,after quitting ,geneva1 he was sent by his father to ,lentzburg1 in the canton of ,berne1 where1 besides pursuing his other studies1 he acquired the ,german language4 ,on his return to ,nyon1 he studied ,hebrew1 and improved his knowledge of mathematics4 ,from early childhood1 ,fletcher loved and served his ,maker4 ,he himself relates3 8,i think it was when ,i was seven years of age1 that ,i first began to feel the love of ,god shed abroad in my heart1 and that ,i resolved to give myself up to ,him1 and to the service of ,his ,church1 if ever ,i should be fit for it2 but the corruption which is in the world1 and that which was in my own heart1 soon weakened1 if not erased1 those first characters which grace had written upon it40 8,from a child thou hast known the holy ,scriptures10 wrote ,st4 ,paul to ,timothy4 ,the same might have been said to ,fletcher4 ,his early acquaintance with inspired truth guarded him1 on the one hand1 from the snares of infidelity1 and preserved him1 on the other1 from many of the vices peculiar to youth4 ,it also qualified and emboldened him to reprove sin1 and1 with becoming modesty1 to remonstrate with sinners4 ,to illustrate this1 his biographers relate an incident which occurred when he was only fourteen years of age4 ,a lady and her three sons visited his sister1 ,madame de ,botens4 ,the sons quarrelled1 and the mother uttered a hasty imprecation4 ,young ,fletcher was shocked1 and1 instantly starting from his chair1 began to expound and enforce the apostolic admonition1 8,provoke not your children to wrath10 etc42 and then reminded his astonished auditress that her imprecation might be realized2 a vaticination that soon became a fact2 for1 on the same day1 the lady embarked upon the lake1 was overtaken with a tremendous storm1 and was brought to the point of perishing2 and1 soon after1 two of her sons were drowned2 and the third was crushed to death at one of the gates of ,geneva4 ,fletcher had wished to be a ,christian minister1 and his parents had wished the same concerning him2 but1 soon after the occurrence just related1 his plans of life were entirely altered4 ,he writes3 8,i went through my studies with a design of entering into orders2 but1 afterwards1 upon serious reflection1 feeling ,i was unequal to so great a burden1 and disgusted by the necessity ,i should be under to subscribe the doctrine of predestination1 ,i yielded to the desire of my friends1 who would have me go into the army40#d ,footnote #d3 ,arminian ,magazine1 #agid1 p4 #bai4 ,the friends here mentioned did not include his parents1 for they were strongly opposed to his turning soldier2 but now1 nearly at the age of twenty1 his theological reading gave place to the studying of the works of ,cohorn and ,vauban1 the great military engineers4 ,at this time1 ,portugal was sending troops to ,brazil1 to defend its interests there4 ,against the remonstrances of his parents1 ,fletcher went to ,lisbon1 there gathered a company of his own countrymen1 accepted a captain's commission1 and engaged to serve the ,portuguese on board a man-of-war1 which was preparing with all speed to sail to the ,brazilian coasts4 ,meanwhile1 he wrote to his parents for a considerable sum of money1 by means of which he expected to make a small fortune in the country he was about to visit4 8,they refused him roughly3 unmoved by this1 he determined to go without the cash40 ,whilst waiting1 however1 for the ship to sail1 the maid1 attending him at breakfast1 let the tea-kettle fall upon his leg1 and so scalded him1 that he had to keep his bed4 8,during that time10 says ,wesley1 8the ship sailed for ,brazil2 but it was observed that the ship was heard of no more40 ,wesley continues3 8,how is this reconcileable with the account which has been given of his piety when he was a child8 ,very easily3 it only shows that his piety declined while he was at the university4 ,and this is too often the case of other youths in our own universities40 ,fletcher returned to ,nyon1 but his military ardour was not abated2 and1 being informed that his uncle1 then a colonel in the ,dutch service1 had procured a commission for him1 he joyfully set out for ,flanders4 ,here1 however1 he was again defeated in his purpose to become a soldier4 ,peace was concluded2 his uncle died2 his hopes were blasted2 and the military profession was abandoned4 ,this1 in substance1 is all that is known of ,fletcher1 until he came to ,england1 as ,wesley says1 in #ageb4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,from ,,his ,,coming ,,to ,,england ,,to ,,his ,,ordination4 #ageb to #ageg4 ,,after the frustration of his hopes in ,flanders1 ,fletcher1 accompanied by other young gentlemen1 embarked for ,england1 for the purpose of acquiring the ,english language4 ,at the ,custom ,house in ,london they were treated with the utmost surliness4 ,of course their portmanteaus were examined1--never a pleasant operation1 but sometimes less politely done than at others4 ,in addition to this1 their letters of recommendation were taken from them1 on the alleged ground that 8all letters must be sent by post40 ,they went to an inn1 where they encountered another difficulty4 ,unable to speak ,english1 they were at a loss how to exchange their foreign into ,english money4 ,fletcher1 going to the door1 heard a well-dressed ,jew talking ,french4 ,the difficulty was explained2 and the ,jew replied1 8,give me your money1 and ,i will get it changed40 ,fletcher1 without the least suspicion1 handed the gentleman his purse1 containing #ij4 ,telling his friends what he had done1 they exclaimed1 8,your money's gone40 ,his friends were wrong4 ,before breakfast was ended the honest ,jew returned1 and gave to ,fletcher the full amount in ,english coin4 ,to assist him in the acquisition of the ,english language1 ,fletcher had been recommended to a ,mr4 ,burchell1 who kept a boarding-school at ,south ,mimms1 a village about four miles from ,hatfield1 in ,hertfordshire4 ,he was admitted into this establishment4 ,soon after1 it was removed to ,hatfield1 whither he also went4 ,here he remained with ,mr4 ,burchell about eighteen months1 and pursued his studies with great diligence4 ,he frequently visited some of the first families in ,hatfield2 and1 by his easy and genteel behaviour1 and his sweetness of temper1 he gained the affectionate esteem of all who knew him4 ,on leaving ,mr4 ,burchell's academy1 ,fletcher was recommended by ,mr4 ,dechamps1 a ,french minister1 to ,thomas ,hill1 ,esq41 of ,tern ,hall1 in ,shropshire1 as tutor to his two sons4#e ,it was whilst in the service of this gentleman that ,fletcher was converted4 ,the following is an extract from one of his letters to his brother ,henry1 at ,nyon3-- 8,the news of your promotion has given me great pleasure4 ,i feel a sincere satisfaction in the diligence with which you devote yourself to the good of society1 and that you prefer a life of labour to one of indolent and useless inactivity4 ,we may be instruments of some good in any condition of human life1 if we faithfully fulfil its duties2 and the more difficult our station may prove to be1 the more of satisfaction is likely to result from acquitting ourselves well in it4 ,the ambition which springs from this principle has nothing censurable in it1 provided that a view to the glory of ,god be its motive4 ,i delight to think that the advancement of the ,divine glory is your principal end2 in which case1 as your influence extends over the whole city1 the good you do may be very great4 ,you will find a thousand opportunities of glorifying ,god by your diligence1 integrity1 and disinterestedness4 ,endeavour to find or make occasions of this sort2 seize on them eagerly1 and shrink not from entering into the minutest details1 when the object is to do good to the bodies or souls of your neighbours4 ,imitate1 as far as circumstances will admit1 the charity of ,christ2 who went about doing good1 and disdained not to converse with the most wretched4 ,i dwell on this the more particularly1 because the vanity and pride which reign in our native town appear to me directly opposed to the spirit of charity4 ,if you rise above these1 you will conduct yourself as a ,christian1 whose sole object is to advance the glory of ,god2 and who thinks little of the esteem of man1 except as it may place him in a position to do more good in the world4 8,your recreations1 of which you have given me a brief sketch1 are doubtless innocent1 especially if they occupy no more of your time than a due attention to health1 and the wants of our nature demand4 ,although you have often reproached me with being too austere1 ,i am far from thinking that religion forbids the use of innocent recreations2 because1 being indifferent in themselves1 they become useful when they are necessary for the relaxation of the body or the mind4 ,i am not at all shocked at the tradition which informs us that ,st4 ,john sometimes amused himself with a partridge which he had tamed4 ,happy are they who1 as far as they are able1 endeavour to turn their own recreations to the advantage of others1 which may certainly1 if not always1 yet sometimes1 be done4 ,i sometimes polish shells with ,mr4 ,hill1 out of compliance with his wishes4 ,this used formerly to put me in a bad humour1 on account of the loss of time it occasioned4 ,but ,i begin to find that pious thoughts may sanctify an occupation as insignificant as even this1 and that a renouncing of one's own will from compliance with that of others is not without its utility4 8,i am now going to reply to that part of your letter in which you testify your surprise at the change which has taken place in my manner of thinking1 a change which appears to have struck you in the last letters which ,i wrote to my father4 ,you cry out against the severity of the principles which ,i have laid down2 and add that1 without being a prophet1 you boldly predict my giving way before long to enthusiasm and all manner of bodily austerities1 led on by the principles ,i have assumed4 8,i am the less astonished1 my dear brother1 that you should thus speak1 because it is the language of ninety-nine ,christians of the present day out of every hundred1 and because ,i myself for a long time thought like you on this point4 ,in a certain sense1 indeed1 ,i always thought highly of religion1 though at the bottom no one perhaps had less of it than ,i4 ,my infancy was vicious1 and my youth still more so4 ,at eighteen ,i fell into what may properly be termed #8enthusiasm2' for though ,i lived in many habitual sins1 yet because ,i was regularly present at public worship1 not only on the ,sunday1 but during the week1 ,i imagined myself religious4 ,i made long prayers morning and evening1 as well as frequently during the day4 ,i devoted to the study of the prophecies1 and to books of a religious character1 all the time ,i could spare from my other studies4 8,my feelings were easily excited1 but my heart was rarely affected1 and ,i was destitute of a sincere love to ,god1 and consequently to my neighbour4 ,all my hopes of salvation rested on my prayers1 devotions1 and a certain habit of saying1 #8,lord1 ,i am a great sinner2 pardon me for the sake of ,jesus ,christ4' ,in the meantime ,i was ignorant of the fall and ruin in which every man is involved1 the necessity of a ,redeemer1 and the way by which we may be rescued from the fall by receiving ,christ with a living faith4 ,i should have been quite confounded if any one had asked me the following questions3 #8,do you know that you are dead in ,adam8 ,do you live to yourself8 ,do you live in ,christ and for ,christ8 ,does ,god rule in your heart8 ,do you experience that peace of ,god which passeth all understanding8 ,is the love of ,god shed abroad in your heart by the ,holy ,spirit8' ,i repeat it1 my dear brother1 these questions would have astonished and confounded me1 as they must every one who relies on the form of religion1 and neglects its power and influence4 8,my religion1 alas6 having a different foundation from that which is in ,christ1 was built merely on the sand2 and no sooner did the winds and floods arise1 than it tottered and fell to ruins4 ,i formed an acquaintance with some ,deists1 at first with the design of converting them1 and afterwards with the pretence of thoroughly examining their sentiments4 ,but my heart1 like that of ,balaam1 was not right with ,god4 ,he abandoned me1 and ,i enrolled myself in their party4 ,a considerable change took place in my deportment4 ,before ,i had a form of religion1 and now ,i lost it2 but as to the state of my heart1 it was precisely the same4 ,i did not remain many weeks in this state2 the ,good ,shepherd sought after me1 a wandering sheep4 ,again ,i became professedly a ,christian2 that is1 ,i resumed a regular attendance at church and the communion1 and offered up frequent prayers in the name of ,jesus ,christ4 ,there were also in my heart some sparks of true love to ,god1 and some germs of genuine faith2 but a connection with worldly characters1 and an undue anxiety to promote my secular interests1 prevented the growth of these ,christian graces4 ,had ,i now been asked on what ,i founded my hopes of salvation1 ,i should have replied1 that ,i was not without some religion2 that1 so far from doing harm to any one1 ,i wished well to all the world2 that ,i resisted my passions2 that ,i abstained from pleasures in which ,i had once indulged2 and that if ,i was not so religious as some others1 it was because such a degree of religion was unnecessary2 that heaven might be obtained on easier terms2 and that if ,i perished1 the destruction of the generality of ,christians was inevitable1 which ,i could not believe was consistent with the mercy of ,god4 8,i was in this state of mind when a dream1 which ,i could not but consider as a warning from ,god1 aroused me from my security40 ,footnote #e3 ,the elder of these sons died on coming of age2 the younger became ,m4,p4 for ,shrewsbury1 and afterwards for ,shropshire4 ,in #aghd1 he took his seat in the ,house of ,lords1 as ,baron ,berwick4 ,the title still exists4 ,the old ,tern ,hall has long been called ,attingham ,house4--,debrett's 8,peerage0 and ,wesley's and ,benson's 8,lives0 of ,fletcher4 ,at great length ,fletcher here relates his dream respecting the final judgment1 and then continues3-- 8,for some days1 ,i was so dejected and harassed in mind as to be unable to apply myself to anything4 ,while in this state1 ,i attempted to copy some music1 when a servant entered my chamber4 ,having noticed my employment1 he said1 #8,i am surprised1 ,sir1 that you1 who know so many things1 should forget what day this is1 and that you should not be aware that the ,lord's day should be sanctified in a very different manner4' 8,the sterling character of the man1 his deep humility1 his zeal for the glory of ,god1 his love to his neighbours1 and especially his patience1 which enabled him to receive with joy the insults he met with from the whole family for ,christ's sake1 and1 above all1 the secret energy which accompanied his words1 deeply affected me1 and convinced me more than ever of my real state4 ,i was convinced1 as it had been told me in my dream1 that ,i was not renewed in the spirit of my mind1 that ,i was not conformed to the image of ,god1 and that without this the death of ,christ would be of no avail for my salvation40#f ,footnote #f3 ,the long letter from which the foregoing is extracted was first published in #ahbf1 in a 8,life of ,fletcher0 in the ,french language1 and printed at ,lausanne4 ,in the same year1 ,mr4 ,benson printed it as an appendix to the ninth edition of his 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,in #ahci1 it was inserted in the ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine4 ,the extract is partly taken from ,benson's translation and partly from that in the magazine4 ,about this period of his history1 ,fletcher seems to have become acquainted with the ,methodists4 ,wesley says3-- 8,i have heard two very different accounts of the manner wherein he had the first notice of the people called ,methodists2 but ,i think it reasonable to prefer to any other that which ,i received from his own mouth4 ,this was as follows3-- 8,when ,mr4 ,hill went up to ,london to attend the ,parliament1 he took his family and ,mr4 ,fletcher with him4 ,while they stopped at ,st4 ,albans1 he walked out into the town1 and did not return till they were set out for ,london4 ,a horse being left for him1 he rode after1 and overtook them in the evening4 ,mr4 ,hill asking him why he stayed behind1 he said1 #8,as ,i was walking1 ,i met with a poor old woman1 who talked so sweetly of ,jesus ,christ that ,i knew not how the time passed away4' #8,i shall wonder1' said ,mrs4 ,hill1 #8if our tutor does not turn ,methodist by-and-by4' #8,methodist1 ,madame6' said he1 #8pray1 what is that8' ,she replied1 #8,why1 the ,methodists are a people that do nothing but pray2 they are praying all day and all night4' #8,are they8' said he2 #8then1 by the help of ,god1 ,i will find them out4' ,he did find them out not long after1 and was admitted into the society2 and from this time1 whenever he was in town1 he met in ,mr4 ,richard ,edwards's class4 ,this he found so profitable to his soul that he lost no opportunity of meeting2 and he retained a peculiar regard for ,mr4 ,edwards till the day of his death40#g ,footnote #g3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher10 p4 #ag4 ,it was not1 however1 in ,mr4 ,edwards's class that ,fletcher found peace with ,god4 ,a few months after his decease1 a #ab mo4 pamphlet of sixty-four pages was published by his widow1 entitled 8,a ,letter to ,mons4 ,h4 ,l4 de la ,flchre1 ,assessor ,ballival of ,nyon1 in the ,canton of ,berne1 ,switzerland1 on the ,death of his ,brother1 the ,reverend ,john ,william de la ,flchre1 ,twenty-five ,years ,vicar of ,madeley1 ,shropshire40 ,in that letter it is stated1 that1 8from the time he heard the ,methodists1 he became more and more conscious that some inward change was necessary to make him happy4 ,he now began to #8strive with the utmost diligence according to his light1 hoping by much doing to render himself acceptable to ,god4' ,but1 one day1 hearing a sermon preached by a clergyman1 whose name was ,green1 he was convinced he did not understand the nature of saving faith4 #8,is it possible1' said he1 #8that ,i who have always been accounted so religious1 who have made divinity my study1 and received the premium of piety 7so called7 from the university for my writings on divine subjects1--is it possible that ,i am yet so ignorant as not to know what faith is8' ,but the more he examined1 the more he was convinced of the momentous truth4 ,he now became sensible of inbred sin1 and sought1 by the most rigorous austerities1 to conquer an evil nature2 but the more he strove1 the more he saw and felt that all his soul was sin40 ,mrs4 ,fletcher continues the narrative of his conversion by giving the following extract from his diary3-- 8#agee4 ,january #ab4--;,i received the sacrament1 though my heart was as hard as a flint4 ,the following day1 ,i felt the tyranny of sin more than ever1 and an uncommon coldness in my religious duties4 ,i felt the burden of my corruptions heavier than ever4 ,the more ,i prayed for conquest over sin1 the more ,i was conquered4 ,the thoughts which engrossed my mind were generally these3 ,i am undone4 ,i have wandered from ,god4 ,i have trampled under foot the frequent convictions ,god has been pleased to work upon my heart4 ,instead of going straight to ,christ1 ,i have lost my time in fighting against sin with the dim light of reason1 and the use of the means of grace4 ,i fear my notions of ,christ are only speculative1 and do not reach the heart4 ,i never had faith1 and without faith it is impossible to please ,god4 ,then every thought1 word1 and work of mine have only been sin and wickedness before ,god1 though ever so specious before men4 ,all my righteousness is as filthy rags4 ,i am a very devil1 though of an inferior sort1 and if ,i am not renewed before ,i go hence1 hell will be my portion to all eternity4 8,when ,i saw that all my endeavours availed nothing towards my conquering sin1 ,i almost resolved to sin on1 and to go at last to hell4 ,but1 ,i remember1 there was a sort of sweetness even in the midst of this abominable thought4 ,if ,i go to hell1 said ,i1 ,i will still love ,god there2 and since ,i cannot be an instance of ,his mercy in heaven1 ,i will be an instance of ,his justice among the devils2 and if ,i put forth ,his glory one way or the other1 ,i am content4 8,but ,i soon recovered the ground ,i had lost4 ,christ died for all1 thought ,i2 then ,he died for me2 and1 as ,i sincerely desire to be ,his1 ,he will surely take me to ,himself4 ,he will surely let me know before ,i die that ,he died for me4 ,but then1 ,i thought1 this may only be in my dying hour1 and that is a long time to wait4 ,but ,i answered thus3 ,my ,saviour was above thirty-three years working out my salvation2 let me wait for ,him as long1 and then ,i may talk of impatience4 ,does ,god owe me anything8 ,is ,he bound to time and place8 ,do ,i deserve anything at ,his hands but damnation8 8,so ,i went on1 sinning and repenting1 and sinning again2 but still calling on ,god's mercy through ,christ4 ,i was now beat out of all my strongholds of pride4 ,i felt my helplessness1 and lay at the foot of the throne of grace4 ,i cried1 though coldly1 yet ,i believe sincerely1 #8,lord1 save me6 ,give me justifying faith in ,thy blood6 ,cleanse me from my sins6' ,i seldom went to private prayer1 but ,i thought1 #8,perhaps this is the happy hour when ,i shall prevail with ,god2' but still ,i was disappointed4 8,on ,sunday1 ,january #ai1 #agee1 ,i heard an excellent sermon on1 #8,being justified by faith1 we have peace with ,god1 through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4' ,i heard it attentively1 but my heart was not moved4 ,i was only more convinced that ,i was an unbeliever--that ,i was not justified by faith--and that ,i should never till then have peace with ,god4 ,the hymn after the sermon suited the subject that had been treated of1 but ,i could not join in singing it4 ,i sat mourning1 whilst others rejoiced in the ,lord their ,saviour4 8,the following day1 ,i begged of ,god to show me all the wickedness of my heart1 and to fit me for ,his mercy4 ,i besought ,him to increase my convictions1 for ,i was afraid ,i did not mourn enough for my sins4 ,but ,i found relief in ,mr4 ,wesley's ,journal1 where ,i learned that we should not build on what we feel2 but that we should go to ,christ with all our sins and all our hardness of heart4 8,on ,january #ba1 ,i began to write a confession of my sins1 misery1 and helplessness1 together with a resolution to seek ,christ even unto death2 but1 my business calling me away1 ,i had no heart to go on with it4 ,in the evening1 ,i read the ,scriptures1 and found a sort of pleasure in seeing a picture of my wickedness so exactly drawn in the third chapter of the ,epistle to the ,romans1 and that of my condition in the seventh2 and now ,i felt some hope that ,god would finish in me the work ,he had begun4 8,on ,thursday1 ,january #bc1 my fast-day1 ,satan beset me hard4 ,i sinned grievously1 and almost gave up all hope2 ,i mourned deeply1 but with a heart as hard as ever4 ,i was on the brink of despair1 and yet continued to fall into sin4 ,in the evening1 ,i went to my friend1 ,mr4 ,b----1 and told him something of my state4 ,he strove to administer comfort1 but it did not suit my light4 ,when we parted1 he gave me some advice which suited me better4 #8,god1' said he1 #8loves you1 and if ,he denies you anything1 it is for your good4 ,you deserve nothing at ,his hands2 wait then patiently for ,him1 and never give up your hope4' ,i went home resolved to follow this advice1 though ,i should stay till death4 8,i had proposed to meet the ,lord the following ,sunday at ,his table1 and therefore looked out a sacramental hymn4 ,i learned it by heart1 and prayed it over many times1 and then went to bed1 commending myself to ,god with rather more hope and peace than ,i had felt for some time4 ,but ,satan waked while ,i slept4 ,i thought ,i committed that night in my sleep grievous and abominable sins4 ,i awoke amazed and confounded1 and rising with a detestation of the corruption of my senses and imagination1 ,i fell upon my knees1 and prayed with more faith and less wanderings than usual1 and afterwards set about my business with an uncommon cheerfulness4 ,it was not long before ,i was tempted to fall into my besetting sin1 but ,i found myself a new creature4 ,my soul was not even ruffled4 ,having withstood two or three temptations1 and feeling peace in my soul through the whole of them1 ,i began to think it was the ,lord's doing4 ,afterwards it was suggested to me that it was great presumption for such a sinner to hope for such a mercy4 ,i prayed ,i might not be permitted to fall into a delusion2 but the more ,i prayed1 the more ,i saw it was real2 for though sin stirred all the day long1 ,i always overcame it in the name of the ,lord4 8,in the evening ,i read some of the experiences of ,god's children1 and found my case agreed with theirs1 and suited the sermon ,i had heard on ,justifying ,faith4 ,i called on the ,lord for perseverance and an increase of faith1 for still ,i felt some fear lest this should be all delusion4 ,having continued my supplication till near one in the morning1 ,i then opened my ,bible1 and fell on these words1 #8,cast thy burden on the ,lord1 and ,he shall sustain thee4 ,he will not suffer the righteous to be moved4' ,filled with joy1 ,i fell again on my knees to beg of ,god that ,i might always cast my burden upon ,him4 ,i took up my ,bible again1 and fell on these words1 #8,i will be with thee2 ,i will not fail thee1 neither forsake thee2 fear not1 neither be dismayed4' ,my hope was now greatly increased1 and ,i thought ,i saw myself conqueror over sin1 hell1 and all manner of affliction4 8,with this beautiful promise ,i shut my ,bible1 and as ,i shut it ,i cast my eye on the words1 #8,whatsoever ye shall ask in my name1 ,i will do it4' ,so having asked perseverance and grace to serve ,god till death1 ,i went cheerfully to take my rest40 ,such is ,fletcher's own account of his conversion4 ,his widow added the following3-- 8,i subjoin what ,i have heard him speak concerning this time4 ,he still pleaded with the ,lord to take a fuller possession of his heart1 and to give a fuller manifestation of ,his love1 till one day1 when in earnest prayer1 and lying prostrate on his face1 he saw1 with the eye of faith1 our ,saviour on the cross1 and at the same time these words were spoken with power to his heart3-- 8#8,seiz'd by the rage of sinful men1 ,i see ,christ bound and bruis'd and slain2 ',tis done1 the ,martyr dies6 ,his life to ransom ours is given1 ,and lo6 the fiercest fire of heaven ,consumes the sacrifice4 8#8,he suffers both from men and ,god2 ,he bears the universal load ,of guilt and misery6 ,he suffers to reverse our doom1 ,and lo6 my ,lord is here become ,the bread of life to me4' 8,now all his bonds were broken4 ,his freed soul began to breathe a purer air4 ,sin was beneath his feet4 ,he could triumph in the ,lord4 ,from this time1 he walked in the ways of ,god1 and1 thinking he had not leisure enough in the day1 he made it a constant rule to sit up two whole nights in the week for reading1 prayer1 and meditation4 ,at the same time1 he lived on nothing but vegetables1 and on bread with milk and water4 ,one end of his doing this was to avoid dining in company4 ,besides sitting up two entire nights every week1 his custom was never to sleep so long as he could keep awake1 and he always took a candle and book with him to bed4 ,one night1 being overcome with sleep before he had put out his candle1 he dreamed that his curtain1 pillow1 and cap were on fire1 but went out without doing him any harm4 ,and truly so it was1 for in the morning his curtain was found burnt1 also a corner of his pillow1 and a part of his cap1 but not a hair of his head was singed4 8,some time after this1 he was favoured with a further manifestation of the love of ,god1 so powerful1 that1 he said1 it appeared to him as if his body and soul would be separated4 ,now all his desires centred in one1 that of devoting himself to the service of his precious ,master1 which he thought he could best do by entering into holy orders40#h ,footnote #h3 ,letter to ,mons4 ,h4 ,l4 de la ,flchre1 #aghf1 p4 #ac4 ,to complete the accounts of ,fletcher's conversion1 in #agee1 an extract from another letter must be added4 ,in that year1 writing to his brother1 he insisted on the vanity of earthly pursuits1 and then gave the following description of the change that had taken place in himself3-- 8,i speak from experience4 ,i have been successively deluded by all those desires1 and sometimes ,i have been the sport of them all at once4 ,this will appear incredible1 except to those who have discovered that the heart of unregenerate man is nothing more than a chaos of obscurity and a mass of contradictions4 ,if you have any acquaintance with yourself1 you will readily subscribe to this description of the human heart4 ,every unconverted man must necessarily be either a voluptuary1 a worldly-minded person1 or a pharisaical philosopher3 or1 perhaps1 like myself1 he may be all of these at the same time2 and1 what is still more extraordinary1 he may be so not only without believing1 but even without once suspecting it2 indeed1 nothing is more common among men than an entire blindness to their own real characters4 ,how often have ,i placed my happiness in mere chimeras6 ,how often have ,i grounded my vain hope upon imaginary foundations6 ,i have been constantly employed in framing designs for my own felicity2 but my disappointments have been as frequent and various as my projects4 8,if1 hitherto1 my dear brother1 you have beguiled yourself with prospects of the same visionary nature1 never expect to be more successful in your future pursuits4 ,one labour will only succeed another1 making way for continual discontent and chagrin4 ,open your heart1 and there you will discover the source of that painful inquietude to which1 by your own confession1 you have been long a prey4 ,examine its secret recesses1 and you will discover there sufficient proof of the following truths3 #8,the heart is deceitful above all things1 and desperately wicked2' #8,all have sinned1 and come short of the glory of ,god2' #8,the thoughts of man's heart are only evil1 and that continually2' #8,the natural man understandeth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god4' ,on the discovery of these and other important truths1 you will be convinced that man is an apostate being1 composed of a sensual1 rebellious body1 and a soul immersed in pride1 self-love1 and ignorance2 nay more1 you will perceive it a physical impossibility that man should ever become truly happy till he is cast1 as it were1 into a new mould1 and created a second time4 8,for my own part1 when ,i first began to know myself1 ,i saw1 ,i felt that man is an undefinable animal1 partly of a bestial and partly of an infernal nature4 ,the discovery shocked my self-love1 and filled me with the utmost horror4 ,i endeavoured for some time to throw a palliating disguise over the wretchedness of my condition1 but the impression it had already made upon my heart was too deep to be erased4 ,it was to no purpose that ,i reminded myself of the morality of my conduct2 it was in vain that ,i recollected the many encomiums that had been passed upon my early piety and virtue2 and it was to little avail that ,i sought to cast a mist before my eyes by reasonings like these3 #8,if conversion implies a total change1 who has been converted in these days8 ,why dost thou imagine thyself worse than thou really art8 ,thou art a believer in ,god and in ,christ2 thou art a ,christian2 thou hast injured no person2 thou art neither a drunkard nor an adulterer2 thou hast discharged thy duties not only in a general way1 but with more than ordinary exactness2 thou art a strict attendant at church2 thou art accustomed to pray more regularly than others1 and frequently with a good degree of fervour2 make thyself perfectly easy2 moreover1 ,jesus ,christ has suffered for thy sins1 and ,his merit will supply everything lacking on thy part4' 8,it was by reasonings of this nature that ,i endeavoured to conceal from myself the deplorable state of my heart2 and ,i am ashamed1 my dear brother1 that ,i suffered myself so long to be deluded by the artifices of ,satan4 ,god ,himself has invited me2 a cloud of apostles1 prophets1 and martyrs have exhorted me2 and my own conscience1 animated by those sparks of grace which are latent in every heart1 has urged me to enter in at the strait gate2 but1 notwithstanding all this1 a subtle temper1 a deluding world1 and a deceived heart have constantly turned the balance1 for above these twenty years1 in favour of the broad way4 ,i have passed the most lovely part of my life in the service of these tyrannical masters1 and am ready to declare in the face of the universe that all my reward has consisted in disquietude and remorse4 ,happy had ,i listened to the earliest invitations of grace1 and broken the iron yoke from off my neck40#i ,footnote #i3 ,gilpin's ,translation of 8,the ,portrait of ,st4 ,paul40 ,these extracts are long1 but they are important4 ,they contain all the known facts connected with ,fletcher's conversion4 ,in writing to his brother1 ,fletcher remarked1--8,at eighteen years of age1 ,i devoted as much time as ,i could spare to read the prophecies of the ,holy ,bible20 and it is a curious fact that1 in the year of his conversion1 he wrote a long letter to ,wesley1 in which he gave a synopsis of the writings of 8a great divine abroad10 who had 8spent fifty years in making himself perfectly master of the ,oriental languages1 and in comparing and explaining the various predictions scattered in the ,old and ,new ,testaments40 ,fletcher was well acquainted with this gentleman1 and had many times conversed with him on the subjects of his lifelong study4 ,substantially1 the young man had adopted the aged man's views2 and now1 in a condensed form 7filling1 however1 nineteen octavo printed pages71 he presented them to ,wesley4 ,at the time1 terrific wars were being waged1 and1 a month before the date of ,fletcher's letter1 the great earthquake at ,lisbon had occurred4 ,at such seasons1 devout men almost instinctively begin to study prophecies1 and hence no wonder that ,fletcher now felt more than ordinarily interested in what1 8for some years1 had often been the subject of his meditations40 ,he believed that 8the grand catastrophe of ,god's drama drew near apace10 and gave his reasons for such belief by referring first to ,nebuchadnezzar's dream1 8which is a rough sketch of the world's four universal revolutions20 secondly1 to ,daniel's vision of the four beasts2 and thirdly1 to ,daniel's vision of the ram and he-goat1 and the two thousand and three hundred days1 at the end of which the 8sanctuary0 was to 8be cleansed40 ,fletcher1 by elaborate calculations1 shows that this cleansing was to take place between the years #agej and #aggj1 and the following extract will indicate what1 in his opinion1 the cleansing meant3-- 8,god is now working such a work as has not been seen since the ,apostles' days4 ,he has sent some chosen servants of ,his1 both in these kingdoms and abroad1 who1 by the manifest assistance of the ,holy ,spirit1 have removed the filthy doctrine of justification by works1 and the outward ,christless performance of moral duties1 which pollute the sanctuary and make it an abomination to the ,lord4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is given1 and the love of ,god is shed abroad in the hearts of believers as in the days of old4 ,i own that the cleansing is but begun2 but this revolution#aj may1 in all probability1 be the forerunner of a greater4 ,god has called2 a few have obeyed ,his call4 ,the generality still shut their eyes and ears against the tender invitations of their ,lord1 and continue to pollute the sanctuary and to look on the blood of the ,lamb as an unholy thing4 ,shall not ,god carry on ,his work8 ,shall the creature still resist the ,creator8 and the arm of flesh be stronger than the living ,god8 ,not so4 ,he will not always strive with obdurate hearts4 ,what the gentle breathings of ,his ,spirit cannot perform1 ,he will do by war1 sword and fire1 plague and famine1 tribulation and anguish4 ,he is going to gird on ,his sword1 and ,his right hand shall teach ,him terrible things4 ,nations refuse the sceptre of ,his mercy2 what remains1 then1 but to rule them with an iron sceptre1 and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel80 ,footnote #aj3 ,meaning the war then raging4 ,fletcher concludes by arguing in favour of the doctrine1 that1 long before the general judgment ,christ will appear on earth a second time to work out ,his great redeeming purposes4 8,give me leave1 ,rev4 ,sir10 says he1 8to propose to you a thing that many will look upon as a great paradox1 but has yet sufficient ground in ,scripture to raise the expectation of every ,christian who sincerely looks for the coming of our ,lord2 ,i mean the great probability that1 in the midst of this grand revolution1 our ,lord ,jesus will suddenly come down from heaven1 and go ,himself conquering and to conquer2 for what but the greatest prejudice can induce ,christians to think that the coming of our ,lord1 spoken of in so plain terms by three evangelists1 is ,his last coming before the universal judgment and the end of the world80#aa ,footnote #aa3 ,arminian ,magazine1 #agic1 p4 #daa4 ,there cannot be a doubt that1 at this period of his life1 ,fletcher was what is commonly called a ,millenarian4 ,whether his views were right or wrong1 the reader must determine for himself4 ,when resident at ,tern ,hall1 ,fletcher attended the parish church at ,atcham1 a small village about five miles from ,shrewsbury4 ,here the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,cartwright was the officiating minister1#ab and was accustomed to catechise in public the children of his parishioners4 ,on one occasion1 he invited the adults who needed instruction to appear in the ranks of the catechumens1 and told them that to do so would be no disgrace to them4 ,all1 however1 except ,fletcher1 either thought that to stand among the young people would disgrace them1 or that further instruction in their case was not needed4 ,the accomplished young scholar from ,switzerland1 the tutor of the two sons of their county member1 had a lower opinion of his excellences than the village peasants had of theirs2 for1 leaving his seat with an air of unaffected modesty1 he took his place among the children1 and became a catechumen of the village pastor4#ac ,footnote #ab3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher10 #bnd edit41 p4 #cff4 ,footnote #ac3 ,gilpin's note1 in 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul40 ,at ,atcham1 ,fletcher became acquainted with ,mr4 ,vaughan1 an excise officer1 who gave to ,wesley the following account of his deeply-revered friend3-- 8,it was our ordinary custom1 when the church service was over1 to retire into the most lonely fields or meadows1 where we frequently either kneeled down1 or prostrated ourselves on the ground4 ,at those happy seasons1 ,i was a witness of such pleadings and wrestlings with ,god1 such exercises of faith and love1 as ,i have not known in any one ever since4 ,the consolations1 which we then received from ,god1 induced us to appoint two or three nights in a week1 when we duly met1 after his pupils were asleep4 ,we met also constantly on ,sunday1 between four and five in the morning4 ,sometimes ,i stepped into his study on other days4 ,i rarely saw any book before him1 besides the ,bible and the ,christian ,pattern40 8,our interviews for singing and conversation were seldom concluded without prayer1 in which we were frequently joined by her who is now my wife 7then a servant in the family71 and by a poor widow in the village1 who had known the power of ,god unto salvation1 and who died some years ago1 praising ,god with her latest breath4 ,these were the only persons in the village whom he chose for his familiar friends2 but he sometimes walked to ,shrewsbury1 to see ,mrs4 ,glynne or ,mr4 ,appleton4 ,he also visited the poor in the neighbourhood who were sick2 and1 when no other person could be procured1 performed even the meanest offices for them40 ,besides the godly friends mentioned in this interesting statement1 ,fletcher had another acquaintance at ,atcham1 whom he visited to be instructed in singing4 ,this gentleman supplied ,wesley with what follows3-- 8,i remember but little of that man of ,god1 ,mr4 ,fletcher1 it being above nine-and-twenty years since ,i last saw him2 but this ,i well remember1 his conversation with me was always sweet and savoury4 ,he was too wise to suffer any of his precious moments to be trifled away4 ,when company dined at ,mr4 ,hill's1 he frequently retired into the garden1 and contentedly dined on a piece of bread and a few bunches of currants4 ,indeed1 in his whole manner of living he was a pattern of abstemiousness4 ,meantime1 how great was his sweetness of temper and heavenly-mindedness6 ,i never saw it equalled in any one4 ,how often1 when ,i parted with him at ,tern ,hall1 have his eyes and hands been lifted up to heaven1 to implore a blessing upon me1 with fervour and devoutness unequalled by any ,i ever witnessed4 ,i firmly believe he has not left in this land1 or perhaps in any other1 one luminary like himself40#ad ,footnote #ad3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,these glimpses of ,fletcher1 at this early period of his life1 are too valuable and important to be omitted4 ,it is impossible to determine the exact date when he joined the ,methodist ,society in ,london1 but there can be no doubt that it was as early as the year #agef1 and probably a year or two earlier4 ,hence the following extract from a letter addressed to ,mr4 ,richard ,edwards1 the leader of the ,london class in which ,fletcher had been enrolled a member3-- 8,,tern1 ,october #ai1 #agef4 8,,dearest ,,brother1--,this is to let you know that ,i am very well in body and pretty well in soul2 but ,i have very few friends here1 and ,god has been pleased to take away the chief of those few by a most comfortable death4 ,my aged father also is gone the way of all flesh4 ,for some years1 ,i have written to him with as much freedom as ,i could have done to a son1 though not with so much effect as ,i wished4 ,but1 last spring1 ,god visited him with a severe illness1 which brought him to a sense of himself2 and1 after a deep repentance1 he died about a month ago1 in the full assurance of faith40#ae ,footnote #ae3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,fletcher1 at ,geneva1 had refused to enter the ,christian ministry2 now he entertained the most serious thoughts of devoting himself to it2 but before doing so he wrote to ,wesley1 with whom he had become acquainted4 8,,tern1 ,november #bd1 #agef4 8,,rev4 ,,sir1--,as ,i look on you as my spiritual guide1 and cannot doubt of your patience to hear1 and your experience to answer1 a serious question proposed by any of your people1 ,i freely lay my case before you4 8,since the first time ,i began to feel the love of ,god shed abroad in my heart1 which was1 ,i think1 when seven years of age1 ,i resolved to give myself up to ,him and the service of ,his ,church1 if ever ,i was fit for it2 but the corruption which is in the world1 and that which was in my heart1 soon weakened1 if not erased1 those first characters that grace had wrote upon it4 ,however1 ,i went through my studies with a design of going into ,orders2 but afterwards1 upon serious reflection1 feeling ,i was unequal for so great a burden1 and disgusted by the necessity ,i should be under to subscribe to the doctrine of predestination1 ,i yielded to the desire of my friends1 who would have me go into the army4 ,but just before ,i was quite engaged in a military employment1 ,i met with such disappointments as occasioned my coming to ,england4 ,here ,i was called outwardly three times to go into ,orders2 but1 upon praying to ,god that if those calls were not from ,him they might come to nothing1 something always blasted the designs of my friends2 and in this ,i have often admired the goodness of ,god1 who prevented me rushing into that important employment1 as the horse does into the battle4 ,i never was more thankful for this favour than since ,i heard the ,gospel preached in its purity4 ,before1 ,i had been afraid2 but then ,i trembled to meddle with holy things1 and resolved to work out my salvation privately1 without engaging in a way of life which required so much more grace and gifts than ,i possessed4 ,yet1 from time to time1 ,i felt warm and strong desires to cast myself and all my inability upon the ,lord1 if ,i should be called again1 knowing that ,he could help me1 and show ,his strength in my weakness2 and these desires were increased by some little success that attended my exhortations and letters to my friends4 8,i think it necessary to let you know1 ,sir1 that my patron often desired me to take ,orders1 and said he would soon help me to a living2 to which ,i coldly answered1 ,i was not fit1 and that besides ,i did not know how to get a title4 ,the thing was in that state when1 about six weeks ago1 a gentleman ,i hardly knew offered me a living1 which1 in all probability1 will be vacant very soon2 and a clergyman1 that ,i never spoke to1 gave me1 of his own accord1 the title of curate to one of his livings4 ,now1 ,sir1 the question which ,i beg you to decide is1 whether ,i must and can make use of that title to get into ,orders8 ,for with respect to the living1 were it vacant1 ,i have no mind to it1 because ,i think ,i could preach with more fruit in my own country and in my own tongue4 8,i am in suspense2 on one side1 my heart tells me ,i must try1 and it tells me so whenever ,i feel any degree of the love of ,god and man2 but1 on the other1 when ,i examine whether ,i am fit for it1 ,i so plainly see my want of gifts1 and especially of that soul of all the labours of a minister of the ,gospel--love1 continual1 universal1 flaming love1 that my confidence disappears2 ,i accuse myself of pride to dare to entertain the desire of supporting the ark of the ,lord1 and conclude that an extraordinary punishment will sooner or later overtake my rashness4 ,as ,i am in both these frames successively1 ,i must own1 ,sir1 ,i do not see plainly which of the two ways before me ,i can take with safety1 and ,i shall be glad to be ruled by you1 because ,i trust ,god will direct you in giving me the advice you think will best conduce to ,his glory1 the only thing ,i would have in view in this affair4 ,i know how precious is your time2 ,i desire no long answer2--persist or forbear will satisfy and influence1 ,sir1 your unworthy servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#af ,footnote #af3 8,thirteen ,original ,letters1 written by the late ,rev4 ,john ,fletcher4 ,bath1 #agia10 #abmo1 p4 #c4 ,wesley's answer to this important letter has not been preserved4 ,perhaps no letter was written4 ,wesley was now in ,london4 ,parliament met eight days after ,fletcher wrote to him4 ,public affairs were in a critical condition1 and1 no doubt1 ,mr4 ,hill would feel it a duty to be present at the opening of the session4 ,when he came to ,london to fulfil his parliamentary duties1 it was his custom to bring his sons and their tutor with him4 ,that ,fletcher was now in ,london is evident from the following letter1 addressed to ,wesley within three weeks after the date of his former one4 ,of course1 he would have an interview with ,wesley as early as possible1 and in all likelihood ,wesley1 at this interview1 not only advised him to be ordained1 but likewise dissuaded him from his purpose to return to ,switzerland4 ,there is no reference in the letter to ,fletcher's proposed ordination1 for1 doubtless1 that was a matter already settled4 ,fletcher had been attending sacramental services in ,wesley's ,london chapels2 and it had occurred to him that these services might be much improved1 and ,wesley himself considerably relieved4 ,to say the least1 the letter is full of interest1 and contains a hint which1 in large societies1 might be profitably adopted4 8,december #ac1 #agef4 8,,sir1--,when ,i have received the sacrament in your chapels1 though ,i admired the order and decency with which that awful part of the divine worship was performed1 ,i thought there was something wanting1 which might make it still more profitable and solemn4 8,as the number of communicants is generally very great1 the time spent in receiving is long enough for many1 ,i am afraid1 to feel their devotion languish1 and their desires grow cold1 for want of outward fuel4 ,in order to prevent this1 you interrupt1 from time to time1 the service of the table1 to put up a short prayer1 or to sing a verse or two of a hymn2 and ,i do not doubt but many have found the benefit of that method4 ,but1 as you can spare very little time1 you are obliged to be satisfied with scattering those few drops1 instead of a continual rain4 ,would not that want be easily supplied1 ,sir1 if you were to appoint the preachers who may be present to do what you cannot possibly do yourself1 to pray and sing without interruption1 as at a watchnight8 8,this would have several good effects3 #a4 ,experience1 as well as the nature of the thing itself1 shows every sincere seeker that1 as it is the fittest time to ask1 and the most ordinary to receive grace1 every moment ought to be improved to the best advantage4 #b4 ,continual praying and singing would prevent the wanderings of many1 who are not convinced of sin deeply enough1 or influenced by grace strongly enough1 to mourn and pray without interruption1 if they are left to themselves4 #c4 ,it would increase the earnestness of believers2 for though every one wrestles probably in his own heart both for himself and the congregation1 yet their prayers would certainly have more power if united1 and the general fire would increase the warmth of their affections4 #d4 ,in praying frequently for universal love1 as the remembrance of ,christ's bleeding love naturally directs us to do1 you would add for many the benefit and comfort of a lovefeast to the advantages that attend the ,holy ,eucharist4 #e4 ,if the prayers were especially calculated for those that receive1 is it not probable1 ,sir1 that they would be extremely encouraged to act faith1 to touch the hem of ,christ's garment1 to cast their burden upon ,him1 and to lay hold of eternal life1 if they heard their weak petitions supported by the fervent prayers of their brethren1 at the same time that they feed1 or are going to feed1 on the blessed signs of ,christ's body and blood8 8,it may be objected3--#a4 ,that some may prefer to pour out their souls before ,god according to their different frames1 whether it be deadness1 desertion1 joy1 overflowings of humility1 repentance1 love1 etc4 ,and so they might2 but ,i do not see how general prayer and singing would rob them of that liberty1 if they thought it more acceptable to ,god and beneficial to themselves2 and their praying in private would not hinder the bulk of the congregation from uniting with joy in the public service4 #b4 ,that this method might bring in a confusion greater than the advantages it seems to be attended with4 ,but could not prudence obviate this8 ,i am sure it could2 for ,i have seen that1 or something like it1 performed in a congregation of a thousand communicants without the least confusion1 and to the great edification and comfort of many4 8,but you are the best judge1 ,sir2 and if ,i take the liberty of giving you this hint1 to make of it what use you think fit1 it is because you said lately in the ,society that you heard willingly the observations of your people1 and were ready to follow or improve them if they were just and reasonable4 8,i am1 ,sir1 your unworthy servant1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#ag ,footnote #ag3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #agih1 p4 #ic4 ,within three months after this1 ,fletcher was ordained4 ,on ,sunday1 ,march #f1 #ageg1 he received deacon's orders from the ,bishop of ,hereford2 and priest's orders on the ,sunday following from the ,bishop of ,bangor1 in the ,chapel ,royal at ,st4 ,james's4#ah ,footnote #ah3 ,gilpin's 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul40 ,on the day he was ordained priest1 he hastened to ,snowsfields ,chapel1 to assist ,wesley in one of those heavy sacramental services referred to in the foregoing letter4 ,wesley writes3-- 8#ageg1 ,sunday1 ,march #ac4 ,finding myself weak at ,snowsfields1 ,i prayed 7if ,he saw good7 that ,god would send me help at the chapel1 and ,i had it4 ,as soon as ,i had done preaching1 ,mr4 ,fletcher came1 who had just been ordained priest1 and hastened to the chapel on purpose to assist me in the administration of the ,lord's supper1 as he supposed me to be alone4 8,sunday1 ,march #bj4 ,mr4 ,fletcher helped me again4 ,how wonderful are the ways of ,god6 ,when my bodily strength failed1 and none in ,england were able and willing to assist me1 ,he sent me help from the mountains of ,switzerland1 and an helpmeet for me in every respect2 where could ,i have found such another80#ai ,footnote #ai3 ,wesley's 8,works10 vol4 ii41 p4 #cgf2 and vol4 vii41 p4 #dae4 ,thus did ,fletcher begin his remarkable ministerial life in a ,methodist meeting-house4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,from ,,his ,,ordination ,,to ,,his ,,settlement ,,at ,,madeley4 #ageg ,,to #agfj4 ,,for three years after his ordination1 ,fletcher was without a ,church appointment4 ,how did he spend this interval8 ,wesley says3-- 8,he was now doubly diligent in preaching1 not only in the chapels at ,west ,street and ,spitalfields1 but wherever the providence of ,god opened a door to proclaim the everlasting ,gospel4 ,this he did frequently in ,french 7as well as in ,english71 of which all judges allowed him to be a complete master40#bj ,footnote #bj3 ,wesley's 8,works10 vol4 vii41 p4 #dae4 ,as might be expected1 ,fletcher soon became a great favourite among the first ,methodists4 ,almost at once1 he was the highly esteemed friend of ,miss ,bosanquet 7his future wife71 ,ann ,tripp1 ,sarah ,crosby1 ,sarah ,ryan1#ba ,thomas ,walsh1 and others1 whose ,methodistic fame will never perish4 ,after his death1 in #aghe1 ,mrs4 ,crosby wrote3-- 8,it is now eight or nine and twenty years since ,i was first favoured with ,mr4 ,fletcher's heavenly conversation1 in company with ,mr4 ,walsh and a few other friends1 most of whom are now in the world of spirits4 ,at these seasons1 how frequently did we feel-- #8,the o'erwhelming power of saving grace6' ,how frequently were we silenced thereby1 while tears of love our souls o'erflowed6 ,it affects me while ,i recollect the humility1 fervour of spirit1 and strength of faith with which dear ,mr4 ,fletcher so often poured out his soul before the ,great ,three ,one1 at whose feet we have lain in holy shame and silence1 till earth seemed turned to heaven4 ,i heard this heavenly-minded servant of the ,lord preach his first sermon in ,west ,street chapel4 ,i think his text was1 #8,repent1 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand4' ,his spirit appeared in his whole attitude and action4 ,he could not well find words in the ,english language to express himself2 but he supplied that defect by offering up prayers1 tears1 and sighs4 ,nearly about this time he saw ,miss ,bosanquet1 and began his acquaintance with her2 but1 although they highly esteemed each other1 they had no correspondence for above twenty years40#bb ,footnote #ba3 ,tyerman's 8,life of ,wesley10 vol4 ii41 pp4 #bhf1 #bhi4 ,footnote #bb3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher10 #b edit41 p4 #cbj4 ,fletcher still continued to be the tutor of the sons of ,mr4 ,hill4 ,during the sitting of ,parliament1 he was in ,london2 the remainder of the year was chiefly spent at ,tern ,hall4#bc ,whilst at the latter place1 he preached1 on ,june #ai1 #ageg1 for the first time in the church at ,atcham1 taking as his text1 8,ye adulterers and adultresses1 know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity against ,god80 8,a very bold beginning10 wrote his friend ,mr4 ,vaughan4 8,the congregation stood amazed1 and gazed upon him as if he had been a monster2 but to me he appeared as a messenger sent from heaven4 ,it was not soon that he was invited again to preach in ,atcham church1 but he was invited to preach in others2 first in ,wroxeter1 and afterwards at the ,abbey ,church in ,shrewsbury2#bd but ,i doubt whether he preached more than six times in the six months he stayed in the country4 ,on my saying ,i wished he had more opportunities of preaching1 he answered1 #8,the will of ,god be done2 ,i am in ,his hands4 ,if ,he does not call me to so much public duty1 ,i have the more time for study1 prayer1 and praise4'0#be ,footnote #bc3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,footnote #bd3 ,benson says1 8,he also preached twice in ,st4 ,alkmond's ,church in ,shrewsbury40 ,footnote #be3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,in the month of ,may1 #ageg1 ,wesley was in the north of ,england and ,fletcher was in ,london4 ,the following letter to ,wesley needs no further introduction3-- 8,,london1 ,may #bf1 #ageg4 8,,rev4 ,,sir1--,if ,i did not write to you before ,mrs4 ,wesley had asked me1 it was not that ,i wanted a remembrancer within1 but rather an encourager without4 ,there is generally upon my heart such a sense of my unworthiness1 that sometimes ,i dare hardly open my mouth before a child of ,god1 and think it an unspeakable honour to stand before one who has recovered something of the image of ,god1 or sincerely seeks after it4 ,is it possible that such a sinful worm as ,i should have the privilege to converse with one whose soul is besprinkled with the blood of my ,lord8 ,the thought amazes1 confounds me1 and fills my eyes with tears of humble joy4 ,judge1 then1 at what distance ,i must see myself from you if ,i am so much below the least of your children2 and whether a remembrancer within suffices to make me presume to write to you1 whose shoes ,i am not worthy to bear4 8,i rejoice that you find everywhere an increase of praying souls4 ,i doubt not that the prayer of the just has great power with ,god1 but ,i cannot believe that it should hinder the fulfilling of ,christ's gracious promises to ,his ,church4 ,he must1 and certainly will1 come at the time appointed1 for ,he is not slack1 as some men count slackness2 and1 although ,he would have all come to repentance1 ,he has not forgotten to be true and just4 ,only ,he will come with more mercy1 and will increase the light that shall be at eventide1 according to ,his promise in ,zech4 xiv4 #g4 ,i should rather think that the visions are not yet plainly disclosed1 and that the day and year in which the ,lord will begin to make bare ,his arm openly1 are still concealed from us4 8,i must say concerning ,mr4 ,walsh1#bf as he once said to me concerning ,god1 #8,i wish ,i could attend him everywhere1 as ,elisha attended ,elijah4' ,but since the will of ,god calls me from him1 ,i must submit1 and drink the cup prepared for me4 ,i have not seen him1 unless for a few moments three or four times before divine service4 ,we must meet at the throne of grace1 or meet but seldom4 ,oh when will the communion of saints be complete8 ,lord1 hasten the time1 and let me have a place among them who love ,thee1 and love one another in sincerity6 8,i set out in two days for the country4 ,oh may ,i be faithful2 harmless1 like a dove2 wise1 like a serpent2 and bold1 as a lion1 for the common cause6 ,o ,lord1 do not forsake me6 ,stand by the weakest of ,thy servants1 and enable ,thy children to bear with me and to wrestle with ,thee on my behalf6 8,oh bear with me1 dear ,sir1 and give me your blessing every day1 and the ,lord will return to you sevenfold4 8,i am1 ,rev4 ,sir1 your unworthy servant1 ,j4 ,,fletcher40#bg ,footnote #bf3 ,thomas ,walsh1 one of the most remarkable of ,wesley's ,itinerants4 ,to say nothing of his piety and usefulness1 ,wesley declared him to be the best ,hebrew scholar he had ever met4 ,he died two years after the date of ,fletcher's letter4 ,footnote #bg3 8,thirteen ,original ,letters1 written by the ,rev4 ,j4 ,fletcher1 #agia10 p4 #h4 ,there is no need to dwell on ,fletcher's humbleness1 as displayed in this letter1 for that was one of his chief characteristics to the end of life4 ,it may be added1 however1 that the letter furnishes fresh proof that ,fletcher was one of the godly few who were expecting the speedy appearance of the incarnate and glorified ,redeemer4 ,it is probable that his letter to ,wesley on prophecy had led ,wesley to advert to the same subject1 and that this was ,fletcher's answer to one of ,wesley's critiques4 ,three weeks after the date of this letter1 ,fletcher preached his first sermon in a church4 ,this was at ,atcham1 on ,june #ai1 as already stated4 ,as in the case of ,wesley1 churches1 however1 were soon closed against him4 ,to his friend and class-leader1 ,mr4 ,edwards1 of ,london1 he wrote3-- 8,i thank you for your encouraging observations4 ,i want them1 and use them by the grace of ,god4 ,when ,i received yours1 ,i had not had one opportunity of preaching2 so incensed were all the clergy against me4 ,one1 however1 let me have the use of his church--the ,abbey ,church at ,shrewsbury4 ,i preached in the forenoon with some degree of the demonstration of the ,spirit4 ,the congregation was very numerous1 and ,i believe one half1 at least1 desired to hear me again4 ,but the minister would not let me have the pulpit any more4 ,the next ,sunday1 the minister of a neighbouring parish lying a-dying1 ,i was sent for to officiate for him4 ,he died a few days after1 and the chief man in the parish offered to make interest that ,i might succeed him2 but ,i could not consent4 ,the next ,sunday ,i preached at ,shrewsbury again1 but in another church4 ,the next day ,i set out for ,bristol1 and was much refreshed among the brethren4 ,as ,i returned1 ,i called at ,new ,kingswood1 about sixteen miles from ,bristol4 ,the minister offering me his church1 ,i preached to a numerous congregation1 gathered on half an hour's notice4 ,i think the seed then sown will not be lost40#bh ,footnote #bh3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher10 #bnd edit41 p4 #ch4 ,early in the year #ageh1 ,wesley introduced ,fletcher to the ,countess of ,huntingdon4 ,her ladyship wrote3-- 8#ageh1 ,march #ai4 ,i have seen ,mr4 ,fletcher1 and was both pleased and refreshed by the interview4 ,he was accompanied by ,mr4 ,wesley1 who had frequently mentioned him in terms of high commendation1 as had ,mr4 ,whitefield1 ,mr4 ,charles ,wesley1 and others1 so that ,i was anxious to become acquainted with one so devoted1 and who appears to glory in nothing1 save in the cross of our ,divine ,lord and ,master4 ,hearing that he preached in ,french1 his native language1 ,i mentioned the case of the ,french prisoners at ,tunbridge4 ,may the ,lord of the harvest bless his word1 and send forth many such faithful ambassadors60#bi ,footnote #bi3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #bca4 ,fletcher was becoming famous4 ,already1 in his twenty-ninth year1 he had gained the love and admiration of the ,wesley brothers1 of ,whitefield1 and of the ,methodist great 8elect lady40 ,at her request1 ,fletcher hied away to ,tunbridge1 and preached to a congregation of prisoners on their parole1 who were so deeply affected by the truth1 which many of them had not heard before1 that they earnestly requested he would preach to them every ,sunday4 ,they proceeded even further1 for they signed and sent a petition to ,sherlock1 ,bishop of ,london1 begging him to allow ,fletcher to officiate as their weekly chaplain4 ,strangely enough1 notwithstanding ,sherlock's high repute for piety1 he peremptorily rejected the prisoners' petition4 ,wesley says3 8,if ,i had known this at the time1 ,king ,george should have known it1 and ,i believe he would have given the ,bishop little thanks40#cj ,footnote #cj3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,fletcher1 as usual1 continued in ,london with his pupils until the prorogation of ,parliament1 when ,mr4 ,hill and his family returned to their country home4 ,the journey to ,shropshire was made in the family coach2 but1 unfortunately1 ,mr4 ,hill commenced it on the ,sabbath-day4#ca ,this was a trial to ,fletcher4 ,hence the following letter to ,charles ,wesley3-- 8,,tern1 ,june #f1 #ageh4 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,before ,i took my leave of you1 the ,sunday ,i set out1 and indeed almost all the time ,i was at the communion table1 ,i felt some degree of condemnation1 as if1 by setting out on that day1 ,i profaned the ,sabbath1 and the ,lord's supper2 whereupon those words came strongly to my mind1 #8,therefore many among you are sick and weak1 and some are dead4' ,i immediately found myself out of order1 and had much ado to reach home after the service was over4 ,till the horses were at the door1 ,i thought ,i should not be able to go2 but found myself then a little strengthened4 ,the next day1 ,i was much worse1 and they were obliged to make room for me in the coach4 ,the day after1 ,i was still worse1 and really thought it would be my last4 ,about noon1 while the family was at dinner1 ,i collected what little strength ,i had left2 and1 falling prostrate before the ,lord1 ,i besought ,him not to cut me off among heathens1 but to grant me the favour of comforting and being comforted by some ,christian at my death4 ,this request1 so contrary to true resignation1 ,i think reached the ear of the ,lord4 ,he rebuked the rage of the fever1 and sensibly filled my soul with all peace in believing2 so that ,i saw ,i was yet for the land of the living4 ,nay1 a few hours after1 ,i found myself as well as ever2 and so ,i continue now by ,god's grace4 8,what have ,i to do but to make good use of the health and leisure ,i have in this retreat8 ,i see my duty1 and ,i form resolutions2 but1 alas6 ,i carry with me a wicked heart1 which enters not into these projects2 and ,satan is never more assiduous and eager to injure us than in retirement4 ,i feel1 however1 by the grace of ,god1 determined to sustain all the attacks of the flesh and of the devil1 and to seize the kingdom of heaven by force4 ,the ,lord has been particularly gracious to me1 in putting it into my heart to pray for the brethren4 ,i have experienced more power and more pleasure in this duty of intercession than ,i have ever done4 ,you will rightly judge that you are not forgotten in these poor prayers2 and ,i hope that you also sometimes remember me4 8,i hope you have overcome the scruple which prevented you from giving ,mr4 ,maxfield full liberty to labour for the ,lord among us4#cb ,the interest of the brethren1 and no other motive1 makes me desire it4 8,i shall not see you in ,bristol2#cc the journey of my pupils not taking place at the time expected4 ,may the ,lord be with you more and more in your labours and in your devotions6 ,farewell6 8,,john ,,fletcher40#cd ,footnote #ca3 ,wesley himself not infrequently set out on his long journey to the north on ,sunday4 ,footnote #cb3 ,it is difficult to determine what is meant by this2 most likely ,fletcher wished ,thomas ,maxfield to preach in the neighbourhood of ,tern ,hall4 ,five years afterwards1 ,maxfield left ,wesley1 and became an ordained clergyman of the ,church of ,england4 ,footnote #cc3 ,wesley's ,annual ,conference was held in ,bristol1 in ,august1 #ageh4 ,footnote #cd3 ,fletcher's 8,works10 vol4 viii41 p4 #aed4 ,at this period1 ,sarah ,ryan1 with whom ,fletcher had become acquainted1 was acting as the housekeeper in ,wesley's 8,new ,room0 at ,bristol4#ce ,to her ,fletcher addressed the following hitherto unpublished letter3-- 8,,tern1 ,october #ab1 #ageh4 8,,my ,,sister1--,where shall ,i begin the sad account ,i must give you of my numberless infidelities from the time ,i left you8 ,that very day1 having been called to preach in a church on our way1 the freedom with which the ,lord enabled me to do it puffed me up in some measure4 ,the clear sight of the prize of my high calling was clouded1 and so it remained till ,i got home1 when it pleased ,god to revive my hope full of immortality1 and to enable me to hunger and thirst after the everlasting righteousness that shall be brought into the souls of those in whom faith shall have its perfect work4 ,during a few days1 ,i rejoiced because of the power ,i had over the sin that most easily beset me1--,i mean drowsiness2 but1 alas6 my triumph was but short2 for1 if the enemy did not come in at this door1 another1 no less effectual1 was opened to him4 ,just as ,i was going to resume my daily course of business1 ,i was called to preach in a church at ,salop1 and was obliged to compose a sermon in the moments ,i should have spent in prayer4 ,hurry and the want of a single eye again drew a veil between the prize and my soul4 ,in the meantime1 ,sunday came1 and ,god rejected my impure service1 and abhorred the labour of my polluted soul2 and1 while others imputed my not preaching to the fear of the minister who had invited me to his pulpit1 and to the threatenings of a mob1 ,i saw the wisdom and holiness of ,god1 and rejoiced in that providence which does all without the assistance of hurrying ,uzzah4 8,in general1 ,i find ,i am surrounded with thousands of temptations1 so much the more dangerous because they are disguised under the appearance of duties4 ,i find1 at times1 such an alienation to religious duties as makes me almost question whether ,i have a grain of living faith4 ,i think ,god has1 this morning1 shown me1 in a clearer light than ever1 that ,i must begin to hang upon frames no more1 but learn to stand by a naked faith4 8,your unworthy brother1 8,j4 ,,fletcher4 8,p4,s4--,direct to ,john ,fletcher1 under cover to ,thomas ,hill1 ,esq41 ,m4,p41 at ,tern1 near ,shrewsbury4 8,to ,mrs4 ,ryan1 8,at the ,new ,room in the ,horse ,fair1 8,bristol40 ,footnote #ce3 ,previous to becoming ,wesley's housekeeper1 ,sarah ,ryan1 ,mary ,clarke1 and ,sarah ,crosby lived together1 in a small house in ,christopher ,alley1 ,moorfields4 ,it was here that ,miss ,bosanquet 7afterwards ,fletcher's wife7 formed an acquaintance with ,sarah ,ryan1 in #ageg4 7,see 8,life of ,mrs4 ,fletcher10 by ,henry ,moore1 pp4 #ag-bj47 ,thus did these earnest first ,methodists watch over themselves with a godly jealousy2 and thus1 in addition to the ,christian fellowship in their weekly class-meetings1 did they tell their religious experience to each other in epistolary correspondence4 ,to this fact1 pre-eminently1 ,methodism is indebted for its rich biographies4 ,immediately after the date of the above letter1 ,fletcher must have set out for ,bristol1 for ,wesley writes3-- 8,in the following week0 7the third week in ,october71 8,i met ,mr4 ,fletcher1 and the other preachers that were in the house at ,bristol1 and spent a considerable time in close conversation on the head of ,christian ,perfection4 ,i afterwards wrote down the general propositions wherein we all agreed40#cf ,footnote #cf3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,no doubt1 these propositions were substantially the same as those which ,wesley1 two months before1 had presented to his ,annual ,conference1 and which were3-- #a4 ,that ,christian ,perfection does not 8exclude all infirmities1 ignorance1 and mistake40 #b4 ,that those who think they have attained ,christian ,perfection1 in speaking their own experience1 should 8speak with great wariness1 and with the deepest humility and self-abasement before ,god40 #c4 ,that young preachers1 especially1 should 8speak of ,perfection in public1 not too minutely or circumstantially1 but rather in general and scriptural terms40 #d4 ,that ,christian ,perfection 8implies the loving ,god with all the heart1 so that every evil temper is destroyed1 and every thought1 and word1 and work springs from1 and is conducted to the end by1 the pure love of ,god and our neighbour40#cg ,footnote #cg3 8,minutes of ,conference0 7edition #ahfb71 vol4 i41 p4 #gaa4 ,at the close of the year1 ,fletcher1 as usual1 was1 with the family of ,mr4 ,hill1 in ,london1 where he wrote the following to ,charles ,wesley4 ,there can be no doubt that the 8humiliation before he left ,tern0 was the imputations cast upon him on account of his failing to preach in the church at ,salop1 mentioned in the foregoing letter to ,sarah ,ryan4 8,,london1 ,december #ab1 #ageh4 8,,my ,,dear ,,sir1--,before ,i left ,tern1 the ,lord gave me a medicine to prepare me to suffer what awaited me here4 ,this humiliation prepared me so well that ,i was not surprised to learn a person in ,london had spread abroad many false and scandalous things of me during my absence2 and that the minds of many were prejudiced against me4 ,in one sense1 ,i took a pleasure in thinking that ,i was going to be rejected by the children of ,god1 and that my ,saviour would become more dear under the idea that1 as in heaven1 so now on earth1 ,i should have none but ,him4 ,the first time ,i appeared in the chapel many were so offended that it was with difficulty they could forbear interrupting me in prayer1 to tell me1 #8,physician1 heal thyself4' ,i was on the point of declining to officiate1 fearing ,i should only give fresh offence2 indeed1 ,i should have done so had it not been for my friend ,bernon1 who pressed me to stand firm1 representing the triumph my silence would give my enemies4 ,his reasons appeared to me so cogent1 that1 as your brother did not reject my assistance1 ,i read prayers1 and engaged to preach sometimes of a morning2 which ,i have accordingly continued to do40#ch ,footnote #ch3 ,letters1 #agia4 ,this is an unpleasant but amusing episode1 and presents these first ,methodists in a frame of heart and mind far from commendable4 ,of course1 ,fletcher was not faultless4 ,perhaps he was blameable in the sermon affair at ,salop2 but1 as ,wesley still permitted him to read prayers and to preach in the ,west ,street chapel1 ,london1 it may be taken for granted that his offence1 if an offence had been committed1 was a very venial one4 ,some of the early ,methodists had more zeal than charity4 ,fletcher continued to officiate in ,west ,street chapel1 and1 whilst doing so1 a proposal was made which occasioned him considerable anxiety4 ,nathaniel ,gilbert inherited an estate in ,antigua4 ,for some years1 he had been the ,speaker in the ,house of ,assembly of that island4 ,in #ageh1 he was in ,england1 and resided at ,wandsworth4 ,wesley1 on ,january #ag1 #ageh1 preached in his house1 and met two of his negro servants and a mulatto1 who appeared to be much awakened4 ,in the month of ,november following1 ,wesley baptized the two negroes4 ,mr4 ,gilbert returned to ,antigua in the autumn of #agei1 and1 having become acquainted with ,fletcher1 was desirous that he should go with him to the ,west ,indian ,islands1 and preach to the planters and their slaves the 8glorious ,gospel of the blessed ,god40 ,hence the following letter to ,charles ,wesley3-- 8,,london1 ,march #bb1 #agei4 8,,my ,,dear ,,sir1--,since your departure1 ,i have lived more than ever like a hermit4 ,it seems to me that ,i am an unprofitable weight upon the earth4 ,i want to hide myself from all4 ,i tremble when the ,lord favours me with a sight of myself2 ,i tremble to think of preaching only to dishonour ,god4 ,to-morrow1 ,i preach at ,west ,street1 with all the feelings of ,jonah4 ,would to ,god ,i might be attended with his success6 8,a proposal has lately been made to me to accompany ,mr4 ,nathaniel ,gilbert to the ,west ,indies4 ,i have weighed the matter1 but1 on one hand ,i feel that ,i have neither sufficient zeal1 nor grace1 nor talents to expose myself to the temptations and labours of a mission in the ,west ,indies2 and1 on the other1 ,i believe that if ,god calls me thither1 the time is not yet come4 ,i wish to be certain that ,i am converted myself before ,i leave my converted brethren to convert heathen4 ,pray let me know what you think of this business4 ,if you condemn me to put the sea between us1 the command would be a hard one1 but ,i might possibly prevail on myself to give you that proof of the deference ,i pay to your judicious advice4 8,i have taken possession of my little hired chamber4 ,there ,i have outward peace1 and ,i wait for that which is within4 ,i was this morning with ,lady ,huntingdon1 who salutes you4 ,our conversation was deep1 and full of the energy of faith on the part of the ,countess2 as to me1 ,i sat like ,saul at the feet of ,gamaliel40#ci ,footnote #ci3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #hc4 ,charles ,wesley evidently was one of ,fletcher's confidential advisers1 and had great influence over him4 ,fortunately1 that influence was not used to induce him to go to the ,west ,indies4 ,had he gone1 in all probability his 8,checks to ,antinomianism0 would never have been written1 and his incalculable services to ,wesley and to ,methodism would not have been rendered4 ,from the concluding part of ,fletcher's letter1 it would seem that he was not now resident in ,mr4 ,hill's ,london mansion1 but had 8a little hired chamber0 of his own4 ,the probability is1 that1 during the ,easter holidays of ,parliament1 ,mr4 ,hill had returned to ,shropshire1 and that ,fletcher had remained in ,london to officiate for the two ,wesleys in ,west ,street chapel2 and1 perhaps1 in the ,foundery1 and in the chapel at ,spitalfields4 ,twelve months previously1 the ,methodist ,societies connected with these three places of worship had been blessed with the unspeakably precious ministry of the never-to-be-forgotten ,thomas ,walsh4 8,lord10 said he1 when leaving them on ,february #ai1 #ageh1 8,lord1 ,thou hast given me much favour in the eyes of this people4 ,they show it by words and deeds2 their prayers and tears4 ,reward them a thousandfold60 ,seventeen days after the date of ,fletcher's foregoing letter1 ,thomas ,walsh departed this life in ,dublin1 in the twenty-eighth year of his age4 ,during his last days on earth1 he was pre-eminently 8in heaviness10 great1 distressing 8heaviness1 through manifold temptations40 ,at length1 ,satan was defeated1 victory came1 ,walsh rapturously exclaimed1 8,he is come6 ,he is come6 ,my ,beloved is mine1 and ,i am ,his6 ,his for ever60 ,and1 uttering these words1 he triumphantly expired4#dj ,fletcher had become acquainted with ,walsh by attending his ministry in ,wesley's ,london chapels4 ,on hearing of his death1 he wrote the following impassioned letter to ,charles ,wesley3-- 8,,london1 ,april--1 #agei4 8,,my ,,dear ,,sir1--,with a heart bowed down with grief1 and eyes bathed with tears1 occasioned by our late heavy loss--,i mean the death of ,mr4 ,walsh--,i take my pen to pray you to intercede for me4 ,what6 that sincere1 laborious1 and zealous servant of ,god6 ,was he saved only as #8by fire1' and his prayer not heard till the twelfth hour was just expiring8 ,oh where shall ,i appear6 ,i1 who am an unprofitable servant6 ,would to ,god my eyes were fountains of waters to weep for my sins6 ,would to ,god ,i might pass the rest of my days in crying1 #8,lord1 have mercy upon me6' #8,all is vanity'--grace1 talents1 labours1--if we compare them with the mighty stride we have to take from time into eternity6 ,lord1 remember me1 now that ,thou art in ,thy kingdom6 8,i have preached and administered the sacrament at ,west ,street sometimes in the holidays4 ,may ,god water the poor seed ,i have sown1 and give it fruitfulness1 though it be only in one soul6 ,but ,i have seen so much weakness in my heart1 both as a minister and a ,christian1 that ,i know not which is most to be pitied--the man1 the believer1 or the preacher4 ,could ,i at last be truly humbled1 and continue so always1 ,i should esteem myself happy in making this discovery4 ,i preach merely to keep the chapel open until ,god shall send a workman after ,his own heart4 #8,nos numeri sumus1'--this is almost all ,i can say of myself4 ,if ,i did not know myself a little better than ,i did formerly1 ,i should tell you that ,i had ceased altogether from placing any confidence in my repentances2 but ,i see my heart is so full of deceit that ,i cannot depend on my knowledge of myself4 8,you are not well6 ,are you1 then1 going to leave us1 like poor ,walsh8 ,ah6 stay1 and permit me to go first2 that1 when my soul leaves the body1 you may commend it to the mercy of my ,saviour4 ,the day ,mr4 ,walsh died1 the ,lord gave our brethren the spirit of supplication2 and many unutterable groans were offered up for him at ,spitalfields1 where ,i was4 ,who shall render us the same kind offices8 ,is not our hour near8 ,o1 my ,god1 when ,thou comest1 prepare us1 and we shall be ready6 ,you owe your children an elegy on ,mr4 ,walsh's death1 and you cannot employ your poetic talents on a better subject40#da ,footnote #dj3 ,morgan's 8,life of ,walsh40 ,footnote #da3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #he4 ,in this interesting letter1 ,fletcher prayed for success at ,west ,street ,chapel1 even if the success was limited to 8only one soul40 ,his prayer was answered4 ,at this period1 there lived1 in the neighbourhood of ,covent ,garden1 ,owen and ,alice ,price1 natives of ,dolgelly1 in ,north ,wales4 ,one of their four children was named ,mary1 and was now fifteen years of age4 ,in #agej1 when an earthquake alarmed all ,london1 little ,mary was at school4 ,the house in which the school was kept undulated2 several windows were broken2 the children were thrown down on their faces2 and a hoarse rumbling noise was heard for nearly a minute4 ,mary resolved1 henceforth1 to serve her ,maker4 ,she read the ,bible2 she prayed2 but she was not happy4 ,some one recommended her to attend the preaching of the ,methodists2 but she hesitated to do this1 because the ,methodists were despised1 and her parents were opposed to enthusiasts4 ,at length1 ,mary went to the chapel in ,west ,street1 ,seven ,dials4 ,it was on a ,sunday morning2 and in those days ,methodist meeting-houses were crowded on ,sunday mornings1 at nine o'clock4 ,mary made her way down the aisle2 the minister1 who was reading the prayers1 she had never seen before2 but his manner1 his tones1 and the glancing of his eyes1 were irresistibly affecting4 ,the minister was ,fletcher1 and there and then ,mary resolved to be a ,methodist4 ,the preaching and praying of ,fletcher were greatly blessed to her soul's profit2 and1 after a severe struggle1 she took courage to stay1 at the close of the public service1 to receive the sacrament4 ,at that period in the history of ,methodism1 no one was allowed to remain who had not a society ticket1 or a note from the officiating minister2 and1 accordingly1 the faithful steward told the ,welsh maiden she must either go to the vestry for a note1 or quit the chapel4 ,she went1 and1 with fear and trembling1 asked ,fletcher's permission to remain4 8,come10 cried he1 8come1 my dear young friend1 come1 and receive the memorials of your dying ,lord4 ,if sin is your burden1 behold the ,crucified4 ,partake of ,his broken body and shed blood1 and sink into the bottomless ocean of ,his love40 ,of course1 ,mary stayed4 ,for three months afterwards1 she sought the ,lord diligently in the means of grace2 and then1 under a sermon preached by ,thomas ,maxfield1 found peace with ,god1 through faith in ,jesus ,christ4 ,in #aghb1 ,mary ,price married ,peter ,kruse2 ,wesley appointed her to be the leader of a class at ,city ,road1 where she and her husband worshipped2 and1 after being a godly ,methodist for fifty-nine years1 she peacefully expired1 ,joseph ,benson preaching her funeral sermon1 and her corpse being interred in the burial-ground behind the ,city ,road ,chapel4#db ,footnote #db3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahah1 pp4 #cfj-cfg4 ,another convert may be mentioned here4 ,richard ,hill 7afterwards ,sir ,richard7 was the eldest son of ,sir ,rowland ,hill1 the first baronet of a distinguished and ancient family4 ,richard was now twenty-seven years of age4 ,from childhood1 he had been blest with the strivings of ,god's ,holy ,spirit1 and of late had been unutterably anxious about his soul4 ,he writes3-- 8,about ,october1 #ageg1 ,i set myself to work with all the earnestness of a poor perishing mariner1 who is every moment in expectation of shipwreck4 ,i fasted1 prayed1 and meditated4 ,i read the ,scriptures1 communicated1 and gave much alms4 ,but these things brought no peace to my soul2 on the contrary1 ,i saw1 what ,i had never seen before1 that all my works were mixed with sin and imperfection4 ,my terrors increased1 insomuch that ,i could neither eat nor sleep1 and did not think it possible for me to live a week4 ,everybody observed how ill ,i looked1 and ,i had much ado to conceal the straits ,i was in from all about me4 ,after having suffered in this manner a short time1 ,i made my case known to a clergyman2 but all he said to me--which indeed was not much to the purpose--had little or no effect4 ,what to do ,i knew not4 ,alas6 ,i had no acquaintance with any one who seemed to have the least experience in such a case as mine4 ,those about me showed the greatest concern for my situation1 and offered their remedies for my relief1 such as company1 physic1 and exercise1 which1 in order to oblige them1 ,i complied with2 but my disorder was not to be removed by these carnal quackeries4 ,what ,i wanted was a skilful physician for my soul2 but where to find such an one ,i knew not4 8,i recollected1 however1 that once1 if not oftener1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,fletcher1 then tutor to two neighbouring young gentlemen1 had1 in my hearing1 been spoken of in a very disrespectful manner1 for things which seemed to me to savour of a truly ,christian spirit4 ,i1 therefore1 determined to make my case known to him1 and1 accordingly1 wrote him a letter1 without mentioning my name1 giving him some account of my situation1 and begging him1 for ,god's sake1 to meet me that very night at an inn at ,salop1 in which place ,i then was4 ,though ,mr4 ,fletcher had four or five miles to walk1 yet he came punctually to the appointment1 spoke to me in a very comfortable manner1 and gave me to understand that he had very different thoughts of my state from what ,i had myself4 ,after our discourse1 he went to prayer with me1 and1 among the other petitions that he put up in my behalf1 he prayed that ,i might not trust in my own righteousness2 an expression the import of which ,i scarcely knew4 8,after my conversation with ,mr4 ,fletcher1 ,i was rather easier2 but this decrease of my terrors was of short duration4 ,i allowed that the promises he would have me apply to myself belonged to the generality of sinners1 but ,i thought they were not intended for me4 ,i1 therefore1 wrote again to ,mr4 ,fletcher1 telling him that1 however others might take comfort from the ,scripture promises1 ,i feared none of them belonged to me4 ,i told him also1 that ,i found my heart to be exceeding hard and wicked2 and that1 as all my duties proceeded from a dread of punishment1 and not from the principles of faith and love1 and were withal so very defective1 ,i thought it was impossible ,god should ever accept them4 ,in answer to this1 the kind and sympathising ,mr4 ,fletcher immediately wrote me a sweet and comfortable letter1 telling me that the perusal of the account ,i had given him had caused him to shed tears of joy1 because he saw the ,lord had convinced me of the insufficiency of all my own doings to justify me before ,god1 and of the necessity of a saving faith in the blood of ,jesus4 ,he also sent me #8,the ,life and ,death of ,mr4 ,thomas ,halyburton1' which book ,i read with greatest eagerness40 ,after this1 ,sir ,richard ,hill proceeds to relate how he found peace with ,god on ,february #ah1 #ageh2 then how he relapsed into doubts and fears1 and lost all his comfort2 and then how he wrote to ,fletcher in ,april1 #agei1 and said3-- 8,my soul is again bowed down under the sense of the wrath of ,god4 ,the broken law1 with all its thunderings and lightnings1 again stares me in the face4 ,my hope seems to be giving up the ghost1 and ,i see nothing before me but blackness and darkness for ever40 ,of course ,fletcher replied to this letter4 ,before long1 ,sir ,richard regained his lost faith and peace1 and ever afterwards went on his way rejoicing4#dc ,footnote #dc3 ,sidney's 8,life of ,sir ,richard ,hill10 pp4 #ba-cb4 ,thus1 to an important extent1 was ,fletcher used in the conversion of the distinguished man1 who1 a few years later1 became one of his sturdiest opponents in the great ,calvinian controversy4 ,in the middle of ,june1 #agei1 ,mr4 ,hill1 ,m4,p41 and his family left ,london for ,shropshire1 and1 of course1 ,fletcher went with them4 ,up to the time of his departure1 ,fletcher continued to preach in ,wesley's ,london chapels2 but1 in writing to ,charles ,wesley1 under the date of ,june #a1 he remarks1 with his characteristic humbleness3 8,i am here umbra pro corpore4 ,i preach as your substitute2 come1 and fill worthily an office of which ,i am unworthy40#dd ,footnote #dd3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #hf4 ,at ,tern ,hall1 ,fletcher again enjoyed his beloved retirement1 and gave himself up to study1 meditation1 and prayer4 ,indeed1 his whole life was now a life of prayer4 8,wherever we met10 says ,mr4 ,vaughan1 8if we were alone1 his first salute was1 #8,do ,i meet you praying8' ,and1 if we were conversing on any point of ,divinity1 he would often break off abruptly1 and ask1 #8,where are our hearts now'0#de ,solitude1 however1 is often invaded by ,satan4 ,it was in the garden1 where were only two human beings1 that the devil gained his first victory on earth2 and it was in 8the wilderness0 that man's ,redeemer was pre-eminently tempted by the same accursed enemy4 ,the following1 addressed to ,charles ,wesley1 is a strange1 but honest and instructive production4 ,footnote #de3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 8,,tern1 ,july #ai1 #agei4 8,,my ,,dear ,,sir1--,instead of apologizing for my silence1 ,i will tell you that ,i have twenty times endeavoured to break it1 but without effect4 ,i will simply state the cause of it4 8,this is the fourth summer that ,i have been brought hither1 in a peculiar manner1 to be tempted of the devil in a wilderness2 and ,i have improved so little by my past exercises1 that ,i have not defended myself better than in the first year4 ,being arrived here1 ,i began to spend my time as ,i had determined2 one part in prayer1 and the other in meditation on the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,the ,lord blessed my devotions1 and ,i advanced from conquering to conquer1 leading every thought captive to the obedience of ,jesus ,christ1 when it pleased ,god to show me some of the folds of my heart4 ,as ,i looked for nothing less than such a discovery1 ,i was extremely surprised2 so much so as to forget ,christ4 ,you may judge what was the consequence4 ,a spiritual languor seized on all the powers of my soul1 and ,i suffered myself to be carried away quietly by a current1 with the rapidity of which ,i was unacquainted4 8,neither doubt nor despair troubled me for a moment2 my temptation took another course4 ,it appeared to me that ,god would be much more glorified by my damnation than by my salvation4 ,it seemed altogether incompatible with the holiness1 the justice1 and the veracity of the ,supreme ,being to admit so stubborn an offender into ,his presence4 ,i could do nothing but be astonished at the patience of ,god2 and ,i would willingly have sung those verses of ,desbaraux if ,i had had strength3-- #8,tonne1 frappe1 il est temps1 rend moi guerre pour guerre1 ,j'adore1 en perrissant1 la raison qui t'aigrit4'#df ,footnote #df3 8,thunder6 strike6 it is time2 render me war for war6 ,in perishing1 ,i adore the reason which incenses ,thee40 8,do not imagine1 however1 that ,i was in a state of evangelical repentance4 ,no3 a man who repents desires to be saved2 but ,i desired it not4 ,i was even impatient to go to my own place2 and secretly wished that ,god would for a moment give me the exercise of ,his iron sceptre to break myself to pieces as a vessel to dishonour4 ,a bitter and cruel zeal against myself1 and all the sinners who were with me1 filled all my thoughts and all my desires4 ,the devil1 who well knew how to improve the opportunity1 blew1 without ceasing1 the sparks of some corruptions1 which ,i thought were extinguished1 or at the point of being so1 till at last the fire began to appear without4 ,this opened my eyes1 and ,i felt it was time to implore succour4 8,it is now eight days since ,i endeavoured to pray1 but almost without success4 ,yesterday1 however1 as ,i sang one of your hymns1 the ,lord lifted up my head1 and commanded me to face my enemies4 ,by ,his grace ,i am already a conqueror2 and ,i doubt not that ,i shall soon be more than conqueror4 8,although ,i deserve it not1 nevertheless hold up my hands till all these ,amalekites be put to flight4 8,i am1 etc41 ,j4 ,,fletcher40#dg ,footnote #dg3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #hh4 ,certainly this was strange1 perhaps unparalleled experience4 ,paul wrote1 8,i could wish that myself were accursed from ,christ for my brethren1 my kinsmen according to the flesh40 ,john ,fletcher seemed to wish for this1 that ,god might be glorified4 8,a fit of melancholy10 says the reader2 8almost insanity40 ,that1 however1 is sooner said than proved4 ,fletcher had a great work to do1 and1 as in the case of his ,divine ,master1 temptations helped to prepare him for it4 ,weeks after the date of the foregoing letter1 he continued to write bitter things against himself4 ,the following letter has not before been published2 it was addressed 8to ,mrs4 ,ryan1 at the ,room in the ,horse-,fair1 ,bristol30-- 8,,tern1 ,september #e1 #agei4 8,,my ,,sister1--,i have often been with you in spirit1 desiring to follow you as you follow ,christ2 and ,i trust you have put up some petitions for me1 that ,i may not run in vain1 but may at last apprehend that for which ,i am apprehended4 8,i have been taught many lessons--by man1 self1 and ,satan--since ,i saw you1 but doubt ,i am not much nearer wisdom1 unless it is in this point--that ,i am more foolish in my own eyes4 ,i groan to be so often diverted from the pursuit of the one thing needful2 but unfaithfulness1 levity1 unbelief1 taint those groans1 and make me question their sincerity and mine4 ,will you try once more to spur me out of my haltings8 ,send me an account of the struggles you went through before you found rest4 ,what degree of joy1 fear1 hope1 sorrow1 doubting1 fervency or coldness of desire in soul and body--waking1 working1 and sleeping8 8,remember me to ,miss ,furley4#dh ,were ,i less averse to writing1 ,i would have written to her1 to beg her not to faint at any time1 but be a zealous follower of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises2 but ,i trust she does not want the advice as often as ,i do4 ,let me know how she does in the ,lord and in the flesh1 and desire her to remember me at the throne of grace4 ,adieu4 8,,john ,,fletcher40 ,footnote #dh3 ,dorothy ,furley1 the youngest daughter of ,john ,furley1 a ,dutch and ,turkey merchant1 was born at ,west ,ham in #agcj4 ,she was converted in early life1 and became acquainted with the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 ,miss ,bosanquet1 the ,wesley brothers1 ,miss ,johnson1 ,mrs4 ,ryan1 and many others of the first ,methodists1 by whom she was held in high esteem4 ,in #agfd1 she was married to ,mr4 ,downs1 one of ,wesley's local preachers in ,london4 ,after her husband's death1 she removed to ,leeds1 and died ,july #bh1 #ahjg4 ,the written directions respecting her funeral concluded with these words3 8,glory1 glory1 glory be to my gracious ,god and ,saviour6 ,i live in the full assurance of faith and hope that ,i shall see my ,saviour's face1 and behold that glory which ,he had with the ,father before all worlds1 but which ,he left for my sake4 ,to ,him ,i owe all my salvation1 here and to all eternity4 ,to ,him1 with the ,father and the ,holy ,ghost1 be all honour1 dominion1 and majesty1 now and through all ages6 ,amen4 ,hallelujah6 ,amen40--,methodist ,magazine1 #ahah1 p4 #bbb4 ,charles ,wesley proposed that1 during the ensuing ,parliamentary session1 ,fletcher should be paid for his services in the ,london chapels4 ,in the same spirit of self-abasement as is displayed in the foregoing letters1 ,fletcher replied as follows3-- 8,september #ad1 #agei4 8,,my ,,dear ,,sir1--,a few days ago1 the ,lord gave me two or three lessons on poverty of spirit1 but1 alas6 how have ,i forgotten them6 ,i saw1 ,i felt1 that ,i was entirely void of wisdom and virtue4 ,i was ashamed of myself2 and ,i could say1 with a degree of feeling which ,i cannot describe1 #8,nil ago2 nil habeo2 sum nil2 in pulvero serpo4' ,i could then say what ,gregory ,lopez was enabled to say at all times1 #8,there is no man of whom ,i have not a better opinion than of myself4' ,i could have placed myself under the feet of the most atrocious sinner1 and have acknowledged him for a saint in comparison of myself4 ,if ever ,i am humble and patient1 if ever ,i enjoy solid peace of mind1 it must be in this very spirit4 ,ah6 why do ,i not find these virtues8 ,because ,i am filled with self-sufficiency1 which blinds me and hinders me from doing justice to my own demerits4 ,o pray that the spirit of ,jesus may remove these scales from my eyes for ever1 and compel me to retire into my own nothingness4 8,to what a monstrous idea had you well-nigh given birth4 ,what6 the labours of my ministry under you deserve a salary6 ,i1 who have done nothing but dishonour ,god hitherto1 and am not in a condition to do anything else for the future6 ,if1 then1 ,i am permitted to stand in the courts of the ,lord's house1 is it not for me to make an acknowledgment1 rather than to receive one8 ,if ,i ever receive anything of the ,methodist ,church1 it shall be only as an indigent mendicant receives alms1 without which he would perish4 ,such were some of the thoughts which passed through my mind with regard to the proposal you made to me in ,london2 and ,i doubt whether my own vanity1 or your goodness1 will be able to efface the impressions they have left4 8,i have great need of your advice relative to the letters which ,i receive from my relations1 who unite in their invitations to me to return to my own country4 ,one says1 to settle my affairs there2 another1 to preach there2 a third1 to assist him to die4 ,they press me to declare whether ,i renounce my family1 and the demands ,i have upon it4 ,my mother1 in the strongest terms1 commands me at least to go and see her4 ,what answer shall ,i make8 ,if she thought as you do1 ,i should write to her1 #8,ubi ,christiani1 ibi patria2' #8my mother1 my brethren1 my sisters1 are those who do the will of my heavenly ,father2' but she is not in a state of mind to digest such an answer4 ,i have no inclination to yield to their desires1 which appear to me merely natural1 for ,i should lose precious time and incur expense4 ,my presence is not absolutely necessary to my concerns2 and it is more probable that my relations will pervert me to vanity and interest1 than that ,i shall convert them to genuine ,christianity4 ,lastly1 ,i should have no opportunity to exercise my ministry4 ,our ,swiss ministers1 who preach only once a week1 would not look upon me with a more favourable eye than the ministers here1 and would only cause me either to be laid in prison or to be immediately banished from the country4 8,permit me to thank you for the sentence from ,kempis1 with which you close your letter1 by returning you another4 #8,you run no risk in considering yourself as the wickedest of men1 but you are in danger if you prefer yourself to any one4'0#di ,footnote #di3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ia4 ,a fortnight later1 ,fletcher wrote again to ,charles ,wesley as follows3-- 8,,tern1 ,september #bi1 #agei4 8,what you say about reducing a mother to despair has made me recollect1 what ,i have often thought1 that the particular fault of the ,swiss is to be without natural affection4 ,with respect to that preference which my mother shows me above her other children1 ,i see clearly ,i am indebted for almost all the affection she expresses for me in her letters to my absence from her1 which hinders her from seeing my faults4 ,nevertheless1 ,i reproach myself severely1 that ,i cannot interest myself in her welfare as much as ,i did in that of my deceased father4 ,i am astonished at the difference4 ,i believe the time is not yet come when my presence may be of service to her2 and ,i flatter myself she will not be shocked at my refusal1 which ,i have softened as much as ,i could4 8,i fear you did not rightly understand what ,i wrote about the proposal you made me at ,london4 ,so far from making conditions1 ,i feel myself unworthy of receiving them4 ,i trouble myself with no temporal things2 my only fear is that of having too much1 rather than too little1 of the necessaries of life4 ,i am weary of abundance4 ,i could wish myself to be poor with my ,saviour4 ,those whom ,he hath chosen to be rich in faith1 appear to me objects of envy in the midst of their wants40#ej ,footnote #ej3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ie4 ,fletcher wanted no salary for preaching in ,methodist chapels2 and1 for the present1 he refused to return to ,switzerland4 ,his reason for the latter might have been more filially expressed2 but no one will doubt his sincerity1 or that his motives were not pure4 ,the next letter1 written two days later1 was addressed to ,sarah ,ryan1 ,wesley's housekeeper at ,bristol1 and to her friend1 ,dorothy ,furley4 ,it is too full of eloquent piety to be abridged4 8,october #a1 #agei4 8,,dear ,,sisters1--,i have been putting off writing to you1 lest the action of writing should divert my soul from the awful and delightful worship it is engaged in4 ,but ,i now conclude ,i shall be no loser1 if ,i invite you to love ,him my soul loveth2 to dread ,him my soul dreadeth2 to adore ,him my soul adoreth4 8,sink with me before the throne of grace2 and1 while the cherubim veil their faces1 and cry out in tender fear and exquisite trembling1 #8,holy6 ,holy6 ,holy6' let us put our mouths in the dust1 and echo back the solemn sound1 #8,holy6 ,holy6 ,holy6' ,let us plunge ourselves in that ocean of purity4 ,let us try to fathom the depths of ,divine mercy2 and1 convinced of the impossibility of such an attempt1 let us lose ourselves in them4 ,let us be comprehended by ,god1 if we cannot comprehend ,him4 ,let us be supremely happy in ,god4 ,let the intenseness of our happiness border upon misery1 because we can make ,him no return4 ,let our head become waters1 and our eyes a fountain of tears1--tears of humble repentance1 of solemn joy1 of silent admiration1 of exalted adoration1 of raptured desires1 of inflamed transports1 of speechless awe4 ,my ,god and my all6 ,your ,god and your all6 ,our ,god and our all6 ,praise ,him6 ,with our souls blended into one by ,divine love1 let us with one mouth glorify the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 our ,father1 who is over all1 through all1 and in us all4 8,i charge you before the ,lord ,jesus1 who giveth life and more abundant life2 ,i entreat you by all the actings of faith1 the stretchings of hope1 the flames of love you have ever felt1 sink to greater depths of self-abasing repentance2 rise to greater heights of ,christ-exalting joy4 ,and let ,him1 who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you can ask or think1 carry on1 and fulfil in you the work of faith with power2 with that power whereby ,he subdueth all things unto ,himself4 ,be steadfast in hope1 immovable in patience and love1 always abounding in the outward and inward labour of love2 and receive the end of your faith1 the salvation of your souls4 8,i am1 dear sisters1 your well-wisher1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#ea ,footnote #ea3 8,thirteen ,original ,letters10 by ,rev4 ,john ,fletcher1 #agia1 p4 #i4 ,mr4 ,benson inclines to think that it was at this period that ,fletcher first preached at ,madeley4 ,the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,chambers was the vicar1 and frequently desired the tutor of ,mr4 ,hill's sons to assist him in his ministerial duties4 ,tern ,hall was ten miles from ,madeley1 and one of ,mr4 ,hill's grooms was ordered to have a horse ready for ,fletcher's use every ,sunday morning4 ,so great1 however1 was his aversion to giving trouble to any one1 that1 if the groom did not awake at the proper time1 he seldom would suffer him to be called2 but prepared the horse for himself4#eb ,footnote #eb3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,parliament was opened on ,november #ac1 when1 as usual1 ,mr4 ,hill and his family repaired to ,london4 ,two days afterwards1 ,fletcher wrote the following to ,charles ,wesley3-- 8,,london1 ,november #ae1 #agei4 8,,my ,,dear ,,sir1--,your letter was not put into my hands till eight days after my arrival in ,london4 ,i carried the enclosed to its address1 and passed three hours with a modern prodigy1--an humble and pious countess4 ,i went with trembling1 and in obedience to your orders2 but ,i soon perceived a little of what the disciples felt when ,christ said to them1 #8,it is ,i1 be not afraid4' 8,her ladyship proposed to me something of what you hinted to me in your garden1--namely1 to celebrate the communion sometimes at her house of a morning1 and to preach when occasion offered1--in such a manner1 however1 as not to restrain my liberty1 nor to prevent me assisting you1 or preaching to the ,french refugees2 and that only till ,providence should clearly point out the path in which ,i should go4 ,charity1 politeness1 and reason accompanied her offer2 and ,i confess1 in spite of the resolution1 which ,i had almost absolutely formed1 to fly the houses of the great1 without even the exception of the ,countess's1 ,i found myself so greatly changed1 that ,i should have accepted1 on the spot1 her ladyship's proposal2 but my engagement with you withheld me2 and1 after thanking her1 ,i said1 when ,i had reflected on her obliging offer1 ,i would do myself the honour of waiting upon her again4 8,nevertheless1 two difficulties stand in my way4 ,will it be consistent with the poverty of spirit1 which ,i seek8 ,can ,i accept an office for which ,i have such small talents8 ,and shall ,i not dishonour the cause of ,god1 by stammering out the mysteries of the ,gospel in a place where the most approved ministers of the ,lord have preached with so much power1 and so much success8 ,what think you8 8,i give myself up to your judicious counsels4 ,i feel myself unworthy of them2 much more still of the appellation of friend1 with which you honour me4 ,you are an indulgent father to me1 and the name of son suits me better than that of brother40#ec ,footnote #ec3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ih4 ,it hardly need be added1 that the 8modern prodigy10 the 8humble and pious ,countess10 was ,lady ,huntingdon1 to whom ,wesley had introduced ,fletcher nearly two years before4 ,her ladyship's proposal really amounted to this1 that1 without at all interfering with his preaching for the ,wesley brothers1 and with his labours among the ,french prisoners and refugees1 ,fletcher should act as one of her domestic chaplains4 ,charles ,wesley's reply to ,fletcher's inquiries has not been preserved2 but there can be no doubt it was favourable1 for such was ,fletcher's profound respect for ,methodism's poet1 that1 if he had1 in the least1 disapproved of the ,countess's offer1 it would most certainly have been declined4 8,i am so assured of your salvation10 wrote ,fletcher1 in the letter from which the foregoing is extracted1 8that ,i ask no other place in heaven1 than that ,i may have at your feet4 ,i doubt even if ,paradise would be ,paradise to me1 unless it were shared with you40 ,this language was extravagant2 but it shows the high admiration in which ,fletcher1 at this time1 held one who might be justly called his dearest and most confidential friend4 ,the proposal of the ,countess of ,huntingdon was accepted2 and ,fletcher opened his commission to the great and honourable in her ladyship's drawing-room1 in the lowly spirit of ,st4 ,paul1 8,unto me1 who am less than the least of all saints1 is this grace given1 that ,i should preach the unsearchable riches of ,christ40 ,during the ensuing winter1 he preached in ,wesley's ,london chapels1 as usual2 and1 alternately with the ,wesley brothers and other clergymen1 he preached in the houses of ,lady ,huntingdon1 ,lady ,gertrude ,hotham1 and ,lady ,frances ,shirley1 generally once1 and frequently twice1 in every week4#ed ,footnote #ed3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #bcc4 ,the ,french prisoners and refugees have been mentioned4 ,unfortunately1 there are no details preserved of the extent and success of ,fletcher's labours among those pitiable sojourners2 but there can be no doubt that it was for their instruction and benefit1 that ,fletcher1 in #agei1 published a sermon in the ,french language1 entitled1 8,discours sur la ,regeneration4 ,imprime ,londre l'an #agei40 #abmo1 #dh pp4 ,his sermon is founded upon ,john iii4 #c1 8,jesus answered and said unto him1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto thee1 ,except a man be born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god40 ,at the end of the discourse are two short poems1 in ,french1 with the titles1 8,sentiments d'une ,ame que la ,grace rgnre20 and 8,le ,bonheur de l'homme ,rgnre40 ,the subject and substance of the whole may be gathered from the brief preface1 of which the following is a translation3-- 8,some prejudiced persons having caused it to be reported that ,i preach a dangerous doctrine1 you will be able to judge as to that1 with a knowledge of the case1 by reading this discourse on ,regeneration4 8,i beg you to read1 in addition1 some short pamphlets which have just appeared1 and which are entitled1 #8,the ,nature and ,design of ,christianity2'#ee #8,salvation by ,faith2'#ef and #8,awake thou that sleepest4'#eg ,i recommend these three works for your examination1 because1 although ,i am not the author of them1 they contain the sentiments which ,i wish to see engraven in our hearts1 as they were in the heart of ,st4 ,paul4 8,if you find here the religion of ,christ1 give the glory to ,god1 and let it be found in the depths of your own souls2 but1 if you find anything contrary to the ,holy ,scriptures and the purity of ,christianity1 ,i pray you1 in the name of the ,lord1 to point it out to me4 ,conduct so kind will sensibly oblige your servant in ,christ1 8,j4 ,,de ,,la ,,flechere40 ,footnote #ee3 ,an extract from ,law's 8,christian ,perfection10 first published by ,wesley in #agdj2 the sixth edition appeared in #agei4 ,footnote #ef3 ,wesley's 8,sermon on ,salvation by ,faith10 first published in #agch2 and a tenth edition in #agef4 ,footnote #eg3 ,charles ,wesley's well-known sermon1 preached before the ,university of ,oxford1 on ,april #d1 #agdb4 ,with the exception of a tract1 entitled 8,a ,christmas ,box for ,journeymen and ,apprentices10 which1 ,wesley says1 was printed and circulated in #ageh1 this 8,discours sur la ,regeneration0 was ,fletcher's earliest publication4 ,during the first three months of #agfj1 ,fletcher enjoyed sweet intercourse with his beloved and confidential friend1 ,charles ,wesley4 ,the latter relates that he forgot his birthday till ,fletcher's prayer put him in mind of it4 ,he and ,fletcher had conversations respecting the doctrine of assurance1 which they both held1 but which they thought had not been sufficiently guarded4 ,in a letter1 dated ,march #af1 #agfj1 ,charles observes1--8,god has remarkably owned the ,word since ,mr4 ,fletcher and ,i changed our manner of preaching it40#eh ,footnote #eh3 ,c4 ,wesley's ,journal1 vol4 ii41 p4 #bbg4 ,at this period1 the ,methodists of ,london took a profound interest in the fate of ,earl ,ferrars1 brother of the ,rev4 ,walter ,shirley1 and cousin of the ,countess of ,huntingdon4 ,this profligate nobleman had murdered his steward1 and was now awaiting his trial by the ,peers of ,england4 ,the unhappy culprit was executed on the #eth of ,may4 ,many were the prayers offered for his conversion4 ,a day of fasting was kept at the ,foundery4 8,yesterday10 wrote ,charles ,wesley1 on ,april #d1 8many met me in the chapel 7,west-street71 to join in prayer for the murderer4 ,till #d p4m4 we continued looking upon ,him whom we had pierced4 ,i never remember a more solemn season4 ,i carried ,mr4 ,shirley and his sister to ,mrs4 ,herritage's1 where ,mr4 ,fletcher helped us to pray for poor ,barabbas1 as he calls him4 ,again the spirit made intercession for him with groans unutterable4 ,our watch-night lasted from seven to half-past ten4 ,my text was1 #8,is it nothing to you1 all ye that pass by8 ,behold1 and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow1' etc4 7,lamentations of ,jeremiah i4 #ab74 ,the ,word was sent1 ,i believe1 to many hearts4 ,mr4 ,fletcher seconded it4 ,we both prayed after ,god1 particularly for the criminal4 ,the chapel was excessively crowded1 and therefore very hot4 ,miss ,shirley carried me to my lodgings4 ,it was past eleven before ,john ,fletcher and ,i got to rest40#ei ,footnote #ei3 ,ibid41 vol4 ii41 p4 #bca4 ,the last words of this extract almost indicate that ,charles ,wesley and ,fletcher were living together1 in the same house2 but1 be that as it may1 there cannot be a doubt of the warm friendship that existed between them4 ,besides preaching in ,wesley's ,london chapels1 ,fletcher occasionally preached for the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 at ,brighton4#fj ,he also visited ,berridge at ,everton4 ,hence the following1 addressed to ,charles ,wesley3-- 8,,dunstable1 ,march #a1 #agfj4 8,,my ,,dear ,,sir1--,i have had a pleasant journey as to my body1 but an unhappy one for my soul4 ,everything required that ,i should cry without ceasing1 #8,lord1 be merciful to me a sinner6' but1 alas6 ,i have not done so4 ,the fine weather invites me to execute a design1 ,i had half formed1 of making a forced march to spend next ,sunday at ,everton1 ,mr4 ,berridge's parish4 ,may the voice of the ,lord there be heard by a poor child of ,adam1 who1 like him1 is still behind the trees of his stupidity and impenitence6 8,if ,i do not lose myself across the fields before ,i get there1 and if the ,lord is pleased to grant me the spirit of supplication1 ,i will pray for you1 until ,i can again pray with you4 ,don't forget me1 ,i beseech you4 ,i would fain be with you on those solemn occasions1 when a thousand voices are raised to heaven to obtain those graces which ,i have not2 but ,god's will be done6 8,don't forget to present my respects to the ,countess4 ,if ,i continue any time at ,everton1 ,i shall take the liberty of giving her some account of the work of ,god in these parts2 if not1 ,i will give it her in person4 ,adieu4 8,,john ,,fletcher40#fa ,footnote #fj3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #bcc4 ,footnote #fa3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ajj4 ,strange scenes had recently been witnessed at ,everton and in the surrounding country2 and it is not surprising that ,fletcher was desirous of seeing what the hand of ,god had wrought4 ,his visit was a memorable one4 ,on arriving1 he introduced himself to ,berridge 8as a new convert1 who had taken the liberty to wait upon him for the benefit of his instruction and advice40 ,berridge1 perceiving he was a foreigner1 asked what countryman he was4 8,a ,swiss1 from the canton of ,berne10 was the reply4 8,from ,berne6 then probably you can give me some account of a young countryman of yours1 ,john ,fletcher1 who has lately preached a few times for the ,messrs4 ,wesley1 and of whose talents1 learning1 and piety1 they both speak in terms of high eulogy4 ,do you know him80 8,yes1 sir1 ,i know him intimately2 and did those gentlemen know him as well they would not speak so highly of him4 ,he is more obliged to their partial friendship than to his own merits40 8,you surprise me10 said ,berridge4 8,i have the best reason for speaking of ,john ,fletcher as ,i do4 ,i am ,john ,fletcher40 8,if you be ,john ,fletcher10 replied ,berridge1 8you must take my pulpit to-morrow40#fb ,footnote #fb3 ,cox's 8,life of ,fletcher10 p4 #be ,thus began ,fletcher's acquaintance with ,berridge4 ,no doubt he preached at ,everton1 for strong-willed ,berridge was wont to have his way4 ,it is probable that ,fletcher communicated what he had seen and heard to the ,countess of ,huntingdon4 ,at all events1 it is said1 her ladyship1 accompanied by ,martin ,madan and ,henry ,venn1 hastened to join him there4 ,on the morning after their arrival1 at seven o'clock1 ,berridge preached to an enormous congregation1 assembled in a field near his church4 ,at eleven1 in the church1 ,mr4 ,hicks read prayers1 and ,venn explained the 8joy that is in heaven over one sinner that repenteth40 ,in the afternoon1 to an amazing multitude gathered from all parts of the surrounding country1 ,martin ,madan cried1 in the open air1 8,if any man thirst1 let him come unto me and drink40 ,next day1 in the morning1 ,fletcher read prayers1 and ,madan preached from 8,ye must be born again10 the church being crowded to excess1 and the windows filled within and without4 ,in the afternoon1 the prayers were read by ,berridge1 and ,venn enforced the words1 8,this is life eternal1 to know ,thee1 the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ1 whom ,thou hast sent40 ,large numbers being unable to gain admission to the church1 ,berridge addressed those outside from1 8,seek the ,lord while ,he may be found2 call upon ,him while ,he is near40 ,the third day's services were even more remarkable than the previous ones4 ,it was calculated that1 in the small village of ,everton1 ten thousand persons were assembled to hear the ,word of ,god1 and to join in ,his holy services4 ,the number is almost incredible2 and picturesque must have been the travelling tribes as they journeyed to this 8hill of ,zion40 ,venn preached1 of course1 in the open air1 from the text1 8,the harvest is past1 the summer is ended1 and we are not saved40 ,the huge congregation was deeply affected1 and several persons1 both men and women1 fell to the ground and wept bitterly4 ,the afternoon congregation was even greater than that in the morning4 ,at night1 ,berridge was the preacher1 and selected as his text1 8,behold the ,lamb of ,god1 who taketh away the sin of the world40 ,towards the close of his sermon1 five persons 8sunk down as dead20 and others cried with a loud and bitter cry1 8,what must we do to be saved80 ,berridge concluded his discourse2 and these memorable three days' services were finished by the assembled thousands1 the ,countess1 and the five clergymen1 all joining in singing ,wesley's noble hymn1-- 8,arm of the ,lord1 awake1 awake6 ,thine own immortal strength put on6 ,with terror clothed1 hell's kingdom shake1 ,and cast ,thy foes with fury down6 8,as in the ancient days appear6 ,the sacred annals speak ,thy fame3 ,be now omnipotently near1 ,to endless ages still the same4 8,thy arm1 ,lord1 is not shortened now1 ,it wants not now the power to save2 ,still present with ,thy people1 ,thou ,bear'st them through life's disparted wave4 8,by death and hell pursued in vain1 ,to ,thee the ransomed seed shall come1 ,shouting their heavenly ,sion gain1 ,and pass through death triumphant home4 8,the pain of life shall there be o'er1 ,the anguish and distracting care1 ,there sighing grief shall weep no more1 ,and sin shall never enter there4 8,where pure1 essential joy is found1 ,the ,lord's redeemed their heads shall raise1 ,with everlasting gladness crowned1 ,and filled with love1 and lost in praise40#fc ,footnote #fc3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #djj4 ,what pen can adequately describe this grand outburst of scriptural faith and ,christian exultation8 ,it was a scene that has not oft been equalled2 and1 no doubt1 helped to increasingly qualify ,fletcher for the great work that awaited him4 ,fletcher's duties as a tutor were now ended4 ,the two sons of ,mr4 ,hill had become undergraduates at ,cambridge4 ,fletcher seems to have returned to ,tern ,hall2 but1 as a new ,parliament was about to be elected1 ,mr4 ,hill objected to the ordained tutor preaching in the neighbourhood of the ,hall1 because his well-known ,methodist proclivities might raise a stumbling-block at the polling-booths4 ,hence the following extract from a letter addressed to the ,countess of ,huntingdon3-- 8,,tern1 ,september #f1 #agfj4 8,the fear ,mr4 ,hill has1 that ,i should lessen his interest at ,shrewsbury at the next election1--the shyness of the neighbouring clergy1--and the want ,i feel of an ordination from the great ,shepherd and ,bishop of my soul1 will probably prevent my preaching at all in the country4 ,o may the ,spirit of ,god preach the ,gospel to my heart6 8,generous as you are1 ,madam1 ,i believe you would have saved me the shame of receiving the present you made me at ,paddington1 had you foreseen the uneasy thoughts it raised in my heart4 #8,is not this making godliness a gain8 ,can ,i in conscience receive what is devoted to the poor when ,i am not in actual want8' ,i am not ashamed of living upon charity1 but to receive it1 without being an immediate object of charity1 gives me more uneasiness than want could possibly do4 ,and now ,i am deprived1 for many months1 of the unspeakable advantage of living upon ,providence1 and must live upon a stock1 as well as the rich of this world6 ,is not this a lesson8 ,and does not your generosity1 ,madam1 bid me look to ,jesus for poverty of spirit1 without which all outward acts are nothing but pride1 sin1 misery1 and lies8 8,i am1 with gratitude and shame1 your ladyship's unworthy servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#fd ,footnote #fd3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #bcd4 ,fletcher was without employment4 ,what was the best course to take8 ,he might have permanently united himself to the ,wesley brothers2 or he might have devoted himself to the congregations of the ,countess of ,huntingdon4 ,but another path was marked out for him by an unerring ,providence4 ,he had been of great service to the sons of ,mr4 ,hill2 and ,mr4 ,hill was desirous of promoting his preferment4 ,the living of ,dunham1 in ,cheshire1 was now vacant1 and ,mr4 ,hill informed ,fletcher that it was at his service4 8,the parish10 said he1 8is small1 the duty light1 the income good 7#djj per annum71 and it is situated in a fine1 healthy1 sporting country40 8,alas60 replied ,fletcher1 8alas1 ,sir1 ,dunham will not suit me2 there is too much money1 and too little labour40 8,few clergymen make such objections10 rejoined ,mr4 ,hill4 8,it is a pity to decline such a living1 especially as ,i know not that ,i can find you another4 ,what shall we do8 ,would you like ,madeley80 8,that1 ,sir10 said ,fletcher1 8would be the very place for me40 8,my object10 answered ,mr4 ,hill1 8is to make you comfortable in your own way4 ,if you prefer ,madeley1 ,i shall find no difficulty in persuading ,mr4 ,chambers to exchange it for ,dunham1 which is worth more than twice as much as ,madeley40#fe ,footnote #fe3 ,cox's 8,life of ,fletcher10 p4 #cb4 ,an arrangement was soon made4 ,mr4 ,hill's nephew was the patron of the ,madeley living2 and ,mr4 ,hill himself the patron of that of ,dunham4 ,the uncle and nephew met at ,shrewsbury races1 and there1 on a racecourse1 of all places in the world1 it was settled that the ,madeley living should be offered to ,fletcher4 ,the presentation was made2 but ,fletcher1 at the last moment1 hesitated to accept it1 and wrote to his friend ,charles ,wesley as follows3-- 8,,tern1 ,september #bf1 #agfj4 8,a fortnight ago1 the minister of this parish1 with whom ,i have had no connection for these two years1 sent me word 7,i know not why7 that his pulpit should be at my service at any time4 8,some days after1 ,i ventured a visit of civility to the vicar of a neighbouring parish1 who fell out with me1 three years ago1 for preaching faith in his church4 ,he received me with the greatest kindness1 and said often1 he would have me take the care of souls somewhere or other4 8,last ,sunday1 the vicar of ,madeley1 to whom ,i was formally curate1 coming to pay a visit here1 expressed great regard for me2 seemed to be quite reconciled3 and assured me1 that he would do all he could to serve me2 of which he yesterday gave me a proof1 by sending me a testimonial unasked4 8,he was no sooner gone1 than news was brought that the old clergyman0 7at ,dunham7 8died suddenly the day before2 and that same day1 before ,i heard it1 ,mr4 ,hill1 meeting1 at the races1 his nephew1 who is patron of ,madeley1 told him1 if he would present me to ,madeley1 he would give the vicar of that parish the living vacated by the old clergyman's death4 ,this was immediately agreed to1 as ,mr4 ,hill himself informed me in the evening1 wishing me joy4 8,you have repeatedly advised me not to resist ,providence1 but to follow its leadings4 ,i am1 however1 inwardly in suspense4 ,my heart revolts at the idea of being here alone1 opposed by my superiors1 hated by my neighbours1 and despised by all the world4 ,without piety1 without talents1 without resolution1 how shall ,i repel the assaults1 and surmount the obstacles which ,i foresee1 if ,i discharge my duty at ,madeley with fidelity8 ,on the other hand1 to reject this presentation1 to burn this certificate1 and to leave in the desert the sheep whom the ,lord has evidently brought me into the world to feed1 appears to me nothing but obstinacy and refined self-love4 ,i will hold a middle course between these extremes3 ,i will be wholly passive in the steps ,i must take2 and active in praying the ,lord to deliver me from the evil one1 and to conduct me in the way ,he would have me to go4 8,if you see anything better1 inform me of it speedily2 and1 at the same time1 remember me in all your prayers1 that1 if this matter be not of the ,lord1 the enmity of the ,bishop of ,lichfield1 who must countersign my testimonials2 the threats of the chaplain of the ,bishop of ,hereford1 who was a witness to my preaching at ,west ,street2 the objections drawn from my not being naturalized2 or some other obstacle1 may prevent the kind intentions of ,mr4 ,hill40#ff ,footnote #ff3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ajf4 ,within a week after the date of this communication1 several of ,fletcher's anticipated obstacles were gone4 ,hence the following1 from a letter addressed to the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 who was visiting the ,rev4 ,benjamin and ,lady ,margaret ,ingham1 in ,yorkshire3-- 8#agfj1 ,october #c4--,were ,i to have my choice1 ,i would prefer waiting at the pool under your roof1 or that of those who think like you1 to any other way of life2 and ,i will own to your ladyship1 that the thought of giving this up is one of the chief difficulties ,i have now to encounter4 ,but ,i seem to be a prisoner of ,providence1 who is going1 in all probability1 to cast my lot among the colliers and forge-men of ,madeley4 ,the two thousand souls of that parish1 for whom ,i was called into the ministry1 are many sheep in the wilderness1 which ,i cannot sacrifice to my own private choice4 8,when ,i was suffered to attend them1 for a few days1 some began to return to the ,shepherd of their souls1 and ,i found it then in my heart to spend and be spent for them4 ,it is true1 when ,i was sent away from them1 that zeal cooled to such a degree1 that ,i have wished a thousand times they might never be committed to my care2 but the impression of the tears of those who1 when ,i left them1 ran after me crying1 #8,who will now show us the way to heaven8' never quite wore off1 and1 upon second thoughts1 ,i always concluded that1 if the ,lord made my way plain to their church1 ,i could not run away from it without disobeying the order of ,providence4 8,that time is come4 ,the church is vacated2 the presentation to it brought1 unasked for1 into my hands2 the difficulty of getting proper testimonials1 which ,i looked upon as insurmountable1 vanishes at once2 the three clergymen that had opposed me with the most bitterness1 signed them2 the ,bishop of ,lichfield countersigns them without the least objection2 the lord of the manor1 my great opposer1 leaves the parish2 and the very man 7the vicar71 who told me ,i should never preach in that church1 now recommends me to it1 and tells me he will induct me himself4 8,are not these intimations of the will of ,god8 ,it seems so to me4 ,what does your ladyship think8 ,i long to go and consult you in ,yorkshire1 but cannot do it now1 without giving up the point on which ,i want your advice40#fg ,footnote #fg3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #bcg4 ,there is1 or1 at least1 there used to be1 in the parish vestry at ,madeley1 a book containing the following inscription3--8,john ,fletcher1 clerk1 was inducted to the vicarage of ,madeley1 the #agth of ,october1 #agfj4 ,john ,fletcher1 vicar40 ,the deed was done4 ,wesley had strongly opposed his acceptance of the ,madeley living1 telling him that to take a living was not his calling4 ,charles ,wesley's advice is unknown2 but1 probably1 it was the reverse of his brother's4 ,john desired and greatly needed the help of an ordained clergyman1 not only to preach1 but to administer the sacraments to the multiplying ,methodists4 ,he tried to retain ,fletcher1 a minister to his own heart's content2 but he failed4 ,it was well he did4 ,in the itinerancy1 ,fletcher's time for reading and study would have been extremely limited4 ,at ,madeley1 he had abundance of leisure for both1 and1 during the next ten years1 acquired that theological wealth1 which1 in the hour of need1 enabled him to be of the greatest service to ,wesley1 by the writing of his unanswerable 8,checks to ,antinomianism40 ,wesley's opposition is mentioned in the following extracts from two letters addressed to the ,countess of ,huntingdon3-- 0#agfj1 ,october #bh4 ,all the little circumstances of my institution and induction have taken such an easy turn1 that ,i question whether any clergyman ever got over them with less trouble4 ,i preached last ,sunday1 for the first time1 in my church1 and shall continue to do so1 though ,i propose staying with ,mr4 ,hill till he leaves the country1 which will be1 ,i suppose1 in a fortnight1 partly to comply with him to the last1 and partly to avoid falling out with my predecessor1 who is still at ,madeley1 but who will remove about the same time4 0,among many little providences1 ,i shall mention one to your ladyship4 ,the ,bishop having unexpectedly sent me word to go to him for institution without delay1 if ,i wished not to be at the trouble of following him to ,london1 ,i set out in haste for ,hereford1 where ,i arrived the day before his lordship's departure4 ,as ,i went along1 ,i thought that if my going to ,madeley was from the ,lord1 it was providential that ,i should thus be called to be instituted in the country1 for were it to be in ,london1 ,sir ,peter ,rivers1 the ,bishop's chaplain1 who examined me for orders1 and who made so much noise last summer in ,west ,street ,chapel1 where he found me preaching1 would infallibly defeat the end of my journey1 according to his threatenings4 ,thus did worldly wisdom work in my heart2 but no divination can stand against the ,god of ,jacob1 who is a jealous ,god1 and does not give ,his glory to another4 ,a clergyman1 named ,sir ,dutton ,colt1 came to see the ,bishop just as ,i entered the palace1 and the secretary1 coming to him1 said in my hearing1 #8,sir ,peter is just come from ,london to take possession of a prebend1 which the ,bishop has given him2 he is now in the palace2 how do you rank with him8' ,my surprise was great1 for a moment1 and my first thought was to ride away without institution2 but1 having gone too far to retreat1 ,i had an instant strength from on high to be still and see the salvation of the ,lord4 ,my second thought was to thank ,god for sending this man from ,london in that point of time to defeat ,mr4 ,hill's design2 and1 easily throwing up ,madeley1 ,i cried for strength to make a good confession before the high priest and the scribe2 and ,i felt ,i had it1 but ,i was not called to use it1 for the ,bishop was alone1 the ceremony was over in ten minutes1 and ,sir ,peter did not come in till after4 ,i met him at the door of the ,bishop's room1 and a wig ,i had on that day prevented his recollecting who ,i was4 ,your ladyship cannot conceive how thankful ,i was for this little incident1 not because ,i was not disappointed of a living1 but because ,i saw and felt1 that1 had ,i been disappointed1 it would have been no disappointment to me4 0,if ,i know anything of myself1 ,i shall be much more ready to resign my benefice1 when ,i have had a fair trial of my unprofitableness to the people committed to my care1 than ,i was to accept it4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley bids me do it without a trial4 ,he will have me #8see the devil's snare1 and fly from it at the peril of my soul4' ,i answer1 ,i cannot see it in that light4 ,he adds1 #8,others may do well in a living2 you cannot2 it is not your calling4' ,i tell him1 ,i readily own that ,i am not fit to plant or water any part of the ,lord's vineyard2 but that if ,i am called at all1 ,i am called to preach at ,madeley1 where ,i was first sent into the ministry1 and where a chain of providences1 ,i could not break1 has again fastened me2 and that1 though ,i may be as unsuccessful as ,noah1 yet ,i am determined to try to be there a preacher of ,christ's righteousness2 and that1 notwithstanding my inability1 ,i am not without hopes1 that ,he who reproved a prophet's madness by the mouth of an ass1 may reprove a collier's profaneness even by my mouth4 0,i reserve for another letter an account of my own soul1 and of what begins to be as dear to me as my own soul--my parish40#fh ,footnote #fh3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #bch4 ,the other letter1 here promised1 was written three weeks later4 ,the following is an extract from it3-- 8,,tern1 ,november #ai1 #agfj4 8,i have hitherto written my sermons1 but ,i am carried so far beyond my notes when in the pulpit1 that ,i propose preaching with only my sermon-case in my hand next ,friday1 when ,i shall venture on an evening lecture for the first time4 ,i question whether ,i shall have above half-a-dozen hearers2 but ,i am resolved to try4 8,the weather and the roads are so bad1 that the way to the church is almost impracticable2 nevertheless all the seats were full last ,sunday4 ,some begin to come from adjacent parishes1 and some more 7as they say7 threaten to come when the season permits4 8,i cannot yet discern any deep work1 or indeed anything but what will always attend the crying down of man's righteousness1 and the insisting upon ,christ's--,i mean a general liking among the poor2 and offence1 ridicule1 and opposition among the #8reputable' and #8wise' people4 ,should the ,lord vouchsafe to plant the ,gospel in this county1 my parish seems to be the best spot for the centre of such a work1 as it lies among the most populous1 profane1 and ignorant4 8,but it is well if1 after all1 there is any work in my parish4 ,i despair even of this1 when ,i look at myself1 and quite fall in with ,mr4 ,john ,wesley's opinion about me2 though ,i sometimes hope the ,lord has not sent me here for nothing4 ,i am1 however1 fully determined to resign my living1 if the ,lord does not think me worthy to be ,his instrument4 ,i abhor the title of a living for a living's sake2 it is death to me4 8,there are three meetings in my parish--a ,papist1 ,quaker1 and ,baptist1 and they begin to call the fourth the ,methodist one--,i mean the ,church4 ,but the bulk of the inhabitants are stupid heathens1 who seem past all curiosity1 as well as all sense of godliness4 ,i am ready to run after them into their pits and forges1 and ,i only wait for ,providence to show me the way4 ,i am often reduced to great perplexity2 but the end of it is sweet4 ,i am driven to the ,lord1 and ,he comforts1 encourages1 and teaches me4 ,i sometimes feel that zeal which forced ,paul to wish to be accursed for his brethren's sake2 but ,i want to feel it without interruption4 ,the devil1 my friends1 and my heart have pushed at me to make me fall into worldly cares and creature snares1--first1 by the thoughts of marrying2 then1 by the offers of several boarders1 one of whom1 a ,christian youth1 offered me #fj a year2 but ,i have been enabled to cry1 #8,nothing but ,jesus1 and the service of ,his people2' and ,i trust the ,lord will keep me in the same mind40#fi ,footnote #fi3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #bci4 ,in such a way and spirit did ,fletcher begin his ministry of twenty-five years' duration at ,madeley4 ,comment on his simple and honest letters is unnecessary2 it would be uninstructive meddling1 which would try the reader's patience4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,first ,,two ,,years ,,at ,,madeley4 ,,from ,,october #ag1 #agfj1 ,,to ,,november #bb1 #agfb4 ,,almost of necessity1 the life of a clergyman in a small country town is an uneventful and quiet one2 and1 therefore1 the first ten years that ,fletcher spent at ,madeley were unmarked by stirring incidents1 such as were perpetually occurring in the lives of his friends ,wesley and ,whitefield4 ,madeley is a market town in the county of ,salop4 ,it is beautifully situated in a winding glen1 through which the river ,severn flows4 ,in #ahjj1 fifteen years after ,fletcher's death1 it contained1 according to the parliamentary returns1 #bia houses1 and #d1geh inhabitants4 ,the church is dedicated to ,st4 ,michael2 and the parish includes ,coalbrook ,dale and ,madeley ,wood1 noted for their coal mines and their iron-works4 ,colliers and iron-workers at ,madeley1 in the days of ,fletcher1 were quite as ignorant and brutal as they were elsewhere4 ,his mission was a trying one2 and its burdensomeness was not lessened by the fact that there was not a single clergyman in the county of ,salop who approved of his ,methodist doctrines1 or sympathized with his ,methodist endeavours4 ,further1 he was without parochial experience4 ,he had preached for the ,wesleys and for the ,countess of ,huntingdon2 and1 on a few rare occasions1 he had been permitted to occupy the pulpits of the ,established ,church2 but1 notwithstanding the temporary assistance he had rendered to his ,madeley predecessor1 he had never held a curacy4 ,in parish work he was a novice2 but he was not dismayed4 ,a few months before his induction1 he had been with ,berridge1 who1 with the exception of ,mr4 ,hicks at ,wrestlingworth1 was as much without clerical sympathy and help in ,bedfordshire1 ,cambridgeshire1 and ,huntingdonshire1 as ,fletcher himself was now in ,salop4 ,berridge had seen marvellous results of his denounced ministry1 and why should not ,fletcher see the same8 ,hence1 on ,january #f1 #agfa1 he wrote as follows to the ,countess of ,huntingdon3-- 8,i had a secret expectation to be the instrument of a work in this part of our ,church2 and ,i did not despair of being soon a little ,berridge4 ,thus warmed with sparks of my own kindling1 ,i looked out to see the rocks broken1 and the waters flowing out2 but1 to the great disappointment of my hopes1 ,i am now forced to look within1 and see the need ,i have of being broken myself4 ,if my being stationed in this howling wilderness is to answer no public end as to the ,gospel of ,christ1 ,i will not give up the hope that it may answer a private end as to myself1 in humbling me under a sense of unprofitableness4 8,as to my parish1 all that ,i see in it1 hitherto1 is nothing but what one may expect from speaking plainly1 and with some degree of earnestness2 a crying out1 #8,he is a ,methodist--a downright ,methodist6' ,while some of the poorer say1 #8,nay1 but he speaketh the truth6' ,some of the best farmers1 and most of the respectable tradesmen1 talk about turning me out of my living as a ,methodist or a ,baptist4 ,my ,friday lecture took better than ,i expected1 and ,i propose to continue it till the congregation desert me4 ,the number of hearers at that time is generally larger than that which my predecessor had on ,sunday4 ,the number of communicants is increased from thirty to above a hundred2 and a few seem to seek grace in the means4 ,i thank your ladyship for mentioning ,mr4 ,jones as a curate4 ,there is little probability of my ever wanting one4 ,my oath obliges me to residence1 and1 when ,i am here1 ,i can easily manage all the business1 and only wait for opportunities of oftener bearing witness to the truth40#gj ,footnote #gj3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #bdj4 ,fletcher's troubles were various4 ,he was dissatisfied with himself2 a visionary convert caused him anxiety2 and many of his parishioners maligned him4 ,writing to ,charles ,wesley on ,march #aj1 #agfa1 he remarked3-- 8,i feel more and more that ,i neither abide in ,christ1 nor ,christ in me2 nevertheless1 ,i do not so feel it1 as to seek ,him without intermission4 #8,oh wretched man that ,i am6 who shall deliver me from' this heart of unbelief8 ,blessed be ,god1 who has promised me this deliverance1 through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ6 8,my new convert has1 with great difficulty1 escaped the wiles of the devil2 who1 by fifty visions1 had set her on the pinnacle of the temple4 ,thanks be to ,god1 she has come down without being cast headlong4 ,i have had more trouble with her visions than with her unbelief4 ,two other persons profess that they have received the consolations of ,divine love3 ,i wait for their fruits4 8,a few days ago1 ,i was violently tempted to quit ,madeley4 ,the spirit of ,jonah had so seized upon my heart that ,i had the insolence to murmur against the ,lord2 but the storm is now happily calmed1 at least for a season4 ,alas6 what stubbornness there is in the will of man2 and with what strength does it combat the will of ,god under the mask of piety1 when it can no longer do so with the uncovered1 shameless face of vice6 #8,if a man bridleth not his tongue1' all his outward #8religion is vain4' ,may we not add to this1 if a man bridleth not his will1 which is the language of his desires1 his inward religion is vain also8 ,the ,lord does not1 however1 leave me altogether2 and ,i have often a secret hope that ,he will one day touch my heart and lips with a live coal from the altar2 and that then ,his word shall consume the stubble1 and break to pieces the stone4 8,the question1 which you mean to repeat at the end of the winter1 is1 ,i hope1 whether you shall be welcome at ,madeley8 ,my answer is1 you shall be welcome2 for ,i have already lost almost all my reputation1 and the little that remains does not deserve a competition with the pleasure ,i shall have in seeing you40#ga ,footnote #ga3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ajg4 ,notwithstanding his dejection1 and the opposition he had to encounter1 ,fletcher continued to labour with unflagging diligence4 ,to his ,friday night lecture he now added the catechising of children on ,sunday afternoons1 but relieved himself of the toil of preparing a second ,sunday sermon1 by reading the sermons of other men4 ,he also began to see a prospect of commencing services at ,madeley ,wood and at ,coalbrook ,dale4 ,hence1 in another letter to ,charles ,wesley he wrote as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,april #bg1 #agfa4 8,when ,i first came to ,madeley1 ,i was greatly mortified and discouraged by the smallness of my congregations2 and ,i thought if some of our friends in ,london had seen my little company they would have triumphed in their own wisdom4 ,but now1 thank ,god1 things are altered in that respect4 ,last ,sunday1 ,i had the pleasure of seeing some in the churchyard who could not get into the church4 8,i began a few ,sundays ago to preach in the afternoon1 after catechising the children2 but ,i do not preach my own sermons4 ,twice ,i read a sermon of ,archbishop ,usher's2 and last ,sunday one of the ,homilies1 taking the liberty of making some observations on such passages as confirmed what ,i had advanced in the morning2 and1 by this means1 ,i stopped the mouths of many adversaries4 8,i have frequently had a desire to exhort in ,madeley ,wood and ,coalbrook ,dale1 two villages of my parish2 but ,i have not dared to run before ,i saw an open door4 ,it now1 ,i think1 begins to open4 ,two small ,societies of about twenty persons have formed of themselves in those places1 although the devil seems determined to overturn all4 ,a young person1 the daughter of one of my rich parishioners1 has been thrown into despair1 so that everybody thought her insane1 and1 indeed1 ,i thought so too4 ,judge how our adversaries rejoiced2 and1 for my part1 ,i was tempted to forsake my ministry1 and take to my heels2 ,i never suffered such affliction4 ,last ,saturday1 ,i humbled myself before the ,lord on her account1 by fasting and prayer2 and ,i hope the ,lord heard my prayer4 ,yesterday1 she found herself well enough to come to church4 8,you will do well to engage your colliers at ,kingswood to pray for their poor brethren at ,madeley4 ,may those at ,madeley1 one day1 equal them in faith1 as they now do in that wickedness1 for which they 7the ,kingswood colliers7 were famous before you went among them4 8,mr4 ,hill has written me a very obliging letter1 to engage me to accompany the elder of my pupils to ,switzerland2 and if ,i had any other country than the place where ,i am1 ,i should1 perhaps1 have been tempted to go4 ,at present1 however1 ,i have no temptation that way1 and ,i have declined the offer as politely as ,i could40#gb ,footnote #gb3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #aji4 ,the case of the young woman just mentioned was to ,fletcher a great trial4 ,in a letter written to ,lady ,huntingdon#gc on the same day as the foregoing letter to ,charles ,wesley1 he states1 that1 previous to this1 reports had been spread that he drove the people mad1 and he had borne such scandals 8patiently enough10 but this 8glaring instance10 which seemed to confirm the rumours circulated against him1 had thrown him into 8agonies of soul40 ,to a great extent1 ,fletcher had yet to learn a lesson which the ,wesleys and ,whitefield had long ago been taught3 8,if ye be reproached for the name of ,christ1 happy are ye2 for the spirit of glory and of ,god resteth upon you0 7#a ,peter iv4 #ad74 ,footnote #gc3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #bda4 ,the scandals were continued2 and even the pulpit was used in lampooning the ,madeley preacher4 ,hence the following1 addressed to ,charles ,wesley3-- 8,,madeley1 ,august #ai1 #agfa4 8,i know not whether ,i mentioned to you a sermon preached at the ,archdeacon's ,visitation4 ,it was almost all levelled at the points which are called the doctrines of ,methodism1 and1 as the preacher is minister of a parish near mine1 it is probable he had me in his eye4 ,after the sermon1 another clergyman addressed me with an air of triumph1 and demanded what answer ,i could make4 ,as several of my parishioners were present1 besides the churchwardens1 ,i thought it my duty to take the matter up2 and ,i have done so by writing a long letter to the preacher1 in which ,i have touched the principal mistakes of his discourse1 with as much politeness and freedom as ,i was able2 but ,i have had no answer4 ,i could have wished for your advice before ,i sealed my letter2 but1 as ,i could not have it1 ,i have been very cautious1 entrenching myself behind the ramparts of ,scripture1 as well as those of our ,homilies and ,articles4 8,i know not what to say to you of the state of my soul4 ,i daily struggle in the ,slough of ,despond1 and ,i endeavour every day to climb the ,hill ,difficulty4 ,i need wisdom1 mildness1 and courage2 and no man has less of them than ,i4 8,as to the state of my parish1 the prospect is yet discouraging4 ,new scandals succeed those that wear away2 but #8offences must come4' ,happy shall ,i be if the offence cometh not by me4 ,my churchwardens speak of hindering strangers from coming to the church1 and of repelling them from the ,lord's table2 but on these points ,i am determined to make head against them4 ,a club of eighty working men1 in a neighbouring parish1 being offended at their minister1 determined to come in procession to my church1 and requested me to preach a sermon for them2 but ,i thought proper to decline doing so1 and have thereby a little regained the good graces of the minister1 at least for a time40#gd ,footnote #gd3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #aaa4 ,the preacher1 at the ,archdeacon's visitation1 was the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,prothero2#ge and the 8long letter0 to him may be found in ,fletcher's collected works 7vol4 viii471 where it fills twenty-eight octavo pages1 and is entitled a 8,defence of ,experimental ,religion40 ,it is dated 8,madeley1 ,july #be1 #agfa40 ,footnote #ge3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahba1 p4 #ag4 ,mr4 ,prothero's 8elegant sermon10 as ,fletcher terms it1 seems to have consisted of two parts3 a defence of revealed religion against ,deists and ,infidels2 and a warning against religious superstition and enthusiasm4 ,the first part gave ,fletcher 8exceeding great satisfaction10 and the design of the second part was good1 for1 as ,fletcher remarks1 8,it is the duty of a preacher to keep the sacred truths committed to him1 as well from being perverted by enthusiasts1 as from being crushed by infidels4 ,boasting of communion with ,god1 and peculiar favours from heaven1 is hurtful to the cause of ,christ1 when people's lives show them to be actuated by a spirit of delusion2 and setting up impulses in the room of repentance1 faith1 hope1 charity1 obedience1 has done no small mischief in the ,church of ,god40 ,but1 while ,fletcher praises ,mr4 ,prothero for 8the goodness of his design10 he passes strictures upon the execution of it4 ,he condemns ,mr4 ,prothero for 8representing1 in general1 that virtue1 benevolence1 good-nature1 and morality1 are the way to salvation20 and shows1 that according 8to the ,word of ,god and the teaching of our ,church10 sinners are saved by the exercise of faith in ,christ4 ,he objected to ,mr4 ,prothero's doctrine1 that1 by nature1 and without the assistance of ,divine grace1 man 8has the same power to enter the paths of virtue as to walk across a room40 ,he censured the way in which the preacher discountenanced the doctrine of the necessity of the new birth2 and he maintained1 at great length1 that to 8set aside all feelings in religion1 and to rank them with unaccountable impulses10 is not consistent with the teachings of the ,bible1 and with the ,liturgy1 ,articles1 and ,homilies of the ,english ,church4 ,soon after this1 ,fletcher was in another trouble4 ,hence the following letter written to ,charles ,wesley3-- 8,,madeley1 ,october #ab1 #agfa4 8,,my ,,dear ,,sir1--,you have always the goodness to encourage me1 and your encouragements are not unseasonable2 for discouragements follow one after another with very little intermission4 ,those which are of an inward nature are sufficiently known to you2 but some others are peculiar to myself1 especially those ,i have had for eight days past1 during ,madeley wake4 8,seeing that ,i could not suppress these bacchanals1 ,i did all in my power to moderate their madness2 but my endeavours have had little or no effect4 ,you cannot well imagine how much the animosity of my parishioners is heightened1 and with what boldness it discovers itself against me1 because ,i preached against drunkenness1 shows1 and bull-baiting4 ,the publicans and maltmen will not forgive me4 ,they think that to preach against drunkenness1 and to cut their purse1 is the same thing4 8,my church begins not to be so well filled as it has been1 and ,i account for it thus3 the curiosity of some of my hearers is satisfied1 and others are offended by the word2 the roads are worse2 and if it shall ever please the ,lord to pour ,his ,spirit upon us1 the time is not yet come4 ,the people1 instead of saying1 #8,let us go up to the house of the ,lord1' exclaim1 #8,why should we go and hear a ,methodist8' 8,i should lose all patience with my flock if ,i had not more reason to be satisfied with them than with myself4 ,my own barrenness furnishes me with excuses for theirs2 and ,i wait the time when ,god shall give seed to the sower and increase to the seed sown4 ,in waiting that time1 ,i learn the meaning of this prayer1 #8,thy will be done4' 8,believe me your sincere1 though unworthy1 friend1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#gf ,footnote #gf3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #aab4 ,fletcher's faithful preaching offended the publicans1 and1 judging of his sermons in general by the following specimens1 it is not surprising that his preaching offended others4 ,the extracts are taken from a sermon delivered in the month of ,december #agfa1 and first published in the ,dublin edition of the ,methodist ,magazine for #ahba 7pp4 #bdi-beh74gg ,the text was1 8,thou shalt speak ,my words to them1 whether they will hear or whether they will forbear1 for they are most rebellious0 7,ezek4 ii4 #g74 ,after challenging his congregation to assert their innocence1 ,fletcher proceeded3-- 8,supposing you never allowed yourself to dishonour the name of ,god by customary swearing1 or grossly to violate ,his ,sabbaths1 or commonly to neglect the solemnities of ,his public worship2 supposing1 again1 that you have not injured your neighbours in their lives1 their chastity1 their character1 or their property1 either by violence or by fraud2 or that you never scandalously debased your rational nature by that vile intemperance which sinks a man below the worst kind of brutes2 supposing all this1 can you pretend that you have not in smaller instances violated the rules of piety1 of temperance1 and of chastity8 ,does not your own heart prove you guilty of pride1 of passion1 of sensuality1 of an excessive fondness for the world and its enjoyments2 of murmuring1 or at least secretly repining1 against ,god under the strokes of an afflictive ,providence2 of misspending a great deal of your time2 of abusing the gifts of ,god's bounty to vain1 and1 in some instances1 to pernicious purposes2 of mocking ,him when you have pretended to engage in ,his worship1 drawing near to ,him with your lips while your heart has been far from ,him8 ,does not your conscience condemn you of some one breach of the law at least8 and by one breach of it1 does not the ,holy ,ghost bear witness 7,james ii4 #aj7 that you are become guilty of all1 and are as incapable of being justified before ,god by any obedience of your own1 as if you had committed ten thousand offences8 ,but1 in reality1 there are ten thousand and more to be charged to your account4 ,when you come to reflect on all your sins of negligence1 as well as on your voluntary transgressions2 on all the instances in which you have failed to do good when it was in your power to do it2 on all the instances in which acts of devotion have been omitted1 especially in secret2 and on all those cases in which you have shown a stupid disregard to the honour of ,god1 and to the temporal and eternal happiness of your fellow-creatures2 when all these1 ,i say1 are reviewed1 the number will swell beyond all possibility of account1 and force you to cry out1 #8,i am rebellious1 most rebellious2 mine iniquities are more than the hairs of my head6' ,they will appear in such a light before you that your own heart will charge you with countless multitudes2 and how much more then that ,god1 #8who is greater than your heart1 and knoweth all things'80 ,footnote #gg3 ,fletcher seldom wrote his sermons1 and more rarely read them4 ,more than one hundred and forty sermons of ,wesley's have been published1 and at least sixty of ,whitefield's2 but of ,fletcher's1 who had much more leisure than either ,wesley or ,whitefield1 only about a dozen4 ,all the rest are mere outlines4 ,the following are copied from ,fletcher's ,,mss41 and have not before been published4 ,they may be taken as fair specimens of ,fletcher's pulpit preparations and pulpit helps4 ,they are skeletons of two sermons1 preached from ,matt4 xxii4 #cf-ci3-- ,w 8,i4 ,why we must love ,god4 8,,ii4 ,how we must love ,him4 8,,iii4 ,what we must do in order to love ,him4 8,he is our ,creator1 ,preserver1 ,redeemer1 ,sanctifier4 ,he commands us to love ,him4 ,out of ,his love there is no happiness4 ,love of ,god contains all4 ,he loved us first4 8,with all our soul1 heart1 and strength4 ,above all things4 ,more than our life1 wives1 children1 estate1 honour1 ourselves4 8,be convinced we do not love ,him4 ,abhor ourselves for our rebellion4 ,confess1 repent1 and believe4 ,keep a sense of our forgiveness4 ,pray to ,him4 ,praise ,him4 ,walk with ,him4 ,seek but ,him4 ,refuse all comfort unless we feel ,his love4 ,keep a constant communion with ,him by seeing ,his glory in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 8,how have we fulfilled this great duty8 ,try yourselves4 ,pray an hour by yourselves4 ,if you do not love1 you hate4 ,what fury to hate all that is good1 great1 and lovely6 ,what madness to set our love on creatures6 ,it must fall with them4 ,love ,god in ,christ4 ,look to ,christ4 ,believe in ,christ1 to love ,god4 ,if you do not love ,him1 you are in your lives in the devil's state4 ,you can no more go to heaven than the devil4 ,choose which you will love4 ,the world calls4 ,let us give all for all48 8,love thy neighbour4 ,all men2 though never so distant in place1 different in opinions1 interests4 ,because made by the same hand2 partakers of the same nature2 bought with the same blood2 capable of the same happiness4 8,as ourselves4 ,not judging2 not thinking evil2 not speaking evil2 not defrauding2 not coveting2 doing them good2 praying for them2 honouring them 8,because all made in image of ,god4 ,none but in something better than ourselves2 none but is a child of ,god1 or may become so4 8,put the best construction on words or actions1 much more upon thoughts4 ,relieve necessities4 ,this is imitating ,god4 ,what we give is lent to ,god4 8,love universally1 constantly1 impartially1 sincerely2 from a sense of ,christ's love40 ,this was plain speaking1 but very characteristic of the preaching of the ,church of ,england ,methodists4 ,space will permit only one other extract from this sermon4 8,and now1 sinner1 think seriously with yourself what defence you will make to all this8 ,will you fly in the face of ,god and that of your conscience so openly as to deny one of the charges of rebellion1 yea1 of aggravated rebellion1 ,i have advanced against you8 ,have you not lifted yourself up against the ,lord of heaven8 ,have you not sided with ,his sworn enemies--the world and the flesh8 ,what part of your body1 what faculty of your soul1 have you not employed as an instrument of unrighteousness8 ,when did you live one day before ,god with the dependence of a creature1 the gratitude of a redeemed creature1 the heavenly frame of a sanctified creature8 ,nay1 when did you live one hour without violating ,god's known law1 either in word1 or thought1 or action8 ,have not you done it almost continually by the vanity of your mind and the hardness of your heart1 if not by the open immorality of your life8 ,and1 what infinitely aggravates your guilt1 have you not despised and abused ,god's numberless mercies8 ,have you not affronted conscience1 ,his deputy in your breast8 ,have you not resisted and grieved ,his ,spirit8 ,yea1 have you not trifled with ,him in all your pretended submissions or solemn engagements8 ,thousands are1 no doubt1 already in hell whose guilt never equalled yours2 and yet ,god has spared you to see almost the end of another year1 and to hear now this plain representation of your case4 ,and will you not yet consider8 ,shall nothing move you to shake off that amazing carelessness and stupid disregard of your salvation8 ,will you never begin to #8work it out with fear and trembling'8 ,will you slumber in impenitency till eternal woes crush you into destruction8 ,is death1 is judgment1 is the bottomless pit so distant that you dare put off from week to week the day of your conversion8 ,you have read in ,god's ,word that there is mercy with ,him that ,he may be feared2 but where did you read that there is mercy with ,him for those who fear ,him not8 ,show me such a place2 ,i shall not say anywhere in the ,bible1 but in any book written by a moral heathen4 ,and yet you hope you can be saved in this way4 8,sinner1 despise me here if thou wilt2 call me here an enthusiast1 and laugh at the concern ,i feel for thy perishing soul2 but hereafter thou wilt do me justice1 clear me before the ,lord ,jesus1 and acknowledge that thy blood is upon thine own head1 that thou art undone because thou wouldst be undone1 because thou wouldst take neither warning nor reproof40 ,to give the reader a further idea of the faithfulness and searching character of ,fletcher's preaching at this early period of his ,madeley ministry1 the subjoined extracts are given from sermons preached during the first three months of #agfb4 ,in ,january1 #agfb1gh he delivered a discourse upon the words1 8,ye will not come unto ,me1 that ye might have life20 in which he described 8four classes of sinners who will not come to ,christ that they might have life20 and proved 8that unbelief1 or not coming to ,christ for life1 is the most abominable and damning of all sins40 ,one brief extract on the latter point must suffice3-- 8,unbelief is a sin of so deep a dye that the devils in hell cannot commit the like4 ,our ,saviour never prayed1 wept1 bled1 and died for devils4 ,he never said to them1 #8,ye will not come unto ,me1 that ye might have life4' ,they can never be so madly ungrateful as to slight a ,saviour4 ,mercy never wooed their stubborn1 proud hearts as it does ours4 ,they have abused grace1 it is true1 but they never trampled mercy underfoot4 ,this more than diabolical sin is reserved for thee1 careless sinner4 ,now thou hearest ,christ compassionately say in the text1 #8,ye will not come unto ,me1' and thou remainest unmoved2 but the time cometh when ,jesus1 who meekly entreats1 shall sternly curse2 when ,he who in tender patience says1 #8,ye will not come unto ,me1' shall thunder in righteous vengeance1 #8,depart from ,me1 ye cursed2 depart unto the second death1--the fire prepared for the devil and his angels4' ,in vain wilt thou plead then as thou dost now1 #8,lord1 ,i am no adulterer2 ,i am no extortioner2 ,i used to eat at ,thy table2 ,i was baptized in ,thy name2 ,i was a true churchman2 there are many worse than ,i am4' ,this will not admit thee into the kingdom of ,christ4 ,his answer will be1 #8,i know you not2 you never came to ,me for life4'0 ,footnote #gh3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahba1 p4 #fea4 ,plain preaching such as this was not likely to please the easy-going ,pharisees of the age in which ,fletcher lived1 any more than it is likely to be popular among the same class of people at the present day4 ,to utter such truths required courage then2 and it requires courage now4 ,fletcher1 one of the gentlest of human beings1 possessed this courage4 ,no doubt there were many occasions when his sermons were full of the richest comfort to those who had truly repented1 and unfeignedly believed ,christ's holy ,gospel2 but he never failed faithfully to fulfil an ,old ,testament commission1 binding upon the ministers of ,god throughout all time3 8,cry aloud1 spare not1 lift up thy voice like a trumpet1 and show ,my people their transgression1 and the house of ,jacob their sins0 7,isa4 lviii4 #a74 ,at the risk of wearying the reader1 further extracts must be given1 exemplifying ,fletcher's fearless fidelity4 ,on ,january #d1 #agfb1 ,england declared war against ,spain2 and1 a few days after1 proclamations were issued for a general fast to be observed in ,england1 ,scotland1 ,wales1 and ,ireland1 in the month of ,march4#gi ,fletcher1 as a loyal ,churchman1 preached on this occasion2#hj his text was ,ezek4 xxxiii4 #g-i4 ,after a few preliminary remarks respecting the king's 8pious proclamation10 he proceeds to say1-- 8,we must attack1 unmask1 and overthrow vice with holy violence1 and strike at the heart of sin with the boldness of ,john the ,baptist1 and in the spirit of ,elijah4 ,without any apology for my plainness1 ,i shall endeavour to convince the wicked man both of his wickedness and danger40 ,footnote #gi3 ,london ,magazine1 #agfb1 p4 #dh4 ,footnote #hj3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahbb1 p4 #aec4 ,fletcher begins with 8practical atheists0 8,thousands there are1 who1 by gross ignorance1 shameful neglect of instruction1 and abominable contempt of godliness1 are in the front of the battle1 and next to the prince of darkness4 ,their heart is darkened by the mists of pride and the clouds of presumption1 and they are such utter strangers to their want of spiritual light and divine grace1 that they seldom or never call upon ,god for help with any solemnity4 ,the unhappy heathenish families who are of that stamp meet regularly every day to eat1 drink1 and make provision for the flesh2 but how seldom do they meet to read and pray4 ,you will find almost as much godliness among the wild ,indians as among these practical atheists4 ,but why should ,i call them atheists8 ,they have many gods4 ,the world is their god2 pleasure is their god2 vanity is their god2 money is their god2 their belly is their god2 to some or other of these idols1 they sacrifice their hearts and their time4 ,as for the ,god of heaven1 the great and eternal ,jehovah1 they put ,him off with a careless attendance on ,his public worship on ,sunday morning1 if the weather suits them2 and it is well if to this they add sometimes the babbling over of the ,lord's ,prayer and the ,creed1 which1 after all1 in the manner in which they do it1 is no better than a solemn mockery of the ,saviour1 whom they constantly crucify afresh4 ,do you belong to such a heathenish1 prayerless family8 ,if you do1 suffer me to deliver my soul by telling you1 that you are the very first person to whom ,i am bound to say1 #8,thou shalt surely die4' ,read your sentence in ,psalm lxxix4 #f4 ,what6 shall the indignation of the ,lord fall upon prayerless families among the heathen1 and shall it pass by the nominally ,christian1 but prayerless family to which you belong8 ,no1 no2 the ,judge of all the earth will do right2 ,he will repay you to your face40 8,the wicked is often known1 to others and to himself1 by his injustice1 oppression1 cruelty1 deceit1 and unfair dealing4 ,did you ever make a prey of the poor and helpless8 ,are you like the horse-leech1 crying1 #8,give1 give1' still wanting more profit1 and never thinking you have enough8 ,do you take more care to lay up treasures on earth than in heaven8 ,have you got the unhappy secret of distilling silver out of the poor man's brow1 and gold out of the tears of helpless widows and friendless orphans8 ,or1 which is rather worse1 do you1 directly or indirectly1 live by poisoning others1 by encouraging the immoderate use of those refreshments1 which1 taken to excess1 disorder the reason1 ruin the soul1 and prove no better than slow poison to the body8 ,if your business calls you to buy or sell1 do you use falsehood8 do you equivocate8 do you exaggerate or conceal the truth1 in order to impose upon your neighbour1 and make a profit of his necessity or credulity8 ,if any of these marks be upon you1 ,god's word singles you out1 and drags you to the bar of ,divine justice to hear your doom in the text1 #8,the wicked shall surely die4' ,o1 see your danger2 repent1 and make restitution6 ,why should you meet the unjust steward in hell1 when you may yet follow ,zaccheus into heaven80 8,there is another fearful sin1 which has in it no profit1 no pleasure1 no1 not sensual sweetness enough to bait the hook of temptation4 ,the only enticement to it is the diabolical disposition of the wicked man1 and the horrid pride he takes in cutting a figure among the children of ,belial4 ,i speak of oaths and curses1--those arrows shot from the string of a hellish heart1 and the bow of a ,luciferian tongue1 against heaven itself2 these are some of the sparks of hell-fire1 which1 now and then1 come out of the throat of a wicked man4 ,do they ever come out of thine8 ,a year ago1 ,i laid before you the horror of that sin1 and besought you to leave it to ,satan and his angels1 and to act no more the part of an incarnate devil4 ,have you strictly complied with that request8 ,has not heaven been pierced with another fiery dart8 ,have not good men1 or good angels 7if any attend you still7 shuddered at those imprecations1 which you have used1 perhaps without remorse80 8,but1 perhaps1 your conscience bears you witness that you are not a swearing ,christian1 or rather a swearing infidel4 ,well2 but are you clear in the point of adultery1 fornication1 or uncleanness8 ,does not the guilt of some vile sin1 which you have wickedly indulged in time past1 and perhaps are still indulging1 mark you for the member of a harlot1 and not the member of ,christ8 ,do you not kindle the wrath of heaven against yourself and your country1 as the men and women of ,gomorrah did against themselves and the other cities of the plain8 ,if you cherish the sparks of wantonness1 as they did1 how can you but be made with them to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire8 ,do not flatter yourselves with the vain hope1 that your sin is not so heinous as theirs4 ,if it be less in degree1 is it not infinitely greater in its aggravating circumstances8 ,were these poor ,canaanites ,christians8 ,had they ,bibles and ministers8 ,had they sermons and sacraments8 ,did they ever vow1 as you have done1 to renounce the devil1 and all the sinful lusts of the flesh8 ,did they ever hear of the ,son of ,god sweating great drops of blood1 in an agony of prayer1 to quench the fire of human corruption8 ,o acknowledge your guilt and danger1 and1 by deep repentance1 prevent infallible destruction4 8,i cannot pass in silence the detestable1 though fashionable1 sin1 which has brought down the curse of heaven1 and poured desolation and ruin upon the most flourishing kingdoms1--,i mean pride in apparel4 ,even in this place1 where poverty1 hard labour1 and drudgery would1 one should think1 prevent a sin which ,christianity cannot tolerate even in kings' houses1 there are not wanting foolish virgins1 who draw iniquity with cords of vanity1 and betray the levity of their hearts by that of their dress4 ,yea1 some women1 who should be mothers in ,israel1 and adorn themselves with good works as holy and godly matrons1 openly affect the opposite character4 ,you may see them offer themselves first to the idol of vanity1 and then sacrifice their children upon the same altar4 ,as some sons of ,belial teach their little ones to curse1 before they can well speak1 so these daughters of ,jezebel drag their unhappy offspring1 before they can walk1 to the haunts of vanity and pride4 ,they complain of evening lectures1 but run to midnight dancings4 ,o that such persons would let the prophet's words sink into their frothy minds1 and fasten upon their careless hearts3 #8,because the daughters of ,sion are haughty1 and walk with stretched-forth necks and wanton eyes1 the ,lord will smite with a sore the crown of their head1 and discover their shame3 instead of well-set hair1 there shall be baldness1 and burning instead of beauty4'0 ,these abbreviated extracts of ,fletcher's descriptions of 8the wicked0 are followed by his directions to humble themselves before ,almighty ,god2 to confess their sins with deep sorrow1 and to return to the ,lord with prayer and fasting2 to meditate on the universality1 commonness1 and boldness of the nation's wickedness2 to begin a visible and thorough reformation2 and to seek personal salvation in ,christ4 ,the bold preacher cries3-- 8,from the gilded palace to the thatched cottage1 our guilt calls for vengeance4 ,wickedness is become so fashionable1 that he who refuses to run with others into vanity1 intemperance1 or profaneness1 is in danger of losing his character1 on one hand2 while1 on the other1 the son of ,belial prides himself in excesses1 glories in diabolical practices1 and scoffs with impunity at religion and virtue4 ,o ,england6 ,england6 happy1 yet ungrateful island6 ,dost thou repay fruitfulness by profaneness1--plenty by vanity1--liberty by impiety1--and the light of ,christianity by excesses of immorality8 8,as you regard the prosperity of the king1 the good of our ,church1 and the welfare of our country2--as you would not bring a private curse upon yourself1 your house1 and your dearest friends2--as you value the honour of ,almighty ,god1 and dread ,his awakened wrath2--as you would not force ,him to make our land a field of blood1 or to break the staff of our bread1 and send famine1 pestilence1 popery1 or some other fearful judgment among us2--,i pray you1 ,i beseech1 ,i entreat each of you1 my dear brethren6 as upon my bended knees1--in the name of our ,lord ,jesus1 and by those bowels of ,divine mercy against which we have madly kicked in times past1 and which1 nevertheless1 still yearn over us1--,i entreat you not to rest in outward humiliation and reformation4 ,christians must go one step beyond the ,ninevites4 ,o seek then1 with all true ,christians1 a righteousness superior to that of the ,scribes and ,pharisees4 ,seek it in ,christ4 ,never rest1 till you are sure of your interest in ,him2 till you feel the virtue of ,his blood applied to your hearts by the power of ,his ,spirit4 ,without this1 all the rest will stand you in little stead40#ha ,footnote #ha3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahbb1 p4 #bbb4 ,this1 in truth1 was thunder and lightning preaching1--no doubt greatly needed then1 as1 indeed1 it is greatly needed now2 preaching likely to give offence1 but the faithfulness of which ,god always honours1 and crowns with marked success4 ,it raised up against ,fletcher bitter enemies2 but it was the means of converting not a few of his godless parishioners4 ,one of these was ,mary ,matthews1 who1 listening to the reproaches cast upon ,fletcher1 was greatly prejudiced against him4 ,at length1 she went to hear him4 ,mary thought herself very good1 but ,fletcher showed she was very vile4 ,for two years1 she was an earnest penitent1 and then1 by faith in ,christ1 found peace with ,god4 ,mary was brought before magistrates for opening her little house1 in ,madeley ,wood1 for preaching1 but she continued faithful2 and1 in #aghh1 passed away to heaven1 her last words being1 8,i am almost at home4 ,farewell6 ,god bless you6 ,god for ever bless you60 ,another was ,mary ,barnard1 who lived to the age of ninety1 was very lame1 but always crawled to ,madeley church when the weather would permit4 ,totally without education herself1 she had a son who became a ,methodist local preacher4 ,her death occurred in #agig1 and her last message to ,fletcher's widow was1--8,the covenant is signed and sealed between my ,lord and me4 ,i am ,his by a marriage bond2 and ,he is mine4 ,and now ,i set to my seal1 that the blood of ,jesus cleanses from all sin40#hb ,footnote #hb3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahjj1 pp4 #bai-bbc4 ,such conversions were among ,fletcher's encouragements2 and he greatly needed them4 ,his preaching saved some1 but offended others4 ,in one of his unpublished manuscripts1 dated 8,madeley1 ,february #bh1 #agfb10 he notes a somewhat remarkable occurrence3-- 8,last ,sunday1 only one objection was made against the doctrine ,i preached in this church1 and that1 ,i think1 was a poor one1 as it was supported by no argument and no ,scripture4 ,the sum of it was this1 #8,it is hard to say that one breach of the law brings a man under the curse1 and exposes one out of ,christ to the damnation of hell4' ,to this ,i answer by four arguments4 8,the first is taken from matters of fact in the ,word of ,god4 ,by one sin1 and by the offence of one1 condemnation came upon all men1 namely by the one sin of ,adam's eating the forbidden fruit4 ,and a more awful example you have in the sudden destruction of ,ananias and ,sapphira his wife for having told one single lie4 8,the second argument is taken from common sense1 which tells us that one leak in a ship unstopped will sink it in time1 as certainly as a hundred2 one piece broken out of a glass makes it a useless glass1 as much as if it was dashed into twenty pieces2 one stab of a dagger through the heart kills a man as much as a hundred would4 ,and so one sin uncancelled by ,christ's blood will as surely destroy an unconverted man as a hundred1 though his destruction will not be so terrible as that of him who has committed a hundred4 8,the third argument is taken from the exactness of human laws and the practice of earthly judges4 ,they all condemn a man for one single offence4 ,if one can be proved it is enough4 ,let a murderer kill one man1 he is to be hanged as well as if he had killed a hundred4 ,let a highwayman take one pound from one single person1 the law condemns him for a felon1 and sends him to the gallows1 as well as if he had taken a thousand pounds from a thousand different travellers4 ,the law of the land1 to the breach of which the penalty is annexed1 is as effectually broken by one act of felony as by a hundred2 and the law of ,god is as much1 though not so heinously1 broken1 by one sin as by a hundred3 consequently the law of ,god curses and damns for one sin as well as for a hundred4 8,the fourth argument is taken from ,deuteronomy xxvii4 #bf1 #8,cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them4' ,also1 ,galatians iii4 #aj1 #8,cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law1 to do them4' ,and ,james ii4 #aj1 #8,whosoever shall keep the whole law1 and yet offend in one point1 he is guilty of all4' ,he violates the law1 despises the law1 incurs the punishment threatened40 ,passing by ,fletcher's arguments and logic1 this fugitive manuscript is of some importance1 as intimating not only that objections were made to ,fletcher's doctrines1 but also that he was accustomed publicly to notice and answer them in his parish church4 ,fletcher had other troubles besides those arising from objections to his teaching4 ,in his ,fast-day sermon1 preached on ,march #ab1 #agfb1 he had cried3-- 8#8,because of swearing the land mourneth4' ,if the prophet of old had lived in our degenerate days1 he would have added1 #8,because of perjury the land groaneth4' ,to go no farther than the place we inhabit1 how many of us1 who have been entrusted with public offices1 have wilfully broken the oaths administered unto us8 ,how many open and notorious drunkards1 fighters1 sabbath-breakers1 blasphemers of ,god's ,word1 and cursers of men1 have escaped deserved censure1 ,i shall not say by the accidental neglect1 but by the downright perjury of officers80 ,this bold accusation stimulated one of ,fletcher's young parishioners to put the law in force against one of the culpable parish officers2 by which act the young man brought himself into trouble1 and also ,fletcher1 who protected him4 ,further1 in the small house of ,mary ,matthews1 built upon the rock in ,madeley ,wood1 ,fletcher had begun to hold preaching services2 the congregation assembling there had been called 8the ,rock ,church20 and ,mary ,matthews had been fined #bj for permitting such assemblies in her humble dwelling4 ,fletcher refers to these incidents in the following letter to ,charles ,wesley3-- 8,,madeley1 ,may #af1 #agfb4 8,since my last1 our troubles have increased4 ,a young man having put in force the ,act1 for suppressing swearing1 against a parish officer1 he stirred up all the other half gentlemen to remove him from the parish4 ,here ,i interposed1 and1 to do so with effect1 ,i took the young man into my service4 ,by ,god's grace1 ,i have been enabled to conduct myself1 in this matter1 so as to give them no handle against me2 and1 in spite of all their cabals1 ,i have got the better of them4 8,what has greatly encouraged them is the behaviour of a magistrate1 who was at the first inclined to favour me1 but afterwards turned against me with peculiar malevolence1 and proceeded so far as to threaten me and all my flock of the ,rock ,church with imprisonment4 ,hitherto1 the ,lord has stood by me1 and my little difficulties are nothing to me2 but ,i fear ,i support them rather like a philosopher than a ,christian4 ,we were to have been mobbed with a drum last ,tuesday1 at the ,rock ,church2 but their captain1 a papist1 behaved himself so very ill1 that they were ashamed of him1 and are made peaceable for the present40#hc ,footnote #hc3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #aad ,fletcher wrote to this persecuting papist the following letter1 which is now for the first time published3-- 8,,sir1--,the indecent and profane manner in which you broke upon those of my parishioners who came to me for private exhortations at ,mrs4 ,matthews'1 lays me under an absolute obligation to present you at ,ludlow ,court as a person notoriously guilty--#a1 ,of drunkenness2 #b1 of cursing2 #c1 of disturbing me in the discharge of the private labours of my ministry2 #d1 of profane disregard to the ,liturgy of the ,established ,church2 #e1 of want of respect for the ,royal ,family1 openly intimated in indecent interruption while ,i prayed for them1 and obliging me to get up from my knees and make you go out of the room before ,i could conclude the collect in peace2 and #f1 of cursing1 and making game of the ,third ,person of the ,holy ,trinity4 8,though ,i told you upon the spot1 that you should be informed of for your profane behaviour1 ,i think it my duty to acquaint you of it more particularly1 that you may prepare your answers to the above mentioned charges4 8,i assure you1 ,sir1 that malice1 or any private pique1 is entirely out of the question4 ,i heartily wish you well1 and am ready to do you any service but that of sacrificing the interests of religion and virtue to open profaneness and immorality4 8,the following considerations weigh much with me to make me insist on the churchwardens putting you in their presentment2 and they will1 ,i hope1 convince you that ,i act only according to the dictates of ,christian prudence4 8#a4 ,most of the things laid to your charge were grown into habit before they broke out in my presence4 ,it is not the first time that you have been seen in liquor1 and been heard to use profane expressions1 and to make sport of the things of ,god1 and turn my labours into ridicule4 8#b4 ,so public an offence absolutely demands a public punishment1 and the officers1 whom ,i have informed of your behaviour1 must be perjured if they present you not1 and an irreparable blow will be given to the honour of religion and morality4 8#c4 ,the regard ,i have for our ,church1 and the peace of the parish1 obliges me to resist in you the persecuting spirit of opposition your ,church is so noted for4 8#d4 ,part of my business here as a clergyman of the ,church of ,england is to withstand the propagation of your dangerous principles1 and to oppose the increase of the blind persecuting zeal which some seem to breathe after you4 ,if you are suffered openly to excite that profane zeal with impunity1 how will your misled companions be confirmed in their errors4 ,if you1 who have so many laws to curb you1 can offend with impunity1 how daring will others grow in wickedness4 8#e4 ,a person of note in the parish has lately undergone the severity of the law for part of the above-mentioned charges4 ,what intolerable partiality would it be in the officers and me to take no notice of you who are guilty of the whole4 8,lastly4 ,if ,i do not get you presented1 ,i shall for ever deprive myself of the liberty of repressing profaneness1 immorality1 and persecution in my parish4 ,every drunkard1 every swearer1 every railer1 etc41 etc41 will 7and not without reason7 say to me1 #8,you could spare ,mr4 ,haughton1 who was notoriously guilty of our errors2 why should you be stricter with ,protestants than with ,papists8' 8,i flatter myself that these reasons will convince you that ,i am led by ,christian prudence and a calm resolution to oppose triumphing profaneness1 and not at all by any private views or uncharitable motives4 ,and1 wishing that1 if you are convicted1 the course of human laws may lead you to the harbour of temperance and piety1 8,i remain1 ,sir1 your humble and obedient servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40 ,of course1 opinions differ as to the expediency of trying to make men moral by ,acts of ,parliament2 but there can be no doubt of ,fletcher's ,christian sincerity in the action he took against ,mr4 ,haughton4 ,his effort1 however1 was a failure4 ,writing to ,charles ,wesley1 in the month of ,july1 #agfb1 he said3-- 8,your letter arrived some days too late1 to prevent my taking a false step respecting the papist in question4 ,three weeks ago1 ,i went to ,ludlow to the ,bishop's visitation1 and ,i thought the occasion favourable for my purpose2 but the churchwardens1 when we were on the spot1 refused to support me1 and the court has paid no regard to my presentation4 ,thus ,i have gained some experience1 though at my own cost4 ,the sermon did not touch the string with which ,i was whipped at the last visitation2 and ,i afterwards had the boldness to go and dine with the ,bishop4 8,many of my parishioners are strangely disconcerted at my bringing my gown back from ,ludlow4 ,with respect to the magistrate ,i mentioned to you in my last1 because he acted as judge of the circuit two years ago1 he now believes himself as able a lawyer as ,judge ,foster2 but1 for the present1 he contents himself with threatenings4 ,i met him the other day1 and1 after he had called me ,jesuit1 etc41 and menaced me with his cane1 he assured me that he would soon put down our assemblies4 ,how ridiculous is this impotent rage6 8,i have attempted to form a ,society1 and1 in spite of much opposition and many difficulties1 ,i hope to succeed4 ,i preach1 ,i exhort1 ,i pray2 but1 as yet1 ,i seem to have cast the net on the wrong side of the ship4 ,lord ,jesus1 come ,thyself1 and furnish me with a ,divine commission6 8,for some months past1 ,i have laboured under an insuperable drowsiness3 ,i could sleep day and night2 and the hours which ,i ought to employ with ,christ on the mount1 ,i spend like ,peter in the garden40#hd ,footnote #hd3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #aae4 ,poor ,fletcher's troubles continued and increased4 ,a month later1 he wrote again to ,charles ,wesley1 as follows3-- 8,i have still trials of all sorts4 ,first1 spiritual ones4 ,my heart is hard2 ,i have not that contrition1 that filial fear1 that sweet1 humble melting of heart before the ,lord1 which ,i consider essential to ,christianity4 8,secondly1 the opposition made to my ministry increases4 ,a young clergyman1 who lives in ,madeley ,wood1 where he has great influence1 has openly declared war against me1 by pasting on the church door a paper1 in which he charges me with rebellion1 schism1 and being a disturber of the public peace4 ,he puts himself at the head of the gentlemen of the parish 7as they term themselves71 and1 supported by the ,recorder of ,wenlock1 he is determined to put in force the ,conventicle ,act against me4 ,a few weeks ago1 the widow who lives in the ,rock ,church1 and a young man1 who read and prayed in my absence1 were taken up4 ,i attended them before the magistrate1 and the young clergyman with his troop were present4 ,they called me ,jesuit1 etc42 and the magistrate tried to frighten me1 by saying that he would put the ,act in force1 though we should assemble only in my own house4 ,i pleaded my cause as well as ,i could2 but1 seeing he was determined to hear no reason1 ,i told him he must do as he pleased1 and that1 if the ,act in question concerned us1 we were ready to suffer all its rigours4 ,in his rage1 he went the next day to ,wenlock1 and proposed to grant a warrant to have me apprehended2 but1 as the other magistrates were of opinion that the business did not come under their cognizance1 but belonged to the ,spiritual ,court1 he was obliged to swallow his spittle alone4 8,mr4 ,madan1#he whom ,i have consulted1 tells me the ,act may be enforced against the mistress of the house1 the young man1 and all who were present4 ,the churchwardens talk of putting me in the ,spiritual ,court for meeting in houses1 etc42 but what is worst of all1 three false witnesses offer to prove upon oath that ,i am a liar2 and some of my followers 7as they are called7 have dishonoured their profession1 to the great joy of our adversaries4 8,in the midst of these difficulties ,i have reason to bless the ,lord1 that my heart is not troubled4 ,forget me not in your prayers40#hf ,footnote #he3 ,the ,rev4 ,martin ,madan1 who1 before he became a clergyman1 was a barrister-at-law4 ,footnote #hf3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #aag4 ,all this braggart persecution seems to have ended in threats4 ,fletcher wrote again to ,charles ,wesley1 on ,november #bb1 #agfb3-- 8,the debates about the illegality of exhorting in houses 7although only in my own parish7 grew some time ago to such a height1 that ,i was obliged to lay my reasons before the ,bishop2 but his lordship very prudently sends me no answer4 ,i think he knows not how to disapprove1 and yet dares not approve this methodistical way of procedure40#hg ,footnote #hg3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #abd4 ,such is a bird's-eye view of ,fletcher's ministry and ministerial trials during the first two years after his appointment to the living of ,madeley in #agfj4 ,as an earnest evangelical clergyman of the ,church of ,england1 he almost stood alone4 ,shropshire had produced one like-minded minister2 but he1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,hatton1 was now in the ,isle of ,man4 ,to this gentleman1 ,fletcher1 in his solitude1 wrote as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,august #d1 #agfb4 8,,rev4 ,,sir1--,there are so few of our profession in this county who are not ashamed of the cross of ,christ1 and of the ,homilies and ,articles of our ,church1 that it gave me no small pleasure to hear you are not led away with the generality into dry empty notions of morality and formality1--the two legs on which fashionable religion stalks through this so-called ,christian land4 ,may the ,lord ,jesus convince us daily more and more1 by ,his ,spirit1 of sin in ourselves1 and of righteousness in ,him6 ,may we1 in the strength of our dying ,samson1 pull down the buildings of self-righteousness1 though the consequence should be to see all our hopes of preferment and esteem buried in the ruins6 ,may we never be led to preach another ,gospel than that of ,christ6 #8,he that believeth shall be saved2 he that believeth not shall be damned' 7,mark xvi4 #af74 8,i hope1 ,sir1 you will not be discouraged4 ,regard not the wind1 but sow your seed early and late2 and the ,lord of the harvest will give the increase1 as seemeth best to ,his heavenly wisdom4 ,i meet with many trials in my parish1 but our faithful ,lord opens always a door for me to escape2 and so ,he will for you4 8,i should be thankful to ,providence1 if your way should be made plain into this neighbourhood4 ,you owe yourself to ,shropshire in particular2 and no county needs hands for the spiritual harvest more than this does4 ,i pray that the ,lord of the harvest may thrust you among us4 8,i bespeak a sermon when you come to ,salop2 trusting that you will not be ashamed to bear witness to the truth as it is in ,jesus1 from so despised a pulpit as that of1 dear ,sir1 your affectionate and weak fellow servant in the ,gospel1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#hh ,footnote #hh3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahbi1 p4 #age4 ,fletcher longed for clerical sympathy and co-operation2 but he had to wait for them4 ,in all respects his position was a trying one4 ,the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,gilpin1 who afterwards was well acquainted with him1 writes3-- 8,celebrated for the extensive ironworks carried on within its limits1 ,madeley was remarkable for little else than the ignorance and profaneness of its inhabitants1 among whom respect to man was as rarely to be observed as piety towards ,god4 ,in this benighted place1 the ,sabbath was openly profaned1 and the most holy things contemptuously trampled under foot2 even the restraints of decency were violently broken through1 and the external form of religion held up as a subject of ridicule4 8,immediately upon his settling in this populous village1 ,mr4 ,fletcher entered upon the duties of his vocation with an extraordinary degree of earnestness and zeal4 ,he saw the difficulties of his situation1 and the reproaches to which he should be exposed by a conscientious discharge of the pastoral office2 but1 as a steward of the manifold grace of ,god1 he faithfully dispensed the word of life1 according as every man had need2 instructing the ignorant1 reasoning with gainsayers1 exhorting the immoral1 and rebuking the obstinate4 ,not content with discharging the stated duties of the ,sabbath1 he counted every day as lost in which he was not actually employed in the service of the ,church4 ,as often as a small congregation could be collected1 he joyfully proclaimed to them the acceptable year of the ,lord1 whether it were in the church1 in a private house1 or in the open air40 8,it was a common thing1 in his parish1 for young persons of both sexes to meet together for what was called recreation2 and that recreation usually continued from evening to morning1 consisting chiefly in dancing1 revelling1 drunkenness1 and obscenity4 ,these licentious assemblies he considered a disgrace to the ,christian name1 and determined to exert his ministerial authority for their total suppression4 ,frequently he burst in upon them with a holy indignation1 making war upon ,satan in places peculiarly appropriated to his service40 8,his enemies wrested his words1 misrepresented his actions1 and cast out his name as evil2 but whether he was insulted in his person1 or injured in his property2 whether he was attacked with open abuse1 or pursued by secret calumny1 he walked amid the most violent assaults of his enemies1 as a man invulnerable2 and while his firmness discovered that he was unhurt1 his forbearance testified that he was unoffended40 8,had he aimed at celebrity as a public speaker1 furnished as he was with the united powers of learning1 genius1 and taste1 he might have succeeded beyond many2 but his design was to convert and not to captivate his hearers2 to secure their eternal interests1 and not to obtain their momentary applause4 ,hence his #8speech and his preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom1 but in demonstration of the ,spirit and of power4' ,he spake as in the presence of ,god1 and taught as one having ,divine authority4 ,there was an energy in his preaching that was irresistible4 ,his subjects1 his language1 his gestures1 the tone of his voice1 and the turn of his countenance1 all conspired to fix the attention and affect the heart4 ,without aiming at sublimity1 he was truly sublime2 and uncommonly eloquent without affecting the orator40#hi ,footnote #hi3 8,the ,portrait of ,st4 ,paul40 ,such is the testimony of a gentleman who1 for a season1 lived in ,fletcher's house1 and for many years lived in the neighbourhood of ,fletcher's parish4 ,it would be worse than foolish to add anything to it1 except the remarks of ,fletcher's friend and first biographer1 ,john ,wesley3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher settled at ,madeley in the year #agfj1 and from the beginning he was a laborious workman in his ,lord's vineyard4 ,at his first settling there1 the hearts of several were unaccountably set against him1 insomuch that he was constrained to warn some of these that if they did not repent ,god would speedily cut them off4 ,and the truth of these predictions was shown over and over by the signal accomplishment of them4#ij ,but no opposition could hinder him from going on his ,master's work1 and suppressing vice in every possible manner4 ,those sinners who endeavoured to hide themselves from him he pursued to every corner of his parish by all sorts of means1 public and private1 early and late1 in season and out of season1 entreating and warning them to flee from the wrath to come4 ,some made it an excuse for not attending church that they could not awake early enough to get their families ready4 ,he provided for this also4 ,taking a bell in his hand1 he set out every ,sunday at five in the morning1 and went round the most distant parts of the parish1 inviting all the inhabitants to the house of ,god4 8,yet1 notwithstanding all the pains he took1 he saw for some time little fruit of his labour2 insomuch that he was more than once in doubt whether he had not mistaken his place2 whether ,god had indeed called him to confine himself to one town1 or to labour more at large in ,his vineyard4 ,he was not free from this doubt when a multitude of people flocked together at a funeral4 ,he seldom let these awful opportunities slip without giving a solemn exhortation4 ,at the close of the exhortation which was then given1 one man was so grievously offended that he could not refrain from breaking out into scurrilous1 yea1 menacing language4 ,but1 notwithstanding all his struggling against it1 the ,word fastened upon his heart4 ,at first1 indeed1 he roared like a lion2 but he soon wept like a child4 ,not long after1 he came to ,mr4 ,fletcher in the most humble manner1 asking pardon for his outrageous behaviour1 and begging an interest in his prayers4 ,this was such a refreshment as he stood in need of4 ,in a short time1 this poor broken-hearted sinner was filled with joy unspeakable4 ,he then spared no pains in exhorting his fellow-sinners to flee from the wrath to come4 8,it was not long after1 when1 one ,sunday evening1 ,mr4 ,fletcher1 after performing the usual duty at ,madeley1 was about to set out for ,madeley ,wood1 to preach and catechise as usual4 ,but just then notice was brought 7which should have been given before7 that a child was to be buried4 ,his waiting till the child was brought prevented his going to the wood2 and herein the providence of ,god appeared4 ,for at this very time1 many of the colliers1 who neither feared ,god nor regarded men1 were baiting a bull just by the meeting-house2 and1 having had plenty to drink1 they had all agreed1 as soon as he came1 to bait the parson4 ,part of them were appointed to pull him off his horse1 and the rest to set the dogs upon him4 ,one of these very men afterwards confessed that he was with them when this agreement was made2 and that afterwards1 while they were in the most horrid manner cursing and swearing at their disappointment1 a large china punch-bowl1 which held above a gallon1 without any apparent cause 7for it was not touched by any person or thing7 fell all to shivers4 ,this so alarmed him that he forsook all his companions1 and determined to save his own soul40#ia ,footnote #ij3 ,jonathan ,crowther1 ,president of the ,methodist ,conference in #ahai1 relates1 in his unpublished autobiography1 the following anecdote3 8,mrs4 ,fletcher told me that one ,sunday1 after the forenoon service1 ,mr4 ,preston1 a gentleman farmer near ,madeley1 very grossly insulted ,mr4 ,fletcher in the churchyard1 and evinced great enmity against his faithful ministry4 ,in his sermon in the afternoon1 ,mr4 ,fletcher said1 he had a powerful impression that before the next ,sabbath ,god would give a signal mark of ,his displeasure against the enemies of ,his cause and truth4 ,the week was drawing to a close2 nothing remarkable had happened2 but on ,saturday night1 ,mr4 ,preston1 when returning home from market in a state of intoxication1 fell from his horse and died on the spot40 ,footnote #ia3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,three ,,quiet1 ,,successful ,,years4 #agfb-agfe4 ,,in the autumn of #agfb ,methodism in ,london was in perilous confusion4 ,two years before1 ,wesley had appointed ,thomas ,maxfield1 one of his first preachers1 to meet a select band1 who professed to be entirely sanctified4 ,some of the members of this band soon had dreams1 visions and impressions1 as they thought1 from ,god2 and ,maxfield1 instead of repressing their whimsies1 encouraged them1 so that their vagaries were soon regarded as proofs of the highest state of grace4 ,some of the preachers rebuked these visionaries4 ,this excited resentment1 and they refused to hear their rebukers preach4 ,they became the avowed followers of ,maxfield1 who told them they were not to be taught by man1 and especially by those who had less grace than themselves4 ,george ,bell1 converted in #ageh1 and sanctified in #agfa1 joined them1 and became wilder than the wildest of them4 ,the result was1 when ,wesley returned to ,london in ,october1 #agfb1 he found the ,society there in a disgraceful uproar1 and the followers of ,maxfield and ,bell formed into a sort of detached connexion4#ib ,they called themselves 8the witnesses40 ,wesley and his brother were in great distress4 ,the latter wrote to ,fletcher1 and received the following reply3-- 8,,madeley1 ,september #bj1 #agfb4 8#8,crede quod habes1 et habes1' is not very different from those words of ,christ1 #8,what things soever ye desire1 when ye pray1 believe that ye receive them1 and ye shall have them4' ,the humble reason of the believer1 and the irrational presumption of the enthusiast1 draw this doctrine to the right hand or the left2 but to split the hair--here lies the difficulty4 ,i have told you that ,i am no party man2 ,i am neither for nor against the witness for ,christian perfection without examination4 ,i complain of those who deceive themselves2 ,i honour those who do honour to their profession2 and ,i wish we could find out the right way of reconciling the most profound humility with the most lively hopes of grace4 ,i think you insist on the one and ,maxfield on the other2 and ,i believe you both sincere in your views4 ,god bless you both2 and if either of you goes too far1 may the ,lord bring him back60#ic ,footnote #ib3 ,for a fuller account of this unhappy schism1 see ,tyerman's 8,life and ,times of ,wesley10 vol4 ii41 pp4 #dcb-ddd4 ,footnote #ic3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #aba4 8,,madeley1 ,november #bb1 #agfb4 8,brother ,ley#id arrived here yesterday1 and confirms the melancholy news of many of our brethren overshooting sober and steady ,christianity in ,london4 ,i feel a great deal for you and the ,church in these critical circumstances4 ,oh that ,i could stand in the gap6 ,oh that ,i could1 by sacrificing myself1 shut this immense abyss of enthusiasm which opens its mouth among us6 8,the corruption of the best things is always the worst of corruptions4 ,going into an extreme of this nature1 or only winking at it1 will give an eternal sanction to the vile aspersions cast on all sides on the purest doctrines of ,christianity2 and we shall sadly overthrow1 overthrow in the worst manner1 what we have endeavoured to build for many years4 8,i have a particular regard for ,maxfield and ,bell--both of them are my correspondents4 ,i am strongly prejudiced in favour of the witnesses1 and do not willingly receive what is said against them2 but allowing that what is reported is one-half mere exaggeration1 the tenth part of the rest shows that spiritual pride1 presumption1 arrogance1 stubbornness1 party spirit1 uncharitableness1 prophetic mistakes1 in short1 every sinew of enthusiasm is now at work in many of that body4 ,i do not credit any one's bare word1 but ,i ground my sentiments on ,bell's own letters4 8,may ,i presume to lay before you my mite of observation8 ,would it be wrong in me calmly to sit down1 with some unprejudiced friends and lovers of both parties1 and to fix with them the marks and symptoms of enthusiasm2 and then insist1 at first in love1 and afterwards1 if necessary1 with all the weight of my authority1 upon those who have them or plead for them1 either to stand to the sober rule of ,christianity1 or openly to depart from us8 8,fear not1 dear ,sir1 the ,lord will take care of the ark4 ,have faith in the ,word1 and leave the rest to ,providence4 #8,the ,lord will provide' is a comfortable motto for a believer40#ie ,footnote #id3 ,one of ,wesley's ,itinerant ,preachers4 ,footnote #ie3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #abf4 ,thus by proposing to act as mediator between the ,wesleys and their distracted followers in ,london did ,fletcher end the eventful year of #agfb4 ,in the middle of the year he told ,charles ,wesley that he had 8attempted to form a ,society10 and hoped to succeed4 ,he drew up rules for this ,society4#if ,first of all1 he described 8the nature of a ,religious ,society10 and quoted ,malachi iii4 #af1 ,psalm lxvi4 #af2 ,luke viii4 #a-c2 ,acts i4 #ae1 ii4 #db-dg2 ,heb4 iii4 #ab1 #ac1 x4 #be2 ,col4 iii4 #af2 #a ,cor4 xiv4 #bi-ca2 #a ,thess4 v4 #aa-ad2 ,james v4 #af2 and ,jude i4 #ah-ba4 8,encouraged by these texts10 said he1 8a few of us design to unite in a ,religious ,society to support and animate each other in the ways of godliness40 ,he proceeds3-- 8,in order to be admitted into the ,society1 one only condition is previously required1 namely1 a sincere desire to flee from the wrath to come1 and to seek salvation from the servitude of sin according to the ,gospel1 and the ,thirty-nine ,articles of the ,church of ,england1 especially the ninth1 tenth1 eleventh1 twelfth1 and thirteenth1 which are earnestly recommended to the perusal of every person who would be a member4 8,it is1 however1 expected that the sincerity of such a desire be evinced by putting on the form of godliness1 which we apprehend to consist in three things3 #a4 ,doing no harm1 ,isa4 i4 #af2 ,rom4 xii4 #i4 #b4 ,doing good1 ,isa4 i4 #ag2 ,rom4 xii4 #i4 #c4 ,using the means of grace1 ,luke i4 #af1 ,isa4 lv4 #f40 ,footnote #if3 ,he also drew up the following rules of daily self-examination for himself3-- 8#a4 ,did ,i awake spiritual1 and was ,i watchful in keeping my mind from wandering this morning when ,i was rising8 8#b4 ,have ,i this day got nearer to ,god in times of prayer1 or have ,i given way to a lazy1 idle spirit8 8#c4 ,has my faith been weakened by unwatchfulness1 or quickened by diligence this day8 8#d4 ,have ,i this day walked by faith and eyed ,god in all things8 8#e4 ,have ,i denied myself in all unkind words and thoughts2 have ,i delighted in seeing others preferred before me8 8#f4 ,have ,i made the most of my precious time1 as far as ,i had light1 strength1 and opportunity8 8#g4 ,have ,i kept the issues of my heart in the means of grace1 so as to profit by them8 8#h4 ,what have ,i done this day for the souls and bodies of ,god's dear saints8 8#i4 ,have ,i laid out anything to please myself when ,i might have saved the money for the cause of ,god8 8#aj4 ,have ,i governed well my tongue this day1 remembering that #8in a multitude of words there wanteth not sin'8 8#aa4 ,in how many instances have ,i denied myself this day8 8#ab4 ,do my life and conversation adorn the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ80#ig ,footnote #ig3 8,thirteen ,original ,letters1 by the ,rev4 ,john ,fletcher4 ,bath3 #agia10 p4 #ch4 ,under the first of these rules ,fletcher mentions 8taking the ,lord's name in vain1 either by profane cursing1 swearing1 or trivial exclamations20 sabbath-breaking2 uncleanness2 drunkenness1 or tippling1 or going into a public house1 or staying without necessity2 fighting2 quarrelling2 brawling2 railing1 uncharitable conversation2 filthy talking2 jesting2 evil speaking2 attendance at balls1 plays1 races1 cock-fightings and bull-baitings2 gaming2 song-singing2 reading unprofitable books2 softness2 needless indulgence2 putting on gaudy and costly apparel2 smuggling2 taking advantage of a neighbour1 etc4 ,under the second1 he includes doing good to the bodies of men2 doing good to the souls of men2 discountenancing profaneness and immorality2 diligence in business2 taking up the cross daily1 etc4 ,under the third1 he names1 the public worship of ,god in the church2 the ministry of the ,word either read or expounded2 the ,lord's ,supper2 family prayer2 private prayer2 ,scripture reading2 fasting2 and singing hymns and psalms4 ,it is needless to tell ,methodist readers that ,fletcher's rules are substantially the same as the rules which ,wesley drew up and published for the ,methodists in #agdc1 and which1 excepting two or three trivial alterations1 introduced in #agdd1 are the same now as they were then4 ,fletcher1 however1 attached an 8,appendix0 to his rules1 to the following effect3-- #a4 ,that any one practising the ,rules 8is to give in his or her name to the ,director of the ,society and the major part of the members2 and they shall be joyfully admitted1 be they high or low1 old or young1 learned or unlearned40 #b4 ,if any member fell into sin1 he must be expelled4 #c4 ,if the expelled member wished to be re-admitted1 he must acknowledge his error1 and if1 after a trial of three months1 he appeared to be reformed1 his re-admission should take place4 #d4 ,the members were to meet together one evening every week between seven and eight o'clock4 #e4 ,they were to watch over each other in love4 #f4 ,they were not to be angry with those who spoke against the ,society4 ,the probability is that ,fletcher did not print his ,rules1 as ,wesley had done4 ,indeed1 there was no need for this1 as his ,societies were few in number1 and existed within a comparatively small area4 ,it was an easy thing for ,fletcher to read the rules to each ,society as occasion required1 and1 perhaps1 they were inscribed in the registers of attendance4 ,three years after ,fletcher's death1 the ,rev4 ,melville ,horne1 his successor at ,madeley1 printed and published them1 and stated1 in a ,preface1 that ,fletcher drew them up soon after his settlement at ,madeley1 and revised and corrected them about the year #aggg4 ,in another production1 entitled 8,heads of ,examination for ,adult ,christians10 ,fletcher set up a higher standard than his 8,rules0 contained4 ,the following is an abridgment of the questions he wished his people to propose to themselves3-- 8,do ,i feel any pride8 ,am ,i dead to all desire of praise8 ,if any despise me1 do ,i like them the worse for it8 ,or if they love and approve me1 do ,i love them more on that account8 ,is ,christ the life of all my affections and designs1 as my soul is the life of my body8 ,have ,i always the presence of ,god8 ,does no cloud come between ,god and the eye of my faith8 ,am ,i saved from the fear of man8 ,do ,i speak plainly to all1 neither fearing their frowns1 nor seeking their favours8 ,am ,i always ready to confess ,christ1 to suffer with ,his people1 and to die for ,his sake8 ,do ,i deny myself at all times1 and take up my cross8 ,am ,i willing to give up my ease and convenience to oblige others1 or do ,i expect them to conform to my hours1 ways1 and customs8 ,are my bodily senses and outward things all sanctified to me8 ,am ,i poor in spirit8 ,have ,i no false shame in approaching ,god8 ,do ,i not lean to my own understanding8 ,do ,i esteem every one better than myself8 ,do ,i never take that glory to myself which belongs to ,christ8 ,does meekness bear rule over all my tempers1 affections1 and desires8 ,do ,i possess resignation1 seeing ,god does1 and will do1 all for my good8 ,am ,i temperate1 using the world1 and not abusing it8 ,am ,i courteous1 not severe2 suiting myself to all with sweetness2 striving to give no one pain1 but to gain and win all for their good8 ,am ,i vigilant1 redeeming time1 and taking every opportunity of doing good8 ,do ,i perform the most servile offices1 such as require labour and humiliation1 with cheerfulness8 ,do ,i love ,god with all my heart8 ,do ,i constantly present myself1 my time1 my substance1 talents1 and all ,i have1 a living sacrifice8 ,is every thought brought into subjection to ,christ8 ,do ,i love my neighbour as myself8 ,do ,i think no evil1 listen to no groundless surmises1 nor judge from appearances8 ,how am ,i in my sleep8 ,if ,satan presents any evil imagination1 does my will immediately resist or give way to it8 ,do ,i bear the infirmities of age or sickness without seeking to repair the decays of nature by strong liquors8 ,or do ,i make ,christ my sole support1 casting the burden of a feeble body into the arms of ,his mercy80#ih ,footnote #ih3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #dcd4 ,this was the life ,fletcher himself strove to live2 and this was the life he urged his ,methodists to live4 ,fletcher's ,methodist ,society at ,madeley was formed as early as the year #agfb2 and one of its members soon involved him in trouble4 ,hence the following1 taken from a letter addressed to ,charles ,wesley3-- 8,,madeley1 ,january #e1 #agfc4 8,as to my parish1 we are just where we were4 ,we look for our ,pentecost1 but we do not pray sufficiently to obtain it4 ,we are left in tolerable quiet by all but the sergeant1 who sent a constable to make enquiry concerning the life of ,his ,majesty's subjects1 upon information that the cry of murder had been heard in my house on ,christmas ,day4 8,this report originated in the cries of a young woman1 who is of our ,society1 and whom ,satan has bound for some months4 ,it seems to me as if that old murderer proposed to ruin the success of my ministry at ,madeley1 as he did in ,london1 in the ,french ,church1 by means of ,miss ,a----d4 8,the young woman here emaciates her body by fastings2 falls into convulsions1 sometimes in the church1 and sometimes in our private assemblies2 and is perpetually tempted to suicide4 ,her constitution is considerably weakened1 as well as her understanding4 ,what to do in this case ,i know not2 for those who are tempted in this manner pay as little regard to reason as the miserable people in ,bedlam4 ,prayer and fasting are our only resources4 ,we propose to represent her case to the ,lord on ,tuesday next1 and on all the following ,tuesdays4 ,aid the weakness of our prayers with all the power of yours40#ii ,footnote #ii3 ,ibid41 #agia1 p4 #abg4 ,this was a greater trial to ,fletcher than1 at first sight1 appears4 ,it seems to have led him to entertain the thought of resigning his living4 ,more than six months afterwards1 in another letter to ,charles ,wesley1 he wrote3-- 8,,madeley1 ,july #bf1 #agfc4 8,everything here is pretty quiet now4 ,many of our offences die away2 though1 not long ago1 ,i had trials in abundance4 ,one of them might have made me quit ,madeley2 but the young person ,i mentioned as being sorely tempted of the devil1 is happily delivered40#ajj ,footnote #ajj3 ,ibid41 p4 #acc4 ,fletcher's life at ,madeley1 during the year #agfc1 seems to have been a quiet one4 ,maxfield's quarrel with ,wesley still continued1 and ,fletcher took an interest in it4 ,wesley's annoyance was great1 and his forbearance with the ,london fanatics exposed him to the censure of his friends4 ,john ,downes1 in a letter to ,joseph ,cownley1 wrote3-- 8,i consider the follies and extravagance of the witnesses as the devices of ,satan1 to cast a blemish upon a real work of ,god4 ,the more ,i converse with the solid ones1 the more ,i long to experience what they do4 ,it is a state worthy of a ,christian4 ,as to the follies of the enthusiasts1 ,mr4 ,charles hears every week less or more4 ,he threatens1 but cannot find in his heart to put in execution4 ,the consequence is1 the talk of all the town1 and entertainment for the newspapers40 ,on ,february #a1 #agfc1 ,charles ,wesley wrote3-- 8,satan has made sad havoc of the flock4 ,four years ago1 ,i gave warning of the flood of enthusiasm which has now overflowed us40 ,a week later ,john ,wesley remarked3-- 8,the mask is thrown off4 ,george ,bell1 ,john ,dixon1 etc41 have quitted the ,society4 ,i wrote to ,thomas ,maxfield1 but was not favoured with an answer4 ,this morning ,i wrote a second time1 and received an answer indeed6 ,the substance is1 #8,you take too much upon you4'0#aja ,footnote #aja3 ,tyerman's 8,life and ,times of ,wesley10 vol4 ii41 p4 #dfb4 ,these brief extracts are given to indicate the great commotion that at this time existed4 ,the excitement was not confined to ,london4 ,it was shared by ,mr4 ,samuel ,hatton and ,miss ,hatton1 both of them ,fletcher's friends and correspondents1 and who seem to have resided at the ancient town of ,wem1 about twenty miles from ,madeley4#ajb ,in a letter to ,miss ,hatton1 ,fletcher expressed his views1 as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,march #ad1 #agfc4 8,mr4 ,maxfield's reply to ,mr4 ,wesley seems to me just in some points1 and in others too severe4 ,mr4 ,wesley is1 perhaps1 too tenacious of some expressions1 and too prone to credit what he wishes concerning some mistaken witnesses of the state of fathers in ,christ4 ,mr4 ,maxfield1 perhaps1 esteems too little the inestimable privilege of being perfected in that love which casts out fear4 ,but1 in general1 ,i conceive that it would be better for babes1 or young men in ,christ1 to cry for a growth in grace1 than to dispute whether fathers in ,christ enjoy such privileges40#ajc ,footnote #ajb3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ahb4 ,footnote #ajc3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #acj4 ,a few weeks later1 in a letter to ,mr4 ,samuel ,hatton1 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,,madeley1 ,april #bb1 #agfc4 8,i am quite of your opinion about the mischief that some professors do in the ,church of ,christ under the mask of sanctity2 but my ,master bids me bear with the tares until the harvest1 lest1 in rooting them up1 ,i should promiscuously pull up the wheat also4 ,as to ,mr4 ,wesley's system of perfection1 it tends rather to promote humility than pride1 if ,i may credit his description of it in the lines following3-- 8#8,now let me gain perfection's height1 ,now let me into nothing fall1 ,be less than nothing in ,thy sight1 ,and feel that ,christ is all in all6' 8,more than this ,i do not desire1 and ,i hope that1 short of this1 nothing will satisfy either my dear friend or me40#ajd ,footnote #ajd3 ,ibid41 p4 #acb4 ,the following letter1 to ,charles ,wesley1 refers to the same disturbance2 but it also mentions another matter of great interest4 ,six years ago1 ,fletcher had become acquainted with ,miss ,bosanquet4 ,during the present year1 he had commenced a correspondence1 in the highest degree religious1 with ,miss ,hatton4 ,he was a lone man1 living among colliers4 ,he had lately been with ,charles ,wesley4 ,charles was an eminently social man1 and had suggested to ,fletcher that he would do well to marry4 ,fletcher replied as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,september #i1 #agfc4 8,,my ,,dear ,,sir1--,i see that we ought to learn continually to cast our burdens upon the ,lord1 who alone can bear them without fatigue and pain4 ,if ,maxfield returns1 the ,lord may correct his errors1 and give him so to insist on the fruits of faith as to prevent antinomianism4 ,i believe him sincere2 and1 though obstinate and suspicious1 ,i am persuaded he has a true desire to know the will and live the life of ,god4 ,i reply in the same words you quoted to me in one of your letters1--#8,don't be afraid of a wreck1 for ,jesus is in the ship4' ,after the most violent storm1 the ,lord will1 perhaps1 all at once1 bring our ship into the desired haven4 8,you ask me a very singular question with respect to women2 ,i shall1 however1 answer it with a smile1 as ,i suppose you asked it4 ,you might have remarked that1 for some days before ,i set off for ,madeley1 ,i considered matrimony with a different eye to what ,i had done2 and the person who then presented herself to my imagination was ,miss ,bosanquet4 ,her image pursued me for some hours the last day1 and that so warmly1 that ,i should1 perhaps1 have lost my peace if a suspicion of the truth of ,juvenal's proverb1 #8,veniunt a dote sagittae1' had not made me blush1 fight1 and fly to ,jesus1 who delivered me at the same moment from her image and the idea of marriage4 ,since that time1 ,i have been more than ever on my guard against admitting the idea of matrimony1 sometimes by the consideration of the love of ,jesus1 which ought to be my whole felicity2 and1 at others1 by the following reflections4 8,it is true that the ,scripture says that a good wife is the gift of the ,lord2 and it is also true that there may be one in a thousand2 but who would put in a lottery where are nine hundred and ninety-nine blanks to one prize8 ,and1 suppose ,i could find this ,phnix1 this woman of a thousand1 what should ,i gain by it8 ,a distressing refusal4 ,how could she choose such a man as ,i8 ,if1 notwithstanding all my self-love1 ,i am compelled cordially to despise myself1 could ,i be so wanting in generosity as to expect another to do that for me1 which ,i cannot do for myself--to engage to love1 to esteem1 and to honour me8 8,i will throw on my paper some reflections which the last paragraphs of your letter gave rise to1 and ,i beg you will weigh them with me in the balances of the sanctuary4 8,reasons for and against matrimony4 8#a4 ,a tender friendship is1 after the love of ,christ1 the greatest felicity of life2 and a happy marriage is nothing but such a friendship between two persons of different sexes4 8#b4 ,a wife might deliver me from the difficulties of housekeeping1 etc4 8#c4 ,some objections and scandals may be avoided by marriage4 8#d4 ,a pious and zealous wife might be as useful as myself2 nay1 she might be much more so among my female parishioners1 who greatly want an inspectress4 8#a4 ,death will shortly end all particular friendships4 ,the happier the state of marriage1 the more afflicting is the widowhood2 besides1 we may try a friend and reject him after trial2 but we cannot know a wife till it is too late to part with her4 8#b4 ,marriage brings after it a hundred cares and expenses2 children1 a family1 etc4 8#c4 ,if matrimony is not happy1 it is the most fertile source of scandal4 8#d4 ,i have a thousand to one to fear that a wife1 instead of being a help1 may be indolent1 and consequently useless2 or humoursome1 haughty1 capricious1 and consequently a heavy curse4 8,farewell6 ,yours1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#aje ,footnote #aje3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #add4 ,this is a curious letter4 ,eighteen years after the time when it was written1 ,fletcher married ,miss ,bosanquet4 ,probably the 8reasons for matrimony0 had been1 in substance1 suggested by ,charles ,wesley4 ,fletcher's 8reasons against matrimony0 were undoubtedly sincere1 but they were unintentionally selfish1 and were unworthy of him4 ,experience taught him wisdom4 ,before proceeding further1 a remarkable occurrence must be noted4 ,the church at ,madeley is dedicated to ,st4 ,michael1 whose feast-day is ,september #bi4 ,on that day1 in #agfc1 ,fletcher preached from ,dan4 iii4 #ad1 and concluded his discourse in words like these3-- 8,from the dedication of our church1 from days set apart to be kept holy1 ,satan takes occasion to enforce the worship of his threefold image1 profit1 honour1 pleasure4 ,now remember the duty of ,god's people1 and quit yourselves like men4 ,some petty ,nebuchadnezzars have sent to gather together1 not princes1 but drunken men2 and have set up1 not a golden image1 no1 nor a golden calf1 but a living bull4#ajf ,o ye that fear ,god1 be not afraid of their terror2 be not allured by their music2 confess the ,god of ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego4 #8,no other ,god can deliver after this sort1' said the heathen2 and give me leave to add1 #8,no other ,god can punish after this sort4' ,the burning furnace of ,his indignation is heated2 and eternity is the duration of its torments40#ajg ,footnote #ajf3 ,the reference obviously is to a bull-baiting4 ,footnote #ajg3 ,fletcher's ,works1 vol4 viii41 p4 #gf4 ,the way in which ,fletcher was led to preach this sermon on 8the ,wake-,sunday0 was told by himself1 and the story1 after his death1 was published in a small tract1 entitled1 8,the ,furious ,butcher ,humbled3 a true and remarkable story1 as related by the late ,rev4 ,mr4 ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley40 ,the substance of it was also inserted in the ,evangelical ,magazine for the year #agih4 ,from that account1 the following is taken4 8,one ,sunday10 said ,mr4 ,fletcher1 8when ,i had done reading prayers at ,madeley1 ,i went up into the pulpit1 intending to preach a sermon1 which ,i had prepared for that purpose2 but my mind was so confused1 that ,i could not recollect either my text or any part of my sermon4 ,i was afraid ,i should be obliged to come down without saying anything4 ,but1 having recollected myself a little1 ,i thought ,i would say something on the ,first ,lesson1 which was the third chapter of the book of ,daniel1 containing the account of ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego being cast into the fiery furnace4 ,i found1 in doing this1 such extraordinary assistance from ,god1 and such a peculiar enlargement of heart1 that ,i supposed there must be some peculiar cause of it4 ,i therefore desired1 if any of the congregation found anything particular1 they would acquaint me with it in the ensuing week4 8,in consequence of this1 the ,wednesday after1 a woman came and gave me the following account3-- 8#8,i have been for some time much concerned about my soul4 ,i have attended the church at all opportunities1 and have spent much time in private prayer4 ,at this1 my husband 7who is a butcher7 has been exceedingly enraged1 and has threatened me severely as to what he would do to me if ,i did not leave off going to ,john ,fletcher's church2 yea1 if ,i dared to go again to any religious meetings whatever4 ,when ,i told him ,i could not in conscience refrain from going1 at least1 to the parish church1 he became outrageous1 and swore dreadfully1 and said1 if ,i went again1 he would cut my throat as soon as ,i came back4 ,this made me cry to ,god that ,he would support me2 and1 though ,i did not feel any great degree of comfort1 yet1 having a sure confidence in ,god1 ,i determined to do my duty1 and leave the event to ,him4 ,last ,sunday1 after many struggles with the devil and my own heart1 ,i came downstairs ready for church4 ,my husband said he should not cut my throat1 as he had intended1 but he would heat the oven1 and throw me into it1 the moment ,i came home4 ,notwithstanding this threat1 which he enforced with many bitter oaths1 ,i went to church1 praying all the way that ,god would strengthen me to suffer whatever might befall me4 ,while you were speaking of the three children whom ,nebuchadnezzar cast into the burning fiery furnace1 ,i found all you said belonged to me4 ,god applied every word to my heart2 and1 when the sermon was ended1 ,i thought1 if ,i had a thousand lives1 ,i could lay them all down for ,him4 ,i felt so filled with ,his love that ,i hastened home1 fully determined to give myself to whatsoever ,god pleased2 nothing doubting that ,he either would take me to heaven1 if ,he suffered me to be burnt to death2 or that ,he would in some way deliver me1 as ,he did ,his three servants that trusted in ,him4 ,when ,i got to my own door1 ,i saw flames issuing from the oven1 and ,i expected to be thrown into it immediately4 ,i felt my heart rejoice1 that1 if it were so1 the will of the ,lord would be done4 ,i opened the door1 and1 to my utter astonishment1 saw my husband upon his knees1 praying for the forgiveness of his sins4 ,he caught me in his arms2 earnestly begged my pardon2 and has continued diligently seeking ,god ever since4'0 ,such was the poor woman's story4 ,after listening to it1 ,fletcher cried1 8,now ,i know why my sermon was taken from me1 namely1 that ,god might thus magnify ,his mercy40 ,nothing need be added1 except that to attribute these strange occurrences to anything less than the direct interference of ,him who has supreme authority over all human minds and hearts would be infidelity of the most impious kind4 ,nothing is known of ,fletcher's life during the year #agfd4 ,it is a singular fact1 that only three of his letters1 belonging to this period1 have been published1 and these were all addressed to his friend1 at ,wem1 ,miss ,hatton4 ,they are entirely devoid of incident2 but are full of piety4 ,the following are extracts3-- 8,madeley1 ,march #e1 #agfd4 ,your dulness in private prayer arises from the want of familiar friendship with ,jesus4 ,to obviate it1 go to your closet1 as if you were going to meet your dearest friend2 cast yourself at ,his feet2 bemoan your coldness2 extol ,his love to you2 and let your heart break with a desire to love ,him4 ,get recollection1--a dwelling within ourselves1--a being abstracted from the creature1 and turned towards ,god4 ,for want of such a frame1 our times of prayer are frequently dry and useless2 imagination prevails1 and the heart wanders2 whereas we pass easily from recollection to delightful prayer40#ajh 8,madeley1 ,september #c1 #agfd4 ,with respect to the hindrances your worldly business lays in your way1 the following means1 in due subordination to faith in ,jesus1 may be of service to you you3-- 8#a4 ,get up early and save time1 before you go to business1 to put on the whole armour of ,god1 by close meditation and earnest prayer4 8#b4 ,consider the temptation that most easily besets you1 whether it be hurry1 or vanity1 or lightness1 or want of recollection to do what you do as unto ,god4 8#c4 ,when your mind has been drawn aside1 do not fret1 or let yourself go down the stream of nature1 as if it were vain to attempt to swim against it2 but confess your fault1 and calmly resume your former endeavour1 but with more humility and watchfulness4 8#d4 ,steal from business now and then1 though for two or three minutes only1 and1 in the corner where you can be least observed1 pour out your soul in confession2 or utter a short ejaculation for power to watch1 and to believe that ,jesus can keep you watching40#aji 8,madeley1 ,december1 #agfd4 ,i am sensible how ,i want advice in a thousand particulars1 and how incapable ,i am to direct anyone2 but the following observations came to my mind on the reading of your letter1 and ,i venture to send them4 8,you cannot expect to attain to such a carriage as will please all you converse with4 ,the ,son of ,god1 the original of all human perfection1 was blamed1 sometimes for ,his silence1 and sometimes for ,his speaking2 and shall the handmaid be above her ,master8 8,there is no sin in wearing such things as you have by you1 if they are necessary for your station1 and characterize your rank4 8,there is no sin in looking cheerful4 #8,rejoice evermore3' and1 if it is our duty always to be filled with joy1 it is our duty to appear what we are in reality4 ,i hope1 however1 your friends know how to distinguish between cheerfulness and levity4 8,beware of stiff singularity in things barely indifferent3 it is self in disguise2 and it is so much the more dangerous when it comes recommended by a serious1 self-denying1 religious appearance4 8,i hope the short-comings of some about you will not prevent you eyeing the prize of a glorious conformity to our blessed ,head4 ,it is to be feared that not a few of those who profess to have attained it1 have mistaken the way4 ,they are still something2 whereas ,i apprehend that an important step towards that conformity is to become nothing2 or rather1 with ,st4 ,paul1--to become in our own eyes the chief of sinners1 and the least of saints40#aaj ,footnote #ajh3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #adg4 ,footnote #aji3 ,ibid41 #agia1 p4 #aea4 ,footnote #aaj3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #aec4 ,these fragmentary extracts are of some importance1 because they indicate the matters respecting which ,fletcher was consulted1 and also exhibit his own habitual frame of mind4 ,before leaving the year #agfd1 one incident must be mentioned1 far too interesting to be omitted4 ,so far as there is evidence to show1 there had been no interview1 and1 indeed1 no correspondence1 between ,fletcher and ,wesley since the year #agfj1 when ,fletcher1 contrary to the advice of ,wesley1 accepted the living of ,madeley4 ,there is not the slightest proof of any estrangement of affection having taken place2 but ,fletcher had been too much occupied to visit ,wesley in ,london2 and ,wesley1 considering the opposition ,fletcher had to encounter1 had1 hitherto1 not deemed it expedient to visit ,fletcher at ,madeley4 ,as to epistolary correspondence1 ,charles ,wesley was ,fletcher's chosen adviser2 and that1 for the present1 was quite enough4 ,the ,madeley persecutions had now subsided2 and1 hence1 in the month of ,july1 #agfd1 the ,arch-,methodist ventured to invade the parish of the ,madeley vicar4 ,he wrote3-- 8#agfd1 ,saturday1 ,july #ba4 ,i rode to ,bilbrook1 near ,wolverhampton1 and preached at between two and three4 ,thence we went on to ,madeley1 an exceedingly pleasant village1 encompassed with trees and hills4 ,it was a great comfort to me to converse once more with a ,methodist of the old type1 denying himself1 taking up his cross1 and resolved to be04bn #aag4png 8,sunday1 ,july #bb4 ,at ten1 ,mr4 ,fletcher read prayers1 and ,i preached on those words in the ,gospel10,the church would nothing near contain the congregation2 but a window near the pulpit being taken down1 those who could not come in stood in the churchyard1 and ,i believe all could hear4 ,the congregation1 they said1 used to be much smaller in the afternoon than in the morning2 but ,i could not discern the least difference1 either in number or seriousness4 ,i found employment enough for the intermediate hours in praying with various companies who hung about the house1 insatiably hungering and thirsting after the good word4 ,mr4 ,grimshaw1 at his first coming to ,haworth1 had not such a prospect as this4 ,there are many adversaries indeed2 but yet they cannot shut the open and effectual door4 8,monday1 ,july #bc4 ,the church was pretty well filled even at five1 and many stood in the churchyard4 ,in the evening1 ,i preached at ,shrewsbury1 to a large congregation1 among whom were several men of fortune4 ,i trust1 though hitherto we seem to have been ploughing on the sand1 there will at last be some fruit40#aaa ,footnote #aaa3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,wesley's first visit to ,madeley was1 to himself1 eminently satisfactory2 and his report of it shows that1 notwithstanding the 8many adversaries10 ,fletcher's labours had been crowned with great success4 ,truly might ,wesley designate ,fletcher 8a ,methodist of the old type1 denying himself1 and taking up his cross40 ,the following letter1 addressed 8to ,mr4 ,henry ,perronet1 at ,mr4 ,wright's1 at the ,boot1 in ,old ,street1 ,st4 ,luke's ,parish1 ,london10 will partly illustrate ,wesley's meaning4 8,,madeley1 ,november #f1 #agfe4 8,,sir1--,i have received both your letter and ,mr4 ,charles ,wesley's1 and shall be exceeding glad of an opportunity to oblige or serve you in anything in my power4 8,as you seem to me a stranger to the situation of the country1 ,i would have you come down first1 and choose for yourself a spot that may suit your taste4 ,i live here in a little market-town1 three or four miles from the foot of the ,wrekin1 at the south-east of that hill2 so that you may easily take a walk or ride with me to some of the spots or villages where you may prefer to fix your abode1 if this does not please you4 ,i live alone in my house1 having neither wife1 child1 nor servant4 ,i can1 therefore1 without inconveniency1 spare you a room in the meantime4 ,if you choose to provide your food1 you shall have conveniences for it2 if you choose to table with a neighbour1 as ,i do1 you may4 8,you seem to be cut out for contemplation and retirement1 ,sir2 ,i hope you have made choice of ,jesus for the chief subject of your meditations4 ,may you find much of ,his presence everywhere6 8,if you choose to venture into ,shropshire1 you may take the ,shrewsbury coach at the ,swan1 in ,lad ,lane1 somewhere in the city1 and in two days and a half you will be at ,shiffnal1 eighteen miles short of ,shrewsbury1 and three from ,madeley4 ,if you send me word when you are to set out1 ,i will send my mare to meet you at the ,red ,lion1 in ,shiffnal1 the day that the coach passes through the town4 8,that the ,lord may direct and prosper you in all things is the wish of1 ,sir1 your affectionate servant in ,christ1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#aab ,footnote #aab3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahbe1 p4 #gdd4 ,as a farther illustration of ,fletcher's simplicity of living1 and of his habitual piety1 an incident may be introduced1 belonging to about this period1 and published in a sermon preached on the occasion of the death of ,fletcher's widow1 in #ahaf1 by the ,rev4 ,john ,hodson4 ,mr4 ,hodson says3-- 8,a few days ago1 ,i was in company with a pious female1 who1 for many years1 was intimately acquainted with ,mr4 ,fletcher4 ,she said ,mr4 ,fletcher sometimes visited a boarding-school at ,madeley4 ,one morning he came in just as she and the other girls had sat down to breakfast4 ,he said but little while the meal lasted1 but when it was finished he spoke to each girl separately1 and concluded by saying to the whole1 #8,i have waited some time on you this morning1 that ,i might see you eat your breakfast2 and ,i hope you will visit me to-morrow morning1 and see how ,i eat mine4' ,he told them his breakfast hour was seven o'clock1 and obtained a promise that they would visit him4 ,next morning1 they went at the time appointed1 and seated themselves in the kitchen4 ,mr4 ,fletcher came in1 quite rejoiced to see them4 ,on the table stood a small basin of milk and sops of bread4 ,mr4 ,fletcher took the basin across the kitchen1 and sat down on an old bench4 ,he then took out his watch1 laid it before him1 and said1 #8,my dear girls1 yesterday morning ,i waited on you a full hour1 while you were at breakfast4 ,i shall take as much time this morning in eating my breakfast as ,i usually do1 if not rather more4 ,look at my watch6' and he immediately began to eat1 and continued in conversation with them4 ,when he had finished1 he asked them how long he had been at breakfast4 ,they said1 #8,just a minute and a half1 ,sir4' #8,now1 my dear girls1' said he1 #8we have fifty-eight minutes of the hour left2' and he then began to sing1-- #8,our life is a dream6 ,our time as a stream ,glides swiftly away1 ,and the fugitive moment refuses to stay4' ,after this1 he gave them a lecture on the value of time1 and the worth of the soul4 ,they then all knelt down in prayer1 after which he dismissed them with impressions on the mind the narrator never ceased to remember40 ,at ,wesley's yearly ,conference of #agfe1 ,alexander ,mather was appointed to 8,salop0 circuit1 with ,william ,minethorpe as his colleague4 ,mr4 ,mather was now in the thirty-third year of his age4 ,during the last eight years1 he had been an itinerant preacher1 and had passed through strange and painful vicissitudes4 ,in #agfj his circuit had been 8,staffordshire20 in which circuit he had 8built a preaching-house at ,darlaston1 and hired a large building at ,birmingham40 ,he had extended his labours as far as ,shrewsbury1 ,coventry1 ,stroud1 and ,painswick2 and1 by ,wesley's directions1 had visited the 8,societies0 in ,wales4 ,at ,birmingham1 ,mather and the poor ,methodists had been repeatedly in danger of being murdered by persecuting crowds2 and at ,wolverhampton the mob had pulled down the newly-built meeting-house2 and had threatened to do the same at ,dudley1 ,darlaston1 and ,wednesbury4 ,he had also preached at several places in ,shropshire1 and now1 in #agfe1 the county was made a ,methodist circuit1 in which he was appointed to act as ,wesley's 8,assistant40 ,fletcher had already formed two or three ,societies1 which1 without being so designated1 were1 ipso facto1 ,methodist ,societies4 ,he warmly welcomed ,mather1 and was more than willing to be a ,methodist co-worker4 ,hence the following letter addressed to the brave itinerant3-- 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,i thank you for your last favour4 ,if ,i answered not your former letter it was because ,i was in expectation of seeing you--not from the least disregard4 ,i am glad you enjoy peace at ,wellington2 and ,i hope you will do so at the ,trench when you go there4 ,my reasons for stopping there were not to seize upon the spot first1 but to fulfil a promise ,i made to the people1 of visiting them4 ,i desire you will call there as often as you have opportunity4 ,an occasional exhortation from you or your companion1#aac at the ,bank1#aad ,dale1#aae etc41 will be esteemed a favour2 and ,i hope that my going1 as ,providence directs1 to any of your places 7leaving to you the management of the ,societies71 will be deemed no encroachment4 ,in short1 we need not make two parties2 ,i know but one heaven below1 and that is ,jesus's love4 ,let us both go and abide in it2 and when we have gathered as many as we can to go with us1 too many will still stay behind4 8,i find there are in the ministry1 as in the common experience of ,christians1 times which may be compared to winter4 ,no great stir is made in the world of grace beside that of storms and offences1 and the growth of the trees of the ,lord are not showy2 but when the tender buds of brotherly and redeeming love begin to fill1 spring is at hand4 ,the ,lord give us harvest after seed time6 ,let us wait for fruit1 as the husbandman2 and remember1 that he who believes does not make haste4 ,the love of ,christ be with us all4 ,pray for 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#aaf ,footnote #aac3 ,william ,minethorpe1 ,mather's colleague4 ,footnote #aad3 ,a place about five miles from ,madeley1 where ,fletcher had gathered a small ,society4 ,footnote #aae3 ,coalbrook ,dale4 ,footnote #aaf3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #afc4 ,thus began ,methodism in the county of ,salop1 which circuit1 in #agff1 contained #ehg members4 ,it is only right to say1 however1 that1 in the ,minutes of ,conference1 the name of the circuit was1 in that year1 changed to 8,staffordshire10--a name which it retained till #aghb1 though it embraced a number of towns and villages in the county where the ,madeley vicar lived and laboured4 ,in #agfe ,fletcher made two evangelistic visits4 ,the first of these was to ,breedon1 in ,leicestershire4 ,walter ,sellon had been one of the first masters of ,wesley's ,kingswood school1 had acted as one of ,wesley's preachers1 and1 by the influence of the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 had received episcopal ordination4 ,at this period1 he held two curacies1 one at ,smisby and the other at ,breedon-on-the-,hill4 ,his churches were generally crowded1 and his ministry was attended with uncommon power4 ,he lived in the house of ,mr4 ,hall1 of ,tonge1 the leader of ,methodist ,society classes at ,breedon1 ,worthington1 and ,diseworth1 and who1 after living all his life in the house where he was born1 peacefully fell asleep in ,jesus in the year #ahac1 at the age of eighty-one4#aag ,of course ,fletcher's reputation was well known by ,sellon2 and now1 in #agfe1 for a brief season1 they exchanged pulpits4 ,immense crowds assembled2 and exceedingly picturesque must have been the sight of long processions of pious people climbing the lofty hill on the top of which ,breedon church was built1 and singing as they went their sweet songs of ,zion4 ,the church was crammed when ,fletcher preached2 numbers stood outside2 and as many as could clambered to the windows to look at the seraphic minister to whom they wished to listen4#aah ,mr4 ,benson1 in his 8,life of ,fletcher10 relates an incident which must not be omitted here4 ,human nature is the same all the world over1 and throughout all generations4 ,footnote #aag3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahah1 pp4 #di-eg4 ,footnote #aah3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahef1 pp4 #cf-ch4 ,we are told the clerk of ,breedon church was offended because the crowds attending it increased his labour in cleaning it4 ,turning his worldly-wisdom to practical account1 he began to charge persons1 from other parishes1 a penny each for admission1 and stood at the church door to collect the money4 ,whilst he was doing this1 ,fletcher was prayerfully ascending the steep hill1 and reverentially contemplating the solemn service upon which he was about to enter4 ,one of the congregation went to meet him1 and told him of the clerk's worldliness4 ,fletcher was shocked at the behaviour of his ecclesiastical subordinate1 and hastening up the steep ascent1 exclaimed1 8,i'll stop his proceeding40 ,the clerk1 however1 was more nimble than the priest4 ,before ,fletcher could reach the money-gate the clerk was in his desk1 ready to read responses and perform all the other duties pertaining to his office4 ,perhaps he thought he had cleverly escaped detection and reproof1 but the sordid creature was mistaken4 ,fletcher went through the service1 and then remarked1 8,for sixteen years ,i have not been so moved as ,i have been to-day4 ,i am told that the clerk beneath me has demanded1 and has actually received1 money from strangers before he would suffer them to enter the church4 ,i desire all who have paid the money to come to me1 and ,i will return what they have paid2 and as to this iniquitous clerk1 his money perish with him60 ,this interesting story is not without its use1 for it exhibits ,fletcher's almost stern fidelity1 and also the spirit of parish clerks more than a hundred years ago4 ,it would be unfair1 however1 to ostracize the ,breedon official as one whose worldly wickedness is without a parallel2 for there is little room to doubt that even at the present day largess is often levied upon congregations1 if not by responding clerks1 by doorkeepers and other officials belonging to the ecclesiastical edifices of an age which thinks itself greatly in advance of its predecessors4 ,fletcher made another and more important ,gospel tour during the year #agfe4 ,for the first time1 he visited ,bath and ,bristol4 ,in the former city1 ,lady ,huntingdon had erected a chapel1 and had summoned six clergymen of the ,church of ,england to assist at the opening2 namely1 ,whitefield1 ,romaine1 ,venn1 ,madan1 ,shirley1 and ,townsend4 ,this took place on ,october #f1 #agfe4aai ,fletcher came after them1 and preached to the aristocratic congregations in her ladyship's meeting-house with extraordinary zeal and earnestness4 ,the ,countess wrote3-- 8,deep and awful are the impressions made on every hand4 ,dear ,mr4 ,fletcher's preaching is truly apostolic4 ,the ,divine blessing accompanies his word in a very remarkable manner4 ,he is ever at his work1 is amazingly followed1 and is singularly owned of ,god40#abj ,footnote #aai3 ,see 8,life of ,whitefield10 vol4 ii41 p4 #dhi4 ,footnote #abj3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #dfi4 ,during his stay at ,bath1 ,fletcher wrote his first pastoral letter1 which was addressed1 8,to those who love the ,lord ,jesus ,christ in or about ,madeley4 ,peace be multiplied to you from ,god the ,father1 and from our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 through the operations of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,amen40 ,the letter was dated 8,bath1 ,october #cj1 #agfe10 and the following is the substance of it3-- 8,by the help of ,divine ,providence1 and the assistance of your prayers1 ,i came safe hither last ,saturday se'nnight4 ,i was and am still a good deal weighed down under the sense of my insufficiency to preach the unspeakable riches of ,christ to poor dying souls4 ,this place is the seat of ,satan's gaudy throne2 but the ,lord hath nevertheless a few names here that are not ashamed of ,him1 both among the poor and among the rich4 ,there are not many of the latter1 but blessed be ,god for any one6 ,it is a great miracle if one camel passes through the eye of a needle2 or1 in other words1 if one rich person enters the kingdom of ,god4 ,i thank ,god that none of you are rich in the things of this world4 ,you are freed from a dreadful snare1 even from ,dives' portion in this world4 ,may you know the happiness of your state6 ,it is a mercy to be driven to the throne of grace even by bodily want1 and to live in dependence on ,divine mercy even for a morsel of bread4 8,i have been sowing the seed1 that the ,lord hath given1 both in ,bath and ,bristol2 and1 though ,i have not been able to discharge my office as ,i would1 the ,lord has in some measure stood by me1 and overruled my foolishness and helplessness4 ,i am much supported by the thought that #8you pray for me4' ,with regard to the state of my soul1 ,i find1 blessed be ,god6 that as my day is1 so is my strength to travel on1 without minding much either good or bad report4 8,my absence from you answers two good ends in regard of me4 ,i feel more my insufficiency1 and the need of being daily ordained of ,christ to preach ,his ,gospel2 and ,i shall value the more the worth of my privilege with you if ,i return safely to you4 ,i had yesterday a most advantageous offer made me of going free of cost to my own country1 to see my mother1 brothers1 and sisters in the flesh1 whom ,i have not seen for near eighteen years2 but ,i find my relations in the spirit are nearer and dearer to me than my relations in the flesh4 ,i have therefore refused the kind offer1 that ,i might return to you1 and be comforted by the mutual faith of you and me4 8,i hope1 my dear brethren1 that you improve much under the ministry of that faithful servant of ,god1 ,mr4 ,brown1#aba whom ,providence blesses you with4 ,make haste to gather the honey of knowledge and grace as it drops from his lips2 and may ,i find the hive of your heart so full of it at my return1 that ,i may share with you in the heavenly store6 8,in order to this1 entreat the ,lord to stir up your hunger and thirst after the flesh and blood of ,jesus1 and to increase your desire for the sincere milk of the ,word4 ,when people are hungry they will find time to go to their meals2 and a good appetite does not think a meal a day too much4 ,be not satisfied with knowing the way to heaven1 but walk in it constantly and joyfully4 ,be thoroughly in earnest4 ,you may impose upon your brethren by a formal attendance on the means of grace1 but you cannot deceive the ,searcher of hearts4 ,let ,him then see your heart struggling towards ,him2 and if you fall through heaviness1 sloth1 or unbelief1 do not make a bad matter worse by continuing hopeless in the ditch of sin and guilt4 ,up and away to the blood of ,jesus6 ,it will not only wash away the guilt of past sins1 but strengthen you to trample all iniquity under foot in the time to come4 ,never forget that the soul of the diligent shall be made fat2 and that the ,lord will spue the lukewarm out of ,his mouth4 ,get1 therefore1 that love which makes you diligent in business1 fervent in spirit1 serving the ,lord4 8,i beg you will not neglect the assembling of yourselves together1 and1 when you meet in ,society1 be neither backward nor forward to speak4 ,let every one esteem himself the meanest in the company1 and be glad to sit at the feet of the lowest4 ,if you are tempted against any one1 yield not to the temptation2 and pray for much of that love which hopeth all things1 and puts the best constructions even upon the worst of things4 ,i beg1 for ,christ's sake1 ,i may find no division and no offence among you at my return4 #8,if there be any consolation in ,christ1 if any comfort of love1 if any fellowship of the ,spirit1 if any bowels of mercy1 fulfil ye my joy1 that ye be like-minded1 having the same love1 being of one accord1 of one mind4 ,let nothing be done through strife or vainglory2 but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the others better than himself4' 8,i earnestly beg the continuance of your prayers for me1 that the ,lord may keep me from hurting ,his cause in these parts1 and that when ,providence shall bring me back among you 7which ,i hope will be this day fortnight71 ,i may be thoroughly furnished for every good word and work4 ,that the blessing of ,god may crown all your hearts and your meetings1 is the earnest prayer of1 my very dear brethren1 8,your unworthy servant in the ,gospel of our common ,lord1 8,,john ,,fletcher4 8,p4,s4--,i had not time to finish this letter yesterday1 being called upon to preach in a market town in the neighbourhood4 ,the dragon showed some of his spite and venom to little purpose4 ,a gentleman churchwarden would hinder my getting into the pulpit1 and1 in order to this1 cursed and swore1 and took another gentleman by the collar in the middle of the church4 ,notwithstanding his rage1 ,i preached4 ,may the ,lord raise in power what was sown in weakness60#abb ,footnote #aba3 ,a clergyman whom ,james ,ireland1 ,esq41 of ,brislington1 near ,bristol1 had obtained to supply ,fletcher's pulpit at ,madeley4 ,see a subsequent letter1 dated ,april #bg1 #agfg4 ,footnote #abb3 8,thirteen ,original ,letters40 ,by the ,rev4 ,j4 ,fletcher4 ,bath3 #agia1 p4 #aj4 ,from this interesting letter1 it appears that ,fletcher spent four ,sundays at ,bath and ,bristol4 ,no doubt1 he was the guest of the ,countess of ,huntingdon2 but1 at the same time1 he formed an acquaintance with the excellent ,james ,ireland1 ,esq41 of ,brislington1 with whom he commenced a correspondence two or three months afterwards1 which was continued to the end of life4 ,there can hardly be a doubt that ,mr4 ,ireland was the gentleman who offered to take ,fletcher to ,switzerland1 free of cost4 ,at this time1 ,mr4 ,ireland's daughter was out of health1 and for many years afterwards he was accustomed to go to the south of ,france for the benefit of himself and his family4 ,eighteen years had elapsed since ,fletcher had seen his mother1 his brothers1 and his sisters1 and of course he wished to visit them2 but there was his work at ,madeley1 and that was enough to make him forego what1 under other circumstances1 must have been an unspeakable pleasure4 ,some will accuse him of the want of natural affection1 and will say he owed duties to his distant and long unseen relatives1 as well as to his parishioners4 ,probably1 in answer to such a charge1 he would have quoted the words of his supreme ,master3 8,who is my mother8 and who are my brethren8 ,whosoever shall do the will of my ,father which is in heaven1 the same is my brother1 and sister1 and mother40 ,it is evident1 from ,fletcher's pastoral epistle1 that his preaching in the west of ,england was not confined to ,bath and ,bristol2 but1 except the disgraceful incident of the profane churchwarden swearing and almost fighting to keep him out of the pulpit of a church in some neighbouring market town1 no details of his tour have been preserved4 ,the letters and journals of ,wesley and ,whitefield abound with facts and adventures1 full of interest and instruction3 the letters of ,fletcher were of another character4 ,they are rich in truth and piety2 but not always in materials for biography4 ,his habitual self-abnegation kept in the shade thousands of facts which the curiosity of the ,christian world would like to know4 ,the first two years he spent at ,madeley were rough and stormy4 ,he worked with all his might1 but with small results4 ,the next three years were comparatively calm and prosperous4 ,opposition gradually died4 ,his labours were attended with success4 ,he formed several ,societies of converted people2 and his friend ,wesley made the county of ,salop a ,methodist circuit4 ,for nearly five years he had confined his evangelistic efforts to his own immediate neighbourhood2 after this1 to a considerable extent1 he became an itinerant4 ,let us follow him4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,two ,,years ,,more4 #agff ,,and #agfg4 ,,fletcher began the year #agff in mournfulness1 and yet full of love and loyalty to ,christ4 ,in a letter to ,miss ,hatton1 he wrote3-- 8,,madeley1 ,january #ac1 #agff4 8,,madam1--,this evening ,i have buried one of the warmest opposers of my ministry--a stout1 strong young man1 aged twenty-four years4 ,about three months ago1 he came to the churchyard with a corpse1 but refused to come into the church4 ,when the burial was over1 ,i went to him1 and mildly expostulated with him4 ,his constant answer was1 that he had bound himself never to come to church while ,i was there2 adding1 that he would take the consequences4 ,seeing ,i got nothing1 ,i left him1 saying1 with uncommon warmth1 though1 as far as ,i can remember1 without the least touch of resentment1 #8,i am clear of your blood2 henceforth it is upon your own head2 you will not come to church upon your legs1 prepare to come upon your neighbours' shoulders6' ,he wasted from that time1 and1 to my great surprise1 has been buried on the spot where we were when the conversation passed between us4 ,when ,i visited him in his sickness1 he seemed tame1 as a wolf in a trap4 ,o may ,god have turned him into a sheep in his last hours6 8,this last year has been the worst ,i have had here1--barren in convictions1 fruitful in backslidings4 8,i have filled my page1 but not with the name of ,jesus4 ,let your heart contain what my letter wants1--,jesus and ,his precious blood1--,jesus and ,his free1 glorious salvation4 ,live to ,him2 breathe for ,him2 buy1 sell1 eat1 drink1 read1 write for ,him4 ,receive ,him as yours altogether1 and give ,him your whole self4 ,take us1 ,lord1 into ,thy gracious favour2 stamp us with ,thy glorious image1 and conduct us to ,thy eternal kingdom60#abc ,footnote #abc3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #afe4 ,fletcher was depressed4 ,his labours at ,madeley1 during the past year1 had not been fruitful2 and concerning his success even at ,bath he was doubtful4 ,mr4 ,brown1 his temporary curate1 however1 seems to have been useful2 and so also were ,wesley's itinerant evangelists2 on account of which he thankfully rejoiced4 ,in another letter to ,miss ,hatton1 he wrote3-- 8,,madeley1 ,may #bg1 #agff4 8,the coming of ,mr4 ,wesley's preachers into my parish gives me no uneasiness4 ,as ,i am sensible that everybody does better1 and is more acceptable than myself1 ,i should be sorry to deprive any one of a blessing2 and ,i rejoice that the work of ,god goes on1 by any instrument1 or in any place4 ,how far it might have been expedient to have postponed preaching regularly in my parish1 till the minister of ---- had been reconciled to the invasion of his2 and how far this might have made my way smoother1 ,i do not pretend to determine3 time will show it1 and in the meanwhile ,i find it good to have faith in ,providence4 8,i fear ,i have left as great a stink at ,bath as ,mr4 ,brown a sweet savour here4 ,everything is good to me that shows me my unprofitableness2 but ,i desire to grieve1 that the good of my private humiliation is so much overbalanced by the loss of many about me40#abd ,footnote #abd3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #afi4 ,thus did ,fletcher depreciate himself4 ,the truth is1 he was in feeble health1 and hardly knew it4 ,at this time1 also1 two of his dear friends were dying--,miss ,hatton1 of ,wem1 and ,miss ,ireland1 the only daughter of ,james ,ireland1 ,esq41 of ,brislington1 ,bristol4 ,miss ,hatton had been at ,madeley1 and ,miss ,ireland was about to migrate to the south of ,france4 ,to these ladies1 he wrote as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,june #ba1 #agff4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,i am much concerned to hear1 by ,mrs4 ,tower1 that you are so weak2 but my concern has greatly increased1 since ,i was told that the foundation of your illness was laid at ,madeley2 and1 ,i am afraid1 by my imprudence in taking you to the woman with whom we received the sacrament4 ,i ask ,god's pardon and yours for it2 and ,i hope it will be the means of humbling me1 and of making me more tender of my friends4 8,the advice you give me about my health is seasonable4 ,i hope to follow it4 ,i am not conscious of having neglected it2 but ,i will endeavour that there be not so much as the shadow of a call for repeating it4 8,if the air at ,wem does not agree with you1 could you not come to ,madeley8 ,though ,i am no nurse1 and though ,i have been the contrary of one to you1 ,i hope we should wait upon you with more tenderness than when you were here last4 ,mrs4 ,power would nurse you1 and ,i would talk to you of the love of ,jesus as well as ,i could4 ,you know ,i perceived your bodily weakness when you were here1 and charged you with a neglect of your body4 ,if ,i was right1 ,i hope you will follow the advice you give me4 8,offer yourself to ,god for life or death1 for ease or pain1 for strength or weakness4 ,let ,him choose or refuse for you2 only do you choose ,him for your present and eternal portion40#abe ,footnote #abe3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #agj4 ,seven months after this1 ,miss ,hatton peacefully expired4#abf ,miss ,ireland lived more than two years longer4 ,to her1 he wrote the following3-- 8,,madeley1 ,july --1 #agff4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1--,the poor account your father has brought us of your health1 and his apprehensions of not seeing you any more1 before that solemn day when all people1 nations1 and tongues shall stand together at the bar of ,god1 make me venture to send you a few lines4 8,first1 then1 my dear friend1 let me beseech you not to flatter yourself with the hopes of living long here on earth4 ,these hopes fill us with worldly thoughts1 and make us backward to prepare for our change4 ,i would not1 for the world1 entertain such thoughts about myself4 ,i have now1 in my parish1 a young man who has been two years under the surgeon's hands4 ,since he was given up1 about two months ago1 he has fled to the ,lord1 and has found in ,him that saving health1 which a thousand times surpasses that with which the surgeon flattered him2 and he now longs to be with ,christ1 which is far better4 8,secondly4 ,consider1 my dear1 how good the ,lord is to call you to be transplanted into a better world1 before you have taken deeper root in this sinful world4 ,if it is hard to nature to die now1 how much harder would it be if you lived to be the mother of a family1 and to cleave to earth by the ties of new relations1 schemes of gain1 or prospects of success6 8,thirdly4 ,reflect that1 by your illness1 the ,lord1 who forecasts for us1 intimates that long life would not be for ,his glory1 nor your happiness4 ,i believe ,he takes many young people from the evil to come1 and out of the way of those temptations1 or misfortunes1 which would have made them miserable in time and in eternity4 8,fourthly4 ,your earthly father loves you much3 witness the hundreds of miles he has gone for the benefit of your health2 but your heavenly ,father loves you a thousand times better2 and ,he is all wisdom1 as well as all goodness4 ,allow1 then1 such a loving1 gracious ,father to chose for you2 and1 if ,he chooses death1 acquiesce1 and say1 #8,good is the will of the ,lord6 ,his choice must be best6' 8,fifthly4 ,weigh the sinfulness of sin1 both original and actual1 and firmly believe the wages of sin is death4 ,this will make you patiently accept the punishment2 especially if you consider that ,jesus ,christ1 by dying for us1 has taken away the sting of death1 and turned the grave into a passage to a blessed eternity4 8,sixthly4 ,try to get nearer to the dear ,redeemer4 ,he offers rest to the heavy laden1 pardon to the guilty1 strength to the feeble1 and life to the dead4 8,seventhly4 ,when you have considered your lost state1 as a sinner1 together with the greatness1 the freeness1 and the suitableness of ,christ's salvation1 believe in ,him4 ,be not afraid to venture upon and trust in ,him4 ,cast yourself on ,him by frequent acts of reliance1 and stay your soul on ,him by means of ,his promises4 ,pray much for faith1 and be not afraid of accepting1 using1 and thanking ,god for a little4 8,eighthly4 ,beware of impatience1 repining1 and peevishness1 which are the sins of sick people4 ,be gentle1 easy to be pleased1 and resigned as the bleeding ,lamb of ,god4 ,wrong tempers indulged1 grieve1 if they do not quench1 the ,spirit4 8,ninthly4 ,do not repine at being in a strange country1 far from your friends2 and1 if your going to ,france does not answer the end proposed for your body1 it will answer a spiritual end to your soul4 8,tenthly4 ,in praying1 reading1 hearing any person read1 and meditating1 do not consult feeble1 fainting1 weary flesh and blood2 for1 at this rate1 death may find you idle1 and supine1 instead of striving to enter in at the strait gate2 and1 when your strength and vigour fail1 remember that the ,lord is the strength of your life and your portion for ever40#abg ,footnote #abf3 ,ibid1 p4 #aij4 ,footnote #abg3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #agd4 ,not many even faithful ministers of ,christ would have written in such a strain as this to a young lady1 the daughter of a wealthy merchant1 leaving her native land1 and apparently dying2 but ,fletcher1 like all the first ,methodists1 was intensely in earnest1 and never thought of sacrificing fidelity for the sake of seeming courtesy4 ,the young lady's father had given ,fletcher a hamper of wine1 and a parcel of broadcloth to be made into a suit of clothes1 kindly requesting him not to send his coat again to be patched4 ,in acknowledging this generous present1 the needy and somewhat seedy ,vicar wrote as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,july --1 #agff4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1--,you should have a little mercy on your friends1 in not loading them with such burdens of beneficence4 ,how would you like to be loaded with kindnesses you could not return8 ,were it not for a little of that grace which makes us not only willing1 but happy to be nothing1 to be obliged and dependent1 your present would make me quite miserable4 ,i submit to be clothed and nourished by you1 as your servants are1 without the happiness of serving you4 ,to yield to this is as hard to friendship as it is to submit to be saved by free grace1 without one scrap of our own righteousness4 ,however1 we are allowed1 both in religion and friendship1 to ease ourselves by thanks and prayers1 till we have an opportunity of doing it by actions4 ,i thank you then1 my dear friend1 and pray to ,god that you may receive ,his benefits as ,i do yours4 8,your broadcloth can lap me round two or three times2 but the mantle of ,divine love1 the precious fine robe of ,jesus's righteousness1 can cover your soul a thousand times4 ,the cloth1 fine and good as it is1 will not keep out a hard shower2 but that garment of salvation will keep out even a shower of brimstone and fire4 ,your cloth will wear out2 but that fine linen1 the righteousness of saints1 will appear with a finer lustre the more it is worn4 ,the moth may fret your present1 or the tailor may spoil it in cutting it2 but the present1 which ,jesus has made you1 is out of the reach of the spoiler1 and ready for present wear4 ,let me beseech you1 my dear friend1 to accept of this heavenly present1 as ,i accept of your earthly one4 ,i did not send you one farthing to purchase it3 it came unsought1 unasked1 unexpected1 as the seed of the woman came4 ,it came just as ,i was sending a tailor to buy me cloth for a new coat1 and ,i hope when you next see me1 it will be in your present2 now let ,jesus see you in ,his4 ,accept it freely4 ,wear no more the old rusty coat of nature and self-righteousness4 ,send no more to have it patched4 ,make your boast of an unbought suit1 and love to wear the livery of ,jesus4 8,you will then love ,his work4 ,it will be your meat and drink to do it2 and1 that you may be vigorous in doing it1 as ,i shall take a little of your wine for my stomach's sake1 take you a good deal of the wine of the kingdom for your soul's sake4 ,every promise of the ,gospel is a bottle1 a cask that has a spring within1 and can never be exhausted4 ,draw the cork of unbelief1 and drink abundantly4 ,be not afraid of intoxication2 and if an inflammation follows1 it will only be that of ,divine love4 ,be more free with the heavenly wine1 than ,i have been with the earthly1 which you sent me4 ,i have not tasted it yet1 but whose fault is it8 ,not yours certainly1 but mine4 ,if you do not drink daily out of the cup of salvation1 whose fault is it8 ,not ,jesus's1 but yours4 ,jesus gives you ,his righteousness to cover your nakedness1 and the consolations of ,his ,spirit to cheer and invigorate your soul4 ,accept and use4 ,wear1 drink1 and live to ,god40#abh ,footnote #abh3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #agh4 ,fletcher was religious in everything1 and all his faculties were sanctified4 ,he could not even acknowledge the kindness of his friend without introducing religion2 but1 to do this gracefully1 he exercises1 not his manly understanding1 but his sportive fancy4 8,fancy10 said fanciful ,thomas ,fuller1 8can adorn whatever it touches1 can invest naked fact and dry reasoning with unlooked-for beauty1 make flowerets bloom even on the brow of a precipice1 and1 when nothing better can be had1 can turn the very substance of the rock itself into moss and lichens40 ,few men have possessed a finer fancy than ,fletcher did2 but his was rarely used except for religious purposes4 ,he might have been an accomplished allegorist2 but he preferred to be a scriptural reasoner4 ,his creed was founded1 not upon fancies1 but upon facts4 ,hence1 in the same month that he wrote the foregoing letter to ,mr4 ,ireland1 he wrote as follows to ,miss ,hatton3-- 8,,madeley1 ,july #ag1 #agff4 8,let your faith be rational as well as affectionate4 ,god is good4 ,he does not want us to take ,his word without proof4 ,what expectations of the ,messiah from the beginning of the world6 ,what amazing miracles and wonders were wrought in favour of that people and family1 from which ,he was to come6 ,what prophecies fulfilled1 that we might rationally believe6 ,what displays of the ,godhead in that heavenly man1 ,christ ,jesus6 ,in ,him dwelt1 of a truth1 the fulness of the ,godhead bodily4 ,you see the power of ,god in ,his miracles2 the goodness of ,god in ,his character2 the justice and mercy of ,god in ,his death2 the truth1 and faithfulness1 and glory of ,god in ,his resurrection1 in the coming of ,his ,spirit1 and in the preaching of ,his everlasting ,gospel4 ,o1 my friend1 we may believe rationally4 ,we may1 with calm attention1 view the emptiness of all other religions1 and the fulness of assurance that ours affords40#abi ,footnote #abi3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ahj4 ,soon after the date of this letter1 ,fletcher proceeded to ,london1 to ,brighton1 and to ,oathall1 where he had sweet intercourse with the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 ,romaine1 ,venn1 ,sir ,charles ,hotham1 and with a gentleman and lady from his own country1 who were visiting the ,countess1 and ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,powys of ,berwick1 in ,shropshire1 ,mr4 ,powys being a gentleman of high connections and of large fortune1 and who had1 about this period1 become conspicuous1 in conjunction with ,sir ,richard ,hill and ,mr4 ,lee1 of ,cotery1 for zeal in the cause of ,god and truth4#acj ,footnote #acj3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #cge4 ,while staying with ,lady ,huntingdon at ,oathall1 ,fletcher wrote another pastoral letter1 which could not have been more faithful1 but might1 perhaps with advantage1 have been more gentle4 8,,oathall1 ,,sussex1 ,september #bc1 #agff4 8,to those who love or fear the ,lord ,jesus at ,madeley1 grace1 peace1 and love be multiplied unto you1 from our ,god and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ6 8,providence1 my dear brethren1 called me so suddenly from among you1 that ,i had no time to take my leave of you1 and recommend myself to your prayers4 ,but ,i hope the good ,spirit of our ,god1 who is the ,spirit of love and supplication1 has brought me to your remembrance1 as the poorest and weakest of ,christ's ministers1 whose hands stand most in need of being strengthened and lifted up by your prayers4 ,pray on then1 for yourselves1 for one another1 and for him whose glory it is to minister to you in spiritual things1 and whose sorrow it is not to do it in a manner more suitable to the majesty of the ,gospel1 and more profitable to your souls4 ,my heart is with you1 nevertheless ,i bear patiently this bodily separation for three reasons4 8#a4 ,the variety of more faithful and able ministers1 which you have during my absence1 is more likely to be serviceable to you than my presence among you1 and ,i would always prefer your profit to my own satisfaction4 8#b4 ,i hope ,providence will give me those opportunities of conversing and praying with a greater variety of experienced ,christians1 which will tend to my own improvement1 and1 ,i trust1 in the end1 to yours4 8#c4 ,i flatter myself that1 after some weeks' absence1 my ministry will be recommended by the advantage of novelty1 which 7the more the pity7 goes farther with some than the ,word itself4 ,in the meantime1 ,i shall give you some advice1 which1 it may be1 will prove both suitable and serviceable to you4 8,endeavour to improve daily under the ministry that ,providence blesses you with4 ,be careful to attend it with diligence1 faith1 and prayer4 ,would it not be a great shame if1 when ministers come thirty or forty miles to offer you peace and pardon1 strength and comfort1 in the name of ,god1 any of you should slight the glorious message1 or hear it as if it was nothing to you1 and as if you heard it not8 ,see then that you never come from a sermon without being more deeply convinced of sin and righteousness4 ,in order to this1-- 8,use much prayer before you go to church4 ,consider that your next appearance there may be in a coffin1 and entreat the ,lord to give you now so to hunger and thirst after righteousness that you may be filled therewith4 ,hungry people never go fasting from a feast4 ,call to mind the text ,i preached from the last ,sunday but one before ,i left you1--#8,wherefore1 laying aside all malice1 and all guile1 and hypocrisies1 and envies1 and all evil speakings1 as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the ,word1 that ye may grow thereby' 7#a ,peter ii4 #a1 #b74 8,when you are under the ,word1 beware of sitting as judges1 and not like criminals4 ,many judge of the manner1 matter1 voice1 or person of the preacher4 ,you1 perhaps1 judge all the congregation when you should judge yourselves guilty of eternal death and yet worthy of eternal life1 through the worthiness of ,him who stood and was condemned at ,pilate's bar for you4 ,the moment you have done crying to ,god as guilty1 or thanking ,christ as reprieved1 criminals1 you have reason to believe that this advice is levelled at you4 8,when you have been at a means of grace and do not find yourselves sensibly quickened1 let it be matter of deep humiliation to you4 ,for want of repenting of their unbelief and hardness of heart1 some get into a habit of deadness and indolence1 so that they come to be as insensible and as little ashamed of themselves as stones4 8,beware of the inconsistent behaviour of those who complain that they are full of wandering in the evening under the ,word when they have suffered their minds to wander from ,christ all the day long4 ,oh6 get acquainted with ,him1 that you may walk in ,him and with ,him4 ,whatsoever you do or say1 especially in the things of ,god1 do or say it as if ,christ was before1 behind1 and on each side of you4 ,indeed1 ,he is so1 whether you consider it or not2 for when ,he visibly appeared on earth1 ,he called ,himself #8the ,son of ,man which is in heaven2' how much more then is ,he present on earth now that ,he makes ,his immediate appearance in heaven8 ,make conscience then to maintain a sense of ,his blessed presence all the day long1 and all the day long you will have a continual feast4 ,for1 can you conceive anything more delightful than to be always at the fountain of love1 peace1 beauty1 and joy1--at the spring of power1 wisdom1 goodness1 and truth8 ,can there be a purer and more melting happiness than to be with the best of fathers1 the kindest of brothers1 the most generous of benefactors1 and the tenderest of husbands8 ,now ,jesus is all this and much more to the believing soul4 ,oh6 believe1 my friends1 believe in ,jesus now1 through a continual now2 and until you can thus believe1 mourn over your unbelieving heart2 drag it to ,him as you can2 think of the efficacy of ,his blood shed for the ungodly2 and wait for the ,spirit of faith from on high4 8,some of you wonder why you cannot believe1 why you cannot see ,jesus with the eye of your mind1 and delight in ,him with the affections of your heart4 ,i apprehend the reason to be one of these1 or perhaps altogether4 8#a4 ,you are not poor1 lost1 undone1 helpless1 despairing sinners in yourselves4 ,you indulge spiritual and refined self-righteousness2 you are not yet dead to the law1 and quite slain by the commandment4 ,now the kingdom of heaven belongs to none but the poor in spirit4 ,jesus came to save none but the lost4 ,what wonder then1 if ,jesus is little to you1 and if you do not live in ,his kingdom of peace1 righteousness1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost8 8#b4 ,perhaps you spend your time in curious reasonings1 instead of casting yourselves as forlorn sinners at the feet of ,christ1 leaving it to ,him to bless you when and in the manner ,he pleases4 ,know that ,he is the wise and sovereign ,god1 and that it is your duty to lie before ,him as clay1 as fools1 as sinful nothings4 8#c4 ,perhaps1 also1 some of you wilfully keep idols of one kind or another2 you indulge some sin against light and knowledge1 and it is neither matter of humiliation1 nor of confession to you4 ,the love of praise1 that of the world1 that of money1 and that of sensual gratifications1 when not lamented1 are as implacable enemies to ,christ as ,judas and ,herod were4 ,how can ye believe1 seeing ye seek the honour that cometh from men8 ,hew then your ,agags in pieces before the ,lord4 ,run from your ,delilahs to ,jesus resolutely4 ,cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye that offends you4 #8,come out from among them1 and be separate1 saith the ,lord1 and ,i will receive you4' ,nevertheless1 when you strive1 take care not to make yourself a righteousness of your own striving4 ,remember that justifying righteousness is finished and brought in1 and that your goodness can no more add to it than your sins diminish it4 ,shout then1 #8the ,lord your ,righteousness6' ,and1 if you are undone sinners1 humbly and yet boldly say1 #8,in the ,lord have ,i righteousness and strength4' 8,when ,i was in ,london1 ,i endeavoured to make the best of my time2 that is to say1 to hear1 receive1 and practise the ,word4 ,accordingly1 ,i went to ,mr4 ,whitefield's ,tabernacle1 and heard him give his ,society a most sweet exhortation upon love4 ,he began by observing that when the ,apostle ,st4 ,john was old and past walking and preaching1 he would not forsake the assembling himself with his brethren1 as the manner of too many is1 upon little or no pretence at all4 ,on the contrary1 he got himself carried to their meeting1 and1 with his last thread of voice1 preached to them his final sermon made up of this one sentence1 #8,my little children1 love one another4' ,i wish1 ,i pray1 ,i earnestly beseech you to follow that evangelical1 apostolical advice2 and till ,god makes you all little children1 little in your own eyes1 and simple as little children1 give me leave to say1 dear brethren1 love one another1 and1 of course1 judge not1 provoke not1 be not shy of one another1 but bear one another's burdens1 and so fulfil the law of ,christ4 ,yea1 bear with one another's infirmities1 and do not easily cast off any one1 no not for sin1 except it be obstinately persisted in4 8,my sheet is full1 and so is my heart of good wishes for and strong longing after you all4 ,i have just room to tell you ,i hope to be with you in three or four weeks' time4 ,oh6 let me have the comfort of finding you all believing and loving4 ,farewell1 my dear brethren6 ,the blessing of ,god be with you all6 ,this is the earnest desire of 8,your unworthy minister1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#aca ,footnote #aca3 8,thirteen ,original ,letters10 by ,fletcher1 published at ,bath in #agia1 p4 #bj4 ,this is a long but valuable letter--valuable for the sentiments and advice it contains1 and also as showing ,fletcher's loving and faithful passion to save the souls of his parishioners4 ,comment upon it would be easy1 but is unnecessary4 ,when he wrote it1 on ,september #bc1 he intended to return to ,madeley in 8three or four weeks' time10 but at the beginning of ,november he was still in ,london4 ,in a letter to ,mr4 ,powys1 dated the first of that month1 ,whitefield remarked1 8,dear ,mr4 ,fletcher is become a scandalous ,tottenham ,court preacher40#acb ,how long he continued to officiate in ,whitefield's far-famed chapel it is impossible to tell2 but at the beginning of #agfg he was at ,madeley1 and wrote to ,miss ,hatton as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,january #i1 #agfg4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,the dream of life will soon be over2 the morning of eternity will soon succeed4 ,away then with all the shadows of time6 ,away from them to the ,eternal ,substance--to ,jesus1 the ,first and the ,last1 by whom1 and for whom1 all things consist4 ,if you take ,jesus to be your head1 by the mystery of faith1 you will be united to the resurrection and the life4 ,the bitterness of death is past1 my dear friend4 ,only look to ,jesus4 ,he died for you--died in your place--died under the frowns of heaven1 that we might die under its smiles4 ,regard neither unbelief nor doubt4 ,fear neither sin nor hell4 ,choose neither life nor death4 ,all these are swallowed up in the immensity of ,christ1 and are triumphed over in ,his cross4 ,fight the good fight of faith4 ,hold fast your confidence in the atoning1 sanctifying blood of the ,lamb of ,god4 ,confer no more with flesh and blood4 ,go1 meet the bridegroom4 ,behold ,he cometh6 ,trim your lamp4 ,quit yourself like a soldier of ,jesus4 ,i entreat you1 as a companion in tribulation2 ,i charge you1 as a minister1 go1 at every breath you draw1 to ,him1 who says1 #8,him that cometh unto me1 ,i will in no wise cast out3' and #8,he that believeth in ,me1 though he were dead1 yet shall he live4' ,joyfully sing the believer's song1 #8,o death1 where is thy sting8 ,o grave1 where is thy victory8 ,thanks be to ,god1 who giveth us the victory1 through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ6' ,let your surviving friends triumph over you1 as one faithful unto death1--as one triumphing in death itself40#acc ,footnote #acb3 ,whitefield's ,works1 vol4 iii41 p4 #cci4 ,footnote #acc3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ahi4 ,three weeks after this1 the ,christian lady thus addressed was dead4#acd ,fletcher1 in a letter to ,mr4 ,ireland1 wrote3-- 8,poor ,miss ,hatton died full of serenity1 faith1 and love4 ,the four last hours of her life were better than all her sickness4 ,when the pangs of death were upon her1 the comforts of the ,almighty bore her triumphantly through1 and some of her last words were3 #8,grieve not at my happiness4 ,this world is no more to me than a bit of burnt paper4 ,grace6 ,grace6 ,a sinner saved6 ,i wish ,i could tell you half of what ,i feel and see4 ,i am going to keep an everlasting ,sabbath4 ,o death1 where is thy sting8 ,o grave1 where is thy victory8 ,thanks be to ,god1 who giveth me the victory1 through my ,lord ,jesus ,christ6' ,it is very remarkable that she had hardly any joy in her illness2 but ,god made her ample amends in her extremity4 ,he keeps ,his strongest cordial for the time of need4 ,blessed1 for ever blessed1 be ,his holy name60#ace ,footnote #acd3 ,ibid1 p4 #aij4 ,footnote #ace3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #aib4 ,as already stated1 ,fletcher1 when in ,london1 had preached in ,tottenham ,court ,road ,chapel4 ,whitefield wrote a letter1 thanking him for his services4 ,fletcher's highly characteristic reply was as follows3-- 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,i am confounded when ,i receive a letter from you4 ,present and eternal contempt from ,christ and all ,his members is what ,i deserve4 ,a sentence of death is my due2 but1 instead of it1 ,i am favoured with lines of love4 ,your mentioning my poor ministrations among your congregation opens again a wound of shame1 that was but half healed4 ,i feel the need of asking ,god1 you1 and your hearers to pardon me1 for weakening the glorious matter of the ,gospel by my wretched broken manner1 and for spoiling the heavenly power of it by the uncleanness of my heart and lips4 8,i should be glad to be your curate some time this year2 but ,i see no opening1 nor the least prospect of any4 ,what between the dead and living1 a parish ties one down more than a wife4 ,if ,i could go anywhere this year1 it should be to ,yorkshire1 to accompany ,lady ,huntingdon1 according to a design that ,i had half formed last year2 but ,i fear ,i shall be debarred even from this4 ,i set out1 ,god willing1 to-morrow morning for ,trevecca1 to meet her ladyship there1 and to show her the way to ,madeley1 where she proposes to stay three or four days1 on her way to ,derbyshire4 8,last ,sunday seven-night1 ,captain ,scott preached to my congregation a sermon1 which was more blessed1 though preached only upon my horse-block1 than a hundred of those ,i preach in the pulpit4 ,i invited him to come and treat her ladyship next ,sunday with another1 now the place is consecrated4 ,if you should ever favour ,shropshire with your presence1 you shall have the captain's1 or the parson's1 pulpit at your option4 ,many ask me1 whether you will not come to have some fruit here also4 ,what must ,i answer them8 ,i1 and many more1 complain of a stagnation of the work4 ,what must we do8 ,everything buds and blossoms about us1 yet our winter is not over4 8,present my ,christian respects to ,mrs4 ,whitefield1 ,mr4 ,hardy1 ,mr4 ,keen1 ,mr4 ,joyce1 ,mr4 ,croom1 and ,mr4 ,wright4 ,tell ,mr4 ,keen ,i am a letter in his debt1 and postpone writing it till ,i have had such a sight of ,christ as to breathe ,his love through every line4 8,i am1 rev4 and dear ,sir1 with sincere affection and respect1 your willing1 though halting and unworthy servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#acf ,footnote #acf3 ,evangelical ,magazine1 #ahjb1 p4 #cdf4 ,captain ,scott1 the martial evangelist1 mentioned in this letter1 was a ,shropshire man1 and belonged to an ancient and respectable family4 ,he had begun his military life as a cornet1 and had been promoted to the rank of captain in the #gth regiment of dragoons4 ,a short time before his first visit to ,madeley1 ,fletcher1 in a letter to the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 remarked3-- 8,i went last ,monday to meet ,captain ,scott1 one of the fruits that have grown for the ,lord at ,oathall1--a captain of a truth--a bold soldier of ,christ4 ,god has thrown down before him the middle wall of bigotry1 and he boldly launches into an irregular usefulness4 ,for some months1 he has exhorted his dragoons daily2 and1 for some weeks1 he has preached publicly in the ,methodist ,meeting ,house1 in his regimentals1 to numerous congregations1 with good success4 ,the stiff regular ones pursue him with hue and cry2 but1 ,i believe1 he is quite beyond their reach4 ,god keep him zealous and simple6 ,i believe this red coat will shame many a black one4 ,i am sure he shames me40#acg ,footnote #acg3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 pp4 #cag1 #cah4 ,in the year #agfg1 the ,countess of ,huntingdon was much occupied in making preparations for the opening of her college at ,trevecca1 in ,wales4 ,from the commencement of this important project1 ,fletcher was one of her ladyship's chosen advisers4 ,in the month of ,april1 he met her at ,trevecca1 and escorted her to ,madeley1 where she spent several days on her way to ,yorkshire4 ,the visit was a memorable one4 ,her ladyship was accompanied by ,lady ,anne ,erskine and ,miss ,orton4 ,the rich ,christian communion of these three noble ladies with the poor vicar may be imagined1 but cannot be described4 ,it was1 probably1 at this period that the ,countess was led to think of ,fletcher as the future president of her college4 ,at all events1 in the following year1 he was appointed to that important office4#ach ,footnote #ach3 ,ibid1 vol4 i41 p4 #bhh2 ii41 p4 iv4 ,captain ,scott also was at ,madeley1 and though ,fletcher1 of course1 could not allow him the use of the pulpit of the parish church1 he had him mounted upon the horse-block of the parish parsonage1 where he preached twice1 on ,sunday1 to large congregations2 and on the day following1 in ,madeley ,wood1 an immense concourse of people assembled to hear him1 many of whom were drawn thither by curiosity1 to see the famous ,countess and the preaching soldier4 ,up to the time of the ,countess's visit1 ,fletcher was in doubt whether he would be able to attend her in ,yorkshire1 but1 before she left ,madeley ,vicarage1 it was arranged that he should follow her immediately after ,whit-,sunday4 ,mr4 ,ireland wished him to visit ,bristol1 and certainly he had some claim upon him2 for1 to say nothing of the valuable presents he had sent1 for the use of ,fletcher and the poor of ,madeley1 he had secured for them a most acceptable curate1 to serve the parish during ,fletcher's absence4 ,fletcher1 for the present1 was obliged to decline his friend's invitation4 ,hence the following letter to him3-- 8,,madeley1 ,april #bg1 #agfg4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1--,i have just received your letter1 upon my arrival from ,wales with dear ,lady ,huntingdon1 who is1 of a truth1 a tried stone1 built upon the corner stone1 and such as you have seen her1 such1 ,i am persuaded1 you will find her to the last1--a soul devoted to ,jesus1 living by faith1 going to ,christ ,himself by the ,scriptures1 instead of resting in the letter of the ,gospel promises1 as too many professors do4 8,i thank you for your care to procure not only a supply for my church1 but such an agreeable1 acceptable1 and profitable one as ,mr4 ,brown4 ,i know no one that should be more welcome than he4 ,tell him1 with a thousand thanks for his condescension1 that ,i deliver my charge over to him fully1 and give him a carte blanche1 to do or not to do1 as the ,lord will direct him4 ,i have settled it1 that ,i shall endeavour to overtake my lady at ,kippax1 in ,yorkshire1 against the ,sunday after ,whitsuntide4 8,with regard to the ,bristol journey1 ,i must first come from the north1 before ,i dream of going to the south4 ,god help us to steer immovably to the grand point of our salvation1--,jesus1 the ,crucified6 ,to ,him ,i recommend myself1 and you1 and my noble guests4 ,love ,him1--praise ,him1--serve ,him1 who hath loved you1 bought you1 and died for you40#aci ,footnote #aci3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #aif4 ,in the year #agfg1 ,whit-,sunday occurred on ,june #g1 and1 during the week following1 ,fletcher joined the ,countess of ,huntingdon at ,huddersfield1 where her ladyship was staying1 for a few days1 with ,venn1 at the vicarage4 ,on ,sunday1 the #adth1 he preached twice in ,venn's church1 to large and deeply attentive congregations4 ,he then accompanied the ,countess to ,aberford1 on a visit to ,benjamin ,ingham1 who had married her niece1 ,lady ,margaret ,hastings4 ,whilst there1 accompanied by the ,rev4 ,joseph ,townsend1 ,rector of ,pewsey1 in ,wiltshire1 who had preached at the opening of ,lady ,huntingdon's chapel at ,bath1 in #agfe1 the whole family party at ,aberford made an excursion to ,haworth4 ,grimshaw1 the brave-hearted incumbent1 to whom ,yorkshire ,methodism owes so much1 had died four years before1 and had been succeeded by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,richardson1 a good man1 and evangelical in his principles1 but averse to open-air preaching1 in which his predecessor had delighted4 ,the intended visit to ,haworth having become known1 and it being understood that ,fletcher and ,mr4 ,townsend would preach1 an immense multitude of people assembled to hear them4 ,application was made for the use of what was called 8,mr4 ,whitefield's pulpit10 that is1 a scaffold erected by the side of ,haworth church1 and from which ,whitefield was wont to thunder his overwhelming sermons4 ,mr4 ,richardson refused the request4 ,lady ,huntingdon remonstrated2 and1 though it is not stated that the scaffold was brought out1 it is known that both ,fletcher and ,townsend preached in the churchyard4 ,on leaving ,aberford1 the ,countess and her friends proceeded to ,kippax1 on a visit to her niece1 ,mrs4 ,medhurst4 ,here1 at the beginning of ,july1 they were joined by the ,rev4 ,martin ,madan2 and now the village of ,kippax became the centre of some of the most remarkable evangelistic efforts recorded in ,methodistic annals4 ,for some weeks1 ,fletcher1 of ,madeley2 ,madan1 from ,london2 ,venn1 ,vicar of ,huddersfield2 ,conyers1 ,rector of ,helmsley2 ,burnet1 ,vicar of ,elland2 ,ryland1 ,curate of ,huddersfield2 ,bentley1 ,vicar of ,kippax2 and ,powley1 ,vicar of ,dewsbury1 made frequent excursions not only in the immediate neighbourhood of ,kippax1 but to distant parts of the county1 affectionately inviting the multitudes who flocked to hear them to flee from the wrath to come4#adj ,unfortunately1 the details of these missionary labours seem to be irrecoverably lost2 and it can only be added that1 in consequence of being seized with a rather alarming illness1 the ,countess of ,huntingdon was not able to take part in many of the services4 ,after ,fletcher's return to ,madeley1 he wrote to her ladyship as follows3-- 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,and ,,honoured ,,lady1--,the ,god of ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 who tried ,israel1 and led them through many a wandering to the good land--this faithful ,god has met with you2 a rod is in ,his hand1 but that hand bears so deep a print of love1 that the design of ,his visitation cannot be mistaken4 ,nor does ,he come without the supporting staff4 ,he kills to make alive4 ,he wounds to heal4 ,he afflicts to comfort1 and to do it more deeply and effectually4 ,my hearty prayer for your ladyship is1 that you may drink the cup the ,lord holds out to you as a new token of ,his unchangeable love4 ,i call it unchangeable1 because it is really so in its nature1 though the appearances of it greatly vary for the trial of faith4 #8,i am ,god1' says ,he2 #8,i change not1 therefore ,israel is not consumed1' and ,shadrach is kept in the burning fiery furnace4 8,i have often heard your ladyship speak admirably upon knowing ,christ1 and the power of ,his resurrection1 and the fellowship of ,his sufferings4 ,the ,lord will have you improve in that heavenly knowledge2 therefore ,he gives you so long a lesson at this time4 ,the lesson is hard1 ,i grant2 but the ,master is so loving1 the science so noble1 and the scholar so used to severe exercises1 that it is no wonder you are placed on the highest form4 ,no cross--no crown6 ,the heavier the cross1 the brighter the crown6 8,till ,i received ,lady ,anne's letter1 ,i often wanted to persuade myself that your ladyship had got quite well soon after ,i left ,kippax4 ,i beg my best respects and warmest thanks to ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,medhurst1 ,miss ,medhurst1 and the dear company of your ladyship4 ,their kindness and patience towards me while at ,kippax have laid me under a heavy burden of obligations1 which ,i desire gratefully to acknowledge4 8,through a mistake of our good friend ,ireland1 dear ,mr4 ,glascott came here the day after ,i arrived from ,yorkshire4 ,he stayed only one day4 ,this stripling will throw down ,goliath4 ,i blessed that cross and accident which brought me acquainted with a young soldier that made me so ashamed of myself4 ,mr4 ,hill#ada is gone to ,brighton1 where ,i hope he will be as useful as he is in ,shropshire4 ,captain ,scott set out last ,monday for ,york1 after making a great stir for good in ,shrewsbury4 8,i am loth to trouble ,lady ,anne with a request of a line1 to know how your ladyship does1 yet ,i know not well how to give up the hope that she will once more steal two minutes for it4 8,i am1 with peculiar thanks to ,lady ,anne for her letter1 and to your ladyship for numberless favours1 my lady1 your most indebted and obliged servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#adb ,footnote #adj3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 pp4 #bij1 #bia4 ,footnote #ada3 ,afterwards ,sir ,richard ,hill1 ,bart41 one of ,fletcher's antagonists in the ,calvinian controversy4 ,footnote #adb3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #bif4 ,no further reference to the illness of the ,countess of ,huntingdon is needed2 but a few lines may be added concerning ,mr4 ,glascott1 whom ,mr4 ,ireland had sent to ,madeley to officiate during ,fletcher's supposed absence4 ,this young clergyman had been ordained at ,oxford in #agfe4 ,for two years1 he had served the curacy of ,cheveley1 in ,berkshire1 and had been recently dismissed4 ,he was now introduced to ,lady ,huntingdon1 became her assistant chaplain1 and laboured in her connexion till #agha4 ,mr4 ,ireland then presented him to the vicarage of ,hatherleigh1 in ,devonshire4 ,here he prayed and preached for nearly fifty years2 and here he died1 in the full triumph of the faith of ,christ1 on the #ahth of ,august1 #ahcj4adc ,footnote #adc3 ,ibid1 vol4 ii41 p4 #dfd4 ,for years past1 ,fletcher and ,whitefield had been sympathizing and warm-hearted friends1 but1 up to the present1 ,whitefield had not been to ,madeley4 ,after ,fletcher's departure from ,yorkshire1 ,whitefield succeeded him in that county1 and glorious were the seasons which ,lady ,huntingdon and the great evangelist enjoyed at ,kippax1 ,huddersfield1 ,leeds1 and other places4 ,fletcher urged ,whitefield to call at ,madeley on his way to what he called his 8winter quarters0 in ,london2 but ,whitefield found it impracticable to comply with his friend's request4#add ,thus was lost an opportunity that did not recur4 ,whitefield never preached in ,madeley church4 ,he died in #aggj4 ,footnote #add3 ,ibid1 vol4 i41 p4 #bii4 ,the ,countess of ,huntingdon spent the winter of #agfg chiefly at ,bath1 and was in constant correspondence with ,fletcher concerning her college at ,trevecca4 ,her proposal was to admit no young men except such as were truly converted to ,god1 and resolved to dedicate themselves to ,his service4 ,all admitted might stay three years1 and be clothed1 boarded1 lodged1 and educated gratuitously4 ,afterwards1 those who desired it might enter the ,christian ministry1 either in the ,church of ,england or among ,protestants of any other denomination4 ,the scheme was generous1 and as free from bigotry as it could be4 ,her ladyship had to select first of all a president1 and her choice fell upon ,fletcher4 ,he accepted her invitation4 ,it was impossible that he should be generally resident at ,trevecca1 much less constantly2 his duty to his ,madeley parishioners would not admit of this2 but he promised to attend as often as he conveniently could2 to give advice respecting the appointment of masters and the admission of students2 to revise the studies and conduct of the latter1 and to assist their piety1 and judge of their qualifications for the work of the ministry4 ,all this was to be done without any fee or reward whatever4 ,the plan for the examination of candidates for admission was drawn up by her ladyship4 ,it was then submitted to ,romaine1 ,venn1 ,wesley1 and others1 and received their approval4 ,the ,countess finally sent it to her president elect1 who returned the following answer3-- 8,,madeley1 ,november #bd1 #agfg4 8,,my ,,dear ,,lady1--,i received the proposals which your ladyship has drawn up for the examination of the young men who may appear proper candidates for the ,trevecca academy2 and ,i gratefully acknowledge your kindness in allowing me to propose suitable young men resident in my parish4 8,our ,israel is small1 my lady1 and if among six hundred thousand only two faithful men were found of old1 the ,joshuas and ,calebs cannot be numerous among us4 ,after having perused the articles1 and looked round about me1 ,i designed to answer your ladyship1 #8,out of this ,galilee ariseth no prophet4' ,with this resolution ,i went to bed1 but1 in my sleep1 was much taken up with the thought and remembrance of one of my young colliers1 who told me1 some months ago1 that for four years he had been inwardly persuaded he should be called to speak for ,god4 ,i looked upon the unusual impression of my dream as a call to speak to the young man1 and at waking desired to do so at the first opportunity4 ,to my great surprise1 he came to ,madeley that very morning1 and ,i found upon enquiry that he had been as much drawn to come as ,i to speak to him4 ,this encouraged me to speak of your ladyship's design1 and ,i was satisfied by his conversation that ,i might venture to propose him to your ladyship for further examination4 8,his name is ,james ,glazebrook1 collier and getter of ironstone in ,madeley wood4 ,he is now twenty-three--by look nineteen4 ,he has been awakened seven years4 ,he has been steady from the beginning of his profession1 at least so far as to be kept outwardly unblameable1 but has seemed to me to walk mostly in heaviness4 ,what ,i told him was as oil put into a glimmering lamp1 and he seems to revive upon hearing of the little outward call4 ,notwithstanding his strong desire to exhort1 he has not yet attempted to do so2 and his not being forward to run of himself1 makes me have the better hope his call is from ,god4 ,he has no mean gift in singing and prayer4 ,his judgment and sense are superior to his station1 and he does not seem to be discouraged by the severest part of your ladyship's proposals4 ,one difficulty stood in the way4 ,he maintains by his labour his aged mother2 but this is made easy by his mother's leave1 and the promise of an elder son to maintain her if he can have his brother's place in the pit4 8,with regard to the superintendency of the college1 or the examination of the candidates1 ,i know myself too well to dream about it2 nevertheless1 so far as my present calling and poor abilities will allow1 ,i am ready to throw my mite into the treasury4 8,some of our conversations upon the manifestations of the ,son of ,man to the heart have led me into many an hour's consideration4 ,the ,holy ,ghost alone can clear up the points to pursue4 ,nevertheless1 ,i have found both comfort and profit in setting upon paper the reflections ,i have been enabled to make upon the mysterious subject2 and they have1 through mercy1 set my soul more than ever against the rampant errors of ,sandemanianism4 ,should ,providence ever favour me with an opportunity1 ,i would bespeak an hour of your ladyship's time to ratify my views of the point1 under ,god4 8,i am happily provided with a schoolmaster to my mind1 and my ministry is the last under which ,i would advise any one intended for a preacher to sit4 ,nevertheless1 if the young candidate1 7,mr4 ,eastwood7 mentioned in the letter1 wants retirement and a prophet's room at my house he may have it1 if he can cook for himself or find a table in the neighbourhood40#ade ,footnote #ade3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 ii41 p4 #hb4 ,there is only one other incident1 in the life of ,fletcher1 deserving attention and belonging to the year #agfg2 and as it can be summarily dispatched1 it may be best to mention it at once1 before returning to two matters in his letter to the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 which will require more extended notice4 ,on ,december #a1 the tenth ,earl of ,buchan died at ,bath1 and was succeeded by his son1 who appointed ,fletcher1 ,venn1 and ,berridge to be his chaplains4 ,in a letter to ,lady ,huntingdon1 referring to the appointment1 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,i have just received a letter from ,lord ,buchan1 in which he says1 #8,pray for me1 that ,i also may be found faithful when our ,master calls for me1 and that ,i may live a martyr to redeeming love1 and die a trophy and a monument of the reality of the despised influences of the ,holy ,ghost4' ,it is a singular honour to belong to so excellent a nobleman4 ,oh6 how far below his grace is his nobility6 ,i feel a strong desire to pray that he may be kept from the fickleness of youth#adf and the baits of ambition4 ,i share in the happiness of ,lady ,buchan and ,lady ,anne ,erskine upon the occasion4 ,may ,god make them1 together with your ladyship1 a fourfold cord to draw sinners unto ,jesus40#adg ,footnote #adf3 ,the new earl was only twenty-four years of age4 ,footnote #adg3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 ii41 p4 #ai4 ,fletcher evidently was pleased with his appointment4 ,the emoluments of his new office probably were small1 perhaps nil2 but1 by means of it1 he became associated with one of the most pious and exemplary noblemen of the day4 ,to recur to ,fletcher's former letter to the ,countess of ,huntingdon4 ,he nominated ,james ,glazebrook as a fitting candidate to be examined for admission into ,lady ,huntingdon's intended college4 ,as already stated1 ,glazebrook was a poor1 hardworking collier4 ,he was without money and without learning2 but he had two of the three things by which ,wesley tested the ,divine call of his itinerants to preach2 namely1 8grace0 and 8gifts20 and ,fletcher had no doubt that when the opportunity arrived1 he would have the third--8fruit40 ,wesley's own definitions of these three words were3-- 8,grace3 a knowledge of ,god as a pardoning ,god2 the love of ,god abiding in them2 desiring and seeking nothing but ,god2 and the being holy in all manner of conversation4 ,gifts3 in some tolerable degree a clear1 sound understanding2 a right judgment in the things of ,god2 a just conception of salvation by faith2 and a degree of utterance so as to be able to speak justly1 readily1 clearly4 ,fruit3 are any truly convinced of sin and converted to ,god by their preaching8 ,as long as these three marks concur in any1 we believe he is called of ,god to preach40 ,whether ,fletcher adopted ,wesley's threefold test1 and applied it to ,james ,glazebrook1 it is impossible to ascertain2 but that his opinion of the young man was correct1 subsequent events fully proved4 ,glazebrook was one of ,fletcher's converts4 ,he was one of the first students at ,trevecca college1 if not the very first4 ,there he distinguished himself equally by his superior abilities and his uncommon diligence4 ,he allowed himself but little time for refreshment1 rest1 or recreation4 ,his piety was as remarkable as his gifts and diligence4 ,he was soon sent forth to preach1 and his labours were attended with considerable success4 ,for three years1 he was thus employed in various parts of ,england4 ,he then tired of the itinerant life1 and desired the ,countess of ,huntingdon to procure him orders in the ,established ,church4 ,with the assistance of ,fletcher a title was obtained1 and ,glazebrook was ordained deacon by the ,bishop of ,lichfield1 in ,december #agga4 ,soon after his ordination1 he entered on the curacy of ,smisby1 in ,derbyshire2 after which he served the curacies of ,rowley ,regis1 near ,birmingham2 ,shawbury1 ,shropshire2 ,ravenstone1 in ,derbyshire2 and ,hugglescote1 in ,leicestershire4 ,in #aggg1 he was ordained priest by ,dr4 ,hurd1 ,bishop of ,worcester4 ,two years later1 he married the eldest daughter of ,thomas ,kirkland1 ,esq41 ,m4,d41 of ,ashby-de-la-,zouch1 an intimate friend of the ,countess of ,huntingdon2 and1 soon after his marriage1 became minister of ,st4 ,james's1 ,warrington4 ,ultimately1 ,lord ,moira presented him to the vicarage of ,belton1 a village in ,leicestershire1 whose living even now is not worth more than about #ahj a year4 ,here he continued till the time of his decease2 and here1 as well as at ,warrington and other places1 he was made the honoured instrument of 8turning many to righteousness40 ,besides his ministerial labours1 he wrote and published a 8,treatise on ,extemporary ,preaching10 8,letters on ,infant ,baptism10 an 8,answer to ,gilbert ,wakefield's ,treatise on ,baptism10 and1 after his death1 his family published a volume of his sermons1 which was well received by the public4 ,such1 in brief1 was the history of ,fletcher's convert and proteg4 ,further particulars concerning him may be found in the ,evangelical ,register for #ahcf4 ,the other matter1 requiring attention1 in ,fletcher's letter to ,lady ,huntingdon1 under the date of ,november #bd1 #agfg1 is his reference to the conversations he had had with her ladyship upon the 8,manifestations of the ,son of ,man to the heart10 and the fact that he had devoutly studied this mysterious subject for 8many hours10 and had put his thoughts 8upon paper40 ,this important manuscript was not published until after ,fletcher's death4 ,the editor of his collected works1 in a brief preface1 says3-- 8,for the ,letters on the ,manifestation of ,christ1 the reader is obliged to ,mrs4 ,fletcher4 ,when they were written1 or to whom they are addressed1 is uncertain2 but1 from the beginning of the first letter1 the decayed state of the manuscript1 and the extreme smallness of the character1 which could scarcely have been legible to the author in his latter years1 they are supposed to have been the first essay of a genius afterwards so much admired4 ,the reader is requested to remember that the pious author wrote only for himself and his friends2 that these sheets want his perfecting hand2 and that the editor thought himself entitled to take no liberties40 ,from this preface1 it is evident that the editor was not acquainted with the foregoing letter to the ,countess of ,huntingdon2 and it may be added1 that there is no need for the apology1 that the 8sheets want0 ,fletcher's 8perfecting hand40 ,the ,letters are six in number1 and fill fifty-three octavo pages in ,fletcher's collected works4#adh ,it is extremely difficult to give1 in a brief form1 the substance of these important papers2 and yet the task must be attempted1 because the subject is one of great interest and because the ,letters seem to have been among the earliest of his compositions1 that were afterwards published4 ,footnote #adh3 ,they were first published by the ,rev4 ,melville ,horne1 in #agia1 with the title1 8,six ,letters on the ,spiritual ,manifestation of the ,son of ,god40 ,his object is clearly stated in his opening paragraph3-- 8,when ,i had the pleasure of seeing you last1 you seemed surprised to hear me say1 that the ,son of ,god1 for purposes worthy of ,his wisdom1 manifests ,himself1 sooner or later1 to all ,his sincere followers1 in a spiritual manner1 which the world knows not of4 ,the assertion appeared to you unscriptural1 enthusiastical1 and dangerous4 ,what ,i then advanced to prove that it was scriptural1 rational1 and of the greatest importance1 made you desire ,i would write you on the mysterious subject4 ,i declined it1 as being unequal to the task2 but1 having since considered that a mistake here may endanger your soul or mine1 ,i sit down to comply with your request2 and the end ,i propose by it is1 either to give you a fair opportunity of pointing out my error1 if ,i am wrong1 or to engage you1 if ,i am right1 to seek what ,i esteem the most invaluable of all blessings1--revelations of ,christ to your own soul1 productive of the experimental knowledge of ,him1 and the present enjoyment of ,his salvation40 8,i shall not be able to establish the doctrine ,i maintain unless you allow me the existence of the proper senses1 to which our ,lord manifests ,himself4 ,the manifestation ,i contend for being of a spiritual nature1 must be made to spiritual senses2 and that such senses exist1 and are opened in1 and exercised by1 regenerate souls1 is what ,i design to prove in this letter0 7the first71 8by the joint testimony of ,scripture1 our ,church1 and reason40 ,in his second letter1 ,fletcher defines what he means1 and does not mean1 by the manifestations of the ,son of ,god to the soul of man4 ,in the third and fourth1 he dwells on the uses of such manifestations4 ,the fifth contains a summary of the numerous appearances of the ,son of ,god during the ,old ,testament dispensation1 and concludes with answers to the objection that these appearances proved 8only1 that ,god favoured the patriarchs and ,jews with immediate revelations of ,himself1 because they had neither the ,gospel nor the ,scriptures40 ,fletcher's fourth answer to this objection is so characteristic that it must be quoted3-- 8,if1 because we have the letter of ,scripture1 we must be deprived of all immediate manifestations of ,christ and ,his spirit1 we are great losers by that blessed book1 and we might reasonably say1 #8,lord1 bring us back to the dispensation of ,moses6 ,thy ,jewish servants could formerly converse with ,thee face to face2 but now we can know nothing of ,thee1 but by their writings4 ,they viewed ,thy glory in various wonderful appearances2 but we are indulged only with black lines telling us of ,thy glory4 ,they had the bright ,shekinah1 and we have only obscure descriptions of it4 ,they were blessed with lively oracles2 and we only with a dead letter4 ,the ark of ,thy covenant went before them1 and struck terror into all their adversaries2 but a book1 of which our enemies make daily sport1 is the only revelation of ,thy power among us4 ,they made their boast of ,urim and ,thummim1 and received particular1 immediate answers from between the cherubim2 but we have only general ones1 by means of ,hebrew and ,greek writings1 which many do not understand4 ,they conversed familiarly with ,moses their mediator1 with ,aaron their high priest1 and with ,samuel their prophet2 these holy men gave them unerring directions in doubtful cases2 but1 alas6 the apostles and inspired men are all dead2 and ,thou1 ,jesus1 our ,mediator1 ,priest1 and ,prophet1 canst not be consulted to any purpose1 for ,thou manifestest ,thyself no more4 ,as for ,thy sacred book1 ,thou knowest that sometimes the want of money to purchase it1 the want of learning to consult the original1 the want of wisdom to understand the translation1 the want of skill or sight to read it1 prevent our improving it to the best advantage1 and keep some from reaping any benefit from it at all4 ,o ,lord6 if1 because we have this blessed picture of ,thee1 we must have no discovery of the glorious original1 have compassion on us1 take back ,thy precious book1 and impart ,thy more precious ,self to us1 as ,thou didst to ,thy ancient people60 ,in his sixth and last ,letter1 ,fletcher proves 8that the ,new ,testament1 as well as the ,old1 abounds with accounts of particular revelations of the ,son of ,god20 and he concludes thus3-- 8,having thus led you from ,genesis to ,revelation1 ,i conclude by two inferences1 which appear to me undeniable4 ,the first1 that it is evident our ,lord1 before ,his incarnation1 during ,his stay on earth1 and after ,his ascension into heaven1 hath been pleased1 in a variety of manners1 to manifest ,himself to the children of men1 both for the benefit of the ,church in general1 and for the conversion of sinners and the establishment of saints in particular4 ,secondly1 that the doctrine1 which ,i maintain1 is as old as ,adam1 as modern as ,st4 ,john1 the last of the inspired writers1 and as scriptural as the ,old and ,new ,testaments1 which is what ,i wanted to demonstrate40 ,this is an imperfect outline of ,fletcher's production1 but want of space prevents enlargement4 ,some1 with a scornful jeer1 will brand ,fletcher as a mystic2 and others1 sincerely in search of truth1 but who have not experienced that of which he speaks1 will ask his meaning4 ,leaving the former to their own infidel or pharisaic wisdom1 it may be said in reply to the latter1 ,fletcher meant nothing more than what ,christ ,himself meant in ,his sixth beatitude1 8,blessed are the pure in heart1 for they shall see ,god20 and again1 in one of ,his latest utterances1 8,he that hath ,my commandments and keepeth them1 he it is that loveth ,me2 and he that loveth ,me shall be loved of ,my ,father1 and ,i will love him1 and will manifest ,myself to him40 ,or1 again1 ,fletcher meant what ,st4 ,paul meant in texts like the following3--8,the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god2 for they are foolishness unto him2 neither can he know them1 because they are spiritually discerned40 8,god1 who commanded the light to shine out of darkness1 hath shined in our hearts1 to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of ,god in the face of ,jesus ,christ40 8,now faith is the substance of things hoped for1 the evidence of things not seen40 ,if it be asked1 again1 what is the meaning of these and such like texts8 it may be answered1 substantially1--the meaning is the same as what is meant by stanzas like the following1 written by ,john or ,charles ,wesley1 and selected from their ,hymn ,book1 almost at random3-- 8,spirit of faith1 come down1 ,reveal the things of ,god2 ,and make to us the ,godhead known1 ,and witness with the blood4 ,o that the world might know ,the all-atoning ,lamb6 ,spirit of faith6 descend and show ,the virtue of ,his name40 8,come1 ,holy ,ghost1 7for moved by ,thee ,the prophets wrote and spoke71 ,unlock the truth1 ,thyself the key1 ,unseal the sacred ,book4 ,expand ,thy wings1 celestial ,dove1 ,brood o'er our nature's night2 ,oh1 our disordered spirits move1 ,and let there now be light4 ,god1 through ,himself1 we then shall know1 ,if ,thou within us shine2 ,and sound1 with all ,thy saints below1 ,the depths of love divine40 8,author of faith1 eternal word1 ,whose spirit breathes the active flame2 ,faith1 like its finisher and ,lord1 ,to-day1 as yesterday1 the same3 ,to ,thee our humble hearts aspire1 ,and ask the gift unspeakable3 ,increase in us the kindled fire1 ,in us the work of faith fulfil4 ,the things unknown to feeble sense1 ,unseen by reason's glimmering ray1 ,with strong1 commanding evidence1 ,their heavenly origin display4 ,faith lends its realizing light1 ,the clouds disperse1 the shadows fly2 ,the ,invisible appears in sight1 ,and ,god is seen by mortal eye40 8,o disclose ,thy lovely face1 ,quicken all my drooping powers2 ,gasps my fainting soul for grace1 ,as a thirsty land for showers2 ,haste1 my ,lord1 no more delay6 ,come1 my ,saviour1 come away6 ,dark and cheerless is the morn1 ,unaccompanied by ,thee2 ,joyless is the day's return1 ,till ,thy mercy's beams ,i see2 ,till ,thou inward light impart1 ,glad my eyes and warm my heart4 ,visit1 then1 this soul of mine1 ,pierce the gloom of sin and grief2 ,fill me1 ,radiancy ,divine1 ,scatter all my unbelief2 ,more and more ,thyself display1 ,shining to the perfect day40 ,if it be asked1 again1 what means all this8 let the enquirer carefully and devoutly read ,fletcher's ,six ,letters4 ,he will be wiser and better for his exercise2 and will ascertain that ,fletcher and ,wesley were not1 in the vulgar sense of the expression1 bewildered and bewildering mystics1 but spiritually enlightened1 sober1 scriptural divines1 who1 with reverential and joyous hearts1 could sing3-- 8,what we have felt and seen1 ,with confidence we tell2 ,and publish to the sons of men ,the signs infallible4 ,we by ,his ,spirit prove ,and know the things of ,god1 ,the things1 which freely of ,his love ,he hath on us bestow'd4 ,his glory our design1 ,we live our ,god to please2 ,and rise1 with filial fear divine ,to perfect holiness40 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,trevecca ,,college3 ,,visit ,,to ,,switzerland1 ,,etc4 ,,from ,,january #c1 #agfh1 ,,to ,,july #aggj4 ,,in ,fletcher's letter to ,lady ,huntingdon1 dated ,november #bd1 #agfg1 it is intimated that the ,countess had suggested to ,fletcher that a certain 8,mr4 ,eastwood0 could serve him as his village schoolmaster1 and was anxious to do so1 in order to have the benefit of ,fletcher's ministry4 ,there can be no doubt that the name 8,eastwood0 is a mistake1 and that 8,easterbrook0 was meant4 ,joseph ,easterbrook was a son of the bell-man of ,bristol1 and had been educated at ,wesley's ,kingswood ,school4#adi ,he was now about seventeen years of age1 and came to reside at ,madeley4#aej ,afterwards he obtained episcopal ordination1 and became ,vicar of the ,temple ,church1 ,bristol1 and ,ordinary of ,newgate ,prison in that city4 ,he continued faithful to ,wesley and to ,methodism2 and1 it is said1 he preached a sermon in every house in his large parish4 ,he died in #agia1 in the fortieth year of his age4 ,this is not the place to give further details of his history2 but it is hoped that those now related will add to the interest of what ,fletcher writes concerning him in the following letter to the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 in reply to one she had addressed to him respecting suitable books for the students of her intended college3-- 8,,madeley1 ,january #c1 #agfh4 8,,my ,,lady1--,i thank your ladyship for having recommended to me ,easterbrook4 ,i hope he will be the captain of the school1 and a great help to the master1 as well as a spur to the students4 ,he has good parts1 a most happy memory1 and a zeal that would gladden your ladyship's heart4 ,he has preached no less than four times to-day2 and seems1 indeed1 in his own element when he is seeking after the lost sheep of the house of ,israel4 ,he is employed every evening in the work of the ,lord2 and ,i give him the more opportunity to exercise his talent1 as it appears he does it far better than ,i4 ,i beg two things for him3 first1 that it may hold2 secondly1 that he may be kept humble4 ,he would at first live upon potatoes and water2 but1 finding it may impair his health1 ,i have got him to table with me1 and shall gladly pay his board4 ,he works for me1 and the workman is worthy of his hire4 8,our young collier0 7,glazebrook7 8seems a little discouraged with regard to the hope of his being admitted one of your students4 ,he thinks he stands no chance1 if all must be qualified as he0 7,easterbrook7 8is4 8,with regard to books1 ,i am in doubt what to write your ladyship4 ,having studied abroad1 and used rather foreign than ,english books with my pupils0 7,mr4 ,hill's sons71 8,i am not well enough acquainted with the books ,great ,britain affords to select the best and most concise4 ,besides1 a plan of studies must be fixed upon first1 before proper books can be chosen4 ,grammar1 logic1 rhetoric1 ecclesiastical history1 and a little natural philosophy and geography1 with a great deal of practical divinity1 will be sufficient for those who do not care to dive into languages4 ,mr4 ,townsend and ,charles ,wesley might1 by spending an hour or two together1 make a proper choice2 and ,i would recommend them not to forget ,watt's #8,logic1' and his #8,history of the ,bible1 by ,questions and ,answers1' which seem to me excellent books of the kind for clearness and order4 ,mr4 ,wesley's #8,natural ,philosophy' contains as much as is wanted1 or more4 ,mason's #8,essay on ,pronunciation' will be worth their attention4 #8,henry and ,gill on the ,bible1' with the four volumes of ,baxter's #8,practical ,works1' ,keach's #8,metaphors1' #8,taylor on the ,types1' ,gurnal's #8,christian ,armour1' #8,edwards on ,preaching1' ,johnson's ,english ,dictionary1 and ,mr4 ,wesley's #8,christian ,library1' may make part of the little library4 ,the book of ,baxter1 ,i mention1 ,i shall take care to send to ,trevecca1 as a mite towards the collection1 together with ,usher's #8,body of ,divinity1' ,scapula's ,greek ,lexicon1 and ,littleton's ,latin ,dictionary4 8,with regard to those who propose to learn ,latin and ,greek1 the master your ladyship will appoint may choose to follow his particular method4 ,mr4 ,wesley's books1 printed for the use of ,christian youths1 seem to me short and proper1 and their expense less1 which1 ,i suppose1 should be consulted4 ,two or three dictionaries of ,bailey or ,dyke for those who learn ,english1 with two or three ,coles's ,dictionaries1 ,shrevelins's1 and ,pasor's1 for those who will learn ,latin and ,greek1 may be a sufficient stock at first4 8,mr4 ,edward ,stillingfleet#aea is presented1 by ,mr4 ,hill1 to the living of ,shawbury1 eight miles from ,shrewsbury1 and twenty from here4 ,i thank the ,lord for this fellow-helper4 8,i am1 your ladyship's unworthy servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#aeb ,footnote #adi3 8,unpublished ,letter by ,john ,pawson40 ,footnote #aej3 ,misled by the author of the 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 ,i have stated in my 8,life and ,times of ,wesley10 that1 at the opening of ,trevecca ,college1 ,easterbrook was appointed to the office of master4 ,this is a mistake4 ,the master1 as will be seen in succeeding pages1 was a wonderful child1 twelve years old6 ,perhaps1 however1 ,easterbrook rendered some assistance4--,l4 ,t4 ,footnote #aea3 ,a great-grandson of the celebrated bishop of that name4 ,he proved himself to be a faithful friend to ,venn1 and the other evangelical clergymen of the age4 ,footnote #aeb3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahba1 p4 #dcg4 ,the reader may learn two facts from ,fletcher's letter4 ,first1 what were the books in divinity he most loved and prized4 ,it is to be feared that such books are no longer popular4 ,in the case of many theological students1 they have given place to the flimsy and even sceptical productions of a later period4 ,the more the pity4 ,no wonder that so many pulpits are spiritless1 and that so many pews are starved4 ,secondly3 ,it is also evident that ,fletcher had already formed a sort of circuit of preaching places1 otherwise a youth like ,easterbrook could hardly have found the opportunity to preach every evening in the week1 and four times on ,sunday4 ,it is now impossible to ascertain what the places were2 but ,wesley's testimony may here be appropriately introduced4 8,from the beginning1 ,mr4 ,fletcher did not confine his labours to his own parish4 ,for many years1 he regularly preached at places1 eight1 ten1 or sixteen miles off1 returning the same night1 though he seldom got home before one or two in the morning4 ,at a little ,society which he had gathered about six miles from ,madeley1 he preached two or three times a week1 beginning at five in the morning40#aec ,footnote #aec3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,of course1 all this was ecclesiastically irregular1 and a repetition of it would not be permitted now2 but1 fortunately for the people who 8sat in darkness10 it was1 except in a few instances1 only a peccadillo a hundred years ago1 at which bishops1 priests1 and deacons found it a convenience to themselves to wink4 ,it was at this time that ,wesley wrote to ,fletcher his unusually long and well-known letter on conversation4 ,the following are brief extracts from it3-- 8,,birmingham1 ,march #bj1 #agfh4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,mr4 ,easterbrook told me yesterday that you are sick of the conversation even of them who profess religion1--that you find it quite unprofitable1 if not hurtful1 to converse with them three or four hours together1 and are sometimes almost determined to shut yourself up1 as the less evil of the two4 8,i do not wonder at it at all1 especially considering with whom you have chiefly conversed for some time past1 namely1 the hearers of ,mr4 ,madan1 or ,mr4 ,bourian1 perhaps ,i might add1 of ,mr4 ,whitefield4 ,the conversing with these ,i have rarely found to be profitable to my soul4 ,rather it has damped my designs2 it has cooled my resolutions2 and ,i have consciously left them with a dry1 dissipated spirit4 8,again2 you have1 for some time1 conversed a good deal with the genteel ,methodists4 ,now it matters not a straw what doctrine they hear1--whether they frequent the ,lock or ,west ,street1--they are1 almost all1 salt which has lost its savour1 if ever they had any4 ,they are thoroughly conformed to the maxims1 the spirit1 the fashions1 and customs of the world4 8,but were these or those of ever so excellent a spirit1 you conversed with them too long4 ,one had need to be an angel1 not a man1 to converse three or four hours at once1 to any purpose4 8,but have you not a remedy for all this in your hands8 ,in order to truly profitable conversation1 may you not select persons clear of both ,calvinism and ,antinomianism8 not fond of that luscious way of talking1 but standing in awe of ,him they love2 who are vigorously working out their salvation1 and are athirst for full redemption1 and every moment expecting it1 if not already enjoying it80#aed ,footnote #aed3 ,tyerman's 8,life and ,times of ,wesley10 vol4 iii41 p4 #d4 ,apart from the subject of this letter1 it is of importance1 as showing that the maelstrom of the ,calvinian controversy was already stirring1 and that ,wesley was afraid of ,fletcher being drawn into it4 ,this would be much more apparent could the letter be quoted here in extenso4 ,suffice it to add1 that ,fletcher was preserved from the spreading evils1 and that it is difficult to tell how much he was indebted to ,wesley's long warning letter for his escape from danger4 ,so far as ,fletcher was concerned1 the great event of the year #agfh was the opening of ,lady ,huntingdon's ,college at ,trevecca4 ,wesley seemed to disapprove of her ladyship's design4 ,in a letter to his brother ,charles1 he wrote3-- 8,edinburgh1 ,may #ad1 #agfh4--;,i am glad ,mr4 ,fletcher has been with you4 ,but1 if the tutor fails1 what will become of our ,college at ,trevecca8 ,did you ever see anything more queer than their plan of institution8 ,pray1 who penned it1 man or woman8 ,i am afraid the ,visitor0 7,fletcher7 8too will fail40#aee ,footnote #aee3 ,wesley's ,works1 vol4 xii41 p4 #abf4 ,meanwhile1 however1 an occurrence had taken place1 which appeared to make the opening of ,trevecca ,college increasingly desirable and important4 ,on the #abth of ,march1 six students belonging to ,edmund ,hall1 ,oxford1 were expelled the ,university1 really and truly on the ground that they were charged with being ,methodists4 ,the event1 as may easily be imagined1 created a national sensation4 ,numbers of tracts and pamphlets1 pro et con1 were published2 and1 among others1 one by ,whitefield1 entitled1 8,a ,letter to the ,reverend ,dr4 ,durell1 ,vice-,chancellor of the ,university of ,oxford2 occasioned by a late ,expulsion of ,six ,students from ,edmund ,hall40 ,whitefield's letter was dated ,april #ab1 #agfh1 exactly a month after the expulsions took place4 ,fletcher read it with approbation1 and wrote to ,whitefield1 thanking him for the service he had rendered to the cause of truth2 and also referring to a recent visit to ,bristol1 to the ,rev4 ,cradock ,glascott1 who had supplied for him at ,madeley2 and to the prospect there was of obtaining a suitable master1 from ,suffolk1 for the ,college at ,trevecca4 ,fletcher's letter was as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,may #bh1 #agfh4 8,,reverend ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,i thank you1 though late1 for the kind leave you gave me of trying to pipe where you trumpet the name of our dear ,redeemer1 in ,bristol4 ,i ask you1 and my hearers there1 and1 above all1 our gracious ,lord1 to pardon me for the wretched manner in which ,i performed1 or rather spoiled1 the glorious work4 8,i thank you1 also1 for your letter to the ,vice-,chancellor4 ,mr4 ,talbot#aef treated us with the reading of it at our meeting of the clergy at ,birmingham2 and ,i saw applause and satisfaction sitting upon every brow4 8,lady ,huntingdon1 in a few lines ,i had lately1 mentions that ,providence raises a master for her school from ,suffolk1 who promises well4 ,she desires he may be secured1 if approved of4 ,perhaps you know him2 and you are the best judge whether he is likely to answer4 ,for my part1 ,i am willing to put my smoking flax to the tapers of my brethren and fathers1 when they endeavour to throw some light and order upon her ladyship's design2 but ,i feel my place should be among the scholars1 rather than among the ,directors4 8,mr4 ,glascott quitted himself as a faithful and able minister1 during his stay here4 ,thousands attended him in the next parish1 where he nobly took the field4 ,nevertheless1 ,i see a curse of barrenness upon this neighbourhood1 which makes me groan for a day of ,pentecost4 ,god hasten it in ,his time6 ,you will please to remember that you are a debtor to our barbarians1 as well as to the ,greeks in ,london4 ,when you come1 my pulpit will be honoured1 greatly honoured1 to hold you1 if my church cannot hold your congregation40#aeg ,footnote #aef3 ,no doubt1 the ,rev4 ,william ,talbot1 ,,ll4,d41 ,vicar of ,kineton1 in ,warwickshire4 ,footnote #aeg3 ,fletcher's ,works1 vol4 viii41 p4 #bee4 ,who 8the master from ,suffolk0 was1 has never yet been stated4 ,the matter is of little consequence4 ,in the month of ,july1 ,wesley visited ,fletcher1 and1 no doubt1 they conversed concerning the ,college at ,trevecca2 but ,wesley's account of his visit is so brief as to be almost significant that there was something in their interview that he would rather suppress than publish4 ,he simply writes3 8#agfh1 ,sunday1 ,july #ca4 ,i preached for ,mr4 ,fletcher in the morning2 and in the evening at ,shrewsbury40#aeh ,within a month after this1 the college was opened2 but1 instead of being at ,trevecca1 ,wesley was in ,cornwall4 ,footnote #aeh3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,the opening took place on ,wednesday1 ,august #bd1 the anniversary of the birthday of ,lady ,huntingdon4 ,in all likelihood1 ,fletcher1 the president1 was present2 but no positive evidence of this has been published4 ,indeed1 considering the importance of the event1 the account of it is remarkably brief4 ,the best1 in fact1 so far as ,i know1 the only one ever given to the public1 is an extract from ,whitefield's ,memorandum ,book1 as follows3-- 8,august #bd1 #agfh4 ,opened good ,lady ,huntingdon's ,chapel and ,college1 in the parish of ,talgarth1 ,brecknockshire1 ,south ,wales4 ,preached from ,exodus xx4 #bd3 #8,in all places where ,i record ,my name1 ,i will come unto thee1 and ,i will bless thee4' ,august #be4--;,gave an exhortation to the ,students1 in the ,college-chapel1 from ,luke i4 #ae3 #8,he shall be great in the sight of the ,lord4' ,sunday1 ,august #bh4--,preached in the court before the ,college 7the congregation consisting of some thousands71 from #a ,cor4 iii4 #aa3 #8,other foundation can no man lay1 than that is laid1 which is ,jesus ,christ4'0#aei ,footnote #aei3 ,gillies' 8,life of ,whitefield40 ,to this must be added a single sentence1 from a letter which ,whitefield wrote to ,mr4 ,keene1 on ,august #cj3 8,what we have seen and felt at the ,college is unspeakable40#afj ,footnote #afj3 ,trevecca ,college was supported at the sole expense of the ,countess of ,huntingdon till her death1 on ,june #ag1 #agia4 8,had her ability been equal to her desire for its continuance1 she would have endowed it1 and thereby have provided for its perpetuity40 ,about four years before her decease1 and with her full approval1 provision was made for the future4 ,seven trustees were appointed to take care of the ,college after her ladyship's death2 and a subscription was begun for its maintenance4 ,this accumulated fund1 in #agia1 amounted to #ehe1 #c per cent4 ,consols4 ,the lease of the ,trevecca property had expired1 and it was now determined to remove the college to ,cheshunt1 near ,london4 ,accordingly1 the ,trevecca house was given up at ,lady-day1 #agib2 the furniture1 the library1 and the communion plate were taken to ,cheshunt1 where the new establishment was formally opened on ,august #bd1 the anniversary of the commencement of the abandoned one at ,trevecca4 ,a religious service1 of nearly three hours and a-half's duration1 was held2 ,lady ,anne ,agnes ,erskine1 executrix of the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 presided2 and seven or eight hundred persons were present4 78,the ,order observed at the opening of the ,countess of ,huntingdon's ,college at ,cheshunt1 ,london1 #agib10 #hvo41 #hf pp47 ,that is all4 ,is there an instance of any other ,methodist ,institution so important as this1 the published details of whose opening services are so pitiably meagre8 ,it has been said1 there is no positive proof that ,fletcher was at the opening of ,trevecca ,college2 but there is incidental evidence that he was1 and that his friend ,james ,ireland1 ,esq41 was with him4 ,this will be found in the second of the following letters addressed to ,mr4 ,ireland and his dying daughter4 8,,madeley1 ,july #cj1 #agfh4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,uncertain as ,i am whether your daughter is yet alive1 ,i know not what to say1 but this1--our ,heavenly ,father appoints all things for the best4 ,if her days of suffering are prolonged1 it is to honour her with a conformity to the crucified ,jesus4 ,if they are shortened1 she will have drunk all her cup of affliction1 and found1 at the bottom of it1 not the bitterness of her sins1 but the consolations of our ,saviour's ,spirit4 8,i had lately some views of death1 and it appeared to me in the most brilliant colours4 ,what is it to die1 but to open our eyes after the disagreeable dream of life8 ,it is to break the prison of corruptible flesh and blood1 into which sin has cast us4 ,it is to draw aside the curtain which prevents us seeing the ,supreme ,beauty and ,goodness face to face4 ,o my dear friend1 how lovely is death1 when we look at it in ,jesus ,christ6 ,to die is one of the greatest privileges of the ,christian4 8,if ,miss ,ireland is still living1 tell her1 a thousand times1 that ,jesus is the resurrection and the life2 that ,he has vanquished and disarmed death2 that ,he has brought life and immortality to light2 and that all things are ours1 whether life or death1 eternity or time4 ,these are great truths upon which she ought to repose her soul with full assurance4 ,everything is shadow1 in comparison of the reality of the ,gospel4 ,if your daughter be dead1 believe in ,jesus1 and you shall find her again in ,him1 who fills all in all1 who encircles the material and spiritual world in ,his arms--in the immense bosom of ,his ,divinity4 8,adieu1 my dear friend4 ,yours1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#afa ,footnote #afa3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #aih4 8,,madeley1 ,october #ad1 #agfh4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1--,i think ,i told you at ,trevecca1#afb that we had no farmers at ,madeley who feared ,god and loved ,jesus4 ,this generation among us are buried in the furrows of their ploughs1 or under the heaps of corn which fill their granaries4 ,now that ,i am on the spot1 ,i do not see one who makes it necessary for me to change my opinion4 ,your bailiff cannot come from this ,nazareth4 8,if the last efforts of the physicians fail with respect to ,miss ,ireland1 it will be a consolation to you to know that they have been tried4 ,every thing dies4 ,things visible are all transitory2 but invisible ones abide for ever4 ,if ,christ is our life and our resurrection1 it is of little importance whether we die now1 or thirty years hence4 8,present my respects to your son1 and tell him1 that last week ,i buried three young persons who had died of a malignant fever2 and who1 on the second day of their illness1 were deprived of their speech and senses1 and1 on the fifth1 of their lives4 ,of what avail are youth and vigour when the ,lord lifts ,his finger8 ,and shall we sin against the eternal power1 the infinite love1 the inexorable justice1 and the immense goodness of this ,god1 who gives us1 from moment to moment1 the breath which is in our nostrils8 ,no--we will employ the precious gift in praising and blessing this good ,god1 who is our ,father in ,jesus ,christ4 8,i hope you learn1 as well as ,i1 and better than ,i1 to know ,jesus in the ,spirit4 ,i have known ,him after the flesh1 and after the letter2 ,i strive to know ,him in the power of ,his ,spirit4 ,under the ,divine character of a quickening ,spirit1 ,he is everywhere4 ,all that live1 live in ,him1 and they who are spiritually alive have a double life4 ,the ,lord give us this second life more abundantly4 ,yours1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#afc ,footnote #afb3 ,in all probability at the opening of the ,college on ,august #bd4 ,footnote #afc3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #aii4 ,the next is an extract from a long letter1 addressed to dying ,miss ,ireland4 8,,madeley1 ,december #e1 #agfh4 8,,my ,,dear ,,afflicted ,,friend1--,i hear you are returned from the last journey you took in search of health4 ,your ,heavenly ,father sees fit to deny it you1 not because ,he hateth you 7for whom the ,lord loveth ,he chasteneth71 but because life and health might be fatal snares to your soul1 out of which you could not escape1 but by tedious illness1 and an early death4 8,your father has crossed the sea for you2 ,jesus has done more4 ,he has crossed the abyss that lies between heaven and earth--between the ,creator and the creature4 ,he has waded through the sea of ,his tears1 blood1 and agonies1 not to take you to the physician at ,montpelier1 but to become your physician and ,saviour ,himself4 ,oh1 my friend1 delay not cheerfully to surrender yourself to ,him4 ,look not at your sins without beholding ,his blood and righteousness4 ,eye not death but to behold your gracious ,saviour1 saying1 #8,fear not1 ,o thou of little faith3 wherefore dost thou doubt8' ,consider not eternity but as the palace where you are going to enter with the ,bridegroom of souls1 and rest from all your sins and miseries4 ,view not the condemning law of ,god but as made honourable by ,him1 who was made a curse for you4 ,if you have no comfort1 distrust not ,jesus on that account2 on the contrary1 take advantage from it to give greater glory to ,god1 by believing1 as ,abraham did1 #8in hope against hope4' ,in this simple1 ,gospel way1 wait the ,lord's leisure1 and ,he will comfort your heart4 8,i hope you take care to have little or nothing else mentioned to you but ,his praises and promises4 ,your tongue and ears are going to be silent in the grave4 ,now1 or never1 you must use them to hear and speak good of ,his name4 ,comfort your weeping friends4 ,reprove the backsliders4 ,encourage seekers4 ,remember the praying1 believing1 preaching1 though dying thief4 ,be not afraid to drop a word for ,him who opens a fountain of blood for you4 ,suffer1 live1 die at ,his feet2 and you will soon revive1 sing1 and reign in ,his bosom for evermore4 ,farewell1 in the ,conqueror of ,death and ,prince of ,life4 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#afd ,footnote #afd3 ,ibid1 #agia1 p4 #bjd4 ,within three months after the date of this letter1 ,miss ,ireland had left a world of sin and suffering1 and had entered into that rest which remains for the people of ,god4#afe ,hence the following1 addressed to her father3-- 8,,madeley1 ,march #bf1 #agfi4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,the ,lord is desirous of making you a true disciple of ,his dear ,son1 the #8,man of ,sorrows1' by sending you affliction upon affliction4 ,a sister and a wife who appear to hasten to the grave in which you have so lately laid your only daughter1 places you in circumstances of uncommon sorrow4 ,but in this see the finger of ,him who works all in all1 and who commands us to forsake all to follow ,him4 ,believe in ,him4 ,believe that ,he does all for the best2 and that all shall work for good to those who love ,him4 ,his goodness to your daughter ought to encourage your faith and confidence for ,mrs4 ,ireland4 ,offer her upon the altar1 and you shall see that1 if it be best for her and you1 ,his grace will suspend the blow which threatens you4 8,your rich present of meal came last week1 and shall be distributed to the pious poor agreeably to your orders4 ,we are happy to receive your bounty1 but you are more happy in bestowing it upon us4 ,witness the words of ,jesus1 #8,it is more blessed to give than to receive4' ,nevertheless1 receive1 by faith1 the presents of the ,lord1 the gifts of ,his ,spirit1 and reject not the bread which cometh down from heaven1 because the ,lord gives it you with so much love4 8,i shall be obliged to go to ,switzerland this year or the next1 if ,i live and the ,lord permits4 ,i have there a brother1 a worthy man1 who threatens to leave his wife and children to come and pay me a visit if ,i do not go and see him myself4 ,it is some time since our gracious ,god convinced him of sin1 and ,i have some of his letters which give me great pleasure4 ,this circumstance has more weight with me than the settlement of my affairs40#aff ,footnote #afe3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bje4 ,footnote #aff3 ,ibid1 p4 #bjf4 ,mr4 ,ireland was a frequent benefactor to ,fletcher and the poor of ,madeley4 ,hence1 in another letter to the same friend in need1 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,i think ,i wrote my last letter two days before ,i received your bounty--a large hogshead of rice and two cheeses4 ,accept the thanks of your poor and mine4 ,i distributed your gifts on ,shrove ,tuesday2 and preached to a numerous congregation on #8,seek ye first the kingdom of ,god and ,his righteousness1 and all other things shall be added unto you4' ,we prayed for our benefactor1 that ,god would give him a hundredfold in this life1 and eternal life1 where life eternal will be no burden40#afg ,footnote #afg3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,help1 like ,mr4 ,ireland's1 was always welcome4 ,many of ,fletcher's parishioners were extremely poor1 and to the utmost of his ability he contributed to their necessities4 ,one who knew him writes3-- 8,the profusion of his charity toward the poor and needy is scarcely credible4 ,it constantly exhausted his purse2 it frequently unfurnished his home2 and sometimes left him destitute of the common necessaries of life4 ,that he might feed the hungry1 he led a life of abstinence and self-denial2 and that he might cover the naked1 he clothed himself in the most homely attire40#afh ,footnote #afh3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,fletcher was ,president1 or1 as ,wesley chose to call him more correctly1 ,visitor of ,trevecca ,college4 ,the office brought upon him considerable anxiety and labour4 ,in the summer of #agfi1 ,john ,jones made application to be appointed head master4 ,mr4 ,jones1 from #agdf to #agfg1 had been one of ,wesley's itinerant preachers4 ,he was one of the first classical masters of ,kingswood ,school1 and wrote the ,latin ,grammar which was used in that academy4#afi ,he was highly esteemed by ,wesley1 and after he left ,kingswood was generally stationed in ,wesley's two most important circuits1 ,london and ,bristol4 ,in #aged1 when there was great excitement respecting a possible separation of the ,methodists from the ,church of ,england1 ,charles ,wesley wished what he called 8the sound preachers0 to be 8qualified for orders10 and wrote to his brother1 saying1 8,i know none fitter for training up the young men in learning than yourself or ,j4 ,jones40 ,nine years after this1 when ,erasmus1 a bishop of the ,greek ,church1 visited ,london1 he1 at ,wesley's request1 ordained ,jones to assist the ,arch-,methodist in administering the sacraments to his ,societies4 ,charles ,wesley would not admit the validity of this ordination1 and consequently would not allow ,mr4 ,jones to officiate as a clergyman4 ,this was a severe trial to the newly-ordained preacher1 and led him to leave the ,methodists4 ,he afterwards procured ordination from the ,bishop of ,london1 and was presented to the living of ,harwich1 where he continued to preach for many years1 and where he ended his days in peace4#agj ,he never lost his love for ,wesley4 ,in #agge1 when ,wesley was dangerously ill in ,ireland1 he wrote to him from ,harwich3-- 8,i cannot express what ,i felt when ,i was informed you were both senseless and speechless2 and it was like life from the dead when ,i heard you were out of danger and able to sit up4 ,time was when you would have taken my advice1 at least in some things4 ,let me entreat1 let me beseech you1 to preach less frequently1 and that only at the principal places10 etc4#aga ,footnote #afi3 ,myles's 8,chronological ,history of the ,methodists40 ,footnote #agj3 ,atmore's 8,methodist ,memorial40 ,footnote #aga3 ,arminian ,magazine1 #aghg1 p4 #ddd4 ,such was ,john ,jones1 ,wesley's friend1 and at one time held in high esteem by ,wesley's brother ,charles4 ,his ambition to be employed in ,lady ,huntingdon's college at ,trevecca was not inordinate4 ,fifteen years before1 ,charles ,wesley had thought him qualified to train young men for the ministry1 and from one of his letters1 written in #aggg1 and published in the ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine for #ahcg1 it is evident that ,charles ,wesley's opinion was well founded4 ,the letter was addressed to a gentleman of ,magdalene ,college1 ,cambridge1 who was about to be ordained1 and wished ,mr4 ,jones's advice respecting the composition of sermons and preaching them4 8,prayer10 said he1 8should always precede the composing of a discourse4 ,in general1 the explication of the text or context1 if they need it1 should not be too short4 ,the propositions or doctrines should not be too long nor too many1 and the clearer they are the better4 ,the illustrations should be proper and lively2 the proofs close and home2 the motives strong and cogent2 the inferences and application natural1 and not laboured4 ,for if we cannot persuade the passions1 we shall go but a little way with most of our hearers4 ,this was ,george ,whitefield's peculiar talent2 but ,i do not mean to persuade you to bawl as loud as he did1 and yet ,i would advise you to raise your voice in the application of your discourse4 ,eight-and-thirty years ago ,i thought it an easy matter to prove most points in divinity4 ,i have been learning the contrary ever since1 and ,i find it now very difficult1 by ,scriptures properly understood and applied1 to prove many things which ,i once thought quite clear4 ,i find it necessary to understand the ,scripture ,i bring in as a proof before ,i use it as such4 ,i will add one thing more4 ,you will find it very difficult to use such plain language as will be understood in most congregations4 ,avoid long periods as much as possible4 ,imitate ,csar rather than ,cicero2 leave the latter to ,dr4 ,middleton and ,samuel ,furley4 ,it is far better to be understood by our hearers than to be admired by getting out of their depth4 ,to do all the good we can is our one business in life40 ,mr4 ,jones was a man of sense1 and piety1 and experience2 and yet ,fletcher hesitated in recommending him to be appointed a tutor in ,trevecca ,college4 ,did ,fletcher sympathize with his friend ,charles ,wesley in the repugnance which the latter felt to ,mr4 ,jones's ordination by ,erasmus1 the bishop of the ,greek ,church8 ,perhaps so2 at all events1 the following letter to the ,countess of ,huntingdon was cautious1 if not cold3-- 8,,madeley1 ,july #a1 #agfi4 8,,my ,,lady1--,mr4 ,jones's letter puzzled me a little4 ,i did not know what answer to make to it4 ,i have1 however1 sat down1 and1 after an introduction1 ,i say to him-- 8#8,the first and grand point to be kept in view at ,lady ,huntingdon's ,college is to maintain and grow in the spirit of faith and power that breathes through the ,acts of the ,apostles1 and was exemplified in the lives of the primitive ,christians4 ,the first and grand qualification required in a person called to be at the head of such a college is1 then1 a degree of faith and power from above1 with an entire devotedness to ,god and ,his cause4 8#8,the master1 who is there at present1 seems1 on account of his youth1 to be deficient in point of experience4 ,nor is he a proper master of the ,greek1 nor even of the harder classics2 so that he can hardly maintain his superiority over those who read ,cicero and ,horace4 ,whether this inconveniency1 ,sir1 would be avoided1 supposing you were appointed to succeed him1 ,i cannot judge by your letter4 ,he is also unacquainted with divinity and the sciences1 of which it is proper he should give the students some idea2 and how far you may excel him in these points1 ,sir1 is not in my power to determine4 ,he has twenty-five guineas a year1 with his board1 room1 and washing4 ,i dare say the generous foundress would not hesitate to raise the salary of a master of superior merit1 though she hopes none would undertake that office for the sake of money4' 8,after giving ,mr4 ,jones a little account of the business of the ,college1 ,i add-- 8#8,the variety of classes in it demands great assiduity and diligence in the master4 ,i would not1 therefore1 advise anyone to engage without a proper trial4 ,i have begged of ,lady ,huntingdon not to fix upon a master till she had allowed him to look about him1 and see how he liked the place1 people1 and business2 and1 as you very properly observe1 ,sir1 it would be improper to engage1 and then to repent of the undertaking4 ,i think that1 if1 upon consulting with the ,lord in prayer1 and with ,mr4 ,maxfield in conversation1 you find your heart free to embrace so peculiar an opportunity of being useful to your generation1 it might be best to come and see how you like the business1 and how it agrees with you2 and should not matters prove agreeable on either side1 ,i dare say ,lady ,huntingdon will pay your travelling expenses to ,talgarth1#agb and back again4' 8,in a letter to ,mr4 ,maxfield1#agc ,i desired him to inform your ladyship how ,mr4 ,jones's mind stands after reflecting on the contents of my letter to him1 and whether he would go to make a trial4 ,i add1 that so much depends upon the aptness to teach1 ,christian experience1 solidity1 liveliness1 and devotedness of a master1 that no one can presume to judge of these things by a letter1 or even by a day's conversation4 8,if your ladyship does not approve of this step1 a line to ,mr4 ,maxfield will rectify what you think amiss1 and will oblige1 my lady1 your unworthy servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher4 8,p4,s4--,if your ladyship is so good as to spare a minister for three weeks1 ,i shall be glad to wait upon the dear young men and their patroness at the ,college40#agd ,footnote #agb3 ,trevecca ,college was in the parish of ,talgarth1 ,south ,wales4 ,it was supposed to be part of an old castle erected in the reign of ,henry the ,second4 ,the date over the entrance was #aagf4 ,footnote #agc3 ,thomas ,maxfield1 who had seceded from ,wesley's ,connexion in #agfc1 and had received episcopal ordination from the ,bishop of ,derry4 ,footnote #agd3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 ii41 p4 #ih4 ,this is an important letter1 not only as exhibiting the views of ,fletcher1 but as containing a curious chapter in the earliest history of ,trevecca ,college4 ,the ,college1 as it was ostentatiously called1 had been opened ten months4 ,it had one master2 and the author of the 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon0 says ,joseph ,easterbrook was the person who occupied this position2 but adduces no proof in support of his assertion4 ,another1 and a far greater authority1 attests that the master of the ,college was a child4 ,who was he8 ,in #aghh1 there was printed 8,a ,sermon1 occasioned by the ,death of the celebrated ,mr4 ,j4 ,henderson1 ,b4,a41 of ,pembroke ,college1 ,oxford3 ,preached at ,st4 ,george's1 ,kingswood1 ,november #bc2 and at ,temple ,church1 ,bristol1 ,november #cj1 #aghh4 ,by the ,rev4 ,william ,agutter1 ,m4,a41 of ,st4 ,mary ,magdalen ,college1 ,oxford4 ,published at the request of the ,congregations4 ,bristol4 #aghh40 #hvo1 pp4 #cb4 ,the text of the sermon is1 8,moses was learned in all the wisdom of the ,egyptians40 ,mr4 ,agutter's eulogy of ,henderson cannot here be quoted at full length3 the following are brief extracts from it3-- 8,mr4 ,henderson was born1 as it were1 a thinking being2 and was never known to cry1 or to express any infantine peevishness4 ,the questions he asked1 as soon as he was able to speak1 astonished all who heard him40 8,his memory was so strong that he retained all he read2 and his judgment so solid that he arranged1 examined1 and digested all that he remembered1 and thus made it his own40 8,at a time that other children were employed in the drudgery of learning words1 he was occupied in obtaining the knowledge of things4 ,while but a boy1 he was engaged to teach the learned languages4 ,at twelve years of age1 he taught ,greek and ,latin in the ,college of ,trevecca4 ,the ,governor of the ,college at that time was the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,fletcher1 late ,vicar of ,madeley40#age ,footnote #age3 ,the ,arminian ,magazine1 for #agic1 confirms this statement4 ,mr4 ,agutter proceeds to say1 that1 when ,fletcher was dismissed from ,trevecca1 ,henderson was dismissed with him4 ,this1 then1 was the master--the only master of ,trevecca ,college during the first year of its existence--a child1 a wonderful child1 twelve years old6 ,a further account of this prodigy1 or1 as the ,monthly ,review1 of #aghi1 called him1 8a second ,baratier10#agf may interest the reader4 ,footnote #agf3 ,baratier was a ,german1 born in #agba1 and is said to have understood the ,german1 ,french1 ,greek1 and ,latin languages when he was five years old4 ,at the age of nine1 he could not only translate the ,hebrew ,scriptures into ,latin or ,french1 but also re-translate these versions into ,hebrew4 ,before he had completed his tenth year1 he composed a ,hebrew ,lexicon of rare and difficult words1 with curious critical remarks4 ,in his thirteenth year he translated from the ,hebrew 8,rabbi ,benjamin's ,travels in ,europe1 ,asia1 and ,africa10 and published them in two volumes1 8with historical and critical notes and dissertations40 ,he also1 with remarkable success1 applied himself to the study of philosophy1 mathematics1 ecclesiastical history1 law1 etc4 ,he died in his twentieth year4 ,his father was a native of ,ireland1 and1 from #agei to #agga1 was one of ,wesley's best itinerant preachers1--a man of deep piety1 great talent1 and amiable disposition2 but naturally of a timid and melancholy mind4 ,on relinquishing the itinerancy1 he commenced a boarding-school at ,hannam1 near ,bristol2 but two of his pupils having been drowned while bathing1 his mind was so affected1 that he abandoned his school1 and opened1 at the same place1 an asylum for the insane1 which ,wesley pronounced the best of the kind in the three kingdoms4 ,john ,henderson1 his only child1 was born at ,bellgaran1 near ,limerick1 in #ageg1 and1 as early as possible1 was sent to ,wesley's ,school1 at ,kingswood4 ,at the age of eight1 he had made such proficiency in the ,latin language1 as to be able to teach it in the school4 ,in his twelfth year1 as already stated1 he became the ,master in ,trevecca ,college4 ,when about fourteen years of age1 he left ,trevecca1 and1 probably1 spent the next ten years with his father at ,hannam4 ,at twenty-four1 he entered ,pembroke ,college1 ,oxford2 and1 in due time1 took the degree of ,bachelor of ,arts4 ,his thirst after knowledge was unbounded2 and his amiable temper and remarkable talents secured him the respect of all who knew him4 ,his learning was deep and multifarious4 ,he was skilled in grammar1 rhetoric1 history1 logic1 ethics1 metaphysics1 and scholastic theology4 ,he studied medicine with great attention1 and practised it among the poor1 wherever he had a chance1 gratuitously4 ,he was well versed in geometry1 astronomy1 and every branch of natural and experimental philosophy1 and also in civil and canon laws4 ,besides several of the modern languages1 he was master of the ,greek and ,latin tongues2 and was intimately acquainted with ,persic and ,arabic4 ,scarcely a book could be mentioned1 but he could give some account of it2 nor any subject started1 but he could engage in the discussion of it4 ,his talents for conversation were so attractive1 various1 and multiform1 that he was a companion equally acceptable to the philosopher and the man of the world1 to the gay1 the learned1 and illiterate1 the young and the old of both sexes4 ,he attracted the notice of ,dr4 ,johnson1 was intimate with ,sir ,william ,jones1 ,miss ,hannah ,more1 and other celebrities2 and ,mr4 ,wilberforce offered him his patronage and a living1 if he would reside in ,london4 ,like most geniuses1 ,john ,henderson was eccentric4 ,when he first went to ,oxford1 his clothes were made in a fashion peculiar to himself2 he had no stock or neckcloth2 and he wore his hair like that of a boy at school4 ,his mode of life was singular4 ,he generally went to bed at daybreak1 and rose in the afternoon1 except when he was obliged to attend the morning service of the college chapel4 ,before he retired to rest1 he frequently stripped himself naked to the waist1 took his station at a pump near his rooms1 sluiced his head and the upper part of his body1 pumped water over his shirt1 and then1 putting it on1 went to bed4 ,this he jocularly called 8an excellent cold bath40 ,he became an ardent admirer of the nonsense of ,jacob ,behmen's wild philosophical divinity2 studied ,lavater's 8,physiognomy20 and attained to a considerable knowledge of magic and astrology2 and declared the possibility of holding correspondence with the spirits of the dead1 upon the strength of his own experience4 ,he died at ,oxford1 on ,november #b1 #aghh1 and was buried at ,st4 ,george's1 ,kingswood4 ,his father was so painfully affected by the loss of his affectionate and only child1 that he caused the corpse to be taken up again1 several days after the interment1 to satisfy himself that his son was really dead4#agg ,footnote #agg3 ,arminian ,magazine1 #agic1 pp4 #adj-add4 ,wesley had great love and respect for poor ,henderson's father1 and1 a few months after the young man's untimely death1 he wrote3-- 8#aghi1 ,march #ac4--;,i spent some time with poor ,richard ,henderson1 deeply affected with the loss of his only son2 who1 with as great talents as most men in ,england1 had lived two-and-thirty years1 and done just nothing40#agh ,footnote #agh3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,this1 however1 was scarcely true4 ,henry ,moore1 in his 8,life of ,wesley10#agi relates an anecdote which is worth preserving1 and which must conclude this lengthened notice of the child professor at the ,countess of ,huntingdon's ,college at ,trevecca4 ,in reference to ,wesley's entry in his ,journal1 ,mr4 ,moore remarks3-- 8,not a vestige of ,mr4 ,henderson's writings remains4 ,this is owing to what some would call a cross providence4 ,he used to visit his father at ,hannam1 near ,bristol1 in the summer vacation4 ,he there studied intensely1 and wrote largely4 ,his ,,mss4 he stored in a large trunk without a lock4 ,returning home1 some time before his last illness1 he flew to his treasure1 but found the trunk empty4 ,he enquired of ,mrs4 ,henderson1 who called up the servant1 and asked for the papers in the trunk4 ,the girl1 who had been hired that year1 replied with great simplicity1 #8,la6 ma'am1 ,i thought they were good for nothing1 and so ,i lighted the fire with them during the winter4' ,mr4 ,henderson looked at his excellent mother-in-law for some time1 but spoke not a word4 ,he then went into his study1 and was never known to mention the subject more40 ,footnote #agi3 ,vol4 ii41 p4 #cfj4 8,oh6 ,diamond1 ,diamond6 thou little knowest the mischief thou hast done60 said ,sir ,isaac ,newton to his favourite little dog1 who1 by upsetting a taper on his desk1 had set fire to the papers which contained the whole of his unpublished experiments1 and thus reduced to ashes the labours of many years4 ,poor ,henderson1 in his misfortune1 8spoke not a word40 ,newton lived thirty years after his great loss1 but made no important addition to his scientific discoveries2 ,henderson died soon after his sad calamity2 and hence ,wesley's disparaging remark concerning him3 8,with as great talents as most men in ,england1 he lived two-and-thirty years1 and did just nothing40 ,wesley must have been ignorant of the fact related by ,mr4 ,moore2 for1 on no other ground can an apology be framed for his unfair remark4 ,it is time to return to ,fletcher4 ,wesley was not present at the opening of ,trevecca ,college1 in #agfh1 but he took part in the religious services held at the first anniversary in #agfi4 ,whitefield was unavoidably absent1 for he was preaching farewell sermons1 and administering farewell sacraments1 to his ,london congregations1 and1 a week afterwards1 set out on his final visit to ,america4 ,but1 even without him1 the ,methodist gathering at ,trevecca was one of the most remarkable recorded in old ,methodist history4 ,besides ,wesley and ,fletcher1 there were present ,howell ,harris1 the founder of the ,welsh ,methodists2 the ,rev4 ,daniel ,rowlands1 rector of ,llangeitho1 with a salary of #aj a year1 a preacher whose eloquence was overwhelming1 and whose meetings among the ,welsh mountains can never be forgotten2 the ,rev4 ,william ,williams1 curate of ,lanwithid1 a brave-hearted man who had met violent persecution without flinching1 and a member of the first ,conference of the ,calvinistic ,methodists in ,wales1 in #agdc2 ,howell ,davies1 rector of ,prendergast1 an intimate friend of ,whitefield1 a preacher whom thousands upon thousands flocked to hear1 in fields1 and on commons and mountains1 and the attendance at whose monthly sacraments was so great that his church had to be emptied several times over to make room for the remaining communicants waiting out of doors2 the ,rev4 ,peter ,williams1 another itinerant clergyman of the ,established ,church1 who joined the ,methodists as early as the year #agda2 and the ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,walter ,shirley1 brother of the notorious ,earl ,ferrers1 first cousin of the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 converted under the ministry of ,venn1 and now an earnest minister of ,christ2 to whom must be added ,lady ,huntingdon1 the ,countess of ,buchan1 ,lady ,anne ,erskine1 and ,miss ,orton1 and also the first students of ,trevecca1 headed by their juvenile master1 ,john ,henderson4 ,the services were held daily for a whole week1 from the #aith to the #beth of ,august inclusive4 ,fletcher1 ,rowlands1 and ,william ,williams arrived at the ,college on ,friday1 the #ahth1 and next morning ,rowlands preached in the chapel to a crowded congregation1 from the words1 8,lord1 are there few that be saved80 ,in the afternoon1 the ,lord's ,supper was administered1 ,fletcher addressing the communicants and spectators1 and ,williams giving out a hymn1 which was sung with great enthusiasm4 ,at night1 ,howell ,harris preached to a large congregation assembled in the court from the text1 8,the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of ,god40 ,during the day1 ,walter ,shirley and several lay preachers arrived at ,trevecca4 ,on ,sunday1 ,august #bj1 at ten in the morning1 ,fletcher read the ,liturgy in the court1 and ,shirley preached on1 8,acquaint thyself now with ,him1 and be at peace40 ,at one1 the ,lord's ,supper was administered in the chapel1 and ,rowlands1 ,fletcher1 and ,williams gave addresses4 ,during the afternoon1 ,fletcher preached in the court to an immense congregation1 from1 8,i am not ashamed of the ,gospel of ,christ40 ,when his sermon was ended1 ,rowlands1 in the ,welsh language1 addressed the crowd from1 8,it is appointed unto men once to die40 ,on ,monday and ,tuesday the clergymen preached1 and ,howell ,harris and several of the lay preachers joined in the services4 ,on ,wednesday1 ,august #bcrd1 ,wesley came1 accompanied by ,howell ,davies and ,peter ,williams4#ahj ,wesley writes3-- 8,wednesday1 ,august #bcrd4 ,i went on to ,trevecca4 ,here we found a concourse of people from all parts1 come to celebrate the ,countess of ,huntingdon's birthday1 and the anniversary of her school1 which was opened on the twenty-fourth of ,august1 last year4 ,i preached in the evening to as many as her chapel could well contain2 which is extremely neat1 or rather1 elegant2 as is the dining-room1 the school1 and all the house4 ,about nine1 ,howell ,harris desired me to give a short exhortation to his family4 ,i did so2 and then went back to my lady's1 and laid me down in peace4 8,thursday1 ,august #bdth4 ,i administered the ,lord's ,supper to the family4#aha ,at ten1 the public service began4 ,mr4 ,fletcher preached an exceeding lively sermon in the court1 the chapel being far too small4 ,after him1 ,mr4 ,william ,williams preached in ,welsh till between one and two o'clock4 ,at two we dined4 ,meantime1 a large number of people had baskets of bread and meat carried to them in the court4 ,at three1 ,i took my turn there2 then ,mr4 ,fletcher2 and about five1 the congregation was dismissed4 ,between seven and eight1 the lovefeast began1 at which1 ,i believe1 many were comforted4 ,in the evening1 several of us retired into the neighbouring wood1 which is exceeding pleasantly laid out in walks1 one of which leads to a little mount raised in the midst of a meadow that commands a delightful prospect4 ,this is ,howell ,harris's work1 who has likewise greatly enlarged and beautified his house2 so that1 with the gardens1 orchards1 walks1 and pieces of water that surround it1 it is a kind of little paradise40#ahb ,footnote #ahj3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 ii41 pp4 #ih1 #ii4 ,footnote #aha3 ,the author of the 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon0 says1 8,shirley assisted ,wesley10 and adds1 8,the sacrament was first administered to the clergyman1 then to the students1 and then to ,lady ,huntingdon1 the ,countess of ,buchan1 ,lady ,anne ,erskine1 ,miss ,orton1 and the other members of the family40 ,footnote #ahb3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,this is not the place to enlarge upon ,howell ,harris's establishment1 which adjoined ,trevecca ,college4 ,suffice it to say1 that here he had gathered together a family of more than a hundred persons1 8all diligent1 all constantly employed1 all fearing ,god and working righteousness40#ahc ,footnote #ahc3 ,ibid4 ,the lovefeast mentioned by ,wesley was the concluding service on the first anniversary day1 strictly speaking1 of ,trevecca ,college4 ,at that lovefeast1 ,walter ,shirley1 ,howell ,davies1 and ,daniel ,rowlands gave short exhortations1 and ,peter ,williams and ,howell ,harris offered prayers4 ,lady ,huntingdon observes3-- 8,truly our ,god was in the midst of us1 and many felt ,him eminently nigh4 ,the gracious influence of ,his ,spirit seemed to rest on every one4 ,words fail to describe the holy triumph with which the great congregation sang-- #8,captain of ,thine enlisted host1 ,display thy glorious banner high1' etc4 ,it was a season of refreshing from the presence of the ,lord--a time never to be forgotten40 ,next morning1 ,wesley set off for ,bristol2 but the services were continued4 ,in the afternoon1 ,shirley took his stand on the scaffold in the court1 and addressed the multitude from the words1 8,wherefore ,he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto ,god by ,him1 seeing ,he ever liveth to make intercession for them40 8,from that time10 wrote ,lady ,huntingdon1 8we had public preaching every day at four o'clock1 whilst ,mr4 ,shirley and ,mr4 ,fletcher remained4 ,copious showers of ,divine blessing have been felt on every side4 ,truly ,god is good to ,israel4 ,continue ,thy goodness1 and in much greater abundance6 ,o that ,i may be more and more useful to the souls of my fellow-creatures6 ,i want to be1 every moment1 all life1 all zeal1 all activity for ,god1 and ever on the stretch for closer communion with ,him4 ,my soul pants to live more to ,him2 and to be more holy in heart and life1 that all my nature may show the glories of the ,lamb40#ahd ,footnote #ahd3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 ii41 pp4 #ih-aja4 ,alas6 that these glorious scenes among the ,welsh mountains should so soon be followed by scenes of discord and of disputes4 ,the great storm of the ,calvinian controversy was already brewing4 ,walter ,sellon occupies a rather unique position in ,methodistic annals4 ,he died in #agib1 at the age of seventy-seven2 and yet of the first thirty1 and the last twenty-two years of his life1 hardly anything is known4 ,dr4 ,abel ,stevens1 in his 8,history of ,methodism10 says ,sellon was originally a baker2 but ,i know of no authority for this1 except ,toplady's1 whose hatred and abuse of ,sellon were such as to justify a hesitancy in believing a statement concerning his stout antagonist1 which he intended to be injurious to his fame4 ,sellon was born in the year #agae2 but up to the year #agde he had not been introduced to ,wesley4 ,in a letter to ,wesley1 dated ,december #ca1 #agdd1 he states1 that1 until recently1 he had condemned him as 8an innovator10 and had 8pitied those who followed0 him4 ,but1 having heard ,wesley preach1 and having read his sermon on 8,scriptural ,christianity10 delivered before the ,oxford ,university on ,august #bd1 #agdd1 his opinions concerning him and his followers were entirely changed2 and he now requested ,wesley1 when he had an opportunity1 to preach at ,maidenhead1 8where drunkenness1 adultery1 profaneness1 gaming1 and almost every abominable vice1 were not only committed with greediness1 but gloried in1 and boasted of40#ahe ,whether ,wesley went to ,maidenhead1 which seems to have been ,sellon's place of residence1 is not known2 but1 three years and a half afterwards1 when he opened his famous ,kingswood ,school1 ,walter ,sellon was appointed the ,headmaster 8for the ,classics40#ahf ,about the year #aged1 ,sellon received episcopal ordination1 and became curate of the churches of ,smisby1 near ,ashby-de-la-,zouch1 and of ,breedon1 where vast multitudes flocked to hear him1 8not only from adjacent towns and villages1 but frequently from places ten1 fifteen1 and twenty miles distant40 8,he was a real ,methodist10 wrote ,jonathan ,edmondson1 8and hundreds were turned to ,god through his instrumentality40#ahg ,sellon enjoyed the confidential friendship of ,wesley1 and especially of ,wesley's brother ,charles2 and1 about the time of his appointment to his curacies1 stood faithfully by them in their contentions with the most able and prominent of their itinerant preachers1 concerning the separation of the ,methodists from the ,established ,church4 ,all his publications were controversial2 and all1 except his first1 were written specially in defence of the anti-,calvinian doctrines ,wesley taught4 ,this is not the place to review ,walter ,sellon as an author4 ,suffice it to say1 that he was always powerful1 rather than polite2 and that1 after his first publication1 in #agfe1 which was levelled at ,socinianism1 he prepared a second in #agfh1 which was entitled1 8,arguments against the ,doctrine of ,general ,redemption considered40 ,without noticing1 at present1 the subsequent writings of ,sellon1 it is enough to add1 that1 about the year #aggj1 he was presented by the ,earl of ,huntingdon to the ,vicarage of ,ledsham1 in ,yorkshire1 where he lived and laboured until his death1 on ,june #ac1 #agib4ahh ,in an unpublished manuscript1 ,john ,pawson says3-- 8,i do not believe ,mr4 ,sellon was made the instrument of awakening a single soul after he came to ,ledsham4 ,he was tutor to young ,mr4 ,medhurst1 of ,kippax1 who lately murdered his wife1 and would have murdered his mother some years ago1 if my brother ,tarboton had not rescued her at the hazard of his own life4 ,while in that family1 ,mr4 ,sellon seemed to lose all spirit and life1 and1 as far as ,i could learn1 had very little savour of godliness about him4 ,he took not the least notice of the ,methodists1 no more than if he had never known them40 ,footnote #ahe3 ,arminian ,magazine1 #aggh1 p4 #cbg4 ,footnote #ahf3 ,myles' 8,chronological ,history of the ,methodists40 ,footnote #ahg3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahef1 p4 #ch4 ,footnote #ahh3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahef1 p4 #da4 ,john ,pawson was one of ,wesley's most honest and hardworking itinerants2 but he sometimes was more severe in his strictures than was desirable4 ,his remark1 however1 concerning ,sellon's abandonment of the ,methodists was probably correct2 for ,wesley1 in a letter dated ,june #aj1 #aghd1 wrote to him3 8,you used to meet me when ,i came near you2 but you seem1 of late1 to have forgotten your old friend and brother40#ahi ,footnote #ahi3 ,wesley's ,works1 vol4 xiii41 p4 #dc4 ,to return to ,fletcher4 ,he and ,sellon were well known to each other4 ,four years ago1 they had exchanged pulpits for a season1 ,sellon preaching at ,madeley1 and ,fletcher at ,smisby and ,breedon-on-the-,hill4 ,now ,sellon was entering the arena of controversy4 ,the expulsion of the ,methodist students from ,oxford ,university1 in #agfh1 had been the means1 incidentally1 of bringing some of the chief doctrines of ,calvinism into public notice4 ,sir ,richard ,hill1 in defending the students1 had warmly advocated ,calvinistic predestination4 ,dr4 ,nowell1 in answering ,sir ,richard1 had clearly shown that this predestination was not the doctrine of the ,church of ,england4 ,toplady had rushed to the rescue of his favourite dogma1 and had published his translation of 8,zauchius10 and also his 8,letter to ,dr4 ,nowell40 ,sellon was the first of ,wesley's friends who entered the lists1 by preparing and publishing his 8,arguments against the ,doctrine of ,general ,redemption considered4 ,london1 #agfi40 #abmo4 #agh pp4 ,wesley encouraged him1 and so did ,fletcher4 ,the former wrote as follows3-- 8,,wakefield1 ,july #i1 #agfh4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,i am glad you have undertaken the #8,redemption ,redeemed2' but you must in no wise forget ,dr4 ,owen's answer to it3 otherwise you will leave a loop-hole for all the ,calvinists to creep out4 ,the ,doctor's evasions you must needs cut in pieces1 either interweaving your answers with the body of the work1 under each head1 or adding them in marginal notes4 8,your ever affectionate brother1 8,j4 ,,wesley40#aij ,footnote #aij3 ,wesley's ,works1 vol4 xiii4 p4 #da4 ,after the book was published1 ,fletcher wrote to ,sellon the following letter1 plainly showing that the great ,calvinian controversy1 though as yet in its incipient state1 was causing considerable commotion3-- 8,,madeley1 ,october #g1 #agfi4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,i thank you for your letter and books4 ,they came safe to hand1 and ,i shall give you the amount at the first opportunity4 ,i have inquired what the ,calvinists think2 but they choose to be silent1--a sign that they have not any great thing to object4 ,mr4 ,r----#aia looked at your book here in my house1 and objected to 1 ,rom4 ix4 #ae4 ,he says1 is1 #8,i have mercy1' not #8,i should have mercy4' ,i observed to ,mr4 ,glascott1 #8,it is the subjunctive mood1 and may take the sign should1 would1 or could1 according to the analogy of faith4' 8,i long to see ,coles#aib answered4 ,my request to you is1 that you would answer him in the cool manner you have the ,synod2#aic and my prayer to ,god is1 that you may be assisted for that important work4 8,i know two strong ,calvinist believers1 who lately took their leave of this world with1 #8,i shall be damned4' ,o1 what did all their professions of perseverance do for them8 ,they left them in the lurch4 ,may we have the power of ,god in our souls1 and we shall readily leave unknown decrees to others4 8,the ,lord give you patience with your brethren6 ,the best way to confound them is1 to preach that kingdom of ,god which they cast away1 with real righteousness1 and present peace and joy in believing2 that is poison to the synodical kingdom4 8,i despair of seeing you before ,i have seen ,switzerland1 which ,i design to visit next winter4 ,mr4 ,ireland takes me as far as ,lyons in my way4 8,there are some disputes in ,lady ,huntingdon's ,college2 but when the power of ,god comes1 they drop them4 ,the ,calvinists are three to one4 ,your book ,i have sent them as a hard nut for them to crack4 8,may the ,lord spare you1 and make you a free1 joyful soldier of the ,lord ,jesus2 as tough against sin and unbelief as you are against ,calvin and the ,synod6 ,the ,lord has overruled your leaving ,smisby for good4 ,let us trust in ,him1 and all will be well4 ,farewell4 8,,john ,,fletcher40#aid ,footnote #aia3 ,probably ,romaine1 who was at ,berwick1 near ,shrewsbury1 on ,september #i1 #agfi1 and wrote a letter full of his strongest ,calvinism4 7,see ,romaine's ,works1 vol4 vi41 p4 #ccj4 ,edition #ahac47 ,footnote #aib3 ,elisha ,coles1 a clerk to the ,east ,india ,company1 who died in #afhh4 ,his 8,practical ,discourse of ,god's ,sovereignty10 here referred to1 was answered by ,sellon a year or two afterwards4 ,footnote #aic3 ,the ,synod of ,dort1 held at ,dort in #afah and #afai1 and consisting of thirty-eight ,dutch and ,walloon divines1 five professors of the ,dutch ,universities1 and twenty-one ,lay-elders2 besides twenty-eight foreign divines1 from ,england and other countries4 ,at this celebrated ,synod1 the five points of difference between the ,calvinists and ,arminians were decided in favour of the former4 ,sellon1 in his able book1 controverts this decision1 at all events so far as the doctrine of predestination is concerned4 ,footnote #aid3 ,fletcher's ,works1 vol4 viii41 p4 #bje4 ,this episode respecting ,walter ,sellon is not irrelevant1 and is of considerable importance1 inasmuch as it relates1 in part1 to the rise of the great ,calvinian controversy of the last century1 in which ,fletcher became one of the chief actors4 ,sellon's book1 in favour of the doctrine of 8,general ,redemption10 was the first published by ,wesley's adherents1 and is exceedingly able2 but this is not the place to analyse and give an account of it4 ,seventeen years had elapsed since ,fletcher left his father's house in ,switzerland4 ,he had now decided to pay a visit to the place of his nativity1 and to travel as far as the south of ,france with his generous friend1 ,mr4 ,ireland1 of ,brislington1 ,bristol4 ,the following letter to ,mr4 ,ireland refers to this contemplated visit1 and to another matter1 which must be noticed3-- 8,,madeley1 ,december #cj1 #agfi4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,last night1 ,i received your obliging letter1 and am ready to accompany you to ,montpelier1 provided you will go with me to ,nyon4 ,i shall raise about twenty guineas1 and1 with that sum1 a gracious ,providence1 and your purse1 ,i hope we shall want for nothing4 ,if the ,lord sends me1 ,i should want nothing1 though ,i had nothing1 and though my fellow-traveller were no richer than myself4 8,i hope to be at ,bristol soon1 to offer you my services to pack up4 ,you desired to have a ,swiss servant1 and ,i offer myself to you in that capacity2 for ,i shall be no more ashamed of serving you1 as far as ,i am capable of doing1 than ,i am of wearing your livery4 8,two reasons 7to say nothing of the pleasure of your company7 engage me to go with you to ,montpelier1--a desire to visit some poor ,huguenots in the south of ,france1 and the need ,i have to recover a little ,french before ,i go to converse with my compatriots4 8,the priest at ,madeley is going to open his mass-house1 and ,i declared war on that account last ,sunday1 and propose to strip the whore of ,babylon and expose her nakedness to-morrow4 ,all the papists are in a great ferment1 and have held meetings to consult on the occasion4 ,one of their bloody bullies came #8to pick up a quarrel' with me1 as he said1 and what would have been the consequence had ,i not had company with me ,i know not4 ,how far more rage may be kindled to-morrow ,i don't know2 but ,i question whether it will be right for me to leave the field in these circumstances4 ,i forgot to mention that two of our poor ignorant ,churchmen are about to join the mass-house1 which also is the cause of my having taken up arms40#aie ,footnote #aie3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bjh4 ,fletcher preached his anti-popery sermon as he intended1 taking as his text #a ,tim4 iv4 #a-c3 8,now the ,spirit speaketh expressly that1 in the latter times1 some shall depart from the faith1 giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils2 speaking lies in hypocrisy2 having their conscience seared with a hot iron2 forbidding to marry1 and commanding to abstain from meats1 which ,god hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth40 ,an outline of the sermon may be found in ,fletcher's ,collected ,works1 vol4 vii41 p4 #dij4 ,as the people were leaving the church1 a man1 who acted as the spokesman of the papists present1 cried1 8,there was not a word of truth in the whole sermon20 and then1 turning to ,fletcher1 assured him that he would shortly produce a gentleman who would refute all that he had said4 ,the threat was not fulfilled2#aif and ,benson1 in his 8,life of ,fletcher10 first published in #ahjd1 remarks3-- 8,by ,mr4 ,fletcher's bold and prudent stand the designs of the papists were in a great measure frustrated1 and they were prevented making any progress worth mentioning in ,madeley4 ,it is true there is even now a mass-house and a priest at ,madeley1 but ,i find1 upon inquiry1 there are not a dozen ,popish families in the parish40 ,footnote #aif3 ,fletcher's ,works1 vol4 vii41 p4 #did4 ,fletcher's intended visit to ,switzerland was1 for a little while1 deferred2 because he deemed it his duty to await the threatened refutation of his anti-popish sermon4 ,hence1 early in ,january #aggj1 he went to ,trevecca2 probably for the purpose of meeting ,joseph ,benson1 who was about to become head master of the college4 ,joseph ,benson was now nearly twenty-two years of age1 and for the last four years had been the classical master of ,wesley's school at ,kingswood1 and was at present keeping terms at ,oxford4 ,his acquaintance with ,fletcher was slight1 but his admiration of him great4 ,he writes3-- 8,i had only had two or three interviews with ,mr4 ,fletcher1 which were1 ,i think1 in the year #agfh1 when ,i was classical master at ,kingswood school4 ,as he occasionally made an excursion from ,madeley to ,bristol and ,bath1 in one of these excursions we invited him to preach at ,kingswood4 ,he came1 and took as his text1 #8,him that cometh unto ,me ,i will in no wise cast out4' ,the people were exceedingly affected2 indeed quite melted down4 ,the tears streamed so fast from the eyes of the poor colliers that their black faces were washed by them4 ,as to himself1 he was carried out so far beyond his strength that1 when he concluded1 he put off his shirt1 which was as wet as if it had been dipped in water4 ,but this was nothing strange2 whenever he preached it was generally the case4 ,from this time1 ,i conceived a particular esteem for him1 chiefly on account of his piety2 and wished much for a further acquaintance with him1 a blessing which ,i soon after obtained2 for through his means1 and in consequence of ,mr4 ,wesley's recommendation to the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 ,i was made head master of the academy1 or1 as it was commonly called1 the college1 at ,trevecca1 though ,i could ill be spared from ,kingswood1 where ,i had acted in that capacity about four years4 ,being greatly wanted at ,kingswood1 and having likewise a term to keep at ,oxford1 ,i could only pay them a short visit for the present1 which was in ,january #aggj2 but in the spring following1 ,i went to reside there1 and for some time was well satisfied with my situation40#aig ,footnote #aig3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,no record exists of what transpired between ,fletcher and ,benson at ,trevecca2 but the following letter1 written there1 and addressed to ,mr4 ,ireland1 deserves insertion3-- 8,,trevecca1 ,january #ac1 #aggj4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,i know not what to think of our journey4 ,my heart frequently recoils4 ,i have lost all hope of being able to preach in ,french1 and ,i think if ,i could they would not permit me4 ,i become more stupid every day2 my memory fails me in a surprising manner4 ,i am good for nothing1 but to go and bury myself in my parish4 ,i have those touches of misanthropy which make solitude my element4 ,judge1 then1 whether ,i am fit to go into the world4 ,on the other hand1 ,i fear that your journey is undertaken partly from complaisance to me1 and in consequence of the engagement we made to go together4 ,i acquit you of your promise2 and1 if your business does not really demand your presence in ,france1 ,i beg you will not think of going there on my account4 ,the bare idea of giving you trouble would make the journey ten times more disagreeable to me than the season of the year4 8,the day after ,i wrote to you ,i preached the sermons against popery1 which ,i had promised to my people2 and ,mr4 ,s--t--r called out several times in the churchyard1 as the people went out of church1 that #8there was not one word of truth in the whole of my discourse1 and that he would prove it4' ,he also told me that he would produce a gentleman who should answer my sermon and the pamphlet ,i had distributed4 ,i was1 therefore1 obliged to declare in the church that ,i should not quit ,england1 and was only going into ,wales1 from whence ,i would return soon to reply to the answer of ,mr4 ,s--t--r and the priest1 if they should offer any4 ,i am thus obliged to return to ,madeley by my word so publicly pledged1 as well as to raise a little money for my journey4 ,were it not for these circumstances1 ,i believe ,i should pay you a visit at ,bristol1 notwithstanding my misanthropy4 8,the hamper which you mention1 and for which ,i thank you1 provided it be the last1 arrived three days before my departure1 but not knowing what it was1 nor for whom it was intended1 ,i put it into my cellar without opening it4 ,i want the living water rather than cider1 and righteousness more than clothes4 ,i fear1 however1 lest my unbelief should make me set aside the fountain whence it flows1 as ,i did your hamper4 ,be that as it may1 it is high time to open the treasures of ,divine mercy1 and to seek in the heart of ,jesus for the springs of love1 righteousness1 and life4 ,the ,lord give us grace so to seek that we may find1 and be enabled to say with the woman in the ,gospel1 #8,i have found the piece of silver which ,i had lost4' 8,if your affairs do not really call you to ,france ,i will wait until ,providence and grace shall open a way to me to the mountains of ,switzerland1 if ,i am ever to see them again4 ,adieu6 ,give yourself wholly to ,god4 ,a divided heart1 like a divided kingdom1 falls naturally by its own gravity either into darkness or into sin4 ,my heart's desire is that the love of ,jesus may fill your soul1 and that of your unworthy and greatly obliged servant1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#aih ,footnote #aih3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #baj4 ,the journey to ,switzerland was deferred1 but took place2 though no one seems to know the exact date when it was begun or when it ended4 ,in the month of ,july1 however1 ,fletcher was again in ,england4 ,strangely enough1 there is no letter of his that refers to the extensive tour made by him and his friend ,ireland2 but the latter sent the following account to ,mr4 ,benson3-- 8,i was with ,mr4 ,fletcher1 day and night1 nearly five months1 travelling all over ,italy and ,france4 ,at that time1 a popish priest resided in his parish1 who attempted to mislead the poor people4 ,mr4 ,fletcher1 therefore1 throughout this journey1 attended the sermons of the ,roman ,catholic clergy1 visited their convents and monasteries1 and conversed with all the most serious among them whom he met with1 in order that he might know their sentiments concerning spiritual religion4 ,he was so very particular in making observations respecting the gross and absurd practices of the priests and other clergy1 especially while we were in ,italy1 that we were frequently in no small danger of our lives4 ,he wished to attend the ,pope's chapel at ,rome1 but ,i would not consent to accompany him till ,i had obtained a promise from him that he would forbear to speak by way of censure or reproof of what he saw or heard4 ,he met with many men of science and learning1 with whom he conversed freely on ,gospel truths1 which most of them opposed with violence4 ,a few listened and were edified4 ,his whole life1 as you well know1 was a sermon2 all his conversations were sermons4 ,even his disputations with infidels were full of instruction4 ,we met with a gentleman of fortune1 an excellent classical scholar1 with whom we continued near a fortnight at an hotel4 ,he said he had travelled all over ,europe1 and had passed through all the ,societies in ,england to find a person whose life corresponded with the ,gospels and with ,paul's ,epistles4 ,he asked me 7for it was with me he first began to converse7 if ,i knew any clergyman or dissenting minister in ,england1 possessed of a stipend of #ajj a year for the cure of souls1 who would not leave them all if he were offered double that amount4 ,i replied in the affirmative1 and pointed to my friend ,fletcher2 when disputations commenced1 which continued for many days40#aii ,footnote #aii3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,mr4 ,gilpin1 in ,fletcher's 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul10 adds to this account4 ,he says3-- 8,this debate was continued1 by adjournment1 for the space of a week4 ,whatever had been said upon the subject by the most celebrated writers was brought forward1 and thoroughly discussed4 ,mr4 ,fletcher repeatedly overcame his antagonist1 who regularly lost his temper and his cause together4 ,mr4 ,fletcher took a view of the ,christian's enviable life1 his consolation in trouble1 and his tranquillity in danger2 together with his superiority to all the evils of life and the horrors of death2 interspersing his remarks with affectionate admonitions and powerful persuasives to a rational dependence upon the truths of the ,gospel4 ,at the conclusion of this memorable debate1 the unsuccessful disputant conceived so exalted an idea of his opponent's character1 that he never afterwards mentioned his name but with peculiar veneration and regard2 and when they met again1 eight years later1 in ,provence1 where the gentleman lived in affluence1 he showed ,mr4 ,fletcher every possible civility1 entertained him at his house in the most hospitable manner1 and listened to his conversation on spiritual subjects with all imaginable attention and respect40 ,mr4 ,gilpin mentions another incident of the same kind4 ,fletcher1 in his travels1 met a young gentleman from ,genoa1 who had imbibed the infidel notions of the day4 ,they had a debate1 which lasted several days1 from morning till night4 ,the sceptic was vanquished1 and was so struck with the masterly skill of ,fletcher1 and his more than parental concern1 that1 before they parted1 he looked up to his instructor with reverence1 listened to him with admiration1 and desired to be present at morning and evening prayer4#bjj ,footnote #bjj3 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul40 ,while at ,marseilles1 ,mr4 ,ireland procured for ,fletcher the use of a ,protestant church in that neighbourhood2 but the engagement to preach in it caused ,fletcher great anxiety1 probably because he had lost his facility in speaking the ,french language4 ,he prayed about it earnestly all the week2 and when ,sunday morning came1 he entreated ,mr4 ,ireland to inform the minister of the church that he was unable to fulfil his engagement4 ,mr4 ,ireland refused2 and ,fletcher was compelled to ascend the pulpit1 where he preached with such effect1 that the whole congregation1 among whom were many ministers1 were in tears4#bja ,he determined1 while in the south of ,france1 to visit the ,protestants in the ,cevennes mountains1 whose fathers had suffered so severely in the cause of ,christ2 8the heretics of the ,cevennes1 those accursed remainders of the old ,albigenses10 as the ,bull of ,clement ,,xi41 dated #agjc1 designated them4 ,the journey was long and difficult1 but no argument could prevail with him to abandon his resolution of attempting it on foot4 8,shall ,i10 said he to his friend ,ireland1 8make a visit on horseback and at ease1 to those poor cottagers1 whose fathers were hunted along the rocks1 like partridges upon the mountains8 ,no3 ,i will visit them under the plainest appearance1 with my staff in my hand40 ,accordingly1 he set out alone1 and1 after travelling till it was nearly dark1 he entered a small house1 and begged the favour of being allowed to sit in a chair till morning4 ,the master of the cottage1 after some hesitation1 consented4 ,conversation followed2 the host and hostess were charmed2 the best provisions in their humble dwelling were given to the traveller2 and1 before they retired to rest1 prayer was proposed and offered4 ,early on the morrow1 the strange visitant renewed his conversation and his prayers2 father1 mother1 and children were melted into tears2 and the poor man himself told his neighbours that he had nearly refused to admit a stranger into his house1 who was more an angel than a man4 ,the family were papists4 ,continuing his journey1 ,fletcher reached a small town1 where he was entertained by a pious minister1 to whom he had been recommended4 ,the ,protestants received him with open arms4 ,he conversed with their elders2 admonished their youth2 visited their sick2 and preached with freedom and success4 ,many among them were comforted1 and many built up in their most holy faith4 ,footnote #bja3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,as he travelled over the mountains1 he1 one day1 put up in a small dwelling1 whose master could hardly speak without uttering an oath4 ,of course1 ,fletcher1 in his own peculiar way1 reproved the swearer2 and1 with such effect1 that the man confessed his sin2 and ever afterwards1 when in danger of falling into his old habit1 nothing more was necessary to restrain him than to remember the saintly stranger who had once obtained a lodging beneath his humble roof4#bjb ,footnote #bjb3 ,gilpin's 8,notes to ,portrait of ,st4 ,paul40 ,fletcher and ,mr4 ,ireland proceeded from ,france to ,italy1 and traversed the celebrated ,appian ,way4 ,as they approached it1 ,fletcher directed the driver to stop2 for1 said he to ,mr4 ,ireland1 8,i cannot ride over ground where the ,apostle ,paul once walked1 chained to a soldier40 ,as soon as he set his foot upon the old ,roman road1 he took off his hat2 and1 walking on with his eyes lifted up to heaven1 he gave ,god thanks for the glorious truths which ,paul preached4 ,he rejoiced that1 in ,england1 these truths were still published2 and prayed that they might be revived in ,italy4 ,he reviewed the life1 the travels1 the labours1 and the sufferings of the great ,apostle1 his remarks being intermixed with prayer and praise1 and the man himself resembling an incarnation of devotion4#bjc ,footnote #bjc3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,on arriving in ,switzerland1 he was at once solicited by the clergy at ,nyon to occupy their pulpits4 ,he complied with their requests2 and1 wherever he was announced to preach1 multitudes from all quarters flocked to hear him4 ,even deists listened to him with admiration1 and the crowds seemed to think him more than human4 ,despisers of revelation were overawed and confounded2 formalists were roused2 and careless sinners startled4 ,one of his converts betook himself to sacred studies1 and became a ,protestant minister at ,lyons4 ,when the time for ,fletcher's departure came1 a good old minister1 of more than threescore years and ten1 besought him1 with indescribable earnestness1 to stay a little longer1 even were it only for a single week2 and1 when he found that this was impracticable1 the old gentleman burst into tears1 and1 addressing ,mr4 ,ireland1 cried1 8,oh1 ,sir1 how unfortunate for my country6 ,during my lifetime1 it has produced but one angel of a man1 and now it is our lot to lose him60 ,at length the carriage1 that was to bear away the travellers1 appeared2 multitudes crowded round about it1 anxious to receive a last word or look2 and not a few followed it for above two miles1 before they could summon sufficient resolution to bid farewell to their saintly compatriot whom they had learned to love so much4#bjd ,footnote #bjd3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,fletcher reached ,england about the time of midsummer #aggj4 ,his tour had done him good1 and had prepared him for the more than ordinary trials that awaited him4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,commencement ,,of ,,the ,,calvinian ,,controversy4 #aggj ,,and #agga4 ,,during his absence from ,england1 ,fletcher wrote several letters to the masters and students of the ,countess of ,huntingdon's ,college at ,trevecca2#bje but none of these have been published1 and1 probably1 none of them now exist4 ,immediately after his return1 and before he had an opportunity of visiting the ,college1 he indited the following remarkable epistle3-- 8,,madeley1 ,july #bc1 #aggj4 8,to the masters and students of ,lady ,huntingdon's ,college4 8,grace1 mercy1 and peace attend you1 my dear brethren1 from ,god our ,father1 and from our ,lord and ,brother ,jesus ,christ6 8,brother1 do ,i say8 ,should ,i not rather have written ,all8 ,is not ,he all and in all8 ,all to believers1 for ,he is their ,god1 as the 7the ,word71 and their ,friend1 ,brother1 ,father1 ,spouse1 etc41 etc41 etc41 as ,he is 7the ,word made flesh74 ,from ,him1 through ,him1 and in ,him1 ,i salute you in the ,spirit4 ,i believe ,he is here with me1 and in me4 ,i believe ,he is yonder with you1 and in you2 for #8in ,him we live1 move1 and have1' not only our animal1 but rational and spiritual1 #8being4' ,may the powerful grain of faith remove the mountain of remaining unbelief1 that you and ,i may see things as ,god sees them6 ,when this is the case1 we shall discover that the ,creator is ,all indeed1 and that creatures1 which we are wont to put in ,his place1 are mere nothings1 passing clouds that our ,sun of ,righteousness has thought fit to clothe ,himself with1 and paint some of ,his glories upon4 ,in an instant1 ,he could scatter them into their original nothing1 or resorb them for ever1 and stand without competitor1 1 the ,being4 8,but suppose that all creatures should stand for ever1 little signatures of ,god1 what are they even in their most glorious estate1 but as tapers kindled by ,his light1 as well as formed by ,his power8 ,now conceive a ,sun1 a spiritual ,sun1 whose centre is everywhere1 whose circumference can be found nowhere2 a ,sun whose lustre as much surpasses the brightness of the luminary that rules the day1 as the ,creator surpasses the creature2 and say1 ,what are the twinkling tapers of good men on earth1--what is the smoking flax of wicked creatures1--what the glittering stars of saints in heaven8 ,why1 they are all lost in ,his transcendent glory1 and if any one of these would set himself up as an object of esteem1 regard1 or admiration1 he must indeed be mad with self and pride4 ,he must be1 as dear ,mr4 ,howell ,harris has often told us1 a foolish apostate1 a devil4 8,understand this1 believe this1 and you will sink to unknown depths of self-horror1 for having aspired at being somebody1 self-humiliation at seeing yourself nobody1 or what is worse an evil-body4 8,but ,i would not have you dwell even upon this evil1 so as to lose sight of your ,sun1 unless it be to see ,him covered1 on this account1 with our flesh and blood1 and wrapt in the cloud of our nature4 ,then you will cry out with ,st4 ,paul1 #8,o the depth6' ,then1 finding the manhood is again resorbed into the ,godhead1 you will gladly renounce all selfish1 separate existence in ,adam and from ,adam4 ,you will take ,christ to be your life2 you will become ,his members by eating ,his flesh and drinking ,his blood2 you will consider ,his flesh as your flesh1 ,his bone as your bone1 ,his ,spirit as your spirit1 ,his righteousness as your righteousness1 ,his cross as your cross1 and ,his crown 7whether of thorns or glory7 as your crown4 ,you will reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin1 but alive unto ,god1 through this dear ,redeemer4 ,you will renounce propriety2 you will heartily and gladly say1 #8,not ,i1 not ,i1 but ,christ liveth2 and only because ,he lives1 ,i do1 and shall live also4' 8,when it is so with us1 then we are creatures in our ,creator1 and redeemed creatures in our ,redeemer4 ,then we understand and feel what ,he says1 #8,without ,me the ,creator1 ye are nothing2 without ,me the ,saviour1 ye can do nothing4' #8,the moment ,i consider ,christ and myself as two1 ,i am gone1' says ,luther2 and ,i say so too4 ,i am gone into self1 and into ,antichrist2 for that which will be something1 will not let ,christ be all2 and that which will not let ,christ be all1 must certainly be ,antichrist4 ,what a poor1 jejune1 dry thing is doctrinal ,christianity1 compared with the clear and heartfelt assent that the believer gives to these fundamental truths6 ,what life1 what strength1 what comfort flow out from them6 ,o my friends1 let us believe1 and we shall see1 taste1 and handle the ,word of ,life4 ,when ,i stand in unbelief1 ,i am like a drop of muddy water drying up in the sun of temptation4 ,i can neither comfort1 nor help1 nor preserve myself4 ,when ,i do believe and close in with ,christ1 ,i am like that same drop losing itself in a boundless1 bottomless sea of purity1 light1 life1 power1 and love4 ,there my good and my evil are equally nothing2 equally swallowed up2 and grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life4 8,there ,i wish you all to be4 ,there ,i beg you and ,i may meet with all ,god's children4 ,i long to see you that ,i may impart unto you 7should ,god make use of such a worm7 some spiritual gift1 and that ,i may be comforted by the mutual faith of you and me1 and by your growth in grace1 and in divine as well as human wisdom1 during my long absence4 ,i hope matters will be so contrived that ,i may be with you1 to behold your order1 before the anniversary4 ,meanwhile1 ,i remain your affectionate fellow-labourer and servant in the ,gospel of ,christ1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#bjf ,footnote #bje3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher48 ,footnote #bjf3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher48 ,no wonder that the visits of a man breathing such a spirit were welcomed4 ,mr4 ,benson1 the head master of the ,college1 writes3-- 8,he was received as an angel of ,god4 ,it is not possible for me to describe the veneration in which we all held him4 ,like ,elijah1 in the schools of the prophets1 he was revered2 he was loved2 he was almost adored2 not only by every student1 but by every member of the family4 8,and indeed he was worthy4 ,the reader will pardon me1 if he thinks ,i exceed4 ,my heart kindles while ,i write4 ,here it was that ,i saw1 shall ,i say1 an angel in human flesh8 ,i should not far exceed the truth if ,i said so4 ,but here ,i saw a descendant of fallen ,adam1 so fully raised above the ruins of the fall1 that1 though by the body he was tied down to earth1 his whole conversation was in heaven4 ,his life1 from day to day1 was hid with ,christ in ,god4 ,prayer1 praise1 love1 and zeal1 all ardent1 elevated above what one would think attainable in this state of frailty1 were the element in which he continually lived4 ,as to others1 his one employment was1 to call1 entreat1 and urge them1 to ascend with him to the glorious source of being and blessedness4 ,he had leisure1 comparatively1 for nothing else4 ,languages1 arts1 sciences1 grammar1 rhetoric1 logic1 even divinity itself1 were all laid aside1 when he appeared in the schoolroom among the students4 ,his full heart would not suffer him to be silent4 ,he must speak1 and they were readier to hearken to this servant and minister of ,jesus ,christ1 than to attend to ,sallust1 ,virgil1 ,cicero1 or any ,latin or ,greek historian1 poet1 or philosopher they had been engaged in reading4 ,and they seldom hearkened long1 before they were all in tears1 and every heart catched fire from the flame that burned in his soul4 8,these seasons generally terminated in this4 ,being convinced that to be #8filled with the ,holy ,ghost' was a better qualification for the ministry of the ,gospel than any classical learning 7though that too may be useful in its place71 after speaking awhile in the schoolroom1 he used frequently to say1 #8,as many of you as are athirst for the fulness of the ,spirit1 follow me into my room4' ,on this1 many of us instantly followed him1 and there continued till noon1 for two or three hours1 praying for one another1 till we could bear to kneel no longer4 ,this was done1 not once or twice1 but many times2 and ,i have sometimes seen him1 on these occasions--once in particular--so filled with the love of ,god1 that he cried out1 #8,o my ,god1 withhold ,thy hand1 or the vessel will burst6' ,but he afterwards told me1 he was afraid he had grieved the ,spirit of ,god1 and that he ought to have prayed that the ,lord would have enlarged the vessel1 or have suffered it to break1 that the soul might have had no further bar to its enjoyment of the ,supreme ,good4 8,such was the ordinary employment of this man of ,god1 while he remained at ,trevecca4 ,he preached the word of life to the students and family1 and to as many of the neighbours as desired to be present4 ,he was always employed1 either in illustrating some important truth1 or exhorting to some neglected duty1 or administering some needful comfort1 or relating some useful anecdote1 or making some profitable remark4 ,his devout soul1 always burning with love and zeal1 led him to intermingle prayer with all he uttered4 ,his manner was so solemn and1 at the same time1 so mild and insinuating1 that it was hardly possible for any one to be in his company without being struck with awe and charmed with love1 as if in the presence of an angel or departed spirit4 ,indeed1 ,i frequently thought1 while attending to his heavenly discourse1 that he was so different from the generality of mankind as to look more like ,moses or ,elijah1 or some prophet or apostle come again from the dead1 than a mortal man dwelling in a house of clay40#bjg ,footnote #bjg3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher48 ,this1 to some1 may appear excessive eulogy2 and1 therefore1 the reader is reminded that ,joseph ,benson1 who wrote it1 was not a weak-minded fanatic1 but a man of robust understanding1 a classical scholar of no mean attainments1 an able commentator on the ,old and ,new ,testaments1 one of the most powerful and successful preachers of his times1 and twice ,president of the ,wesleyan ,methodist ,conference4 ,such a man was not likely to write random words4 ,he knew ,fletcher1 and1 to the best of his power1 described him accurately4 ,and1 further1 it must be remembered that ,benson's testimony was endorsed by ,wesley1 who inserted it verbatim in his 8,life of ,fletcher48 ,such was ,fletcher2 and yet this half-angelic man had soon to leave ,trevecca6 ,the reasons for this must now be given4 ,the subject will be far from pleasant2 but1 in a ,life of ,fletcher1 it cannot be evaded4 ,for some time past1 the storm of the ,calvinian controversy had been brewing2 now the crisis came1 and the storm burst with terrific violence4 ,before proceeding1 however1 with the history of the controversy1 there is a letter belonging to this period too interesting to be omitted4 ,david ,simpson1 who had belonged to ,rowland ,hill's ,methodist ,society1 at ,cambridge1 had recently received episcopal ordination1 and begun his famous ministry4 ,like ,wesley1 ,whitefield1 ,berridge1 ,rowland ,hill1 and others1 he was inclined to become1 to some extent1 an itinerant preacher1 and1 therefore1 irregular4 ,he was only twenty-four years of age1 without experience1 and in need of counsel4 ,accordingly1 he wrote to ,fletcher1 who returned the following answer3-- 8,,madeley1 ,august #d1 #aggj4 8,,reverend ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,i have sometimes preached in licensed places1 but have never been censured for it4 ,perhaps it is because my superiors in the ,church think me not worth their notice1 and despair of shackling me with their unevangelical regularity4 ,if the ,bishop were to take me to task about this piece of irregularity1 ,i would observe1-- 8#a4 ,that the canons of men cannot overthrow the canons of ,god4 #8,preach the word4 ,be instant in season and out of season4' #8,the time cometh1 and now is1 when the true worshippers shall worship1' particularly and exclusively of all other places1 neither upon mount ,gerizim1 nor upon mount ,zion2 but they shall worship everywhere in spirit and in truth4 ,the contrary canons are ,jewish1 and subversive of the liberty wherewith ,christ hath made us free2 yea1 contrary to the right of ,churchmen1 which must1 at least1 include the privilege of dissenters4 8#b4 ,before the ,bishop shackled me with canons1 he charged me to #8look for ,christ's lost sheep that are dispersed abroad1 and for ,his children who are in the midst of this wicked world2' and these sheep1 etc41 ,i will try to gather whenever ,i meet them4 ,we have a general canon3--#8,while we have time1 let us do good to all men1 and especially to them who are of the household of faith4' #8,go into all the world1 and preach the ,gospel to every creature' willing to hear it4 8,a ,justice of the ,peace would once prosecute me upon the ,conventicle ,act2 but1 when it came to the point1 he durst not do it4 ,some of my parishioners went and complained to the ,bishop about my conventicles4 ,i wrote to the ,registrar that ,i hoped his ,lordship1 who had given me the above-mentioned charge at my ordination1 would not be against my following it2 that ,i thought it hard the tipplers should have twenty or thirty tippling-houses1 the papists one meeting-house1 and the dissenters three or four1 in my parish1 undisturbed1 and that ,i should be disturbed1 because ,i would not have ,god's ,word confined to one house2 and that1 with respect to the canons1 it would be absurd to put them in force against preaching clergymen1 when they were set aside with respect to catechising1 tippling1 gaming1 and carding clergymen2 that ,i did not desire his ,lordship to patronize me1 in an especial manner1 in the use of my ,christian liberty2 but that ,i hoped he would connive at it4 8,whether they received my letter or not1 ,i do not know2 but they never attempted to molest me4 8,be modestly and steadily bold for ,god1 and your enemies will be more afraid of you than you of them2 or if ,god will honour you with the badge of persecution1 ,he will comfort and bless you the more for it4 ,may the ,god of all grace and power be with you more and more6 ,ask it1 dear ,sir1 for your brother and servant in ,christ1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#bjh ,footnote #bjh3 ,fletcher's ,works1 vol4 viii41 p4 #beg4 ,fletcher had been only a few weeks at home1 when ,wesley opened the ,annual ,conference of his ,itinerant ,preachers4 ,this took place in ,london1 on ,august #g1 #aggj4 ,the twenty-eighth question of that ,conference was1 8,what can be done to revive the work of ,god where it is decayed80 ,in answering this1 it was resolved1 #a4 ,that there must be more visitation from house to house2 #b4 ,that the books ,wesley had printed should be more widely dispersed2 #c4 ,that there should be more field-preaching2 #d4 ,that there should be preaching at five o'clock in the morning wherever twenty hearers could be obtained2 #e4 ,that evils in congregational singing should be corrected2 #f4 ,that four fast-days should be observed every year2 #g4 ,that the ,methodists must be taught to seek and expect1 not only gradual1 but 8instantaneous sanctification02 #h4 ,that every ,itinerant ,preacher1 8in every large town1 should spend an hour with the children0 of the ,methodists every week2 #i4 ,that no itinerant preacher should be so appointed to preach on ,sundays1 as to keep him 8from church above two ,sundays in four40 ,the last answer to the question is the only one that concerns the ,life of ,fletcher1 and must be given verbatim4 ,continuing to instruct and direct his preachers1 ,wesley observed1 lastly1-- 8,take heed to your doctrine4 8,we said1 in #agdd1 #8,we have leaned too much toward ,calvinism4' ,wherein8 8#a4 ,with regard to man's faithfulness4 ,our ,lord ,himself taught us to use the expression1 and we ought never to be ashamed of it4 ,we ought steadily to assert1 on ,his authority1 that if a man is not #8faithful in the unrighteous mammon1' ,god will not give him #8the true riches4' 8#b4 ,with regard to working for life4 ,this also our ,lord has expressly commanded us4 #8,labour1' 1 literally1 #8work for the meat that endureth to everlasting life4' ,and1 in fact1 every believer1 till he comes to glory1 works for as well as from life4 8#c4 ,we have received it as a maxim1 that #8a man is to do nothing in order to justification4' ,nothing can be more false4 ,whoever desires to find favour with ,god should #8cease from evil1 and learn to do well4' ,whoever repents should do #8works meet for repentance4' ,and if this is not in order to find favour1 what does he do them for8 8,review the whole affair4 8#a4 ,who of us is now accepted of ,god8 8,he that now believes in ,christ with a loving and obedient heart4 8#b4 ,but who among those who never heard of ,christ8 8,he that feareth ,god1 and worketh righteousness according to the light he has4 8#c4 ,is this the same with #8he that is sincere'8 8,nearly1 if not quite4 8#d4 ,is not this #8salvation by works'8 8,not by the merit of works1 but by works as a condition4 8#e4 ,what have we then been disputing about for these thirty years8 8,i am afraid1 about words4 8#f4 ,as to merit itself1 of which we have been so dreadfully afraid3 we are rewarded #8according to our works1' yea1 #8because of our works4' ,how does this differ from for the sake of our works8 ,and how differs this from secundum merita operum8 ,as our works deserve4 ,can you split this hair8 ,i doubt ,i cannot4 8#g4 ,the grand objection to one of the preceding propositions is drawn from a matter of fact4 ,god does in fact justify those who1 by their own confession1 neither feared ,god nor wrought righteousness4 ,is this an exception to the general rule8 8,it is a doubt1 ,god makes any exception at all4 ,but how are we sure that the person in question never did fear ,god and work righteousness8 ,his own saying so is not proof2 for we know how all that are convinced of sin undervalue themselves in every respect4 8#h4 ,does not talking of a justified or a sanctified state tend to mislead men1 almost naturally leading them to trust in what was done in one moment8 ,whereas we are every hour and every moment pleasing or displeasing to ,god1 #8according to our works4' ,according to the whole of our inward tempers1 and our outward behaviour40#bji ,footnote #bji3 8,minutes of the ,methodist ,conferences10 vol4 i41 p4 #ig4 ,for the next five years 7#aggj-agge71 ,fletcher made it his duty to explain and defend these theological theses2 and a review of this quinquennial controversy--as concise as possible--must now be attempted4 ,eight days after the close of ,wesley's ,conference1 ,lady ,huntingdon1 with the ,rev4 ,walter ,shirley and the ,rev4 ,henry ,venn1 arrived at ,mr4 ,ireland's residence at ,brislington1 on their way to ,trevecca to attend the services in connection with the anniversary of the ,college4 ,wesley had been at the anniversary a year ago1 and had been invited to be at the present one4 ,accordingly1 he remained in ,bristol with the expectation of accompanying her ladyship to ,wales1 but1 horrified by the doctrinal minutes of his late ,conference1 she wrote to him saying that1 until he renounced such doctrines1 she must exclude him from all her pulpits4 ,wesley returned no reply to this communication1 but1 next day1 calmly and quietly set out for ,cornwall4#baj ,footnote #baj3 ,it is said that when ,shirley sent her ladyship a copy of ,wesley's ,doctrinal ,minutes1 she burnt it4 7,bogue and ,bennett's 8,history of ,dissenters487 ,the day after this1 the ,countess1 accompanied by ,shirley and ,venn1 ,lady ,anne ,erskine1 ,miss ,orton1 ,mr4 ,ireland1 and ,mr4 ,lloyd1 started for ,trevecca1 where ,fletcher1 the ,president of the ,college1 was ready to receive them4 ,here1 also1 were assembled three of the ,methodist clergymen in ,wales1 ,william ,williams1 ,peter ,williams1 and ,daniel ,rowlands2 likewise ,howell ,harris1 and several other lay preachers and exhorters4 ,on ,wednesday1 ,august #bc1 at nine in the morning1 ,shirley administered the ,lord's ,supper2 at ten1 ,fletcher preached2 at two in the afternoon1 ,venn addressed the students2 and at four1 ,howell ,harris addressed a large congregation in the court of the ,college4 ,on ,thursday morning1 ,august #bd1 ,venn administered the sacrament2 at ten1 ,daniel ,rowlands and ,william ,williams preached in the court2 at two1 ,shirley examined the students1 and gave an exhortation2 at four1 ,peter ,williams discoursed in the chapel1 and some of the lay preachers in the court4 ,in the evening ,berridge arrived at the ,college4 ,on ,friday1 ,august #bd1 the anniversary day of the opening1 a public prayer-meeting was held in the chapel1 at six o'clock in the morning1 when ,rowlands1 ,williams1 ,harris1 and ,berridge offered prayer2 after which ,fletcher1 as ,president of the ,college1 administered the ,lord's ,supper1 first to ten clergymen1 then to the students1 then to ,lady ,huntingdon and her household1 and then to the congregation in general4 ,public service began at ten4 ,a scaffold was erected in the court1 on which sat all the clergy1 dissenting ministers1 lay preachers1 and students4 ,fletcher read the liturgy of the ,church of ,england1 ,peter ,williams offered extemporary prayer1 the vast congregation sang most lustily the glorious hymn of heretical ,wesley1 beginning with the line1 8,arm of the ,lord1 awake1 awake68 ,shirley preached from the words1 8,for after that1 in the wisdom of ,god1 it pleased ,god1 by the foolishness of preaching1 to save them that believe40 ,then ,william ,williams followed with a sermon in ,welsh4 ,at two1 her ladyship's guests all dined1 the people in the chapel and in the court continuing to sing and pray4 ,at three1 ,berridge discoursed from1 8,they went forth and preached everywhere1 the ,lord working with them1 and confirming the word with signs following40 ,after him1 ,daniel ,rowlands1 in his own eloquent and powerful manner1 addressed the multitude in ,welsh1 taking as his text1 8,we preach ,christ crucified40 ,in the evening1 ,venn delivered a sort of charge to the ministers1 students1 and lay preachers1 from the text1 8,preach the word2 be instant in season1 out of season20 and ,fletcher concluded the services of the anniversary by offering prayer4 ,the next morning1 however1 at seven o'clock1 these godly and earnest people held another prayer-meeting in the chapel1 in which ,shirley1 ,venn1 ,berridge1 and ,fletcher took part4 ,on the day following1 ,sunday1 ,august #bf1 ,venn and ,berridge preached1 and then this memorable assemblage dispersed1 ,lady ,huntingdon proceeding1 by way of ,berwick and ,worcester1 to ,bristol1 where she met ,charles ,wesley1 and1 despite the heresy of his brother and the itinerants at the late ,conference1 took him to ,bath to preach several times in her chapel in that city4#baa ,footnote #baa3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 ii41 pp4 #ajf-aji4 ,truly1 these were glorious days2 but1 mournful to relate1 they were soon followed by days of strife and bitterness4 ,wesley was accused of having renounced the doctrines of the ,reformation4 ,he was traduced as a ,pelagian1 a ,pharisee1 a ,papist1 an ,antichrist4#bab ,all this was unjust and untrue4 ,in less than four months after the memorable ,conference of #aggj1 ,wesley preached his 8,sermon on the ,death of ,whitefield10 in which he said3-- 8,the fundamental point of ,mr4 ,whitefield was1 give ,god all the glory of whatever is good in man2 and1 in the business of salvation1 set ,christ as high1 and man as low as possible4 ,with this point1 he and his friends at ,oxford1 the original ,methodists 7so-called7 set out4 ,their grand principle was1 there is no power 7by nature7 and no merit in man4 ,they insisted1 all power to think1 speak1 or act right1 is in and from the ,spirit of ,christ2 and all merit is 7not in man1 how high soever in grace1 but merely7 in the blood of ,christ4 ,so he and they taught3 ,there is no power in man1 till it is given him from above1 to do one good work1 to speak one good word1 or to form one good desire4 ,for it is not enough to say1 all are sick of sin3 no1 we are all dead in trespasses and sins4 ,it follows that all the children of men are by nature children of wrath4 ,we are all guilty before ,god1 liable to death temporal and eternal4 8,and we are all helpless1 both with regard to the power and to the guilt of sin4 ,for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean8 ,none less than the ,almighty4 ,who can raise those that are dead1 spiritually dead in sin8 ,none but ,he who raised us from the dust of the earth4 ,but on what consideration will ,he do this8 ,not for works of righteousness that we have done4 ,the dead cannot praise ,thee1 ,o ,lord6 nor do anything for the sake of which they should be raised to life4 ,whatever therefore ,god does1 ,he does it merely for the sake of ,his well-beloved ,son3 ,he was wounded for our transgressions1 ,he was bruised for our iniquities4 ,he ,himself bore all our sin in ,his own body upon the tree4 ,he was delivered for our offences1 and rose again for our justification4 ,here then is the sole meritorious cause of every blessing we do or can enjoy3 in particular of our pardon and acceptance with ,god1 of our free and full justification4 ,but by what means do we become interested in what ,christ has done and suffered8 ,not by works1 lest any man should boast2 but by faith alone4 ,we conclude1 says the ,apostle1 that a man is justified by faith1 without the works of the law4 ,and to as many as thus receive ,him1 giveth ,he power to become the sons of ,god3 even to those that believe in ,his name1 who are born1 not of the will of man1 but of ,god4 8,and except a man be thus born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god4 ,but all who are thus born of the ,spirit1 have the kingdom of ,god within them4 ,christ sets up ,his kingdom in their hearts--righteousness1 peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,that mind is in them1 which was in ,christ ,jesus1 enabling them to walk as ,christ also walked4 ,his indwelling ,spirit makes them both holy in heart1 and holy in all manner of conversation4 ,but still1 seeing all this is a free gift1 through the righteousness and blood of ,christ1 there is eternally the same reason to remember1 ,he that glorieth1 let him glory in the ,lord4 8,you are not ignorant1 that these are the fundamental doctrines which he 7,mr4 ,whitefield7 everywhere insisted on4 ,and may they not be summed up1 as it were1 in two words1 ,the new birth1 and justification by faith4 ,these let us insist upon1 with all boldness1 at all times1 and in all places4 ,in public 7those of us who are called thereto71 and1 at all opportunities1 in private4 ,keep close to these good old unfashionable doctrines1 how many soever contradict and blaspheme4 ,go on1 my brethren1 in the name of the ,lord1 and in the power of ,his might4 ,with all care and diligence1 keep that safe which is committed to your trust3 knowing that heaven and earth shall pass away2 but this truth shall not pass away40#bac ,footnote #bab3 ,fletcher's ,works1 vol4 i41 p4 #bji4 ,footnote #bac3 ,wesley's 8,sermon on the ,death of ,whitefield10 p4 #bf4 ,thus did ,wesley address the crowds of ,calvinists1 in ,whitefield's two ,london chapels1 on ,sunday1 ,november #ah1 #aggj4 ,there can be no doubt that he meant this to be an answer to the misrepresentations and calumnies launched against him1 on account of the doctrinal minutes of his recent ,conference4 ,it ought to have been sufficient to silence his adversaries1 but it was not4 ,passion is more easily excited than appeased4 ,in a letter to the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 ,lady ,glenorchy#bad wrote3-- 8,,edinburgh1 ,january #aj1 #agga4 8,your ladyship's account of what occurred at ,mr4 ,wesley's last ,conference does not surprise me4 ,i have since seen the ,minutes1 and must bear my feeble testimony against the sentiments contained in them4 ,may the ,lord ,god of ,israel be with you1 and enable you to make a firm stand in defence of a free-grace ,gospel6 ,lady ,anne's letter has told me all you have been doing in this momentous affair4 ,when you next write to dear ,mr4 ,shirley1 give my kindest regards to him1 and also to ,mr4 ,venn1 ,mr4 ,fletcher1 and ,mr4 ,romaine4 ,from what ,lady ,anne says1 ,i fear very much for ,mr4 ,fletcher that he will be carried off by ,mr4 ,wesley's influence4 ,what will be the end of this business ,i know not4 ,i know ,mr4 ,wesley is greatly displeased with me1 though ,i have always countenanced his preachers2 but now ,i find this cannot be done by me any longer4 ,nevertheless1 ,i respect him highly1 and pray that he may be led in the way of truth40#bae ,footnote #bad3 ,lady ,glenorchy opened a number of chapels1 both in ,scotland and ,england1 and did her utmost to supply them with evangelical ministers4 ,she was1 in fact1 the ,lady ,huntingdon of ,scotland4 ,footnote #bae3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 i41 p4 #aaa4 ,lady ,glenorchy executed her conscientious threat4 ,lady ,huntingdon had already done the same4 ,further action was taken4 ,joseph ,benson was dismissed from ,trevecca ,college1 because he adhered to the doctrines of ,wesley4 ,the good ,countess1 however1 gave him the following certificate3-- 8,this is to certify that ,mr4 ,joseph ,benson was master for the languages in my ,college at ,talgarth for nine months1 and that1 during that time1 from his capacity1 sobriety1 and diligence1 he acquitted himself properly in that character2 and ,i am ready at any time to testify this on his behalf whenever required4 8,college1 ,january #ag1 #agga4 ,s4 ,,huntingdon40#baf ,footnote #baf3 ,macdonald's 8,life of ,benson40 ,benson was unexceptionable as a classical master2 but1 in her ladyship's opinion1 he was a heretic in theological dogmas1 because he did not believe the doctrine of absolute predestination4#bag ,fletcher1 the president of the college1 was dissatisfied with her ladyship's dismissal of the master1 and wrote to her as follows3-- 8,january #g1 #agga4 8,mr4 ,benson made a very just defence when he said1 he held with me the possibility of salvation for all men2 that mercy is offered to all2 and yet may be received or rejected4 ,if this be what your ladyship calls ,mr4 ,wesley's opinion1 free-will1 and ,arminianism1 and if #8every ,arminian must quit the ,college1' ,i am actually discharged also2 for1 in my present view of things1 ,i must hold that sentiment1 if ,i believe that the ,bible is true1 and that ,god is love4 8,for my part1 ,i am no party-man4 ,in the ,lord1 ,i am your servant1 and that of your every student2 but ,i cannot give up the honour of being connected with my old friends1 who1 notwithstanding their failings1 are entitled to my respect1 gratitude1 and assistance1 could ,i occasionally give them any4 ,mr4 ,wesley shall always be welcome to my pulpit1 and ,i shall gladly bear my testimony in his1 as well as in ,mr4 ,whitefield's4 ,but if your ladyship forbid your students to preach for the one1 and offer them to preach for the other at every turn2 and if a master is discarded for believing that ,christ died for all2 then prejudice reigns1 charity is cruelly wounded1 and party spirit shouts1 prevails1 and triumphs40 ,footnote #bag3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,on the same day1 ,fletcher wrote to the dismissed ,benson the following3-- 8,january #g1 #agga4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,the same post brought me yours1 and two from my lady1 and one from ,mr4 ,williams4#bah ,their letters contained no charges1 but general ones1 which with me go for nothing4 ,if the procedure you mention be fact1 and your letter be a fair account of the transactions and words relative to your discharge1 a false step has been taken4 ,i write by this post to her ladyship on the affair1 with all possible plainness4 ,if the plan of the college be overthrown1 ,i have nothing more to say to it4 ,i will keep to my tent for one2 the confined tool of any one party ,i never was1 and never will be4 ,if the blow that should have been struck at the dead spirit1 is struck at dead ,arminius1 or absent ,mr4 ,wesley1--if a master is turned away without any fault1 it is time for me to stand up with firmness1 or to withdraw4 8,take care1 my dear ,sir1 not to make matters worse than they are2 and cast a mantle of forgiving love over the circumstances that might injure the cause of ,god1 so far as it is put into the hands of that eminent lady1 who has so well deserved of the ,church of ,christ4 ,rather suffer in silence1 than make a noise to cause the ,philistines to triumph4 ,do not let go your expectation of a baptism from above4 ,may you be supported in this and every other trial6 ,farewell6 8,j4 ,,fletcher40 ,footnote #bah3 ,a clergyman1 who1 professing to be under serious impressions1 had been permitted by her ladyship to stay a few weeks at the college2 but was neither master nor student4 ,fletcher termed him 8a bird of passage40 ,two days later1 ,fletcher wrote again to ,benson as follows3-- 8,january #i1 #agga4 8,i am determined to stand or fall with the liberty of the ,college4 ,as ,i entered it a free place1 ,i must quit it the moment it is a harbour for party spirit4 8,as ,i am resolved to clear up this matter or quit my province1 ,i beg you will help me to as many facts and words1 truly done1 and really spoken1 as you can2 whereby ,i may show that false reports1 groundless suspicions1 party spirit against ,mr4 ,wesley1 arbitrary proceedings1 and unscriptural impulses1 hold the reins and manage affairs in the ,college2 as also that the balance of opinions is not maintained1 and ,mr4 ,wesley's opinions are dreaded1 and struck at1 more than deadness of heart1 and a wrong conduct4 8,so far as we can1 let us keep this matter to ourselves4 ,when you speak of it to others1 rather endeavour to palliate than aggravate what has been wrong in your opposers4 ,remember that great lady has been an instrument of great good1 and that there are great inconsistencies attending the greatest and best of men4 ,possess your soul in patience4 ,see the salvation of ,god2 and believe1 though against hope1 that light will spring out of darkness4 8,i am1 with concern for you and that poor ,college1 8,yours1 in ,jesus1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40 ,on ,february #bj1 ,fletcher set out for the ,college2#bai and1 on his return to ,madeley1 he wrote to ,wesley the following hitherto unpublished letter3-- 8,,madeley1 ,march #ah1 #agga4 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,i was sorry not to have had it in my power to meet you in ,shropshire1#bbj and give you1 by word of mouth1 an account of what passed at ,lady ,huntingdon's ,college respecting you1 at my last visit there4 8,the hasty admitting of subjects that did not appear to me proper2 the sanguine hopes they would turn out against probability1 the divisions at ,brecknock and the ,hay1 and some things that ,i did not approve in ,mr4 ,benson's dismission1 gave me a disgust to the ,college4 ,nevertheless1 ,i went to try to make the best of the matter2 but ,i found at my arrival that the students had been armed by ,mr4 ,shirley against the point ,i had1 with some success1 maintained when ,i was there before1 namely1 internal conversion by the power of the ,holy ,ghost dwelling in the heart by faith4 ,he called it perfection1 and as such baited it out of the place4 8,i saw the ,college was no longer my place1 as ,i was not likely to do or receive any good there1 especially as ,calvinism strongly prevailed4 ,under these circumstances1 and humbling views of my insufficiency1 ,i told my lady and all around me1 ,i resigned the place of superintendent2 nevertheless1 ,i would stay awhile to supply the want of a master4 8,in the meantime1 an extract of your last ,minutes was sent to my lady1 who wept much over it1 through an honest fear that you had fairly and fully given up the grand point of the ,methodists1 free justification1 articulum stantis vel cadentis ecclesi4 ,the heresy appeared horrible1 worth being publicly opposed1 and such as a true believer ought to be ready to burn against4 ,i tried to soften matters1 but in vain4 ,the students were commanded to write their sentiments upon your doctrine of salvation by works1 working for life1 the merit of works1 etc42 and whoever did not fully disavow it1 was to quit the ,college4 ,i wrote among the rest1 and showed the absurdity of inferring from these ,minutes that you had renounced the ,protestant doctrine and the atonement4 ,i defended your sentiments1 by explaining them as ,i have heard you do1 and only blamed the unguarded and not sufficiently explicit manner in which they were worded4 ,i concluded by saying1 that1 as1 after ,lady ,huntingdon's declaration1 ,i could no longer stay in the ,college1 but as an intruder1 ,i absolutely resigned my place1 as ,i must appear to all around as great a heretic as yourself4 8,this step had a better effect than ,i expected4 ,my lady weighed with candour what ,i had advanced1 though she thought it too bad to be laid before the students4 ,in short1 ,i retired in peace and as peacemaker1 the servant and no more the principal of the ,college4 ,i advised ,lady ,huntingdon to choose a moderate ,calvinist in my place1 and recommended ,mr4 ,rowland ,hill4 ,the ,college will take quite a ,calvinist turn1 and an itinerant ministry will go out of it to feed the ,church of ,god of that sentimental denomination4 ,i strongly recommended them to set fire to the harvest of the ,philistines1 and not to that of their fellow ,israelites who cannot pronounce ,shibboleth in their way4 ,my lady seemed quite disposed for peace last ,friday2#bba and she will write to you to beg you will explain yourself upon the ,minutes1 that she and the ,college may see you are not an enemy to grace1 and may be friends at a distance1 instead of open adversaries4 8,and now1 my dear ,sir1 ,i beseech you to put on all the bowels of mercy and condescension that are in ,christ1 to hope the ,college and its foundress mean well2 and give them all the satisfaction you can4 ,i need not bring to your remembrance the words of the ,apostle1 #8,as much as lieth in you1 live peaceably with all men4' ,i trust they are graven on your heart1 and that1 should war ensue1 your moderation will still appear to all men4 ,the points that will most stop the mouth of our friend are the total fall of man1 and his utter inability to do any good of himself2 the absolute necessity of the grace and ,spirit of ,god to raise even a good thought or desire in the heart2 the ,lord rewarding no work1 or accepting of none1 but so far as they proceed from ,his preventing1 convincing1 and converting grace2 the blood and righteousness of ,christ being the sole meritorious cause of our salvation1 and the only spring of all acceptable works1 whether we do them spontaneously from life or for more abundant life4 8,i look upon ,lady ,huntingdon as an eminent servant of ,god1 an honest1 gracious person1 but not above the reach of prejudice2 and where prejudice misleads her1 her warm heart makes her go rather too fast4 ,it is in your power greatly to break1 if not altogether to remove1 the prejudice she has conceived against you1 and to become all things to her1 that you may not cause her to stumble in the greatness of her zeal for the ,lord4 ,the best way to get the ,calvinists to allow us something1 is to grant them all we possibly can4 8,as your enemies will particularly watch your writings and sermons1 and ,satan your heart to find an occasion against you by self-righteousness and dependence upon your great works1 my prayer is that you may fully disappoint them1 by guarding the ,gospel truth in your own heart and life and doctrine1 as much from the legal as the antinomian extreme1 between which it invariably lies4 8,with respect to me1 ,i am not yet a ,christian in the full sense of the word2 but ,i follow after1 if so be ,i may apprehend that for which ,i am apprehended of ,christ4 ,take no notice of my scrawl4 ,pray for1 and direct1 ,rev4 and dear ,sir1 your affectionate friend and unworthy servant in ,christ1 8,j4 ,,fletcher4 8,to 8,the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley1 8,at the ,octagone1 8,chester40 7,salop postmark47 ,footnote #bai3 8,life and ,times of ,wesley10 vol4 iii41 p4 #hh4 ,footnote #bbj3 ,wesley was at ,wem only three days before this letter was written4 ,footnote #bba3 ,the day ,wesley was at ,wem1 namely1 ,march #ae4 ,four days after the date of this letter1 ,fletcher wrote to ,benson1 giving him some of the particulars just recited2 but also mentioning other facts1 too interesting and important to be omitted here4 8,march #bb1 #agga4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend4--,on my arrival at the ,college1 ,i found all very quiet1 ,i fear through the enemy keeping his goods in peace4 ,while ,i preached the next day1 ,i found myself as much shackled as ever ,i was in my life2 and1 after private prayer1 ,i concluded ,i was not in my place4 ,the same day#bbb ,i resigned my office to my lady2 and1 on ,wednesday1 to the students and the ,lord4 ,nevertheless1 ,i went on as usual1 only ,i had no heart to give little charges to the students1 as before4 ,i should possibly have got over it as a temptation1 if several circumstances had not confirmed me in my design4 ,two ,i shall mention4 ,when ,mr4 ,shirley was at the ,college1 what you had written upon the #8baptism of the ,holy ,ghost' was taken to pieces4 ,mr4 ,shirley maintained that the prophecy of ,joel 7,acts ii47 had its complete fulfilment on the day of ,pentecost2 and thus he turned the stream of living waters into imperceptible dews1 nemine contradicente1 except two1 who made one or two feeble objections2 so that the point was1 in my judgment1 turned out of the ,college after you1 and was abused under the name of #8,perfection4' ,this showed ,i was not likely to receive or do any good there4 8,some days after my arrival1 however1 ,i preached the good old doctrine before my ,lady and ,mr4 ,h----4 ,the latter also talked of imperceptible influences1 and the former thanked me2 but1 in my apprehension1 spoiled all by going to the ,college the next day1 to give a charge partly against ,perfection1 in my absence4 8,last ,friday1 ,i left them all in peace1 the servant1 but no more the president of the ,college4 ,my lady behaved with great candour and condescension towards me in the affair4 ,as for you1 you are still out of her books1 and are likely so to continue4 ,your last letters have only thrown oil on the fire4 ,all was seen in the same light in which ,mr4 ,wesley's letter appeared4 ,you were accused of having alienated my heart from the ,college1 but ,i have cleared you4 8,i rejoice that your desires after a larger measure of the ,holy ,spirit increase4 ,part rather with your heart's blood than with them4 ,let me meet you at the throne of grace2 and send me word how you dispose of yourself4 ,if you are at a loss for a prophet's room1 remember ,i have one here4 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#bbc ,footnote #bbb3 ,wesley says he 8spent the day in fasting and prayer40 7,wesley's ,works1 vol4 vii41 p4 #daf47 ,footnote #bbc3 ,benson's ,life1 by ,macdonald4 ,to these letters must be added a verbatim copy of an important document1 altogether in ,fletcher's own handwriting1 and never published until now4 8,an account of ,john ,fletcher's case1 with the reasons that have induced him to resign the superintendency of the ,countess of ,huntingdon's ,college in ,wales4 8,i was first connected with ,mr4 ,wesley1 under whom1 for love and gratitude's sake1 ,i occasionally laboured some years4 8,by ,mr4 ,c4 ,wesley ,i had the honour of being presented to ,lady ,huntingdon1 who kindly admitted me to the office of a private chaplain1 and granted me full leave to assist my old friends as often as ,i would4 8,by means of her ladyship ,i was afterwards introduced to ,mr4 ,whitefield1 and had the honour of assisting him also both in ,london and ,bristol1 and found myself peculiarly happy in showing1 by my equal readiness to throw my mite of assistance where it was accepted1 that though ,i was the ,lord's free man ,i delighted to be the common servant of all4 ,i was glad also to have from time to time an opportunity of bearing a kind of practical testimony against the spirit of party and division1 which1 to my great grief1 crumbled the ,church of ,christ around me4 8,after taking a dangerous turn into the doctrines of election and reprobation1 my sentiments settled at last into the anti-,calvinist way1 in which ,mr4 ,wesley was rooted4 ,notwithstanding this1 it became a steady1 invariable point with me never to be so attached to his1 or any one party1 as to be shy of1 much less break with another4 8,i had soon an opportunity of being closely tried in my spirit of catholic love4 ,mr4 ,maxfield separated from his and my old friend ,mr4 ,wesley4 ,i thought him rather in the wrong1 and ,mr4 ,wesley was my oldest acquaintance4 ,notwithstanding1 ,i ventured upon the loss of his friendship1 and of my connection with him1 by publicly assisting ,mr4 ,maxfield when the breach between them was widest1 and the press groaned under the unkind productions of their unhappy division4#bbd ,though ,i touched ,mr4 ,wesley's friendship in the tenderest part1 he bore with me1 and his patience increased my regard for him2 nor is it at all abated now1 though ,i have had little opportunity to show it him1 having hardly exchanged one or two letters with him these many years4 8,soon after ,lady ,huntingdon founded her ,college1 and partly by her unmerited esteem1 partly by ,providence1 and partly by my desire to be a ,gibeonite to ,god's people and hew wood if ,i could not draw water1 ,i was brought to have a principal share in the management of it4 ,the free spirit that breathed in the noble foundress's proposals1 and the general terms of admittance1 suited my catholic taste1 and the liberty of sentiment granted to all that firmly maintained our total fall in ,adam1 attached me no less to the institution than its excellence and the prospect of its usefulness4 8,scruples nevertheless rose in my mind4 ,the first was a fear lest improper subjects1 persons destitute either of grace or gifts1 perhaps of both1 were admitted with the greatest readiness1 and kept upon the foundation with the most sanguine hopes that a day of ,pentecost would make them what they did not appear to me to be as yet--,christians and preachers4 ,flattering myself that it would be so1 after some modest expostulations ,i submitted my judgment to that of the noble foundress1 whose light ,i think in general as superior to mine as is her rank and grace4 8,the ,brecknock division#bbe broke out4 ,i suddenly tried to prevent it1 but it took place1 and secretly wounded my catholic spirit4 ,nevertheless1 hopes that the ,lord might overrule it for good soon healed the wound4 ,this brought on a rupture between my two dear and honoured friends1 the foundress of the college and ,mr4 ,wesley4 ,an unkind1 though ,i hope well-meant letter1 was wrote on the occasion by one1 and was unkindly received1 yea1 looked upon as highly insulting1 by the other4 ,i saw the advantage of the enemy4 ,i blamed1 and yet ,i loved them both4 ,where ,i could not soften matters ,i remained neuter4 ,hence1 however1 arose a difficulty how ,i should be faithful to my lady without being unfaithful to ,mr4 ,wesley4 ,meantime1 the prejudice seemed to me to rise1 and somewhat sowed the seeds of the ,hay division4 ,mr4 ,benson's dismission followed1 and though ,i hope it was from the ,lord1 yet ,i could not help blaming the manner in which it was conducted4 8,lady ,huntingdon said on the occasion1 nobody that held ,mr4 ,wesley's opinions should stay in the ,college2 every ,arminian should quit the place4 ,this wounded again my catholic spirit1 and appeared to me a breach of the privilege most solemnly granted to the members of the ,college at the opening of it4 ,i thought that my lady had no right to impose such a law--a law so contrary to her first proposals--till it had received a proper sanction by a majority of the votes both of masters and students1 and till leave had been granted to those who could not in conscience come into it to withdraw quietly1 without the odium of an expulsion4 ,i observed that if this was the case1 ,i looked upon myself as discharged1 because ,i for one could no more believe that ,christ did not taste death for every man1 than ,i could believe ,god was not truth and love2 and because all the sentiments of ,mr4 ,wesley obnoxious to the ,calvinist1 except perfection1 are inseparably connected with general redemption4 8,with regard to perfection itself1 ,i believe that when ,mr4 ,wesley is altogether consistent upon that subject1 he means absolutely nothing by it but the full cluster of ,gospel blessings1 which ,lady ,huntingdon so warmly presses the students to pursue2 namely1 ,gospel faith1 the immediate revelation of ,christ1 the baptism of the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,spirit of adoption1 the kingdom that cannot be moved1 the element of forgiving love1 deep and uninterrupted poverty of spirit1 and1 in a word1 a standing upon ,mount ,sion and enjoying its great and glorious privileges4 ,and ,i am fully persuaded that1 in this respect1 there is more misunderstanding between my lady and ,mr4 ,wesley about words and modes of expression than about things and essential principles4 ,all the difference between them seems to me to consist in this3 my lady is more for looking to the misery and depth of the fall2 ,mr4 ,wesley more for considering the power and effects of the recovery4 ,my lady speaks glorious things of free grace2 and ,mr4 ,wesley inculcates the glorious use we ought to make of it4 ,both appear to me to maintain one and the same truth1 and to guard it2 my lady against the ,legalists1 ,mr4 ,wesley against the ,antinomians4 ,if1 therefore1 they do not understand one another1 and fall out by the way1 ,i shall think it is a great pity1 and shall continue to be1 at least in my heart1 the loving servant of both2 though both will possibly think me prejudiced for not seeing just as they do4 8,i was also grieved that my lady should have received for truth so absurd an imagination as that of ,mr4 ,wesley being willing to give #ajj a-year to a rigid ,calvinist in bondage1 who just read prayers with a ,welsh accent1 and that wise ,benson made the foolish proposal to him1 when ,benson1 to my certain knowledge1 feared his head was at times a little affected4 ,and ,i began to fear lest my lady should1 upon the most improbable assertions1 receive unfavourable impressions against me1 as she had done against her old friend ,mr4 ,wesley1 especially as my particular regard for him was still the same4 8,be that as it will1 my regard for ,lady ,huntingdon and the students made me send her ladyship my sentimental creed1 that1 if she did not disapprove of it1 ,i might come to the ,college2 and ,i came1 to my thinking and feeling1 as free and as happy as ever1 and was quite free on the ,saturday evening and the next morning till noon1 when the little commission and authority ,i had to exhort the students was quite taken away from me4 ,as ,i preached in the chapel1 an uncommon weight came upon me on a sudden1 and it was not without much difficulty that ,i struggled under it through the rest of my sermon4 ,as soon as the service was over1 ,i retired to my room in very great heaviness and distress4 ,i saw in the clearest light that ,i was not in my place1 and must no longer preside in the ,college4 ,from that time1 ,i had no heart to speak to the students on the things of ,god4 ,so clear and strong was my conviction that ,i mentioned it directly to ,mr4 ,howell ,harris1 and that very evening to my lady1 and to all the students on the next ,wednesday2 and as ,i concluded our morning meeting with prayer1 ,i was led solemnly upon my knees to resign my charge to ,god1 and to pray for a proper person to preside in my place4 8,nevertheless my high regard for my lady1 and my love for the students1 prevented me from being faithful to my conviction1 and ,i would have quenched it1 if ,i had been able4 ,but several things happened which gave me courage to be faithful4 8,lady ,huntingdon showed me a letter to ,hook1 which she had read to the students2 and1 though ,i admired the honesty and impartiality that appeared in it1 ,i afterwards thought hard of that expression1 that every one who held eternal justification must quit the ,college4 ,this appeared to me as severe upon consistent ,calvinists1 as the like expression before upon consistent ,arminians1 as1 ,i believe1 every ,predestinarian1 who will not contradict himself1 must hold himself eternally justified in ,god's sight4 8,i had reason to fear ,mr4 ,shirley1 that great minister whom ,i honour much in the ,lord1 had said he would oppose through the world the doctrine of the baptism of the ,holy ,ghost1 which ,i am bound in conscience to maintain among all professors1 especially in the ,college4 ,from these different views of things1 ,i saw difficulties would perpetually arise to her ladyship1 the ,college1 and myself4 8,i was also grieved that when he tried his well-meant zeal 7though it was not1 in my judgment1 zeal according to knowledge7 to explode the baptism of the ,holy ,ghost1 and laugh it out of the ,college1 after having dressed it in a fool's coat and called it ,perfection1 most of the students had tamely allowed him that ,joel's prophecy was entirely fulfilled upon the hundred and twenty disciples on the day of ,pentecost1 that believers are to grow in grace by imperceptible dews1 and that we can do very well without a remarkable shower of grace and ,divine effusion of power1 opening in us the well of living water that is to flow to everlasting life4 8,as it appeared to me they had1 in a good degree1 given up their little expectation of this ,gospel blessing1 and renounced the grand point which ,i apprehended was to be firmly maintained and vigorously pursued in the ,college1 ,i did not feel the same liberty with them in prayer1 and found that1 as matters were and appeared likely to continue1 my convictions and desires would rather be damped than cherished among them4 8,nor1 indeed1 did ,i see1 upon this new plan1 any advantage this ,college was to have more than the academy at ,abergavenny1 itinerancy excepted2 so that ,i feared many would get into the habit of preaching by rote1 and of talking of the power without heartily waiting for it1 which made me give up my hopes that those who have not gifts should ever be useful preachers1 as a day of ,pentecost and power from on high can alone supply the want of them4 8,my lady1 likewise1 appeared to me so excessively afraid of ,perfection1 that she seemed to take umbrage at a harmless expression ,i had used in a letter hastily written to a friend1 #8,the fiery baptism will burn up self1'--an expression which ,i had caught from ,mr4 ,harris1 who frequently uses it1 though no one will accuse him of befriending ,mr4 ,wesley's doctrine of ,perfection4 ,whatsoever he means by it1 ,i mean nothing but to convey the idea of a power that enables us to say1 with a tolerable degree of propriety1 as ,st4 ,paul1 #8,i live not1 but ,christ lives in me2' and ,i saw that1 if ,i was faithful to my light1 misapprehensions of the like kind1 and well or ill grounded fears1 would perpetually arise4 8,but what weighed most with me1 next to what passed in my heart1 the third ,sunday in ,lent1 was the strong light in which ,i saw the great difficulty arising from the difference of sentiments between the students and myself4 ,i had frequently observed that1 if ,i tried to stir up those who appeared to be carnally secure1 or spiritually asleep on their soft doctrinal pillows1 they directly fancied ,i aimed at robbing them of one of their jewels1 the doctrine of perseverance1 though the ,searcher of hearts knows ,i had not the least thought about it4 ,by the same stratagem of the enemy1 when ,i exhorted loiterers to leave the things that are behind1 and press toward the mark for the prize of our high calling in ,christ1 they imagined ,i wanted to drive them to the brink of some horrible precipice1 or into the jaws of some monster called ,perfection1 in which notion they were possibly confirmed not only by ,mr4 ,shirley's positive assertions1 but by frequent hints thrown out by her ladyship herself upon the danger of that imaginary bugbear4 ,alas6 how needless it is to give charges against sinless ,perfection to young men who believe no such thing is to be attained1 and who live mostly under the power of the carnal mind4 ,what must be the consequence if grace does not interpose8 ,what1 but a settling upon the lees of nature and formality1 and a singing of a soft requiem to the drowsy hearts of those who are not really alive to ,god8 ,what makes me think so1 is the frequent opportunities ,i have had to observe that a word which may too indirectly countenance sin1 by the craft and power of ,satan and the prevalence of natural corruption1 goes farther than twenty directly and powerfully thundered against it4 8,again4 ,the light of most ,calvinists is such that they cannot believe a man knows anything of free grace who does not enter into all their sentiments4 ,of this1 a moderate one gave me lately a particular instance1 by telling me point blank1 ,i was in a damnable heresy1 and never knew anything of myself or of true grace1 because ,i had said1 sinners perish for resisting and quenching the ,spirit of grace4 ,hence1 ,i conclude1 and not without a premise1 that it would be as ridiculous in me to expect the majority of students to follow my directions1 as it would be to hope that young men who have good eyes should follow a person whom they believe almost if not altogether blind4 8,things appeared to me in this light1 when the uneasiness of my lady occasioned by ,mr4 ,wesley's ,minutes showed itself4 ,i admired her zeal for the grand truths of the ,gospel4 ,appearances were for her1 and ,i could not excuse ,mr4 ,wesley's unguarded expressions1 any more than my lady's great warmth against them2 her ladyship having mentioned again and again that they were horrible and abominable1 and that she must burn against them1 and at last added1 that1 whosoever in the ,college did not fully and without any evasion disavow them should not stay in her ,college1 etc4 ,accordingly1 an order came for the students and masters to write their sentiments upon them4 ,i thought ,i would not lay that burden upon others without touching it myself1 and1 following the light in which ,i could see and trace ,mr4 ,wesley's doctrines from a long acquaintance with his sentiments1 ,i blamed the unguarded and not sufficiently explicit manner in which they were worded1 but approving the doctrines themselves as agreeable to what appears to me the analogy of faith4 ,all the ,college1 ,i suppose1 rose with one voice against them1 which must make me appear strangely heterodox1 if not altogether a heretic worse than ,mr4 ,wesley4 ,this consideration1 together with my lady's repeated declaration that every student who did not disavow them should quit the ,college1 gave me at last courage to do absolutely what ,i had done in a partial manner near a fortnight before1 namely1 to resign the office of ,principal of the ,college1 which ,i saw ,i could no longer discharge with honour1 with a good conscience1 or any probability of success4 8,if ,i know anything of my own heart1 ,i can truly say1 ,i have not taken this step from pique or chagrin1 nor from any supposed unkindness in her ladyship or the students1 whose undeserved regard and peculiar respect for me have made me feel the greatest reluctance to comply with what ,i esteem the order of the ,lord and the explicit dictate of my own conscience1 confirmed by the train of circumstances which ,i have mentioned4 8,my high esteem for her ladyship is not at all abated4 ,my love to the students1 and regard for the ,college are the same4 ,nay1 ,i can truly say1 my regard for them goads me away1 as ,i see nothing but a scene of confusion1 distraction1 and jealousy if ,i stay4 ,the whole of this affair appears to me to be from the ,lord1 and it is my sentiment1 that1 as the ,college has naturally been filled with ,calvinists1 is providentially founded near a ,calvinist academy in ,wales1 a ,calvinist country1 an itinerant ministry is to go forth from it to feed chiefly the ,church of ,god of that sentimental denomination4 ,in order to this1 a moderate1 lively ,calvinist must superintend1 under the noble foundress1 and1 as a token that her ladyship is not dissatisfied with my conduct1 ,i humbly beg she would give me leave to recommend my successor to her4 8,mr4 ,whitefield is dead2 some of his forlorn congregation have already been blessed under the ministry of the students2 who is more proper to head them than he whom the religious world begins to call the young ,whitefield1 ,mr4 ,rowland ,hill8 ,his remarkable sufferings for ,christ's sake1 entitle him to the honour of presiding over this work2 and ,i hope the ,lord will make him willing to accept an office for which he seems to be so well fitted by his popularity and success4 8,if it be objected that he is young1 ,i reply1 he is older than ,mr4 ,whitefield was when he set out upon his great errand1 and that the warmth of his heart1 the ripeness of his zeal1 and the amazing steadiness of his conduct for years1 under the greatest difficulty both at home and abroad1 together with the many seals ,god has already given to ,his ministry in various parts of the kingdom1 ought greatly to turn the scale in his favour4 ,and1 indeed1 what is an old ,saul to a young ,david8 ,and who deserves most the name and honour of a father8 ,he1 or myself8 ,without hesitating1 ,i answer ,mr4 ,rowland ,hill1 who has perhaps begotten more children to ,god in one discourse than ,i have in all my poor labour these fourteen years40 ,footnote #bbd3 ,after many unhappy contentions1 and much forbearance on ,wesley's part1 ,thomas ,maxfield seceded from ,wesley in #agfc4 ,maxfield has been far more highly honoured in ,methodist histories and biographies than his merits warranted4 ,footnote #bbe3 ,i have failed in my endeavour to ascertain what is meant by the 8,brecknock division40 ,there can be no doubt1 however1 that ,wesley met with great annoyance in that part of ,wales4 ,previous to the opening of ,trevecca ,college1 he wrote3-- 8#agfg4 ,september #b4--;,i found the work of ,god in ,pembrokeshire had been exceedingly hindered1 chiefly by ,mr4 ,davies's preachers1 who had continually inveighed against ours1 and thereby frightened abundance of people from hearing or coming near them4 ,this had sometimes provoked them to retort1 which always made a bad matter worse4 ,the advice1 therefore1 which ,i gave them was3--#a4 ,let all the people sacredly abstain from backbiting1 tale-bearing1 evil-speaking4 #b4 ,let all our preachers abstain from returning railing for railing1 either in public or in private1 as well as from disputing4 #c4 ,let them never preach controversy1 but plain1 practical1 and experimental religion40 ,a year and a half after ,fletcher left ,trevecca1 ,wesley wrote again in his journal3-- 8#aggb4 ,august #ad4--;,about noon1 at the request of my old friend ,howell ,harris1 ,i preached at ,trevecca1 on the strait gate1 and we found our hearts knit together as at the beginning4 ,he said1 #8,i have borne with these pert1 ignorant young men1 vulgarly called students1 till ,i cannot in conscience bear any longer4 ,they preach barefaced reprobation1 and so broad antinomianism1 that ,i have been constrained to oppose them to the face1 even in the public congregation4' ,it is no wonder they should preach thus4 ,what better can be expected from raw lads of little understanding1 little learning1 and no experience80 ,this long document is endorsed 8,letter to ,lady ,huntingdon40 ,it would be easy to make it the text for a long sermon2 but want of space forbids the attempt to do this4 ,besides1 intelligent readers are quite competent to form just opinions respecting it4 ,suffice it to say1 that it is of high importance1 as containing1 by far1 the fullest account ever published of the reasons why ,fletcher took a step which led to great events he never contemplated4 ,had he continued to be the ,superintendent of the ,trevecca ,college1 it is probable that the ,calvinian controversy would not have grown to such wide dimensions4 ,that1 however1 is not a proof of imprudence on ,fletcher's part2 for1 as every one who knows the history of that controversy is well aware1 it was impossible for the great religious movement of the last century to proceed without the doctrines in ,wesley's ,minutes being thoroughly examined1 discussed1 and settled4 ,wesley preached his sermon on the death of ,whitefield on ,november #ah1 #aggj4 ,six weeks afterwards1 it was respectfully attacked in the ,january number of the ,calvinists' periodical1 the ,gospel ,magazine4 ,two months later1 the same magazine made a furious assault on ,walter ,sellon's 8,defence of ,god's ,sovereignty10 stigmatizing it as 8,a mite of reprobate silver1 cast into the ,foundery1 and coming out thence1 bearing the impress of that pride1 self-righteousness1 and self-sufficiency1 natural to men in their fallen unrenewed state40 8,this performance10 continues the reviewer1 8is extolled to the very skies by the ,arminians4 ,it is calculated for their meridian1 and well establishes the haughty system of their own works and faithfulness1 in opposition to the grace of the ,gospel1 and the faithfulness of a covenant ,god1 in the finished salvation of sinners by ,jesus ,christ40 ,in ,may1 the same periodical printed ,wesley's 8,minutes10 and branded them as 8the very doctrines of ,popery1 yea1 of ,popery unmasked40 ,the number for the month of ,june contained an article of twelve pages1 entitled1 8,a ,comment or ,paraphrase on the ,extract from the ,minutes of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley1 etc40 ,the temper and the unfairness of the article may be judged by the paraphrase on the first ,minute1 8,take heed to your doctrine40 ,that is1 remarks the commentator1-- 8,beware1 in your preaching1 of ascribing the whole and sole glory of salvation1 from first to last1 to the free unmerited grace of ,god in ,christ ,jesus4 ,be cautious how you sink man below his dignity1 rob him of his excellency1 strip him of the power of ,his free-will and abilities to perform his part in the work of salvation1 and so deprive him of all trust in himself1 hope from himself1 and boasting of himself2 for hence will be an end of self-seeking1 self-righteousness1 and self-soothing4 ,then would he sink into self-despair4 ,take heed to this40 ,meanwhile1 ,fletcher wrote to ,wesley as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,june #bd1 #agga4bbf 8,,dear ,,sir1--,when ,i left ,wales1 where ,i had stood in the gap for peace1 ,i thought my poor endeavours were not altogether vain4 ,lady ,huntingdon said she would write civilly to you1 and desire you to explain yourself about your #8,minutes4' ,i suppose you have not heard from her1 for she wrote me word1 since then1 that she believed she must not meddle in the affair4 ,at least1 that is what ,i made of her letter4 ,upon receiving yours from ,chester1 ,i cut off that part of it where you expressed your belief of what is eminently called by us the doctrine of free grace1 and sent it to the ,college1 with a desire it might be sent to ,lady ,huntingdon4 ,she has returned it to me1 with a letter1 in which she expresses the greatest disapprobation of it4 ,the purport of her letter is1 to charge you with tergiversation1 and me with being the dupe of your impositions4 ,she has also written in stronger terms to her ,college4 8,things ,i hoped would have remained there2 but how am ,i surprised and grieved to see zeal borrowing the horn of discord1 and sounding an alarm throughout the religious world against you4 ,mr4 ,hatton called upon me last night1 and showed me a printed circular1 which1 ,i suppose1 is1 or will be1 sent to the serious clergy and laity throughout the land4 ,i have received none1 as ,i have lost1 ,i suppose1 my reputation of being a #8real ,protestant1' by what ,i wrote upon your #8,minutes' in ,wales4 8,this is an exact copy of the printed letter-- 8#8,,sir1--,whereas ,mr4 ,wesley's ,conference is to be held at ,bristol1 on ,tuesday1 the #fth of ,august next1 it is proposed by ,lady ,huntingdon and many other ,christian friends 7real ,protestants71 to have a meeting at ,bristol at the same time1 of such principal persons1 both clergy and laity1 who disapprove of the underwritten #8,minutes2' and1 as the same are thought injurious to the very fundamental principles of ,christianity1 it is further proposed that they go in a body to the said ,conference1 and insist upon a formal recantation of the said ,minutes2 and1 in case of a refusal1 that they sign and publish their protest against them4 ,your presence1 ,sir1 on this occasion1 is particularly requested2 but1 if it should not suit your convenience to be there1 it is desired that you will transmit your sentiments on the subject to such persons as you think proper to produce them4 ,it is submitted to you1 whether it would not be right1 in the opposition to be made to such a dreadful heresy1 to recommend it to as many of your ,christian friends1 as well of the dissenters as of the ,established ,church1 as you can prevail on to be there1 the cause being of so public a nature4 8#8,i am1 ,sir1 your obedient servant1--,,walter ,,shirley4 8#8,p4,s4--,your answer is desired1 directed to the ,countess of ,huntingdon2 or the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,shirley2 or ,john ,lloyd1 ,esq41 in ,bath2 or ,mr4 ,james ,ireland1 merchant1 ,bristol2 or to ,thomas ,powis1 ,esq41 at ,berwick1 near ,shrewsbury2 or to ,richard ,hill1 ,esq41 at ,hawkstone1 near ,whitchurch1 ,shropshire4 ,lodgings will be provided4 ,inquire at ,mr4 ,ireland's1 ,bristol4' 8,i think it my duty1 dear ,sir1 to give you the earliest intelligence of this bold onset1 and to assure you that1 upon the evangelical principles mentioned in your last letter to me1 ,i1 for one1 shall be glad to stand by you and your doctrine to the last1 hoping that you will gladly remove stumbling-blocks out of the way of the weak1 and alter such expressions as may create prejudice in the hearts of those who are inclined to admit it4 8,i write to ,mr4 ,shirley to expostulate with him1 and to request him to call in his circular letter4 ,he is the last man that should attack you4 ,his sermons contain propositions much more heretical and anti-,calvinistical than your #8,minutes4' ,if my letters have not the desired effect1 ,i shall probably1 if you approve of them and correct them1 make them public for your justification4 8,i find ,mr4 ,ireland is to write to make you tamely recant without measuring swords1 or breaking a pike with our real ,protestants4 ,i wrote to him also4 8,i am1 dear ,sir1 your unworthy servant in the ,gospel1 8,,john ,,fletcher4 8,to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley1 8,at his ,preaching ,house in ,dublin1 8,ireland40 ,footnote #bbf3 ,this letter is inserted in the 8,life and ,times of ,wesley10 where it was published for the first time4 ,it is reproduced here1 because ,fletcher's life would not be complete without it4--,l4 ,t4 ,lady ,huntingdon did not write to ,wesley1 but he wrote a long and faithful letter to her1 dated ,june #ai1 #agga1 in which he insisted that the doctrines he preached now were the same as he had preached for above thirty years4#bbg ,shirley did not 8call in his circular letter40 ,it would have been more to the honour of himself and his friends had he done so2 for1 when ,wesley's ,conference assembled on ,august #f1 the response to it was ridiculous4 ,of all 8the serious clergy and laity throughout the land10 only ,shirley himself1 and the ,rev4 ,cradock ,glascott1 and the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,owen1 ministers officiating in the ,countess of ,huntingdon's chapels1 together with ,messrs4 ,lloyd1 ,ireland1 and ,winter1 and two students 767 from ,trevecca ,college attended4 ,after what had taken place1 ,wesley1 without arrogance1 might have disdained these insignificant self-elected deputies2 but he graciously allowed them to enter his ,conference4 ,first of all1 ,wesley prayed2 then ,shirley asked if the letters#bbh of himself and the ,countess of ,huntingdon had been read to the ,conference2 and1 being answered in the negative1 he asked leave to read them himself1 which was granted4 ,a long conversation followed1 and then ,shirley produced a written declaration which he wished the ,conference to sign4 ,wesley examined it1 and made some alterations1 which ,shirley says were 8not very material20 and then ,wesley and fifty-three of his itinerant preachers appended to it their signatures4 ,the declaration was as follows3-- 8,whereas the doctrinal points in the ,minutes of a ,conference1 held in ,london1 ,august #g1 #aggj1 have been understood to favour justification by works2 now the ,rev4 ,john ,wesley and others assembled in ,conference1 do declare that we had no such meaning1 and that we abhor the doctrine of ,justification by ,works as a most perilous and abominable doctrine3 and1 as the said ,minutes are not sufficiently guarded in the way they are expressed1 we hereby solemnly declare1 in the sight of ,god1 that we have no trust or confidence but in the alone merits of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 for ,justification or ,salvation1 either in life1 death1 or the day of judgment3 and1 though no one is a real ,christian believer1 7and consequently cannot be saved7 who doth not good works1 where there is time and opportunity1 yet our works have no part in meriting or purchasing our salvation from first to last1 either in whole or in part40 ,footnote #bbg3 8,life and ,times of ,wesley10 vol4 iii41 p4 #ic4 ,footnote #bbh3 ,the letter of the ,countess1 dated 8,august #b1 #agga10 in substance was an apology for the apparently presumptuous way in which she and her friends had proposed to invade ,wesley's ,conference2 accompanied with an excuse founded on the fact that they regarded ,wesley's 8,minutes10 of #aggj1 as 8repugnant to ,scripture1 the whole plan of man's salvation under the new covenant of grace1 and also to the clear meaning of our ,established ,church1 as well as to that of all other ,protestant ,churches40 ,shirley's letter was to the same effect4 7,see ,shirley's 8,narrative of the ,principal ,circumstances relative to the ,rev ,mr4 ,wesley's late ,conference1 held in ,bristol1 ,august #f1 #agga407 ,this declaration being signed by ,wesley and all the ,itinerant ,preachers present 7except ,thomas ,olivers71 ,shirley was required 8to make some public acknowledgment that he had mistaken the meaning of the #8,minutes1'0 ,at first he hesitated1 but1 8a few days afterwards1 sent ,wesley the following message1 with which10 says ,shirley1 8he was very well pleased03-- 8,mr4 ,shirley's ,christian respects wait on ,mr4 ,wesley4 ,the declaration agreed to in ,conference ,august #h1 #agga1 has convinced ,mr4 ,shirley he had mistaken the meaning of the doctrinal points in the ,minutes of the ,conference1 held in ,london ,august #g1 #aggj2 and he hereby wishes to testify the full satisfaction he has in the said declaration1 and his hearty concurrence and agreement with the same40 ,it might have been thought that here the fracas would have ended2 and so1 perhaps1 it would1 had it not been for an incident which must now be mentioned4 ,fletcher had already written his 8,first ,check to ,antinomianism40 ,it was finished on ,july #bi1bbi and ,wesley immediately put it into the hands of his printer1 ,william ,pine1 of ,bristol1 to be printed and published2 and the manuscript was being set up in type at the very time that ,shirley and his friends were at ,wesley's ,conference4 ,the ,conference began on ,tuesday1 ,august #f4 ,wesley writes3-- 8,we had more preachers than usual at the ,conference1 in consequence of ,mr4 ,shirley's circular letter4 ,at ten on ,thursday morning1 he came with nine or ten of his friends4 ,we conversed freely for about two hours1 and ,i believe they were satisfied that we were not so #8dreadful heretics' as they imagined1 but were tolerably sound in the faith40#bcj ,footnote #bbi3 ,it is a notable fact that ,wesley had spent the three previous days with ,fletcher4 ,hence the following from ,wesley's ,journal3-- 8#agga4 ,friday1 ,july #bf4 ,i went on to ,shrewsbury1 where ,mr4 ,fletcher met me4--,sunday1 #bh4 ,i preached at ,madeley1 morning and afternoon4 ,the church would not near contain the congregation2 but the window near the pulpit being open1 those without could hear as well as those within4--,monday1 #bi4 ,i went on to ,worcester40 ,probably ,wesley took ,fletcher's manuscript away with him4 ,footnote #bcj3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,the next day1 ,friday1 ,august #i1 ,shirley was informed that ,fletcher's manuscript was being printed4 ,he and his friends appealed to ,wesley to stop the press4 ,mr4 ,ireland1 in particular1 who had already written to ,fletcher an account of the preceding day's amicable proceedings1 entreated ,wesley to wait till he 7,ireland7 could receive an answer to his letter4 ,he ventured to assure ,wesley that if ,fletcher were upon the spot he would suppress the publication2 and he himself offered to defray all the expense that had been incurred4 ,wesley answered1 8,i will consider it20 and1 at the same time1 he told his visitors that 8he had corrected all the tart expressions in0 the manuscript4#bca ,footnote #bca3 ,shirley's 8,narrative40 ,wesley spent ,saturday and ,sunday in ,bristol2 and then1 on ,monday1 ,august #ab1 he 8set out for ,wales40 ,three days afterwards1 ,mr4 ,ireland received a letter from ,fletcher1 who wrote3-- 8,i feel for poor dear ,mr4 ,shirley1 whom ,i have 7considering the present circumstances7 treated too severely in my #8,vindication of the ,minutes4' ,my dear ,sir1 what must be done8 ,i am ready to defray1 by selling to my last shirt1 the expense of the printing of my ,vindication1 and suppress it4 ,direct me1 dear ,sir4 ,consult with ,mr4 ,shirley and ,mr4 ,wesley about the matter4 ,be persuaded ,i am ready to do everything that will be brotherly in this unhappy affair40#bcb ,footnote #bcb3 ,shirley's 8,narrative40 ,wesley having departed from ,bristol1 ,mr4 ,ireland at once went to ,mr4 ,pine1 the printer1 and showed him ,fletcher's letter2 and the same evening ,mr4 ,pine communicated its contents to the ,bristol preachers4 ,the next morning1 ,friday1 ,august #af1 ,mr4 ,ireland sent to the preachers a copy of ,fletcher's letter2 and1 in a letter from himself1 told them that ,fletcher 8supposed the book was out2 but1 even in that case1 he wished it to be suppressed40 ,mr4 ,ireland entreated them to defer the publication till they had further authority from ,fletcher and ,wesley1 8and engaged to be accountable for every consequence40#bcc ,footnote #bcc3 ,ibid4 ,while ,mr4 ,ireland was making these strenuous efforts to suppress the publication1 ,wesley wrote to the ,countess of ,huntingdon as follows3-- 8#agga4 ,august #ad4--,when ,i received your ladyship's letter of the #bnd inst41 ,i immediately saw that it required an answer1 only ,i waited till the hurry of ,conference was over1 that ,i might do nothing rashly4 ,i know your ladyship would not servilely #8deny the truth2' neither would ,i2 especially that great truth1 justification by faith1 for which ,i have given up all my worldly hopes1 my friends1 my reputation2 yea1 for which ,i have so often hazarded my life1 and by the grace of ,god will do again4 ,the principles established in the #8,minutes' ,i apprehend to be no way contrary to this2 or to that faith which was once delivered to the saints4 ,i believe whoever calmly considers ,mr4 ,fletcher's letters will be convinced of this4 ,i fear1 therefore1 #8zeal against those principles' is no less than zeal against the truth1 and against the honour of our ,lord4 ,the preservation of ,his honour appears so sacred to me1 and has done for above these forty years1 that ,i have counted1 and do count1 all things loss in comparison of it4 ,but till ,mr4 ,fletcher's printed letters are answered1 ,i must think everything spoken against those #8,minutes' is totally destructive of ,his honour1 and a palpable affront to ,him both as our ,prophet and ,priest1 but more especially as our ,king4 ,those letters1 therefore1 which could not be suppressed without betraying the honour of our ,lord1 largely prove that the #8,minutes' lay no other foundation than that which is laid in ,scripture1 and which ,i have been laying1 and teaching others to lay1 for between thirty and forty years4 ,indeed1 it would be amazing that ,god should at this day prosper my labours1 as much if not more than ever1 by convincing as well as converting sinners1 if ,i was #8establishing another foundation1 repugnant to the whole plan of man's salvation under the covenant of grace1 as well as the clear meaning of our ,established ,church and all other ,protestant ,churches4' ,this is a charge indeed6 ,but ,i plead1 not guilty2 and till it is proved upon me1 ,i must subscribe myself1 my dear lady1 your ladyship's affectionate but much injured servant1 8,,john ,,wesley40#bcd ,footnote #bcd3 ,whitehead's 8,life of ,wesley10 vol4 ii41 p4 #cej4 ,thus1 by ,wesley's firmness1 ,fletcher's manuscript1 without any delay1 was printed and published4 ,its title was1 8,a ,vindication of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley's ,last ,minutes3 ,occasioned by a circular printed ,letter1 inviting principal ,persons1 both ,clergy and ,laity1 as well of the ,dissenters as of the ,established ,church1 who disapprove of those ,minutes1 to oppose them in a ,body1 as a dreadful ,heresy3 ,and designed to remove ,prejudice1 check ,rashness1 promote ,forbearance1 defend the ,character of an eminent ,minister of ,christ1 and prevent some important ,scriptural ,truths from being hastily branded as heretical4 ,in ,five ,letters1 to the ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,author of the ,circular ,letter4 ,by a ,lover of ,quietness and ,liberty of ,conscience4 ,bristol3 ,printed by ,w4 ,pine1 in ,wine ,street1 #agga40 #ab mo41 #ih pp4 ,the publication roused again the ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,walter ,shirley1 who immediately prepared and published 8,a ,narrative of the principal ,circumstances relative to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley's late ,conference1 held in ,bristol1 ,august the #fth1 #agga1 at which the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,shirley1 and others1 his ,friends1 were present4 ,with a ,declaration then agreed to by ,mr4 ,wesley1 and ,fifty-three of the ,preachers in ,connection with him4 ,in a ,letter to a ,friend4 ,by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,shirley4 ,bath3 #agga40 #abmo41 #bd pp4 ,upon the whole1 ,mr4 ,shirley's 8,narrative0 was truthful1 fair1 and respectful4#bce ,it is dated 8,bath1 ,september #ab1 #agga40 ,he apprised ,fletcher of its contents1 and of his intention to publish it2 and ,fletcher1 in reply1 wrote the following letter1 which completes the history of the commencement of the great ,calvinistical controversy3-- 8,,madeley1 ,september #aa1 #agga4 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,it is extremely proper1 nay1 it is highly necessary1 that the public should be informed how much like a minister of the ,prince of ,peace1 and a meek1 humble1 loving brother in the ,gospel of ,christ1 you behaved at the ,conference4 ,had ,i been there1 ,i would gladly have taken upon me to proclaim these tidings of joy to the lovers of ,zion's peace4 ,your conduct at that time of love is certainly the best excuse for the hasty step you had taken2 as my desire of stopping my #8,vindication1' upon hearing of it1 is the best apology ,i can make for my severity to you4 8,i am not averse at all1 ,sir1 to your publishing the passages you mention out of my letters to ,mr4 ,ireland4 ,they show my peculiar love and respect for you1 which ,i shall at all times think an honour2 and1 at this juncture1 shall feel a peculiar pleasure to see proclaimed to the world4 ,they apologize for my calling myself #8a lover of quietness1' when ,i unfortunately prove a son of contention2 and they demonstrate that ,i am not altogether void of the fear that becomes an awkward1 inexperienced surgeon1 when he ventures to open a vein in the arm of a person for whom he has the highest regard4 ,how natural is it for him to tremble1 lest by missing the intended vein1 and pricking an unseen artery1 he should have done irreparable mischief instead of an useful operation6 8,but while you do me the kindness of publishing those passages1 permit me1 ,sir1 to do ,mr4 ,wesley the justice of informing him1 ,i had also written to ,mr4 ,ireland1 that1 #8whether my ,letters were suppressed or not1 the #8,minutes' must be vindicated1--that ,mr4 ,wesley owed it to the ,church1 to the real ,protestants1 to all his ,societies1 and to his own aspersed character1--and that1 after all1 the controversy did not seem to me to be so much whether the #8,minutes' should stand1 as whether the ,antinomian ,gospel of ,dr4 ,crisp#bcf should prevail over the practical ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 8,i must also1 ,sir1 beg leave to let my vindicated friend know1 that1 in the very letter where ,i so earnestly entreated ,mr4 ,ireland to stop the publication of my ,letters to you1 and offered to take the whole expense of the impression upon myself1 though ,i should be obliged to sell my last shirt to defray it1 ,i added that1 #8,if they were published1 ,i must look upon it as a necessary evil1 or misfortune4' ,which of the two words ,i used ,i do not justly recollect3 a misfortune for you and me1 who must appear inconsistent to the world2--you1 ,sir1 with your ,sermons1#bcg and ,i with my ,title-page2 and nevertheless necessary to vindicate misrepresented truth1 defend an eminent minister of ,christ1 and stem the torrent of ,antinomianism4 8,it may not be improper1 also1 to observe to you1 ,sir1 that when ,i presented ,mr4 ,wesley with my #8,vindication1' ,i begged he would correct it1 and take away whatever might be unkind or too sharp3 urging that though ,i meant no unkindness1 ,i was not a proper judge of what ,i had written under peculiarly delicate and trying circumstances1 as well as in a great hurry2 and did not1 therefore1 dare to trust either my pen1 my head1 or my heart4 ,he was no sooner gone0 7from ,bristol7 8than ,i sent a letter after him to repeat and urge the same request2 and he wrote me word1 that he had #8expunged every tart expression4' ,if he has 7for ,i have not yet seen what alterations his friendly pen has made7 ,i am reconciled to the publication2 and that he has1 ,i have reason to hope from the letters of two judicious ,london friends1 who calmed my fears1 lest ,i should have treated you with unkindness4 8,one of them says1 ',i reverence ,mr4 ,shirley for his candid acknowledgment of his hastiness in judging4 ,i commend the ,calvinists at the ,conference for their justice to ,mr4 ,wesley1 and their acquiescence in the ,declaration of the ,preachers in connexion with him4 ,but is that ,declaration1 however dispersed1 a remedy adequate to the evil done1 not only to ,mr4 ,wesley1 but to the cause and work of ,god8 ,several ,calvinists1 in eagerness of malice1 had dispersed their calumnies through the three kingdoms4 ,a truly excellent person herself1#bch in her mistaken zeal1 had represented him as a papist unmasked1 a heretic1 an apostate4 ,a clergyman of the first reputation informs me a ,poem on his ,apostacy is just coming out4#bci ,letters have been sent to every serious ,churchman and ,dissenter through the land1 together with the ,gospel ,magazine4 ,great are the shoutings1 8,and now that he lieth let him rise up no more40 ,this is all the cry4 ,his dearest friends and children are staggered1 and scarce know what to think4 ,you1 in your corner1 cannot conceive the mischief that has been done1 and is still doing4 ,but your letters1 in the hand of ,providence1 may answer the good ends you proposed by writing them4 ,you have not been too severe to dear ,mr4 ,shirley1 moderate ,calvinists themselves being judges1 but very kind and friendly to set a good mistaken man right1 and probably to preserve him from the like rashness as long as he lives4 ,be not troubled1 therefore1 but cast your care upon the ,lord4' 8,my other friend says1 #8,considering what harm the ,circular ,letter has done1 and what a useless satisfaction ,mr4 ,shirley has given by his vague acknowledgment1 it is no more than just and equitable that your ,letters should be published4' 8,now1 ,sir1 as ,i never saw that acknowledgment1 nor the softening corrections made by ,mr4 ,wesley in my #8,vindication2' as ,i was not informed of some of the above-mentioned particulars when ,i was so eager to prevent the publication of my ,letters2 and as ,i have reason to think that1 through the desire of an immediate peace1 the festering wound was rather skinned over than probed to the bottom1--all ,i can say about this publication is1 what ,i wrote to our common friend1 namely1 that #8,i must look upon it as a necessary evil4' 8,i am glad1 ,sir1 you do not direct your letter to ,mr4 ,olivers1#bdj who was so busy in publishing my #8,vindication2' for1 by a letter ,i have just received from ,bristol1 ,i am informed he did not hear how desirous ,i was to call it in1 till he had actually given out1 before a whole congregation1 it would be sold4 ,besides1 he would have pleaded with smartness that he never approved of a patched-up peace1--that he bore his testimony against it at the time it was made1--and that he had a personal right to produce my arguments1 since both parties refused to hear his at the ,conference4 8,if your ,letter is friendly1 ,sir1 and you print it in the same size as my #8,vindication1' ,i shall gladly buy #aj worth of the copies1 and order them to be stitched with my #8,vindication1' and given gratis to the purchasers of it2 as well to do you justice1 as to convince the world that we make a loving war2 and also to demonstrate how much ,i regard your respectable character1 and honour your dear person4 ,mr4 ,wesley's heart is1 ,i am persuaded1 too full of brotherly love to deny me the pleasure of thus showing you how sincerely ,i am1 ,rev4 and dear ,sir1 your obedient servant1 8,,john ,,fletcher40 ,footnote #bce3 ,that there might be no misunderstanding between them1 ,fletcher1 on the same day1 sent ,wesley 8the substance1 and almost the very words10 of this letter to ,shirley4 ,footnote #bcf3 ,the ,rev4 ,tobias ,crisp1 ,d4,d41 a divine of the ,church of ,england1 born in ,london in #afjj1 and who died in #afdc4 ,he was educated at ,eton1 thence he removed to ,cambridge1 and afterwards to ,oriel ,college1 ,oxford4 ,at the age of twenty-seven1 he was appointed ,rector of ,brinkworth1 in ,wiltshire4 ,early in life1 he was a favourer of the doctrines of ,arminianism2 afterwards1 he became the champion of ,antinomianism4 ,his sermons1 in three volumes1 were printed after his death4 ,it is said that1 though the tenets he embraced seem to be a plea for licentiousness1 he himself was remarkable for the purity and modesty of his manners4 ,footnote #bcg3 ,a few years ago1 ,shirley had published 8,twelve ,sermons1 preached on several occasions10 #abmo41 #ahi pp4 ,footnote #bch3 ,lady ,huntingdon4 ,footnote #bci3 ,this was published in the ,gospel ,magazine1 in the same month as ,wesley's ,conference was held4 ,it was signed 8,cleon10 and dated 8,london1 ,june #ag1 #agga40 ,speaking of ,wesley1 8,cleon0 says1-- 8,pride prompts him on1 and ,satan now has gained ,a conquest o'er perverted truth retained2 ,at best perverted1 glaring now appears1 ,the pride of ,rome1 the lie of num'rous years40 ,footnote #bdj3 ,thomas ,olivers1 who for several years1 corrected proof sheets for ,wesley4 ,the reader has now as full an account as can be given of the way in which the long and angry war between ,wesleyan ,methodism and ,calvinian ,methodism was begun4 ,it is difficult to say1 decidedly1 who was to blame for it4 ,wesley had a perfect right--in fact1 under existing circumstances1 he was almost bound by duty--to publish his theological theses2 but it was unfortunate that1 to use the words of himself and his fifty-three preachers1 8they were not sufficiently guarded in the way they were expressed40 ,the ,countess of ,huntingdon and her nephew1 the ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,walter ,shirley1 had a perfect right to take counsel with their ,calvinian friends respecting ,wesley's 8,minutes20 but it was offensive arrogance to propose to 8go in a body to ,wesley's ,conference1 and insist upon a formal recantation of the said ,minutes40 ,wesley was under no obligation to either ,lady ,huntingdon or ,walter ,shirley2 and their issuing of the 8,circular ,letter0 was pure impertinence1 though1 no doubt1 they thought it a ,christian duty4 ,fletcher had a perfect right to explain and vindicate ,wesley's #8,minutes1' and to send ,wesley his manuscript to be printed and published2 and ,wesley had a perfect right to avail himself of this permission4 ,mr4 ,ireland had a perfect right to entreat ,wesley's printer to delay the publication till he 7,ireland7 received an answer to the letter he had sent to ,fletcher2 and ,fletcher1 though1 perhaps1 showing too much flexibility of purpose1 displayed ,christian kindness of the highest order in his reply2 but that reply arrived in ,bristol too late1 for ,wesley had already left for ,wales1 and ,wesley's editor had publicly announced that the 8,vindication0 would be published4 ,besides1 ,fletcher himself1 within five weeks after the time when ,wesley's ,conference was held1 changed his opinion1 told ,mr4 ,ireland that 8the #8,minutes' must be vindicated10 and informed ,shirley himself that he was 8reconciled to the publication0 of his manuscript4 ,nothing more need be said4 ,indeed1 all1 in substance1 is said that can be said2 and it only remains to notice the #abmo pamphlet of #ih pages1 that gave such huge offence1 and led to such serious consequences4 ,fletcher presents3-- 8,i4 ,a general view of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley's doctrines4 8,,ii4 ,an account of the commendable design of his #8,minutes4' 8,,iii4 ,a vindication of the propositions which they contain1 by arguments taken from ,scripture1 reason1 and experience2 and by quotations from eminent ,calvinist divines1 who have said the same things in different words40 ,on the first of these points1 he writes3-- 8,mr4 ,wesley is accused of dreadful heresy2 and may not ,i1 an old friend and acquaintance of his1 be permitted to speak a word in his favour8 ,this step1 ,i fear1 will cost me my reputation 7if ,i have any71 and involve me in the same condemnation with him1 whose cause1 together with that of truth1 ,i design to plead3 but when humanity prompts1 gratitude calls1 and friendship excites2 when reason invites1 justice demands1 truth requires1 and conscience summons2 he does not deserve the name of a ,christian friend1 who1 for any consideration1 hesitates to vindicate what he esteems truth1 and to stand by an aggrieved friend1 brother1 and father4 8#a4 ,for above these sixteen years1 ,i have heard him frequently in his chapels1 and sometimes in my church2 and ,i have familiarly conversed and corresponded with him1 and have often perused his numerous works in verse and prose2 and ,i can truly say1 that1 during all that time1 ,i have heard him1 upon every proper occasion1 steadily maintain the total fall of man in ,adam1 and his utter inability to recover himself1 or take one step towards his recovery1 #8without the grace of ,god preventing him1 that he may have a good will1 and working with him when he has that good will4' 8#b4 ,i must likewise testify that he faithfully points out ,christ as the only way of salvation2 and strongly recommends faith as the only means of receiving ,him1 and all the benefits of ,his righteous life and meritorious death2 and truth obliges me to declare1 that he frequently expresses his detestation of the errors of modern ,pharisees1 who laugh at original sin1 set up the power of fallen man1 cry down the operations of ,god's ,spirit1 deny the absolute necessity of the blood and righteousness of ,christ1 and refuse ,him the glory of all the good that may be found in ,jew or ,gentile4 ,you will not without difficulty find in ,england1 and perhaps in all the world1 a minister who has borne more frequent testimonies1 either from the pulpit or the press1 against those dangerous errors4 8#c4 ,the next fundamental doctrine of ,christianity is that of holiness of heart and life2 and no one can here accuse ,mr4 ,wesley of leaning to the ,antinomian delusion1 which #8makes void the law through' a speculative and barren #8faith'3 on the contrary1 he appears to be peculiarly set for the defence of practical religion2 for1 instead of representing ,christ as the minister of sin1 he sets ,him forth as a complete #8,saviour from sin4' ,not satisfied to preach holiness begun1 he preaches finished holiness1 and calls believers to such a degree of heart-purifying faith1 as may enable them continually to #8triumph in ,christ1' as being #8made to them sanctification1' as well as #8righteousness4' ,this he sometimes calls #8full sanctification1' the state of fathers in ,christ1 or #8the glorious liberty of the children of ,god3' sometimes1 a being #8strengthened1 stablished1 and settled2' or #8being rooted and grounded in love3' but most commonly he calls it1 #8,christian ,perfection2' a word which1 though used by the ,apostles in the same sense1 cannot be used by him without raising the pity or indignation of one half of the religious world3 some make it the subject of their pious sneers and godly lampoons2 while others tell you roundly they #8abhor it above everything in the creation4' 8#d4 ,but this is not all3 he holds also general redemption1 and its necessary consequences1 which some account #8dreadful heresies4' ,he asserts1 with ,st4 ,paul1 that #8,christ1 by the grace of ,god1 tasted death for every man2' and this grace he calls #8free1' as extending itself freely to all4 ,nor can he help expressing his surprise at those pious ministers1 who maintain that the ,saviour keeps ,his grace1 as they suppose ,he kept ,his blood1 from the greatest part of mankind1 and yet engross to themselves the title of #8preachers of free grace4' 8#e4 ,as a consequence of the doctrine of general redemption1 ,mr4 ,wesley lays down two axioms1 of which he never loses sight in his preaching4 ,the first is1 that #8,all our salvation is of ,god in ,christ1' and therefore of grace3 all opportunities1 invitations1 inclination1 and power to believe being bestowed upon us of mere grace1--grace most absolutely free4 ,but he proceeds farther2 for1 secondly1 he asserts1 with equal confidence1 that1 according to the ,gospel dispensation1 #8,all our damnation is of ourselves1' by our obstinate unbelief and avoidable unfaithfulness4 ,he is persuaded the most complete system of divinity is that in which neither of those two axioms is superseded3 it is bold and unscriptural to set up the one at the expense of the other40 ,these extracts from ,fletcher's first letter are important1 as showing what ,fletcher conceived to be ,wesley's fundamental doctrines2 and it must be borne in mind1 that1 ,wesley having read and revised ,fletcher's manuscript1 ,fletcher's conception is stamped with ,wesley's own authority4 ,fletcher proceeds to explain and to defend ,wesley's 8,minutes10 and to show they were greatly needed4 ,he says3-- 8,mr4 ,wesley's design was to guard his preachers and their hearers against ,antinomian principles and practices1 which spread like wild-fire in some of his ,societies2 where persons1 who spoke in the most glorious manner of ,christ1 and their interest in ,his complete salvation1 have been found living in the greatest immoralities1 or indulging in the most unchristian tempers4 ,nor need ,i go far for a proof of this sad assertion4 ,in one of his ,societies1 not many miles from my parish1 a married man1 who professed being in a state of justification and sanctification1 growing wise above what is written1 despised his brethren as legalists1 and his teachers as persons not clear in the ,gospel4 ,he instilled his principles into a serious young woman2 and what was the consequence8 ,why1 they talked about #8finished salvation in ,christ1' and #8the absurdity of perfection in the flesh1' till a perfect child was conceived and born2 and1 to save appearances1 the woman swore it to a travelling man that cannot be heard of4 ,thus1 to avoid legality1 they plunged into hypocrisy1 fornication1 adultery1 perjury1 and the depth of ranterism4 ,is it not hard that a minister should be traduced as guilty of dreadful heresy for trying to put a stop to such dreadful practices8 ,and is it not high time that he should cry to all that regard his warnings1 #8,take heed to your doctrine'80 ,fletcher then proceeds to give a deplorable picture of many of the professing ,christians of the age1 which1 it is to be hoped1 was too darkly drawn1 though it is difficult to prove it was4 ,the following extract shows that many of the ,methodists were not better than their neighbours1 and that it was of paramount importance that ,wesley's preachers should take heed to their doctrine3-- 8,mr4 ,wesley has many persons in his ,societies1 7and would to ,god there were none in ours67 who profess they were justified or sanctified in a moment2 but1 instead of trusting in the living ,god1 so trust in what was done in that moment1 as to give over taking up their cross daily1 and watching unto prayer with all perseverance4 ,the consequences are deplorable3 they slide back into the spirit of the world2 and their tempers are no more regulated by the meek1 gentle1 humble love of ,jesus4 ,some inquire with the heathens1 ,what shall we eat1 and what shall we drink to please ourselves8 ,others evidently love the world2 lay up treasures on earth2 or ask1 ,wherewith shall we be fashionably clothed8 ,therefore1 the love of the ,father is not in them4 ,and not a few are led captive by the devil at his will3 influenced by his unhappy suggestions1 they harbour bitterness1 malice1 and revenge3 none is in the right but themselves1 and #8wisdom shall die with them4' 8,now1 ,sir1 ,mr4 ,wesley cannot but fear it is not well with persons who are in any of these cases3 though everybody should join to extol them as #8dear children of ,god1' he is persuaded that ,satan has beguiled them1 as he did ,eve2 and he addresses them1 as our ,lord did the angel of the church of ,sardis1--#8,i know thy works1 that thou hast a name1 that thou livest2 and art dead1' or dying3 #8,repent1 therefore1 and strengthen the things which remain1 that are ready to die2 for ,i have not found thy works perfect before ,god4'0 ,when it is remembered that ,fletcher's manuscript was read and revised by ,wesley1 before it was printed1 the foregoing description of 8many persons0 in ,wesley's ,societies is possessed of more than ordinary interest4 ,only ten years had elapsed since the great revival of ,christian perfection in those ,societies1 and yet such was the judgment pronounced by ,fletcher1 and which ,wesley sanctioned6 ,after explaining and defending all the doctrines contained in ,wesley's 8,minutes10 ,fletcher concludes his fourth letter as follows3-- 8,thus1 ,sir1 have ,i looked out for the heresy1 the dreadful heresy of ,mr4 ,wesley's #8,minutes1' by bringing all the propositions they contain to the touchstone of ,scripture and common sense2 but1 instead of finding it1 ,i have found the very marrow of the ,gospel of ,christ4 ,i have showed that the #8,minutes' contain nothing but what is truly scriptural2 and nothing but what the best ,calvinist divines have themselves1 directly or indirectly1 asserted2 except1 perhaps1 the sixth proposition concerning the merit of works2 and1 with respect to this1 ,i hope ,i have demonstrated1 upon rational and evangelical principles1 that ,mr4 ,wesley1 far from bringing in a damnable heresy1 has done the ,gospel justice1 and ,protestantism service1 by candidly giving up an old prejudice1 equally contrary to ,scripture and good sense1--a piece of bigotry which has long hardened the papists against the doctrine of salvation by the merit of ,christ1 and has added inconceivable strength to the ,antinomian delusion among us4 8,one difficulty remains1 and that is1 to account for your attacking ,mr4 ,wesley1 though you could not wound him without stabbing yourself4 ,reserving my reflections upon this amazing step for another letter1 8,i remain your astonished servant in the bonds of a peaceful ,gospel1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40 ,as here indicated1 the fifth and last letter contained that which most offended ,shirley4 ,in his 8,narrative10 ,shirley remarks3-- 8,mr4 ,wesley assured us he had corrected all the tart expressions in them0 7that is1 in ,fletcher's ,letters74 8,alas6 ,qualia verba1 qu facta6 ,whether there are no tart expressions in the ,letters1 let every one that hath seen them judge4 ,but1 perhaps1 this learned gentleman distinguishes between the tart and the bitter4 ,if all the tart expressions are corrected1 ,i am sure there are enough of the bitter left4 8,as to the ,letters themselves1 ,i shall have #8the author's' pardon for noticing two particular charges against me4 8#a4 ,i am supposed to want candour2 as if ,i had put a forced construction on the #8,minutes1' in order to bring ,mr4 ,wesley in guilty4 ,mr4 ,fletcher has attempted a #8vindication' of them2 and1 by breaking them into sentences and half-sentences1 and refining upon each of these detached particles1 he has done more than ,i could have expected1 even from his great abilities1 in giving a new turn to the whole4 ,but1 after reading his learned and elaborate #8,vindication1' when ,i cast my eye over the #8,minutes1' and consider the whole as it stands in context1 ,i must own1 ,i am just where ,i was3 nothing but the #8,declaration' could ever convince me that justification by works was not maintained and supported by the #8,minutes4' 8#b4 ,the charge of inconsistency is supported by quotations from my sermons4 ,to this1 ,i beg leave to observe1 that the passages quoted are not altogether in point2 neither do they maintain justification by works in such direct and express terms as the #8,minutes' appear to do4 ,i must1 however1 own that they savour too strongly of mysticism and free-will2 and all ,i can say1 on my behalf in this respect1 is1 that they were written many years ago1 at a time when ,i had more zeal than light2 that my present ministry1 as well as my present way of thinking1 is very different2 and that ,i have frequently expressed my disapprobation of those sermons1 nay wished they had been burnt40 ,shirley was nettled2 and1 after the imperious arrogance displayed in his 8,circular ,letter10 he deserved to be4 ,fletcher's fifth and last letter is caustical2 but not more so than the occasion justified4 ,the following is extracted from it3-- 8,,hon4 ,,and ,,rev4 ,,sir1--,having vindicated both some important doctrines of the ,gospel1 and an eminent servant of ,christ from the charge of dreadful heresy1 ,i will now take the liberty of a friend to expostulate a little with you4 8,when ,brutus1 among other senators1 rushed upon ,csar1 the venerable general said1 #8,art thou also among them8 ,even thou1 my son8' ,may not ,mr4 ,wesley address you1 ,sir1 in the same words1 and add1 #8,if a body of men must be raised to attack me1 let some zealous follower of ,dr4 ,crisp1 some hot-headed vindicator of reprobation and eternal justification blow the trumpet1 and put himself at their head2 but let it not be you1 who believe with me that we are moral agents2 that ,god is love2 that ,jesus tasted death for every man2 and that the ,holy ,spirit shall not always strive with sinners4 ,if you do not regard my reputation1 consider at least your own1 and expose me not as a heretic for advancing propositions1 the substance of which you have avowed before the sun4' 8,but had those propositions1 at length1 appeared to you unsound1 yea1 and had you never maintained them yourself1 should you not1 as a ,christian and a brother1 have wrote to ,mr4 ,wesley1 acquainted him with your objections1 and desired him to solve them and explain himself1 or you should be obliged publicly to expose him8 8,was this condescension more than was due from you1 ,sir1 and our other friends1 to a grey-headed minister of ,christ1 an old general in the armies of ,emmanuel1 a father who has children capable of instructing even masters in ,israel1 and one whom ,god made the first and principal instrument of the late revival of internal religion in our ,church8 8,instead of this friendly method1 as if you were a ,barak1 commanded by the ,lord ,god of ,israel1 you call together the children of ,naphthali and ,zebulun3 you convene1 from ,england and ,wales1 clergy and laity1 ,churchmen and ,dissenters1 to meet you at ,bristol1 where they are1 it seems1 to be entertained in good and free quarters4 ,and for what grand expedition8 ,why1 on a day appointed1 you are to march up in a body1 not to attack ,sisera and his iron chariots1 but an old ,caleb1 who1 without meddling with you1 quietly goes on to the conquest of ,canaan2 not to desire1 in a friendly manner1 after a fair debate of every proposition that appears dangerous1 and1 upon previous conviction1 that what is exceptionable may be given up2 but to do what ,i think was never done by nominal1 much less by real ,protestants4 ,o let it not be told in ,rome1 lest the sons of the ,inquisition rejoice6 ,this mixed1 this formidable body is to insist upon ,mr4 ,wesley and the preachers in his connexion1 formally recanting their #8,minutes1' as appearing injurious to the very fundamental principles of ,christianity1 and being dreadfully heretical4 ,and this1 astonishing6 without the least inquiry made into their meaning and design1 without a shadow of authority from our superiors in ,church or ,state1 without an appeal to the law and to the testimony1 without form of process1 without judge or jury1 without so much as allowing the poor heretics 7who are condemned six weeks before they can possibly be heard7 to answer for themselves6 8,how could you suppose1 ,sir1 that ,mr4 ,wesley and the preachers who assemble with him are such weak men1 as tamely to acknowledge themselves heretics upon your ipse dixit8 ,suppose ,mr4 ,wesley took it in his head to convene all the divines that disapprove the extract of ,zanchius1#bda to go with him in a body to ,mr4 ,toplady's chapel1 and demand a formal recantation of that performance as heretical2 yea1 to insist upon it1 before they had #8measured swords or broken a pike together1' would not the translator of ,zanchius laugh at him1 and ask whether he thought to frighten him by his protests1 or bully him into orthodoxy8 8,o1 ,sir1 have we not fightings enough without1 to employ all our time and strength8 ,must we also declare war and promote fightings within8 ,must we catch at every opportunity to stab one another1 because the livery of truth which we wear is not turned up in the same manner8 ,what can be more cruel than this8 ,what can be more cutting to an old minister of ,christ1 than to be traduced as a dreadful heretic1 in printed letters sent to the best men in the land1 yea1 through all ,england and ,scotland1 and signed by a person of your rank and piety8 ,to have things that he knows not1 that he never meant1 laid to his charge1 and dispersed far and near8 ,while he is gone to a neighbouring kingdom1#bdb to preach ,jesus ,christ1 to have his friends prejudiced1 his foes elevated1 and the fruit of his extensive ministry at the point of being blasted8 ,put yourself in his place1 ,sir1 and you will see that the wound is deep and reaches the very heart4 8,our ,elijah#bdc has lately been translated to heaven4 ,grey-headed ,elisha is yet awhile continued upon earth4 ,and shall we make a hurry and noise1 to bring in railing accusations against him with more success8 ,shall the sons of prophets1 shall even children in grace and knowledge1 openly traduce the venerable seer and his abundant labours8 ,when they see him run upon his ,lord's errands1 shall they cry1 not1 #8,go up1 thou bald head1' but1 #8,go up1 thou heretic'8 ,o ,jesus of ,nazareth1 ,thou rejected of men1 ,thou ,who wast once called a deceiver of the people1 suffer it not2 lest the raging bear of persecution come suddenly out of the wood upon those sons of discord1 and tear them in pieces40 ,footnote #bda3 ,in #agfi1 ,toplady published 8,the ,doctrine of ,absolute ,predestination ,stated and ,asserted4 ,translated1 in great measure1 from the ,latin of ,jerome ,zanchius2 with some ,account of his ,life prefixed40 #hvo4 #acd pp4 ,an impious production1 in the garb of piety4 ,footnote #bdb3 ,wesley was in ,ireland from ,march #bd to ,july #bb1 #agga4 ,it was during this period that ,shirley sent forth his offensive 8,circular ,letter40 ,footnote #bdc3 ,whitefield1 who died ,september #cj1 #aggj4 ,remembering the confidential and warm friendship that had existed between ,fletcher and the ,countess of ,huntingdon and her nephew1 ,walter ,shirley1 it must be admitted that these 8expostulations0 were pungent2 but they were provoked by the arrogance of the offenders4 ,it is true1 as already stated1 that1 on the evening before ,wesley's ,conference assembled1 her ladyship and ,shirley wrote letters to ,wesley containing half-hearted apologies for their 8arbitrary way of proceeding0 in the 8,circular ,letter40 8,it must be acknowledged10 said ,shirley1 8that1 upon the whole1 the ,circular ,letter was too hastily drawn up and improperly expressed2 and1 therefore1 for the offensive expressions in it1 we desire we may be hereby understood to make every suitable submission to you1 ,sir1 and to the gentlemen of the ,conference40#bdd ,the apology was proper2 but it was not sufficient4 ,the 8,circular ,letter10 branding ,wesley as a dreadful heretic1 had been sent to a large number of 8principal persons1 both clergy and laity10 throughout the three kingdoms2 whereas the letters of the ,countess and her nephew were private ones1 addressed only to ,wesley and his preachers4 ,moreover1 the apology was accompanied with a threat4 ,footnote #bdd3 ,shirley's 8,narrative40 8,i cannot but wish10 wrote ,shirley1 8that the recantation of the ,circular ,letter may prevail as an example for the recantation of the #8,minutes4' ,if ,i should be unhappily disappointed in this respect1 ,i shall feel myself bound in conscience to yield my public testimony against such doctrines as these1 which appear to me subversive of the fundamentals of ,christianity40#bde ,footnote #bde3 ,shirley's 8,narrative40 ,and1 once more1 the apology1 such as it was1 was sent too late1 for ,fletcher had already written his 8,vindication0 of ,wesley's 8,minutes20 the manuscript had been sent to ,wesley1 and ,wesley had revised it1 and committed it to the press4 ,the war was begun1 and we must follow it to its termination1 so far as ,fletcher is concerned2 for it is impossible1 in a work like this1 to notice all the pamphlets that were published4 ,those who wish for further information may turn to the 8,life and ,times of ,wesley40 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,second ,,check ,,to ,,antinomianism #agga4 ,,wesley',s 8,minutes0 and ,shirley's 8,circular ,letter0 created a commotion4 ,the ,rev4 ,walter ,sellon had recently published his 8,church of ,england ,vindicated from the ,charge of ,absolute ,predestination2 as it is stated and asserted by the ,translator of ,jerome ,zanchius0 ,toplady 8in his ,letter to the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,nowell4 ,together with some ,animadversions on his ,translation of ,zanchius1 his ,letter to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley1 and his ,sermon on #a ,tim4 i4 #aj40 ,this not over-courteous publication was reviewed in the ,august number of the ,gospel ,magazine for #agga2 and1 no doubt1 the review had been read by the gentlemen who proposed to invade ,wesley's ,conference4 ,it began as follows3-- 8,a composition of low scurrility and illiberal abuse1 for which this author and his coadjutors are remarkable4 ,not one ,calvinist who comes in his way escapes4 ,he is so much given up to slander and defamation1 that he can no more refrain from defaming even the dead than from slandering the living40 ,its last paragraph was the following2 and these two citations will enable the reader to form an opinion of the whole3-- 8,when we meet with erroneous systems set up in opposition to the ,word of ,god1 we speak our mind freely of them1 and aim to show the dangerous tendency of them4 ,but no sooner do we touch the cobweb system of self-righteous ,pharisees1 but they cry out1 with their brethren of old to our ,lord1 #8,thou reproachest us also4' ,we cannot aim to dissect and expose their opinions1 but they cry out of slandering their persons1 and #8,oh1 you have no love to ,mr4 ,john6' ,god bless ,mr4 ,john6 ,but who is ,mr4 ,john8 ,is he the standard of truth1 the pinnacle of orthodoxy1 the touchstone by which truth is to be tried and known8 ,what is ,mr4 ,john8 ,what is ,mr4 ,walter8 ,men1 frail men1 and miserable sinners like ourselves4 ,all that we say of them is1 ,as men1 we love them2 as miserable sinners1 we wish their salvation2 as fellow-creatures1 we would not hurt a hair of their heads2 whatever is in our power to do them good1 we would cheerfully minister unto them40 ,in the ,september number of the same periodical1 there was a letter1 signed 8,simplex10 and dated 8,august #c1 #agga1 ,from the ,neighbourhood of the ,foundery10 as follows3-- 8,,sir1--,i have just read your last number1 and am amazed at the ,declaration in it1 as made by ,mr4 ,wesley and his friends1 at the late ,conference at ,bristol4 ,i am amazed at the wisdom of that great man that he should devise a ,declaration#bdf couched in terms so ambiguous as to satisfy his opponents1 whilst1 in reality1 it denies not one tittle clearly asserted in the #8,minutes2' and ,i am amazed at gentlemen1 who might have been acquainted with the unfathomable policy of that dubious divine1 not being more upon their guard than to have been put off by such an unmeaning confession4 8,since the ,conference1 and1 of course1 since the making of this ,declaration1 ,mr4 ,fletcher has published a very warm1 and not ill-written #8,vindication of the ,minutes1' which1 from his intimacy with ,mr4 ,wesley1 evidently shows that the gentleman in question never meant to recant what he had declared in the #8,minutes' when he signed the ,declaration4#bdg 8,what can we think of this8 ,you ask1 ,what can we say to this8 ,why1 gentlemen1 you may say that the fox has had sagacity enough to elude his hunters4 ,or1 in other words1 that ,mr4 ,wesley is1 what ,i always took him to be1 a very wise man4 8,does this tend to clear up the affair8 ,yes4 ,taken in its connection with ,fletcher's #8,vindication of the ,minutes1' it very plainly clears it up to every man2 and shows that however these gentlemen may abhor the doctrine of justification by the merit of works1 as most perilous and abominable1 they are determined to abide by the doctrine of justification by works as a condition1 which is all that is clearly expressed in the #8,minutes4' ,if ,cranmer and his brethren had drunk half as deep into the spirit of ,ignatius10 ,loyala6 8they had never been brought to the stake for their doctrine2 but might even have outwitted the eagle-eyed ,bishops of ,london and ,winchester40 ,footnote #bdf3 ,this is a calumny4 ,the ,declaration was not drawn up by ,wesley1 but by ,shirley4 8,wesley10 says ,shirley1 8made some1 not very material1 alterations in it40 ,footnote #bdg3 ,another misrepresentation2 for ,fletcher's manuscript was committed to the press before the ,declaration was signed4 ,another communication by 8,simplex0 must be noticed4 ,like his former letter1 it was printed in the ,gospel ,magazine4 ,it was dated 8,from the ,neighbourhood of the ,foundery1 ,october #i1 #agga10 and was addressed 8,to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley1 ,mr4 ,sellon1 ,mr4 ,fletcher1 and ,mr4 ,olivers40 ,the following are extracts from it3-- 8,mr4 ,wesley is now an old man1 and1 according to the course of nature1 must in a little time have done with a lying world4 ,let him1 like an honest man1 a ,christian1 that has heaven in his eye1 and a sense of the ,divine presence upon his heart1 tell us plainly whether he really thinks that his continuance in the love of ,god1 and the exercise of faith1 is owing to his own good management1 or to the sovereignty and freeness of the love of ,god and agency of the ,holy ,ghost80 ,the temper of this production is painfully displayed in its concluding paragraph3-- 8,should any reply be made to this letter1 and might ,i be indulged with liberty to choose my correspondent1 ,i would most earnestly deprecate having anything to do with the ,reverend ,mr4 ,walter ,sellon1 as ,i am no adept in scolding1 and am sorry to see the name of a ,christian minister prefaced to such foul and futile productions as those1 of ,mr4 ,sellon's pen4 ,mr4 ,fletcher's pen is indeed more cleanly1 but every whit as unfair2 and him ,i object to because he is apt to exclaim against his opponents as enemies to ,christian peace1 even when he himself does what he can to stab their reputation to the heart4 ,he is very apt grievously to complain of ill-usage from others1 when1 at the same time1 like a madman1 he himself keeps flinging abroad firebrands1 arrows1 and death amongst those who differ from him4 ,mr4 ,olivers should be my man1 if in future he will guard against shocking common decency1 as he has done in his letter to ,mr4 ,toplady1 where he is pleased to call ,mr4 ,hervey's admirable letters to ,mr4 ,wesley scurrilous3 which indecency1 although borrowed indeed from ,mr4 ,walter ,sellon1 must needs have an influence fatal to ,master ,thomas ,olivers' credit as a writer4 ,as to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley himself1 ,i do not expect that he can spare so much time as to give a satisfactory answer to my querulous epistle1 as it will require his being more explicit than he has hitherto accustomed himself to be40 ,enough has been said to show the bitterness of feeling which had already sprung up against ,fletcher 7to say nothing of ,wesley1 ,sellon1 and ,olivers71 and that it was not surprising he was induced to defend himself against such infamous attacks as those of 8,simplex0 and his ,calvinian friends4 ,meanwhile1 ,shirley was passing through the press his 8,narrative of the ,principal ,circumstances relating to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley's late ,conference1 held in ,bristol ,august the #fth1 #agga0 7#h vo41 #bd pp47 ,fletcher refers to this in the following extract from an unpublished letter addressed to ,joseph ,benson1 and kindly lent by ,mr4 ,g4 ,j4 ,stevenson3-- 8,,madeley1 ,august #bd1 #agga4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,how much water may rush out of a little opening6 ,what are our dear lady's jealousies come to8 ,ah1 poor ,college6 ,they are without a master1 but not without a mistress4 ,their conduct and charges of heresy stirred me up to write in defence of the #8,minutes4' ,the pamphlet is gone abroad unseasonably in its present dress4 ,the toga would now suit it1 but it wears the chlamys4 ,by this means1 the voice of the arguments will be lost in the cry of treachery4 8,i received this morning a most kind letter from ,mr4 ,shirley1 whom ,i now pity much4 ,he will pass by me2 but ,i fear ,mr4 ,olivers will have some cutting lashes4 ,mr4 ,shirley is gone to ,wales1 probably to consult what to do in the present case4 ,what a world6 ,methinks ,i dream when ,i reflect that ,i have written on controversy2 the last subject ,i thought ,i should have meddled with4 ,i expect to be smartly taken in hand and soundly drubbed for it4 ,lord1 prepare me for it1 and for everything that may make me cease from man1 and above all from your unworthy friend1 8,j4 ,,fletcher4 8,p4,s4 ,my kindest love to ,mr4 ,mather4#bdh ,i hope you are happy in each other's company4 ,may you be both blessed1 as being one heart1 and one soul1 and colleagues in ,jesus60 ,footnote #bdh3 ,mr4 ,mather and ,mr4 ,benson were now stationed in ,wesley's ,london ,circuit4 ,instead of inflicting on ,thomas ,olivers what ,fletcher calls 8some cutting lashes10 ,shirley treated the sturdy ,welshman with forbearance2 and if he used severity at all1 not ,wesley's itinerant1 but the ,vicar of ,madeley was his victim4 ,fletcher immediately prepared a reply to ,shirley's 8,narrative20 and1 before the year was ended1 published it1 with the title1 8,a ,second ,check to ,antinomianism2 occasioned by a ,late ,narrative1 in ,three ,letters to the ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,author4 ,by the ,vindicator of the ,reverend ,mr4 ,wesley's ,minutes40 #abmo1 #abj pp4 ,this 8,second ,check10 like the former one1 was revised by ,wesley1#bdi and1 therefore1 was issued with his approval4 ,footnote #bdi3 ,see 8,the ,second ,part of the ,fifth ,check to ,antinomianism10 p4 #aa1 ,first ,edition4 ,fletcher's first letter to ,shirley begins as follows3-- 8,in my last private communication1 ,i observed1 ,rev4 ,sir1 that1 if your #8,narrative' was kind1 ,i would buy a number of copies1 and give them gratis to the purchasers of my book1 that they might see all you can possibly produce in your own defence1 and do you all the justice your proper behaviour at the ,conference deserves4 ,but1 as it appears to me there are some important mistakes in that performance1 ,i neither dare recommend it absolutely to my friends1 nor wish it1 in the religious world1 the full success you desire4 8,i do not complain of its severity2 on the contrary1 considering the sharpness of my fifth letter1 ,i gratefully acknowledge it is kinder than ,i had reason to expect4 ,but permit me to tell you1 ,sir1 ,i look for justice to the scriptural arguments ,i advance in defence of truth1 before ,i look for kindness to my insignificant person1 and could be much sooner satisfied with the former1 than with the latter alone4 ,as ,i do not admire the fashionable method of advancing general charges without supporting them by particular proofs1 ,i shall take the liberty of pointing out some mistakes in your #8,narrative1' and1 by that means1 endeavour to do justice to ,mr4 ,wesley's #8,declaration1' your own #8,sermons1' my #8,vindication1' and1 above all1 to the cause of practical religion40 ,fletcher then proceeds to quote numerous texts of ,scripture in support of the doctrine of a second justification by works1 and argues that it 8will rouse ,antinomians out of their carnal security1 stir up believers to follow hard after holiness1 and reconcile fatal differences among ,christians1 and seeming contradictions in the ,scripture40 ,in sundry passages he treats the ,antinomians with deserved severity2 but1 in a long foot-note1 observes3-- 8,i beg ,i may not be understood to level the following paragraphs1 or any part of these letters1 at my pious ,calvinist brethren4 ,god knows how deeply ,i reverence many1 who are immovably fixed in1 what some call1 the doctrines of grace2 how gladly 7as conscious of their genuine conversion and eminent usefulness7 ,i would lie in the dust at their feet to honour our ,lord in ,his dear members2 and how often ,i have thought it a peculiar infelicity to dissent from such excellent men1 with whom ,i wanted both to live and die1 and with whom ,i hope soon to reign for ever4 8,as these real children of ,god lament the bad use ,antinomians make of their principles1 ,i hope they will not be offended if ,i bear my testimony against a growing evil1 which they have frequently opposed themselves4 ,while the ,calvinists guard the foundation against ,pharisees1 they will1 ,i hope1 allow the ,remonstrants to guard the superstructure against ,antinomians4 ,if in doing these good offices to the ,church1 we find ourselves obliged to bear a little hard upon the peculiar sentiments of our opposite friends1 let us do it in such a manner as not to break the bonds of peace and brotherly kindness2 so shall our honest reproof become matter of useful exercise to that love which thinketh no evil1 hopeth all things1 rejoiceth even in the galling truth1 and is neither quenched by many waters1 nor damped by any opposition40 ,in his second letter1 ,fletcher protests against ,shirley recanting the doctrines contained in his published sermons1 and concludes as follows3-- 8,i assure you1 ,sir1 ,i do not love the warlike dress of the ,vindicator1 any more than ,david did the heavy armour of ,saul4 ,with gladness1 therefore1 ,i cast it aside to throw myself at your feet1 and protest to you1 that1 though ,i thought it my duty to write to you with the utmost plainness1 frankness1 and honesty1 the design of doing it with bitterness never entered my heart4 ,however1 for every #8bitter expression' that may have dropped from my sharp1 vindicating pen1 ,i ask you pardon2 but it must be in general1 for neither friends nor foes have yet particularly pointed out to me one such expression4 8,you condescend1 ,rev4 ,sir1 to call me your #8learned friend4' ,learning is an accomplishment ,i never pretended to2 but your friendship is an honour ,i shall always highly esteem1 and do at this time value above my own brother's love4 ,appearances are a little against me3 ,i feel ,i am a thorn in your flesh2 but ,i am persuaded it is a necessary one1 and this persuasion reconciles me to the thankless and disagreeable part ,i act4 ,i can assure you1 my dear ,sir1 ,i love and honour you1 as truly as ,i dislike the rashness of your well-meant zeal4 ,the motto ,i thought myself obliged to follow was1 #8,e bello pax2' but that which ,i delight in is1 #8,in bello pax4' ,may we make them harmonize till we learn war and polemic divinity no more6 8,if in the meantime we offend our weak brethren1 let us do something to lessen the offence till it is removed4 ,let us show them we make war without so much as shyness4 ,should you ever come to the next county1 as you did last summer1 honour me with a line1 and ,i shall gladly wait upon you1 and show you 7if you permit me7 the way to my pulpit1 where ,i shall think myself highly favoured to see you #8secure the foundation1' and hear you enforce the doctrine of justification by faith1 which you fear we attack4 ,and should ,i ever be within thirty miles of the city where you reside1 ,i shall go to submit myself to you1 and beg leave to assist you in reading prayers for you1 or giving the cup with you4 ,thus shall we convince the world how controversy may be conscientiously carried on without interruption of brotherly love2 and ,i shall have the peculiar pleasure of testifying to you in person how sincerely ,i am1 8,honoured and dear ,sir1 8,your submissive and obedient servant1 in the bond of a practical ,gospel1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40 ,the third letter1 to a large extent1 is historical1 and shows1 with terrific faithfulness1 that not a few of the so-called evangelical ministers and churches of a hundred years ago were far from what they should have been1 and that ,wesley's 8,minutes0 and ,fletcher's 8,checks0 were greatly needed4 ,fletcher writes3-- 8,for some years1 ,i have suspected there is more imaginary than unfeigned faith in most of those who pass for believers4 ,with a mixture of indignation and grief1 have ,i seen them carelessly follow the stream of corrupt nature1 against which they should have manfully wrestled4 ,when they should have exclaimed against their ,antinomianism1 ,i have heard them cry out against the legality of their wicked hearts2 which1 they said1 still suggested they were to do something in order to salvation4 ,glad was ,i1 therefore1 when ,i had attentively considered ,mr4 ,wesley's #8,minutes1' to find they were levelled at the very errors1 which gave rise to an evil ,i had long lamented in secret1 but had wanted courage to resist and attack40 8,do not imagine1 ,rev4 ,sir1 ,i cry up ,god's law1 to drown the late cries of heresy and apostacy4 ,i appeal to matter of fact and to your own observations4 ,consider the religious world1 and say if #8,antinomianism' is not1 in general1 a motto better adapted to the state of professing congregations1 societies1 families1 and individuals1 than #8,holiness unto the ,lord4' 8,begin with congregations1 and cast your eyes upon the hearers4 ,in general1 they have curious #8itching ears1' and #8will not endure sound doctrine4' ,they say they #8will have nothing but ,christ2' and who could blame them if they would have ,christ in all ,his offices8 ,christ1 with all ,his parables and sermons1 cautions and precepts1 reproofs and expostulations1 exhortations and threatenings8 ,who would find fault with them1 if they would have ,christ with ,his poverty and self-denial1 ,his reproach and cross1 ,his spirit and graces1 ,his prophets and apostles1 ,his plain apparel and mean followers8 ,but1 alas6 it is not so4 ,they will have what they please of ,christ1 and that too as they please4 ,they admire ,him in one chapter1 and know not what to make of ,him in another4 ,if ,he asserts ,his authority as a ,lawgiver1 they are ready to treat ,him with as little ceremony as they do ,moses4 ,if ,he says1 #8,keep my commandments1 ,i am a ,king2' like the ,jews of old1 they rise against the awful declaration2 or they crown ,him as a surety1 the better to #8set ,him at nought' as a monarch4 ,if ,he adds to ,his ministers1 #8,go1 and teach all nations to observe all things whatsoever ,i have commanded you2' they complain1 #8,this is the law2 give us the gospel1 we can relish nothing but the gospel4'0 8,hence it is that some preachers must choose comfortable subjects to please their hearers2 just as those1 who make an entertainment for nice persons1 are obliged to study what will suit their difficult taste4 ,a multitude of important ,scriptures can be produced1 on which no minister1 who is unwilling to lose his reputation as an evangelical preacher1 must dare to speak in some pulpits1 unless it is to explain away or enervate their meaning40 8,whence springs this almost general ,antinomianism of our congregations8 ,shall ,i conceal the sore because it festers in my own breast8 ,shall ,i be partial8 ,no6 ,in the name of ,him who is no respecter of persons1 ,i will confess my sin1 and that of many of my brethren4 ,though ,i am the least and the most unworthy of them all1 ,i will follow the dictates of my conscience1 and use the authority of a minister of ,christ4 8,is not the ,antinomianism of hearers fomented by that of preachers8 ,does it not become us to take the greatest part of the blame upon ourselves1 according to the old adage1 #8,like priest1 like people'8 ,is it surprising that some of us should have an ,antinomian audience8 ,do we not make or keep it so8 ,when did we preach such a practical sermon as that of our ,lord on the mount1 or write such close letters as the epistles of ,st4 ,john8 ,alas6 ,i doubt it is but seldom4 ,not living so near to ,god ourselves as we should1 we are afraid to come near the consciences of our people4 ,some prefer popularity to plain-dealing4 ,we love to see a crowd of worldly-minded hearers1 rather than a #8little flock1' #8a peculiar people1 zealous of good works4' ,luther's advice to ,melancthon1 #8,so preach that those who do not fall out of love with their sins1 may fall out with thee1' is more and more unfashionable4 ,under pretence of drawing our hearers by love1 some of us softly rock the cradle of carnal security in which they sleep4 ,the old ,puritans strongly insisted upon personal holiness1 and the first ,methodists upon the new birth2 but these doctrines seem to grow out of date4 ,the ,gospel is cast into another mould4 ,people1 it seems1 may now be #8in ,christ' without being #8new creatures1' or new creatures without casting #8old things' away4 ,they may be ,god's children without ,god's image2 and be #8born of the ,spirit' without #8the fruits of the ,spirit4' ,if our unregenerate hearers get orthodox ideas about the way of salvation in their heads1 evangelical phrases concerning ,jesus' love in their mouths1 and a warm zeal for our party and favourite forms in their hearts1 without any more ado1 we help them to rank themselves among the children of ,god4 ,but1 alas6 this self-adoption into the family of ,christ will no more pass in heaven1 than self-imputation of ,christ's righteousness40 8,how few of our celebrated pulpits are there where more has not been said1 at times1 for sin than against it6 ,with what an air of positiveness and assurance has that ,barabbas1 that murderer of ,christ and souls1 been pleaded for6 #8,it will humble us1 make us watchful1 stir up our diligence1 quicken our graces1 endear ,christ4' ,that is1 in plain ,english1 pride will beget humility1 sloth will spur us on to diligence1 rust will brighten our armour1 and unbelief1 the very soul of every sinful temper1 is to do the work of faith6 ,jesus1 who cleansed the lepers with a word or a touch1 cannot1 with all the force of ,his ,spirit1 and virtue of ,his blood1 expel the leprosy of sin2 it is too inveterate4 ,death1 that foul monster1 the offspring of sin1 shall have the important honour of killing his father4 ,this is confidently asserted by those who cry1 #8,nothing but ,christ6' ,they allow ,him to lop off the branches2 but ,death1 the great ,saviour ,death1 is to destroy the root of sin4 ,in the meantime1 the temple of ,god shall have agreement with idols1 and ,christ concord with ,belial3 the ,lamb of ,god shall lie down with the roaring ,lion in our heart40 8,to speak the melancholy truth1 how few individuals are free from practical ,antinomianism6 ,setting aside their attendance on the ministry of the ,word1 where is the material difference between several of our genteel believers and other people8 ,do not we see the sumptuous furniture in their apartments1 and fashionable elegance in their dress8 ,what sums of money do they frequently lay out in costly superfluities to adorn their persons1 houses1 and gardens6 ,in our fashionable churches and chapels1 you may find people professing to believe the ,bible1 who so conform to this present world as to wear gold1 pearls1 and precious stones1 when no distinction of office or state obliges them to it1 in direct opposition to the words of two ,apostles1 ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,paul4 ,multitudes of professors1 far from being convinced of their sin in this respect1 ridicule ,mr4 ,wesley for bearing his testimony against it4 ,the opposition he dares to make to that growing branch of vanity affords matter of pious mirth to a thousand ,antinomians4 ,isaiah could openly reprove the haughty daughters of ,zion1 who walked with stretched forth necks1 wanton eyes1 and tinkling feet3 he could expose the bravery of their fashionable ornaments1 their round tires like the moon1 their chains1 bracelets1 head-bands1 rings and ear-rings2 but some of our humble ,christian ladies will not bear a reproof from ,mr4 ,wesley on the head of dress4 ,they even laugh at him as a pitiful legalist1 and yet1 oh1 the inconsistency of the ,antinomian spirit6 they call ,isaiah the evangelical prophet6 8,finery is often attended with an expensive table1 at least with such delicacies as our purse can reach4 ,st4 ,paul kept his body under1 and was in fastings often2 and our ,lord gives us directions about the proper manner of fasting4 ,but the apostle did not know the easy way to heaven taught by ,dr4 ,crisp2 and our ,lord did not approve of it1 or ,he would have saved ,himself the trouble of ,his directions4 ,in general1 we look upon fasting much as we do upon penitential flagellation4 ,both equally raise our pity2 we leave them both to popish devotees4 ,some of our good old ,church people will yet fast on ,good ,friday3 but our fashionable believers begin to cast away that last scrap of self-denial4 ,their faith1 which should produce1 animate1 and regulate works of mortification1 goes a shorter way to work2 it explodes them all40 ,fletcher continues to write in the same strain1 through many succeeding pages2 but one more extract must suffice4 8,if these shall go into eternal punishment2 if such will be the end of all the impenitent ,nicolaitans2 if our churches and chapels swarm with them2 if they crowd our communion tables2 if they are found in most of our houses1 and too many of our pulpits2 if the seeds of their fatal disorder are in all our breasts2 if they produce ,antinomianism around us in all its forms2 if we see bold ,antinomians in principle1 bare-faced ,antinomians in practice1 and sly pharisaical ,antinomians1#bej who speak well of the law1 to break it with greater advantage1--should not every one examine himself whether he is in the faith1 and whether he has a holy ,christ in his heart1 as well as a sweet ,jesus upon his tongue2 lest he should one day swell the tribe of ,antinomian reprobates8 ,does it not become every minister of ,christ to drop his prejudices1 and consider whether he ought not to imitate the old watchman1 who1 fifteen months ago1 gave a legal alarm to all the watchmen that are in connexion with him8 ,and should we not do the ,church excellent service1 if1 agreeing to lift up our voices against the common enemy1 we gave ,god no rest in prayer1 and our hearers in preaching1 till we all did our first works1 and our latter end1 like ,job's1 exceeded our beginning8 8,near forty years ago1 some of the ministers of ,christ1 in our ,church1 were called out of the extreme of self-righteousness4 ,flying from it1 we have run into the opposite1 with equal violence4 ,now that we have learned wisdom by what we have suffered in going beyond the limits of truth both ways1 let us return to a just scriptural medium4 ,let us equally maintain the two evangelical axioms on which the ,gospel is founded3 #a4 #8,all our salvation is of ,god1 by free grace1 through the alone merits of ,christ4' ,and1 #b4 #8,all our damnation is of ourselves1 through our avoidable unfaithfulness4'0 ,footnote #bej3 ,it may be well to say1 once for all1 that all these quotations1 with their differences of type1 are taken from the first editions of ,fletcher's publications4 ,the differences are not preserved in recent editions4 ,fletcher's pictures are dark3 ,i incline to think a little too dark1 though ,i cannot prove they are4 ,at all events1 were existing facts such as he states them to have been1 it was high time to sound an alarm in ,zion4 ,in a postscript to his 8,three ,letters10 ,fletcher refers to a pamphlet published by ,richard ,hill1 ,esq41 respecting a conversation which he and others had held with a monk in ,paris4#bea ,having quoted ,mr4 ,hill's remark1 that1 according to the monk1 8,popery is about the mid-way between ,protestantism and ,mr4 ,j4 ,wesley10 ,fletcher proceeds to say3-- 8,we desire to be confronted with all the pious ,protestant divines4 ,but1 who would believe it8 the suffrage of a papist is brought against us6 ,astonishing6 that our opposers should think it worth their while to raise one recruit against us in the immense city of ,paris1 where fifty thousand might be raised against the ,bible itself6 8,so long as ,christ1 the prophets1 and apostles are for us1 together with the multitude of the ,puritan divines of the last century1 we shall smile at an army of ,popish friars4 ,the knotted whips1 that hang by their side1 will no more frighten us from our ,bibles1 than the ipse dixit of a ,benedictine monk will make us explode1 as heretical1 propositions which are demonstrated to be scriptural4 8,i hope the gentlemen concerned in the #8,conversation1' lately published1 will excuse the liberty of this postscript4 ,i reverence their piety1 rejoice in their labours1 and honour their warm zeal for the ,protestant cause2 but that very zeal1 if not accompanied with a close attention to every part of the ,gospel truth1 may betray them into mistakes1 which may spread as far as their respectable names4 ,i think it therefore my duty to publish these strictures1 lest any of my readers should pay more regard to the good-natured friar1 who has been pressed into the service of ,dr4 ,crisp1 than to ,st4 ,john1 ,st4 ,paul1 ,st4 ,james1 and ,jesus ,christ1 on whose plain declarations ,i have shown that the #8,minutes'0 7of ,mr4 ,wesley7 8are founded40 ,footnote #bea3 ,its title was 8,a ,conversation between ,richard ,hill1 ,esq41 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,madan1 and ,father ,walsh1 ,superior of a ,convent of ,benedictine ,monks at ,paris1 held at the same ,convent1 ,july #ac1 #agga1 in the presence of ,thomas ,powis1 ,esq41 and others1 relative to some ,doctrinal ,minutes advanced by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley and others1 at a ,conference held in ,london1 ,august #g1 #aggj4 ,to which are added some ,remarks by the ,editor40 ,fletcher's name is not mentioned in the pamphlet2 but because he chose to refer to it in his 8,second ,check to ,antinomianism10 it is here introduced to the reader's notice4 ,hereafter1 in order to avoid1 as far as possible1 a repetition of the history of the ,calvinian controversy1 as published in the 8,life and ,times of ,wesley10 no publications on the subject will be discussed1 except those in which ,fletcher was attacked1 or which he answered4--,l4 ,t4 ,so ends all that need be said here concerning ,fletcher's 8,second ,check to ,antinomianism40 ,to appreciate its style1 its temper1 and its arguments1 the reader must peruse it for himself2 and1 by doing so1 his mind will be enriched1 and his soul profited4 ,an extract from one of ,fletcher's letters may fitly close this section of his biography4 ,the letter was addressed to the ,rev4 ,joseph ,benson1 and was dated 8,december #e1 #agga40 8,there is undoubtedly such a thing as the full assurance of faith4 ,be not discouraged on account of thousands1 who stop short of it4 ,it is our own fault if we do not attain it4 ,god would give us ample satisfaction if we did but deeply feel our wants4 ,both you and ,i want a deeper awakening1 which will produce a death to outward things and speculative knowledge4 ,let us shut our eyes to the gilded clouds without us3 let us draw inward1 and search after ,god1 if haply we may find ,him4 ,let us hold fast our confidence1 though we are often constrained against hope1 to believe in hope4 ,but let us not rest in our confidence1 as thousands do2 let it help us to struggle and wait1 till ,he come4 ,let us habituate ourselves to live inwardly4 ,this will solemnize us1 and prevent our trifling with the things of ,god4 ,we may be thankful for what we have without resting in it4 ,we may strive1 and yet not trust in our striving2 but expect all from ,divine grace40#beb ,footnote #beb3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,in such a frame of mind and heart ,fletcher carried on his polemic warfare4 ,,chapter ,x4 8,,third ,,check ,,to ,,antinomianism40 #aggb4 ,,when ,fletcher finished his 8,second ,check to ,antinomianism10 in 8,three ,letters0 to ,walter ,shirley1 he began a 8,vindication of the ,doctrine of ,christian ,perfection40 ,this1 however1 for a time1 was laid aside2 but was afterwards completed1 and embodied in his 8,last ,check to ,antinomianism40 ,the reason for this postponement was a somewhat sudden determination to write upon the ,unitarian ,controversy1 which was now as prominent as the ,calvinian one4 ,a brief biographical episode will explain the matter more fully4 ,edward ,elwall was born at ,sedgley1 in ,staffordshire4 ,he settled in business at ,wolverhampton1 where he acquired the reputation of great integrity in his dealings4 ,he had not enjoyed the advantages of a learned education1 but he possessed a serious and inquisitive turn of mind1 and had good natural abilities4 ,one of his first publications was intended to prove that the fourth commandment1 appointing the seventh day of the week to be observed as the ,sabbath1 was binding on all generations4 ,as long as he continued in business1 he constantly shut up his shop on that day1 and as regularly opened it on the succeeding one4 ,for this he was called a ,jew4 ,about the year #agad1 he became distinguished as an ,unitarian1 and published1 8,a true ,testimony for ,god and ,his sacred ,law1 being a ,defence of the first ,commandment of ,god1 against all ,trinitarians under ,heaven40 ,this drew on him the resentment of the neighbouring clergy1 who procured an indictment against him for heresy and blasphemy1 on which he was tried at ,stafford ,assizes4 ,he pleaded his own cause1 and was acquitted4 ,after this1 he removed to ,london1 and became a member of the ,seventh-day ,baptist ,church at ,mill-yard1 ,goodman's ,fields4 ,towards the end of life1 he attended the meetings of the ,quakers1 and was sometimes permitted to speak at them4 ,he died in ,london1 at an advanced age1 about the year #agde4 ,elwall's work 8against all ,trinitarians under ,heaven0 had recently been re-published1 and ,fletcher was requested to answer it4 ,hence the following1 hitherto unpublished1 letter1 addressed to 8the ,rev4 ,walter ,sellon1 at ,ledsham1 near ,ferry-,bridge1 ,yorkshire40 8,,madeley1 ,january #g1 #aggb4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,i thank you for yours4 ,i hope ,glazebrook#bec will be more moderate1 on account of some rubs which his new ,calvinistic zeal has procured him4 8,my reason for troubling you soon with an answer is to make a request4 ,i have laid by my ,third ----#bed1 which is a vindication of the doctrine of ,christian perfection4 ,a pamphlet 7the third edition7 has lately been published at ,birmingham1 and meets with great success4 ,the author is ,e4 ,elwall1 a ,socinian ,quaker1 who was tried for blasphemy at ,stafford1 and came off with flying colours1 after fully denying the ,godhead of ,christ1 and ,his atonement4 8,some serious people have desired me to answer the book4 ,as ,i suppose your ,dr4 ,preese#bee0 7sic7 8is one of his stamp1 ,i want to see by your candle as well as my own4 ,could you send me1 by the post1 what you have published against him8 ,by cutting the margin close1 you might bring it to a tolerable size for a packet2 and ,i should not grudge paying the postage4 ,if you cannot do this1 send me1 at least1 your best answer to the objection taken from ,john xvii4 #c1 and to the words #8only ,god1' which seem to exclude ,jesus ,christ4 8,we must fight the ,antinomians while the ,calvinists put weapons into their hands against the truth4 ,mr4 ,hill has taken ,mr4 ,wesley in hand very roughly4 ,i have been with him4 ,his answer to my #8,vindication' is expected every day1 and is out1 ,i suppose1 in ,london4 ,god give us wisdom6 ,set your razor against ,mason1 for what we mean as keenness 7which is allowable7 is directly construed as bitterness4 8,when you send the packet1 put upon the direction1 #8,not by ,london1 but by ,post ,bag1 ,manchester and ,salop1' or else they will make me pay double4 8,i preach much1 and see little fruit4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is not given among us4 ,these are hard times4 ,god help us to more gospel and life1 but not my lady's gospel6 8,i am yours in a hurry1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40 ,footnote #bec3 ,the poor collier whom ,fletcher so greatly befriended at ,madeley1 and who was one of the first students at ,trevecca1 in #agfh4 ,footnote #bed3 ,the words are illegible1 but1 no doubt1 his 8,third ,check to ,antinomianism0 is meant4 ,footnote #bee3 ,probably meant for the celebrated ,dr4 ,price1 of whom more will have to be said anon4 ,not to mention other matters referred to in this letter1 there can be no doubt that ,fletcher now began to write his ,anti-,socinian ,treatises2 but1 as will be seen hereafter1 he never finished them4 ,other things1 even more pressing1 claimed his attention1 and he was obliged to postpone his attack on the citadel of religious infidelity4 8,i long to be out of controversy10 said ,fletcher to ,joseph ,benson1 in a letter dated ,february #aggb1bef and yet he continued it4 ,he could not help himself4 ,to say nothing of the duty he owed to ,christ and ,gospel truth1 it was impossible1 at present1 to retire from the field of conflict without exposing himself to the taunt of recreant timidity4 ,besides1 though his opponents had been vanquished1 they would1 in that case1 have appeared victorious4 ,no doubt1 also1 he was encouraged to proceed by his bespattered but beloved friend ,wesley4 ,in a letter to ,lady ,maxwell1 ,wesley wrote3-- 8,,london1 ,february #h1 #aggb4 8,,my ,,dear ,,lady1--,i commend you for meddling with points of controversy as little as possible4 ,it is abundantly easier to lose our love in that rough field1 than to find truth4 ,this consideration has made me exceedingly thankful to ,god for giving me a respite from polemical labours4 ,i am glad ,he has given to others both the power and the will to answer them that trouble me2 so that ,i may not always be forced to hold my weapons in one hand1 while ,i am building with the other4 ,i rejoice1 likewise1 not only in the abilities1 but in the temper1 of ,mr4 ,fletcher4 ,he writes as he lives4 ,i cannot say that ,i know such another clergyman in ,england or ,ireland4 ,he is all fire1 but it is the fire of love4 ,his writings1 like his constant conversation1 breathe nothing else1 to those who read him with an impartial eye4 ,and1 although ,mr4 ,shirley scruples not to charge him with using subtilty and metaphysical distinctions1 yet he abundantly clears himself of this charge1 in the #8,second ,check to ,antinomianism4' ,such the last letters are styled1 and with great propriety2 for such they have really been4 ,they have given a considerable check to those who were everywhere making void the law through faith2 setting #8the righteousness of ,christ' in opposition to the law of ,christ1 and teaching that without holiness any man may see the ,lord40#beg ,footnote #bef3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,footnote #beg3 ,wesley's ,works1 vol4 xii41 p4 #cbf4 ,all1 however1 were not of ,wesley's opinion4 ,in ,ireland1 ,walter ,shirley was a great favourite among the ,methodists1 for there he had preached with much success4 ,fletcher's first and second 8,checks0 were addressed to ,shirley2 and the ,irish ,methodists1 who1 as yet1 had neither heard nor seen their author1 were divided in their sentiments respecting them4 ,the ,dublin ,society wrote two letters to him1 in answer to which he sent them the following3-- 8,to the ,methodist ,society at ,dublin4 8,,madeley1 ,march1 #aggb4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brethren1--,mercy and love be multiplied unto you1 from ,him who was and is to come1 the ,almighty6 8,i should have acknowledged before now the favour of the two letters with which you honoured me1 if ,i had not conveyed my thanks to you immediately by means of brother ,morgan4#beh ,but thanks at second-hand do not satisfy my gratitude2 permit me1 therefore1 to present them1 if not in person1 at least by some grateful lines personally written4 8,i am much obliged to those of you who approve my little attempt to vindicate practical religion and the character of an eminent servant of ,christ1 who ministered unto you in holy things1 and whom some of our mistaken friends in ,england exposed as the author of dreadful heresy4 ,the thanks which some of you unexpectedly bestowed upon me on that occasion1 ,i have laid at the feet of ,jesus1 to whom all praise belongs1 who is the author of every good gift1 and from whom comes all the help done upon the earth4 8,when ,i took up my pen1 ,i aimed at discharging my duty towards ,god and ,his misapprehended truth2 towards my honoured father in ,christ1 ,mr4 ,wesley1 and his misunderstood #8,minutes'2 and though all the world should have blamed me1 they would never have robbed me of the satisfaction of having at least attempted to clear my conscience4 8,the manner in which part of you have refused me their thanks1 is too civil and brotherly not to deserve mine4 ,i wish many of our ,english brethren had been as moderate as you in their disapprobation of my letters to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,shirley4 ,you will see in a #8,second ,check to ,antinomianism' some things that may reconcile you to the first2 and ,i have just sent to the press a #8,third ,check1' to what appears to me the favourite delusion of the ,church2 which ,i trust will cast more light on the delicate subject about which we divide4 8,if we cannot see things in the same light1 ,i hope we never shall1 ,i beg we never may1 disagree in love4 8,i am glad you agreed to disagree about the giving or refusing me your undeserved thanks4 ,let every little rub of opposition heighten our love2 every little clashing of sentiment make the heavenly spark show itself1 and kindle our souls into that charity which hopeth all things1 endureth all things1 thinketh no evil1 and is not provoked4 8,if ,i have been obliged to bear a little hardly upon my dear honoured brother1 ,mr4 ,shirley1 ,i beg that nothing ,i have written to him on account of his precipitancy1 rashness1 or hurry1 may prevent you from looking upon him with the love and respect due to a minister of ,christ4 ,recommending him and myself to your prayers1 and taking the liberty to recommend to you mutual forbearance1 a daily increase of brotherly love1 and a continual growth in the genuine liberty of the ,gospel1 ,i remain1 my dear brethren1 your obliged1 affectionate1 and obedient brother and servant1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#bei ,footnote #beh3 ,one of ,wesley's itinerant preachers1 well-read and popular1 but now enervated1 and settled in ,dublin4 ,footnote #bei3 8,thirteen ,original ,letters written by the ,rev4 ,j4 ,fletcher40 ,bath1 #agia1 p4 #bb4 ,it has been already stated that at the commencement of the year #aggb1 ,fletcher was writing his 8,vindication of the ,doctrine of ,christian ,perfection20 and that this was laid aside for the purpose of writing against ,socinianism4 ,very soon1 however1 he had to devote his attention to another subject4 ,in the foregoing letter1 dated 8,march1 #aggb10 he tells the ,methodist ,society at ,dublin that he had sent his 8,third ,check to ,antinomianism0 to the press2 and this is confirmed by the following extract from a letter by ,wesley to his brother ,charles3-- 8,,birmingham1 ,march #ag1 #aggb4 8,i am to-day to meet ,mr4 ,fletcher at ,billbrook4 ,part of the #8,third ,check' is printing2 the rest ,i have ready4 ,in this he draws the sword and throws away the scabbard4 ,yet1 ,i doubt not1 they will forgive him all1 if he will but promise to write no more40#bfj ,footnote #bfj3 ,wesley's ,works1 vol4 xii41 p4 #abh4 ,fletcher's parochial duties were heavy1 and yet he seems to have written his 8,third ,check to ,antinomianism0 in about a month4 ,it must have been a strain to accomplish this4 ,the work is no flimsy production1 but is full of ,scriptural arguments1 which could not be framed1 arranged1 and adequately expressed without a vast amount of labour2 and the book itself was of no mean size1 consisting1 as it did1 of one hundred and fourteen small typed and closely printed pages4 ,the following was its title3 8,a ,third ,check to ,antinomianism2 in a ,letter to the ,author of 8,pietas ,oxoniensis30 ,by the ,vindicator of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley's ,minutes4 #8,reprove1 rebuke1 exhort1 with all long-suffering and ,scriptural doctrine2 for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine1' #b ,tim4 iv4 #b1 #c4 #8,wherefore rebuke them sharply1 that they may be sound in the faith2 but let brotherly love continue1' ,tit4 i4 #ac1 ,heb4 xiii4 #a4 ,bristol3 ,printed by ,w4 ,pine in ,wine ,street1 #aggb40 ,why was it written and published8 ,fletcher had replied to the 8,circular ,letter0 and the 8,narrative0 of ,shirley1 and in doing so had vindicated ,wesley's 8,minutes40 ,shirley was now silent1 but other antagonists started up4 ,a small #hvo4 pamphlet was published1 with the title 8,a ,letter to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,fletcher1 of ,madeley1 on the ,differences subsisting between him and the ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,mr4 ,shirley40 ,the author subscribed himself 8,an enemy to no man1 but a friend to religion20 and his letter was dated 8,bath1 ,february #c1 #aggb40 ,this religious gentleman alleged that1 under the existing circumstances1 the publication of ,fletcher's answer to ,shirley's 8,circular ,letter0 8was highly censurable1 yea1 criminal40 ,he accused ,fletcher of 8wantonly scattering firebrands1 arrows1 and death20 his defence of ,wesley's 8,minutes0 was 8flimsy20 and he was actuated by 8personal envy or enmity more than by a love to ,christ and a godly zeal to promote truth40 ,fletcher1 properly enough1 declined to notice the virulent and frothy pamphlet of this ,bath religionist2 but another publication1 issued about the same time1 demanded his attention4 ,its author was his friend and neighbour1 ,richard ,hill1 ,esq41 and its title as follows3 8,five ,letters to the ,reverend ,mr4 ,f----r1 relative to his ,vindication of the ,minutes of the ,reverend ,mr4 ,john ,wesley4 ,intended chiefly for the comfort of mourning backsliders1 and such as may have been distressed and perplexed by reading ,mr4 ,wesley's ,minutes1 or the ,vindication of them4 ,by a ,friend4 ,london3 #aggb40 #hvo41 #dj pp4#bfa ,footnote #bfa3 ,a second edition1 8revised and much enlarged10 was published about the same time as ,fletcher's 8,third ,check40 ,the first edition consisted of forty pages1 the second of fifty-two4 ,there is nothing of importance1 however1 in the second issue which is not in the first1 except a few acrid references to ,wesley4 ,the following may be taken as a specimen3 8,i shall make no remarks upon the poor1 loose1 flimsy manner in which the #8,minutes' are worded2 but ,i cannot help observing that it seems almost impossible for ,mr4 ,wesley to write a page without contradicting himself0 7p4 #ej74 ,mr4 ,hill's first letter is dated 8,december #b1 #agga40bfb ,his pamphlet is remarkable for two things--only two3--,first1 the highest ,christian urbanity towards ,fletcher2 and secondly1 the writer's curious theology4 ,a few extracts from ,mr4 ,hill's letters will suffice to show that ,fletcher's task of answering his courteous opponent was not a difficult undertaking4 ,footnote #bfb3 ,in the second edition it is dated 8,feb41 #aggb40 8,god alone knows the sorrow of heart wherewith ,i address you2 and how much the fear of casting stumbling-blocks before some who are really sincere1 and the apprehensions of giving malicious joy to others who desire no greater satisfaction than to see the children of the ,prince of ,peace divided among themselves1 had well-nigh prevailed upon me to pour out my soul in silence instead of publicly taking up the pen against you4 ,but when ,i perceived the solicitude with which ,mr4 ,wesley's preachers recommended your letters to ,mr4 ,shirley in their respective congregations1 and1 above all1 how many of ,god's people had been perplexed and distressed by reading them1--,i say1 when ,i perceived this to be the case1 and had prayed to the ,giver of all wisdom for direction1 ,i could not but esteem it my indispensable duty to send out a few observations on your book1 especially as no other person1 that ,i know of1 had made any reply to the doctrinal parts of it from the time of its publication4 ,with regard to the #8,circular ,letter1' ,i shall studiously avoid the very mention of it2 as whether the sending of it were in itself a wrong step or a right one1 is of no consequence in the matter of salvation4 ,neither shall ,i follow you page by page1 but taking the ',minutes' in the order they stand1 shall dwell upon them1 more or less1 as appears necessary40 ,the plan here propounded is carried out1 but want of space renders it impossible to give an outline of ,mr4 ,hill's theology4 ,the following quotations must be taken as specimens of others which might be given3-- 8,your argument is this2 that1 #8believing is previous to justification4' ,but1 dear ,sir1 this is begging the question2 and1 permit me to say1 that ,i deny the assertion4 ,waving all disputes concerning eternal justification1 or justification in the mind and purpose of ,god1 ,i maintain1 that1 believing cannot possibly be previous to justification2 and you must yourself maintain the same1 unless you will adopt the phrase of an unjustified believer2 whereas the ,holy ,ghost teaches that all who believe are justified4 ,we may as well suppose that a man eats before he takes any food1 and that he sees before he receives the light of the sun1 as that he believes before he is justified3 for believing1 and feeding upon ,christ1 are not more inseparably connected than eating and taking bodily food1 or than seeing and receiving light are inseparably connected4 ,yea1 true faith can no more subsist without its object ,christ1 than there can be a marriage without a husband4 ,from hence1 ,i conclude1 that the doctrine of believing before justification1 and thereby making the grace of faith a conditional work1 is not less contrary to reason than it is to ,scripture itself40 8,i most sincerely abhor the ,minute1 #8that we are every hour and every moment pleasing or displeasing to ,god1 according to our works2 according to the whole of our inward tempers1 and our outward behaviour2' and1 yet1 ,i equally abhor the assertion1 #8that ,david did not displease ,god more when he committed adultery with ,bathsheba1 and imbrued his hands in her husband's blood1 than when he danced before the ark4' ,i know1 from ,scripture authority1 that when ,david committed the sin you allude to1 the thing which he had done displeased the ,lord4 ,but1 though ,i believe that ,david's sin displeased the ,lord1 must ,i therefore believe that ,david's person came under the curse of the law8 and that1 because he was ungrateful1 ,god1 whose gifts and callings are without repentance1 was unfaithful8 ,surely no4 ,david was still a son1 though a perverse one4 ,like backsliding ,ephraim1 he was still a pleasant child1 though he went on frowardly40 8,either ,christ has fulfilled the whole law1 and borne the curse1 or ,he has not4 ,if ,he has not1 no soul can ever be saved2 if ,he has1 then all debts and claims against ,his people1 be they more or be they less1 be they small or be they great1 be they before or be they after conversion1 are for ever and for ever cancelled4 ,all trespasses are forgiven them4 ,they are justified from all things4 ,they already have everlasting life4 ,they are now 7virtually7 sat down in heavenly places with ,christ their ,forerunner2 and as soon shall ,satan pluck ,his crown from ,his head1 as ,his purchase from ,his hand40 ,such were some of the absurd and pernicious doctrines propounded by ,mr4 ,hill1 and which ,fletcher felt it his duty to refute4 ,towards ,wesley1 there is1 in ,mr4 ,hill's pamphlet1 an occasional stroke of bitterness1 as1 for instance1 where he asserts that 8there is a much nearer resemblance between the doctrines of ,mr4 ,john ,wesley and mother ,church01 7,popery7 8than the popish ,superior chose to acknowledge20#bfc but towards ,fletcher1 ,mr4 ,hill1 throughout1 displays the most respectful kindness1 and concludes his fifth and last letter thus3-- 8,and now1 dear ,sir1 ,i cannot conclude these letters without expressing my earnest desire that the contents of them may never cause any decrease of love and ,christian fellowship between us4 ,pardon then1 my dear ,sir1 ,i ardently beseech you1 ,o pardon all that you have found amiss in the unworthy author of these epistles2 and much1 ,i am sure1 your charity will have to overlook4 ,if we cannot see things alike now1 ,i hope the time is not far off when we shall be thoroughly united in sentiment1 as well as in heart1 and each of us1 casting our crowns before the throne1 shall join our voices in that one harmonious song of praise1 with which the regions of bliss shall echo without intermission1 and without end1 #8,worthy is the ,lamb that was slain to receive power1 and riches1 and wisdom1 and strength1 and honour1 and glory1 and blessing4' #8,blessing1 and honour1 and glory1 and power1 be unto ,him that sitteth upon the throne1 and unto the ,lamb1 for ever and ever4' 8,in the meanwhile1 let me acknowledge before the world that there is not a man living to whom ,i am more indebted for repeated instances of affection1 and labours of love1 than ,i am to dear ,mr4 ,fletcher2 and1 therefore1 notwithstanding all differences of judgment between us1 ,i trust he will always give me leave to subscribe myself his most affectionate friend and brother1 in the bonds of the ,gospel of peace1 8,the ,author of ,pietas ,oxoniensis40 ,footnote #bfc3 ,the reference here is to ,father ,walsh1 the ,benedictine monk at ,paris2 and1 it may be added1 that1 in a foot-note1 ,mr4 ,hill acknowledges himself to have been the author of the 8,conversation0 with that gentleman1 recently published4 ,this was worthy of ,mr4 ,hill1 who1 eleven years afterwards1 succeeded to the title and estates of his father1 and became ,sir ,richard ,hill1 ,bart4 ,though ,mr4 ,hill's first letter to ,fletcher was dated as recently as ,december #b1 #agga1 the whole five were published1 and ,fletcher's answer to them committed to the press as early as the month of ,march1#bfd #aggb4 ,fletcher begins his 8,third ,check to ,antinomianism0 as follows3-- 8,,honoured ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,accept my sincere thanks for the ,christian courtesy with which you treat me in your five letters4 8,some of our friends will undoubtedly blame us for not yet dropping the contest2 but others will candidly consider that controversy1 though not desirable in itself1 yet properly managed1 has1 a hundred times1 rescued truth1 groaning under the lash of triumphant error4 ,we are indebted to our ,lord's controversies with the ,pharisees and ,scribes for a considerable part of the four ,gospels2 and1 to the end of the world1 the ,church will bless ,god for the spirited manner in which ,st4 ,paul1 in his ,epistles to the ,romans and ,galatians1 defended the controverted point of a believer's present justification by faith2 as well as for the steadiness with which ,st4 ,james1 ,st4 ,john1 ,st4 ,peter1 and ,st4 ,jude carried on their important controversy with the ,nicolaitans1 who abased ,st4 ,paul's doctrine to ,antinomian purposes4 8,had it not been for controversy1 ,romish priests would1 to this day1 feed us with ,latin masses and a wafer-god4 ,some bold propositions1 advanced by ,luther against the doctrine of indulgences1 unexpectedly brought on the ,reformation4 ,they were so irrationally attacked by the infatuated papists1 and so scripturally defended by the resolute ,protestants1 that these kingdoms opened their eyes1 and saw thousands of images and errors fall before the ark of evangelical truth4 8,from what ,i have advanced in my ,second ,check1 it appears1 if ,i am not mistaken1 that we stand now as much in need of a reformation from ,antinomianism1 as our ancestors did of a reformation from ,popery2 and ,i am not without hope that the extraordinary attack which has been made upon ,mr4 ,wesley's anti-,crispian propositions1 and the manner in which they are defended1 will open the eyes of many1 and check the rapid progress of so enchanting and pernicious an evil4 ,this hope inspires me with fresh courage2 and1 turning from the ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,mr4 ,shirley1 ,i presume to face 7,i trust in the spirit of love and meekness7 my new respectable opponent40 ,footnote #bfd3 ,the date1 at the end of the ,third ,check1 is 8,madeley1 ,february #c1 #aggb40 ,fletcher's first purpose1 in this important controversy1 was to attack ,antinomianism2 now he was obliged to attack ,calvinism1 which1 though the parent of ,antinomianism1 did not in the present instance approve of it4 ,it is needless to recapitulate ,fletcher's arguments in favour of the two doctrines1 that all mankind are redeemed by the infinite sacrifice of the incarnate ,son of ,god1 and that1 through the same sacrifice1 8the manifestation of the ,spirit is given to every man to profit withal0 7#a ,cor4 xii4 #g74 ,a few brief extracts1 however1 will help to illustrate his spirit1 and his style of writing4 8,the grace of ,god is as the wind1 which bloweth where it listeth2 and it listeth to blow1 with more or less force successively1 all over the earth4 ,you can as soon meet with a man that never felt the wind1 or heard the sound thereof1 as with one that never felt the ,divine breathings1 or heard the still small voice1 which we call the grace of ,god4 ,to suppose the ,lord gives us a thousand tokens of ,his eternal power and ,godhead1 without giving us a capacity to consider1 and grace to improve them1 is not less absurd than to imagine that when ,he bestowed upon ,adam all the trees of paradise for food1 ,he gave him no eyes to see1 no hands to gather1 and no mouth to eat their delicious fruits40 8,waiving the case of infants1 idiots1 and those who have sinned the sin unto death1 was there ever a sinner under no obligation to repent and to believe in a merciful ,god8 ,oh1 ye opposers of free grace1 search the universe with ,calvin's candle1 and among your reprobated millions1 find out the person who never had a merciful ,god2 and show us the unfortunate creature1 whom a sovereign ,god bound over to absolute despair of ,his mercy from the womb4 ,if there is no such person in the world2 if all men are bound to repent and to believe in a merciful ,god1 there is an end of ,calvinism4 ,an unprejudiced man can require no stronger proof that all are redeemed from the curse of the ,adamic law1 which admitted of no repentance2 and that the covenant of grace1 which admits of1 and makes provision for it1 freely extends to all mankind4 8,out of ,christ's fulness all have received grace1 a little leaven of saving power1 an inward monitor1 a divine reprover1 a ray of true heavenly light1 which manifests first moral1 and then spiritual good and evil4 ,st4 ,john bears witness of that light1 and declares it was the spiritual life of man1 the true light which enlighteneth not only every man that comes into the ,church1 but every man that comes into the world--without excepting those who are yet in darkness4 ,for the light shineth in darkness1 even when the darkness comprehends it not4 ,the ,baptist also bore witness of that light1 that all men through it1 not through him1 might believe2 1 light1 being the last antecedent1 and agreeing perfectly with ' 40 ,the reader has already seen ,mr4 ,hill's strange and pernicious doctrine respecting eternal justification4 ,fletcher treats this ,calvinistic dream with terrible though polite severity4 ,without attempting to condense his arguments1 the following extract will serve to show his perfect victory over his respected opponent3-- 8,you go on1 #8,if ,christ fulfilled the whole law and bore the curse1 then all debts and claims against ,his people1 be they more or be they less1 be they small or be they great1 be they before or be they after conversion1 are for ever and for ever cancelled4' 8,your doctrine drags after it all the absurdities of eternal1 absolute justification4 ,it sets aside the use of repentance and faith1 in order to pardon and acceptance4 ,it represents the sins of the elect as forgiven not only before they are confessed1 but even before they are committed4 ,it supposes that all the penitents who have believed that they were once children of wrath1 and that ,god was displeased at them when they lived in sin1 have believed a lie4 ,it makes the preaching of the ,gospel one of the most absurd1 wicked1 and barbarous things in the world4 ,for what can be more absurd than to say1 #8,repent ye1 and believe the ,gospel2' #8,he that believeth not shall be damned2' if a certain number can never repent or believe1 and a certain number can never be damned80 ,in concluding his ,treatise1 ,fletcher remarks3-- 8,if ,i have addressed my ,three ,checks to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,shirley and yourself0 7,mr4 ,richard ,hill71 8,god is my witness it was not to reflect upon two of the most eminent characters in the circle of my religious acquaintance4 ,forcible circumstances have over-ruled my inclinations4 ,decipimur specie recti4 ,thinking to attack error1 you have attacked the very truth which ,providence calls me to defend3 and the attack appears to me so much the more dangerous as your laborious zeal and eminent piety are more worthy of public regard1 than the boisterous rant and loose insinuations of twenty practical ,antinomians4 ,the tempter is not so great a novice in anti-,christian politics as to engage only such to plead for doctrinal ,antinomianism4 ,this would soon spoil the trade4 ,it is his masterpiece of wisdom to get good men to do him that eminent service4 ,he knows that their good lives will make way for their bad principles4 ,nor does he ever deceive with more decency and success than under the respectable cloak of their genuine piety4 8,if a wicked man pleads for sin1 foenun habet in cornu1 he carries the mark on his forehead2 we stand upon our guard4 ,but when a good man gives us to understand that there are no lengths ,god's people may not run1 nor any depths they may not fall into1 without losing the character of men after ,god's own heart1 that many will praise ,god for our denial of ,christ1 that sin and corruption work for good1 that a fall into adultery will drive us nearer to ,christ1 and make us sing louder to the praise of free grace2 when he quotes ,scripture too1 in order to support these assertions1 calling them the pure ,gospel1 and representing the opposite doctrine as the ,pelagian heresy1 worse than popery itself1--he casts the ,antinomian net on the right side of the ship1 and is likely to enclose a great multitude of unwary men2 especially if some of the best hands in the kingdom drive the frighted shoal into the net1 and help to drag it to shore4 8,this is1 honoured ,sir1 what you have done1 not designedly1 but thinking to do ,god service4 ,hence the steadiness with which ,i have looked in the face a man of ,god1 whose feet ,i should be glad to wash at any time1 under a lively sense of my great inferiority4 ,i beg you not to consider the unceremonious plainness of a ,swiss mountaineer as the sarcastic insolence of an incorrigible ,arminian4 8,by a mistake1 fashionable among religious people1 you have unhappily paid more regard to ,dr4 ,crisp than to ,st4 ,james4 ,and1 as you have pleaded the dangerous cause of the impenitent monarch1 ,i have addressed you with the honest boldness of the expostulating prophet4 ,i have said to my honoured opponent1 #8,thou art the man6' 8,i owe much respect to you1 but more to truth1 to conscience1 and to ,god4 ,if1 in trying to discharge my duty towards them1 ,i have inadvertently betrayed any want of respect to you1 ,i humbly ask your pardon2 and ,i can assure you1 in the face of the whole world1 that notwithstanding your strong attachment to the peculiarities of ,dr4 ,crisp1 as there is no family in the world to which ,i am under greater obligations than yours1 so there are few gentlemen for whom ,i have so peculiar an esteem1 as for the respectable author of ,pietas ,oxoniensis40 8,before ,i lay down my pen10 says ,fletcher1 in a 8,postscript10 8,i beg leave to address1 a moment1 the true believers who espouse ,calvin's sentiments4 ,think not1 honoured brethren1 that ,i have no eyes to see the eminent services which many of you render to the ,church of ,christ2 no heart to bless ,god for the ,christian graces which shine in your exemplary conduct2 no pen to testify1 that1 by letting your light shine before men1 you adorn the ,gospel of ,god our ,saviour1 as many of your predecessors have done before you4 ,i am not only persuaded that your opinions are consistent with a genuine conversion but ,i take heaven to witness how much ,i prefer a ,calvinist who loves ,god to a ,remonstrant who does not4 ,if ,i have1 therefore1 taken the liberty of exposing your favourite mistakes1 do me the justice to believe that it was not to pour contempt upon your respectable persons2 but to set your peculiarities in such a light as might either engage you to renounce them1 or check the forwardness with which some have lately recommended them as the only doctrines of grace1 and the pure ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ2 unkindly representing their remonstrant brethren as enemies to free grace1 and abettors of a dreadful heresy4 8,and you1 my remonstrant brethren1 permit me to offer you some seasonable advices4 #a4 ,more than ever1 let us confirm our love to our ,calvinist brethren4 ,if our arguments gall them1 let us not envenom the sore by maliciously triumphing over them4 ,nothing is more likely to provoke their displeasure1 and drive them from what we believe to be the truth4 #b4 ,do not rejoice in the mistakes of our opponents1 but in the detection of error4 ,desire not that we1 but that truth may prevail4 ,let us not only be willing that our brethren should win the day if they have truth on their side2 but let us make it matter of solemn1 earnest1 and constant prayer4 #c4 ,let us strictly observe the rules of decency and kindness1 taking care not to treat any of our opponents in the same manner that they have treated ,mr4 ,wesley4 ,the men of the world sometimes hint that he is a papist1 and a ,jesuit2 but good1 mistaken men have gone much farther in the present controversy4 ,they have published to the world1 that they verily believe his principles are too rotten for even a papist to rest upon2 that he wades through the quagmires of ,pelagianism1 deals in inconsistencies1 manifest contradictions1 and strange prevarications2 that if a contrast were drawn from his various assertions upon the doctrine of sinless perfection1 a little piece might extend into a folio volume2 and that they are more than ever convinced of his prevaricating disposition4 ,not satisfied with going to a ,benedictine monk1 in ,paris1 for help against his dreadful heresy1 they have wittily extracted an argument1 ad hominem1 from the comfortable dish of tea he drinks with ,mrs4 ,wesley2 and1 to complete the demonstration of their respect for that grey-headed1 laborious minister of ,christ1 they have brought him upon the stage of controversy in a dress of their own contriving1 and made him declare to the world1 that1 whenever he and fifty-three of his fellow-labourers say one thing1 they mean quite another4 ,and what has he done to deserve this usage at their hands8 ,which of them has he treated unjustly or unkindly8 ,even in the course of this controversy1 has he injured any man8 ,may he not say to this hour1 ,tu pugnas2 ego vapulo tantum8 ,let us avoid this warmth1 my brethren2 remembering that personal reflections will never pass for convincing arguments with the judicious and humane4 8,i have endeavoured to follow this advice with regard to ,dr4 ,crisp2 nevertheless1 lest you should rank him with practical ,antinomians1 ,i once more gladly protest my belief that he was a good man2 and desire that none of you would condemn all his sermons1 much less his character1 on account of his unguarded antinomian propositions4 8#d4 ,if you would help us to remove the prejudices of our brethren1 not only grant with a good grace1 but strongly insist upon the great truths for which they make so noble a stand4 ,steadily assert1 with them1 that the scraps of morality and formality1 by which ,pharisees and deists pretend to merit the ,divine favour1 are only filthy rags in the sight of a holy ,god2 and that no righteousness is current in heaven but the righteousness which is of ,god by faith4 ,if they have set their hearts upon calling it the imputed righteousness of ,christ1 though the expression is not strictly scriptural1 let it pass2 but give them to understand1 that as ,divine imputation of righteousness is a most glorious reality1 so human imputation is a most delusive dream2 and that of this sort is undoubtedly the ,calvinian imputation of righteousness to a man1 who actually defiles his neighbour's bed1 and betrays innocent blood4 ,a dangerous contrivance this6 not less subversive of common heathenish morality1 than of ,st4 ,james's pure and undefiled religion4 8,again1 our ,calvinist brethren excel in setting forth a part of ,christ's priestly office2 ,i mean the immaculate purity of ,his most holy life1 and the all-atoning1 all-meritorious sacrifice of ,his bloody death4 ,here imitate1 and1 if possible1 surpass them4 ,shout a finished atonement louder than they4 ,if they call this complete atonement finished salvation1 or the finished work of ,christ1 indulge them still3 for peace's sake1 let those expressions pass2 nevertheless1 at proper times1 give them to understand that it is absolutely contrary to reason1 ,scripture1 and ,christian experience to think that all ,christ's mediatorial work is finished4 ,insinuate you should be very miserable if ,he had nothing more to do for you and in you4 ,tell them1 as they can bear it1 that ,he works daily as a ,prophet to enlighten you2 as a ,priest to make intercession for you2 as a ,king to subdue your enemies2 as a ,redeemer to deliver you out of all your troubles2 and as a ,saviour to help you to work out your own salvation2 and hint that1 in all these respects1 ,christ's work is no more finished than the working of our own salvation is completed4 8,the judicious will understand you2 as for bigots1 they are proof against ,scripture and good sense4 ,nevertheless1 mild irony1 sharply pointing a scriptural argument1 may yet pass between the joints of their impenetrable armour1 and make them feel either some shame1 or some weariness of contention4 ,but this is a dangerous method1 which ,i would recommend to very few4 ,none should dip his pen in the wine of irony1 till he has dipped it in the oil of love2 and even then1 he should not use it without constant prayer1 and as much caution as a surgeon lances an impostume4 ,if he goes too deep1 he does mischief2 if not deep enough1 he loses his time2 the virulent humour is not discharged1 but irritated by the skin-deep operation4 ,and #8who is sufficient for these things8' ,gracious ,god of wisdom and love6 if ,thou callest us to this difficult and thankless office1 let all our sufficiency be of ,thee6 and should the operation succeed1 ,thine and ,thine alone shall be all the glory40 ,such advices were ,christian and opportune4 ,no doubt1 they were meant for men like ,thomas ,olivers and ,walter ,sellon4 ,wesley1 in a tract of twelve pages1 had1 in #aggj1 attacked ,toplady's 8,abridgement of ,zanchius on ,predestination40 ,toplady1 in the same year1 had replied to this1 in a most bitter and scurrilous 8,letter to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley40 ,not having leisure for this kind of work1 ,wesley had requested ,olivers to answer ,toplady4 ,olivers1 in #agga1 had published his 8,letter to the ,reverend ,mr4 ,toplady0 7#abmo1 #fj pp471 and had treated ,toplady with an amount of well-deserved tartness1 which quite justified ,fletcher in giving the above advice4 ,then1 again1 ,walter ,sellon1 in the same year1 #agga1 had published his 8,church of ,england ,vindicated from the ,charge of ,absolute ,predestination1 as is stated and asserted by the ,translator of ,jerome ,zanchius1 in his ,letter to the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,nowell4 ,together with ,some ,animadversions on his ,translation of ,zanchius1 his ,letter to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley1 and his ,sermon on #a ,tim4 i4 #aj40 #abmo1 #abi pp4 ,in his small country parish1 ,ledsham1 in ,yorkshire1 ,sellon had dealt ,toplady's predestination theory heavy blows2 and1 it must be added1 he had not been sparing in virulence4 ,he began with telling the abusive vicar of ,broad ,hembury1 8,i shall deal plainly with you2 more plainly1 perhaps1 than you might desire2 yet not so plainly as you might justly expect4 ,i would not say a word barely to enrage you2 and yet1 ,i doubt not1 but ,i shall enrage you1 because there is no coping with such writers as you1 without speaking a little in your own manner2 and ,i have always observed1 those that are most prone to give offence are also most prone to take it40 ,sellon fulfilled his threatening promise1 and concluded3 8,excuse my plainness1 ,sir1 if ,i tell you farther1 you seem much to stand in need of learning the lesson dictated by ,solon of ,athens1 #8,know thyself2' and of praying heartily that prayer prescribed by our ,church1 #8,from all blindness of heart2 from pride1 vainglory1 and hypocrisy2 from envy1 hatred1 and malice1 and all uncharitableness1--,good ,lord1 deliver us6'0 ,fletcher1 in this irritating controversy1 never lost his temper4 ,some of his coadjutors and opponents did2 and hence the ,christian and needed cautions and advices at the end of his 8,third ,check to ,antinomianism40 ,,chapter ,,xi4 8,,fourth ,,check ,,to ,,antinomianism40 #aggb4 ,,the issue of ,fletcher's 8,third ,check0 was immediately followed by 8,a ,review of all the ,doctrines taught by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley2 containing a full and particular ,answer to a ,book entitled1 #8,a ,second ,check to ,antinomianism4 ,in ,six ,letters1 to the ,author of that ,book4 ,wherein the ,doctrines of a ,twofold ,justification1 ,free-,will1 ,man's ,merit1 ,sinless ,perfection1 ,finished ,salvation1 and ,real ,antinomianism are particularly discussed2 and the ,puritan ,divines vindicated from the ,charges brought against them of holding ,mr4 ,wesley's ,doctrines4' ,to which is added #8,a ,farrago4' ,london1 #aggb40 #hvo1 #aea pp4 ,the letters are all signed 8,the ,author of ,p4,o410 meaning1 of course1 ,richard ,hill4 ,almost at the same time that the book1 with this ponderous title1 was published1 ,mr4 ,richard ,hill committed to the press an #hvo tract of sixteen pages1 entitled1 8,some ,remarks on a ,pamphlet1 entitled1 ,a ,third ,check to ,antinomianism4 ,by the ,author of #8,pietas ,oxoniensis4'0 ,of the second of these publications nothing need be said4 ,considerable bitterness towards ,wesley is displayed1 and a modicum of severity towards ,fletcher2 but1 perhaps1 not more than might be naturally expected2 for men dislike to be vanquished4 ,his first and much larger pamphlet1 containing1 besides the 8,farrago10 8,six ,letters0 addressed to ,fletcher1 must have more attention4 ,the 8,letters0 relate1 not to the 8,third10 but the 8,second ,check0 of ,fletcher1 and were published only a few days before the appearance of the 8,remarks0 just noticed4 ,mr4 ,hill thus commences his first letter3-- 8,,reverend ,,sir1--,after many debates with myself1 and much solicitation from my friends1 you now hear from me again on your ,second ,check to ,antinomianism4 ,i make no other apology for writing1 than that ,i think there is an absolute necessity an answer should be given to it4 ,but1 whilst ,i make my animadversions on your letters1 may the ,divine ,author of love and meekness preserve me from the unhappy spirit in which they are written6 ,oh1 my dear ,sir1 ,i never could have supposed that sneer1 banter1 and sarcasm1 yea notorious falsehood1 calumny1 and gross perversions1 would have appeared before the world under the sanction of your venerable name40 ,in making such accusations1 ,mr4 ,hill ought to have known he was himself guilty of 8notorious falsehood and calumny20 but he was angry1 and anger is always blindfolding4 ,mr4 ,hill next proceeds to denounce ,wesley's 8doctrine of a second justification by works20 and asserts that 8it has no existence in the ,word of ,god1 nor in any ,protestant ,church under heaven20 but that1 in this matter1 8,mr4 ,wesley and ,mr4 ,fletcher have the whole ,council of ,trent on their side40 ,with considerable ability1 but with great bitterness and even reviling1 especially so far as ,wesley is concerned1 ,mr4 ,hill endeavours to refute ,fletcher's arguments in support of the doctrine just named1 and then remarks3-- 8,i intended to have made several other extracts from your first letter2 but as ,i really cannot find many lines together free from gross misrepresentations and perversions1 and hardly one single paragraph exempt from cutting sneers and low sarcasms1 ,i confess ,i have not patience to transcribe them2 especially when ,i consider that they are addressed to one0 7,walter ,shirley7 8who1 notwithstanding your former unkind behaviour1 hath treated you with all the politeness of a gentleman1 and the humility of a ,christian40 ,this was an ebullition of bad temper4 ,the charges are untrue1 and the spirit is unchristian4 ,fletcher employed irony1 but1 as all candid readers of his ,checks must acknowledge1 it was always polite and decorous4 ,none but irritated men1 like ,mr4 ,hill1 can find 8low sarcasms20 and as for 8gross misrepresentations and perversions10 they have no existence4 ,in his ,second ,letter1 ,mr4 ,hill takes up the doctrine of free-will1 and pronounces ,fletcher's statements1 in support of the free agency of man1 to be 8as totally void of solid scriptural argument1 as they are replete with calumny1 gross perversions1 and equivocations40 ,in his ,third ,letter1 ,mr4 ,hill discusses what he is pleased to call ,sinless ,perfection1--a doctrine which neither ,wesley nor ,fletcher ever taught4 ,christian ,perfection#bfe they enforced and defended2 but ,sinless ,perfection1 using the word in its strict and literal sense1 was not a dogma of theirs1 but a verbal invention1 adopted from ,whitefield and others1 by ,mr4 ,hill and his angry friends1 who desired to make their opponents the target of ridicule and scorn4 ,footnote #bfe3 ,the reader who wishes to know what is meant by this is strongly recommended to read ,wesley's invaluable treatise1 entitled1 8,a ,plain ,account of ,christian ,perfection20 his equally important and scriptural sermon on 8,christian ,perfection10 and his other irrefutable sermons on the same subject4 ,mr4 ,hill begins with several revolting anecdotes respecting people who professed themselves to be perfect ,christians1--stories which probably were true2 but stories concerning perfect fanatics whom ,wesley and ,fletcher would have condemned as strongly as ,mr4 ,hill4 ,his ,letter terminates with a series of the same sort of nauseous anecdotes4 ,in a certain sense1 it is smart1 and ,mr4 ,hill thought it so2 for1 in concluding it1 he remarks3-- 8,now1 my dear ,sir1 ,i have given you a little in your own way2 but1 notwithstanding you have set me the example in this manner of writing1 ,i shall be glad to set you the example of mutual forgiveness4 ,by cutting and slashing1 we shall never convince each other of our errors2 and the end of our controversy will be1 that the world will laugh at you for taking the sword of banter1 the shield of perversion1 the helmet of prejudice1 and the breastplate of acrimony1 in order to fight for the doctrine of sinless perfection2 and ,i myself shall be laughed at1 in my turn1 for losing so much precious time in answering you40 ,mr4 ,hill's fourth letter is a brief one1 and is devoted to what he calls ,fletcher's 8heavy bombs of bitter sneer and cutting sarcasm10 hurled at the doctrine of 8the finished salvation of ,christ40 ,the fifth and sixth letters1 and also the postscript1 are not theological1 but simply abusive4 ,fletcher is said to 8have traduced all the most celebrated ministers of the ,gospel0 of that day2 and to have 8thrown stumbling-blocks into the way of thousands40 ,a 8wretched spirit of low sarcasm and slanderous banter runs throughout0 his whole writings4 ,wesley and ,fletcher had 8adopted a scheme of religion gathered out of ,pelagianism1 ,semi-,pelagianism1 ,arminianism1 ,popery1 ,mysticism1 and ,quakerism40 ,the 8,farrago of ,hot and ,cold ,medicines1 by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley1 extracted from his own ,publications10 is1 of course1 principally levelled against ,wesley4 ,the spirit of it may be gathered from an extract from ,bishop ,hall1 on the title-page of ,mr4 ,hill's ill-natured pamphlet3-- 8,i would ,i knew where to find you2 then ,i could take a direct aim4 ,whereas now ,i must rove and conjecture4 ,to-day you are in the tents of the ,romanists2 to-morrow1 in ours2 next day1 between both1 against both4 ,our adversaries think you ours1 we theirs2 your conscience finds you with both and neither4 ,i flatter you not2 this of yours is the worst of all tempers4 ,will you be a church alone8 ,alas6 how full are you of contradictions to yourself6 ,how full of contrary purposes6 ,how oft do you chide with yourself8 ,how oft do you fight with yourself80 ,of course1 all this was provoking4 ,had ,fletcher been of a much less combative disposition than he really was1 it would have been impossible for him1 as a man of honesty and honour1 to lay aside his pen4 ,mr4 ,hill's accusations were serious ones1 involving ,fletcher's moral character2 and a reply to them was imperative4 ,but1 before ,fletcher's 8,fourth ,check to ,antinomianism0 is introduced to the reader's notice1 another publication1 which preceded it1 must be mentioned4 ,this was entitled 8,friendly ,remarks occasioned by the ,spirit and ,doctrines contained in the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,fletcher's ,vindication1 and more particularly in his ,second ,check to ,antinomianism1 to which is added a postscript1 occasioned by his ,third ,check4 ,in a letter to the ,author1 by 99999999999999999999994 ,a4,m4 ,london3 #aggb40 #hvo4 #ga pp4 ,the letter is dated1 8,london1 ,july #d1 #aggb10 and the asterisks stand for the name of ,rowland ,hill1 ,mr4 ,richard ,hill's impulsive and eccentric brother1 who had taken his degree at ,cambridge1 had been refused orders by half-a-dozen bishops1 and was now nearly twenty-seven years of age4 ,berridge and ,whitefield had been his friends1 and even ,wesley had approved of his preaching among his ,societies4#bff ,at present1 he was in ,london1 discoursing to immense congregations in ,whitefield's two ,metropolitan ,chapels1 and was resident in the ,tabernacle ,house1 in ,moorfields4#bfg ,there1 no doubt1 the pamphlet was written1 which must now be noticed4 ,he begins with a reference to his extensive preaching tours2 and states that he was frequently invited to preach in the meeting-houses of ,wesley's ,societies1 and that this occasioned him considerable perplexity1 for to preach against ,wesley's 8sentiments in his own congregations would be unfair40 ,he continues3-- 8,and yet1 when ,i consider how many excellent ,christians are contained in ,mr4 ,wesley's ,societies1 whom ,i love as my own soul1 and to whom ,i have frequently given promises of my assistance and labours1 how will it grieve me to be constrained to withdraw from them1 whom ,i so much honour and respect40 ,rowland ,hill proceeds to say1 that 8hitherto he had declined having the least share in the late contentions40 ,he was at ,bristol in #agga1 when ,mr4 ,shirley and his friends invaded ,wesley's ,conference1 but he refused to join them1 and left the city1 for1 he remarks1 8,peace ,i love1 but controversy ,i hate40 ,he continues3-- 8,upon my return to ,bristol1 ,i saw your first publication4#bfh ,as ,i dearly loved your character1 ,i read it with great prejudice in your favour2 but still1 the tartness of the style1 as well as the bad doctrine it contained1 concerned me2 but1 as ,i plainly perceived your intention was to make the #8,minutes' speak as much ,gospel as possible1 though ,i was sorry for the performance1 ,i felt a loving pity for the author4 ,about the same time1 ,i called upon ,mr4 ,wesley1 then in ,bristol1 and1 in strong terms1 expressed to him my concern about his #8,minutes4' ,he told me that he looked upon the whole of them as truth1 and that he should vindicate them as such4 8,still my determination was to appear in no open separation from ,mr4 ,wesley2 hoping that time would soften the edge of the dispute1 and restore calmness and composure among contending parties2 but your second publication#bfi compels me to believe that to be neutral any longer will be criminal4 ,you have now done sufficient to darken every gleam of hope of future tranquillity1 by publishing such doctrine1 and in such a spirit1 as has kindled no small flame in the religious world40 ,footnote #bff3 ,sidney's 8,life of ,rowland ,hill10 p4 #ef4 ,footnote #bfg3 ,ibid1 p4 #gj4 ,footnote #bfh3 ,the 8,vindication0 of ,wesley's ,minutes4 ,footnote #bfi3 8,second ,check to ,antinomianism1 in ,three ,letters10 to ,mr4 ,shirley4 ,no doubt ,rowland ,hill was perfectly sincere when he said he hated controversy1 and loved peace2 and yet1 such is the tendency of polemical writing1 ,rowland ,hill and his brother ,richard became the principal fomentors of this controversial warfare4 ,having given what he calls 8a simple narration of facts10 ,mr4 ,rowland ,hill proceeds to say3-- 8,i will now make some strictures principally upon your last performance4 ,this ,i pray ,god ,i may be enabled to do with meekness and judgment4 ,i know there is no argument in banter1 nor conclusion in sarcasm1 nor divinity in a sneer3 such weapons ,i wish totally to discard2 they are pitiful even for the world1 but they are scandalous when used by a ,christian4 ,i hate such feeble aids1 and will scorn to use them2 they would defile my soul1 and stab the cause ,i mean to maintain4 ,the meek and dove-like disposition of ,christ1 ,i humbly hope will teach me1 while ,i write1 to pity1 not to abuse1 the mistaken2 and meekly to deliver my sentiments1 without having recourse to the low arts of slander and reflection40 ,rowland ,hill had good intentions2 but whether he fulfilled them will be seen in the succeeding extracts4 8,after having first dressed up ,mr4 ,shirley according to your own fancy1 and branded him with the opprobrious name of ,antinomian1 you place him at the head of a set of monsters invented by yourself2 and1 after having thus raised a hideous and unthought-of ghost1 you remand it to the shades by your own spells and incantations of banter and contempt40 8,after having said so much as to place us in a manner even amongst murderers1 on account of our principles of grace1 it really shocks and almost disheartens me from following you any further4 ,i will1 therefore1 now omit reminding you of the numberless sneers1 taunts1 and sarcasms1 which so dreadfully decorate the whole of your performance2 they are nothing better than the infernal terms of darkness2 it is hateful to transcribe them2 let darkness be their doom40 8,consider in what detestable colours you have pictured us before the world4 ,there is scarce an abomination but what we are charged with2 and our enemies triumph at the supposed discovery4 ,you are the man1 they say1 that has been among the ,calvinists1 has found out their hypocrisy1 and are now publishing against them4 ,numbers of them1 to my knowledge1 carry about your book in ill-natured triumph1 and cast in our teeth1 as certain truth1 the dreadful slanders you have invented4 ,in short1 ,sir1 you have brought over us such a day of blasphemy and rebuke as we never felt before40 8,our characters now lie bleeding before you2 we smart severely under the cruelty of your pen2 and complain loudly against your great injustice4 ,you have given us up to be trampled upon by the world1 who1 from your pretended discoveries1 looks upon us all as hypocrites detected under the mask of religion4 ,if you think us in error1 for ,christ's sake1 sneer at us no more2 though it may be sport to you1 it is1 in a manner1 death to us4 ,learn the more ,christian lesson to pity us1 and pray for us1 and try to set us right in love40 ,rowland ,hill1 no doubt1 intended to avoid in his pamphlet 8the low art of slander20 but he failed in carrying out his purpose4 ,any one who has read1 with candour1 ,fletcher's first and second ,checks to ,antinomianism1 must admit that ,mr4 ,hill's accusations are unfounded4 ,where had ,fletcher slandered ,rowland ,hill1 or any of his ,calvinistic friends8 ,it is true that he had treated some of the doctrines of the ,calvinists with 8banter0 and with 8sarcasm20 but his ,calvinian friends1 against whose tenets he had written1 had1 uniformly1 been treated with respectful affection4 ,impetuous ,rowland improperly applied ,fletcher's 8banter0 and 8sarcasm10 not to doctrines1 as ,fletcher had intended1 but to the men who held them1 himself and his godly friends included2 a thing from which ,fletcher's loving soul revolted4 ,the remainder of ,rowland ,hill's 8,friendly ,remarks0 chiefly consists of animadversions1 intended to show 8the glaring inconsistencies and palpable mistakes0 of ,fletcher1 in the doctrines he had defended and enforced4 ,it would be an almost endless task to dwell upon the theological criticisms of ,fletcher and his opponents4 ,as might be expected1 ,rowland ,hill1 in attacking ,fletcher's tenets1 is often smart2 and1 it must be added1 often bitter4 ,a reply to the pamphlets of ,richard ,hill and his brother ,rowland became a necessity4 ,fletcher could not remain silent under such unfounded and undeserved imputations4 ,hence1 though weary of the warfare1 he at once resumed his pen1 and began to prepare his 8,fourth ,check to ,antinomianism40 ,the postscript of ,rowland ,hill's 8,friendly ,remarks10 dated 8,july #d1 #aggb10 states that the 8,third ,check0 had just 8made its appearance40 ,the fourth was published before the year was ended1 and bore the title of 8,logica ,genevensis2 or1 a ,fourth ,check to ,antinomianism1 in which ,st4 ,james's ,pure ,religion is defended against the ,charges1 and established upon the ,concessions of ,mr4 ,richard and ,mr4 ,rowland ,hill4 ,in a ,series of ,letters to those ,gentlemen1 by the ,vindicator of the ,minutes4 ,bristol3 ,printed by ,william ,pine1 #aggb40 #abmo4 #bde pp4 ,the letters are thirteen in number1 and all of them are addressed to ,mr4 ,richard ,hill1 except the ninth1 which is addressed 8to ,mr4 ,rowland ,hill10 and the tenth and eleventh written to the two brothers conjointly4 ,the thirteenth1 and last1 is dated1 8,madeley1 ,nov4 #ae1 #aggb40bgj ,footnote #bgj3 ,the semi-infidel ,monthly ,review1 which could hardly exist without sneering at evangelical religion1 remarked concerning this ,fourth ,check to ,antinomianism3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher continues to push the ,calvinists with unremitting vigour4 ,he here encounters two formidable adversaries at once4 ,the veteran ,wesley1 who now1 perhaps1 thinks it time to retire from the well-fought field1 is fortunate in having so zealous an auxiliary40 7,monthly ,review1 #aggc1 p4 #bdj47 ,meanwhile1 ,wesley published 8,some ,remarks on ,mr4 ,hill's ,review of all the ,doctrines taught by ,mr4 ,john ,wesley40 ,this is not the place to analyse ,wesley's #abmo4 pamphlet of #ed pages1 but the following extract from it may be acceptable3-- 8,with regard to ,mr4 ,hill's objections to ,mr4 ,fletcher1 ,i refer all candid men to his own writings--his letters1 entitled a #8,first1 ,second1 and ,third ,check to ,antinomianism2' the rather1 because there are very few of his arguments which ,mr4 ,hill even attempts to answer4 ',tis true he promises #8a full and particular answer to ,mr4 ,fletcher's 8,second ,check to ,antinomianism02' but it will puzzle any one to find where that answer is except in the title-page4 ,and if anything more is needful to be done1 ,mr4 ,fletcher is still able to answer for himself4 ,but if he does1 ,i would recommend to his consideration the advice formerly given by a wise man to his friend1 #8,see that you humble not yourself to that man2 it would hurt both him and the cause of ,god4' ',tis pity but he had considered it sooner1 and he might have escaped some keen reflections4 ,but he did not4 ,he imagined when he spoke or wrote in the simplicity of his heart1 that his opponents would have received his words in the same spirit wherein they were spoken2 but they turn them all into poison4 ,he not only loses his sweet words1 but they are turned into bitterness--are interpreted as mere sneer and sarcasm6 ,a good lesson for me4 ,i had designed to have transcribed ,mr4 ,fletcher's character of ,mr4 ,hill1 and to have added a little thereto1 in hope of softening his spirit4 ,but ,i see it is in vain2 as well might one hope to soften #8,inexorable ,pluto1 king of shades4' ,since he is capable of putting such a construction even upon ,mr4 ,fletcher's gentleness and mildness2 since he ascribes even to him #8a pen dipped in gall1' what will he not ascribe to me8 ,i have done therefore with humbling myself to these men--to ,mr4 ,hill and his associates4 ,i have humbled myself to them for these thirty years1 but will do it no more4 ,i have done with attempting to soften their spirits2 it is all lost labour0 7pp4 #c1 #d74 ,having come to such a determination1 it need not be added that ,wesley's pamphlet was one of the most trenchant he ever published4 ,wesley was in ,shropshire in the month of ,august1 and probably had an interview with ,fletcher4 ,it is not unlikely that ,fletcher accompanied ,wesley in his journey to ,bristol2 but if this were not the case1 it is certain that he soon after followed him4 ,hence the following hitherto unpublished letter1 written by ,john ,pawson1 an itinerant preacher of ten years' standing3-- 8,,bristol1 ,september #bi1 #aggb4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1--,mr4 ,wesley came here on ,saturday1 ,august #bi1 and has been with us ever since1 but intends to leave ,bristol next ,monday0 ,october #e4 8,he seems to be as zealous and active in his ,master's service as ever1 and quite in good health4 ,we have also had the great ,mr4 ,fletcher here1 but he is now returned to ,madeley4 ,he seems to be an eminent saint indeed4 ,i had the satisfaction to hear him twice4 ,he is a lively1 zealous preacher2 the power of ,god seems to attend his word2 yet ,i admire him much more as a writer than as a preacher4 ,being a foreigner1 there is a kind of roughness attends his language that is not grateful to an ,english hearer2 and the ,english not being his mother-tongue1 he sometimes seems to be at a loss for words4 ,yet he certainly is a great and blessed man4 8,we have had very large congregations to hear both ,mr4 ,wesley and ,mr4 ,fletcher1 especially the latter2 and ,i hope we shall see the fruit of their preaching in a little time4 ,i trust that our gracious ,lord will be with us1 and that we shall have a prosperous year2 though ,i apprehend it will be attended with greater difficulties than ever to keep the people together in ,bristol4 ,we have the ,tabernacle#bgc on one hand1 and ,mr4 ,janes1#bgd who has a meeting in ,tucker ,street1 on the other4 ,mr4 ,roquet#bga also is disaffected towards us4 ,he has been in ,london for some time with his dear friend ,mr4 ,hill4 ,one night he preached in the ,foundery1 where he gave universal offence by using many ,calvinistical phrases1 and by telling the whole congregation that he knew there were whores and bawds even in the ,bands#bgb in ,bristol4 ,he said1 #8,these eyes have seen it1 and this heart has groaned on account of it4' ,how he will be when he returns ,i know not2 but these are the accounts we hear from ,london4 ,were it not that so many of our people are so exceedingly unstable1 we need not fear any of these things2 but you well know that many of them have got itching ears1 and will run about1 say or do what we will4 8,mr4 ,wesley has just published his answer to ,mr4 ,hill4 ,i suppose it will make the ,calvinists exceeding angry2 but ,i think ,mr4 ,fletcher's #8,fourth ,check1' which is now in the press1 will make them much more so1 as he does not spare them at all1 but endeavours to show1 in the clearest manner1 the horrible consequences of their beloved opinions4 ,he is writing something upon ,perfection1 the former part of which ,i have seen2 and ,i think he will set that doctrine in so ,scriptural a light1 as to stop the mouths of gainsayers40 ,footnote #bga3 ,whitefield had a ,tabernacle at ,kingswood2 and ,lady ,huntingdon1 in #agec1 built one in ,bristol1 which ,whitefield opened4 ,footnote #bgb3 ,thomas ,janes1 who from #agfg to #aggj was one of ,wesley's itinerants4 ,his health not being equal to the rough work of a ,methodist preacher he settled as the pastor of a dissenting congregation in ,bristol4 ,he died in #aggc4 ,he was a man of considerable abilities1 and compiled and published a volume which he entitled 8,the ,beauties of the ,poets40 ,footnote #bgc3 ,one of the first masters of ,wesley's ,kingswood ,school1 but now an ordained clergyman of the ,church of ,england1 and curate of ,st4 ,werburgh in ,bristol4 ,he was an intimate friend of ,lady ,huntingdon4 ,footnote #bgd3 ,the ,band-meetings of the ,methodists1 consisting of persons selected from the ,methodist classes4 ,fletcher dedicated his 8,fourth ,check to ,antinomianism0 8to all candid ,calvinists in the ,church of ,england40 ,an extract from this dedication may be useful1 as giving1 in a brief form1 some of the doctrines which ,fletcher had defended and enforced1 and which had so hugely offended his ,calvinistic friends4 8,they0 his opponents 8will try to frighten you from reading this book1 by protesting that ,i throw down the foundation of ,christianity and help ,mr4 ,wesley to place works and merit on the ,redeemer's throne4 ,to this dreadful charge ,i answer3--#a4 ,that ,i had rather my right hand should lose its cunning to all eternity1 than use it a moment to detract from the ,saviour's real glory4 #b4 ,that the strongest pleas ,i produce for holiness and good works are quotations from the ,homilies of our own ,church as well as from the ,puritan divines1 whom ,i cite preferably to others1 because they held what you are taught to call the doctrines of grace4 #c4 ,that what ,i have said of those doctrines recommends itself to every unprejudiced person's reason and conscience4 #d4 ,that my capital arguments in favour of practical ,christianity are founded upon our second justification by the evidence of good works in the great day2 a doctrine which my opponent himself cannot help assenting to4 #e4 ,that from first to last1 when the meritorious cause of our justification is considered1 we set works aside2 praying ,god not to enter into judgment with us1 or weigh our merits1 but to pardon our offences for ,christ's sake2 and gladly ascribing the whole of our salvation to ,his alone merits1 as much as ,calvin or ,dr4 ,crisp does4 #f4 ,that when the word meriting1 deserving1 or worthy1 which our ,lord uses again and again1 is applied to good works or good men1 we mean absolutely nothing but rewardable1 or qualified for the reception of a gracious reward4 ,and #g4 ,that even this improper merit or rewardableness of good works is entirely derived from ,christ's proper merit1 who works what is good in us2 and from the gracious promise of ,god1 who has freely engaged ,himself to recompense the fruits of righteousness1 which ,his own free grace enables us to produce40 ,in the first eight of his letters1 ,fletcher quotes copiously from the ,liturgy1 ,articles1 and ,homilies of the ,church of ,england1 and from the writings of ,puritan divines4 ,he also minutely examines ,mr4 ,richard ,hill's objections to his doctrines and to his ,scriptural expositions4 ,up to this point there is a comparative absence of his cutting irony2 but there is a great amount of powerful and triumphant writing4 ,in his ninth letter1 addressed to ,rowland ,hill1 he naturally enough lays aside the restraint he had put upon himself4 ,richard ,hill was now a man of matured life1 forty years of age2 his brother ,rowland was a young man of only twenty-seven4 ,the former had not been sparing in the use of acrimonious epithets2 the latter had been lavish4 ,no wonder that ,fletcher spared not his youthful opponent4 ,he wrote3-- 8,what reason have you to assert1 as you do1 that ,i #8have grossly misrepresented the ,scriptures1' and #8made universal havoc of every truth of the ,gospel'8 ,the first of these charges is heavy1 the second dreadful4 ,let us see by what arguments they are supported4 ,after throwing away a good part of your book in passing a long1 ,calvinian1 juvenile sentence upon my spirit as a writer1 you come at last to the point1 and attempt to explain some of the ,scriptures which you suppose ,i have #8misrepresented4'0 ,fletcher proceeds to examine what he calls 8the arguments0 of ,rowland ,hill2 and then concludes1 as follows3-- 8,having answered your objections to what you justly call #8the principal cause of the controversy among us1' ,i may make one or two observations upon the friendliness of your #8,friendly ,remarks4' 8,candid reader1 if thou hast read my ,checks without prejudice1 and attentively compared them with the ,word of ,god1 wouldest thou ever think that the following lines contain an extract from the friendly sentence1 which my young opponent passes upon them8--#8,hard names1 banter1 sarcasm1 sneer1 abuse1 bravado1 low arts of slander1 slanderous accusation1 opprobrious name1 ill-natured satire1 odious1 deformed1 detestable colours1 unfair and ungenerous treatment1 terms void of truth1 unmerciful condemnations1 false humility1 irritating spirit1 provoking1 uncharitable style1 continual sneers1 most odious appellations1 abusive words1 notorious scandalizing1 lines too dreadful to be transcribed1 unworthy of an answer1 beneath contempt1 most indecent ridicule1 a wretched conclusion1 as bitter as gall1 and slanders which ought even to make a ,turk blush4' 8,if thou canst not yet see1 gentle reader1 into the nature of ,mr4 ,rowland ,hill's #8,remarks1' peruse the following friendly sentences4 #8,in regard to the fopperies of religion1 you certainly differ from the ,popish priest of ,madeley4 ,you have made universal havoc of every truth of the ,gospel4 ,you have invented dreadful slanders4 ,you plentifully stigmatize many with the most unkindly language4 ,you have blackened our principles1 and scandalized our practice4 ,you place us in a manner among murderers4 ,it shocks me to follow you4 ,our characters lie bleeding under the cruelty of your pen1 and complain loudly against your great injustice4 ,blush for the characters you have injured by the rashness and bitterness of your pen4 ,you have invented a set of monsters1 and raised a hideous ghost1 by your own spells and incantations of banter and contempt4 ,numberless sneers1 taunts1 and sarcasms dreadfully decorate the whole of your performance3 they are nothing better than infernal terms of darkness1 which it is hateful to transcribe4' 8,when ,i cast my eyes upon this extract1 ,i cannot help crying out1 #8,if this is my antagonist's friendliness1 alas6 what will be his displeasure8 ,and what have ,i done to deserve these tokens of ,calvinian benevolence8 ,why are these flowers of ,geneva rhetoric so plentifully heaped upon my head8' 8,sir1 ,i do not intimate that ,i have done nothing displeasing to you4 ,far from insinuating it1 ,i shall present my readers with a list of the manifold1 but well-meant provocations1 which have procured me your public correspondence4 ,i say1 well-meant provocations2 for all ,i want to provoke any one to is love and good works4 8#a4 ,i have written my ,checks with the confidence with which the clear dictates of reason1 and the full testimonies of ,scripture1 usually inspire those who love what they esteem truth more than they do their dearest friends4 8#b4 ,after speaking most honourably of many ,calvinists1 even of all that are pious1 ,i have taken the liberty to insinuate1 that the schemes of finished salvation1 and imputed righteousness1 will no more save a ,calvinist guilty of practical ,antinomianism1 than the doctrine of general redemption will save an ungodly remonstrant4 ,thus ,i have made no difference between the backsliding elect of the ,lock1#bge and the apostates of the ,foundery1 when death overtakes them in their sins1 and in their blood4 8#c4 ,i have maintained that our ,lord did not speak an untruth when ,he said1 ,in the day of judgment1 by thy words shalt thou be justified2 and that ,st4 ,paul did not propagate heresy when he wrote1 ,work out your own salvation4 8#d4 ,i have sprinkled with the salt of irony your favourite doctrine 7#8,friendly ,remarks1' p4 #ci71 #8,salvation wholly depends upon the purpose of ,god according to election1 without any respect to what may be in them1' i4e4 the elect4 ,now1 ,sir1 as by the doctrine of undeniable consequences1 he who receives a guinea with the king's head on the one side cannot but receive the lions on the other side2 so he that admits the preceding proposition1 cannot but admit the inseparable counterpart1 namely1 the following proposition1 which every attentive and unprejudiced person sees written in blood upon that side of ,calvin's standard which is generally kept out of sight1 #8,damnation wholly depends upon the purpose of ,god according to reprobation1 without respect to what may be in the reprobates4' ,here is no #8inventing a monstrous creed1' but merely turning the leaf of your own1 and reading what is written there1 namely1 damnation finished1 evidently answering to finished salvation40 ,footnote #bge3 ,the ,lock ,hospital1 where ,martin ,madan was ,chaplain4 ,fletcher admits that he had used irony in his ,checks1 not1 however1 because he liked it1 but because he found it needful4 ,he writes3-- 8,if ,i make use of irony in my ,checks1 it is not from #8spleen1' but reason4 ,it appears to me that the subject requires it1 and that ridiculous error is to be turned out of the temple of truth1 not only with scriptural argument1 which is the sword of the ,spirit1 but also with mild irony1 which is a proper scourge for a glaring and obstinate mistake40 ,holding such a view1 he introduces1 in one of the two letters addressed to ,richard and ,rowland ,hill unitedly1 an illustration of the absurdities involved in ,calvinism1 which1 perhaps1 is as severe as anything that his ,checks contain4 ,the extract is long1 but must be given unabridged4 8,you decry #8illustrations1' and ,i do not wonder at it2 for they carry light into ,babel1 where it is not desired4 ,the father of error begets darkness and confusion4 ,from darkness and confusion springs ,calvinism1 who1 wrapping himself up in some garments he has stolen from the truth1 deceives the nations1 and gets himself reverenced in a dark temple1 as if he were the pure and free ,gospel4 8,to bring him to a shameful end1 we need not stab him with the dagger of #8calumny1' or put him upon the rack of persecution4 ,let him only be dragged out of his obscurity1 and brought unmasked to open light4 ,the silent beams of truth will pierce him through6 ,light alone will torture him to death1 as the meridian sun does a bird of night that cannot fly from the gentle operation of its beams4 8,may the following illustration dart at least one luminous beam into the profound darkness in which your venerable ,diana delights to dwell6 ,and may it show the ,christian world that we do not #8slander you1' when we assert1 you inadvertently destroy ,god's law1 and cast the ,redeemer's crown to the ground3 and that when you say1 #8,in point of justification' 7and consequently of condemnation7 #8we have nothing to do with the law3 we are under the law as a rule of life1' but not as a rule of judgment1 you might as well say1 #8,we are under no law1 and consequently no longer accountable for our actions4' 8,the ,king1 whom ,i suppose in love with your doctrines of free grace and free wrath1 by the advice of a predestinarian council and parliament1 issues out a ,gospel proclamation1 directed1 #8,to all his dear subjects1 and elect people1 the ,english4' ,by this evangelical manifesto they are informed1 #8,that in consideration of the ,prince of ,wales's meritorious intercession1 and perfect obedience to the laws of ,england1 all the penalties annexed to the breaking of those laws are now abolished with respect to ,englishmen3 ,that ,his ,majesty freely pardons all his subjects1 who have been1 are1 or shall be guilty of adultery1 murder1 or treason3 ,that all their crimes1 8past1 present1 and to come1 are for ever and for ever cancelled30' ,that1 nevertheless1 his loving subjects1 who remain strangers to their privileges1 shall still be served with sham warrants according to law1 and frightened out of their wits1 till they have learned to plead they are ,englishmen 7i4e4 elect73 ,and then they shall set at defiance all legalists1 that is1 all those who shall dare to deal with them according to law3 ,and that1 excepting the case of the above-mentioned false prosecution of his chosen people1 none of them shall ever be molested for the breach of any law4' 8,by the same supreme authority1 it is likewise enacted1 that all the laws shall continue in force against foreigners1 7i4e4 reprobates7 whom the ,king and the ,prince hate with everlasting hatred1 and to whom they have agreed never to show mercy3 ,that1 accordingly1 they shall be prosecuted to the utmost rigour of every statute1 till they are all hanged or burned out of the way3 ,and that1 supposing no personal offence can be proved against them1 it shall be lawful to hang them in chains for the crime of one of their forefathers1 to set forth the ,king's wonderful justice1 display his glorious sovereignty1 and make his chosen people relish the better their sweet1 distinguishing privileges as ,englishmen4 8,moreover1 ,his ,majesty1 who loves order and harmony1 charges his loving subjects to consider still the statutes of ,england1 which are in force against foreigners1 as very good rules of life for the ,english1 which they will do well to follow1 but ,,better to break2 because every breach of those rules will work for their good1 and make them sing louder the faithfulness of the ,king1 the goodness of the ,prince1 and the sweetness of this ,gospel proclamation4 8,again1 as nothing is so displeasing to the ,king as legality1 which he hates even more than extortion and whoredom2 lest any of his dear people1 who have acted the part of a strumpet1 robber1 murderer1 or traitor1 should1 through the remains of their inbred corruption1 and ridiculous legality1 mourn too deeply for breaking some of their rules of life1 our gracious ,monarch solemnly assures them1 that1 though he highly disapproves of adultery and murder1 yet these breaches of rules are not worse1 in his sight1 than a wandering thought in speaking to him1 or a moment's dulness in his service3 ,that robbers1 therefore1 and traitors1 adulterers and murderers1 who are free-born ,englishmen1 need not be at all uneasy about losing his royal favour2 this being utterly impossible1 because they always stand complete in the honesty1 loyalty1 chastity1 and charity of the ,prince4 8,moreover1 because the ,king changes not1 whatever lengths the ,english go in immorality1 he will always look upon them as his pleasant children1 his dear people1 and men after his own heart2 and that1 on the other hand1 whatsoever lengths foreigners go in pious morality1 his gracious ,majesty is determined still to consider them as hypocrites1 vessels of wrath1 and cursed children1 for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever2 because he always views them completely guilty1 and absolutely condemned in a certain robe of unrighteousness1 woven thousands of years ago by one of their ancestors4 ,this dreadful sanbenito#bgf ,his ,majesty has thought fit to put upon them by imputation2 and in it1 it is his good pleasure that they should hang in adamantine chains1 or burn in fire unquenchable4 8,finally1 as foreigners are dangerous people1 and may stir up ,his ,majesty's subjects to rebellion1 the ,english are informed that if any one of them1 were he to come over from ,geneva itself1 shall dare to insinuate that this most gracious gospel proclamation is not according to equity1 morality1 and godliness1 the first ,englishman that meets him shall have full leave to brand him as a papist1 without judge or jury1 in the forehead or on the back1 as he thinks best2 and that1 till he is farther proceeded with according to the utmost severity of the law1 the chosen nation shall be informed1 in the ,gospel ,magazine1 to beware of him as a man who #8scatters firebrands1 arrows1 and deaths1' and makes universal havoc of every article of this sweet gospel proclamation4 8,given at ,geneva1 and signed by four of ,his ,majesty's principal secretaries of state for the predestination department4 8,,john ,,calvin4 ,,the ,,author ,,of #8,p4 ,o4'#bgg ,,dr4 ,,crisp4 ,,rowland ,,hill40 ,footnote #bgf3 ,a frock1 painted with flames and devils1 in which heretics were burnt by the ,inquisition4 ,footnote #bgg3 ,richard ,hill1 the author of ,pietas ,oxoniensis4 ,to those not acquainted with the ,calvinian controversy1 this 8illustration0 may appear ungenerous and unfair2 but in reality1 the doctrines it burlesques had all been asserted by ,calvinists1 and the theological points involved in them had all been exposed and controverted by ,fletcher1 in his 8,checks to ,antinomianism40 ,no doubt the exposure was unpleasant1 but the author of the ,checks was not to be blamed for this4 ,his work was done with an aching heart in the defence of truth and righteousness4 ,fletcher's twelfth ,letter1 addressed to ,richard ,hill alone1 dwells altogether on the doctrine of ,imputed ,righteousness1 which ,fletcher describes as follows3-- 8,consistent ,calvinists believe that if a man is elected1 ,god absolutely imputes to him ,christ's personal righteousness1 i4e41 the perfect obedience unto death which ,christ performed upon earth4 ,this is reckoned to him for obedience and righteousness1 even while he is actually disobedient1 and before he has a grain of inherent righteousness4 ,they consider this imputation1 as an unconditional and eternal act of grace1 by which1 not only a sinner's past sins1 but his crimes present and to come1 be they more or be they less1 be they small or be they great1 are for ever and for ever covered4 ,he is eternally justified from all things4 ,and1 therefore1 under this imputation1 he is perfectly righteous before ,god1 even while he commits adultery or murder4 ,or1 to use your own expression1 whatever lengths he runs1 whatever depths he falls into1 #8he always stands absolved1 always complete in the everlasting righteousness of the ,redeemer4'0 ,this1 to many ,calvinists of the present day1 will seem to be an extravagant caricature of one of their favourite dogmas1 but it must not be overlooked that a great part of ,fletcher's descriptive definition is actually taken from the published writings of ,richard ,hill4 ,no wonder1 therefore1 that ,fletcher1 with stinging irony1 proceeds to say3-- 8,in point of justification1 it matters not how unrighteous a believer actually is in himself2 because the robe of ,christ's personal righteousness1 which1 at his peril1 he must not attempt to patch up with any personal righteousness of his own1 is more than sufficient to adorn him from head to foot2 and he must be sure to appear before ,god in no other4 ,in this rich garment of finished salvation1 the greatest apostates shine brighter than angels1 though they are #8in themselves black' as the old murderer1 and filthy as the brute that wallows in the mire4 ,this #8best robe1' as it is called1 is full-trimmed with such phylacteries as these1--#8,once in grace1 always in grace2' #8,once justified1 eternally justified2' #8,once washed1 always fair1 undefiled1 and without spot4' ,and so great are the privileges of those who have it on1 that they can range through all the bogs of sin1 wade through all the puddles of iniquity1 and roll themselves in the thickest mire of wickedness1 without contracting the least spot of guilt1 or speck of defilement40 ,of course1 ,fletcher found no difficulty in demolishing such luscious and pernicious nonsense as this4 8,if this doctrine is true10 says he1 8the ,divine perfections suffer a general eclipse2 one half of the ,bible is erased2 ,st4 ,james's ,epistle is made void2 defiled religion justly passes for #8pure gospel2' the ,calvinian doctrine of perseverance is true2 and barefaced ,antinomianism is properly recommended as #8the doctrines of grace4'0 ,fletcher's last letter1 also addressed to 8,richard ,hill1 ,esq40 alone1 deals with the doctrine of ,free-will4 ,his definition of the ,methodist doctrine deserves quotation4 8,we never supposed that the natural will of fallen man is free to good1 before it is more or less touched and rectified by grace4 ,all we assert is1 that1 whether a man chooses good or evil1 his will is free1 or it does not deserve the name of will4 ,it is as far from us to think that man1 unassisted by ,divine grace1 is sufficient to will spiritual good2 as to suppose that when he wills it by grace he does not will it freely4 ,and1 therefore1 agreeably to our ,tenth ,article1 which you quote against us without the least reason1 we steadily assert that we have no power to do good works1 without the grace of ,god preventing us1 not that we may have a free will1 for this we always had in the above-mentioned sense1 but that we may have a good will2 believing that1 as confirmed saints and angels have a free will1 though they have no evil will1 so abandoned reprobates and devils have a free will1 though they have no good will40 ,these may appear to the cursory reader metaphysical niceties of no practical importance2 but1 a hundred years ago1 they were considered doctrines of vital interest4 ,the difference between ,fletcher and his ,calvinian friends is well stated by himself3-- 8,from our mutual concessions1 it is evident we agree1 #a4 ,that the will is always free2 #b4 ,that the will of man1 considered as fallen in ,adam1 and unassisted by the grace of ,god1 is only free to evil2 and1 #c4 ,that when he is free to good1 free to choose life1 he has this from redeeming grace4 8,but1 although we agree in those material points1 the difference between us is still very considerable2 for1 we assert1 that through the ,mediator promised to all mankind in ,adam1 ,god1 by ,his free grace1 restores to ,,all mankind a talent of free will to good1 by which they are put in a capacity of choosing life or death1 that is1 of acquitting themselves well or ill1 at their option1 in their present state of trial4 8,this you utterly deny1 maintaining that man is not in a state of probation2 and that as ,christ died for none but the elect1 none but they can ever have any degree of saving grace1 that is1 any free will to good4 ,hence1 you conclude that all the elect are in a state of finished salvation2 and necessarily1 infallibly1 and irresistibly choose life2 while all the reprobates are shut up in a state of finished damnation2 and necessarily1 infallibly1 and irresistibly choose death4 8,we are obliged to oppose this doctrine1 because it appears to us a doctrine of wrath1 rather than a doctrine of grace4 ,if we are not mistaken1 it is opposite to the general tenor of the ,scriptures1 injurious to all the ,divine perfections1 and subversive of this fundamental truth of natural and revealed religion1 ,god shall judge the world in righteousness4 ,it is calculated to strengthen the carnal security of ,laodicean professors1 raise horrid anxieties in the minds of doubting ,christians1 and give damned spirits just ground to blaspheme to all eternity4 ,again1 it withdraws from thinking sinners and judicious saints the helps which ,god has given them1 by multitudes of conditional promises and threatenings1 designed to work upon their hopes and fears4 ,and1 while it unnecessarily stumbles men of sense and hardens infidels1 it affords wicked men rational excuses to continue in their sins1 and gives desperate offenders full room to charge not only ,adam1 but ,god ,himself1 with all their enormities40 ,in this piteous way did the evangelical revivalists of the last century become divided4 ,it was a mournful scene2 but1 in the long run1 it was over-ruled for good4 ,error was crushed1 and truth rose triumphant4 ,meanwhile1 on one side at least1 great bitterness was engendered1 and lamentable epithets were used4 ,in the hottest of the fray1 however1 ,fletcher1 the chief combatant1 never lost his temper4 ,hence1 in concluding his 8,fourth ,check to ,antinomianism10 he wrote3-- 8,although we severely expose the mistakes of godly ,calvinists1 we sincerely love their persons1 truly reverence their piety1 and cordially rejoice in the success which attends their evangelical labours4 ,and1 although we cannot admit their logic1 while they defend a bad cause with bad arguments1 we should do them great injustice if we did not acknowledge that there have been1 and are still among them1 men eminent for good sense and good learning--men as remarkable for their skill in the art of logic1 as for their deep acquaintance with the oracles of ,god4 ,we thank them for their pious labours2 we ask the continuance1 or the renewal1 of their valuable love4 ,we invite them to our pulpits2 and assure them that1 if they admit us into theirs1 we shall do by them as we would be done by1--avoiding to touch there1 or among their own people occasionally committed to our charge1 upon the points of doctrine debated between us2 and reserving to ourselves the liberty of bearing our full testimony in our own pulpits1 and from the press1 against ,antinomianism and ,pharisaism in all their shapes40 ,there were other combatants in the field whose power over themselves was not so great and so praiseworthy4 ,walter ,sellon was one of them1 to whom ,richard ,hill addressed the following1 hitherto unpublished1 letter1 just about the time when the ,fourth ,check of ,fletcher first appeared3-- 8,,hawkstone1 ,december #bd1 #aggb4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,it will answer no end for you and me to continue our disputes1 except that of stirring up the old man in us both4 ,i believe you have the grace of ,god1 and ,i am sure you are blest with a good understanding1 which is well cultivated by acquired knowledge4 ,with these endowments and qualifications1 ,i trust it will please ,god to make you abundantly useful in the cause of ,christ4 ,i heartily forgive whatever has savoured more of ,walter ,sellon than of ,jesus ,christ in your two letters to me2 and ,i beg the same on behalf of poor ,richard ,hill4 ,come1 my dear ,sir1 let us pray for each other4 ,if ever ,i have the pleasure of seeing you in the flesh1 be assured that ,i shall embrace you in the bonds of brotherly love2 if not1 ,i trust we shall one day meet in a better place1 where there will be no other contention between us than who shall sing loudest1 #8,grace1 grace unto it6' ,without undervaluing myself in any respect1 this will certainly be the privilege of that amazing monument of mercy who desires always to subscribe himself1 8,very dear ,sir1 your sincere and affectionate friend1 in the best of bonds1 ,,richard ,,hill40 8,to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,sellon1 ,ledsham1 near ,ferry ,bridge1 ,yorkshire40 ,this polemical chapter cannot be more fitly concluded than with these breathings of ,christian love1 to which may be added an extract from a letter which ,fletcher wrote to ,mr4 ,charles ,perronet1 who was suffering great affliction of body and mind3-- 8#aggb1 ,september #g4--,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1--,no cross1 no crown2 the heavier the cross1 the brighter the crown4 8#8,o for a firm and lasting faith1 ,to credit all the ,almighty saith6' 8,faith1 ,i mean the evidence of things not seen1 is a powerful cordial to support and exhilarate us under the heaviest pressures of pain and temptation4 ,by faith1 we live upon the invisible1 eternal ,god2 we believe that in ,him we live1 move1 and have our being2 insensibly we slide from self into ,god1 from the visible into the invisible1 from the carnal into the spiritual1 from time into eternity4 ,here our spirits are ever young2 they live in and upon the very fountain of strength1 sprightliness1 and joy4 ,oh6 my dear friend1 let us rest more upon the truth as it is in ,jesus4 ,of late1 ,i have been brought to feed more upon ,jesus as the truth4 ,i see more in ,him in that character than ,i ever did4 ,i see ,christ the truth of my life1 friends1 relations1 sense1 food1 raiment1 light1 fire1 resting-place4 ,all out of ,him are but shadows4 ,all in ,him are blessed sacraments2 ,i mean visible signs of the fountain1 or vehicles to convey the streams of inward grace40#bgh ,footnote #bgh3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,,chapter ,,xii4 8,,appeal ,,to ,,matter ,,of ,,fact ,,and ,,common ,,sense40 #aggb4 ,,the present chapter is a somewhat inconvenient break in the history of the ,calvinian controversy2 but in maintaining chronological order1 the inconvenience cannot be avoided4 ,fletcher's 8,fourth ,check to ,antinomianism0 was finished on ,november #ae1 #aggb1 and was published before the year was terminated4 ,on a fly-leaf at the end of the first edition the following advertisement was printed3-- 8,in a few days will be published1 price two shillings1 by the same author1 #8,an ,appeal to ,matter of ,fact and ,common ,sense2 ,or1 ,a ,rational ,demonstration of ,man's corrupt and lost ,estate4'0 ,in some respects1 this is ,fletcher's ablest publication1 and certainly it has been his most popular4 ,a 8second edition1 revised and enlarged10 was printed a few months after the first1 and1 since then1 it has been scores of times re-issued4 ,as early as the year #ahjd1 ,joseph ,benson1 ,fletcher's biographer1 remarked concerning it1 8,i hardly know a treatise that has been so universally read1 or made so eminently useful40 ,even the ,monthly ,review had nought to say against it4 ,in the number for ,march1 #aggc1 the editor's notice of it was the following3-- 8,although we cannot subscribe to all ,mr4 ,fletcher's religious opinions1 we think there are abundance of good things in his writings2 and we have no doubt that he is warmly animated by a sincere and pious regard for the salvation of the souls that are committed to his charge1 as well as for the spiritual welfare of mankind in general40 ,it is worthy of remark that besides being vended at ,wesley's ,foundery in ,london1 the first edition was also 8sold at the workhouse in ,madeley ,wood1 ,shropshire1 for the benefit of the poor40 ,when the second edition was published1 the workhouse1 for some unknown reason1 was not advertised4 ,probably parochial officials had interdicted the sale4 ,fletcher seems to have spent more time upon his 8,appeal to ,matter of ,fact and ,common ,sense0 than he did upon any of his 8,checks to ,antinomianism40 ,joseph ,benson saw it in manuscript1 and read most of it1 a year before its publication4 ,fletcher took it to ,bristol and left it there2 but1 before it was committed to the press1 he requested that it might be returned to him at ,madeley1 to be further revised and improved4 ,for many weeks1 the manuscript was unheard of1 8but10 says ,benson1 8he was quite easy under the apprehended loss1 which certainly would not have been a small one1 as any person will judge who considers how much thought and time such a work must have cost him4 ,it was found1 however1 by-and-by1 had the finishing hand put to it1 and was published to the conviction and edification of thousands40#bgi ,footnote #bgi3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,fletcher's dedication of his book1 highly characteristic1 and embodying biographical facts1 deserves attention4 8,to the principal inhabitants of the parish of ,madeley1 in the county of ,salop4 8,,gentlemen1--,you are no less entitled to my private labours than the inferior class of my parishioners4 ,as you do not choose to partake with them of my evening instructions1 ,i take the liberty to present you with some of my morning meditations4 ,may these well-meant endeavours of my pen be more acceptable to you than those of my tongue6 ,and may you carefully read in your closets what you have perhaps inattentively heard in the church6 ,i appeal to the ,searcher of hearts that ,i had rather impart truths than receive tithes4 ,you kindly bestow the latter upon me2 grant me1 ,i pray1 the satisfaction of seeing you favourably receive the former1 from1 gentlemen1 your affectionate minister and obedient servant1 8,madeley1 #aggb4 8,j4 ,,fletcher40 ,fletcher's principal tithe payers would not attend his evening services1 and yet he was more anxious to teach them 8the truth as it is in ,jesus10 than to receive their pelf4 ,he loved their souls1 though they were too high and mighty--that is1 too worldly and ignorant--to appreciate his ministry4 ,fletcher rightly regarded the doctrine which he irrefutably establishes as of the highest importance4 ,by large numbers of men1 who considered themselves good ,christians1 it was treated with indifference1 and in many instances it was flatly denied4 ,with the exception of his 8,notes on the ,old and ,new ,testaments10 the largest as well as the ablest book ,wesley ever wrote was on the same subject4 ,his 8,doctrine of ,original ,sin according to ,scripture1 ,reason1 and ,experience10 was first published in #ageg2 and now1 fifteen years later1 his friend ,fletcher1 doubtless with his approval1 used his great talents to the utmost in defending the same dogma4 ,in both books1 to some extent1 the same line of argumentation is followed2 but1 of course1 ,fletcher's style is very different from that of ,wesley4 ,both of them insisted that the doctrine is essential to the ,christian religion1 and that if it is not true1 the ,christian religion is not needed4 ,in his preface ,wesley wrote3-- 8,if we take away this foundation1 that man is by nature foolish and sinful1 #8fallen short of the glorious image of ,god1' the ,christian system falls at once2 nor will it deserve so honourable an appellation as that of a #8cunningly devised fable4'0 ,fletcher began his book with the same assertion4 ,his first paragraph is as follows3-- 8,in every religion1 there is a principal truth or error1 which1 like the first link of a chain1 necessarily draws after it all the parts with which it is essentially connected4 ,this leading principle in ,christianity1 distinguished from ,deism1 is the doctrine of our corrupt and lost estate2 for if man is not at variance with his ,creator1 what need of a ,mediator between ,god and him8 ,if he is not a depraved1 undone creature1 what necessity of so wonderful a ,restorer and ,saviour as the ,son of ,god8 ,if he is not enslaved to sin1 why is he redeemed by ,jesus ,christ8 ,if he is not polluted1 why must he be washed in the blood of that immaculate ,lamb8 ,if his soul is not disordered1 what occasion is there for such a divine ,physician8 ,if he is not helpless and miserable1 why is he perpetually invited to secure the assistance and consolations of the ,holy ,spirit8 ,and1 in a word1 if he is not born in sin1 why is a new birth so absolutely necessary1 that ,christ declares1 with the most solemn asseverations1 without it no man can see the kingdom of ,god8 8,this doctrine then being of such importance that genuine ,christianity stands or falls with it1 it may be proper to state it at large2 and as this cannot be done in stronger and plainer words than those of the sacred writers and our pious ,reformers1 ,i beg leave to collect them and present the reader with a picture of our natural estate1 drawn at full length by those ancient and masterly hands40 ,fletcher proceeds to do this1 and with irrefutable arguments establishes his doctrine2 but in this part of his work there is no need to follow him4 ,indeed1 his summary of ,scripture proofs and his quotations from the ,articles1 ,homilies1 and ,liturgy of the ,church of ,england1 do not fill more than about a dozen pages4 ,his 8second part0 he begins as follows3-- 8,as no man is bound to believe what is contrary to common sense1 if the above-stated doctrine appears irrational1 ,scriptures1 ,articles1 ,homilies1 and ,liturgy are quoted in vain4 ,when men of parts are pressed with their authority1 they start from it as an imposition on their reason1 and make as honourable a retreat as they possibly can4 8,some1 to extricate themselves at once1 set the ,bible aside as full of incredible assertions4 ,others1 with more modesty1 plead that the ,scriptures have been frequently misunderstood1 and are so in the present case4 ,they put grammar1 criticism1 and common sense to the rack1 to show that when the inspired writers say the human heart is desperately wicked1 they mean that it is extremely good2 or at least like blank paper1 ready to receive either the characters of virtue or of vice4 ,with respect to the testimony of our ,reformers1 they would have you to understand that in this enlightened age we must leave their harsh1 uncharitable sentiments to the old ,puritans and the present ,methodists4 8,that such objectors may subscribe as a solemn truth what they have hitherto rejected as a dangerous error1 and that humbled sinners may see the propriety of a heart-felt repentance1 and the absolute need of an ,almighty ,redeemer1 they are here presented with some proofs of our depravity1 taken from the astonishing severity of ,god's dispensations towards mankind40 ,limited space renders it impossible to give an outline of ,fletcher's thirty-six arguments1 all founded upon the following axiom3-- 8,if we consider the ,supreme ,being as creating a world for the manifestation of ,his glory1 the display of ,his perfections1 and the communication of ,his happiness to an intelligent creature1 whom ,he would attach to ,himself by the strongest ties of gratitude and love1 we at once perceive that ,he never could form this earth and man in their present disordered1 deplorable condition40 ,an extract from the ninth argument will not be out of place1 furnishing1 as it does1 a doleful picture of a large number of ,fletcher's parishioners--the colliers1 the bargemen1 and the iron-workers4 8,to go no farther than this populous parish2 with what hardships and dangers do our indigent neighbours earn their bread6 ,see those who ransack the bowels of the earth to get the black mineral we burn2 how little is their lot preferable to the ,spanish felons who work the golden mines8 8,they take their leave of the light of the sun1 and1 suspended by a rope1 are let down many fathoms perpendicularly towards the centre of the globe2 they traverse the rocks through which they have dug their horizontal ways4 ,the murderer's cell is a palace in comparison of the black spot to which they repair2 the vagrant's posture in the stocks is preferable to that in which they labour4 8,form1 if you can1 an idea of the misery of men kneeling1 stooping1 or lying on one side1 to toil all day in a confined place1 where a child could hardly stand2 whilst a younger company1 with their hands and feet on the black dusty ground1 and a chain about their body1 creep1 and drag along1 like four-footed beasts1 heavy loads of the dirty mineral1 through ways almost impassable to the curious observer4 8,in these low and dreary vaults1 all the elements seem combined against them4 ,destructive damps1 and clouds of noxious dust1 infect the air they breathe4 ,sometimes water incessantly distils on their naked bodies2 or1 bursting upon them in streams1 drowns them1 and deluges their work4 ,at other times1 pieces of detached rocks crush them to death2 or the earth1 breaking in upon them1 buries them alive4 ,and frequently sulphureous vapours1 kindled in an instant by the light of their candles1 form subterraneous thunder and lightning4 ,what a dreadful phenomenon6 ,how impetuous is the blast6 ,how fierce the rolling flames6 ,how intolerable the noisome smell6 ,how dreadful the continued roar6 ,how violent and fatal the explosion6 8,wonderful providence6 ,some of the unhappy men have time to prostrate themselves2 the fiery scourge grazes their backs2 the ground shields their breasts2 they escape4 ,see them wound up out of the blazing dungeon1 and say if these are not brands plucked out of the fire4 ,a pestiferous steam and clouds of suffocating smoke pursue them4 ,half dead themselves1 they hold their dead or dying companions in their trembling arms4 ,merciful ,god of ,shadrach6 ,kind ,protector of ,meshach6 ,mighty ,deliverer of ,abednego6 ,patient ,preserver of rebellious ,jonah6 ,will not these utter a song--a song of praise to ,thee8 praise ardent as the flames they escape--lasting as the life ,thou prolongest8 ,alas1 they refuse6 ,and some--,o tell it not among the heathens1 lest they for ever abhor the name of ,christian--some return to the very pits where they have been branded with sulphureous fire by the warning hand of ,providence1 and there1 sporting themselves again with the most infernal wishes1 call aloud for a fire that cannot be quenched1 and challenge the ,almighty to cast them into hell1 that bottomless pit whence there is no return4 8,leave these black men at their perilous work1 and see yonder barge-men haling that loaded vessel against wind and stream4 ,since the dawn of day1 they have wrestled with the impetuous current2 and now that it almost overpowers them1 how do they exert all their remaining strength1 and strain their every nerve8 ,how are they bathed in sweat and rain8 ,fastened to their lines as horses to their traces1 wherein do they differ from the laborious brutes8 ,not in an erect posture of the body1 for1 in the intenseness of their toil1 they bend forward1 their head is foremost1 and their hands upon the ground4 ,if there is any difference1 it consists in this3 horses are indulged with a collar to save their breasts2 and these1 as if theirs were not worth saving1 draw without one2 the beasts tug in patient silence and mutual harmony2 but the men with loud contention and horrible imprecations4 ,o sin1 what hast thou done8 ,is it not enough that these drudges should toil like brutes8 must they also curse one another like devils8 8,if you have gone beyond the hearing of their impious oaths1 stop to consider the sons of ,vulcan confined to these forges and furnaces4 ,is their lot much preferable8 ,a sultry air and clouds of smoke and dust are the elements in which they labour4 ,the confused noise of water falling1 steam hissing1 fire-engines working1 wheels turning1 files creaking1 hammers beating1 ore bursting1 and bellows roaring1 form the dismal concert that strikes the ears2 while a continual eruption of flames1 ascending from the mouth of their artificial volcanoes1 dazzle their eyes with a horrible glare4 ,massy bars of hot iron are the heavy tools they handle1 cylinders of the first magnitude the enormous weights they heave1 vessels full of melted metal the dangerous loads they carry1 streams of the same burning fluid the fiery rivers which they conduct into the deep cavities of their subterraneous moulds1 and millions of flying sparks with a thousand drops of liquid1 hissing iron1 the horrible showers to which they are exposed4 ,see them cast3 you would think them in a bath and not in a furnace2 they bedew the burning sand with their streaming sweat2 nor are their wet garments dried up1 either by the fierce fires they attend1 or the fiery streams which they manage4 ,certainly1 of all men1 these have best reason to remember the just sentence of an offended ,god3 #8,in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread all the days of thy life4'0 ,this long extract is given1 not as a specimen of ,fletcher's style of writing1 for it is hardly that1 but as a truthful description of a large number of the poor creatures of whom he had the pastoral oversight4 ,many a passage of the highest kind of eloquence might be cited2 but the reader is recommended to buy and peruse the book himself4 ,the following is presented1 solely because it refers to growing evils1 alarmingly prevalent among people who think themselves religious3-- 8,but all are not employed in sin and wickedness1 for many go through a constant round of innocent diversions2 and these1 at least1 must be innocent and happy4 ,let us then consider the amusements of mankind1 and see how far our own pleasures demonstrate our innocence and happiness4 8,how excessively foolish are the plays of children6 ,how full of mischief and cruelty the sports of boys6 ,how vain1 foppish1 and frothy the joys of young people6 ,and how much below the dignity of upright1 pure creatures1 the snares that persons of different sexes lay for each other6 ,when they are together1 is not this their favourite amusement1 till they are deservedly caught in the net which they imprudently spread8 ,but see them asunder4 8,here a circle of idle women1 supping a decoction of ,indian herbs1 talk or laugh all together1 like so many chirping birds1 or chattering monkeys1 and1 scandal excepted1 every way to as good a purpose4 ,and there1 a club of graver men blow1 by the hour1 clouds of stinking smoke out of their mouths1 or wash it down their throats with repeated draughts of intoxicating liquors4 ,the strong fumes have already reached their heads1 and1 while some stagger home1 others triumphantly keep the field of excess2 though one is already stamped with the heaviness of the ox1 another worked up to the fierceness and roar of the lion1 and a third brought down to the filthiness of the vomiting dog4 8,leave them at their manly sport1 to follow those musical sounds1 mixed with a noise of stamping1 and you will find others profusely perspiring1 and violently fatiguing themselves1 in skipping up and down a room for a whole night1 and ridiculously turning their backs and faces to each other a hundred different ways4 ,would not a man of sense prefer running ten miles upon an useful errand1 to this useless manner of losing his rest1 heating his blood1 exhausting his spirits1 unfitting himself for the duties of the following day1 and laying the foundation of a putrid fever or a consumption1 by breathing the midnight air corrupted by clouds of dust1 by the unwholesome fumes of candles1 and by the more pernicious steam that issues from the bodies of many persons1 who use the strong exercise in a confined place4 8,in the next room they are more quiet1 but are they more rationally employed8 ,why do they so earnestly rattle those ivory cubes2 and so anxiously study those packs of loose and spotted leaves8 ,is happiness graven upon the one1 or stamped upon the other8 ,answer1 ye gamesters1 who curse your stars1 as ye go home with an empty purse and a heart full of rage4 8#8,we hope there is no harm in taking an innocent game at cards1' reply a ridiculous party of superannuated ladies2 #8gain is not our aim2 we only play to kill time4' ,you are not then so well employed as the foolish heathen emperor1 who amused himself in killing troublesome flies and wearisome time together4 ,the delight of rational creatures1 much more of ,christians on the brink of the grave1 is to redeem1 improve1 and solidly enjoy time2 but yours1 alas6 consists in the bare irreparable loss of that invaluable treasure4 ,oh6 what account will you give of the souls you neglect1 and the talents you bury8 8,and are public diversions better evidence of our innocence and happiness80 ,fletcher then proceeds to descant1 in the same style1 on theatrical performances1 annual wakes1 horse-racing1 cock-fighting1 man-fighting1 and dog-fighting2 and then concludes his 8,twenty-third ,argument10 as follows3-- 8,these are thy favourite amusements1 ,o ,england1 thou centre of the civilized world1 where reformed ,christianity1 deep-thinking wisdom1 and polite learning1 with all its refinements1 have fixed their abode6 ,but1 in the name of common sense1 how can we clear them from the imputation of absurdity1 folly1 and madness8 ,and by what means can they be reconciled1 ,i will not say to the religion of the meek ,jesus1 but to the philosophy of a ,plato1 or the calm reason of any thinking man8 ,how perverted must be the taste1 how irrational and cruel the diversions of barbarians1 in other parts of the globe6 ,and how applicable to all the wise man's observation3 #8,foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child1 and madness in the breasts of the sons of men6'0 ,further extensive extracts from ,fletcher's invaluable book need not be given here4 ,what he calls his 8,short ,defence of the ,oracles of ,god0 cannot be perused by any candid reader without the conviction being produced that infidelity1 in all its phases1 is the most unreasonable theory in existence4 ,from his thirty-six arguments1--unanswerable arguments1--he deduces ten inferences1 namely3-- 8#a4 ,if we are by nature in a corrupt and lost estate1 the grand business of ministers is to warn us of our imminent danger4 #b4 ,if we are naturally depraved and condemned creatures1 self-righteousness and pride are the most absurd and monstrous of all our sins4 #c4 ,if the corruption of mankind is universal and inveterate1 no mere creature can deliver them from it4 #d4 ,if our guilt is immense1 it cannot be expiated without a sacrifice of an infinite dignity4 #e4 ,if our spiritual maladies are both numerous and mortal1 we cannot recover the spiritual health that we enjoyed in our first parents1 but by the powerful help of our heavenly ,physician1 the second ,adam4 #f4 ,if our nature is so completely fallen and totally helpless1 that1 in spiritual things1 #8we are not sufficient of ourselves to think any thing' truly good #8as of ourselves1' it is plain we stand in absolute need of the ,spirit's assistance to enable us to pray1 repent1 believe1 love1 and obey aright4 #g4 ,if we are really and truly born in sin1 our regeneration cannot be a mere metaphor1 or a vain ceremony1 but real and positive4 #h4 ,if the fall of mankind in ,adam does not consist in a capricious imputation of his personal guilt1 but in a real1 present participation of his depravity1 impotence1 and misery1 the salvation that believers have in ,christ is not a capricious imputation of ,his personal righteousness1 but a real1 present participation of ,his purity1 power1 and blessedness1 together with pardon and acceptance4 #i4 ,if the corrupt nature1 which sinners derive from ,adam1 spontaneously produces all the wickedness that overspreads the earth1 the holy nature which believers receive from ,christ is spontaneously productive of all the fruits of righteousness described in the oracles of ,god4 #aj4 ,if corruption and sin work so powerfully and sensibly in the hearts of the unregenerate1 we may1 without deserving the name of enthusiasts1 affirm that the regenerate are sensible of the powerful effects of ,divine grace in their souls2 or1 to use the words of our ,seventeenth ,article1 we may say1 #8,they feel in themselves the workings of the ,spirit of ,christ4'0 ,when it is added that the doctrines1 from which these inferences are drawn1 are plainly stated1 and fully proved1 a good general idea of ,fletcher's book will be given4 ,his 8,concluding ,address to the ,serious ,reader1 who inquires1 ,what must ,i do to be saved80 has been read by myriads1 and cannot be read too much4 ,the last two paragraphs of his treatise must be quoted3-- 8,this book is chiefly recommended to disbelieving moralists1 who deride the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in the day of conversion1 merely because they are not properly acquainted with our fallen and lost estate4 ,and the ,checks are chiefly designed for disbelieving ,antinomians1 who rise against the doctrine of a believer's salvation by grace through the works of faith in the great day1 merely because they do not consider the indispensable necessity of evangelical obedience1 and the nature of the day of judgment4 8,in the ,appeal1 the careless1 self-conceited sinner is awakened and humbled4 ,in the ,address1 the serious1 humbled sinner is raised up and comforted4 ,and in the ,checks1 the foolish virgin is re-awakened1 the ,laodicean believer reproved1 the prodigal son lashed back to his father's house1 and the upright believer animated to mend his pace in the way of faith working by love1 and to perfect holiness in the fear of ,god40 ,such is ,fletcher's own accurate account of the important works he had hitherto committed to the press4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,wesley',s ,,designated ,,successor3 ,,the ,,penitent ,,thief3 ,a ,,dreadful ,,phenomenon1 ,,etc41 ,,etc4 #aggc4 ,,to preserve chronological order1 another chapter must be interjected before the history of the ,calvinian controversy is resumed4 ,in the month of ,january1 #aggc1 ,wesley sent to ,fletcher the remarkable letter with which the present work commences4 ,he wished ,fletcher to relinquish his vicarage1 and to put himself into training to become1 after ,wesley's death1 the 80 of the ,methodists4 ,wesley's health1 apparently1 was failing4 ,he was full of anxiety4 8,the body of the preachers10 he wrote1 8are not united3 nor will any part of them submit to the rest2 so that either there must be one to preside over all1 or the work will indeed come to an end40 ,subsequent events proved ,wesley's fears to be unfounded2 but1 for the time being1 they were real1 and disquieted him4 ,he wished to train his successor1 and to introduce him to the people4 ,he specified what he considered to be the necessary qualifications of such a man1 and regarded ,fletcher as the only one of his wide acquaintance as possessing them4 8,without conferring1 therefore1 with flesh and blood10 said he1 8come and strengthen the hands1 comfort the heart1 and share the labour of your affectionate friend and brother1 ,john ,wesley40 ,fletcher's reply to ,wesley's most important proposal was as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 4 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,i hope the ,lord1 who has so wonderfully stood by you hitherto1 will preserve you to see many of your sheep1 and me among them1 enter into rest4 ,should ,providence call you first1 ,i shall do my best1 by the ,lord's assistance1 to help your brother to gather the wreck1 and keep together those who are not absolutely bent to throw away the ,methodist doctrines and discipline1 as soon as he that now letteth is removed out of the way4 ,every help will then be necessary1 and ,i shall not be backward to throw in my mite4 8,in the meantime1 you sometimes need an assistant to serve tables1 and occasionally to fill up a gap4 ,providence visibly appointed me to that office many years ago4 ,and though it no less evidently called me hither1 yet ,i have not been without doubt1 especially for some years past1 whether it would not be expedient that ,i should resume my office as your deacon2 not with any view of presiding over the ,methodists after you2 but to ease you in your old age1 and to be in the way of recovering1 and1 perhaps1 doing more good4 ,i have sometimes thought how shameful it was that no clergyman should join you1 to keep in the ,church the work ,god has enabled you to carry on therein4 ,and1 as the little estate ,i have in my own country is sufficient for my maintenance1 ,i have thought ,i would1 one day or other1 offer you and the ,methodists my free service4 ,while my love of retirement made me linger1 ,i was providentially led to do something in ,lady ,huntingdon's plan2 but1 being shut out there1 it appears to me ,i am again called to my first work4 8,nevertheless1 ,i would not leave this place1 without a fuller persuasion that the time is quite come4 ,not that ,god uses me much here1 but ,i have not yet sufficiently cleared my conscience from the blood of all men4 ,meantime1 ,i beg the ,lord to guide me by ,his counsel1 and make me willing to go anywhere1 or nowhere1 to be anything1 or nothing4 8,help by your prayers1 till you can bless by word of mouth1 ,rev4 and dear ,sir1 your willing1 though unprofitable servant in the ,gospel1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#bhj ,footnote #bhj3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher10 p4 #ff4 ,fletcher did not decline ,wesley's proposal2 but he deferred coming to a decision until 8the time was quite come40 ,whether the proposal was afterwards formally renewed1 it is difficult to determine2 but ,dr4 ,whitehead1 who1 from #agfd to #agfi1 had been one of the itinerant preachers1 and who was well acquainted with both ,wesley and his friend ,fletcher1 remarks concerning ,wesley's request3-- 8,this warm and sincere invitation to a situation not only respected but even reverenced by so large a body of people1 must have been highly flattering to ,mr4 ,fletcher2 especially as it came from a person he most sincerely loved2 whose superior abilities1 learning1 and labours he admired2 and to whose success in the ministry he wished to give every assistance in his power4 ,but he well knew the embarrassments ,mr4 ,wesley met with in the government of the preachers1 though he alone1 under the providence of ,god1 had given existence to their present character1 influence1 and usefulness4 ,he was also well acquainted with the mutual jealousies the preachers had of each other1 and with their jarring interests3 and1 above all1 with the general determination which prevailed among them not to be under the control of any one man after the death of ,mr4 ,wesley4 ,under these circumstances1 he saw nothing before him but darkness1 storms1 and tempests1 with the most threatening dangers1 especially if he should live to be alone in the office4 ,he therefore determined not to launch his little bark on so tempestuous an ocean4 8,i cannot1 however1 but lament that he did not accept ,mr4 ,wesley's invitation1 as he would have done much good while he lived1 and have prevented many of the evils which have since taken place40#bha ,footnote #bha3 ,whitehead's 8,life of ,wesley10 vol4 ii41 p4 #cef4 ,the evils which ,dr4 ,whitehead deprecated were the resolutions enacted by the ,methodist ,conferences1 held after ,wesley's decease1 respecting the preachers being allowed to administer the sacraments to their ,societies1 to hold services in ,methodist chapels 8in church hours10 and other kindred matters4 ,of all this1 ,dr4 ,whitehead1 an able and honest man1 strongly disapproved1 and hence his regret that ,fletcher1 by declining ,wesley's invitation1 had not helped to1 at least1 postpone such serious changes4 ,wesley foresaw the probability1 and indeed the certainty1 of such changes being made1 and he also lamented ,fletcher's decision4 ,thirteen years afterwards1 in commenting upon ,fletcher's letter to himself1 he wrote3-- 8#8,providence1' says he1 #8visibly appointed me to that office' ,wesley's assistant #8many years ago4' ,is it any wonder then that he should now be in doubt whether he did right in confining himself to one spot8 ,the more ,i reflect upon it1 the more ,i am convinced he had great reason to doubt this4 ,i can never believe it was the will of ,god that such a burning and shining light should be hid under a bushel4 ,no2 instead of being confined to a country village1 it ought to have shone in every corner of our land4 ,he was full as much called to sound an alarm through all the nation as ,mr4 ,whitefield himself4 ,nay1 abundantly more so2 seeing he was far better qualified for that important work4 ,he had a more striking person1 equally good breeding1 an equally winning address1 together with a richer flow of fancy1 a stronger understanding2 a far greater treasure of learning1 both in languages1 philosophy1 philology1 and divinity2 and1 above all 7which ,i can speak with fuller assurance1 because ,i had a thorough knowledge both of one and the other71 a more deep and constant communion with the ,father1 and with the ,son1 ,jesus ,christ4 8,and yet let not any one imagine that ,i depreciate ,mr4 ,whitefield1 or undervalue the grace of ,god and the extraordinary gifts which his great ,master vouchsafed unto him4 ,i believe he was highly favoured of ,god2 yea1 that he was one of the most eminent ministers that has appeared in ,england1 or perhaps in the world1 during the present century4 ,yet ,i must own ,i have known many fully equal to ,mr4 ,whitefield1 both in holy tempers and holiness of conversation2 but one equal herein to ,mr4 ,fletcher ,i have not known2 no1 not in a life of fourscore years40#bhb ,footnote #bhb3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher10 p4 #fh4 ,no wonder that ,wesley lamented the course taken by his wished-for successor2 but it is rather difficult to say why ,wesley should cast upon him loving blame for confining his light 8to a country village40 ,fletcher's hands were full of literary works1 by means of which he had defended1 and continued to defend1 the doctrines which it was the object of ,wesley's life to propagate4 ,besides1 in about a year after ,wesley made his proposal1 ,fletcher's health began to fail1 and never after that was his physical vigour such as to enable him to undertake the laborious itinerancy which ,wesley contemplated and desired4 ,upon the whole1 it is an open question whether ,fletcher did not render greater service to ,wesley and the ,methodists by continuing his literary defence of their great and glorious doctrines than he would have done if he had accepted ,wesley's invitation to go into training to become his successor4 ,in other ways1 however1 besides his writings1 he rendered great assistance to his friend4 ,it was just after the time when ,wesley wrote his important letter that an incident occurred which is worth relating4 ,samuel ,bradburn1 a soldier's son1 was born at ,gibraltar in #agea4 ,at twelve years of age he was brought to ,england2 at nineteen became a ,methodist2 and at twenty-one began to preach4 ,during his residence at ,gibraltar1 he was sent to school at a penny a week2 but1 on the terms being raised to three-halfpence1 his mother took him away1 finding it inconvenient to be at such an expense for her son's education4 ,this was all the schooling that he had2 but he was taught to read at home1 and before he was eight years old had committed the histories of ,joseph and ,samson to memory4 ,on coming to ,england1 his parents settled at ,chester1 and he himself was apprenticed to a shoemaker4 ,in the week preceding ,easter1 in #aggc1 he set off to ,madeley to have an interview with ,fletcher1 whose 8,checks0 he had been reading4 ,on approaching the vicarage1 he saw a man working in the garden1 who1 addressing the young shoemaker1 said1 8,you see1 my brother1 a fulfilment of the curse1 #8,in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread4'0 ,bradburn1 stating who he was1 said he had not been at ,madeley before1 and wished to be introduced to ,mr4 ,fletcher4 8,i am ,john ,fletcher10 replied the amateur gardener4 ,bradburn1 for the moment1 was embarrassed2 but on saying that he had come to consult the vicar of ,madeley respecting his being called to engage in the ,christian ministry1 ,fletcher1 with his characteristic generosity1 led him into his house1 and requested him to become his guest4 ,the invitation was gratefully accepted1 and during his stay the young shoemaker was treated with paternal kindness4 ,bradburn1 like his host1 was an early riser1 and every morning was employed in finding the texts of ,scripture which ,fletcher wished to use in the 8,check0 he was then writing1 and in listening to ,fletcher's exposition of them4 ,when two or three hours had thus been spent1 the students went into the garden of the vicarage and had a spell at any kind of work that needed attention4 ,after this followed the plain gruel breakfast and domestic devotion4 ,then several more hours were employed in the vicar's study2 after which the master and the pupil set out to visit the parishioners4 ,every night in the week young ,bradburn preached in colliers' cottages1 or in the ,methodist meeting-house1 ,fletcher standing by his side1 and generally supplementing the sermon with additional remarks1 delivered with delicate tenderness1 and always concluded by a prayer4 ,to the end of life1 ,bradburn thankfully acknowledged that he greatly owed his subsequent eminence to this ,madeley visit4 ,when he was leaving1 the kind-hearted vicar said1 8,my little ,david1 go6 and if you preach forty years1 and save only a single soul1 don't think your time and labour have been lost40 ,bradburn always spoke of his early friend as 8,saint ,fletcher20 and often said1 that when he looked at the vicar of ,madeley he was almost ready to think the ,lord ,jesus ,christ stood before him in the person of ,his servant2 and in hours of depression1 when he found it difficult to pray1 he was wont to sigh and cry1 8,god of ,mr4 ,fletcher1 bless me60#bhc ,footnote #bhc3 ,miss ,bradburn's ,,mss41 and ,,ms4 by ,mr4 ,harrison1 of ,chester4 ,the ,methodist reader need not be told that ,fletcher's humble pupil rose to great eminence4 ,unquestionably he was the greatest pulpit orator that ,wesley ever had4 ,dr4 ,adam ,clarke1 who knew him well1 once said to a young preacher1 who wished his opinion concerning ,bradburn1 8,i have never heard his equal2 ,i can furnish you with no adequate idea of his powers as an orator2 we have not a man among us that will support anything like a comparison with him4 ,another ,bradburn must be created1 and you must hear him for yourself1 before you can receive a satisfactory answer to your inquiry40 ,in #ahag1 all the sermons that ,bradburn had published1 whether separately or in the ,methodist ,magazine1 were collected1 and published in a #ab mo4 volume of #ccb pages2 but1 as ,dr4 ,abel ,stevens well observes1 8,the eloquence of ,bradburn1 like that of ,whitefield1 could not be printed40 ,john ,fletcher rendered no small service to ,john ,wesley and the ,methodists by his brief training of the young shoemaker in #aggc4 ,while writing his 8,checks10 ,fletcher seems to have been obliged to curtail his correspondence with his friends4 ,at all events1 his published letters belonging to this period are few in number4 ,the following were written in #aggc4 ,the first was addressed to his friend ,mr4 ,vaughan1 the officer of ,excise at ,atcham1 with whom he became acquainted while he had the charge of the sons of ,mr4 ,hill3-- 8,,madeley1 4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1--,at the beginning of the week ,i received your kind letter1 and your kind present at the end of it4 ,for both ,i heartily thank you4 ,nevertheless1 ,i could wish it were your last present1 for ,i find it more blessed to give than to receive2 and in point of the good things of this life my body does not want much1 and ,i can do with what is more common1 and cheaper1 than the rarities you ply me with4 8,your bounty upon bounty reminds me of the repeated mercies of our ,god4 ,they follow one another as wave does wave at sea2 and all to waft us to the pleasing shore of confidence and gratitude1 where we can not only cast anchor near1 but calmly stand on the ,rock of ,ages1 and defy the rage of tempests4 ,but you complain1 you are not there2 billows of temptation drive you from the haven where you would be1 and you cry out still1 #8,oh wretched man6 who shall deliver me8' 8,here ,i would ask1 ,are you willing1 really willing1 to be delivered8 ,is your sin1 is the prevalence of temptation1 a burden too heavy for you to bear8 ,if it is1 if your complaint is not a kind of religious compliment1 be of good cheer--only believe4 ,look up6 for your redemption draweth near4 ,he is near that delivers1 that justifies1 that sanctifies you4 ,cast your soul upon ,him4 ,an act of faith will help you to a lift2 but one act of faith will not do4 ,faith must be our life2 ,i mean in conjunction with its grand object4 ,you cannot live by one breath2 you must breathe on1 and draw the electric1 vital fire into your lungs together with the air4 ,so you must believe1 and draw the ,divine power1 the fire of ,jesu's love1 together with the truth of the ,gospel1 which is the blessed element in which believers live4 8,my kind ,christian love to ,mrs4 ,vaughan4 ,tell her ,i am filled with joy in thinking that1 though we no more serve the same earthly master1#bhd yet we still serve the same heavenly one2 who will1 ere long1 admit us to sit with ,abraham himself1 if we hold fast our confidence to the end4 8,beware of the world4 ,if you have losses1 be not cast down1 nor root in the earth with more might and main to repair them4 ,if prosperity smiles upon you1 you are in double danger4 ,think1 my friend1 that earthly prosperity is like a coloured cloud1 which passes away and is soon lost in the shades of night and death4 ,beware of hurry4 ,martha1 ,martha1 one thing is needful6 ,choose it1 stand to your choice1 and the good part shall not be taken from you by sickness or death4 ,god bless you and yours with all that makes for ,his glory and your peace4 8,i am1 my dear friend1 yours1 etc41 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#bhe ,footnote #bhd3 ,from this1 it would appear that ,mrs4 ,vaughan1 previous to her marriage1 had been in the employ of ,mr4 ,hill1 of ,tern ,hall4 ,footnote #bhe3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #baf4 ,the following extracts are taken from a letter addressed to ,james ,ireland1 ,esq41 of ,brislington1 who had suggested to ,fletcher the expediency of publishing in the ,french language his 8,appeal to ,matter of ,fact and ,common ,sense40 8,,madeley1 ,september #ba1 #aggc4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1--,i have considered what you say about the translation of my #8,appeal2' and ,i think ,i might do it some day2 nay1 ,i tried to turn a paragraph or two the day after ,i received your letter1 but found it would be a difficult1 if not an impossible work for me4 ,i am sure ,i could not do it abroad4 ,on a journey1 ,i am just like a cask of wine--,i am good for nothing till ,i have some time to settle4 8,what you say about ,mr4 ,wesley adds weight to your kind arguments4 ,my spiritual circumstances are what ,i must look at4 ,i tremble lest outward things should hurt me4 ,the multiplicity of objects and avocations1 which attend travelling1 is not suited to my case4 ,i think1 all things considered1 ,i should sin against my conscience in going1 unless ,i had a call from necessity1 or from clearer providences4 8,my last #8,check' will be as much in behalf of free grace as of holiness2 so ,i hope1 upon that plan1 all the candid and moderate will be able to shake hands4 ,it will be of a reconciling nature2 and ,i call it an #8,equal ,check to ,pharisaism and ,antinomianism4' 8,i see life so short1 and time passes away with such rapidity1 that ,i should be very glad to spend it in solemn prayer2 but it is necessary that a man should have some exterior occupation4 ,the chief thing is to employ ourselves profitably4 ,my throat is not formed for the labours of preaching4 ,when ,i have preached three or four times together1 it inflames and fills up2 and the efforts1 which ,i am then obliged to make1 heat my blood4 ,thus1 ,i am1 by nature1 as well as by the circumstances ,i am in1 obliged to employ my time in writing a little4 ,o that ,i may be enabled to do it to the glory of ,god6 8,let us love this good ,god1 who hath #8so loved the world1 that ,he gave ,his ,only-begotten ,son that we might not perish1 but have everlasting life4' ,how sweet is it1 on our knees1 to receive this ,jesus1 this heavenly gift1 and to offer our praises and thanks to our heavenly ,father6 ,the ,lord teaches me four lessons2 the first is to be thankful that ,i am not in hell2 the second1 to become nothing before ,him2 the third1 to receive the gift of ,god2 and the fourth is to feel my want of the ,spirit of ,jesus1 and to wait for it4 ,these four lessons are very deep4 ,o when shall ,i have learned them6 ,let us go together to the school of ,jesus1 and learn to be meek and lowly in heart4 ,adieu6 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#bhf ,footnote #bhf3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bah4 ,the above is the first time that ,fletcher complains of his throat4 ,this affection1 in itself1 apart from the other reason he mentions1 was quite sufficient to justify his hesitancy in complying with ,wesley's request to devote himself to the itinerancy1 and to train himself to become ,wesley's successor4 ,before returning to the ,calvinian controversy1 two other incidents1 belonging to the year #aggc1 must be mentioned4 8,john ,wilkes10 says ,fletcher1 8was born at ,darlaston4 ,his father dying when he was a child1 his mother bound him an apprentice to a collier1 who delighted in cock-fighting1 and who was killed by a quantity of coals falling upon him in the pit4 ,the collier's widow1 being unable to manage ,wilkes1 released him from his apprenticeship for a trifling sum of money4 ,he began to steal fowls1 that he might have the pleasure of fighting those that would fight1 and eating those that would not4 ,two or three years ago he was committed to ,stafford jail1 and soon after publicly whipped for that offence4 ,from breaking into hen-roosts1 he proceeded to break into and to rob the dwelling-house of a widow at ,darlaston2 and1 going upon the highway1 he robbed a man of his watch and some money4 ,he was taken1 and recommitted to ,stafford jail4 ,he took his trial at the last assizes2 and1 being found guilty of the above-mentioned robberies1 received sentence of death1 with another young man1 who had set fire to some barns1 and a stack of hay40 ,john ,wilkes' eldest sister was ,fletcher's servant1 and to her the convict wrote the following3-- 8,,stafford ,,jail1 ,march #ag1 #aggc4 8,this informs you of my being a convict under sentence of death4 ,i beg you will endeavour to prevail on ,mr4 ,fletcher to grant me his interest for a reprieve1 by getting me recommended to his majesty's mercy4 ,and ,i tenderly beg you will come over and see me here in a few days1 who am your poor unfortunate brother1 8,,john ,,wilkes40 ,fletcher declined to interfere1 but wrote a long letter to the convict1 dated 8,madeley1 ,march #bc1 #aggc40 ,he says3-- 8,,john ,,wilkes1--,your sister desiring me to make application to some person in power1 to get you reprieved for transportation1 ,i take this first opportunity of informing you that ,i was once concerned in saving a young man from the gallows1 because he was condemned for his first offence1 which was robbing his master of money1 and that ,i had no thanks1 but many upbraidings for my pains2 the poor creature having turned out very bad1 done much mischief before he left ,england1 and being spared1 ,i fear1 only to hurt his fellow-creatures1 and fill up the measure of his iniquities4 8,besides1 you know1 ,john1 that your crimes are of the most capital nature4 ,you are not only a housebreaker1 but a highwayman1 and a very notorious offender4 ,you know you have committed crimes enough to hang two or three men1 perhaps half-a-dozen4 ,and so far as ,i can gather from a variety of circumstances1 you are the very person that broke open my house over the way1 and robbed the poor widow who lives in it4 ,if you committed that robbery1 ,i desire you to confess it before you leave this world2 for #8he that confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall obtain mercy2' while he that tells lies to conceal them1 pulls down double vengeance upon his guilty head4 8,but whether you committed that robbery or not1 ,i earnestly desire that you will submit to your sentence4 ,i neither can nor will meddle in that affair2 nor have ,i any probability of success if ,i did4 ,apply then yourself1 night and day1 to the ,king of heaven for grace and mercy4 ,if you cry to ,him from the bottom of your heart1 as a condemned dying man1 who deserves hell as well as the gallows2 if you sincerely confess your crimes1 and beg the ,son of ,god1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 to intercede for you1 it is not too late to get your soul reprieved4 ,he will speak for you to ,god ,almighty2 ,he will pardon all your sins2 ,he will wash you in ,his most precious blood2 ,he will stand by you in your extremity2 ,he will deliver you out of the hands of the hellish executioner2 and1 though you have lived the life of the wicked1 ,he will help you to die the death of the penitent4 ,he can feel for poor condemned thieves2 for ,he himself was condemned to be hanged on a tree2 not indeed for ,his own sins1 for ,he never transgressed1 but for your crimes and mine40 8,on ,saturday1 ,march #bg10 continues ,fletcher in his narrative1 8,i gave a few lines for the keeper of ,stafford jail1 to ,sarah ,wilkes1 the malefactor's sister1 and to ,elizabeth ,childs1 a serious woman1 whom she had got to bear her company2 and1 when ,i had recommended in prayer the condemned criminals to the ,redeemer's compassion1 and their feeble visitors to the protection of ,him ,who can give wisdom to the simple1 they set out to see ,john ,wilkes1 and administer some spiritual comfort to him before he launched into eternity40 ,the poor women met with a rough reception at ,stafford prison4 ,the jailer1 a fair specimen of officials in other prisons1 at that period1 said1 8,what do you want with ,john ,wilkes8 to preach him a sermon1 and sing psalms8 ,i know very well what you are1 a parcel of canting hypocrites40 ,sarah ,wilkes and ,elizabeth ,childs showed themselves to be apt pupils of the ,vicar of ,madeley4 ,in the ,journal of their nine days' visit they wrote3-- 8,we were much discouraged at the jailer's behaviour4 ,so we agreed to lay the matter before ,god in prayer1 and beg of ,him that ,he would touch the jailer's heart1 and cause him to let us in4 ,the next morning1 which was ,sunday1 after begging hard for grace1 wisdom1 and courage1 we went to the prison2 and1 to our great surprise1 the turnkey opened the door1 and1 without speaking a word1 took us straight to the condemned men1 and let us be with them as long as we thought proper2 a liberty which we were allowed twice a day till they suffered40 ,john ,wilkes confessed to the two women that he had robbed the house at ,madeley1 in which the poor widow lived4 ,he became a penitent4 ,the nine days' ,journal of his sister and ,elizabeth ,childs concludes thus3-- 8,saturday1 ,april #c1 the day of his execution1 ,john ,wilkes was exceeding happy1 and employed in breathing out prayers and praises to ,god4 ,in the morning1 we spent about two hours with him and his fellow-prisoner1 praying and praising together in their dungeon1 with much brokenness of heart1 and many tears of joy and sorrow2 for we were both persuaded that ,john ,wilkes had saving faith1 and an unshaken well-grounded confidence that ,god would take him to glory4 8,about two hours before the execution1 which was between four and five in the afternoon1 his sister asked1 #8,dost thou find thyself happy in the ,lord8' ,to which he answered1 #8,yes1 ,i do1 ,i do1 more and more4' 8,when they were come to the place of execution1 ,john ,wilkes's companion desired the spectators1 especially young people1 to take warning by them2 which was the more affecting1 as he was supposed to be only about twenty years old1 and ,john ,wilkes was not above nineteen4 ,they sang and prayed some time under the gallows2 and the last words ,john ,wilkes was heard to speak were1 #8,lord1 from this place receive me into ,thy heavenly kingdom6'0 ,some will condemn ,fletcher's action1 or rather inaction1 in the case of ,john ,wilkes2 but1 a hundred years ago1 public opinion respecting crimes1 criminals1 and criminal punishment was widely different from the public opinion of the present day4 ,it certainly seems to be a savage thing to hang a youth of nineteen years of age for thieving2 but the law of the land authorized this2 and ,fletcher evidently had but little hope of any good arising from reprievement in a case like that of ,wilkes4 ,perhaps he was right1 or perhaps he was wrong4 ,at all events1 ,wilkes became a penitent thief1 and1 as such1 his sister and his sister's master had reason to rejoice and to give thanks4 ,fletcher immediately published a pamphlet on the occasion with the title1 8,the ,penitent ,thief2 or1 a ,narrative of ,two ,women1 fearing ,god1 who ,visited in ,prison a ,highwayman1 executed at ,stafford1 ,april #c1 #aggc4 ,with a ,letter to a ,condemned ,malefactor4 ,and a ,penitential ,office1 for either a true ,churchman1 or a dying ,criminal1 extracted from the ,scriptures and the ,established ,liturgy40 ,nothing more need be said1 except that the 8,penitential ,office0 was compiled 8entirely from the ,scriptures and the ,liturgy of the ,church of ,england20 that it was suitable for either a living sinner or a dying thief2 and that1 to excite1 exercise1 and increase his own repentance1 ,fletcher himself was accustomed to use it in his private devotions4 ,a few weeks after the execution of ,john ,wilkes another event occurred1 which must be noticed4 ,the following is taken from ,lloyd's ,evening ,post1 of ,june #aa1 #aggc3-- 8,an authentic account of the earthquake at the ,birches1 about a mile above the bottom of ,coalbrookdale1 ,shropshire4 8,in the dead of the night1 between ,tuesday the #beth and ,wednesday the #bfth ult41 ,samuel ,wilcocks's wife1 who lived in a small house at the ,birches1 was sitting up in bed1 to take care of one of her children1 who was ill1 when she perceived the bed shake under her1 and observed some balm tea in a cup to be so agitated that it was spilled4 8,on ,thursday morning1 the #bgth1 ,samuel ,wilcocks and ,john ,roberts 7who likewise lived in the house at the ,birches7 got up about four o'clock1 and1 opening their window to see what the weather was1 observed a crack in the ground four or five inches wide1 and a field sown with oats heaving and rolling like waves of water4 ,the trees moved as if blown with wind1 though the air was calm and serene4 ,the ,severn 7in which at that time was a considerable flood7 was much agitated1 and seemed to run upwards4 ,the house shook2 and1 in a great fright1 ,wilcocks and ,roberts roused the rest of the family1 and ran out of doors4 ,immediately1 about thirty acres of land1 with the hedges and trees standing1 moved with great force and swiftness towards the ,severn4 ,near the river was a small wood1 in which grew twenty large oaks4 ,the wood was pushed with such velocity into the channel of the ,severn1 that it drove the bed of the river on the opposite shore many feet above the surface of the water1 where it lodged1 as did one side of the wood4 ,the current of the river was instantly stopped4 ,this occasioned a great inundation above1 and so sudden a fall below1 that many fish were left on dry land4 ,the river took its course over a large meadow1 and in three days wore a navigable channel4 ,a turnpike road was moved more than thirty yards4 ,a barn was carried about the same distance1 and was left as a heap of rubbish in a large chasm4 ,the house0 7in which ,wilcocks lived7 8received but little damage2 but the garden hedge was removed about fifty yards4 ,several long and deep chasms are formed in the upper part of the land from fourteen to upwards of thirty yards wide1 in which are many pyramids of earth standing1 with the green turf remaining on the tops of some of them4 ,the land on both sides the river is the property of ,walter ,acton ,moseley1 ,esq41 who1 we hear1 has sustained a damage of six or seven hundred pounds4 8,on ,friday1 the #bhth1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 preached a sermon upon the ground1 to an audience of more than one thousand people4 ,in a most pathetic discourse1 he expatiated on the works of ,divine ,providence2 recommended his hearers to prepare for the last great and awful day2 and expressed the hope that the present dreadful scene would prove a sufficient warning to them4 8,t4 ,,addenbrooke4 8,coalbrooke ,dale1 ,june #d1 #aggc44png 0 ,so long an extract from a newspaper would hardly have been proper in a 8,life of ,fletcher10 but for the fact that ,fletcher himself immediately published a bulky pamphlet of #ajd pages1 on the same event4 ,its long title was the following3 8,a ,dreadful ,phenomenon described and improved4 ,being a ,particular ,account of the ,sudden ,stoppage of the ,river ,severn1 and of the ,terrible ,desolation that happened at the ,birches1 between ,coalbrook ,dale and ,buildwas ,bridge1 in ,shropshire1 on ,thursday morning1 ,may #bg1 #aggc4 ,and the ,substance of a ,sermon1 preached the next day1 on the ruins1 to a vast concourse of spectators4 ,by ,john ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 in ,shropshire1 and ,chaplain to the ,right ,hon4 the ,earl of ,buchan4 ,shrewsbury1 #aggc4 ,price1 ,one ,shilling40 ,thirty-three pages of ,fletcher's publication are filled with a description of the 8,dreadful ,phenomenon40 ,this is dated 8,madeley1 ,july #f1 #aggc40 ,no useful purpose would be served by quoting ,fletcher's account of what he heard and saw2 but the following extract will show how he was led to preach his sermon3-- 8,should the reader desire to know why ,i preached upon the ruins1 ,i will ingenuously tell him4 ,the day the earth opened at the ,birches1 as ,i considered one of the chasms1 several of my parishioners gathered around me4 ,i observed to them1 that1 the sight before us was a remarkable confirmation of the first argument of a book called1 #8,an ,appeal to ,matter of ,fact1 or a ,rational ,demonstration of ,man's ,fallen and ,lost ,estate1' which ,i had just published1 as a last effort to awaken to a sense of the fear of ,god the careless gentlemen of my parish1 to whom it is dedicated4 ,having a few copies about me1 which ,i was going to present to some of them1 ,i begged leave to read that argument4 8,i concluded my reading and remarks by thanksgiving and prayer2 and1 perceiving that seriousness sat upon all faces1 ,i told the people1 that1 if they would come again the next evening to the same place1 ,i would endeavour to improve the loud call to repentance1 which ,god had given us that day4 8,they readily consented2 and when ,i came1 at the time appointed1 to my great surprise1 ,i found a vast concourse of people1 and among them several of my parishioners1 who had never been at church in all their life4 ,after a prayer and thanksgiving suitable to the uncommon circumstances1 ,i preached a sermon1 of which1 so far as ,i can recollect1 the reader may find the substance1 with some additions1 in the following pages4 ,may it have a better effect upon him than it had upon some of the gentlemen who heard it6 ,instead of a prayer-book1 they pulled out their favourite companion1 a bottle2 and imparted the strong contents to each other1 as heartily as ,i did the awful contents of my text to the decent part of the congregation4 ,gentle reader1 receive them as cordially as they did their stupifying antidote1 and ,i ask no more40 ,this1 certainly1 was a disgraceful scene1 but not so disgraceful as that which occurred a few days afterwards1 and which ,fletcher1 in a foot-note1 relates4 ,among the many thousands1 who came to view the results of the earthquake1 were a company from ,bridgnorth1 headed by a young clergyman1 who 8brought music along with them1 and set a-dancing upon the very place where the awful earthquake had happened40 ,the text of ,fletcher's almost impromptu sermon was ,numb4 xvi4 #cj--cd4 ,the sermon itself occupies seventy pages4 ,addressing the irreverent 8gentlemen0 before him1 the bold preacher cried3-- 8,o ye ,christian ,dathans1 ye lofty ,abirams1 ye1 who1 like those proud ,israelites1 are in your respective parishes #8princes of the assembly1 famous in the congregation1 men of renown1' the eyes of this populous neighbourhood are upon you1 especially the eyes of poor illiterate colliers1 waggoners1 and watermen4 ,do you not consider that they mind your examples1 rather than ,god's precepts8 ,are you not aware that they follow you as a bleating flock follows the first wandering sheep8 ,because they cannot read the sacred pages1 or even tell the first letters of the alphabet1 think you they cannot read secret contempt of ,almighty ,god on the sleeves1 in which they sometimes see you laugh at godliness8 ,and suppose ye1 they cannot make out open pollution of ,his ,sabbaths when they see the remarkable seats1 which you so frequently leave empty at church8 ,do you not know that the lessons of practical atheism1 which you thus give them in the free school of bad example1 they learn without delay1 practise without remorse1 and teach others with unwearied diligence8 ,alas6 the pattern of indevotion1 which you set in the house of ,god1 carries1 before you are aware1 its baneful influence through a hundred private houses4 ,oh6 how many are now numbered among the dead1 who have taken to the ways of destruction by following you6 ,how many are yet unborn1 upon whom a curse will be entailed1 in consequence of the spreading plague of irreligion1 which their parents have caught from you6 ,and shall not their blood be1 more or less1 required at your hands8 #8,shall not ,i visit for these things1 saith the ,lord8 ,shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this8'0 ,this was fearless speaking1 and not likely to increase ,fletcher's popularity among his rich1 dissolute parishioners4 ,the following extract is struck upon another key3-- 8,although we cannot all #8sing the song of the ,lamb1' yet1 glory be to ,god6 we all consider the patience of our offended ,creator1 who1 upon these ruins1 invites us to repent and live4 ,the earth1 in the days of ,moses1 opened her mouth1 and dreadfully swallowed up two families4 ,the earth yesterday opened her mouth1 probably far wider1 and yet the only two families that lived here were suffered to make their escape4 ,allelujah6 ,praise the ,lord6 ,multitudes of fishes have perished on dry ground1 and myriads of land insects in the waters2 and yet we1 sinful insects before ,god1 have neither been drowned in yesterday's flood1 nor buried in these chasms3 ,allelujah6 ,god's tremendous axe has been lifted up2 some of yonder green trees have been struck2 and we1 who are dry trees1 we1 cumberers of the ground1 are graciously spared2 ,allelujah6 ,the house of ,dathan and ,abiram1 with all that appertained unto them1 descended into the pit of destruction2 and we1 who are loaded with mountains of sins1 stand yet upon firm ground1 with all our friends4 ,allelujah6 ,god1 who might have commanded the earth to swallow up a thronged play-house1 the royal exchange1 a crowded cathedral1 the parliament house1 or the king's palace1 has graciously commanded an empty barn to sink1 and give us the alarm4 ,allelujah6 ,he might have ordered such a tract of land as this1 to heave1 move1 and open in the centre of our populous cities2 but mercy has inclined ,him to fix upon this solitary place4 ,allelujah6 ,he might have suffered the road and the river to be overthrown1 when cursing drivers passed with their horses1 and blaspheming watermen with their barges2 but ,his compassion made ,him strike the warning blow with all possible tenderness4 #8,o that men would therefore praise the ,lord for ,his goodness1 and declare the wonders that ,he does for the children of men6'0 ,these two extracts from the sermon preached on this remarkable occasion must suffice2 but one of ,fletcher's foot-notes may be added3-- 8,a woman1 thirty-five years of age1 passing before a looking-glass the day after she heard this sermon1 was surprised to see an unusual paleness upon her face4 ,she called her husband1 told him she was a dying woman1 and actually died in a quarter of an hour4 ,she heard me on the ,friday1 and ,i buried her the ,monday following4 ,another middle-aged person1 who was also among my hearers1 was buried the next day in the next parish4 ,how soon may we be called to give an account of what we speak or hear1 write or read60 ,the anti-evangelical ,monthly ,review of ,november1 #aggc1 in noticing ,fletcher's publication1 remarked3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher1 who is a man of learning and considerable abilities1 has given us a curious account of this phenomenon1 which has been so frequently mentioned in our newspapers4 ,he has minutely1 but in very flowery language1 described the awful appearances left by this extraordinary convulsion of the earth2 and he fairly states the different opinions which were formed in regard to the cause of so wonderful an event4 ,mr4 ,fletcher tells us that he piously chose to take advantage of the seriousness stamped1 by this alarming occurrence1 on the minds of the country people1 in order to press upon them a proper sense of the first or moral cause of so tremendous a dispensation2 and this he has done in a manner as rational as could be well expected from the peculiarity of the occasion and the known enthusiastic spirit of the preacher40 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 8,,the ,,finishing ,,stroke10 8,,the ,,christian ,,world ,,unmasked10 8,,mr4 ,,richard ,,hill',s ,,three ,,letters40 #aggc4 ,,after this long and awkward interruption1 there must now be a return to the wearisome ,calvinian controversy4 ,early in the year #aggc1 ,mr4 ,richard ,hill published an #hvo4 pamphlet of #eg pages1 with the title1 8,the ,finishing ,stroke3 containing some ,strictures on the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,fletcher's ,pamphlet1 entitled ,logica ,genevensis1 or a ,fourth ,check to ,antinomianism40 8,the ,finishing ,stroke60 remarked the ,monthly ,review for ,march1 #aggc4 8,no--we are afraid not6 ,we shall certainly have more last words from ,shropshire4 ,here is a fresh attack on the ,vicar of ,madeley4 ,mr4 ,hill does not seem at all inclined to let ,mr4 ,fletcher remain master of the field1 for want of an opponent1 #8notwithstanding the resolution he had formed of being silent4'--,vide advert4 prefixed to the #8,finishing ,stroke4'0 ,mr4 ,hill's pamphlet is dated ,january #b1 #aggc1 and addressed to ,fletcher4 ,he begins by saying3-- 8,last ,saturday1 and not before1 ,i received your ,logica ,genevensis1 or ,fourth ,check to ,antinomianism2 and am truly sorry to find that neither the spirit of the piece1 nor the doctrine it contains1 is a jot better than what appeared in the former ,checks40 ,mr4 ,richard ,hill was angrier than ever4 ,want of space renders it impossible to examine his theology2 and to quote his calumnious accusations is unsavoury work2 and yet the latter must be done1 for the employment of these slanders was1 at least1 one of the reasons why the controversy was continued4 ,perhaps1 ,fletcher was not averse to fighting4 ,he liked an honourable contest1 especially if it was likely to repress evil1 or to promote good4 ,to do this had been his chief1 almost his only object during the last two years2 but now his own reputation was at stake1 and he was bound to defend himself1 as well as to defend the doctrines he had expounded and enforced4 8,the purest treasure mortal times afford1 ,is spotless reputation2 that away1 ,men are but gilded loam1 or painted clay40 ,on the ninth page of his pamphlet1 ,richard ,hill politely asks poor ,fletcher1 8,can you wonder1 ,sir1 that we look upon you as a spiritual calumniator1 and that we accuse you of vile falsehood and gross perversion80 ,on the next page1 ,mr4 ,hill remarks3-- 8,i know1 ,sir1 that it was a warm attachment to your friend1 which occasioned you to run the lengths you have done4 ,but dear as that friend is to you1 truth ought to be dearer still2 yet the maxim1 which you seem all along to pursue1 is1 that ,mr4 ,wesley must be vindicated2 yea1 though all the ministers in the kingdom1 yourself not excepted1 should fall to the ground4 ,but what makes us still more sensibly feel the power of your pen is that our tenets are most shamefully 7would ,i could say unintentionally7 misrepresented1 in order to prejudice the world against us1 and to make them believe we hold sentiments which from our inmost souls we most cordially detest2 particularly with regard to the doctrines of election and perseverance1 which you have made to stand upon a pillory as high as ,haman's gallows1 dressed up in a frightful garb of your own invention1 and then pelted them till all your mud and dirt was exhausted4 8,mr4 ,wesley has nothing to do but hold up his finger in order to prevent thousands of his followers from ever looking into anything that is written against his own faction1 and to make them believe that the ,four ,checks 7as they are called7 contain the medulla of the ,christian religion4 ,be this as it will1 the unfair quotations you have made1 and the shocking misrepresentations and calumnies you have been guilty of1 will1 for the future1 prevent me from looking into any of your books1 if you should write a thousand volumes4 ,so here the controversy must end2 at least it shall end for me40 8,i cannot1 however1 conclude without again acknowledging that1 in the sight of men1 your life is exemplary1 and your walk outwardly blameless0 7p4 #da74 ,mr4 ,richard ,hill added a 8,postscript0 of ten pages to his long letter1 the postscript chiefly consisting of extracts from one of ,fletcher's sermons1 preached in ,madeley ,church1 eleven years before1 and of which ,mr4 ,hill happened to possess a manuscript copy4 ,the text was ,rom4 xi4 #e1 #f4 ,mr4 ,hill says he regards this sermon as 8the best confutation0 of ,wesley's 8,minutes10 and of ,fletcher's 8,checks20 and that1 because he so regarded it1 he had actually sent it to press2 but1 doubting the fairness and uprightness of such a proceeding without obtaining the preacher's permission1 he had 8stopped the publication40 ,mr4 ,hill1 however1 now published extracts from the sermon1 without ,fletcher's permission2 and this induced ,fletcher to re-preach his sermon with additions and explanations4 ,this was done in ,madeley ,church1 on ,may #bc1 #aggc1 and the sermon1 thus revised1 was published in the ,first ,part of ,fletcher's 8,equal ,check to ,pharisaism and ,antinomianism10 in #aggd4 ,it would be easy to pick out of ,mr4 ,hill's 8,finishing ,stroke0 not a few most shameful opprobriums4 ,fletcher is accused of 8descending to the poor illiberal arts of forgery and defamation1 in order to blacken his opponents1 and to establish his own pernicious principles40 8,he had used high-flown sarcastic declamation1 base forgeries1 and gross misrepresentations40 ,such were some of the acerbities of ,richard ,hill4 ,he was the slanderer2 not ,fletcher4 ,the latter was too much a gentleman1 to say nothing of his being a ,christian1 to indulge in such scurrilous vituperation4 ,the two men had been engaged in a theological combat2 ,hill had been utterly vanquished2 and1 instead of meekly acknowledging his defeat1 he dishonourably abused his victorious opponent4 ,with respect to his conversion1 he was more indebted to ,fletcher than to any other man2 but this was now forgotten4 ,the ,vicar of ,madeley1 whom he had so greatly loved1 had become the object of his scorn4 ,immediately after the publication of his 8,finishing ,stroke10 ,mr4 ,richard ,hill committed to the press another #hvo pamphlet1 of #fc pages1 entitled1 8,logica ,wesleiensis2 or1 ,the ,farrago ,double ,distilled4 ,with an ,heroic ,poem in ,praise of ,mr4 ,john ,wesley40 ,mr4 ,hill1 in addressing ,wesley1 says3-- 8,i have never seen you above four or five times in my whole life2 once in the pulpit at ,west ,street ,chapel2 once at a friend's house2 and once or twice1 at my request1 you were so kind as to drink a forbidden dish of tea with me1 when ,i lodged in ,vine ,street1 ,st4 ,james's1 as ,i wanted to speak to you concerning a poor man in your connections48 ,by his own confession1 it is evident that ,mr4 ,hill's personal knowledge of ,wesley was very slight1 and yet1 in his 8,logica ,wesleiensis10 he abuses him more ferociously than he had abused ,fletcher in his 8,finishing ,stroke40 ,of the contumely hurled at ,wesley1 nothing will be said here1 but two or three extracts concerning ,fletcher must be introduced3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher affirms that all the ,protestant ,churches1 the old ,calvinist ministers1 and ,puritan divines1 are on the side of the #8,minutes4' ,mr4 ,hill makes it appear1 as clear as the sun1 that this is a point-blank falsehood as ever was written0 7p4 #g74 8,mr4 ,wesley revised1 corrected1 and gave his own imprimatur to all ,mr4 ,fletcher's ,checks1 throughout which1 ,mr4 ,john is the ,alpha and the ,omega0 7p4 #ec74bhg 8,since the foregoing pages were finished in manuscript1 ,i have seen ,mr4 ,fletcher's #8,logica ,genevensis1 or ,fourth ,check to ,antinomianism4' ,though ,i fully intended to have been silent1 the many perversions and misrepresentations which ,i have detected under the cover of much professed candour1 will oblige me once more to enter the lists with my able antagonist2 but1 despairing of my own skill1 ,i must beg leave to call in the ,vicar of ,madeley1 to be my second2 and happily for this purpose ,i have preserved a sermon of his1 which was preached by him only a few years ago1 in his own parish church1 from ,rom4 xi4 #e1 #f4 ,i think it is by far the best refutation of the unscriptural doctrine contained in the #8,minutes1' and in all the #8,checks1' which ,i have yet seen4 ,as this sermon was publicly delivered before a very numerous congregation1 and copies of it handed about1 by the preacher's own permission2 and as he tells us that he is determined1 ,god being his helper1 to preach the doctrine therein contained1 till his tongue cleave to the roof of his mouth1--no reasonable person can think that there is the least unfairness in my availing myself of so powerful an ally2 and ,i solemnly declare1 upon the word of a ,christian1 that1 in the few extracts ,i may make from it1 ,i will not alter the least jot or tittle from the manuscript1 and only make some marginal notes and observations upon it0 7p4 #ei74 ,footnote #bhg3 ,this was not true1 at all events1 so far as the 8,fourth ,check0 was concerned4 ,see ,wesley's ,works1 vol4 x41 p4 #djj4 ,mr4 ,richard ,hill might think there was nothing unfair in publishing another man's manuscript without his permission2 but men of honour will disagree with him4 ,even if the manuscript had contained doctrines at variance with some propounded in ,fletcher's 8,checks10 what then8 ,eleven years had elapsed since the sermon was composed and preached2 and surely ,fletcher was not to be blamed and lashed if1 during such a lengthened period1 he had modified some of his theological opinions4 ,fletcher had no choice left to him but to re-examine his old sermon1 and ascertain if it contained anything contrary to the doctrines advocated in his 8,checks40 ,meanwhile1 another opponent had entered the battle-field4 ,just at this juncture1 honest1 and good1 though eccentric1 ,john ,berridge1 ,vicar of ,everton1 published his well-known book1 entitled1 8,the ,christian ,world ,unmasked4 ,pray ,come and ,peep40 #abmo1 #bbi pp4 ,the doctrines so quaintly taught by ,berridge were the doctrines of ,richard ,hill and his ,calvinistic friends2 but ,berridge was too loving a ,christian to display ,richard ,hill's acrimonious spirit4 ,the names of ,wesley and ,fletcher were not once mentioned in the whole of his performance2 though1 of course1 their tenets were attacked4 ,no one could find fault with this2 but ,fletcher felt it his duty to answer his dear old friend at ,everton4 ,writing to ,john ,thornton1 ,esq41 on ,august #ah1 #aggc1 ,berridge remarked3-- 8,in a letter1 just received from ,mr4 ,fletcher1 he says1 #8,what you have said about sincere obedience has touched the apple of ,god's eye1 and is the very core of ,antinomianism4#bhh ,you have done your best to disparage sincere obedience1 and1 in a pamphlet ready for the press1 ,i have freely exposed what you have written4' ,then he cries out1 in a declamatory style1 #8,for ,god's sake1 let us only speak against insincere and ,pharisaical obedience4' ,indeed1 ,i thought ,i had been writing against insincere obedience throughout the pamphlet2 and that every one1 who has eyes1 must see it clearly2 but ,i suppose ,mr4 ,fletcher's spectacles invert objects1 and make people walk with their heads downwards40#bhi ,footnote #bhh3 ,in a letter to the ,rev4 ,john ,newton1 of ,olney1 dated ,september #bj1 #aggc1 ,berridge said1 in his own quaint style1 8,the ,vicar of ,madeley has sent me word that my prattle1 in my pamphlet of #8,sincere ,obedience1' #8is the core of ,antinomianism1 has exposed ,st4 ,james1 and touched the apple of ,god's eye1' and that he intends to put my head in the pillory1 and my nose in the barnacles for so doing40 78,works of ,berridge2 and ,life by ,whittingham10 p4 #chf47 ,footnote #bhi3 8,works of ,berridge2 and ,life by ,whittingham10 p4 #chb4 ,in another letter to the same gentleman1 dated thirteen days afterwards1 ,berridge observed3-- 0,i thank you for the friendly admonition you gave me respecting ,mr4 ,fletcher4 ,it made me look into my heart1 and ,i found some resentment there4 ,what a lurking devil this pride is6 ,how soon he takes fire1 and yet hides his head so demurely in the embers1 that we do not easily discover him6 ,i think it is advisable to write to ,mr4 ,fletcher1 though despairing of success4 ,his pamphlet will certainly be published now it is finished4 ,indeed1 ,i have written to him aforetime more than once1 and besought him to drop all controversy2 but he seems to regard such entreaties as flowing rather from a fear of his pen than a desire of peace4 ,his heart is somewhat exalted by his writings1 and no wonder4 ,he is also endowed with great acuteness1 which1 though much admired by the world1 is a great obstacle to a quiet childlike spirit4 ,and he is at present eagerly seeking after legal perfection1 which naturally produceth controversial heat4 ,as ,gospel and peace1 so law and controversy go hand in hand together4 ,how can lawyers live without strife8 ,in such a situation1 ,i know1 from my own former sad experience1 he will take the ,scotch thistle for his motto1 ,noli me tangere4 ,but his heart seemeth very upright1 and his labours are abundant2 and ,i trust the ,master will serve him1 by-and-by1 as he has served me1--put him into a pickling tub1 and drench him there soundly4 ,when he comes out1 dripping all over1 he will be glad to cry1 #8,grace1 grace1' and #8a little child may lead him4' ,we learn nothing truly of ourselves1 or of grace1 but in a furnace4 8,whatever ,mr4 ,fletcher may write against my pamphlet1 ,i am determined to make no reply4 ,i dare not trust my own wicked heart in a controversy4 ,if my pamphlet is faulty1 let it be overthrown2 if sound1 it will rise above any learned rubbish that is cast upon it4 ,indeed1 what signifies my pamphlet1 or its author8 ,while it was publishing1 ,i was heartily weary of it2 and have really been sick of it since1 and concluded it had done no good because it had met with no opposition40#bij ,footnote #bij3 8,works of ,berridge2 and ,life by ,whittingham10 p4 #chd4 ,berridge did write to ,fletcher4 ,hence1 in another letter to ,mr4 ,thornton1 he said3-- 8,everton1 ,september #be1 #aggc4 ,i have written to ,mr4 ,fletcher1 and told him what was my intention in speaking against sincere obedience1 and that my intention was manifest enough from the whole drift of my pamphlet4 ,i have also acquainted him that ,i am an enemy to controversy1 and that if his tract is published1 ,i shall not rise up to fight with him1 but will be a dead man before he kills me4 ,i further told him ,i was afraid that ,mr4 ,toplady#bia and himself were setting the ,christian world on fire1 and the carnal world in laughter1 and wished they could both desist from controversy4 ,a letter seemed needful1 yet ,i wrote to him without any hope of success1 and it appears there is not any4 ,mr4 ,jones1 an expelled ,oxonian1 has just been with him1 and called upon me last ,saturday4 ,mr4 ,fletcher showed him what he had written against my pamphlet4 ,it has been revised by ,mr4 ,wesley1 and is to be published shortly40#bib ,footnote #bia3 ,in the preceding year1 ,toplady had published his scurrilous pamphlet1 with the title1 8,more ,work for ,mr4 ,john ,wesley2 or1 ,a ,vindication of the ,decrees and ,providence of ,god from the ,defamations of a late printed paper1 entitled1 #8,the ,consequence ,proved4'0 ,footnote #bib3 8,works of ,berridge2 and ,life by ,whittingham10 p4 #chg4 ,strangely enough1 while ,berridge was requesting peace from ,everton1 ,richard ,hill was doing the same from ,hawkstone4 ,berridge's three letters to ,mr4 ,thornton cover the space between ,august #ac1 #aggc1 and ,september #be1 #aggc2 and ,richard ,hill's three letters to ,fletcher1 now to be introduced1 cover the space between ,july #ca1 #aggc1 and ,december #bc1 #aggc4 ,fletcher answered them privately2 but his answers have never been published4 ,mr4 ,hill's letters1 too important to be omitted1 were as follows3-- 8,,hawkstone1 ,july #ca1 #aggc4 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,i am credibly informed that you wish to have done with controversy1 and that you are resolved to publish nothing more on the subject of the late disputes4 ,upon the strength of this information1 as well as to maintain my own desire of promoting peace1 ,i shall write to my bookseller in ,london1 to sell no more of any of my pamphlets which relate to the #8,minutes2' and for whatever may have savoured too much of my own spirit1 either in my answers to you1 or to ,mr4 ,wesley1 ,i sincerely crave the forgiveness of you both1 and should be most heartily glad if no person whatever were to add another word to what has been already said on either side4 0,and permit me to hint1 that if some restraint could be laid upon several of ,mr4 ,wesley's preachers1 particularly upon one ,perronet 7of whose superlatively abusive and insolent little piece1#bic ,i believe1 ,mr4 ,charles ,wesley testified his abhorrence from the pulpit71 ,i think1 under ,god1 it might be a salutary means of preventing the poison of vain janglings from spreading any further4 ,but1 though it is the desire of my soul to live in harmony1 love1 and friendship with you1 dear ,sir1 yet1 if ,god has ever shown me anything of my own heart1 or of the truths of ,his ,word1 ,i must1 and still do think that your principles are exceedingly erroneous2 and of this1 ,i ever cherish a secret hope that ,god will convince you1 in the course of ,his dealings with your soul4 8,wishing you abundance of grace1 mercy1 and peace1 ,i beg leave to subscribe myself1 ,rev4 and dear ,sir1 your sincere friend in the ,gospel of ,immanuel1 8,r4 ,,hill4 8,p4,s4--,i wish1 dear ,sir1 you would make ,mr4 ,wesley acquainted with the contents of this letter2 and1 if ,i stop the sale of my books1 ,i hope that of the four #8,checks' will be stopped also40 ,footnote #bic3 ,probably ,edward ,perronet's 8,small ,collection in ,verse3 containing a ,hymn to the ,holy ,ghost2 an ,epigram from the ,italian10 etc4 ,printed in #aggb4 #abmo1 #af pp4 ,this letter of ,mr4 ,richard ,hill1 at the first reading1 seems to be peaceable and friendly2 but there is reason to fear that the principle that prompted it was cowardice rather than courtesy4 ,mr4 ,hill had been vanquished more than once2 and1 naturally enough1 he now wished to retire from the arena4 ,this1 however1 his opponents could not permit1 without sending a shaft after him4 ,in his publications just issued1 the 8,finishing ,stroke10 and the 8,farrago ,double-,distilled10 to say nothing of his previous ones1 he had most uncharitably accused ,fletcher and ,wesley not only of ignorances and mistakes1 but of sins4 ,he had called ,fletcher a 8calumniator20 he had charged him with practising 8forgery and defamation10 and 8gross misrepresentations10 and 8slander40 ,in the 8,farrago ,double ,distilled10 he had accused ,wesley of using 8quirks1 quibbles1 evasions1 and false quotations20 and had designated him 8a chameleon40 ,his 8,heroic ,poem in ,praise of ,mr4 ,john ,wesley0 was a disgraceful production1 too coarse and vulgar to be quoted4 ,was it reasonable to wish or expect that no answer should be made to such imputations8 ,reputation was as dear in the case of ,john ,fletcher and ,john ,wesley as in that of ,richard ,hill2 and1 so far as the work of ,god and the interests of the ,church of ,christ were concerned1 vastly more important4 ,besides1 when ,mr4 ,hill says he was 8credibly informed0 that ,fletcher was 8resolved to publish nothing more on the subject of the late disputes10 he was the victim of a delusion1 for ,fletcher was already preparing his 8,fifth ,check to ,antinomianism40 ,fletcher's reply to ,mr4 ,hill's first letter has never been published1 but its import may be gathered from ,mr4 ,hill's second letter to ,fletcher1 which was as follows3-- 8,august1 #aggc4 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,attendance at the assizes1 and multiplicity of business in my office as a ,justice of the ,peace1 have prevented my returning a more speedy answer to your letter1 in which ,i find you complain of my having treated you with severity4 0,this obliges me to request you to call to mind the four #8,checks1' and then to say what right the author of them has to complain of severity4 ,read the sneering mock proclamation given by the four secretaries of state of the predestinarian department2 read the charges brought against our celebrated pulpits2 and1 if you can still justify what you have advanced1 you may then with better reason accuse me of severity4 ,it pains me to bring these things to your remembrance1 as ,i was determined1 when ,i wrote last1 to avoid every shadow of any accusation against you for what had passed2 and ,i think you must acknowledge that my letter was friendly2 but your introduction of the subject obliges me to say what ,i have4 ,i wish ,i had any grounds to recall what ,i have said concerning your having laid very great misrepresentations before the public1 in your quotations from ,mr4 ,wesley's #8,minutes1' and in the harmony you would make your readers believe there is between the ,reformers and ,puritans1 and ,mr4 ,wesley and yourself2 for it is most sure that your principles and theirs are as wide as east from west4 0,how far it may be fair to alter the title of your sermon#bid from what it stands in the manuscript1 must be left to yourself2 ,i have no objection to it as you propose to print it4 ,as to your explanatory notes and additions in brackets1 you know1 ,sir1 that by these you may easily make the sermon itself speak what language you see proper4 ,clarke and ,priestly1 by explanatory notes and additions in brackets1 can explain away the divinity of ,christ2 ,socinus1 ,his atonement2 and ,taylor1 the corruption of human nature4 0,as you intend to introduce my worthless name into your next publication1 ,i must beg to decline the obliging offer you make of my perusing your ,,mss4 ,i am1 ,rev4 and dear ,sir1 8,your sincere friend for ,christ's sake1 8,,richard ,,hill40 ,footnote #bid3 ,the sermon preached in ,madeley ,church1 on ,may #bc1 #aggc1 and afterwards published in the 8,fifth ,check to ,antinomianism40 ,mr4 ,hill's last letter is the best of the three4 ,it was written soon after his mother's death1 and a short time before ,fletcher's 8,first ,part of the ,fifth ,check to ,antinomianism0 was published4 ,fletcher offered to allow ,mr4 ,hill to read the work in manuscript1 but1 as ,mr4 ,hill himself states1 the offer was declined4 8,,hawkstone1 ,december #bc1 #aggc4 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,i take the liberty of requesting you to distribute among the poor of ,madeley the enclosed two guineas1 in such way and manner as you shall judge fit and proper4 8,i sent your last letter to my brother ,rowland1 who is now at ,tottenham ,court chapel1 and suppose he received it4 ,however1 ,i waive saying anything of the subject of it1 as it is my design to have totally done with the controversy1 which ,i am firmly persuaded has not done me any good4 ,excuse me if ,i say1 ,i wish you to examine closely whether it has done you any4 ,for my own part1 ,i desire to be humbled before ,god1 as well as to ask your forgiveness and ,mr4 ,wesley's 7to whom ,i purpose making a visit of peace and love when ,i go to ,london71 for everything that has savoured of wrong or of my own spirit1 in what ,i have written relative to his #8,minutes2' and1 though ,i believe your sentiments to be erroneous1 yet ,i esteem and honour you for all you have said against sin2 and for the stand you have made for practical religion in this ,laodicean1 ,antinomian age2 and truly concerned should ,i be1 if any expressions have dropped from my pen1 which might make the readers think lightly of sin1 under the notion of honouring the ,saviour from sin4 ,but as ,god can bear me witness that ,i had no intentions of this sort1 so ,i am certain that whosoever makes ,christ all his salvation1 can never at the same time make ,him a minister of sin2 and ,i trust the hour will come when1 under a deep sense of your own sinfulness and nothingness1 you will be glad to lay hold of some of those comfortable ,gospel truths1 which now you look upon as dangerous poison4 8,in consequence of my former letter to you1 ,i wrote to my bookseller in ,london1 and told ,mr4 ,eddowes in ,shrewsbury1 to stop the sale of all my publications concerning the controversy between us2 and1 unless ,god shows me that it is a matter of duty so to do1 ,i shall not revoke this order2 it being my earnest desire for the time to come1 if it be possible1 to live peaceably with all men2 and1 though ,i cannot approve some of ,mr4 ,wesley's doctrines1 because ,i believe them to be contrary to ,scripture1 and am sure they are contrary to my own experience1 yet1 as ,i am persuaded that many who are the excellent of the earth are in his connexion1 ,i wish to confirm my love towards them on account of the grace that is in them2 and1 whilst ,i reject their errors1 still to esteem their persons2 and never to say or do anything that may hurt that common cause for which we all ought to be contending1 or which may grieve the weakest or meanest of ,christ's people4 8,these1 dear ,sir1 are my present sentiments and intentions1 and you have my free permission to declare them upon the house-top4 8,an afflictive breach1 which ,god has lately been pleased to make in our family1 by depriving me of a most tender and affectionate mother1 calls upon me to beg your prayers1 that the sudden stroke may be sanctified to me and to us all4 ,it loudly bids me remember that ,i am but a stranger and pilgrim here below4 ,may the ,lord give me a pilgrim's spirit6 and may ,he give us both a right judgment in all things6 8,permit me to subscribe myself1 ,rev4 and dear ,sir1 your sincere friend and servant in ,christ1 8,,richard ,,hill40 ,the ,christian spirit of this letter cannot be excelled4 ,what a contrast to that of the 8,finishing ,stroke10 published at the beginning of the year6 ,mr4 ,hill gave ,fletcher full permission to make known the facts that the controversy had done him no good2 that he desired to be humbled before ,god1 and to ask forgiveness of ,fletcher and ,wesley for everything that had 8savoured of wrong10 or of his 8own spirit10 in his writings2 that he had stopped the sale of his publications2 and that he regarded many of ,wesley's people as 8the excellent of the earth40 ,there can be no doubt that ,fletcher availed himself of ,mr4 ,hill's permission4 ,the facts did honour to ,mr4 ,hill2 but1 as is often the case1 in the course of circulation1 the facts were perverted4 ,by no fault of ,fletcher1 it was reported that ,mr4 ,hill had recanted the doctrines he had so stoutly maintained4 ,this was utterly untrue2 and led ,mr4 ,hill to send his three letters to the press4#bie ,no one could have found fault with this2 but1 unfortunately1 ,mr4 ,hill prefixed a preface to his letters1 and appended an appendix4 ,footnote #bie3 ,the title was1 8,three ,letters1 written by ,richard ,hill1 ,esq41 to the ,rev4 ,j4 ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 in the year #aggc2 setting forth ,mr4 ,hill's ,reasons for declining any further controversy relative to ,mr4 ,wesley's ,principles4 ,shrewsbury40 #hvo41 #cj pp4 ,in his preface1 he remarks1 that when ,wesley heard from ,fletcher that he 7,mr4 ,hill7 had suppressed the sale of his publications1 he wrote ,mr4 ,hill 8a short and civil letter10 in which he said1 he himself intended to write nothing more on the controversy between them1 and expressed the hope that all1 in the future1 would be love and peace4 ,this communication gratified ,mr4 ,hill1 and soon afterwards1 when he went to ,london1 he had an interview with ,wesley at ,west-street chapel1 and assured him of his intentions to retire from the warfare1 and said he wished that nothing more should be said on the subject by any one4 ,wesley took him by the hand2 showed a loving1 pacific disposition2 and1 says ,mr4 ,hill1 8we parted very good friends40 ,besides this personal narrative1 however1 the preface renewed the slanderous attacks on ,fletcher1 accusing him of misrepresenting facts1 of using 8artifices in his manner of making quotations20 and 8declamation1 chicanery1 evasion1 false glosses1 and pious frauds1 to throw dust into the eyes of his readers40 ,not content with this1 he made an onslaught on ,thomas ,olivers1 ,wesley's trenchant ,itinerant1 who 7in #aggd7 had just published a #abmo book of #afh pages1 entitled 8,a ,scourge to ,calumny4 ,in ,two ,parts4 ,inscribed to ,richard ,hill1 ,esq40 ,he sneeringly calls him 8one ,thomas ,oliver1 alias ,olivers1 a journeyman cordwainer1 who had written a pamphlet against him 7,mr4 ,hill71 which1 though in itself black in the grain1 was afterwards lacquered up1 new soled1 and heel-tapped by his master before it was exposed for sale40 8,i shall not10 continues ,mr4 ,hill1 8take the least notice of him1 or read a line of his composition1#bif any more than1 if ,i was travelling on the road1 ,i would stop to lash1 or even order my footman to lash1 every impertinent little quadruped in a village1 that should come out and bark at me2 but would willingly let the contemptible animal have the satisfaction of thinking he had driven me out of sight40 ,footnote #bif3 ,if ,mr4 ,hill had not read ,thomas ,oliver's little book1 how is it that he can so graphically describe it8 ,this was despicable bombast2 for the ,welsh shoemaker1 as a controversial writer1 was quite equal to him who1 in due time1 became a ,shropshire baronet4 ,mr4 ,hill proceeds to say that he cannot read any more of ,fletcher's books1 and1 therefore1 cannot write any more answers to them2 but1 because it was now currently reported that he had recanted the doctrines which he had defended1 he had revoked his orders to stop the sale of his publications1 and that his 8,five ,letters to ,fletcher10 his 8,review of ,wesley's ,doctrines10 his 8,farrago ,double ,distilled10 his 8,paris ,conversation10 and his 8,finishing ,stroke10 might now be bought as heretofore4 ,the ,appendix to ,mr4 ,hill's ,three ,letters suggests a proposed title to ,fletcher's works1 and sets forth 8,a ,creed for ,arminians and ,perfectionists10 as follows3-- 8,,article ,i4 8,i believe that ,jesus ,christ died for the whole human race1 and that ,he had no more love towards those who now are1 or hereafter shall be1 in glory1 than for those who now are1 or hereafter shall be1 lifting up their eyes in torments2 and that the one are no more indebted to ,his grace than the other4 8,,article ,,ii4 8,i believe that ,divine grace is indiscriminately given to all men2 and that ,god1 foreseeing that by far the greater part of the world would reject this grace1 doth1 nevertheless1 bestow it upon them in order to heighten their torments and to increase their damnation in hell4 8,,article ,,iii4 8,i believe it depends wholly on the will of the creature whether he shall or shall not receive any benefit from ,divine grace4 8,,article ,,iv4 8,though the ,scripture tells me that the carnal mind is enmity against ,god1 yet ,i believe there is something in the heart of every natural man that can nourish and cherish the grace of ,god2 and that the sole reason why this grace is effectual in some and not in others1 is entirely owing to themselves and to their own faithfulness1 and not to the distinguishing love and favour of ,god4 8,,article ,v4 8,i believe that ,god sincerely wishes for the salvation of many who never will be saved2 consequently1 that it is entirely owing to want of ability in ,god that what ,he so earnestly willeth is not accomplished4 8,,article ,,vi4 8,i believe that the ,redeemer not only shed ,his precious blood1 but prayed for the salvation of many souls who are now in hell2 consequently1 that ,his blood was shed in vain1 and ,his prayer rejected of ,his ,father2 and that1 therefore1 ,he told a great untruth when ,he said1 #8,i know that ,thou hearest me always4' 8,,article ,,vii4 8,i believe that ,god1 foreseeing some men's nature will improve the grace which is given them1 and that they will repent1 believe1 and be very good1 elects them unto salvation4 8,,article ,,viii4 8,i believe that the love and favour of ,him with whom is no variableness and shadow of turning1 and whose gifts and callings are without repentance1 may vary1 change1 and turn every hour and every moment1 according to the behaviour of the creature4 8,,article ,,ix4 8,i believe that the seed of the ,word1 by which ,god's children are born again1 is a corruptible seed2 and that1 so far from enduring for ever 7as that mistaken apostle ,peter rashly affirms71 it is frequently rooted out of the hearts of those in whom it was sown4 8,,article ,x4 8,i believe that ,christ does not always give unto ,his sheep eternal life2 but that they often perish1 and are1 by the power of ,satan1 frequently plucked out of ,his hand4 8,,article ,,xi4 8,though ,i have solemnly subscribed to the ,thirty-,nine ,articles of the ,church of ,england1 and have affirmed that ,i believe them from my heart1 yet ,i think our ,reformers were profoundly ignorant of true ,christianity1 when they declared1 in the ,ninth ,article1 that #8the infection of nature doth remain in them which are regenerate2' and1 in the ,fifteenth1 that #8all we1 the rest 7,christ only excepted71 although baptized and born again in ,christ1 yet offend in many things2 and if we say we have no sin1 we deceive ourselves1 and the truth is not in us4' ,this ,i totally deny1 because it cuts up1 root and branch1 my favourite doctrine of ,perfection2 and1 therefore1 let ,peter1 ,paul1 ,james1 or ,john1 say what they will2 and let reformers and martyrs join their syren song1 their eyes were at best but half opened1 for want of a little ,foundery eye-salve2 therefore1 ,i cannot look upon them as adult believers1 and fathers in ,christ40 ,the ,eleven ,articles were subscribed1 8,j4 ,f410 8,j4 ,w410 and 8,w4 ,s420 which may be taken as the initial letters of the names of ,john ,fletcher1 ,john ,wesley1 and ,walter ,sellon4 8,what6 more finishing strokes60 remarked the ,monthly ,review of ,january1 #agge1 in its notice of ,mr4 ,hill's new pamphlet4 8,this retiring champion1 however1 like the ,parthians of old1 is not less formidable in his retreat than in a direct attack4 ,he here lets fly at the ,arminians and ,perfectionists one of his sharpest pointed arrows4 ,he styles it #8their creed4' ,he says he has #8composed it from their sentiments2' and he adds that he #8can scarcely read it without horror4' ,yet he thinks himself justified in publishing it1 as ,mr4 ,fletcher still continued the controversy with so much warmth40 ,all this is deeply to be regretted4 ,mr4 ,hill had declared his determination to abandon this painful warfare1 and yet here he provokes a continuance of it4 ,it is true that1 meanwhile1 ,fletcher had published his 8,answer to the ,finishing ,stroke0 of ,mr4 ,hill2 but ,fletcher had done this1 not because he desired the controversy to be prolonged1 but because 8,the ,finishing ,stroke0 contained so many grave attacks on ,fletcher's moral character1 that ,fletcher's honour could not be maintained without an 8,answer0 being written4 ,at this point the war might have ended2 but1 by appending the 8,creed for ,arminians and ,perfectionists0 to his ,three ,letters1 ,mr4 ,hill re-opened the sluice1 and 8the waters of strife0 flowed as fiercely as ever4 ,from a ,calvinian point of view1 the 8,creed0 is drawn up with great ability2 but ,mr4 ,hill was well aware that it was a misrepresentation of the sentiments of ,fletcher and ,wesley4 ,besides1 the thing itself was in bad taste4 ,it must be acknowledged that ,fletcher had published his 8,gospel ,proclamation3 ,given at ,geneva1 and signed by four of his ,majesty's principal ,secretaries of ,state for the ,predestinarian ,department60 but there was no need that ,mr4 ,richard ,hill should copy ,fletcher's objectionable example4 ,it is now time1 however1 to turn to ,fletcher's masterly replies4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 8,,fifth ,,check ,,to ,,antinomianism40 #aggd4 ,,in a characteristic letter addressed to ,ambrose ,serle1 ,esq41 and dated 8,january #aa1 #aggd10 ,augustus ,toplady observed3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher may fire off as soon as he pleases4 ,the weapons of his warfare can never wound the truths of ,god1 any more than a handful of feathers can batter down my church tower4 ,i shall1 however1 be glad to see his performance when it appears4 ,mr4 ,shirley told me1 when ,i was last at ,bath1 that ,fletcher is to succeed ,pope ,wesley1 as commander-in-chief of the ,societies1 if he should survive his holiness4 ,no wonder1 therefore1 that the ,cardinal of ,madeley is such a zealous stickler for the cause4 ,one would think that the ,swiss were universally fated to fight for pay40#big ,footnote #big3 8,complete ,works of ,toplady40 ,toplady's mendacious sneer that ,fletcher was fighting 8for pay0 may be scornfully passed over4 ,this letter might refer to ,fletcher's 8,answer to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,toplady's ,vindication of the ,decrees10 which ,fletcher finished in the month of ,october1 #agge2 or it might refer to the expected publication of the 8,fifth ,check to ,antinomianism40 ,the 8,first ,part0 of this was completed at ,madeley1 ,september #ac1 #aggc2 but was not published until the beginning of #aggd4 ,the following was its title3 8,logica ,genevensis continued3 or the ,first ,part of the ,fifth ,check to ,antinomianism1 containing an ,answer to #8,the ,finishing ,stroke' of ,richard ,hill1 ,esq4 ,in which some remarks upon ,mr4 ,fulsome's ,antinomian ,creed1 published by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,berridge1 are occasionally introduced4 ,with an ,appendix upon the remaining difference between the ,calvinists and the ,anti-,calvinists1 with respect to our ,lord's doctrine of ,justification by words1 and ,st4 ,james's doctrine of ,justification by works1 and not by faith only4 ,london3 #aggd40 #abmo41 #dh pp4 ,fletcher's 8,answer0 to ,richard ,hill's 8,finishing ,stroke10 and his 8,remarks upon ,mr4 ,fulsome's ,antinomian ,creed10 are able1 and characteristic of the writer2 but contain no biographical facts worth mentioning4 ,two extracts1 however1 from the 8,appendix10 upon the remaining differences between the ,calvinists and the anti-,calvinists1 may be useful2 inasmuch as1 in a condensed form1 they exhibit the point to which1 in ,fletcher's opinion1 the controversy had brought both parties with respect to the principal of ,wesley's 8,minutes0 of #aggj4 ,fletcher writes3-- 8,on both sides1 we agree to maintain1 in opposition to ,socinians and ,deists1 that the grand1 the primary1 and properly meritorious cause of our justification1 from first to last1 both in the day of conversion and in the day of judgment1 is only the precious atonement and the infinite merits of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,we all agree likewise that in the day of conversion faith is the instrumental cause of our justification before ,god4 ,nay1 if ,i mistake not1 we come one step nearer each other1 for we equally hold that1 after conversion1 the works of faith are in this world1 and will be in the day of judgment1 the evidencing cause of our justification2 that is1 the works of faith 7under the above-mentioned primary cause of our salvation1 and in subordination to the faith that gives them birth71 are now1 and will be in the great day1 the evidence that shall instrumentally cause our justification as believers4 ,thus ,mr4 ,hill says ,review1 p4 #adi1 #8,neither ,mr4 ,shirley1 nor ,i1 nor any ,calvinist that ,i ever heard of1 denies that1 though a sinner be justified in the sight of ,god by ,christ alone1 he is declaratively justified by works1 both here and at the day of judgment4' ,and the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,madan1 in his sermon on #8justification by works stated1 explained1 and reconciled with justification by faith1' says p4 #bi1 #8,by ,christ only are we meritoriously justified1 and by faith only are we instrumentally justified in the sight of ,god2 but by works1 and not by faith only1 are we declaratively justified before men and angels4' ,from these two quotations1 which could easily be multiplied to twenty1 it is evident that pious ,calvinists hold the doctrine of a justification by the works of faith2 or1 as ,mr4 ,madan expresses it1 after ,st4 ,james1 by works1 and not by faith only4 8,it remains now to show wherein we disagree4 ,at first sight1 the difference seems trifling2 but1 upon close examination1 it appears that the whole antinomian gulf still remains fixed between us4 ,read the preceding quotations1 weigh the clauses which ,i have put in capitals1 compare them with what the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,berridge says in his #8,christian ,world ,unmasked' 7p4 #bf71 of #8an absolute impossibility of being justified in any manner by our works1' namely1 before ,god2 and you will see that though pious ,calvinists allow we are justified by works before men and angels1 yet they deny our being ever justified by works before ,god1 in whose sight they suppose we are for ever justified by ,christ alone1' i4e41 only by ,christ's good works and sufferings1 absolutely imputed to us from the very first moment in which we make a single act of true faith1 if not from all eternity4 ,thus works are entirely excluded from having any hand either in our intermediate or final justification before ,god2 and thus they are still represented as totally needless to our eternal salvation4 ,now1 in direct opposition to the above-mentioned distinction1 we anti-,calvinists believe that adult persons cannot be saved without being justified by faith as sinners1 according to the light of their dispensation2 and by works as believers1 according to the time and opportunities they have of working4 ,we assert that the works of faith are not less necessary to our justification before ,god as believers1 than faith itself is necessary to our justification before ,him as sinners4 ,and we maintain that when faith does not produce good works 7much more when it produces the worst works1 such as adultery1 hypocrisy1 treachery1 murder1 etc471 it dies1 and justifies no more2 seeing it is a living and not a dead faith that justifies us as sinners2 even as they are living and not dead works that justify us as believers40 ,thus did these good men quarrel4 ,berridge was a man of eminent piety and of great wit1 but he could scarcely be considered a great theologian2 and it may be fairly doubted whether he ever held the doctrines which ,fletcher1 perhaps somewhat hardly1 deduces from a few of his unguarded words4 ,in his next pamphlet1 which was published ,march #a1 #aggd1bih ,fletcher treats poor ,berridge with yet greater severity4 ,the whole work was devoted to an exposure of the objectionable and the weak points in ,berridge's 8,christian ,world ,unmasked40 ,its title was 8,logica ,genevensis continued4 ,or the ,second ,part of the ,fifth ,check to ,antinomianism2 containing a ,defence of #8,jack o' lanthorn1' and #8the ,paper-kite1' i4e41 ,sincere ,obedience2--of the #8,cobweb1' i4e41 ,the evangelical law of liberty2 and of the #8,valiant ,sergeant ,i4 ,f41' i4e41 ,the conditionality of ,perseverance1 attacked by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,berridge1 ,m4,a41 ,vicar of ,everton1 and late ,fellow of ,clare-hall1 ,cambridge1 in his book called #8,the ,christian ,world ,unmasked4' ,london3 #aggd40 #ab mo41 #dd pp4 ,footnote #bih3 ,lloyd's ,evening ,post1 ,march #b1 #aggd4 ,berridge was well aware of ,fletcher's intention to attack his book1 for ,fletcher himself1 seven months before1 had told him that what he had 8said about sincere obedience was the very core of ,antinomianism10 and that he must freely expose what he had written4 ,berridge1 in letters to ,john ,thornton1 ,esq41 and the ,rev4 ,john ,newton1 complained of this1 and said ,fletcher had misapprehended his meaning4 ,he also wrote to ,fletcher to the same effect1 and told him that1 if he published his attack1 he 7,berridge7 would not answer it4 ,there can be no doubt that ,berridge never intended to 8disparage sincere obedience0 to the law of ,god2 but his similes1 allegories1 figures1 and loose language1 might be construed by ,antinomian readers in such a sense4 ,fletcher believed ,berridge to be a sincere1 earnest1 obedient ,christian2 but he also believed that ,berridge's well-meant book might be turned to a bad account by men with whose ,antinomian sentiments ,berridge had no sympathy4 ,in the introduction to his pamphlet1 ,fletcher writes3-- 8,before ,i mention ,mr4 ,berridge's mistakes1 ,i must do justice to his person4 ,it is by no means my design to represent him as a divine1 who either leads a loose life1 or intends to hurt the ,redeemer's interest4 ,his conduct as a ,christian is exemplary2 his labours as a minister are great2 and ,i am persuaded that the wrong touches which he gives to the ark of godliness are not only undesigned1 but intended to do ,god service4 8,there are so many things commendable in the pious vicar of ,everton1 and so much truth in his #8,christian ,world ,unmasked1' that ,i find it a hardship to expose the unguarded parts of that performance4 ,but the cause of this hardship is the ground of my apology4 ,mr4 ,berridge is a good1 an excellent man2 therefore the ,antinomian errors which go abroad into the world with his letters of recommendation1 speak in his evangelical strain1 and are armed with the poignancy of his wit1 cannot be too soon pointed out and too carefully guarded against4 ,i flatter myself that this consideration will procure me his pardon for taking the liberty of dispatching his #8valiant sergeant' with some doses of rational and ,scriptural antidote for those who have drunk into the pleasing mistakes of his book1 and want his piety to hinder them from carrying speculative into practical ,antinomianism40 ,it would weary the reader to follow ,fletcher in his minute1 sometimes pungent1 and always irrefutable criticisms on ,berridge's well-known book4 ,there is often plain speaking1 but there is no acidity4 ,berridge is routed1 but he is invariably treated as a ,christian and a gentleman4 ,fletcher's 8,conclusion0 is as follows3-- 8,were ,i to conclude these strictures upon the dangerous tenets1 inadvertently advanced and happily contradicted1 in #8,the ,christian ,world ,unmasked1' without professing my brotherly love and sincere respect for the ingenious and pious author1 ,i should wrong him1 myself1 and the cause which ,i defend4 ,i only do him justice when ,i say that few1 very few1 of our elders equal him in devotedness to ,christ1 zeal1 diligence1 and ministerial success4 ,his indefatigable labours in the word and doctrine entitle him to a double share of honour2 and ,i invite all my readers to esteem him highly in love for his ,master's and his work's sake2 entreating them not to undervalue his vital piety on account of his ,antinomian opinions2 and beseeching them to consider that his errors are so much the more excusable as they do not influence his moral conduct1 and that he refutes them himself far more than his favourite scheme of doctrine allows him to do4 ,add to this that those very errors spring1 in a great degree1 from the idea that he honours ,christ by receiving1 and does ,god service by propagating them4 8,the desire of catching the attention of his readers has made him choose a witty1 facetious manner of writing1 for which he has a peculiar turn2 and the necessity ,i am under of standing his indirect attack#bii obliges me to meet him upon his own ground1 and to encounter him with his own weapons4 ,i beg that what passes for evangelical humour in him may not be called indecent levity in me4 ,a sharp pen may be guided by a kind heart2 and such1 ,i am persuaded1 is that of my much-esteemed antagonist1 whom ,i publicly invite to my pulpit2 protesting that ,i should be edified and overjoyed to hear him enforce there the guarded substance of his book1 which1 notwithstanding the vein of solifidianism ,i have taken the liberty to open1 contains many great and glorious truths40 ,footnote #bii3 ,as previously stated1 ,fletcher's name was not mentioned in ,berridge's book1 but the book was intended to ridicule and denounce the doctrines which ,fletcher1 in his 8,checks10 had defended4 ,in all his publications1 ,fletcher had not only ,wesley's approval1 but his high commendation4 ,in three several letters1 written during the present year1 #aggd1 ,wesley thus expressed his opinion of ,fletcher3-- 8,march #a1 #aggd4--;,he0 ,james ,perfect1 8preaches salvation by faith in the same manner that my brother and ,i have done2 and as ,mr4 ,fletcher 7one of the finest writers of the age7 has beautifully explained it4 ,none of us talk of being accepted for our works2 that is the ,calvinist slander4 ,but we all maintain we are not saved without works2 that works are a condition 7though not the meritorious cause7 of final salvation4 ,it is by faith in the righteousness and blood of ,christ that we are enabled to do all good works2 and it is for the sake of these that all who fear ,god and work righteousness are accepted of ,him40#cjj 8,may #b1 #aggd4 ,until ,mr40 7,richard7 8,hill and his associates puzzled the cause1 it was as plain as plain could be4 ,the ,methodists always held1 and have declared a thousand times1 that the death of ,christ is the meritorious cause of our salvation1 that is1 of pardon1 holiness1 and glory2 loving1 obedient faith is the condition of glory4 ,this ,mr4 ,fletcher has so illustrated and confirmed1 as1 ,i think1 scarcely any one has done before since the ,apostles40#cja 8,december #bh1 #aggd4 ,if we could once bring all our preachers1 itinerant and local1 uniformly and steadily to insist on those two points1 #8,christ dying for us1' and #8,christ reigning in us1' we should shake the trembling gates of hell4 ,i think most of them are now exceeding clear herein1 and the rest come nearer and nearer2 especially since they have read ,mr4 ,fletcher's #8,checks1' which have removed many difficulties out of the way40#cjb ,footnote #cjj3 ,wesley's ,works1 vol xii41 p4 #cgb4 ,footnote #cja3 ,ibid1 p4 #cgc4 ,footnote #cjb3 ,ibid1 p4 #dcj4 ,such was one of the services which ,fletcher1 8one of the finest writers of the age10 had rendered to ,wesley's preachers and people as early as the year #aggd4 ,they had been in danger of departing from the truth1 or1 at least1 stumbling at it3 by ,fletcher's help1 they were confirmed in the ,christian faith1 and henceforth earnestly contended for it4 ,as already seen1 in #aggc ,mr4 ,richard ,hill had extended to ,fletcher the olive branch of peace2 and now the ,countess of ,huntingdon seems to have done the same4 ,three years before1 she had virtually dismissed him from her ,calvinistic ,college at ,trevecca1 because he would not renounce what were called the 8horrible and abominable0 doctrinal 8,minutes0 of ,wesley's ,conference in #aggj4 ,since then1 he had been incessantly employed in explaining and defending these 8,minutes20 and1 in every instance1 had vanquished his opponents4 ,her ladyship1 with her strong-mindedness1 seemed to perceive this1 and wished to have an interview with her disbanded president4 ,she was staying at ,bath1 and through ,james ,ireland1 ,esq41 of ,bristol1 the intimate friend of both1 her wish appears to have been conveyed to ,fletcher2 who1 in reply1 wrote to ,mr4 ,ireland as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,february #f1 #aggd4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,in the present circumstances1 it was a great piece of condescension in dear ,lady ,huntingdon to be willing to see me privately3 but for her to permit me to wait upon her openly denotes such generosity1 such courage1 and a mind so much superior to the narrowness that clogs the charity of most professors1 that it would have amazed me1 if everything that is noble and magnanimous were not to be expected from her ladyship4 ,it is well for her that spirits are imprisoned in flesh and blood1 or ,i might by this time 7and it is but an hour since ,i received your letter7 have troubled her ten times with my apparition1 to wish her joy of being above the dangerous snare of professors--the smiles and frowns of the religious world2 and to thank her a thousand times for not being ashamed of her old servant1 and for cordially forgiving him all that is past1 upon the score of the ,lord's love1 and of my honest meaning4 8,but though1 on reading your letter1 my mind has travelled so fast to ,bath1 yet an embargo is laid upon my body--#8,i must not go yet4' ,i am the more inclined to take the hint1 for two reasons4 ,i will tell you all my heart about it4 ,the more ,i see her ladyship's generosity1 and admire the faithfulness of the friendship that she has for many years honoured me with1 the more ,i ought to take care not to bring burdens upon her4 ,it might lessen her influence with those she is connected with2 and might grieve some of her friends1 who possibly would look upon her condescension as an affront to them4 ,this is the first reason4 8,the second respects myself4 ,i must follow my light4 ,a necessity is laid upon me to clear my conscience with respect to the ,antinomian world1 and to point out the stumbling-block that keeps many serious people from embracing the real doctrines of free grace4 ,i cannot do this without advancing some truths1 which ,i know her ladyship receives as well as myself1 but which1 by my manner of unfolding them1 will1 at first sight1 appear dreadful touches to the ,gospel of the day4 ,i am just sending to the press #8,a ,scriptural ,essay upon the ,astonishing ,rewardableness of the ,works of ,faith4' ,though it consists only of plain ,scriptures1 and plain arguments1 without anything personal1 ,i think it will raise more dust of prejudice against me than my preceding publications4 ,with respect to myself1 ,i do not mind it2 but ,i am bound in love to mind it with respect to her ladyship4 ,my respect for her ladyship1 therefore1 together with the preceding reason1 determine me to defer paying my respects personally to her1 till after the publication of my #8,essay1' and #8,scripture ,scales2' and1 if she does not then revoke the kind leave she gives me1 ,i shall most gladly make the best of my way to assure her in person1 as ,i do now by this indirect means1 that ,i am1 and shall for ever be her dutiful servant in what appears to me the plain ,gospel of our common ,lord4 8,with love to yourself1 and dutiful love to our noble friend1 ,i am1 etc41 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#cjc ,footnote #cjc3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bba4 ,nothing need be said respecting ,fletcher's considerate kindness in declining1 for the present1 an interview with the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 lest he should become the means of bringing upon her undeserved reproach from some of her bigoted and narrow-hearted friends4 ,it was like the man1 and worthy of him4 ,in another letter to ,mr4 ,ireland1 ,fletcher further refers to the returning friendliness of the ,countess1 and to his controversial and exhausting labours1 of which he was becoming weary3-- 8,,madeley1 ,march #bg1 #aggd4 8,,my ,,dear ,,sir1--,i think ,i wrote my last two days before ,i received your bounty--a large hogshead of rice and two cheeses4 ,accept the thanks of myself and of my poor flock4 ,i distributed it on ,shrove-,tuesday1 and preached to a numerous congregation on #8,seek ye first the kingdom of ,god and ,his righteousness1 and all other things shall be added unto you4' ,we prayed for our benefactor1 that ,god would give him a hundredfold in this life1 and eternal life1 where life eternal will be no burden4 ,i saw then1 what ,i have not often seen on such occasions1 gladness without the appearance of envying or grudging4 8,i get very slowly out of the mire of my controversy1 and yet ,i hope to get over it1 if ,god spares my life1 in two or three pieces more4 ,since ,i wrote last1 ,i have added to my #8,equal ,check' a piece which ,i call #8,an ,essay on ,truth2 or1 a ,rational ,vindication of the ,doctrine of ,salvation by ,faith1' which ,i have taken the liberty to dedicate to ,lady ,huntingdon1 to have an opportunity of clearing her ladyship from the charge of ,antinomianism4 ,i have taken this step in the simplicity of my heart1 and as due from me1 in my circumstances1 to the character of her ladyship4 8,i have just spirit enough to enjoy my solitude1 and to bless ,god that ,i am out of the hurry of the world--even the spiritual world4 ,i tarry gladly in my ,jerusalem1 till the kingdom of ,god comes with power4 ,till then1 it matters not where ,i am3 only as my chief call is here1 here ,i gladly stay1 till ,god fits me for the pulpit or the grave4 ,i still spend my mornings in scribbling4 ,though ,i grudge so much time in writing1 yet a man must do something2 and ,i may as well investigate truth as do anything else1 except solemn praying and visiting my flock4 ,i shall be glad to have done with my present avocation1 that ,i may give myself up more to those two things4 8,o how life goes6 ,i walked1 now ,i gallop into eternity4 ,the bowl of life goes rapidly down the steep hill of time4 ,let us be wise3 embrace we ,jesus and the resurrection4 ,let us trim our lamps1 and give ourselves afresh to ,him that bought us1 till we can do it without reserve4 ,adieu6 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#cjd ,footnote #cjd3 ,letters1 #agia1 p #bbc4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,further ,,publications ,,in ,,the ,,year #aggd4 ,,in ,lloyd's ,evening ,post for ,march #b1 #aggd1 there appeared the following advertisement3-- 8,in the ,press4 ,an ,equal ,check to ,pharisaism and ,antinomianism2 and the ,scripture ,scales to weigh ,gospel ,truth2 both by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 ,shropshire40 8,the ,scripture ,scales10 however1 were published separately1 and not until the year was ending4 ,first of all1 ,fletcher issued a #abmo4 volume of #bfd pages1 entitled1 8,the ,first ,part of an ,equal ,check to ,pharisaism and ,antinomianism1 containing1 ,i4 ,an ,historical ,essay on the ,danger of parting ,faith and ,works4 ,,ii4 ,salvation by the ,covenant of ,grace1 ,a ,discourse preached in the ,parish ,church of ,madeley1 ,april #ah1 and ,may #i1 #aggc4 ,,iii4 ,a ,scriptural ,essay on the astonishing ,rewardableness of ,works1 according to the ,covenant of ,grace4 ,,iv4 ,an ,essay on ,truth1 or1 ,a rational ,vindication of the ,doctrine of ,salvation by ,faith1 with a dedicatory ,epistle to the ,right ,hon4 the ,countess of ,huntingdon4 ,by the ,author of the ,checks to ,antinomianism4 ,shrewsbury3 ,printed by ,j4 ,eddowes3 and sold at the ,foundery2 and by ,j4 ,buckland1 in ,paternoster ,row1 ,london2 by ,t4 ,mills in ,bath2 and ,s4 ,aris in ,birmingham4 #aggd40 ,fletcher's ,preface is dated1 ,madeley1 ,may #ba1 #aggd4 ,the following extracts from it convey an idea of the scope of his book3-- 8,i4 ,the first piece of this ,check was designed for a preface to the ,discourse that follows it2 but as it swelled far beyond my intention1 ,i present it to the reader under the name of ,an ,historical ,essay1 which makes way for the tracts that follow4 8,,ii4 ,with respect to the ,discourse1 ,i must mention what engages me to publish it4 ,in #agga1 ,i saw the propositions called the #8,minutes4' ,their author invited me to #8review the whole affair4' ,i did so2 and soon found that ,i had #8leaned too much toward ,calvinism1' which1 after mature consideration1 appeared to me exactly to coincide with speculative ,antinomianism2 and the same year ,i publicly acknowledged my error4#cje 8,when ,i had thus openly confessed that ,i was involved in the guilt of many of my brethren1 and that ,i had so leaned towards speculative as not to have made a proper stand against practical ,antinomianism1 who could have thought that one of my most formidable opponents#cjf would have attempted to screen his mistakes behind some passages of a manuscript sermon which ,i preached twelve years ago1 and of which1 by some means or other1 he has got a copy8 8,i am very far from recanting that old discourse4 ,i still think the doctrine it contains excellent1 in the main1 and very proper to be enforced1 though in a more guarded manner1 in a congregation of hearers violently prejudiced against the first gospel axiom4#cjg ,therefore1 out of regard for the grand1 leading truth of ,christianity1 and in compliance with ,mr4 ,hill's earnest entreaty 7#8,finishing ,stroke1' p4 #de71 ,i send my sermon into the world upon the following reasonable conditions3 #a4 ,that ,i shall be allowed to publish it1 as ,i preached it a year ago in my church1 namely1 with additions in brackets1 to make it at once a fuller ,check to ,pharisaism1 and a finishing ,check to ,antinomianism4 #b4 ,that the largest addition shall be in favour of free grace4 #c4 ,that nobody shall accuse me of forgery1 for thus adding my present light to that which ,i had formerly2 and for thus bringing out of my little treasure of experience things new and old4 #d4 ,that the press shall not groan with the charge of disingenuity1 if ,i throw into ,notes some unguarded expressions1 which ,i formerly used without scruple1 and which my more enlightened conscience does not suffer me to use at present4 #e4 ,that my opponent's call to print my sermon will procure me the pardon of the public1 for presenting them with a plain1 blunt1 discourse1 composed for an audience chiefly made up of colliers and rustics4 ,and1 lastly1 that1 as ,i understand ,english a little better than ,i did twelve years ago1 ,i shall be permitted to rectify a few ,french idioms1 which ,i find in my old manuscript2 and to connect my thoughts a little more like an ,englishman1 where ,i can do it without the least misrepresentation of the sense4 8,,iii4 ,with regard to the #8,scriptural ,essay' upon the rewardableness or evangelical worthiness of works1 ,i shall just observe that it attacks the grand mistake of ,solifidians countenanced by three or four words of my old sermon4 ,i pour a flood of ,scriptures upon it2 and1 after receiving the fire of my objector1 ,i return it in a variety of scriptural and rational answers1 about the solidity of which the public must decide4 8,,iv4 ,the #8,essay on ,truth' will1 ,i hope1 reconcile judicious moralists to the doctrine of salvation by faith1 and considerate ,solifidians to the doctrine of salvation by the works of faith2 reason and ,scripture concurring to show the constant dependence of works upon faith2 and the wonderful agreement of the doctrine of present salvation by ,,true faith1 with the doctrine of eternal salvation by ,,good works4 8,i hope that ,i do not dissent1 in my observations upon faith1 either from our ,church1 or approved ,gospel ministers4 ,in their highest definitions of that grace1 they consider it only according to the fulness of the ,christian dispensation2 but my subject has obliged me to consider it also according to the dispensations of ,john the ,baptist1 ,moses1 and ,noah4 ,believers under these inferior dispensations have not always assurance1 nor is the assurance they sometimes have so bright as that of adult ,christians1 ,matt4 xi4 #aa4 ,but1 undoubtedly1 assurance is inseparably connected with the faith of the ,christian dispensation1 which was not fully opened till ,christ opened ,his glorious baptism on the ,day of ,pentecost1 and till ,his spiritual kingdom was set up with power in the hearts of ,his people4 ,nobody1 therefore1 can truly believe1 according to this dispensation1 without being immediately conscious both of the forgiveness of sins1 and of peace and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this is a most important truth1 derided indeed by fallen ,churchmen1 and denied by ,laodicean ,dissenters2 but1 of late years gloriously revived by ,mr4 ,wesley and the ,ministers connected with him40 ,footnote #cje3 ,in the 8,second ,check to ,antinomianism40 ,footnote #cjf3 ,mr4 ,richard ,hill4 ,footnote #cjg3 ,thus defined by ,fletcher in his 8,doctrines of ,grace and ,justice30 8,our salvation is of ,god2 or1 ,there is free grace in ,god2 which1 through ,christ1 freely places all men in a state of temporary redemption1 justification1 or salvation1 according to the various ,gospel dispensations1 and crowns those who are faithful unto death with an eternal redemption1 justification1 or salvation40 ,his definition of the second ,gospel axiom is1 8,our damnation is of ourselves3 or1 ,there is a free-will in man2 by which he may1 through the grace freely imparted to him in the day of temporary salvation1 work out his own eternal salvation2 or he may1 through the natural power which angels had to sin in heaven1 and our first parents in paradise1 choose to sin away the day of temporary salvation4 ,and by thus working out his damnation1 he may provoke just wrath1 which is the same as despised free grace1 to punish him with eternal destruction40 ,from these extracts1 the reader may gather the difficult and important doctrines discussed by ,fletcher in his book of pamphlets4 ,in a work like this it is impossible to follow him in his careful statements of truth1 in the arguments by which he proves them1 and in his answers to objections raised against them2 but a few remarks respecting some of these publications must be attempted4 ,in a prelude to his sermon first delivered in #agfb1 and now amended1 ,fletcher gives a doleful picture of what he himself had witnessed during the interval4 ,he says3-- 8,the substance of the following ,discourse was committed to paper many years ago1 to convince the ,pharisees and papists of my parish that there is no salvation by the faithless works of the law1 but by a living faith in ,jesus ,christ4 ,with shame ,i confess that ,i did not then see the need of guarding the doctrine of faith against the despisers of works4 ,i was chiefly bent upon pulling up the tares of ,pharisaism3 those of ,antinomianism were not yet sprung up in the field1 which ,i began to cultivate3 or my want of experience hindered me from discerning them4 ,but since1 what a crop of them have ,i perceived and bewailed6 8,alas6 they have1 in a great degree1 ruined the success of my ministry4 ,i have seen numbers of lazy seekers1 enjoying the dull pleasure of sloth on the couch of wilful unbelief1 under pretence that ,god was to do all in them without them4 ,i have seen some lie flat in the mire of sin1 absurdly boasting that they could not fall2 and others make the means of grace means of idle gossiping or sly courtship4 ,i have seen some turn their religious profession into a way of gratifying covetousness or indolence2 and others1 their skill in church music1 their knowledge1 and their zeal1 into various nets to catch esteem1 admiration1 and praise4 ,some ,i have seen making yesterday's faith a reason to laugh at the cross to-day2 and others drawing1 from their misapprehensions of the atonement1 arguments to be less importunate in secret prayer1 and more conformable to this evil world than once they were4 ,nay1 ,i have seen some professing believers backward to do those works of mercy1 which ,i have sometimes found persons1 who made no profession of godliness1 quite ready to perform4 ,and--oh6 tell it in ,sion1 that watchfulness may not be neglected by believers1 that fearfulness may seize upon backsliders1 and that trembling may break the bones of hypocrites and apostates--,i have seen those who had equally shined by their gifts and graces strike the moral world with horror by the grossest ,antinomianism1 and disgrace the doctrine of salvation through faith by the deepest plunges into scandalous sins40 ,as already stated1 ,fletcher's 8,essay on ,truth2 or1 ,rational ,vindication of the ,doctrine of ,salvation by ,faith10 was dedicated to his quondam friend and patroness1 the ,countess of ,huntingdon1 who again desired his friendship1 his counsel1 and his prayers4 ,in his 8,dedicatory ,epistle0 he says3-- 8,,my ,,lady1--,because ,i think it my duty to defend the works of faith against the triumphant errors of the ,solifidians1 some of your ladyship's friends conclude that ,i am an enemy to the doctrine of salvation by faith1 and their conclusion amounts to such exclamations as these3 #8,how could a lady1 so zealous for ,god's glory and the ,redeemer's grace1 commit the superintendency of a seminary of pious learning to a man that opposes the fundamental doctrine of ,protestantism6 ,how could she put her sheep under the care of such a wolf in sheep's clothing6' ,this conclusion1 my lady1 has grieved me for your sake2 and1 to remove the blot that it indirectly fixes upon you1 as well as to balance my #8,scriptural ,essay on the ,rewardableness' of the works of faith1 ,i publish1 and humbly dedicate to your ladyship1 this last piece of my ',equal ,check to ,pharisaism and ,antinomianism4' ,may the kindness which enabled you to bear for years with the coarseness of my ministrations incline you favourably to receive this little token of my unfeigned attachment to ,protestantism1 and of my lasting respect for your ladyship6 8,your aversion to all that looks like controversy can never make you think that an ,equal ,check to the two grand delusions1 which have crept into the ,church1 is needless in our days4 ,i flatter myself1 therefore1 that though you may blame my performance1 you will approve of my design4 ,and indeed what true ,christian can be absolutely neuter in this controversy8 ,if ,god has a controversy with all ,pharisees and ,antinomians1 have not all ,god's children a controversy with ,pharisaism and ,antinomianism8 ,have you not1 for one1 my lady8 ,do you not check in private what ,i attempt to check in public8 ,does not the religious world know that you abhor1 attack1 and pursue ,pharisaism in its most artful disguises8 ,and have ,i not frequently heard you express1 in the strongest terms1 your detestation of ,antinomianism1 and lament the number of sleeping professors1 whom that ,delilah robs of their strength8 ,nor would you1 ,i am persuaded1 my lady1 have countenanced the opposition which was made against the #8,minutes1' if your commendable1 though 7as it appears to me7 at that time1 too precipitate zeal against ,pharisaism had not prevented your seeing that they contain the ,scripture truths1 which are fittest to stop the rapid progress of ,antinomianism4 8,however1 if you still think1 my lady1 that ,i mistake with respect to the importance of those propositions1 you know ,i am not mistaken when ,i declare1 before the world1 that a powerful1 practical1 actually saving faith is the only faith ,i ever heard your ladyship recommend1 as worthy to be contended for4 ,and so long as you plead only for such a faith1 so long as you abhor the winter-faith that saves the ,solifidians1 in their own conceit1 while they commit adultery1 murder1 and incest1 if they choose to carry ,antinomianism to such a dreadful length2 so long as you are afraid to maintain1 either directly or indirectly1 that the evidence and comfort of justifying faith may be suspended by sin1 but that the righteousness of faith1 and the justification which it instrumentally procures1 can never be lost1 no1 not by the most enormous and complicated crimes1--whatever diversity there may be between your ladyship's sentiments and mine1 it can never be fundamental4 ,i preach salvation by a faith that actually works by obedient love1 and your ladyship witnesses salvation by an actually operative faith2 nor can ,i1 to this day1 see any material difference between those phrases in the present controversy4 ,i remain1 with my former respect and devotedness1 my lady1 your ladyship's most obliged and obedient servant in the ,gospel1 8,j4 ,,fletcher4 8,madeley1 ,march #ab1 #aggd40 ,fletcher's 8,essay on ,truth0 is one of his ablest and most important works4 ,it is full of his own peculiar genius1 and--what cannot be said concerning all his writings--it is very readable4 ,the following brief extracts from it may be acceptable and useful3-- ,saving faith4 8,what is saving faith8#cjh ,i dare not say that it is #8believing heartily' my sins are forgiven me for ,christ's sake2 for1 if ,i live in sin1 that belief is a destructive conceit1 and not saving faith4 ,neither dare ,i say1 that #8saving faith is only a sure trust and confidence that ,christ loved me1 and gave ,himself for me2'#cji for1 if ,i did1 ,i should almost damn all mankind for four thousand years4 ,such definitions of saving faith are1 ,i fear1 too narrow to be just1 and too unguarded to keep out ,solifidianism4#caj ,to avoid such mistakes2 to contradict no ,scriptures2 to put no black mark of damnation upon any man1 that in any nation fears ,god and works of righteousness2 to leave no room for ,solifidianism1 and to present the reader with a definition of faith adequate to the everlasting ,gospel1 ,i would choose to say1 that justifying or saving faith is believing the saving truth with the heart unto internal1 and 7as we have opportunity7 unto external righteousness1 according to our light and dispensation4 ,to ,st4 ,paul's words1 ,rom4 x4 #aj1 ,i add the epithets internal and external1 in order to exclude1 according to #a ,john iii4 #g1 #h1 the filthy imputation1 under which fallen believers may1 if we credit the ,antinomians1 commit internal and external adultery1 mental and bodily murder1 without the least reasonable fear of endangering their faith1 their interest in ,god's favour1 and their inamissable title to a throne of glory40 ,faith the gift of ,god1 and the act of man4 8,how is faith the gift of ,god8 ,some persons think that faith is as much out of our power as the lightning that shoots from a distant cloud2 they suppose that ,god drives sinners to the fountain of ,christ's blood1 as irresistibly as the infernal legion drove the herd of swine into the sea of ,galilee40 ,footnote #cjh3 ,as usual1 these extracts are made from the original edition1 and the italics are ,fletcher's own4 ,footnote #cji3 ,in a foot-note1 ,fletcher remarks1 8,when the ,church of ,england and ,mr4 ,wesley give us particular definitions of faith1 it is plain that they consider it according to the ,christian dispensation2 the privileges of which must be principally insisted upon among ,christians40 ,footnote #caj3 ,solifidianism1 now a favourite word with ,fletcher1 is thus defined by him1 in his 8,fifth ,check to ,antinomianism30--8,solifidianism is the doctrine of ,solifidians2 and the ,solifidians are men who1 because sinners are justified sola fide1 #8by sole faith1' in the day of conversion1 infer1 as ,mr4 ,berridge1 that #8believing is the total term of all salvation1' and conclude1 as ,mr4 ,hill1 that the doctrine of final justification by the works of faith in the great day is #8full of rottenness and deadly poison4' ,it is a softer word for ,antinomianism40 ,after amply refuting this 8absurd0 idea1 ,fletcher proceeds3-- 8,having thus exposed the erroneous sense in which some people suppose that faith is the gift of ,god1 ,i beg leave to mention in what sense it appears to me to be so4 ,believing is the gift of the ,god of ,grace1 as breathing1 moving1 and eating are the gifts of the ,god of ,nature4 ,he gives me lungs and air1 that ,i may breathe2 ,he gives me life and muscles1 that ,i may move2 ,he bestows upon me food and a mouth1 that ,i may eat2 but ,he neither breathes1 moves1 nor eats for me4 ,nay1 when ,i think proper1 ,i can accelerate my breathing1 motion1 and eating3 and1 if ,i please1 ,i may fast1 lie down1 or hang myself1 and1 by that means1 put an end to my eating1 moving1 and breathing4 ,faith is the gift of ,god to believers1 as sight is to you4 ,the parent of good freely gives you the light of the sun1 and organs proper to receive it4 ,everything around you bids you use your eyes and see2 nevertheless1 you may not only drop your curtains1 but close your eyes also4 ,this is exactly the case with regard to faith4 ,free grace removes1 in part1 the total blindness which ,adam's fall brought upon us2 free grace gently sends us some beams of truth1 which is the light of the sun of righteousness2 it disposes the eye of our understanding to see those beams2 it excites us1 in various ways1 to welcome them2 it blesses us with many1 perhaps with all the means of faith1 such as opportunities to hear1 read1 enquire1 and power to consider1 assent1 consent1 resolve1 and re-resolve to believe the truth4 ,but1 after all1 believing is as much our own act as seeing4 ,we may in general do1 suspend1 or omit the act of faith4 ,nay1 we may do by the eye of our faith1 what some report ,democritus did by his bodily eyes4 ,being tired of seeing the follies of mankind1 to rid himself of that disagreeable sight1 he put his eyes out4 ,we may be so averse from the light1 which enlightens every man that comes into the world2 we may so dread it because our works are evil1 as to exemplify1 like the ,pharisees1 such awful declarations as these3 ,their eyes have they closed1 lest they should see3 wherefore ,god gave them up to a reprobate mind1 and1 they were blinded40 ,it need not be added1 that ,fletcher abundantly sustains these figurative arguments by scriptural quotations4 ,two extracts more4 ,in his description of 8saving faith10 ,fletcher refuses to put the 8black mark of damnation upon any man1 that in any nation fears ,god and works righteousness40 ,in his 8,appendix to ,prevent ,objections10 he explains his meaning1 as follows3-- 8,i make no more difference between the faith of a righteous heathen1 and the faith of a father in ,christ1 than ,i do between daybreak and meridian light3--,that the light of a sincere ,jew is as much one with the light of a sincere ,christian1 as the light of the sun in a cold1 cloudy day in ,march is one with the light of the sun in a fine day in ,may3--,and that the difference between the saving faith peculiar to the sincere disciples of ,noah1 ,moses1 ,john the ,baptist1 and ,jesus ,christ1 consists in a variety of degrees1 and not in a diversity of species2 saving faith1 under all the dispensations1 agreeing in the following essentials3 #a4 ,it is begotten by the revelation of some saving truth presented by free grace1 impressed by the ,spirit1 and received by the believer's prevented free agency4 #b4 ,it has the same original cause in all1 that is1 the mercy of ,god in ,jesus ,christ4 #c4 ,it actually saves all1 though in various degrees4 #d4 ,it sets all upon working righteousness2 some bearing fruit thirty1 some sixty1 and some a hundredfold4 ,and #e4 ,through ,christ1 it will bring all that do not make shipwreck of it to one or another of the #8many mansions1' which our ,lord is gone to prepare in heaven for ,his believing1 obedient people4 8,and here honesty obliges me to lay before the public an objection1 which ,i had for some time against the appendages of the ,athanasian ,creed4 ,i admire the scriptural manner in which it sets forth the ,divine ,unity in ,trinity1 and the ,divine ,trinity in ,unity2 but ,i can no longer use its damnatory clauses4 ,it abruptly takes us to the very top of the ,christian dispensation1 considered in a doctrinal light4 ,this dispensation it calls the ,catholic faith2 and1 without mentioning the faith of the inferior dispensations1 as our other ,creeds do1 it makes us declare1 that #8except everyone keep that faith' 7the faith of the highest dispensation7 #8whole and undefiled1 he cannot be saved2 without doubt1 he shall perish everlastingly4' ,this dreadful denunciation is true with regard to proud1 ungodly infidels1 who1 in the midst of all the means of ,christian faith1 obstinately1 maliciously1 and finally set their hearts against the doctrine of ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost2 equally despising the ,son's atonement1 and the ,spirit's inspiration4 ,but ,i will no more invade ,christ's tribunal1 and pronounce that the fearful punishment of damnation shall #8without doubt' be inflicted upon #8every' ,unitarian1 ,arian1 ,jew1 ,turk1 and heathen1 that fears ,god and works righteousness1 though he does not hold the faith of the ,athanasian ,creed whole4 ,for1 if you except the last ,article1 thousands1 yea1 millions1 are never called to hold it at all2 and therefore shall never perish for not holding it whole4 ,at all hazards1 then1 ,i hope ,i shall never use again those damnatory clauses1 without taking the liberty of guarding them agreeably to the doctrine of the dispensations4 ,and if ,zelotes presses me with my subscriptions1 ,i reply beforehand1 that the same ,church1 who required me to subscribe to ,st4 ,athanasius's ,creed1 enjoins me also to believe this clause of ,st4 ,peter's ,creed1 #8,in every nation1 he that feareth ,god and worketh righteousness is accepted of ,him4' ,and1 if those two creeds are irreconcilable1 ,i think it more reasonable that ,athanasius should bow to ,peter1 warmed by the ,spirit of love1 than that ,peter should bow to ,athanasius1 heated by controversial opposition40 ,some will object to ,fletcher's teaching4 ,be it so3 the writer's business is neither to defend nor to condemn2 but simply to show1 as far as possible1 what ,fletcher's opinions were4 ,john ,wesley approved them4 8,mr4 ,fletcher10 says he1 in a letter dated ,january #ag1 #agge1 8has given us a wonderful view of the different dispensations4 ,i believe that difficult subject was never placed in so clear a light before4 ,it seems ,god has raised him up for this very thing-- 8#8,to vindicate eternal ,providence1 ,and justify the ways of ,god to man4'0#caa ,footnote #caa3 ,wesley's ,works1 vol4 xiii41 p4 #eb4 ,fletcher himself1 evidently1 felt great interest in his 8,essay on ,truth40 ,in a letter1 dated ,march #bj1 #aggd1 and addressed to the ,rev4 ,joseph ,benson1 he observed3-- 8,i do not repent having engaged in the present controversy1 for1 though ,i think my little publications cannot reclaim those who are given up to believe the lie of the day1 yet1 they may here and there stop one from swallowing it at all1 or from swallowing it so deeply as otherwise he might have done4 ,in preaching1 ,i do not meddle with the points discussed1 unless my text leads me to it1 and then ,i think them important enough not to be ashamed of them before my people4 8,i am just finishing an #8,essay on ,truth1' which ,i dedicate to ,lady ,huntingdon1 wherein you will see my latest views of that important subject4 ,my apprehensions of things have not changed since ,i saw you last2 save that in one thing ,i have seen my error4 ,an over-eager attention to the doctrine of the ,spirit has made me1 in some degree1 overlook the medium by which the ,spirit works--,i mean the ,word of ,truth1 which is the word by which the heavenly fire warms us4 ,i rather expected lightning1 than a steady fire by means of fuel4 ,i mention my error to you lest you should be involved therein4 8,my controversy weighs upon my hands2 but ,i must go through with it2 which ,i hope will be done in two or three pieces more3 one of which1 #8,scripture ,scales to ,weigh the ,gold of ,gospel ,truth1' may be more useful than the ,checks1 as being more literally scriptural4 8,i have exchanged a couple of friendly letters with ,lady ,huntingdon1 who gives me leave to see her publicly2 but ,i think it best to postpone that honour till ,i have cleared my mind40#cab ,footnote #cab3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,charles ,wesley read and criticized the 8,essay on ,truth10 upon which ,fletcher wrote him as follows3-- 8,i am glad you did not altogether disapprove my #8,essay on ,truth4' ,the letter1 ,i grant1 profiteth little1 until the ,spirit animate it4 ,i had1 some weeks ago1 one of those touches which realize1 or rather spiritualize the letter2 and it convinced me more than ever that what ,i say in that tract1 of the ,spirit and of faith1 is truth4 ,i am also persuaded that the faith and ,spirit1 which belong to perfect ,christianity1 are at a very low ebb1 even among believers4 ,when the ,son of ,man cometh to set up ,his kingdom1 shall ,he find ,christian faith upon the earth8 ,yes2 but1 ,i fear1 as little as ,he found of ,jewish faith1 when ,he came in the flesh4 ,i believe you cannot rest with the easy ,antinomian1 or the busy ,pharisee4 ,you and ,i have nothing to do but to die to all that is of a sinful nature1 and to pray for the power of an endless life4 ,god make us faithful to our convictions1 and keep us from the snares of outward things4 ,you are in danger from music1 children1 poetry2 and ,i from speculation1 controversy1 sloth1 etc4 ,let us watch against the deceitfulness of self and sin in all their appearances4 8,what power of the ,spirit do you find among the believers in ,london8 ,what openings of the kingdom8 ,is the well springing up in many hearts8 ,are many souls dissatisfied1 and looking for the kingdom of ,god in power8 ,watchman6 what of the night8 ,what of the day8 ,what of the dawn8 8,i feel the force of what you say about the danger of so encouraging the inferior dispensations1 as to make people rest short of the faith which belongs to perfect ,christianity4 ,i have tried to obviate it in some parts of the #8,equal ,check1' and hope to do it more effectually in my reply to ,mr4 ,hill's ,creed for ,perfectionists4 ,probably1 ,i shall get nothing by my polemic labours1 but loss of friends1 and charges of #8novel chimeras' on both sides4 ,i expect a letter from you on the subject4 ,write with openness1 and do not fear to discourage me by speaking your disapprobation of what you dislike4 ,my aim is to be found at the feet of all1 bearing and forbearing until truth and love bring better days4 8,i am1 rev4 and dear ,sir1 your most affectionate brother and son in the ,gospel1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#cac ,footnote #cac3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bbd4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,publications ,,in ,,the ,,year #agge4 ,,on ,november #ab1 #aggd1 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,the author of the #8,checks' has promised to his readers an answer to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,toplady's piece1 entitled1 #8,more ,work for ,mr4 ,wesley4'#cad ,his reason for postponing the finishing of that part of his #8,logica ,genevensis' was the importance of the #8,equal ,check1' which closes the controversy with ,mr4 ,hill4 ,he saw life so uncertain1 that1 of two things which he was obliged to do1 he thought it his duty to set about that which appeared to him the more useful4 ,he considered also that it was proper to have quite done with ,mr4 ,hill1 before he faced so able a writer as ,mr4 ,toplady4 ,and he hoped1 that1 to lay before the judicious a complete system of truth1 which1 like the sun1 recommends itself by its own lustre1 was perhaps the best method to prove that error1 which shines only as a meteor1 is nothing but a mock-sun4 ,however1 he fully designs to perform his engagement in a short time1 if his life is spared40 ,footnote #cad3 ,this was published in #aggb1 and will be noticed shortly4 ,this was prefixed to the first edition of the following work1 which1 at that time1 was in the press3 8,zelotes and ,honestus#cae ,reconciled2 or1 an ,equal ,check to ,pharisaism and ,antinomianism ,continued3 ,being the ,first ,part of the ,scripture ,scales to weigh the ,gold of ,gospel ,truth1--to balance a multitude of opposite ,scriptures1--to prove the ,gospel-,marriage of ,free-,grace and ,free-will1--and to restore primitive harmony to the ,gospel of the day4 ,with a ,preface1 containing some ,strictures upon the ,three ,letters of ,richard ,hill1 ,esq42 which have been lately published40 ,footnote #cae3 8,zelotes10 says ,fletcher1 8represents any zealous ,solifidian1 who looks upon the doctrine of free-will as heretical3 ,honestus1 any zealous moralist1 who looks upon the doctrine of free grace as enthusiastical40 ,this was ,fletcher's largest work4 ,it was published in two parts1 but it was continuously paged1 the whole making a #ab mo4 vol4 of #ddd pages4 ,mr4 ,hill's 8,three ,letters0 were published in #aggc1 just after the publication of his 8,finishing ,stroke40 ,the letters have been given in a previous chapter4 ,fletcher had answered them privately2 and now1 in a preface to his present work1 he replied publicly4 ,after stating that ,mr4 ,hill's pamphlet 8had been hawked about the parish of ,madeley0 by the newsman1 he proceeds to say3-- 8,mr4 ,hill quits the field2 but it is like a brave ,parthian4 ,he not only shoots his own arrows as he retires1 but borrows those also of two persons1 whom he calls #8a very eminent minister in the ,church of ,england' and #8a lay gentleman of great learning and abilities4' ,as ,i see neither argument nor ,scripture in the performances of those two new auxiliaries1 ,i shall take no notice of their ingrafted productions4 8,with respect to ,mr4 ,hill's arguments1 they are the same which he advanced in his #8,finishing ,stroke2' nor need we wonder at his not scrupling to produce them over again1 just as if they had been overlooked by his opponent1 for in the first page of his book he says1 #8,i have not read a single page which treats on the subject since ,i wrote my ,,finishing ,,stroke4' 8,as ,mr4 ,hill's arguments are the same1 so are also his personal charges4 ,after passing some compliments upon me as an #8able defender of ,mr4 ,wesley's principles1' he continues to represent me as #8prostituting noble endowments to the advancing of a party4' ,he affirms1 without shadow of proof1 that he has #8detected many misrepresentations of facts throughout' my #8publications4' ,he accuses me of using #8unbecoming artifices1 much declamation1 chicanery1 and evasion2' and says1 #8upon these accounts ,i really cannot1 with any degree of satisfaction1 read the works of one who1 ,i am in continual suspicion1 is endeavouring to mislead me by false glosses and pious frauds4' 8,i cannot but still love and honour ,mr4 ,hill on many1 very many1 accounts4 ,though his warm attachment to what he calls #8the doctrines of grace1' and what we call #8the doctrines of limited grace and free wrath1' robs him from time to time of part of the moderation1 patience1 and meekness of wisdom which adorn the complete ,christian character1 ,i cannot but consider him as a very valuable person4 ,i do not doubt but when the paroxysm of his ,calvinistic zeal shall be over1 he will be as great an ornament to the ,church of ,england in the capacity of a gentleman1 as he is to civil society in the capacity of a magistrate4 ,and justice1 as well as love1 obliges me to say that in the mean time he is1 in several respects1 a pattern for all gentlemen of fortune2 few equalling him in devoting a large fortune to the relief of the poor1 and their leisure hours to the support of what they esteem the truth4 ,happy would it be for him1 and for the peace of the ,church1 if to all his good qualities he always added the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit2 and if he so far suspected his orthodoxy as to condescend to weigh himself in the #8,scripture ,scales4'0 ,fletcher's preface to his 8,scripture ,scales0 is 8humbly addressed to the true ,protestants in ,great ,britain and ,ireland40 8,the ,reformers10 says he1 8protested three things in general3--#a4 ,that right reason has an important place in matters of faith4 #b4 ,that all matters of faith may and must be decided by ,scripture1 understood reasonably and consistently with the context4 #c4 ,that antiquity and fathers1 traditions and councils1 canons and the ,church1 lose their authority when they depart from sober reason and plain ,scripture4 ,these three general protests are the very ground of our religion when it is contradistinguished from ,popery4 ,they who stand to them deserve1 in my humble opinion1 the title of true ,protestants4 8,if the preceding account is just1 true ,protestants are all candid2 ,christian candour being nothing but a readiness to hear right reason and plain ,scripture4 ,of all the tempers which true ,protestants abhor1 none seems to them more detestable than that of those gnostics1 those pretenders to superior illumination1 who1 under the common pretence of orthodoxy or infallibility1 shut their eyes against the light1 think plain ,scripture beneath their notice1 enter their protest against reason1 and steel their breasts against conviction4 ,alas6 how many professors there are who1 like ,st4 ,stephen's opponents1 judges1 and executioners1 are neither able to resist nor willing to admit the truth2 who make their defence by stopping their ears1 and crying out1 #8,the temple of the ,lord1 the temple of the ,lord are we6' who thrust the supposed heretic out of their sanhedrim2 who1 from the press1 the pulpit1 or the doctor's chair1 send volleys of hard insinuations or soft assertions1 in hope that they will pass for solid arguments2 and who1 when they have no more stones or snowballs to throw at the supposed ,philistine1 prudently avoid drawing #8the sword of the ,spirit1' retire behind the walls of their fancied orthodoxy1 raise a rampart of slanderous contempt against the truth that besieges them1 and obstinately refuse either candidly to give up1 or manfully contend for1 the unscriptural tenets which they will impose upon others as pure ,gospel4 8,whether some of my opponents1 good men as they are1 have not a little inclined to the error of those sons of prejudice1 ,i leave the candid reader to decide4 ,they have neither answered nor yielded to the arguments of my #8,checks4' ,they are shut up in their own city4 ,strong and high are thy walls1 ,o mystical ,jericho6 ,thy battlements reach into the clouds1 but truth1 the spiritual ark of ,god1 is stronger1 and shall prevail4 ,the bearing of it patiently around thy ramparts1 and the blowing of rams' horns in the name of the ,lord1 will yet shake the very foundations of thy towers4 ,oh that ,i had the honour of successfully mixing my feeble voice with the blasts of the champions who encompass the devoted city6 ,oh that the irresistible shout1 ,reason and ,scripture--,christ and the ,truth--were universal6 ,if this were the case1 how soon would ,jericho and ,babylon--,antinomianism and ,pharisaism--fall together4 8,these two anti-,christian fortresses are equally attacked in the following pages4 8,the controversy is one of the most important which was ever set on foot4 ,the ,,grand inquiry1 #8,what shall ,i do to be saved8' is entirely suspended on this ,,greater question1 #8,have ,i anything ,,to ,,do to be eternally saved8' ,a question this which admits of three answers3--#a4 ,that of the mere ,solifidian1 who says1 ,if we are elect1 we have nothing to do in order to eternal salvation1 unless it be to believe that ,christ has done all for us1 and then to sing finished salvation2 and if we are not elect1 whether we do nothing1 little1 or much1 eternal ruin is our inevitable portion4 #b4 ,that of the mere moralist1 who is as great a stranger to the doctrine of free grace as to that of free wrath2 and tells you that there is no free1 initial salvation for us1 and that we must work ourselves into a state of initial salvation by dint of care1 diligence1 and faithfulness4 ,and #c4 ,that of their reconciler1 whom ,i consider as a rational ,bible ,christian1 and who asserts 7#a7 that ,christ has done the part of a ,sacrificing ,priest and teaching ,prophet upon earth1 and does still that of an ,interceding and ,royal ,priest in heaven1 whence ,he sends ,his ,holy ,spirit to act as an enlightener1 sanctifier1 comforter1 and helper in our hearts2 7#b7 that the free gift of initial salvation1 and of one or more talents of saving grace1 #8is come upon all' through the ,god-man ,christ1 who #8is the ,saviour of all men1 especially of them that believe2' and 7#c7 that our free will1 assisted by that saving grace imparted to us in the free gift1 is enabled to work with ,god in a subordinate manner1 so that we may freely 7without necessity7 do the part of penitent1 obedient1 and persevering believers1 according to the ,gospel dispensation we are under4 8,this is the plan of this work1 in which ,i equally fight for faith and works1 for gratuitous mercy and impartial justice2 reconciling all along ,christ our ,saviour with ,christ our ,judge1 heated ,augustin with heated ,pelagius1 free grace with free will1 ,divine goodness with human obedience1 the faithfulness of ,god's promises with the veracity of ,his threatenings1 first with second causes1 the original merits of ,christ with the derived worthiness of ,his members1 and ,god's foreknowledge with our free agency4 8,the plan1 ,i think1 is generous2 standing at the utmost distance from the extremes of bigots4 ,it is deep and extensive2 taking in the most interesting subjects1 such as the origin of evil1 liberty1 and necessity1 the law of ,moses and the ,gospel of ,christ1 general and particular redemption1 the apostacy and perseverance of the saints1 and the election and reprobation maintained by ,st4 ,paul4 ,i entirely rest the cause upon ,protestant ground2 that is1 upon ,reason and ,scripture4 ,nevertheless1 to show our antagonists that we are not afraid to meet them upon any ground1 ,i prove1 by sufficient testimonies from the fathers and the ,reformers1 that the most eminent divines in the primitive ,church and our own1 have passed the straits which ,i point out2 especially when they weighed the heavy anchor of prejudice1 had a good gale of ,divine wisdom1 and steered by the ,christian mariner's compass1 #8the ,word of ,god1' more than by the false lights hung out by party men40 ,it is hoped that these quotations from the preface of ,fletcher's book will induce the reader to peruse and study the book itself4 ,to analyse it here is impracticable2 and if one extract were given1 hundreds ought to follow4 ,in this frothy age1 the book to many will seem dry and tedious2 but to a man sincerely and earnestly in search of sacred truth it will prove a mine full of invaluable treasures4 ,at the end of the first edition1 the following was printed3-- 8,advertisement4 8,the key to the controversy1 which is designed to be ended by the #8,scripture ,scales1' proving too long for this place1 the publication of it is postponed4 ,it may one day open the way for ,an ,essay on the ,x,v,i,ith ,article1 under the following title3 #8,the ,doctrines of ,grace ,reconciled to the ,doctrines of ,justice4 ,being an ,essay on ,election and ,reprobation1 in which the defects of ,pelagianism1 ,calvinism1 and ,arminianism are impartially pointed out1 and primitive1 scriptural harmony is more fully restored to the ,gospel of the day4'0 ,this was not published until the year #aggg2 but it is mentioned here to show that1 in substance1 it was already written1 and1 thereby1 to show the activity of ,fletcher's mind1 and the accumulated labours which soon broke down his health4 ,no sooner was the publication of his 8,scripture ,scales10 or 8,equal ,check to ,pharisaism and ,antinomianism10 completed1 than he committed to the press the following3 8,the ,fictitious and the ,genuine ,creed3 ,being #8,a ,creed for ,arminians1' composed by ,richard ,hill1 ,esq42 to which is opposed #8,a ,creed for those who believe that ,christ tasted death for every man4' ,by the author of the #8,checks to ,antinomianism4' ,london1 #agge40 #abmo1 #eb pp4 ,the reader will remember that1 in bad taste1 ,fletcher1 in #aggb1 had published1 in his 8,fourth ,check to ,antinomianism10 a 8sweet gospel proclamation3 ,given at ,geneva1 and signed by four of ,his ,majesty's principal ,secretaries of ,state for the ,predestination ,department--,john ,calvin1 ,dr4 ,crisp1 ,the ,author of ,p4,o40 7,richard ,hill71 8and ,rowland ,hill40 ,this provoked ,richard ,hill2 and1 when he published his 8,three ,letters written to the ,rev4 ,j4 ,fletcher1 in the year #aggc10 he1 in equally bad taste1 attached an 8,appendix0 to his ,letters1 entitled1 8,a ,creed for ,arminians and ,perfectionists40 ,now1 in #agge1 ,fletcher felt it his duty to examine the ,creed so ingeniously drawn up by ,mr4 ,hill1 and to expose its fallacies4 ,the following is an extract from ,fletcher's preface3-- 8,with regard to our extensive views of ,christ's redemption by price1 ,mr4 ,hill calls us ,arminians3 and with respect to our believing that there is no perfect faith1 no perfect repentance in the grave2 that the ,christian graces of repentance1 faith1 hope1 patience1 etc41 must be perfected here or never2 and with respect to our confidence that ,christ's blood1 fully applied by ,his ,spirit1 and apprehended by faith1 can cleanse our hearts from all unrighteousness before we go into the purgatory of the ,calvinists1 or into that of the papists1 that is1 before we go into the valley of the shadow of death1 or into the suburbs of hell--with respect to this belief and confidence1 ,i say1 ,mr4 ,hill calls us ,perfectionists2 and1 appearing once more upon the stage of our controversy1 he has lately presented the public with what he calls1 #8,a ,creed for ,arminians and ,perfectionists'1 which he introduces in these words3 #8,the following confession of faith1 however shocking1 not to say blasphemous1 it may appear to the humble ,christian1 must inevitably be adopted1 if not in express words1 yet1 in substance1 by every ,arminian and ,perfectionist whatsoever2 though the last article of it chiefly concerns such as are ordained ministers in the ,church of ,england4' ,and1 as among such ministers1 ,mr4 ,j4 ,wesley1 ,mr4 ,w4 ,sellon1 and myself peculiarly oppose ,mr4 ,hill's ,calvinian doctrines of absolute election and reprobation1 and of a death-purgatory1 he has put the initial letters of our names to his ,creed2 hoping1 no doubt1 to make us peculiarly ashamed of our principles4 ,and1 indeed1 so should we be1 if any #8blasphemous' or #8shocking' consequence #8inevitably' flowed from them40 ,probably1 by this time1 the reader is tired of ,creeds4 ,he has had ,fletcher's ,creed for an ,antinomian2 ,mr4 ,richard ,hill's ,creed for ,arminians and ,perfectionists2 and now he has1 in 8,the ,fictitious and the ,genuine ,creed10 ,fletcher's ,creed for ,methodists4 ,the last may be dry reading1 but it contains truths of the utmost importance1--truths which ,fletcher spent the greatest part of his literary life in endeavouring to explain and to defend2 and1 speaking generally1 truths which ,wesley himself endorsed1 embraced1 and taught4 ,fletcher concludes his pamphlet with the following scrap of autobiography3-- 8,i shall close this answer to the ,creed1 which ,mr4 ,hill has composed for ,arminians1 by an observation which is not foreign to our controversy4 ,in one of the #8,three ,letters' which introduce the ,fictitious ,creed1 ,mr4 ,hill says1 #8,controversy1 ,i am persuaded1 has not done me any good2' and he exhorts me to examine myself closely whether ,i cannot make the same confession4 ,i own that it would have done me harm1 if ,i had blindly contended for my opinions4 ,nay1 if ,i had shut my eyes against the light of truth2--if ,i had set the plainest ,scriptures aside1 as if they were not worth my notice2--if ,i had overlooked the strongest arguments of my opponents2--if ,i had advanced groundless charges against them2--if ,i had refused to do justice to their good meaning or piety2--and1 above all1 if ,i had taken my leave of them by injuring their moral character1 by publishing over and over again arguments1 which they have properly answered1 without taking the least notice of their answers2--if ,i had made a solemn promise not to read one of their books1 though they should publish a thousand volumes2--if1 continuing to write against them1 ,i had fixed upon them 7as #8unavoidable' consequences7 absurd tenets1 which have no more necessary connexion with their principles than the doctrine of general redemption has with ,calvinian reprobation4 ,if ,i had done this1 ,i say1 controversy would have wounded my conscience or my reason2 and1 without adding anything to my light1 it would have immovably fixed me in my prejudices1 and perhaps branded me before the world for an ,arminian bigot4 ,but1 as matters are1 ,i hope ,i may make the following acknowledgments without betraying the impertinence of proud boasting4 8,although ,i have often been sorry that controversy should take up so much of the time which ,i might1 with much more satisfaction to myself1 have employed in devotional exercises2 and although ,i have lamented1 and do still lament1 my low attainments in the meekness of wisdom1 which should constantly guide the pen of every controversial writer2 yet1 ,i rejoice that ,i have been enabled to persist in my resolution1 either to wipe off1 or to share the reproach of those who have hazarded their reputation in defence of pure and undefiled religion4 ,and1 if ,i am not mistaken1 my repeated attempts have been attended with these happy effects3-- 8,in vindicating the moral doctrines of grace1 ,i hope that1 as a man1 ,i have learned to think more closely1 and to investigate truth more ardently1 than ,i did before4 8,as a divine1 ,i see more clearly the gaps and stiles1 at which mistaken good men have turned out of the narrow way of truth1 to the right hand and to the left4 8,as a ,protestant1 ,i hope ,i have much more esteem for the ,scriptures in general1 and in particular for those practical parts of them1 which the ,calvinists had insensibly taught me to overlook1 or despise4 ,and this increasing esteem is1 ,i trust1 accompanied with a deeper conviction of the truth of ,christianity1 and with a greater readiness to defend the ,gospel against infidels1 ,pharisees1 and ,antinomians4 8,as a ,preacher1 ,i hope ,i can now do more justice to a text by reconciling it with seemingly contrary ,scriptures4 8,as an ,anti-,calvinist1 ,i have learned to do the ,calvinists justice1 in granting that there is an election of distinguishing grace for ,god's peculiar people1 and a particular redemption for all believers who are faithful unto death4 ,i can more easily excuse pious ,calvinists1 who1 through prejudice1 mistake that ,scriptural election for their ,antinomian election2 and who consider that particular redemption as the only redemption mentioned in the ,scriptures4 ,nay1 ,i can1 without scruple1 allow ,mr4 ,hill that his doctrines of finished salvation and irresistible grace are true with respect to all those who die in their infancy4 8,as one who is called an ,arminian1 ,i have found out some flaws in ,arminianism1 and evidenced my impartiality in pointing them out1 as well as the flaws of ,calvinism4 8,as a ,witness for the truth of the ,gospel1 ,i hope ,i have learned to bear reproach from all sorts of people with more undaunted courage4 ,and ,i humbly trust1 that1 were ,i called to seal with my blood the truth of the doctrines of grace and of justice1 against the ,pharisees and ,antinomians1 ,i could 7,divine grace supporting me to the last7 do it more rationally1 and of consequence with greater steadiness4 8,as a ,follower of ,christ1 ,i hope ,i have learned to disregard my dearest friends for my ,heavenly ,prophet2 or1 to speak the language of our ,lord1 ,i hope ,i have learned to forsake father1 mother1 and brothers for ,christ's sake1 and the ,gospel's4 8,as a ,disputant1 ,i have learned that solid arguments1 and plain ,scriptures1 make no more impression upon bigotry1 than the charmer's voice does upon the deaf adder2 and1 by that means1 ,i hope1 ,i depend less upon the powers of reason1 the letter of the ,scriptures1 and the candour of professors1 than ,i formerly did4 8,as a ,believer1 ,i have been brought to see and feel that the power of the ,spirit of truth1 which teaches men to be of one heart1 and of one mind1 and makes them think and speak the same1 is at a very low ebb in the religious world4 8,as a ,member of the ,church of ,england1 ,i have learned to be pleased with our holy ,mother1 for giving us floods of pure morality to wash away the few remaining ,calvinian freckles that remain upon her face4 8,as a ,christian1 ,i hope ,i have learned1 in some degree1 to exercise that charity1 which teaches us boldly to oppose a dangerous error without ceasing to honour and love its abettors1 so far as they resemble our ,lord4 8,and1 lastly1 as a ,writer1 ,i have learned to feel the truth of ,solomon's observation1 #8,of making many books there is no end1 and much study is a weariness of the flesh3 ,let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter3 ,fear ,god and keep ,his commandments2 for this is the whole duty of man2' and the sum of the ,anti-,solifidian truth1 which ,i endeavour to vindicate4 8,i do not say that ,i have learned any of these lessons as ,i should have done2 but ,i hope ,i have learned so much of them as to say that1 in these respects1 my controversial toil has not been altogether in vain in the ,lord40 ,the reader must excuse these long extracts2 for there seems to be no better way of giving a correct and full idea of ,fletcher's views and character4 ,at the end of the first edition of his pamphlet1 ,fletcher inserted the following 8,advertisement03-- 8,mr4 ,hill's #8,creed for ,arminians' is followed by his plea for the inbred man of sin4 ,this indirect and witty plea he calls1 #8,a ,creed for ,perfectionists4' ,but1 as that part of his performance has no immediate connection with the doctrines vindicated in the preceding pages1 ,i design to make my remarks upon it in a separate ,tract40 ,this 8,tract10 as ,fletcher calls it1 seems to have been already written1 for it was forthwith published1 and entitled1 8,the ,last ,check to ,antinomianism4 ,a ,polemical ,essay on the ,twin ,doctrines of ,christian ,imperfection and a ,death ,purgatory10 ,by the ,author of the ,checks4 ,london3 #agge4 #abmo41 #cbh pp4 ,at this time1 the ,rev4 ,thomas ,reader1 a ,dissenting ,minister1 at ,taunton1 held a position similar to that which had been held by ,doddridge1 at ,northampton4 ,he was the ,president of a ,college for training ,independent ,ministers1 and was a zealous ,calvinist4 ,when ,fletcher's new book was published1 ,mr4 ,reader read it1 and was so angry with its contents that he started off to ,madeley1 a long journey1 to rebuke the author for his heresy4 ,arriving at his destination1 he hastened to the vicarage1 knocked loudly at the door1 told the servant who he was1 and requested an interview with the ,vicar4 ,fletcher1 knowing him by name1 ran from his study to receive his visitor1 and spreading out his hands1 exclaimed1 8,come in1 come in1 thou blessed of the ,lord6 ,am ,i so honoured as to receive a visit from so esteemed a servant of my ,master8 ,let us have a little prayer1 while refreshments are getting ready40 ,mr4 ,reader was puzzled4 ,he remained three days1 but was utterly unable to muster sufficient courage to even intimate the object of his visit4 ,afterwards he stated that he never enjoyed three days of such spiritual and profitable intercourse in all his life4#caf ,footnote #caf3 8,methodism in ,north ,devon10 p4 #aae4 ,fletcher's books1 prayers1 conversations1 and tempers were a glorious manifestation of the truths he taught in his elaborate and able treatise on ,christian ,perfection1--a treatise never equalled1 except by the treatise and the sermons of ,wesley on the same subject4 ,wesley and ,fletcher are easily understood2 modern writers on this all-important doctrine are too often mystics1 or1 rather1 mystifiers4 ,the former expounded ,scripture1 the latter disastrously obscure ,scripture by what they consider to be philosophy4 ,the ,methodists need no new exposition of this old ,methodist truth4 ,never can it be more plainly stated and more indisputably proved1 than it is in the 8,plain ,account0 of ,wesley1 and the 8,polemical ,essay0 of his friend ,fletcher4 ,well would it be if the present race of ,methodists would read these1 in preference to the bewildering trash so injuriously read in the stead of them4 ,truth never changes6 and changes of society can never justify the new settings forth of truth1 nowadays so ignorantly demanded4 ,a brief analysis of ,fletcher's invaluable book1 and a few extracts from it1 must be given4 ,in reference to the word 8,perfection10 which occasioned so much offence1 ,fletcher writes3-- 8,christian ,perfection6 ,why should the harmless phrase offend us8 ,perfection6 ,why should that lovely word frighten us8 ,the word predestinate occurs but four times in all the ,scriptures2 and the word predestination not once2 and yet ,mr4 ,hill would justly exclaim against us1 if we showed our wit1 by calling out for #8a little ,foundery' 7or ,tabernacle7 #8eye-salve' to help us to see the word predestination once in all the ,bible4 ,not so the word perfection4 ,it occurs1 with its derivatives1 as frequently as most words in the ,scripture2 and not seldom in the very same sense in which we take it2 nevertheless1 we do not lay an undue stress upon the expression2 and1 if we thought that our condescension would answer any good end1 we would give up that harmless and significant word40 ,in reply to the unfair and untrue taunt that ,wesley and ,fletcher taught the doctrine of sinless perfection1 ,fletcher makes an admirable quotation from ,wesley3-- 8,to explain myself a little farther on this head3 #a4 ,not only ,,sin1 properly so called1 that is1 a voluntary transgression of a known law1 but sin ,,improperly so called1 that is1 an involuntary transgression of a divine law1 known or unknown1 needs the atoning blood4 #b4 ,i believe there is no such perfection in this life1 as excludes these involuntary transgressions1 which ,i apprehend to be naturally consequent on the ignorance and mistakes inseparable from mortality4 #c4 ,therefore1 ,,sinless perfection is a phrase ,i never use1 lest ,i should seem to contradict myself4 #d4 ,i believe a person filled with the love of ,god is still liable to these involuntary transgressions4 #e4 ,such transgressions you may call sins if you please2 ,i do not1 for the reasons above-mentioned40 ,fletcher then proceeds to prove that 8,pious ,calvinists have had1 at times1 nearly the same views of ,christian ,perfection0 that he and ,wesley had4 8,they dissent from us10 says he1 8because they confound the anti-evangelical law of innocence and the evangelical law of liberty--peccability and sin--,adamic and ,christian ,perfection2 and because they do not consider that ,christian ,perfection1 falling infinitely short of ,god's absolute perfection1 admits of a daily growth40 ,the third section of ,fletcher's work is occupied with answers to popular objections2 and the fourth amply proves that the doctrine for which he is contending is a doctrine taught in the formularies of the ,church of ,england4 ,mr4 ,hill1 in the ,eleventh ,article of his 8,fictitious ,creed10 had made ,fletcher1 ,wesley1 and ,walter ,sellon1 not only deny 8,the ,thirty-nine ,articles of the ,church of ,england10 which they had 8solemnly subscribed10 but also the truthful teaching of four ,apostolical writers in the ,new ,testament4 ,with excessively bad taste1 he had represented them as saying1 8,let ,peter1 ,paul1 ,james1 and ,john say what they will1 and let the ,reformers and ,martyrs join their syren-song1 their eyes were at best but half opened1 for want of a little ,foundery eye-salve40 ,accordingly1 the fifth and five following sections of ,fletcher's book are devoted to a refutation of this scandalous and almost profane slander4 ,a large number of texts1 from the ,epistles of these four inspired writers1 are most ably examined and explained1--texts incontestably proving that the doctrine of ,christian ,perfection was a doctrine taught by 8,peter1 ,paul1 ,james1 and ,john40 ,in the eleventh section of his book1 ,fletcher triumphantly answers the objections1 founded upon certain texts in the writings of ,solomon1 ,isaiah1 and ,job2 and in the twelfth he adduces 8a variety of arguments to prove the absurdity of the twin doctrines of ,christian ,imperfection and a ,death-,purgatory40 ,in this1 he furnishes a definition of ,christian ,perfection worthy of being quoted1 namely3-- 8,christian ,perfection is nothing but the depth of evangelical repentance1 the full assurance of faith1 and the pure love of ,god and man shed abroad in a faithful believer's heart1 by the ,holy ,ghost given unto him1 to cleanse him1 and to keep him clean1 from all filthiness of the flesh and ,spirit2 and to enable him to fulfil the law of ,christ according to the talents he is entrusted with1 and the circumstances in which he is placed in this world40 ,in the next section 7the thirteenth7 ,fletcher dwells upon 8the mischievousness of the doctrines of ,christian ,imperfection1 and a ,death ,purgatory40 ,he concludes his scathing arguments on this subject as follows3-- 8,the modish doctrine of ,christian imperfection and death-purgatory is so contrived that carnal men will always prefer the purgatory of the ,calvinists to that of the ,papists4 ,for the ,papists prescribe ,i know not how many cups of divine wrath and dire vengeance1 which are to be drunk by the souls of believers who die half-purged1 or three parts cleansed4 ,these half-damned1 or a quarter-damned creatures must go through a severe discipline1 and fiery salvation in the very suburbs of hell1 before they can be perfectly purified4 ,but our opponents have found out a way to deliver half-hearted believers out of all fear in this respect4 ,such believers need not utterly abolish the body of sin in this world4 ,the inbred man of sin not only may1 but he shall live as long as we do4 ,you will possibly ask3 #8,what is to become of this sinful guest8 ,shall he take us to hell1 or shall we take him to heaven8 ,if he cannot die in this world1 will ,christ destroy him in the next8' ,no3 here ,christ is almost left out of the question4 ,our indwelling adversary is not to be destroyed by the brightness of the ,redeemer's spiritual appearing1 but by the gloom of the appearance of death4 ,the king of terrors comes to the assistance of ,jesus's sanctifying grace1 and instantaneously delivers the carnal believer from indwelling pride1 unbelief1 covetousness1 peevishness1 uncharitableness1 love of the world1 and inordinate affection4 ,the dying sinner's breath does the capital work of the ,spirit of holiness4 ,by the most astonishing of all miracles1 the faint1 infectious1 last gasp of a sinful believer blows away1 in the twinkling of an eye1 the great mountain of inward corruption1 which all the means of grace1 all the faith1 prayers1 and sacraments of twenty1 perhaps of forty years1 were never able to remove4 ,if this doctrine is true1 how greatly was ,st4 ,paul mistaken when he said1 #8,the sting of death is sin4' ,should he not have said1 ,death is the cure of sin1 instead of saying1 #8,sin is the sting of death'8 ,and should not his praises flow thus1--#8,thanks be to ,god who gives us the victory through death2 our great and only deliverer from our greatest and fiercest enemy1 indwelling sin'80 ,the fourteenth section of ,fletcher's book is employed in answering the false and pernicious statements contained in ,toplady's 8,caveat against ,unsound ,doctrine10 and ,martin ,madan's 8,essay on ,galatians v4 #ag40 ,in the two following sections1 ,fletcher proves that his doctrine of ,christian perfection 8cannot be justly reproached as ,popish1 and ,pelagian2 and shows the distinction which exists0 between sins and innocent infirmities4 ,then he concludes his invaluable book with four ,addresses3 #a4 8,to perfect ,christian ,pharisees2 #b4 ,to prejudiced ,imperfectionists2 #c4 ,to imperfect ,perfectionists2 and #d4 ,to perfect ,christians40 ,these addresses will always rank among the most powerful productions of ,fletcher's pen2 but1 for want of space1 only one extract from them can be given here2 and even that is1 to a large extent1 an extract from ,wesley's ,sermon on 8,the ,scripture ,way of ,salvation40 ,it is1 however1 of the highest importance1 as containing an answer to the question1 ,how are we to be 8sanctified1 saved from sin1 and perfected in love80 ,fletcher writes3-- 8,i have already pointed out the close connexion there is between an act of faith which fully apprehends the sanctifying promise of the ,father1 and the power of the ,spirit of ,christ which makes an end of moral corruption by forcing the lingering man of sin instantaneously to breathe out his last4 ,mr4 ,wesley1 in the above quoted sermon1 touches upon this delicate subject in so clear and concise a manner1 that1 while his discourse is before me1 for the sake of those who have it not in hand1 ,i shall transcribe the whole passage1 and1 by this means1 put the seal of that eminent divine to what ,i have advanced1 in the preceding pages1 about sanctifying faith1 and the quick destruction of sin4 8#8,does ,god work this great work in the soul gradually or instantaneously8 ,perhaps it may be gradually wrought in some1 ,i mean in this sense3 ,they do not advert to the particular moment1 wherein sin ceases to be4 ,but it is infinitely desirable1 were it the will of ,god1 that it should be done instantaneously2 that the ,lord should destroy sin by the breath of ,his mouth1 in a moment1 in the twinkling of an eye4 ,and so ,he generally does1--a plain fact1 of which there is evidence enough to satisfy any unprejudiced person4 ,thou therefore look for it every moment4 ,look for it in the way above described2#cag in all those good works1 whereunto thou art created anew in ,christ ,jesus4 ,there is then no danger2 you can be no worse1 if you are no better for that expectation4 ,for were you to be disappointed of your hope1 still you lose nothing4 ,but you shall not be disappointed of your hope2 it will come1 and will not tarry4 ,look for it then every day1 every hour1 every moment4 ,why not this hour1 this moment8 ,certainly you may look for it now1 if you believe it is by faith4 ,and by this token you may surely know whether you seek it by faith or works4 ,if by works1 you want something to be done first1 before you are sanctified4 ,you think1 #8,i must first be or do thus or thus4' ,then you are seeking it by works unto this day4 ,if you seek it by faith1 you may expect it as you are2 and1 if as you are1 then expect it now4 ,it is of importance to observe that there is an inseparable connexion between these three points1 expect it by faith1 expect it as you are1 and expect it now4 ,to deny one of them is to deny them all2 to allow one is to allow them all4 ,do you believe we are sanctified by faith8 ,be true then to your principle2 and look for this blessing just as you are1 neither better1 nor worse2 as a poor sinner1 that has still nothing to pay1 nothing to plead1 but--,christ died4 ,and if you look for it as you are1 then expect it now4 ,stay for nothing1 why should you8 ,christ is ready1 and ,he is all you want4 ,he is waiting for you2 ,he is at the door6 ,let your inmost soul cry out1-- 8#8,come in1 come in1 ,thou heavenly guest6 ,nor hence again remove3 ,but sup with me1 and let the feast ,be everlasting love4'0 7p4 #bhh74 ,footnote #cag3 ,after most ably arguing the matter1 ,wesley1 in the sermon here referred to1 concludes 8that faith is the only condition which is immediately and proximately necessary to sanctification20 and that the 8faith whereby we are sanctified--saved from sin1 and perfected in love1 is a divine evidence and conviction1 first1 that ,god hath promised it in the ,holy ,scripture2 secondly1 that what ,god hath promised1 ,he is able to perform2 thirdly1 that ,he is able and willing to do it now2 and1 fourthly1 a divine evidence and conviction that ,he doeth it4 ,in that hour10 continues ,wesley1 8it is done2 ,god says to the inmost soul1 #8,according to thy faith1 be it unto thee6' ,then the soul is pure from every spot of sin2 it is clean #8from all unrighteousness4' ,the believer then experiences the deep meaning of those solemn words1 #8,if we walk in the light as ,he is in the light1 we have fellowship one with another1 and the blood of ,jesus ,christ ,his ,son cleanseth us from all sin4'0 ,well would it be1 for the ,church and the world1 if these views of ,wesley and his friend ,fletcher were held by all the ,methodists of the present age1 or even by a thousandth part of them4 ,how often are they preached in ,methodist pulpits8 ,not so often as they ought to be6 8,where ,christian perfection is not strongly and explicitly preached10 said ,wesley1 8there is seldom any remarkable blessing from ,god2 and1 consequently1 little addition to the ,society1 and little life in the members of it40#cah ,footnote #cah3 ,wesley's ,works1 vol4 xii41 p4 #beb4 ,the year #agge was to ,fletcher one of the busiest in his life4 ,he was steeped in controversy2 but he rose in piety4 ,in a letter to his friend ,joseph ,benson1 he wrote3-- 8,i have had two printers at my heels1 besides my common business1 and this is enough to make me trespass upon the patience of my friends4 ,i have published the first part of my #8,scales1' which has gone through a second edition in ,london1 before ,i could get the second part printed in ,salop1 where it will be published in about six weeks4 ,i have also published a creed for the ,arminians1 where you will see that1 if ,i have not answered your critical remarks upon my ,essay on ,truth1 ,i have improved by them1 yea publicly recanted the two expressions you mentioned as improper4 8,i am so tied up here1 both by my parish duty and controversial writings1 that ,i cannot hope to see you unless you come into these parts4#cai ,in the meantime1 let us meet at the throne of grace4 ,in ,jesus1 time and distance are lost4 ,he is an universal1 eternal life of righteousness1 peace1 and joy4 ,i am glad you have some encouragement in ,scotland4 ,the ,lord grant you more and more6 ,use yourself1 however1 to go against wind and tide1 as ,i do2 and take care that our wise dogmatical friends in the north do not rob you of your childlike simplicity4 ,remember that the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to babes4 ,you may be afraid of being a fool1 without being afraid of being a babe4 ,you may be childlike without being childish4 ,simplicity of intention and purity of affection will go through the world1 through hell itself4 ,in the meantime1 let us see that we do not so look at our little publications1 or to other people1 as to forget that ,christ is our ,object1 our ,sun1 our ,shield4 ,to ,his inspiration1 comfort1 and protection1 ,i earnestly recommend your soul2 and the labours of your heart1 tongue1 and pen to ,his blessing40#cbj ,footnote #cai3 ,joseph ,benson was appointed to the ,edinburgh ,circuit at the ,conference of #aggd2 and to the ,newcastle ,circuit at the ,conference of #agge4 ,footnote #cbj3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,at this period1 ,wesley was dangerously ill in ,ireland4 ,charles ,wesley had no hope of his brother's recovery4 ,the ,methodists throughout the kingdom were in consternation4 ,in a letter to ,joseph ,bradford1 ,wesley's faithful companion1 ,charles ,wesley wrote3-- 8,bristol1 ,june #bi1 #agge4 ,your letter has cut off all hope of my brother's recovery4 ,the people here1 and in ,london1 and every place1 are swallowed up in sorrow4 ,but sorrow and death will soon be swallowed up in life everlasting4 ,you will be careful of my brother's papers1 etc41 till you see his executors4 ,god shall reward your fidelity and love4 ,i seem scarce separated from him whom ,i shall so very soon overtake4 ,we were united in our lives1 and in our death not divided40#cba ,footnote #cba3 ,tyerman's 8,life and ,times of ,wesley10 vol4 iii4 p4 #bjd4 ,in his deep distress1 ,charles ,wesley wrote to ,fletcher1 who replied as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,july #b1 #agge4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,brother1--,the same post which brought me yours1 brought me a letter from ,ireland1 informing me of the danger of your dear brother1 my dear father1 and of his being very happy in1 and resigned to1 the will of ,god4 ,what can you and ,i do8 ,what1 but stand still1 and see the salvation of ,god8 ,the nations are before ,him but as the dust that cleaves to a balance2 and the greatest instruments have been removed4 ,abraham is dead2 the fathers are dead2 and if ,john come first to the sepulchre1 you and ,i will soon descend into it4 ,the brightest1 the most burning and shining lights1 like the ,baptist1 ,mr4 ,whitefield1 and your brother1 were kindled to make the people rejoice in them1 #8for a season1' says our ,lord4 #8,for a season4' ,the expression is worth our notice4 ,it is just as if our ,lord had said1 #8,i give you inferior lights1 that ye may rejoice in them for a season4 ,but ,i reserve to myself the glory of shining for ever4 ,the most burning lights shall fail on earth2 but ,i1 your ,sun1 will shine to all eternity4' 8,come1 my dear brother1 let the danger of our lights make us look to our ,sun more steadily2 and should ,god quench the light of our ,jerusalem below1 let us rejoice that it is to make it burn brighter in the ,jerusalem which is above2 and let us triumph in the inextinguishable light of our ,sun1 in the impenetrable strength of our ,shield1 and in the immovableness of our ,rock4 8,amidst my concern for the ,church in general1 and for ,mr4 ,wesley's ,societies in particular1 ,i cannot but acknowledge the goodness of ,god in so wonderfully keeping him for so many years1 and in preserving him to undergo such labours as would have killed you and me ten times over4 ,the ,lord may yet hear prayer and add a span to his useful life4 ,but forasmuch as the immortality of the body does not belong to this state1 and he has fulfilled the ordinary term of human life1 in hoping the best1 we must prepare ourselves for the worst4 ,the ,god of all grace and power will strengthen you on the occasion4 8,should your brother fail on earth1 you are called not only to bear up under the loss of so near a relative1 but1 for the sake of your common children in the ,lord1 you should endeavour to fill up the gap according to your strength4 ,the ,methodists will not expect from you your brother's labours2 but they have1 ,i think1 a right to expect that you will preside over them while ,god spares you in the land of the living4 ,a committee of the oldest and steadiest preachers may help you to bear the burden and to keep up a proper discipline both among the people and the rest of the preachers2 and if at any time you should want my mite of assistance1 ,i hope ,i shall throw it into the treasury with the simplicity and readiness of the poor widow1 who cheerfully offered her next to nothing4 ,do not faint4 ,the ,lord ,god of ,israel will give you additional strength for the day2 and ,his angels1 yea1 ,his praying people1 will bear you up in their hands1 that you hurt not your foot against a stone2 yea1 that if need be1 you may leap over a wall4 8,i am by this time grey-headed as well as you1 and some of my parishioners tell me that the inroads of time are uncommonly visible upon my face4 ,indeed1 ,i feel as well as see it myself1 and learn what only time1 trials1 and experience can teach4 ,should your brother be called to his reward1 ,i would not be free to go to ,london till you and the preachers had settled all matters4 ,my going just at such a time0 as this 8would carry the appearance of vanity1 which ,i abhor4 ,it would seem as if ,i wanted to be somebody among the ,methodists4 8,we here heartily join the prayers of the brethren for your brother1 for you1 and the ,societies4 ,paper fails1 not love4 ,be careful for nothing4 ,cast your burden upon the ,lord1 and ,he will sustain you4 ,farewell in ,christ40#cbb ,footnote #cbb3 ,jackson's 8,life of ,c4 ,wesley10 vol4 ii41 p4 #cjb4 ,two and a half years before this dangerous illness1 ,wesley had requested ,fletcher to be his successor in presiding over the ,methodists4 ,perhaps ,charles ,wesley was aware of this4 ,at all events1 he appears to have wished ,fletcher to come to ,london in the great crisis which had now occurred4 ,fletcher modestly declined2 and1 fortunately for both1 no successor of ,wesley was needed until several years after both were dead4 ,fletcher's 8,checks to ,antinomianism0 were ended4 ,for four years1 he had taxed his energies to the utmost2 but the work he undertook in #agga was now nearly concluded4 ,the doctrines of ,wesley's 8,minutes0 had been carefully explained1 minutely defended1 and lovingly enforced4 8,in his #8,checks to ,antinomianism1'0 wrote ,wesley1 8one knows not which to admire most--the purity of the language1 the strength and clearness of the argument1 or the mildness and sweetness of the spirit that breathes throughout the whole4 ,insomuch that ,i nothing wonder at a serious clergyman1 who being resolved to live and die in his own opinion1 when he was pressed to read them replied1 #8,no1 ,i will never read ,mr4 ,fletcher's 8,checks10 for if ,i did1 ,i should be of his mind4'0#cbc ,footnote #cbc3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,of course1 contrary opinions have been expressed4 ,the author of 8,the ,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon0 tells his readers that1-- 8,fletcher dazzled with eloquence instead of reasoning1 and substituted tropes for arguments4 ,he was too loquacious for a deep reasoner1 and too impassioned to investigate duly the most profound and awful themes which can occupy the human understanding40 ,isaac ,taylor1 also1 in his 8,wesley and ,methodism10 takes the same position4 ,he acknowledges that1-- 8,in a genuine sense1 ,fletcher was a saint2 a saint such as the ,church of every age has produced a few samples4 ,sanctity and purity of manners were his distinctive characteristics4 ,he was as unearthly a being as could tread the earth at all2 and his ,methodism was ,christianity as little lowered by admixture of human infirmity as we may hope to find it anywhere on earth40 ,but while 8as a theologian he possessed acquaintance enough with doctrinal literature and with the ,scriptures to give him always a point or two of advantage in relation to his antagonists1 he was no such reasoner1 he was no such master of ,biblical criticism1 as might have made it possible for him to overstep the limits of his appointed task1 or1 as a theological writer1 to survive his day40#cbd ,footnote #cbd3 ,robert ,southey wrote1 8,mr4 ,fletcher's manner is diffuse1 and the florid parts and the unction betray their ,french origin2 but the reasoning is acute and clear1 the spirit of his writings is beautiful1 and he was a master of the subject in all its bearings40 ,the first of these critics was too much of a ,calvinist to do justice to ,fletcher1 an ,arminian2 and it is not rash to say respecting the second1 that it is extremely doubtful whether he had carefully perused the writings he condemns4 ,at all events1 his assertion that 8as a theological writer0 ,fletcher did not 8survive his day10 is utterly untrue4 ,fletcher's 8,checks0 are as much read today as they were a hundred years ago4 ,the demand for them increases almost every year1 both in ,england and in ,america2 and they are found in every land where ,methodism has been founded4 ,at the time when they were first published1 they occasioned exasperation among the ,calvinian ,methodists1 but that was not the fault of their distinguished author4 ,what was called 8bitterness0 in ,fletcher was not bitterness of temper1 but 8of unwelcome doctrine1 set forth with all the advantages of language1 confidence1 and argument40 ,soon after they were completed1 a ,dissenting minister at ,bristol called upon ,fletcher1 when1 to all human appearance1 he was dying1 and rudely said1 8,you had better have been confined to your bed by palsy than have written so many bitter things against the dear children of ,god40 8,my brother10 replied the invalid1 8,i hope ,i have not been bitter4 ,certainly ,i did not mean to be so2 but ,i wanted more love then1 and ,i feel ,i want more now40#cbe ,fletcher's soft answer silenced his sour assailant1 and sent him away1 it is to be hoped1 a wiser and better man4 ,footnote #cbe3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahbc1 p4 #ajg4 ,it is a pleasant fact to put on record that ,fletcher and his opponents in the ,calvinian controversy lived long enough to be affectionately reconciled to each other4 ,shirley1 the first in the field1 had1 at least1 one brotherly interview with ,fletcher1 in ,ireland4#cbf ,in the ,methodist ,museum at the ,centenary ,hall1 ,london1 there is an unpublished letter1 which ,mr4 ,richard ,hill wrote to ,fletcher in #aghd1 full of ,christian affection4 ,rowland ,hill1 with admirable candour1 said of his own writings1 8,a softer style and spirit would better have become me20 and he also suppressed the sale of one of his severest publications4#cbg ,then as it respects dear old ,berridge at ,everton1 it will be seen1 in a succeeding chapter1 that he and ,fletcher were more than reconciled to each other4 ,their meeting at ,everton1 in the month of ,december1 #aggf1 is one of the most charming incidents recorded in ,methodistic annals4 ,footnote #cbf3 ,stevens's 8,history of ,methodism40 ,footnote #cbg3 ,sidney's 8,life of ,rev4 ,rowland ,hill40 ,another name must be introduced4 ,dr4 ,thomas ,coke was now twenty-eight years of age4 ,he had taken his degrees at ,oxford1 had received episcopal ordination1 and was now curate at ,south ,petherton4 ,as yet1 he had not been introduced to ,wesley2 but he had read his sermons and journals1 and also the 8,checks0 of ,fletcher1--all kindly lent to him by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,brown1 a clergyman residing in the neighbourhood of ,taunton4 ,a year elapsed before ,wesley met him1 but in the meantime1 the young curate wrote the following letter#cbh to ,fletcher3-- 8,,south ,,petherton1 ,,near ,,crewkerne1 ,,somerset1 8,august #bh1 #agge4 8,,rev4 ,,sir1--,i take the liberty1 though unknown to you1 but not unacquainted with your admirable publications1 of writing you a letter of sincerest thanks for the spiritual instruction1 as well as entertainment1 they have afforded me2 and for the spirit of candour and ,christian charity which breathes throughout your writings4 ,the charming character which my best of earthly friends 7the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,brown1 of ,kingston1 near ,taunton71 has given me of you1 emboldens me to hope that1 though my situation in life be only that of a poor curate of a parish1 you will excuse this liberty ,i have taken of addressing you in the fulness of my heart4 8,you are indubitably1 ,sir1 a sincere friend of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,i also am an humble admirer of the blessed ,jesus1 and it is on that foundation only ,i would wish1 and it is on that only ,i am sure ,i can recommend myself to you4 8,your excellent #8,checks to ,antinomianism' have riveted me in an abhorrence and detestation of the peculiar tenets of ,calvin1 and the monstrous errors into which those great and good men1 ,bishops ,hopkins and ,beveridge1 have run1 have frequently filled me with wonder4 8,your #8,essay on ,truth' has been more particularly blessed to me4 ,your #8,scripture ,scales' ,i am just going to read with great attention4 ,many thanks to you for your treatise on the #8,fallen ,state of ,man4' ,it has been of service to me1 and of much more1 ,i have reason to think1 to many of my congregation4 8,o1 ,sir1 ,i have frequently prayed to my ,god that ,he will make you a great pillar of ,his ,church4 ,in return1 ,i do humbly beg that you will pray for me4 ,i am sure you will grant me the favour when ,i inform you that 7as nearly as ,i can guess7 a thousand or more immortal souls come to me on every ,lord's ,day1 in the afternoon1 to receive their portion of the manna of the ,word1 the bread of everlasting life4 8,i will so far transgress against the public and your dear flock as to request an answer4 ,i am almost afraid to hope for more4 ,may the ,god who loves you1 and whom you love1 make you a great instrument of ,his glory in this life1 and grant you the height of your ambition in the next4 8,i am1 ,rev4 ,sir1 with great respect1 your much obliged and very humble servant1 8,,thomas ,,coke40 ,footnote #cbh3 ,the letter is copied1 verbatim1 from the original1 in the ,wesleyan ,mission ,house collection1 ,bishopsgate ,street1 ,london4 ,little1 at this time1 did the obscure ,dr4 ,coke imagine that1 eight years afterwards1 ,fletcher would be one of the first twenty-six subscribers to the ,methodist 8,society for the ,establishment of ,missions among the ,heathen10 which ,coke and a few of his friends then instituted4 ,one more fact respecting the 8,checks to ,antinomianism0 must be added4 ,the ,rev4 ,thomas ,jackson1 a good authority1 remarks3-- 8,mr4 ,charles ,wesley took a lively interest in the rise and progress of this0 the ,calvinian 8controversy1 though his name has rarely been connected with it4 ,he corresponded with his friend1 the ,vicar of ,madeley1 and encouraged him in his arduous undertaking4 ,mr4 ,fletcher transmitted his manuscripts to him for revision1 begging of him to expunge every expression that was calculated to give unnecessary pain1 and to pay especial attention to the grammar and theology of the whole4 ,he also confided to ,mr4 ,charles ,wesley the task of conducting them through the press1 the correction of which was inconvenient to himself1 because of his distance from ,london4 ,the fact is1 that nearly everything that ,mr4 ,fletcher published1 not even excepting his political tracts and his treatise on original sin1 passed under the eye and hand of ,mr4 ,charles ,wesley before it was given to the world4 ,not that the compositions of his friend needed much emendation1 but his criticisms gave ,mr4 ,fletcher confidence1 and were highly valued4 ,in #agge1 ,mr4 ,fletcher said to him1 #8,nobody helps me but you2 and you know how little you do it4 ,deprive me not of that little4 ,your every hint is a blessing to me4'0#cbi ,footnote #cbi3 ,jackson's 8,life of ,c4 ,wesley10 vol4 ii41 p4 #bid4 ,a letter to ,charles ,wesley will fitly close the present chapter4 8,,madeley1 ,december #d1 #agge4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,brother1--,i see the end of my controversial race1 and ,i have such courage to finish it1 that ,i think it my bounden duty to run and strike my blow1 and fire my gun1 before the water of discouragement has quite wetted the powder of my activity4 ,this makes me seem to neglect my dearest correspondents4 8,old age comes faster upon me than upon you4 ,i am already so grey-headed1 that ,i wrote to my brother to know if ,i am not fifty-six instead of forty-six4 ,the wheel of time moves so rapidly1 that ,i seem to be in a new element2 and yet1 praised be ,god6 my strength is preserved far better than ,i could expect4 ,i came home last night at eleven o'clock tolerably well1 after reading prayers and preaching twice and giving the sacrament in my own church1 and preaching again and meeting a few people in ,society at the next market-town4 8,the ,lord is wonderfully gracious to me1 and1 what is more to me than many favours1 ,he helps me to see ,his mercies in a clearer light4 ,in years past1 ,i did not dare to be thankful for mercies1 which now make me shout for joy4 ,i had been taught to call them common mercies1 and ,i made as little of them as apostates do of the blood of ,christ1 when they call it a common thing4 ,but now the veil begins to rend1 and ,i invite you and all the world to praise ,god for ,his patience1 truth1 and lovingkindness1 which have followed me all my days4 ,o how ,i hate the delusion1 which has robbed me of so many comforts6 8,farewell6 ,i am1 etc41 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#ccj ,footnote #ccj3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bbf4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,publications ,,in ,,the ,,year #aggf4 ,,except his posthumous works1 the remainder of ,fletcher's writings were issued during the next two years1 #aggf and #aggg4 ,these will be briefly noticed in the present chapter4 ,during the last four years1 his antagonists had been ,walter ,shirley1 ,richard ,hill1 ,rowland ,hill1 and ,john ,berridge4 ,now he encountered three others--,augustus ,montague ,toplady1 the well-known ,vicar of ,broad ,hembury1 in ,devonshire2 ,caleb ,evans1 an eminent ,baptist minister at ,bristol2 and1 in connection with ,mr4 ,evans1 the celebrated ,rev4 ,richard ,price1 ,d4,d41 an ,arian minister1 at ,hackney1 ,london4 ,methodist readers are so familiar with the life and character of ,toplady1 as to render it unnecessary to refer to them in the present pages4 ,suffice it to say1 that this remarkable and strangely constituted man seems to have been almost as much prejudiced against ,fletcher as he was against ,wesley4 8,i was lately asked10 said he1 8what my opinion is of ,mr4 ,john ,fletcher's writings4 ,my answer was1 that1 in the very few pages ,i had perused1 the serious passages were dulness double condensed2 and the lighter passages1 impudence double distilled40#cca ,footnote #cca3 ,toplady's 8,posthumous ,works10 #aghj1 p4 #bcd4 ,in #aggj1 ,wesley published his tract1 entitled1 8,the ,doctrine of ,absolute ,predestination ,stated and ,asserted40 ,this was a faithful abridgment of ,toplady's translation of ,zanchius's once famous book1#ccb and concluded with the well-known paragraph3-- 8,the sum of all is this3 one in twenty 7suppose7 of mankind are elected2 nineteen in twenty are reprobated4 ,the elect shall be saved1 do what they will2 the reprobate shall be damned1 do what they can4 ,reader1 believe this1 or be damned4 ,witness my hand1 8,a---- ,t----40 ,footnote #ccb3 ,toplady's ,translation was published at the end of the year #agfi4 ,toplady was terribly enraged1 and immediately published 8,a ,letter to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley3 relative to his pretended ,abridgment of ,zanchius on ,predestination40 ,in #agga1 ,wesley replied to this1 in his tract entitled1 8,the ,consequence ,proved10--the object of which was to establish the paragraph which had occasioned ,toplady such huge offence4 ,a year later1 ,toplady published his 8,more ,work for ,mr4 ,john ,wesley2 or1 ,a ,vindication of the ,decrees and ,providence of ,god from the ,defamation of a late printed paper1 entitled1 #8,the ,consequence ,proved4'0 ,wesley had no time and no inclination to continue the controversy2 but handed over the angry ,vicar of ,broad ,hembury to the tender mercies of ,thomas ,olivers and ,fletcher4 ,olivers' tart pamphlet need not be further mentioned2 but1 in reference to ,fletcher1 it may be added1 that1 in a letter to ,mr4 ,richard ,hill1 dated 8,march #ab1 #aggc10 ,toplady wrote3-- 8,i am told that ,mr4 ,fletcher has it in contemplation to make an attack on me too4 ,he is welcome4 ,i am ready for him4 ,nor shall ,i1 in that case1 altogether imitate the examples of yourself and your brother2 unless ,mr4 ,fletcher should treat me with more decency than he has1 hitherto1 observed towards others4 ,tenderness1 'tis very evident1 has no effect on ,mr4 ,wesley and his pretended family of love4 ,witness the rancour with which ,mr4 ,hervey's#ccc memory and works are treated by that lovely family4 ,for my own part1 ,i shall never attempt to hew such millstones with a feather4 ,they must be served as nettles2 press them close1 and they cannot sting4 ,yet have they my prayers and my best wishes for their present and future salvation4 ,but not one hair's breadth of the ,gospel will ,i ever offer at their shrine1 or sacrifice to their idol40#ccd ,footnote #ccc3 ,the well-known ,rev4 ,james ,hervey4 ,footnote #ccd3 ,toplady's 8,posthumous ,works10 #aghj1 p4 #cdc4 ,toplady's information that ,fletcher intended to 8attack0 him was quite correct2 but1 for the present1 ,fletcher was so occupied with his 8,checks to ,antinomianism10 that two years elapsed before he could devote attention to his new antagonist4 ,toplady had no need to tell ,mr4 ,richard ,hill1 in #aggc1 that1 in any future replies he might make to the attacks of ,wesley1 ,fletcher1 or their friends1 he would not be sparing in the language that he used2 for1 in his 8,letter0 to ,wesley in #aggj1 and his 8,more ,work for ,wesley0 in #aggb1 he had employed abuse which is1 perhaps1 unparalleled in religious literature1 and for which it is difficult to account4 ,wesley was charged1 by this young man of thirty years1 with using 8all the sophistry of a ,jesuit1 and the dictatorial authority of a pope40 ,he had descended to his 8customary resource of false quotations1 despicable invective1 and unsupported dogmatisms40 ,his 8phraseology0 was 8as pregnant with craft as his conduct0 was 8destitute of honour40 8,by his deep-laid1 but soon detected1 cunning1--by his avowed vacuity of candour1 truth1 and shame1 he has1 in the general estimation of all unprejudiced people1 gotten a wound and dishonour and reproach which all his whining and winding sophistry will never be able to wipe away40 8,perversion and falsification are essential figures in this man's rhetoric40 8,unless ,god give ,mr4 ,wesley repentance to the acknowledging of the truth1 the unparalleled perverseness with which he labours to blacken some doctrines of ,christianity will be the burden of his soul in the hour of death and in the day of judgment40 ,these are really mild--very mild--specimens of ,toplady's unaccountable abuse of ,wesley4 ,how the same man could write1 8,rock of ages1 cleft for me10 and other hymns quite as exquisite1 it is difficult to conceive4 ,fletcher's long-expected reply was published in #aggf1 with the following title-page1 8,an ,answer to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,toplady's #8,vindication of the ,decrees1' etc4 ,by the ,author of the ,checks4 ,london3 ,printed in the year #aggf40 #abmo1 #acc pp4 ,fletcher disposes of ,toplady's abusive language in his 8,introduction40 ,he writes3-- 8,if ,mr4 ,toplady1 in his controversial heat1 has forgotten what he owed to ,mr4 ,wesley and to himself1 this is no reason why ,i should forget the title of my book1 which calls me to point out the bad arguments of our opponents1 and not their ill humour4 ,if ,i absurdly spent my time in passing a censure upon ,mr4 ,toplady's spirit1 he would1 with reason1 say1 as he does in the introduction to his #8,historical ,proof1'#cce page #ce1 #8,what has my pride or my humility to do with the argument in hand8 ,whether ,i am haughty or meek1 is of no more consequence either to that1 or to the public1 than whether ,i am tall or short4' ,besides1 having1 again and again1 myself requested our opponents not to wiredraw the controversy by personal reflections1 but to weigh with candour the arguments which are offered1 ,i should be inexcusable if ,i did not set them the example4 ,should it be said that ,mr4 ,wesley's character1 which ,mr4 ,toplady has so severely attacked1 is at stake1 and that ,i ought purposely to stand up in his defence2 ,i reply1 that the personal charges which ,mr4 ,toplady interweaves with his arguments have been already fully answered by ,mr4 ,olivers2#ccf and that these charges being chiefly founded upon ,mr4 ,toplady's logical mistakes1 they will1 of their own accord1 fall to the ground1 as soon as the mistakes on which they rest shall be exposed4 ,may the ,god of truth and love grant1 that1 if ,mr4 ,toplady has the honour of producing the best arguments1 ,i1 for one1 may have the advantage of yielding to them6 ,to be conquered by truth and love1 is to prove conqueror over our two greatest enemies1--error and sin40 ,footnote #cce3 ,toplady's 8,historic ,proof of the ,doctrinal ,calvinism of the ,church of ,england20 published1 in two volumes1 in #aggd4 ,footnote #ccf3 ,in 8,a ,letter to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,toplady1 occasioned by his late ,letter to ,mr4 ,wesley4 ,by ,thomas ,olivers1 #agga40 #abmo1 #fj pp4 ,what a contrast between ,fletcher and ,toplady6 ,both were men of genius2 both were scholars2 both were clergymen of the ,church of ,england2 both were polemics2 but one was meek in heart--the other just the opposite2 one was a gentleman--the other1 notwithstanding his ability and eloquence1 was a traducer4 ,as already stated1 the short paragraph which ,wesley appended to his abridgment of ,toplady's translation of ,zanchius's 8,doctrine of ,absolute ,predestination ,stated and ,asserted0 infuriated the ,vicar of ,broad ,hembury to an almost incredible degree4 ,toplady employed1 what ,fletcher calls1 seventy-three 8arguments10 but which might more correctly be called dogmatisms1 in replying to ,wesley's exposure of ,calvinian predestination4 ,fletcher1 in his 8,answer10 deals with these1 one by one1 seriatim4 ,toplady was overmatched1 and his 8arguments0 were shown to be fallacies4 ,throughout his able book1 ,fletcher never loses his temper1 and never indulges in vituperation4 ,the strongest language he uses is found in his concluding paragraphs1 as follows3-- 8,i humbly hope that ,i have1 in the preceding pages1 contended for the truth of the ,gospel1 and the honour of ,god's perfections4 ,my conscience bears me witness1 that ,i have endeavoured to do it with the sincerity of a candid inquirer after truth2 and that ,i have not1 knowingly1 leaped over one material difficulty which ,mr4 ,toplady has thrown in the way of the laborious divine whose evangelical principles ,i vindicate4 ,and now1 judicious reader1 if ,i have done my part as a detecter of the fallacies by which the modern doctrines of grace are #8kept upon their legs1' let me prevail upon thee to do thy part as a judge1 and to say if the right leg of ,calvinism1 that is1 the lawless election of an unscriptural grace1 so draws thy admiration as to make thee overlook the deformity of the left leg1 that is1 the absurd1 unholy1 sin-ensuring1 hell-procuring1 merciless1 and unjust reprobation which ,mr4 ,toplady has attempted to vindicate4 ,shall thy reason1 thy conscience1 thy feelings1 thy ,bible1 and1 what is more than this1 shall all the perfections of thy ,god1 and the veracity of thy ,saviour1 be sacrificed on the altar of a reprobation which none of the prophets1 apostles1 and early fathers ever heard of8--a barbarous reprobation which heated ,augustine drew from the horrible error of ,manichean necessity1 and clothed with some ,scripture expressions detached from the context1 and wrested from their original meaning8--a ,pharisaic reprobation1 which the ,church of ,rome took from him1 and which some of our reformers unhappily brought from that corrupted ,society into the ,protestant ,churches8--in a word1 a reprobation which disgraces ,christianity1 when that holy religion is considered as a system of evangelical doctrine1 as much as our most enormous crimes disgrace it1 when it is considered as a system of pure morality8 ,shall such a reprobation1 ,i say1 find a place in thy creed8 yea1 among thy doctrines of grace8 ,god forbid6 8,i hope better things of thy candour1 good sense1 and piety4 ,if prejudice1 human authority1 and voluntary humility1 seduce many good men into a profound reverence for that stupendous dogma1 be not carried away by their number1 or biassed by their shouts4 ,be not afraid to #8be pilloried in a preface1 flogged at a pamphlet's tail1' and treated as a knave1 a felon1 or a blasphemer through the whole of the next vindication of the deified#ccg decrees1 which are commonly called #8,calvinism4' ,this may be thy lot1 if thou darest to bear thy plain testimony against the ,antinomian idol of the day40 ,footnote #ccg3 8,mr4 ,toplady calls them #8the decrees of ,god2' and it is an axiom among ,calvinists1 that #8,god's decrees are ,god ,himself4'0 ,fletcher's conflict with ,toplady was continued4 ,hence the following 8,advertisement10 affixed to the first edition of the book just dismissed3-- 8,since these sheets have been prepared for the press1 ,i have seen a new performance of ,mr4 ,toplady1 in defence of the doctrine which is exposed in the preceding pages4 ,as there are1 in that piece1 some new arguments1 the plausibility of which may puzzle many readers2 and as ,i think it my duty fully to vindicate the truth1 and completely to detect error2 ,i design to answer that book also1 in a little tract1 which will be a supplement to this1 and which will probably see the light under the following title1 #8,a ,reply to the ,principal ,arguments by which the ,calvinists and the ,fatalists ,support the ,spreading ,doctrine of ,absolute ,necessity4 ,in some ,remarks on the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,toplady's #8,scheme of ,philosophical ,necessity4'0 ,to understand this1 it must be stated1 that1 in #aggd1 ,wesley published a #abmo pamphlet of #cc pages1 entitled1 8,thoughts upon ,necessity40 ,this was one of ,wesley's ablest publications1 and1 to use ,wesley's own words1 in his address 8to the ,reader10 it was meant to rebut the teaching of an 8,essay on ,liberty and ,necessity10#cch which he had lately read4 8,i would fain10 says he1 8place mankind in a fairer point of view than that writer0 7the author7 8has done3 as ,i cannot believe the noblest creature in the visible world to be only a fine piece of clock-work40 ,toplady was not once mentioned in ,wesley's tract2 but he immediately set to work to answer it1 and1 in the following year1 his strange production was issued with the following title3 8,the ,scheme of ,christian and ,philosophical ,necessity ,asserted4 ,in ,opposition to ,mr4 ,john ,wesley's ,tract on that ,subject4 ,with a ,dissertation concerning the ,sensible ,qualitys of ,matter3 and the ,doctrine of ,color in particular4 ,by ,augustus ,toplady1 ,vicar of ,broad ,hembury4 ,london1 #agge40 #hvo1 #baf pp4 ,footnote #cch3 ,this ,essay had been published1 in ,edinburgh1 some years before4 ,wesley1 as already stated1 had not even named ,toplady in his publication1 much less abused him2 but the opportunity of again reviling ,wesley was too tempting to be neglected4 ,in his preface1 he gives an extract from a letter1 written by a ,london clergyman1 who had sent him ,wesley's tract3-- 8,i went last night to the ,foundery1 expecting to hear ,pope ,john2 but was disappointed4 ,after hearing a ,welshman1#cci for an hour and twenty minutes1 on ,psalm lxxxiv4 #aa1 preach up all the heresies 7sic7 of the place1 a man1 who sat in the pulpit1 told him to #8,give over3' for he seemed to bid fair for another half hour1 at least4 ,but he came to a conclusion1 as desired4 ,then this man1 who seemed to be a local preacher1#cdj stood up with a pamphlet in his hand1 and addressed the auditory in the following manner3-- 8#8,i am desired to publish a pamphlet upon ,necessity and ,free-,will1--the best ,i know of in the ,english tongue1--by ,mr4 ,john ,wesley1 price threepence4 ,i had purposed to say a good deal upon it2 but the time is elapsed4 ,but1 in this threepenny pamphlet1 you have all the disputes that have been bandy'd about so lately2 and you will get your minds more established by this threepenny pamphlet1 than by reading all the books that have been written for and against4 ,it is to be had at both doors1 as you go out4'0 ,footnote #cci3 ,query8 ,thomas ,olivers1 corrector of the press for ,wesley4 ,footnote #cdj3 ,query8 ,john ,atlay1 the book-steward4 ,it is not unlikely that this narration is true2 for1 in those days1 ,methodist preachers preached long sermons1 and1 from the pulpit1 recommended the people to purchase ,methodist publications4 ,toplady takes occasion to call the occurrence 8a droll sort of mountebank scene10 and pretends to bewail 8the unreasonable and unseasonable prolixity of the long-winded holder-forth1 which cruelly1 injudiciously1 and despitefully prevented poor ,zany from puffing off1 with the amplitude he intended1 the multiplex virtues of the doctor's threepenny free-will powder40 ,he continues3-- 8#8,never do that by delegation1' says an old proverb1 #8which you can as well do in propria persona4 ,had ,doctor ,john himself got upon the stage1 and sung-- #8,come1 buy my fine powders2 come buy dem of me2 ,hare be de best powders dat ever you see3' who knows1 but the threepenny doses might have gone off at both doors1' as rapidly as peas from a pop-gun80 ,toplady1 in a bantering tone1 proceeds to give the 8chief ingredients of the famous ,moorfields powder10 namely3-- 8,an equal portion of gross ,heathenism1 ,mahometism1 ,popery1 ,manichaeism1 ,ranterism1 and ,antinomianism2 cull'd1 dry'd1 and pulveriz'd1 secundem artem3 and1 above all1 mingled with as much palpable ,atheism as you can possibly scrape together from every quarter40 7,preface47 ,in ,chapter ,i41 ,toplady continues this unworthy1 dishonourable abuse4 ,he writes3-- 8,aliquis in omnibus1 nullus in singulis4 ,the man1 who concerns himself in everything1 bids fair not to make a figure in anything4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley is1 precisely1 this aliquis in omnibus2 for1 is there a single subject in which he has not endeavoured to shine8 ,he is also1 as precisely1 a nullus in singulis2 for1 has he shone in any one subject which he ever attempted to handle8 ,upon what principle can these two circumstances be accounted for8 ,only upon that very principle1 at which he so dolefully shakes his head1 viz41 the principle of necessity4 ,the poor gentleman is1 necessarily1 an universal meddler2 and1 as necessarily1 an universal miscarryer4 ,can he avoid being either the one or the other8 ,no40 7p4 #aj47 ,in a subsequent page1 ,toplady asserts3-- 8,mr4 ,wesley1 in one respect1 is as much1 and1 in another respect1 abundantly more a ,manichae1 than either ,scythian1 ,budda1 or ,manes4 ,by a very singular mixture of ,manichaeism1 ,pelagianism1 ,popery1 ,socinianism1 ,ranterism1 and ,atheism1 he has1 ,i believe1 now got to his ultimatum4 ,probably1 he would go still further1 if he could4 ,but1 ,i really think1 he has no farther to go4 ,happy settlement1 after forty years' infinity of shiftings and flittings hither and thither6 8#8,thus weathercocks1 which1 for awhile1 ,have turn'd about with every blast1-- ,grown old1 and destitute of oil1 ,rust to a point1 and fix at last6'0 7p4 #aca47 ,again1 on page #afh1 ,toplady's reader is told that-- 8,mr4 ,wesley is the lamest1 the blindest1 and the most self-contradictory waster of ink and paper1 that ever pretended to the name of reasoner4 ',tis almost a disgrace to refute him40 ,again1 on p4 #agb1 ,toplady writes3-- 8,mr4 ,wesley's heat and prophaneness are such1 that he dares to scold his ,maker with as little ceremony1 and with as much scurrility1 as an enraged fish-woman would be-din the ears of a 'prentice wench40 ,was ,toplady a ,christian8 ,it is difficult to answer that question4 ,a more monstrous combination of opposing qualities has seldom figured on the stage of human life4 ,he was now thirty-four years of age4#cda ,three years and a-half later he was dead4 ,footnote #cda3 ,wesley was more than seventy6 ,it is needless to furnish an outline of ,toplady's bold book4 ,what he attempted to expound and prove will be found in the following extracts3-- 8,i own myself very fond of definitions4 ,i therefore prmise#cdb what the necessity is1 whose cause ,i have undertaken to plead4 ,i would define necessity to be that1 by which1 whatever comes to pass cannot but come to pass 7all circumstances taken into the account72 and can come to pass in no other way or manner than it does0 7p4 #ab74 ,footnote #cdb3 ,in this1 and in all the foregoing extracts1 the spelling of words is literally given4--,l4 ,t4 ,again1 on page #aeg1 he writes3-- 8,for my own part1 ,i solemnly profess1 before ,god1 angels1 and men1 that ,i am not conscious of my being endued with that self-determining power1 which ,arminianism ascribes to me as an individual of the human species4 ,nay1 ,i am clearly certain that ,i have it not4 ,i am also equally certain that ,i do not wish to have it2 and that1 were it possible for my ,creator to make me an offer of transferring the determination of any one event1 from ,his own will to mine1 it would be both my duty and my wisdom to entreat that the sceptre might still remain with ,himself1 and that ,i might have nothing to do in the direction of a single incident1 or of so much as a single circumstance40 ,the principles wrapped up in the definition and the confession of ,toplady are what he tries to vindicate2 and to refute them was the task ,fletcher undertook4 ,fletcher's pamphlet was published in #aggg1 with the following title3 8,a ,reply to the ,principal ,arguments by which the ,calvinists and ,fatalists support the ,doctrine of ,absolute ,necessity3 being ,remarks on the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,toplady's #8,scheme of ,christian and ,philosophical ,necessity4' ,by ,john ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 ,salop4 ,london1 #aggg40 #abmo1 #hj pp4 ,fletcher1 with his talent of quiet cutting irony1 might have rebuked the slang of ,toplady2 but1 like a ,christian and a gentleman1 he1 with indignant silence1 allows it to pass unnoticed4 ,the task of vanquishing ,toplady was not difficult1 for seldom has a more absurd theological work than 8,the ,scheme of ,christian and ,philosophical ,necessity0 been committed to the press4 ,fletcher's 8reply0 was perfectly unanswerable3 poor ,toplady was silenced4 ,it would tire the reader to analyse ,fletcher's work2 and two extracts from it must suffice1 the first showing with what ease ,fletcher dealt with the absurdities of ,toplady's philosophy2 and the second exhibiting his desire to live in peace and love with even the rabid ,calvinists4 ,in ,chapter ,,iii4 of his book1 ,toplady wrote as follows3-- 8,it seems most agreeable to the radical simplicity1 which ,god has observed in all ,his works1 to suppose1 that1 in themselves1 all human souls are equal4 ,i can easily believe1 that the soul of an oyster-woman has1 naturally1 the unexpanded powers of ,grotius1 or of ,sir ,isaac ,newton2 and that what conduces to raise the philosopher1 the poet1 the politician1 or the linguist1 so much above the ignorant and stupid of mankind1 is1 not only the circumstance of intellectual cultivation1 but1 still more than that1 his having the happiness to occupy a better house1 i4e4 a body more commodiously organized than they4 ,the soul of a ,monthly ,reviewer1 if imprisoned within the same mud walls which are tenanted by the soul of ,mr4 ,john ,wesley1 would1 similarly circumstanced1 reason and act1 ,i verily think1 exactly like the ,bishop of ,moorfields4 ,and ,i know some very sensible people1 who even go so far as to suppose1 that1 were a human soul shut up in the skull of a cat1 puss would1 notwithstanding1 move prone on all fours1 purr when stroked1 spit when pinched1 and birds and mice would be her darling objects of pursuit4 ,though ,i cannot carry matters to so extreme a length as this1 yet1 ,i repeat my opinion1 very much depends on corporeal organization4 8,i just now hinted the conjecture of some that a human spirit1 incarcerated in the brain of a cat1 would1 probably1 both think and behave as that animal now does4 ,but how would the soul of a cat acquit itself1 if enclosed in the brain of a man8 ,we cannot resolve this question with certainty1 any more than the other4 ,we may1 however1 even on this occasion1 address every one of our human brethren in the words of that great philosophic necessitarian1 ,st4 ,paul1 and ask1 ,who maketh thee to differ from the lowest of the brute creation8 ,thy ,maker's free will1 not thine4 ,and what pre-eminence hast thou1 which thou didst not receive from ,him8 ,not the least1 nor the shadow of any40 8,admirable divinity60 wrote ,fletcher4 8,so ,mr4 ,toplady leaves the orthodox in doubt1--#a4 ,whether1 when their souls and the souls of cats shall be let out of their respective brains or prisons1 the souls of cats will not be equal to the souls of men4 #b4 ,whether1 supposing the soul of a cat had been put in the brain of ,st4 ,paul1 or of a ,monthly ,reviewer1 the soul of puss would not have made as great an ,apostle as the soul of ,saul of ,tarsus2 as good a critic as the soul of the most sensible ,reviewer4 ,and1 #c4 ,whether1 in case the #8human spirit' of ,isaiah #8was shut up in the skull of a cat1 puss would not1 notwithstanding1 move prone on all fours1 purr when stroked1 spit when pinched1 and birds and mice be her darling objects of pursuit4' ,is not this a pretty large stride1 for the first1 towards the doctrine of the sameness of the souls of men with the souls of cats and frogs8 ,wretched ,calvinism1 new-fangled doctrines of grace1 where are you leading your deluded admirers1 your principal vindicators8 ,is it not enough1 that you have spoiled the fountain of living waters1 by turning into it the muddy streams of ,zeno's errors8 ,are ye also going to poison it by the absurdities of ,pythagoras's philosophy8 ,what a side-stroke is here inadvertently given to these capital doctrines1 #8,god breathed into' ,adam #8the breath of life1 and he became a living soul2' a soul made #8in the image of ,god1' and not in the image of a cat6 #8,the spirit of the beast goeth downward to the earth2 but the spirit of man goeth upward2 it returns to ,god who gave it1' with an intention to judge and reward it according to its moral works4 8,but ,i must do ,mr4 ,toplady justice2 he does not yet recommend this doctrine as absolutely certain4 ,however1 from his capital doctrine1 that human souls have no free-will1 no inward principle of self-determination2 and from his avowed opinion1 that the soul of one man1 placed in the body of another man1 #8would1 similarly circumstanced1 reason and act exactly like' the man in whose mud walls it is lodged2 it evidently follows1 #a4 ,that1 had the human soul of ,christ been placed in the body and circumstances of ,nero1 it would have been exactly as wicked and atrocious as the soul of that bloody monster was4 ,and #b4 ,that if ,nero's soul had been placed in ,christ's body1 and in ,his trying circumstances1 it would have been exactly as virtuous and immaculate as that of the ,redeemer2 the consequence is undeniable4 ,thus1 the merit of the man ,christ did not1 in the least1 spring from ,his righteous soul1 but from ,his #8mud walls' and from the happiness which ,his soul had of being lodged in a #8brain peculiarly modified4' ,nor did the demerit of ,nero flow from his free agency and self-perversion1 but only from his #8mud walls1' and from the infelicity which his necessitated soul had of being lodged in #8an ill-constructed vehicle1' and placed on that throne on which ,titus soon after deserved to be called #8the darling of mankind4' ,see1 ,o ye engrossers of orthodoxy1 to what absurd lengths your aversion to the liberty of the will1 and to evangelical worthiness1 leads your unwary souls6 ,and yet1 if we believe ,mr4 ,toplady1 your scheme1 which is big with these inevitable consequences1 is #8,christian philosophy1' and our doctrine of free will is #8philosophy run mad1' p4 #cj40 ,did cat ever play with mouse more perfectly and amusingly than did the ,vicar of ,madeley with the ,vicar of ,broad ,hembury8 ,the next extract1 which is the conclusion of ,fletcher's triumphant 8,reply0 to ,toplady1 shows his intense desire to live in love and peace with his opponents3-- 8,mr4 ,wesley and ,i are ready to testify upon oath1 that we humbly submit to ,god's sovereignty1 and joyfully glory in the freeness of ,gospel grace1 which has mercifully distinguished us from countless myriads of our fellow-creatures1 by gratuitously bestowing upon us numberless favours1 of a spiritual and temporal nature1 which he has thought proper absolutely to withhold from our fellow-creatures4 ,to meet the ,calvinists on their own ground1 we go so far as to allow there is a partial1 gratuitous election and reprobation4 ,by this election1 ,christians are admitted to the enjoyment of privileges far superior to those of the ,jews2 and1 according to this reprobation1 myriads of heathen are absolutely cut off from all the prerogatives which accompany ,god's covenants of peculiar grace4 ,in a word1 we grant to the ,calvinists everything they contend for1 except the doctrine of absolute necessity2 nay1 we even grant the necessary1 unavoidable salvation of all that die in their infancy4 ,and our love of peace would make us go farther to meet ,mr4 ,toplady1 if we could do it without giving up the justice1 mercy1 truth1 and wisdom of ,god1 together with the truth of the ,scriptures1 the equity of ,god's paradisaical and mediatorial laws1 the propriety of the day of judgment1 and the reasonableness of the sentences of absolution and condemnation1 which the ,righteous ,judge will then pronounce4 ,we hope1 therefore1 that the prejudices of our ,calvinian brethren will subside2 and that1 instead of accounting us inveterate enemies to truth1 they will do us the justice to say1 that we have done our best to hinder them from inadvertently betraying some of the greatest truths of ,christianity into the hands of the ,manichees1 ,materialists1 ,infidels1 and ,antinomians of the age4 ,may the ,lord hasten the happy day in which we shall no more waste our precious time in attacking or defending the truths of our holy religion2 but bestow every moment in the sweet exercises of ,divine and brotherly love60 ,during the last six years1 ,fletcher had most laboriously devoted the whole of the time he could conscientiously spare from the faithful discharge of his parochial duties1 to an earnest and elaborate explanation and defence of the ,anti-,calvinian doctrines1 formally announced by his friend ,wesley1 at the ,conference of #aggj4 ,wesley was without leisure for this4 ,if he had attempted it1 he would have been obliged to content himself with the publication of brief1 sententious tracts2 and this would have been insufficient4 ,most of the ,methodist clergymen of the day1 including ,whitefield1 ,hervey1 ,romaine1 ,berridge1 ,shirley1 ,toplady1 and many others1 had become sincere and laborious ,calvinists4 ,their publications were widely spread1 and their views extensively embraced4 ,wesley saw and felt that an antidote was needed2 and especially as the ,countess of ,huntingdon had recently opened her college at ,trevecca to multiply the number of such ministers4 ,hence1 the declaration of his 8,minutes10 and hence1 the fierce controversial war that immediately followed4 ,fletcher had been educated at ,geneva1 where ,calvin had propounded his creed1 and his form of ,church government4 ,fletcher was not1 professedly1 a theological student at ,geneva2 but he was a regular attendant at ,divine services1 as well as a diligent reader of the ,holy ,scriptures1 and there can be no doubt that he was1 to a considerable extent1 even in his youth1 acquainted with the ,calvinian theology4 ,at all events1 when the controversy commenced1 in #aggj1 there was no one1 among ,wesley's helpers1 so competent to enter the arena1 on his behalf1 as his friend ,fletcher4 ,hitherto1 ,fletcher had been accustomed to make little evangelistic tours1 to ,london1 to ,wales1 and to other places2 but now1 for six years1 he confined himself within his own parish1 that he might have time to defend ,wesley4 ,up to the present1 his letters to his friends had been somewhat numerous2 now1 to write a letter was one of his rare exercises4 ,he was committed to a great work2 and everything1 excepting the pastoral duties of his parish1 must give way to it4 ,of the style of his writings1 the reader has had numerous specimens4 ,it is always perspicuous1 lively1 chaste1 though occasionally prolix4 ,many of his figures are apt1 striking1 convincing2 but others would have been more impressive had they been less elaborate4 ,his arguments are fair1 legitimate1 and generally unanswerable4 ,his spirit1 without exception1 is saintly4 ,he never becomes personal2 never deals in invective2 never assails character2 never impugns motives4 ,among the ,wesleyan ,methodists1 he settled for ever all the questions of the ,calvinian controversy4 ,for many a long year1 ,methodist preachers--itinerant and local--drew their arguments and illustrations from his invaluable 8,checks20 and1 perhaps1 it is not too much to say1 that not a few of the ,calvinists themselves were led by his immortal productions to explain1 and modify1 and1 to some extent1 to change their unwarrantable doctrines4 ,to his memory1 the ,methodist ,churches owe undying veneration2 for he did for ,wesley's theology what no other man than himself1 at that period1 could have done4 ,john ,wesley travelled1 formed ,societies1 and governed them4 ,charles ,wesley composed unequalled hymns for the ,methodists to sing2 and ,john ,fletcher1 a native of ,calvinian ,switzerland1 explained1 elaborated1 and defended the doctrines they heartily believed4 ,hitherto1 his opponents had been ,walter ,shirley1 ,richard ,hill and his brother ,rowland1 honest ,berridge1 and clever but censorious ,toplady4 ,the last1 for invective1 was the worst4 ,twenty years before1 he had heard ,james ,morris1 one of ,wesley's itinerants1 preach in a barn at ,codymain1 and soon afterwards was converted4 ,two years later1 while a student in ,trinity ,college1 ,dublin1 he wrote an admirable letter to ,wesley1 thanking him for his 8kind0 cautions and advices4 ,when and why he became the bitter foe of ,wesley it is difficult to determine4 ,he died on ,august #aa1 #aggh1 in the thirty-eighth year of his age1 and was buried in a grave1 thirteen feet deep1 under the gallery of ,whitefield's chapel1 in ,tottenham ,court ,road4 ,fletcher's next antagonist was the ,rev4 ,caleb ,evans1 a ,baptist minister at ,bristol2 a man of good sense1 a diligent student1 a faithful pastor1 and now thirty-seven years of age4 ,at this period1 the ,english colonists in ,america were in rebellion4 ,on ,may #aj1 #agge1 a ,congress of the thirteen ,states met at ,philadelphia1 and appointed ,george ,washington as their ,commander-in-,chief4 ,he took command of the army before ,boston1 where the ,english had ten thousand men4 ,a few days after his arrival1 the terrible battle at ,bunker's ,hill was fought2 and a bloody war soon spread over the whole seaboard1 and even into ,canada1 where the ,american colonists besieged ,quebec4 ,in the year #agge1 ,wesley abridged ,dr4 ,johnson's famous pamphlet1 entitled1 8,taxation no ,tyranny10 and published it as his own1 without the least reference as to its origin4 ,mr4 ,evans warmly sympathized with the colonists1 and published 8,a ,letter to the ,rev4 ,john ,wesley1 occasioned by his #8,calm ,address4'0 ,wesley's reply to this was the republication of his pirated pamphlet1 with a preface prefixed1 in which he said1 8,all the arguments0 of ,evans 8might be contained in a nutshell40 ,political as well as theological controversy is always irritating4 ,angry tracts and pamphlets1 almost without number1 were committed to the press2 but all of them1 except those in which ,fletcher was concerned1 must here be passed in silence4 ,fletcher now1 strangely enough1 turned politician4 ,early in the year #aggf1 he published the following3 8,a ,vindication of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley's #8,calm ,address to our ,american ,colonists3' ,in some ,letters to ,mr4 ,caleb ,evans3 ,by ,john ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 ,salop4 ,london3 ,printed and sold at the ,foundery40 #abmo1 #gj pp4#cdc ,footnote #cdc3 ,in the same year1 another edition was published in 8,dublin3 ,printed for ,w4 ,whitestone1 ,no4 #cc1 ,skinner ,row40 ,in a letter to ,joseph ,benson1 he said3-- 8,i have unaccountably launched into ,christian politics2 a branch of divinity too much neglected by some and too much attended to by others4 ,if you have seen my #8,vindication of ,mr4 ,wesley's ,calm ,address1' and can make sense of that badly printed piece1 ,i shall be thankful for your very dispraise40 ,to ,james ,ireland1 ,esq41 he wrote on ,february #c1 #aggf3-- 8,my little political piece is published in ,london4 ,you thank me for it beforehand2 ,i believe they are the only thanks ,i shall have4 ,it is well you sent them before you read the book2 and yet1 whatever contempt it brings upon me1 ,i still think ,i have written the truth4 ,if ,i have been wrong in writing1 ,i hope ,i shall not be so excessively wrong as not to be thankful for any reproof candidly levelled at what ,i have written4 ,i prepare myself to be like my ,lord in my little measure2 ,i mean1 to be #8,despised and rejected of men2 a man of sorrows1 and acquainted with griefs1'--most reviled for what ,i mean best40 ,evidence will soon be adduced that ,fletcher's apprehensions of coming reproach were realized4 ,it may fairly be doubted whether ,wesley and ,fletcher acted wisely in rushing into the fierce political strife that then existed4 ,their motives were pure2 and1 perhaps1 ,mr4 ,benson1 living at the time1 and a competent observer of men and things1 was correct when he said1-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher's publications upon the question which divided ,great ,britain and her ,colonies1 as well as ,mr4 ,wesley's #8,calm ,address1' certainly were of great use2 not indeed to prevent the continuation and further progress of the war1 and stop the effusion of blood abroad1 but to allay the spirits of disloyalty and insurrection which were beginning to show themselves at home40 ,still1 it must be admitted1 that the high and holy vocation of ,wesley and ,fletcher was not to rebuke and correct political errors1 but to revive1 spread1 and defend the great ,gospel truths which had been so long neglected and forgotten4 ,no useful end would be answered by giving an outline of ,fletcher's arguments in his 8,vindication of ,wesley's #8,calm ,address4'0 ,many of them may be more easily sneered at than answered4 ,they show the versatility of ,fletcher's genius2 and1 remembering the fewness of the newspapers then published1 they create surprise at the extent of ,fletcher's political information4 ,he often uses strong language1 but he is never ungentlemanly or abusive4 ,he was loyal to the throne and government of ,england1 but he was not a blind opponent of civil liberty1 or that exemption from the arbitrary will of others which is secured by equitable and established laws4 ,in concluding his first letter to ,mr4 ,evans he wrote3-- 8,i declare that ,i am as much in love with liberty as with loyalty2 and that ,i write a heartfelt truth when ,i subscribe myself1 ,rev4 ,sir1 your affectionate fellow-labourer in the ,gospel1 a republican by birth and education1 and a subject of ,great ,britain by love of liberty and free choice40 ,as soon as ,fletcher's pamphlet appeared1 ,mr4 ,evans hastened to answer it1 and employed ,wesley's old friend1 ,william ,pine1 of ,bristol1 as his printer and publisher4 ,the title of his new production was 8,a ,reply to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,fletcher's #8,vindication' of ,mr4 ,wesley's #8,calm ,address to our ,american ,colonists4' ,by ,caleb ,evans1 ,m4,a40 #abmo1 #ajc pp4 ,mr4 ,evans's reply was full of bad temper4 ,the first twenty-three pages were devoted to abusive remarks on the change which had taken place in ,wesley's political opinions1 and to a mistake which ,wesley honestly confessed he had made in denying that he had seen a book on 8the exclusive right of the ,colonies to tax themselves40 ,he acknowledges that he had seen the book1 but adds3 8,i had so entirely forgotten it1 that even when ,i saw it again ,i recollected nothing of it till ,i had read several pages40 ,mr4 ,evans1 in an angry spirit1 uses this lapse of memory to the utmost in an endeavour to brand ,wesley as a liar1 and concludes his first letter to ,fletcher thus3-- 8,having thus given you1 ,sir1 a faithful narrative of the rise1 progress1 and conclusion of the dispute betwixt me and ,mr4 ,wesley1 you are welcome to re-enter on the vindication of your friend1 as you style him1 as soon as you please4 ,and should you find yourself unequal to the ,herculean task1 you may call in the assistance of the amazing ,mr4 ,thomas ,olivers1 that mirror of ,christian meekness and modesty1 and with his logic and your oratory1 aided by scraps of mutilated letters1 you will perform wonders40 ,mr4 ,evans begins his second letter by politely telling ,fletcher that in reading his 8,vindication of ,wesley's #8,calm ,address'0 he had been greatly disappointed4 8,for10 says he1 8instead of argument1 ,i met with nothing but declamation2 instead of precision1 artful colouring2 instead of proof1 presumption2 instead of consistency1 contradiction2 instead of reasoning1 a string of sophistries4 ,your letters abound1 ,sir1 as every intelligent reader will easily discover1 with the petitio principii1 the fallacia accidentis1 the non causa pro causa1 and those many other pretty inventions by which1 as the ,schoolmen very well know1 a question may be embarrassed when it cannot be answered40 ,in succeeding pages1 ,mr4 ,evans charges ,fletcher with using 8loose1 inconsistent1 vague declamation20 and adds3-- 8,this may confound the ignorant and superficial2 but you cannot yourself suppose it ever can convince the intelligent and impartial4 ,your chief aim seems to be spargere voces in vulgam ambiguas1 and thereby artfully to persuade them that all those who are enemies to the measures of the ministry respecting ,america are ,republicans1 king-haters1 ,calvinists1 ,anabaptists1 ,antinomians1 and everything that is bad40 ,poor ,fletcher6 ,he was indeed realizing the reproach he had apprehended2 and yet he was not satisfied4 ,hence his publication of the following3 8,american ,patriotism3 ,farther confronted with ,reason1 ,scripture1 and the ,constitution3 ,being ,observations on the ,dangerous ,politicks taught by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,evans1 ,m4,a41 and the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,price4#cdd ,with a ,scriptural ,plea for the ,revolted ,colonies4 ,by ,j4 ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley40 #aggf4 #abmo1 #ach pp4 ,footnote #cdd3 ,mr4 ,evans1 in his 8,reply10 had made several quotations from what he calls 8,dr4 ,price's most excellent pamphlet1 just published10 and entitled1 8,observations on the ,nature of ,civil ,liberty40 8,the author10 writes ,fletcher in his preface1 8dares not flatter himself to have the knowledge of logic and divinity1 which are requisite to do his subject the justice it deserves2 but1 having for some years opposed false orthodoxy1 he may have acquired a little skill to oppose false patriotism2 and1 having defended evangelical obedience to ,god against the indirect attacks of some ministers of the ,church of ,england1 he humbly hopes that he may step forth a second time and defend constiutional obedience to the king against some ministers who dissent from the ,established ,church4 ,those whom he encounters in these sheets are the leading ecclesiastical patriots of the two greatest cities in the kingdom2 ,mr4 ,evans being the champion of the minority in ,bristol1 as ,dr4 ,price is in ,london40 ,of course1 ,fletcher's book is able2 but1 excepting so far as it teaches that loyalty is a ,christian duty1 it is1 to a great extent1 out of date4 ,on ,october #cj1 #aggf1 a royal proclamation was issued1 ordering 8a public fast and humiliation to be observed throughout ,england and the kingdom of ,ireland1 upon ,friday the #acth of ,december next1 for the purpose of imploring the ,almighty speedily to deliver the ,king's loyal subjects within his colonies and provinces in ,north ,america1 from the violence1 injustice1 and tyranny of those daring rebels who had assumed to themselves the exercise of arbitrary power2 to open the eyes of those who had been deluded1 by specious falsehoods1 into acts of treason and rebellion2 to turn the hearts of the authors of these calamities2 and to restore his people in those distracted provinces and colonies to the happy condition of being free subjects in a free state1 under which heretofore they had flourished so long1 and prospered so much40#cde ,footnote #cde3 ,annual ,register1 #aggf4 ,this had ,fletcher's hearty approbation1 and he at once wrote and published a #abmo pamphlet of #bb pages1 dated 8,london1 ,december #f1 #aggf10 with the title1 8,the ,bible and the ,sword2 or1 ,the ,appointment of the ,general ,fast ,vindicated3 ,in an ,address to the ,common ,people1 concerning the ,propriety of ,repressing obstinate ,licentiousness with the ,sword1 and of ,fasting when the ,sword is drawn for that ,purpose4 ,london3 ,printed by ,r4 ,hawes1 and sold at the ,foundery1 in ,moorfields1 and at the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley's ,preaching ,houses in ,town and ,country4 #aggf40cdf ,one half of this pamphlet1 however1 was simply a reprint of extracts from his 8,american ,patriotism20 the other half is devoted to the task of proving1 from ,scripture1 that1 under certain circumstances1 war is lawful4 ,footnote #cdf3 ,almost without exception1 all ,fletcher's publications had on their title-pages the advertisement1 8,sold at the ,foundery1 in ,moorfields1 and at the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley's preaching-houses in town and country40 ,as he expected1 ,fletcher1 by his political publications1 brought upon himself political wrath and censure1 of which the following extracts1 taken from the ,monthly ,review1 are specimens3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher has been distinguished in the late theological controversies between ,mr4 ,wesley and his followers1 on the one part1 and the ,antinomians1 or ,calvinists1 on the other4 ,in these disputes1 the ,shropshire vicar made no inconsiderable figure2 and we have freely and impartially done justice to his abilities4 ,in politics1 however1 we have nothing to say in his favour4 ,we are1 indeed1 sorry to observe that he is a mere ,sacheverell2 a preacher of those slavish and justly exploded ,jacobitical doctrines1 for which the memory of ,sacheverell and his abettors will ever be held in equal contempt and abhorrence by every true friend to the liberties of mankind40#cdg 8,mr4 ,fletcher's present performance0 7,american ,patriotism7 8is1 like his former piece on this subject1 wordy1 specious1 and artful4 ,he alternately attacks the champions on the other side of the question1 ,dr4 ,price and ,mr4 ,evans2 and he evidently thinks himself a match for them both4 ,we are almost tired of the fruitless contest2 but one word with ,mr4 ,fletcher before we part4 ,he is a little chagrined at our styling him a mere ,sacheverell2 and he takes pains1 in this publication1 to show his equal abhorrence of regal or of mobbish tyranny4 ,we are glad to find this rev4 gentleman thus disclaiming those principles1 to which many of his positions and arguments obviously lead2 and we charitably hope that he was not aware of the full extent and tendency of their operation4 ,mr4 ,fletcher is1 by all report1 a good man2 but he will never1 we suspect1 obtain a good report merely for his politics1 except with those who have already embraced the same system2 for mankind are too much guided by ,swift's rule of pronouncing those right who think as we do1 and every one wrong who differs from us4 ,poor encouragement1 by the way1 for our author to expend his ink1 and wear out his pens1 in order to convert those political heretics1 the advocates for ,america40#cdh ,footnote #cdg3 ,monthly ,review1 #aggf1 vol4 liv41 p4 #cbe4 ,footnote #cdh3 ,ibid1 #aggf1 vol4 lv1 p4 #aee4 ,the sneers of the ,monthly ,reviewers were unjust4 ,fletcher1 in reply to their unmerited taunt1 remarked3-- 8,i am no more #8a mere ,sacheverell' than ,i am a mere ,price4 ,dr4 ,sacheverell ran as fiercely into the high monarchical extreme as ,dr4 ,price does into the high republican extreme4 ,i have endeavoured to keep at an equal distance from their opposite mistakes1 by contending only for the just medium1 which the ,holy ,scriptures and our excellent constitution point out4 ,if ,dr4 ,sacheverell were alive1 and his erroneous1 enthusiastical1 mobbing politics endangered the public tranquillity1 as the patriotism of ,mr4 ,evans and ,dr4 ,price does at present1 ,i would oppose the high churchman as much as ,i now do the two high dissenters40#cdi ,footnote #cdi3 8,american ,patriotism10 p4 #acj4 ,notwithstanding the depreciatory opinions of ,mr4 ,evans1 ,dr4 ,price1 and the ,monthly ,reviewers1 the government of ,king ,george ,,iii4 desired to reward ,fletcher for the service he had rendered them4 ,his old friend1 ,mr4 ,vaughan1 informed ,wesley that he took one of ,fletcher's political pamphlets to the ,earl of ,dartmouth1 at that time ,secretary of ,state for the ,colonies4 ,lord ,dartmouth carried it to the ,lord ,chancellor1 who handed it to ,king ,george4 ,the result was an official was immediately commissioned to ask ,fletcher whether any preferment in the ,church would be acceptable to him8 or whether the ,lord ,chancellor could do him any service8 ,fletcher replied1 no doubt to the amazement of all concerned1 8,i want nothing1 but more grace40#cej ,footnote #cej3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,this was characteristic of the man4 8,the love of money1 the root of all evil10 was a sin from which ,fletcher was entirely exempt4 8,on the #ajth of ,may1 #aggd10 says ,mr4 ,vaughan1 8,mr4 ,fletcher wrote me thus3 #8,my brother has sent me the rent of the little place ,i have abroad1 #hj1 which ,i was to receive from ,mr4 ,chauvet and ,co41 in ,london4 ,but1 instead of sending the draught for the money1 ,i have sent it back to ,switzerland1 with orders to distribute it among the poor4 ,as money is rather higher there than here1 that mite will go farther abroad than it would in my parish4'0#cea ,footnote #cea3 ,ibid4 ,mr4 ,vaughan continues3-- 8,in #aggf1 he deposited with me a bill of #aje1 being1 as ,i understood1 the yearly produce of his estate in ,switzerland4 ,this was his fund for charitable uses2 but it lasted only a few months1 when he drew upon me for the balance1 which was #bd1 to complete the preaching-house in ,madeley ,wood40#ceb ,men1 said ,cicero1 resemble the gods in nothing so much as in doing good to their fellow-creatures4 ,footnote #ceb3 ,ibid4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,correspondence ,,in #aggf4 ,,fletcher',s health was failing2 and no wonder4 ,wesley writes3-- 8,he was more and more abundant in his ministerial labours1 both in public and private2 not contenting himself with preaching1 but visiting his flock in every corner of his parish4 ,and this work he attended to early and late1 whether the weather was fair or foul2 regarding neither heat nor cold1 rain nor snow1 whether he was on horseback or on foot4 ,but this further weakened his constitution2 which was still more effectually done by his intense and uninterrupted studies1 in which he frequently continued1 without scarce any intermission1 fourteen1 fifteen1 or sixteen hours a day4 ,but still he did not allow himself such food as was necessary to sustain nature4 ,he seldom took any regular meals except he had company2 otherwise1 twice or thrice in four-and-twenty hours he ate some bread and cheese1 or fruit4 ,instead of this1 he sometimes took a draught of milk1 and then wrote on again4 ,when one reproved him for not affording himself a sufficiency of necessary food1 he replied1 #8,not allow myself food6 ,why our food seldom costs my housekeeper and me less than two shillings a week4'0#cec ,footnote #cec3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,during the ,calvinian controversy1 ,fletcher's letters to his friends seem to have been comparatively few4 ,at all events1 few have been preserved4 ,now he resumed his epistolary correspondence2 and the present chapter will mainly consist of these outpourings of his heart to those whom he dearly loved4 ,in a letter1 dated ,january #i1 #aggf1 and published in the 8,life and ,times of ,wesley10 ,fletcher refers to a renewed proposal to become ,wesley's successor4 ,to prepare him for this1 ,wesley requested that he would accompany him in his evangelistic tours1 so that he might be commended to the ,methodist ,societies they visited4 ,fletcher replied that he was willing to accompany ,wesley as a travelling assistant2 but he strongly objected to being nominated ,wesley's successor4 ,besides other reasons1 which he adduced1 he remarked1 that such a nomination would lead people to suspect1 and say1 that what he had written1 8for truth and conscience' sake10 in defence of ,wesley's doctrines1 had all been done for the purpose of becoming1 what ,toplady had called1 8the ,bishop of ,moorfields40 ,there is no need to quote this letter at full length2 but it is an important one1 as showing that the proposal which ,wesley had made to ,fletcher1 three years before1 was not a passing whim1 but a fixed idea1 on the realization of which he had set his heart4#ced ,footnote #ced3 ,others1 besides ,wesley1 had fixed upon ,fletcher as ,wesley's successor4 ,joseph ,benson1 in #agge1 shortly after ,wesley's dangerous illness in ,ireland1 wrote to him1 saying1 8,in case of ,mr4 ,wesley's death1 your help would be wanted1 in the government of the ,societies1 and in conducting the work of ,god40 ,to this1 ,fletcher replied1 8,god has lately shaken ,mr4 ,wesley over the grave2 but1 ,i believe1 from the strength of his constitution and the weakness of mine1 he will survive me2 so that ,i do not scheme about helping to make up the gap1 when that great tree shall fall4 ,sufficient for the day will that trouble be2 nor will the ,divine power be then insufficient to help the people in time of need40 7,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher407 ,it may be added1 that ,fletcher1 in the same letter1 informs ,wesley1 that1 by the last post1 he had sent him a manuscript1 entitled1 8,a ,second ,check to ,civil ,antinomianism20 being an extract from the ,church of ,england ,homily on ,rebellion2 and he expresses the opinion that it might be well to print and circulate it1 not only for the general good1 but1 also1 8to shame ,mr4 ,roquet10 one of the first masters of ,wesley's school1 at ,kingswood1 but now a clergyman of the ,church of ,england1 who1 in the controversy respecting the ,american rebellion1 had turned against his old friend ,wesley1 and had rendered assistance to ,wesley's dissenting opponent1 ,caleb ,evans4 ,wesley seems to have had more regard for ,mr4 ,roquet's reputation1 than even gentle-minded ,fletcher had1 for ,fletcher's manuscript was not published4 ,fletcher refused to be commended as ,wesley's successor2 but he evidently thought of travelling4 ,hence1 in a letter to his friend ,james ,ireland1 ,esq41 he wrote3-- 8,madeley1 ,february #c1 #aggf4 ,upon the news of your illness1 ,i and many more prayed that you might be supported under your pressures1 and that they might yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness4 ,we shall now turn our prayers into praises for your happy recovery1 and for the support the ,lord has granted you under your trial4 ,there are lessons which we can never learn but under the cross3 we must suffer with ,christ if we will be glorified with ,him4 ,i hope you will take care that it may not be said of you1 as it was of ,hezekiah1 #8,he rendered not unto the ,lord1 according to the benefit' of his recovery4 ,may we see the propriety and profit of rendering ,him our bodies and our souls1--the sacrifices of humble1 praising1 obedient love1--and warm1 active1 cheerful thanksgiving6 8,a young clergyman offers to assist me3 if he does1 ,i may make an excursion somewhere this spring2 where it will be1 ,i don't know4 ,it may be into eternity1 for ,i dare not depend upon to-morrow2 but should it be your way1 ,i shall inform you of a variety of family trials1 which the ,lord has sent me--all for good1 to break my will in every possible respect40#cee ,footnote #cee3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bbg4 ,in reference to this excursion1 ,wesley writes3-- 8,his health being more than ever impaired by a violent cough1 accompanied with spitting of blood1 ,i told him1 nothing was so likely to restore his health as a long journey4 ,i1 therefore1 proposed his taking a journey of some months with me1 through various parts of ,england and ,scotland2 telling him1 #8,when you are tired1 or like it best1 you may come into my carriage2 but1 remember1 that riding on horseback is the best of all exercises for you1 so far as your strength will permit4' ,he looked upon this as a call from ,providence1 and very willingly accepted of the proposal4 ,we set out1 as ,i am accustomed to do1 early in the spring1 and travelled by moderate journeys1 suited to his strength1 eleven or twelve hundred miles4#cef ,when we returned to ,london1 in the latter end of the year1 he was considerably better2 and ,i verily believe1 if he had travelled with me1 partly in the chaise and partly on horseback1 only a few months longer1 he would have quite recovered his health40#ceg ,footnote #cef3 ,i cannot trace this journey4--,l4,t4 ,footnote #ceg3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,at this period1 the end of #agge1 or the beginning of #aggf1 ,joseph ,benson was stationed in the circuit of ,newcastle-on-,tyne1 and to him ,fletcher wrote as follows3-- 8,though ,i am pretty well in body1 ,i break fast4 ,i have been put into such pinching1 grinding circumstances for near a year1 by a series of providential and domestic trials1 as have given me some deadly blows4 ,mr4 ,wesley kindly invited me some weeks ago to travel with him and visit some of his ,societies4 ,the controversy is partly over1 and ,i feel an inclination to break one of my chains1--parochial retirement1--which may be a nest for self4 ,a young minister1 in deacon's orders1 has offered to be my curate2 and1 if he can live in this wilderness1 ,i shall have some liberty to leave it4 ,i commit the matter entirely to the ,lord4 8,the few professors ,i see in these parts are so far from what ,i could wish them and myself to be1 that ,i cannot but cry out1 #8,lord1 how long wilt ,thou give ,thine heritage to desolation or barrenness8 ,how long shall the heathen say1 where is now their indwelling ,god8' ,i hope it is better with you in the north4 ,what are your heart1 your pen1 your tongue doing8 ,are they receiving1 sealing1 spreading the truth everywhere within your sphere8 ,are you dead to praise or dispraise8 ,could you quietly pass for a mere fool1 and have gross nonsense fathered upon you without any uneasy reflection of self8 ,the ,lord bless you6 ,beware of your grand enemy1 earthly wisdom1 and unbelieving reasonings4 ,you will never overcome but by childlike1 loving simplicity40#ceh ,footnote #ceh3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,wesley set out1 on his 8long journey10 from ,london1 on ,sunday evening1 ,march #c1 #aggf1 and reached ,bristol two days afterwards4 ,on ,wednesday1 ,march #f1 he went to ,taunton1 and 8opened the new preaching-house40 ,on ,thursday1 he returned to ,bristol2 and1 on the ,monday following1 started for the north1 visiting his ,societies at ,stroud1 ,painswick1 ,tewkesbury1 ,worcester1 and other places1 until1 on ,march #be1 he arrived at ,birmingham4#cei ,mr4 ,benson says ,fletcher joined ,wesley 8at ,london1 or more probably at ,bristol1 and accompanied him on his journeys through ,gloucestershire1 and ,worcestershire1 and a part of ,warwickshire1 ,staffordshire1 and ,shropshire4 ,he did not1 however1 proceed further north with ,mr4 ,wesley1 at that time1 but stopped at ,madeley1 for reasons which he mentioned to me in the following letter1 written soon after3-- 8#8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,i would have answered your letter before now1 had ,i not been overdone with writing4 ,i have just concluded an answer to ,mr4 ,evans and ,dr4 ,price2 a work which ,i have undertaken with a desire to serve the cause of religion1 as well as that of loyalty4 ,this work has prevented me from following ,mr4 ,wesley4 ,besides1 as the clergyman who is here with me 7a student from ,edmund ,hall#cfj71 has just accepted a place near ,manchester1 ,i shall still be without a curate4 8#8,i see so little fruit in these parts that ,i am almost disheartened1 both with respect to the power of the ,word1 and the experience of the professors ,i converse with4 ,i am closely followed with the thought that the kingdom in the ,holy ,ghost is almost lost2 and that faith in the dispensation of the ,spirit is at a very low ebb4 ,but it may be1 ,i think so on account of my little experience1 and the weakness of the faith of those whom ,i meet4 ,it may be better in all other places4 ,i shall be glad to travel a little to see the goodness of the land4 ,god deliver us from all extremes1 and make and keep us humble1 loving1 disinterested1 and zealous6 ,i preached1 before ,mr4 ,greaves came1 as much as my strength could well admit1 although to little purpose2 but ,i must not complain4 ,if one person receive a good desire in ten years1 by my instrumentality1 it is a greater honour than ,i deserve--an honour for which ,i could not be too thankful4 ,let us bless the ,lord for all things4 ,we have reasons innumerable to do it4 ,bless ,him on my account1 as well as your own2 and the ,god of peace be with you4'0#cfa ,footnote #cei3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,footnote #cfj3 ,the ,college1 at ,oxford1 to which the ,countess of ,huntingdon had been accustomed to send godly young men1 to prepare them for ,orders1 and from which six of her students had been expelled1 in #agfh4 ,footnote #cfa3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,before proceeding further1 it may be added1 that ,joseph ,benson doubted the propriety of ,wesley and ,fletcher turning their attention to politics4 ,in an unpublished letter1 dated 8,newcastle1 ,may #ba1 #aggf10 he wrote3-- 8,these are #8perilous times' indeed1 and threaten to be more perilous still4 ,you see what a famous politician our friend ,fletcher is become4 ,though ,i exceedingly approve both of the #8,calm ,address' and its #8,vindication1' ,i fear these subjects only detain the authors from more valuable and important work4 ,we expected ,mr4 ,fletcher here along with ,mr4 ,wesley2 but ,i understand1 by a letter from him yesterday1 that he has been prevented1 by his having to answer ,dr4 ,price and ,mr4 ,evans4 ,and there is more work for him still4 ,a friend of ours1 in ,london1 has sent ,mr4 ,cownley and me a pamphlet1 which1 in some important points1 takes ,mr4 ,fletcher's #8,vindication' thoroughly to pieces4 ,i fear he will find it no easy thing to reply to some of its arguments4 ,as for ,price1 his ideas of liberty are beyond measure extravagant2 and ,mr4 ,fletcher and ,mr4 ,wesley will find it no very difficult matter to reply to him4 ,but1 the principal thing to be thought1 talked1 and wrote about1 is the baptism of the ,spirit1 or the inward kingdom of ,god4 ,oh6 my friend1 this is but little known among us60 ,to his old friend1 ,mr4 ,vaughan1 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,,madeley1 ,march #ba1 #aggf4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,your barrel of cider came safe to hand4 ,how could you think to make me such a present8 ,but ,i must rather thank you for your love and generosity1 than scold you for your excessive profusion4 ,you should have stayed till cider was ten shillings a hogshead1 but in such a year as this--6 ,however1 the ,lord reward you1 and return it to you1 in streams of living water1 and plenty of the wine of ,his kingdom6 8,i thought ,i should soon have done with controversy2 but now ,i give up the hope of having done with it before ,i die4 ,there are three sorts of people ,i must continually attack1 or defend myself against--,gallios1 ,pharisees1 and ,antinomians4 ,i hope ,i shall die in harness fighting against some of them4 ,i do not1 however1 forget1 that the ,gallio1 the ,simon1 and the ,nicholas within1 are far more dangerous to me than those without4 ,in my own heart1 that immense field1 ,i must first fight the ,lord's battles and my own4 ,help me here2 join me in this field4 ,all ,christians are here militia-men1 if they are not professed soldiers4 ,o1 my friend1 ,i need wisdom--meekness of wisdom6 ,a heart full of it is better than all your cider vault full of the most generous liquors2 and it is in ,christ for us4 ,o6 go and ask for you and me2 and ,i shall ask for me and you4 ,may we not be ashamed1 nor afraid to come1 and beg every moment for wine and milk--grace and wisdom6 8,beware1 my friend1 of the world4 ,let not its cares1 nor the deceitfulness of its riches1 keep or draw you from ,jesus4 ,before you handle the birdlime1 be sure you dip your heart and hand in the oil of grace4 ,time flies4 ,years of plenty and of scarcity1 of peace and war1 disappear before the eternity to which we are all hastening4 8,remember me kindly to ,mrs4 ,vaughan4 ,that the ,lord would abundantly bless you both1 in your souls1 bodies1 concerns1 and children1 is the sincere wish of your affectionate friend1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#cfb ,footnote #cfb3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bbi4 ,the following letter1 to ,charles ,wesley1 refers1 among other things1 to another of ,fletcher's publications1 which has yet to be noticed3-- 8,,madeley1 ,may #aa1 #aggf4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,what are you doing in ,london8 ,are you ripening as fast for the grave as ,i am8 ,how should we lay out every moment for ,god6 ,for some days1 ,i have had the symptoms of an inward consumptive decay--spitting of blood1 etc4 ,thank ,god6 ,i look at our last enemy with great calmness4 ,i hope1 however1 that the ,lord will spare me to publish my end of the controversy1 which is ,a ,double ,dissertation upon the ,doctrines of ,grace and ,justice4 ,this piece will1 ,i flatter myself1 reconcile all the candid ,calvinists and candid ,arminians1 and be a means of pointing out the way in which peace and harmony may be restored to the ,church4 8,i still look for an outpouring of the ,spirit1 inwardly and outwardly4 ,should ,i die before that great day1 ,i shall have the consolation to see it from afar4 ,thank ,god6 ,i enjoy uninterrupted peace in the midst of my trials1 which are1 sometimes1 not a few4 ,joy also ,i possess2 but ,i look for joy of a superior nature4 ,i feel myself1 in a good degree1 dead to praise and dispraise3 ,i hope1 at least1 that it is so2 because ,i do not feel that the one lifts me up1 or that the other dejects me4 ,i want to see a ,pentecost ,christian ,church2 and1 if it is not to be seen at this time upon earth1 ,i am willing to go and see that glorious wonder in heaven4 ,how is it with you8 ,are you ready to seize the crown in the name of the ,redeemer reigning in your heart8 ,we run a race towards the grave4 ,john is likely to outrun you1 unless you have a swift foot4 8,i had lately a letter from one of the preachers1 who finds great fault with me1 for having published1 in my book on ,perfection1 your hymn called ,the ,last ,wish4 ,he calls it dangerous mysticism4 ,my private thoughts are1 that the truth lies between driving ,methodism and still mysticism4 ,what think you8 ,read the addresses which ,i have added to that piece1 and tell me your thoughts4 8,let us pray that ,god would renew our youth1 as that of the eagle1 that we may bear fruit in our old age4 ,i hope ,i shall see you before my death3 if not1 let us rejoice at the thought of meeting in heaven40#cfc ,footnote #cfc3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bca4 ,the censured hymn was the following-- 8,to do1 or not to do2 to have1 ,or not to have1 ,i leave to ,thee3 ,to be1 or not to be1 ,i leave3 ,thy only will be done in me4 ,all my requests are lost in one3 ,father1 ,thy only will be done4 8,suffice that1 for the season past1 ,myself in things ,divine ,i sought1 ,for comforts cried with eager haste1 ,and murmur'd that ,i found them not3 ,i leave it now to ,thee alone1 ,father1 ,thy only will be done4 8,thy gifts ,i clamour for no more1 ,or selfishly ,thy grace require1 ,an evil heart to varnish o'er2 ,jesus1 the ,giver1 ,i desire2 ,after the flesh no longer known3 ,father1 ,thy only will be done4 8,welcome alike the crown or cross2 ,trouble ,i cannot ask1 nor peace1 ,nor toil1 nor rest1 nor gain1 nor loss1 ,nor joy1 nor grief1 nor pain1 nor ease1 ,nor life1 nor death2 but ever groan1 ,father1 ,thy only will be done40 ,this was what ,wesley's ,itinerant ,preacher called 8dangerous mysticism10 and ,fletcher1 8still mysticism40 ,whether ,fletcher himself experienced this 8destruction of self-will10 and 8absolute resignation1 which characterises a perfect believer10 it is difficult to determine2 but it may safely be affirmed that he was struggling to attain to such a state of holiness4 8,this hymn10 said he1 8suits all the believers who are at the bottom of ,mount ,sion1 and begin to join the spirits of just men made perfect40 ,and then1 as a specimen of what he calls 8driving ,methodism10 he adds3-- 8,but when the triumphal chariot of perfect love gloriously carries you to the top of perfection's hill2--when you are raised far above the common heights of the perfect1--when you are almost translated into glory like ,elijah1 then you may sing another hymn of the same ,christian poet0 7,charles ,wesley7 8with the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,madan1 and the numerous body of imperfectionists who use his collection of ,psalms1 etc40 ,this1 of course1 was a quiet satire on ,martin ,madan and his ,calvinistic congregation2 but1 passing that1 the 8driving hymn was as follows3-- 8,who in ,jesus confide1 ,they are bold to outride ,the storms of affliction beneath3 ,with the prophet they soar ,to that heavenly shore1 ,and out-fly all the arrows of death4 8,by faith we are come ,to our permanent home2 ,by hope we the rapture improve3 ,by love we still rise1 ,and look down on the skies-- ,for the heaven of heavens is love6 8,who on earth can conceive ,how happy we live ,in the city of ,god the great ,king6 ,what a concert of praise1 ,when our ,jesus's grace ,the whole heavenly company sing6 8,what a rapturous song1 ,when the glorified throng ,in the spirit of harmony join6 ,join all the glad choirs1 ,hearts1 voices1 and lyres1 ,and the burden is mercy divine60#cfd ,footnote #cfd3 ,fletcher's 8,last ,check to ,antinomianism10 p4 #cbc4 ,why these long quotations8 ,simply to show that real ,christian ,perfection is1 according to the 8private thoughts0 of ,fletcher1 one of the holiest of the old ,methodists1 a something that 8lies between0 the 8driving ,methodism and still mysticism0 embodied in the two remarkable hymns just cited4 ,soon after the date of the last letter 7,may #aa1 #aggf7 ,fletcher's health so entirely failed1 that he was compelled to leave his parish and repair to the hot wells at ,bristol4 ,his friend1 ,charles ,wesley1 on ,june #cj1 embodied the feelings of his full heart in the following touching hymn3-- 8,jesus1 ,thy feeble servant see6 ,sick is the man beloved by ,thee3 ,thy name to magnify1 ,to spread ,thy ,gospel-truths again1 ,his precious soul in life detain1 ,nor suffer him to die4 8,the fervent prayer ,thou oft hast heard1 ,thy glorious arm in mercy bared2 ,thy wonder-working power ,appear'd in all ,thy people's sight1 ,and stopp'd the ,spirit in its flight1 ,or bade the grave restore4 8,in faith we ask a fresh reprieve3 ,frequent in deaths he still shall live1 ,if ,thou pronounce the word2 ,shall spend for ,thee1 his strength renew'd1 ,witness of the all-cleansing blood1 ,forerunner of his ,lord4 8,the ,spirit that raised ,thee from the dead1 ,be in its quick'ning virtue shed1 ,his mortal flesh to raise1 ,to consecrate ,thy human shrine1 ,and fill with energy divine ,thy minister of grace4 8,body and soul at once revive2 ,the prayer of faith in which we strive1 ,so shall we all proclaim1 ,according to ,thy gracious will1 ,omnipotent the sick to heal1 ,from age to age the same40#cfe ,footnote #cfe3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahce1 p4 #egf4 ,fifteen years ago 7soon after he came to ,madeley71 at ,christmas time1 in a dark night1 ,fletcher1 on the top of ,lincoln-hill woods1 was at a loss which way to take to reach his vicarage at ,madeley4 ,providentially1 he met a working man of ,coalbrookdale1 ,michael ,onions by name1 who was on his way to ,broseley to fetch a fiddler for a dancing party in ,michael's house4 ,fletcher told him he had lost his road to ,madeley1 and asked him to put him right4 ,good-tempered ,michael went half-a-mile out of his way to render the muffled stranger the necessary guidance4 ,conversation ensued2 ,michael explained the object of his journey to ,broseley2 ,fletcher warned him of his sin and danger2 ,michael became alarmed1 and1 instead of proceeding to ,broseley to secure the services of the fiddler1 returned to his dwelling at ,coalbrookdale4 ,on his entering1 the assembled dancers asked1 8,have you brought the fiddler80 8,no10 said ,michael4 8,is he not at home80 8,i don't know40 8,have you not been to ,broseley80 8,no40 8,why8 ,what's the matter8 ,you look ill1 and are all of a tremble40 ,michael then stated that he had met some one on the top of ,lincoln-hill woods2 but whether man or angel he knew not2 and1 after relating the conversation between them1 added1 8,i dare not go to ,broseley--,i would not for the world40 ,next ,sunday morning1 ,michael and some of his dancing friends went to ,madeley church2 and there1 in the voice of ,fletcher1 he recognized the mysterious traveller he had met with on ,lincoln-hill4 ,michael was converted1 and became one of the first ,methodists in ,coalbrookdale4#cff ,to this humble1 but faithful ,christian friend1 and to his fellow ,methodists1 ,fletcher now wrote as follows3-- 8,,bristol1 ,july #aa1 #aggf4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,having just seen1 at the ,wells1 ,mr4 ,darby1 who is going back to the ,dale1 ,i gladly seize the opportunity of letting you know what the ,lord is doing for my soul and body4 8,with respect to my soul1 ,i feel a degree of righteousness1 peace1 and joy1 and wait for the establishment of ,his internal kingdom in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the hope of my being rooted and grounded in the love1 that casts out slavish fear1 grows more lively every day4 ,i am not afraid of any evil tidings1 and my heart stands calm1 believing in the ,lord1 and desiring ,him to do with me whatsoever ,he pleaseth4 8,with respect to my body1 ,i know not what to say2 but the physician says he hopes ,i shall do well2 and so ,i hope1 and believe too1 whether ,i recover my strength or not4 ,health and sickness1 life and death1 are best when the ,lord sends them4 ,all things work together for good to those that love ,god4 8,i am forbid preaching2 but1 blessed be ,god6 ,i am not forbid1 by my heavenly ,physician1 to pray1 believe1 and love4 ,this is a sweet work1 which heals1 delights1 and strengthens4 8,i hope you bear me on your hearts1 as ,i do you on mine4 ,my wish for you is that you may be possessors of an inward kingdom of grace2 that you may so hunger and thirst after righteousness as to be filled4 ,oh6 be hearty in the cause of religion4 ,be humbly zealous for your own salvation1 and for ,god's glory2 nor forget to care for the salvation of each other4 ,keep yourselves in the love of ,god2 and keep one another by example1 reproof1 exhortation1 encouragement1 social prayer1 and a faithful use of all the means of grace4 ,use yourselves to bow at the feet of ,christ4 ,go to ,him continually for the holy anointing of ,his ,spirit1 who will be a ,teacher always near1 always with you and in you4 ,if you have that inward ,instructor1 you will suffer no material loss when your outward teachers are removed4 ,make the most of dear ,mr4 ,greaves#cfg while you have him4 ,while you have the light of ,god's word1 believe in the light1 that you may be children of the light1 fitted for the kingdom of eternal light1 where ,i charge you to meet your affectionate brother and minister1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#cfh ,footnote #cff3 ,wesleyan ,times1 ,march #c1 #ahef1 p4 #ach4 ,footnote #cfg3 ,who had again become ,fletcher's curate4 ,footnote #cfh3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ad4 ,to ,charles ,perronet1 son of the venerable ,vicar of ,shoreham1 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,,bristol1 ,july #ab1 #aggf4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,brother1--,i gladly thank you for your last favour4 ,the ,lord keeps me hanging by a thread4 ,he weighs me in the balance for life and death2 ,i trust ,him for the choice4 ,he knows1 far better than ,i1 what is best2 and ,i leave all to ,his unerring wisdom4 ,i am calm1 and wait1 with submission1 for what the ,lord will say concerning me4 ,i wait to be baptized into all ,his fulness1 and trust the word--the word of ,his grace40#cfi ,footnote #cfi3 ,ibid1 p4 #bca4 ,exactly a month after the date of this letter1 holy ,charles ,perronet himself fell asleep in ,jesus4 8,my dear ,charles10 wrote his venerable father1 8after wearing out a weakly constitution in the most unwearied endeavours to bring many to ,christ1 breathed out his pious soul in the remarkable words of his dear ,lord1 #8,father1 into ,thy hands ,i commend my spirit4'0 8,i have uninterrupted fellowship with ,god10 cried the dying saint2 8and ,christ is all in all to me40#cgj ,as soon as ,fletcher heard of the death of this godly man1 he wrote to the bereaved father as follows3-- 8,methinks ,i see you1 right honoured ,sir1 mounted1 as another ,moses1 on the top of ,pisgah1 and through the telescope of faith descrying the promised land2 or1 rather1 in the present instance1 ,i observe you1 like another ,joshua1 on the banks of ,jordan1 viewing all ,israel1 with your son among them1 passing over the river to their great possessions4 ,permit me1 therefore1 in consideration of your years and office1 to exclaim1 in the language of young ,elisha to his ancient seer1 #8,my father6 ,my father6 ,the chariots of ,israel and the horsemen thereof4' 8#8,there1 there they are1 and there is your son6 ,whom faith pursues1 and eager hope discerns1 ,in yon bright chariot1 as a cherub borne ,on wings of love1 to uncreated realms ,of deathless joy1 and everlasting peace4'0#cga ,footnote #cgj3 ,atmore's 8,methodist ,memorial40 ,footnote #cga3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,on the day ,charles ,perronet died1 ,wesley was in ,bristol1 and wrote3-- 8#aggf4 ,august #ab4--;,i found ,mr4 ,fletcher a little better1 and proposed his taking a journey with me to ,cornwall2 nothing being so likely to restore his health as a journey of four or five hundred miles4 ,but his physician would in no wise consent1 so ,i gave up the point40#cgb ,footnote #cgb3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,instead of going to ,cornwall ,fletcher returned to ,madeley1 where he wrote two letters to his friend1 ,james ,ireland1 ,esq41 from which the following are extracts3-- 8,madeley1 ,august #ah1 #aggf4 ,my breast is very weak1 but1 if it please ,god1 it will in time recover strength4 ,mr4 ,greaves will take all the duty upon himself1 and ,i shall continue to take rest1 exercise1 and the food which was recommended to me4 ,the ,lord grant me to rest myself on ,christ1 to exercise myself in charity1 and to feed upon the bread of life1 which ,god has given us in ,jesus ,christ4 8,i thank you1 my dear friend1 for all your favours and all your attention to me4 ,what returns shall ,i make8 ,i will drink the cup of thanksgiving1 and ,i will bless the name of the ,lord4 ,i will thank my dear friend and wish him all the temporal blessings he conferred upon me1 and all those spiritual ones which were not in his power to bestow4 ,live in health2 live piously2 live content2 live in ,christ2 live for eternity2 live to make your wife1 your children1 your servants1 your neighbours happy4 ,and may the ,god of all grace give back a hundredfold to you and your dear wife all the kindnesses with which you have loaded me40#cgc 8,madeley1 ,august #bd1 #aggf4 ,my dear friend1 ,i have received the news of your loss1 and of the gain of your younger daughter4 ,she has entered into port1 and has left you on a tempestuous sea4 ,i recommend to ,mrs4 ,ireland the resignation of ,david when he lost his son2 and do you give her the example4 ,the day of death is preferable to that of our birth2 with respect to infants1 the maxim of ,solomon is indubitable4 #j what an honour is it to be the father and mother of a little cherub who hovers round the throne of ,god in heavenly glory6 8,roquet#cgd dead and buried6 ,the jolly man who last summer shook his head at me as at a dying man6 ,how frail are we6 ,god help us to live to-day6 to-morrow is the fool's day4 8,i have not1 at present1 the least idea that ,i am called to quit my post here4 ,i see no probability of being useful in ,switzerland4 ,my call is here2 ,i am sure of it4 ,if ,i undertook the journey1 it would be merely to accompany you4 ,i dare not gratify friendship by taking such a step4 ,i have no faith in the prescriptions of your physician2 and ,i think if health be better for us than sickness1 we may enjoy it as well here as in ,france or ,italy4 ,if sickness be best for us1 why shun it8 ,everything is good when it comes from ,god4 ,nothing but a baptism of fire and the most evident openings of ,providence can engage me in such a journey4 ,if ,i reject your obliging offer to procure me a substitute1 attribute it to my fear of taking a false step1 of quitting my post without command1 and of engaging in a warfare to which the ,lord does not call me40#cge ,footnote #cgc3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bcb4 ,footnote #cgd3 ,the ,rev4 ,james ,roquet1 who1 in #agge1 had turned against his old friend ,wesley respecting the rebellion in ,america4 ,footnote #cge3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bcd4 ,a fortnight later1 ,fletcher wrote again to ,mr4 ,ireland3-- 8,madeley1 ,september #g1 #aggf4 ,my dear friend1 my health is better than when ,i wrote last4 ,i have not yet preached2 rather from a sense of duty to my friends1 and high thoughts of the labours of ,mr4 ,greaves 7who does the work of an evangelist to better purpose than ,i71 than to spare myself2 for1 if ,i am not mistaken1 ,i am as able to do my work now as ,i was a year ago4 8,a fortnight ago1 ,i paid a visit to ,west ,bromwich4 ,i ran away from the kindness of my parishioners1 who oppressed me with tokens of their love4 ,to me there is nothing so extremely trying as excessive kindness4 ,i am of the king's mind when the people showed their love to him on his journey to ,portsmouth3 #8,i can bear1' he said1 #8the hissings of a ,london mob1 but these shouts of joy are too much for me4' ,you1 my dear friend1 ,mrs4 ,ireland1 ,mrs4 ,norman1 and all your family1 have put me to that severe trial1 to which all trials caused by the hard words that have been spoken against me are nothing4 8,at our age1 a recovery can be but a short reprieve4 ,let us then give up ourselves daily to the ,lord1 as people who have no confidence in the flesh1 and do not trust to to-morrow4 ,i find my weakness1 unprofitableness1 and wretchedness daily more and more2 and the more ,i find them1 the more help ,i have to sink into self-abhorrence4 ,nor do ,i despair to sink so in it as to die to self and revive in my ,god40#cgf ,footnote #cgf3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bcf4 ,fletcher began to hope that he would soon be able to resume his work4 ,to ,charles ,wesley he wrote as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,september #ae1 #aggf4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,brother1--,i lately consulted a pious gentleman1 near ,lichfield1 famous for his skill in the disorders of the breast4 ,he assured me ,i am in no immediate danger of a consumption of the lungs2 and that my disorder is upon the nerves1 in consequence of too close thinking4 ,he permitted me to write and preach in moderation2 and gave me medicines1 which1 ,i think1 are of service in taking off my feverish heats4 ,my spitting of blood is stopped1 and ,i may yet be spared to travel with you as an invalid4 8,if ,god adds one inch to my span ,i see my calling4 ,i desire to know nothing but ,christ1 and ,him crucified1 revealed in the ,spirit4 ,i long to feel the utmost power of the ,spirit's dispensation1 and ,i will endeavour to bear my testimony to the glory of that dispensation both with my pen and tongue4 ,some of our injudicious or inattentive friends will probably charge me with novelty for it2 but1 be that as it will1 let us meekly stand for the truth as it is in ,jesus1 and trust the ,lord for everything4 ,i thank ,god ,i feel so dead to popular applause that1 ,i trust1 ,i should not be afraid to maintain a truth against all the world2 and yet ,i dread to dissent from any child of ,god1 and feel ready to condescend to every one4 ,o what depths of humble love1 and what heights of ,gospel truth1 do ,i sometimes see6 ,i want to sink into the former and rise into the latter4 ,help me by your example1 letters1 and prayers40#cgg ,footnote #cgg3 ,ibid1 p4 #bcg4 ,at the same period of time1 ,fletcher wrote to ,joseph ,benson1 giving him an account of the state of his health and of his literary projects4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,brother1--,your kind letter has followed me from ,bristol to ,madeley1 where ,i have been for some weeks4 ,my health is better than it was in ,august1 but it is far from being established4 ,close thinking and writing had brought upon me a slow fever1 with a cough and spitting of blood1 which a physician took for symptoms of a consumption of the lungs2 whereas they were only symptoms of a consumption of the nerves and solids4 ,he put me accordingly upon the lowest diet1 and had me blooded four times1 which made much against me4 ,i am1 however1 greatly recovered since ,i have begun to eat meat again4 ,my cough and spitting of blood have left me1 but want of sleep and a slow fever keep me still very low4 ,if the ,lord pleases1 ,he can in a moment restore my strength2 but ,he needs not a worm4 ,i thank ,him for having kept me perfectly resigned to ,his will1 and calm in the awful scene which ,i have passed through4 8,i design to conclude my last controversial piece as ,i shall be able1 and hope it will give my friends some satisfaction2 because it will show the cause of all our doctrinal errors1 and will place the doctrine of election and reprobation upon its proper basis4 ,i finish also my essay on the #8,dispensation of the ,spirit1'#cgh which is the thing ,i want most to see your thoughts upon4 ,pray for light and power1 truth and love2 and impart to me a share of your experiences1 to quicken my dulness of apprehension and feeling4 ,if ,god spare me a little1 it will be to bear my testimony to the doctrine of perfect spiritual ,christianity4 ,may we be personal witnesses of this glorious dispensation1 and be so inflamed with love as to kindle all around us4 8,give my kind love and thanks to all enquiring friends4 ,if ,i live over the winter1 ,i shall1 should ,providence open the way1 visit you all0 at ,newcastle-on-,tyne1 8and assure you that ,i am in ,christ your affectionate brother and servant40#cgi ,footnote #cgh3 ,this essay was not published separately1 but was probably embodied in the 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul10 to be noticed anon4 ,footnote #cgi3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,three weeks after the date of these letters1 poor ,fletcher's hope of recovery was terribly shaken4 ,on ,october #e1 #aggf1 his disorder unexpectedly and violently returned1 and his friends around him thought he was about to die4 ,some one1 perhaps his curate1 ,mr4 ,greaves1 immediately improvised a beautiful hymn1 which was sung1 by a distressed congregation1 in ,madeley church1 on the following day1 ,friday1 ,october #f4 ,the hymn is too full of affection and piety to be omitted4 ,it was as follows3-- 8,o ,thou1 before whose gracious throne ,we bow our suppliant spirits down1 ,view the sad breast and streaming eye1 ,and let our sorrows pierce the sky4 8,thou know'st the anxious cares we feel1 ,and all our trembling lips would tell2 ,thou only canst assuage our grief1 ,and yield our woe-fraught hearts relief4 8,though we have sinned1 and justly dread ,the vengeance hovering o'er our head1 ,yet1 ,power benign6 ,thy servant spare1 ,nor turn aside ,thy people's prayer4 8,avert the swift-descending stroke1 ,nor smite the shepherd of the flock2 ,lest o'er the barren waste we stray1 ,to prowling wolves an easy prey4 8,restore him1 sinking to the grave2 ,stretch out ,thy arm1 make haste to save2 ,back to our hopes and wishes give1 ,and bid our friend and father live4 8,bound to each soul with sacred ties1 ,in every breast his image lies2 ,thy pitying aid1 ,o ,god1 impart1 ,nor rend him from each bleeding heart4 8,yet1 if our supplications fail1 ,and prayers and tears cannot prevail1 ,condemned1 on this dark desert coast1 ,to mourn our much-loved leader lost1-- 8,be ,thou his strength1 be ,thou his stay1 ,support him through the gloomy way2 ,comfort his soul1 surround his bed1 ,and guide him through the dreary shade4 8,around him may ,thy angels wait1 ,deck'd with their robes of heavenly state1 ,to teach his happy soul to rise1 ,and waft him to his native skies40#chj ,footnote #chj3 ,the ,local ,preacher's ,magazine1 #aheb1 p4 #aac4 ,as soon as possible1 ,wesley made his way to ,madeley1 and escorted ,fletcher to ,london4 ,on ,november #ac1 they set out for ,norwich1 and nine days afterwards ,wesley wrote1 8,i brought ,mr4 ,fletcher back to ,london considerably better than when he set out40 ,among other places1 they visited ,lowestoft1 where ,wesley opened the new ,preaching-house1 and where ,fletcher preached on ,wednesday morning1 ,november #bj4cha ,whilst here1 he wrote the following to ,mr4 ,benson3-- 8,,lowestoft1 ,november #ba1 #aggf4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,mr4 ,wesley having invited me to travel with him1 to see if change of air and motion will be a means of restoring me to a share of my former health1 ,i have accompanied him through ,oxfordshire1 ,northamptonshire1 and ,norfolk2 and ,i hope ,i am rather better than worse4 ,i find it good to be with this extraordinary servant of ,god4 ,i think his diligence and wisdom are matchless4 ,it is a good school for me1 only ,i am too old a scholar to make proficiency4 ,however1 let us live to ,god to-day1 and trust ,him for to-morrow2 so that1 whether we are laid up in a sick bed or a damp grave1 or whether we are yet able to act1 we may be able to say1 8#8,god is the sea of love1 ,where all my pleasures roll1 ,the circle where my passions move1 ,and centre of my soul4'0#chb ,footnote #cha3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,footnote #chb3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,another characteristic letter must be introduced4 ,certain good ,methodists at ,hull and ,york having invited him1 when able1 to visit the great ,methodist county1 ,fletcher wrote to them as follows3-- 8,to ,messrs4 ,hare1 ,terry1 ,fox1 and ,good1 at ,hull2--and ,messrs4 ,preston1 ,simpson1 and ,ramsden1 at ,york4 8,,london1 ,november #ab1 #aggf4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brethren1--,i thank you for your kind letters and invitations to visit you1 and the brethren about you4 ,i have often found an attraction in ,yorkshire4 ,my desire was indeed a little selfish2 ,i wanted to improve by the conversation of my unknown brethren4 ,if ,god bids me be strong again1 ,i shall be glad to try if ,he will be pleased to comfort us by the mutual faith both of you and me4 ,my desire is1 that ,christ may be glorified both in my life and death4 ,if ,i have any desire to live at any time1 it is principally to be a witness1 in word and deed1 of the dispensation of power from on high2 and to point out that kingdom which does not consist in word1 but in power1 even in righteousness1 peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,spirit of power4 ,i am writing an ,essay upon that important part of the ,christian doctrine4 8,should ,i be spared to visit you1 the keep of a horse1 and the poor rider1 will be all the burden ,i should lay on you2 and that will be more than my ,heavenly ,master indulged ,himself in4 ,i am just setting out for ,norwich with ,mr4 ,wesley1 whose renewed strength and immense labours astonish me4 ,what a pattern for preachers6 ,his redeeming the time is1 if ,i mistake not1 matchless4 8,should ,i never have the pleasure of thanking you in person for your brotherly regard1 ,i beg you will endeavour to meet me in the kingdom of our ,father1 where distance of time and place is lost in the fulness of ,him who is all in all4 ,the way ye know1--the penitential way of a heart-felt faith working by obedient love40#chc ,footnote #chc3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahja1 p4 #dc4 ,early in the month of ,december1 ,fletcher visited ,mr4 ,gorham1 at ,st4 ,neots4 ,one of his inducements to undertake this journey was to have an opportunity of conversing with ,berridge1 ,vicar of ,everton1 and with ,henry ,venn1 who1 a few years before1 had left ,huddersfield1 and settled in a small country village1 as ,rector of ,yelling4 ,mr4 ,gorham's son accompanied ,fletcher to ,everton4 ,sixteen years had elapsed since ,fletcher's former visit there2 and1 during that interval1 ,berridge had published his 8,christian ,world ,unmasked20 and ,fletcher had severely handled its ,calvinian doctrines in his 8,fifth ,check to ,antinomianism20 but there was no room for malice in ,christian hearts like theirs4 ,the instant ,fletcher entered the parsonage at ,everton1 ,berridge rose up1 ran to meet him1 embraced him with folded arms1 and cried1 8,my dear brother1 how could we write against each other1 when we both aim at the same thing--the glory of ,god1 and the good of souls6 ,my book lies quietly on the shelf1--and there let it lie40 ,for two hours1 the loving polemics had an unbroken conversation2 when ,berridge said1 8,we must not part without praying40 ,down they fell upon their knees4 ,full of the great truth then occupying his mind1 and which probably had been the chief subject of conversation with his friend1 ,fletcher began to pray for an effusion of the ,spirit1 and for greater degrees of sanctification and usefulness4 ,berridge followed1 with a prayer full of love and faith4 ,the two seemed as if it were impossible to separate2 and ,fletcher had to be torn away1 to keep an appointment1 at ,st4 ,neots1 with the ,rector of ,yelling4 ,venn was charmed with ,fletcher1 and became so absorbed in the conversation1 that ,fletcher had to remind him1 playfully1 of the meal before him4 ,a year afterwards1 they met again1 at ,bristol1 lodged together for six weeks in the same house1 and ,venn1 on his return to ,yelling1 declared1 from his pulpit1 that ,fletcher was 8like an angel on earth40 ,notwithstanding considerable opposition1 ,fletcher was permitted to preach once in ,st4 ,neots ,church1 and took1 as his text1 8,we love ,him1 because ,he first loved us40 ,many hung upon the lips of the preacher2 but three or four of his hearers1 in great dudgeon1 left before his sermon was ended4 8,i will not be tedious10 cried ,fletcher1 as the discontented were retreating1 8but oh that ,i might persuade you to love ,him1 who first loved us60 ,about thirty of his congregation followed him to his lodgings1 where1 at their request1 he preached again1 most of those that were present being powerfully affected4 ,considering the state of his health1 this preaching exercise was hardly prudent2 but ,fletcher had less regard for his health than for what he conceived to be his duty4 ,the season was the depth of winter2 but he maintained his accustomed early rising4 ,one morning1 before four o'clock1 ,mr4 ,gorham stole gently into his chamber1 and kindled his fire4 ,the crackling of the wood awoke him2 and1 instantly1 showing the frame of mind in which he habitually lived1 whether awake or asleep1 he cried1 8,is it you1 my kind host1 with your candle and fire8 ,may the ,lord light the candle of faith and the fire of love in our hearts60 ,when nearly fifty years had elapsed1 ,mr4 ,gorham said1 8,i have never forgotten this salutation2 and often do ,i step into the room1 and look at the spot where ,i received the dear saint's thanks1 and heard his prayer40#chd ,footnote #chd3 ,appendix to ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,at this time1 there resided at the suburban village of ,stoke ,newington a gentleman who must have a brief notice4 ,his father1 ,james ,greenwood1 was one of the earliest members of the ,methodist ,society1 at the ,foundery1 ,london2 and he himself was one of the first trustees of ,wesley's chapel1 in ,city ,road4 ,he had a lucrative business1 as an upholsterer1 in ,rood ,lane and ,fenchurch ,street2 and died1 at the age of fifty-six1 in #aghc1 his remains being put into one of the early-dug graves in the burial ground of ,city ,road ,chapel4#che ,wesley's mention of his death is worth quoting3-- 8#aghc1 ,february #ba4--,to-day ,charles ,greenwood went to rest4 ,he had been a melancholy man all his days1 full of doubts and fears1 and continually writing bitter things against himself4 ,when he was first taken ill1 he said he should die1 and was miserable through fear of death2 but1 two days before he died1 the clouds dispersed1 and he was unspeakably happy1 telling his friends1 #8,god has revealed to me things which it is impossible for man to utter4' ,just when he died1 such glory filled the room1 that it seemed to be a little heaven2 none could grieve or shed a tear1 but all present appeared to be partakers of his joy40#chf ,footnote #che3 ,stevenson's 8,city ,road ,chapel40 ,footnote #chf3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,in the necrology of the ,methodists1 there are but few brighter death-bed scenes than that of ,charles ,greenwood1 of ,stoke ,newington4#chg ,footnote #chg3 ,see an account of it in the ,arminian ,magazine for #aghc4 ,on his return from ,st4 ,neots1 on ,december #af1 ,fletcher took up his residence in the house of this worthy man4 ,wesley disapproved of this1 and wrote3-- 8,i verily believe1 if ,mr4 ,fletcher had travelled with me1 partly in the chaise1 and partly on horseback1 only a few months longer1 he would quite have recovered his health4 ,but this those about him would not permit3 so being detained in ,london by his kind but injudicious friends1 while ,i pursued my journeys1 his spitting of blood1 with all the other symptoms1 returned1 and rapidly increased1 till the physicians pronounced him to be far advanced in a true1 pulmonary consumption40#chh ,footnote #chh3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,fletcher continued to reside with ,mr4 ,greenwood till about the beginning of the month of ,may1 #aggg2 but1 before proceeding to that year1 extracts must be given from a remarkable letter1 which he wrote 8to the parishioners of ,madeley40 ,this was one of his last efforts in the year #aggf3-- 8,,newington1 ,december #bh1 #aggf4 8,,my ,,dear ,,parishioners1--,i hoped to have spent the ,christmas holidays with you1 and to have ministered to you in holy things2 but the weakness of my body confining me here1 ,i humbly submit to the ,divine dispensation4 ,i ease the trouble of my absence by reflecting on the pleasure ,i have felt1 in years past1 while singing with you1 #8,unto us a child is born1 unto us a ,son is given4' ,this truth is as true now as it was then4 ,let us receive it with all readiness1 and it will unite us4 8,in order to this1 may the eye of your understanding be more and more opened to see your need of a ,redeemer2 and to behold the suitableness1 freeness1 and fulness of the redemption1 which was wrought out by the ,son of ,god1 and which is applied by the ,spirit through faith6 ,the wish which glows in my soul is so ardent and powerful1 that it brings me down on my knees1 while ,i write1 and1 in that supplicating posture1 ,i entreat you all to consider and improve the day of your visitation1 and to prepare1 in good earnest1 to meet1 with joy1 your ,god and your unworthy pastor in another world4 ,i beseech you1 by all the ministerial and providential calls you have had for these seventeen years1 harden not your hearts4 ,let the longsuffering of ,god towards us1 who survive the hundreds ,i have buried1 lead us all to repentance4 ,dismiss your sins1 and embrace ,jesus ,christ1 who wept for you in the manger1 bled for you in ,gethsemane1 hung for you on the cross1 and now pleads for you on ,his mediatorial throne4 ,by all that is dear to you1 meet me not on the great day in your sins1 enemies to ,christ by unbelief1 and to ,god by wicked works4 8,the sum of all ,i have preached to you is contained in four propositions4 ,first1 heartily repent of your sins1 original and actual4 ,secondly1 believe the ,gospel of ,christ in sincerity and truth4 ,thirdly1 in the power which true faith gives1 run the way of ,god's commandments before ,god and men4 ,fourthly1 by continuing to take up your cross1 and to receive the pure milk of ,god's word1 grow in grace1 and in the knowledge of ,jesus ,christ4 8,should ,god bid me stay on earth a little longer1 and should ,he renew my strength to do among you the work of a pastor1 ,i hope ,i shall prove a more humble1 zealous1 and diligent minister than ,i have hitherto been4 ,some of you have supposed that ,i made more ado about eternity and your precious souls than they were worth2 but how great was your mistake4 ,alas6 it is my grief and shame that ,i have not been1 both in public and private1 a thousand times more earnest and importunate with you about your spiritual concerns4 ,pardon me1 my dear friends1--pardon me my ignorances and negligences in this respect4 ,and as ,i most humbly ask your forgiveness1 so ,i most heartily forgive any of you1 who may1 at any time1 have made no account of my little labours4 8,the more nearly ,i consider death and the grave1 judgment and eternity1 the more ,i feel that ,i have preached to you the truth1 and that the truth is solid as the rock of ages4 ,although ,i hope to see much more of the goodness of the ,lord in the land of the living than ,i do see1 yet1 blessed be the ,divine mercy6 ,i see enough to keep my mind at all times unruffled1 and to make me willing calmly to resign my soul into the hands of my faithful ,creator1 my loving ,redeemer1 and my sanctifying ,comforter1 this moment1 or the next1 if ,he calls for it4 ,i desire your public thanks for all the favours ,he showeth me continually1 with respect to both my soul and body4 ,help me to be thankful2 for it is a pleasant thing to be thankful4 ,permit me also to bespeak an interest in your prayers4 ,ask that my faith may be willing to receive all that ,god's grace is willing to bestow4 ,ask that ,i may meekly suffer1 and zealously do all the will of ,god2 and that1 living or dying1 ,i may say1 with the witness of ,god's ,spirit1 #8,for me to live is ,christ1 and to die is gain4' 8,if ,god calls me from earth1 ,i beg ,he may appoint a more faithful shepherd over you4 ,you need not fear that ,he will not3 you see that1 for these many months1 you have not only had no famine of the word1 but the richest plenty2 and what ,god has done for months1 ,he can do for years2 yea1 for all the years of your life4 ,only pray2 #8ask and you shall receive4' ,meet me at the throne of grace1 and you shall meet at the throne of glory your affectionate1 obliged1 and unworthy minister1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#chi ,footnote #chi3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ba4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,publications ,,and ,,correspondence ,,in #aggg4 ,,in the year #aggg1 ,fletcher terminated his controversy with the ,calvinists4 ,he wrote3-- 8,to the best of my knowledge1 ,i have not fixed one consequence upon the principles of my opponents1 which does not fairly and necessarily flow from their doctrine4 ,and ,i have endeavoured to do justice to their piety1 declaring1 again and again1 my full persuasion that they abhor such consequences40 ,his publications1 in #aggg1 were the following3-- #a4 8,the ,doctrines of ,grace and ,justice equally essential to the pure ,gospel3 ,being some ,remarks on the mischievous divisions caused among ,christians1 by parting those doctrines4 ,being an ,introduction to a ,plan of ,reconciliation between the ,defenders of the ,doctrines of ,partial ,grace1 commonly called ,calvinists2 and the ,defenders of the ,doctrines of ,impartial ,justice1 commonly called ,arminians4 ,by ,john ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 ,salop4 ,london3 ,printed by ,r4 ,hawes1 #aggg40 #abmo1 #ci pp4 ,it is needless to furnish an outline of this able pamphlet1 inasmuch as the doctrines it enforces and the doctrines it condemns are substantially the same as have been repeatedly introduced to the reader's notice4 ,there is one statement1 however1 which ,fletcher's admirers have generally overlooked1 but which proves1 beyond controversy1 that ,fletcher was1 what is now-a-days called1 a ,millenarian4 ,after dwelling on what he designates the 8four dispensations10 namely1 8,gentilism10 8,judaism10 8the ,gospel of ,john the ,baptist10 and 8the perfect ,gospel of ,christ10 which 8is ,gentilism1 ,judaism1 and the ,baptism of ,john1 arrived at their full maturity10 he proceeds to argue that 8another ,gospel dispensation0 is yet to come4 ,hence the following3-- 8,in the ,psalms1 ,prophets1 ,acts1 ,epistles1 and especially in the ,revelation1 we have a variety of promises1 that1 #8in the day of ,his' displayed #8power1' ,christ will #8come in ,his glory1 to judge among the heathen1 to wound even kings in the day of ,his wrath1 to root up the wicked1 to fill the places with their dead bodies1 to smite in sunder' antichrist1 and #8the heads over divers countries1' and to #8lift up ,his' triumphant #8head' on this very earth1 where ,he once #8bowed ,his' wounded #8head1 and gave up the ghost4' ,compare ,psalm cx4 with ,acts i4 #aa1 #b ,thess4 i4 #aj1 ,rev4 xix41 etc4 ,in that great day1 another ,gospel dispensation shall take place4 ,we have it now in prophecy1 as the ,jews had the ,gospel of ,christ's first advent2 but when ,christ shall #8come to destroy the wicked1 to be' actually #8glorified in ,his saints1 and admired in all them that believe1--in that day1' ministers of the ,gospel shall no more prophesy1 but1 speaking a plain historical truth1 they shall lift up their voices as #8the voice of many waters and mighty thunderings1 saying1 ,allelujah6 for the ,lord ,god ,omnipotent reigneth2 the marriage of the ,lamb is come2 ,his wife1 the church of the first-born1 has made herself ready2 blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection2 he reigns with ,christ a thousand years' 7,rev4 xix4 #bj74 #8,blessed are the meek1 for they do inherit the earth' 7,matt4 x4 #e74 #8,the times of refreshing are come2 and ,he has sent ,jesus ,christ1 who before was preached unto you1 whom the heavens did receive' till this solemn season2 but now are come #8the times of restitution of all things1 which ,god hath spoken by the mouth of all ,his holy prophets since the world began' 7,acts iii4 #ai1 etc47 ,may the ,lord hasten this ,gospel dispensation6 and1 till it take place1 may1 #8the ,spirit and the bride say1 ,come6'0 ,it must be granted that this is but remotely related to the ,calvinian controversy2 but1 in a ,life of ,fletcher1 it is too interesting to be omitted4 #b4 ,fletcher's second publication1 in #aggg1 was a composite one1 and embraced1 ,first1 8,bible ,arminianism and ,bible ,calvinism3 ,a two-fold ,essay1--,part the ,first displaying the doctrines of ,partial ,grace1 ,part the ,second1 those of ,impartial ,justice40 #abmo41 #hd pp4 ,secondly1 8,the ,reconciliation2 or1 an ,easy ,method to unite the professing ,people of ,god1 by placing the ,doctrines of ,grace and ,justice in such a light as to make candid ,arminians ,bible-,calvinists2 and the candid ,calvinists1 ,bible-,arminians40 #abmo1 #he pp4 ,thirdly1 to these was appended1 8,the ,plan of ,reconciliation10 the whole making a small #abmo volume of #ahg pages4 ,the pamphlets were dedicated to his friend 8,james ,ireland1 ,esq41 of ,brislington1 near ,bristol10 as follows3-- 8,,dear ,,sir1--,to whom could a plan of reconciliation between the ,calvinists and ,arminians be more properly dedicated1 than to a son of peace1 whose heart1 hand1 and house are open to ,calvinists1 ,arminians1 and neuters8 ,you kindly receive the divines who contend for the doctrines of grace2 and ,i want words to describe the ,christian courtesy which you show me and other ministers who make a stand for the doctrines of justice4 ,to you ,i am indebted for the honour of a friendly interview with the author#cij of the #8,circular ,letter1' which ,i thought myself obliged to oppose2 and1 as you succeeded in that labour of love1 it is natural for me to hope that by your influence1 and by the patronage of such candid1 generous peacemakers as the gentleman0 7,john ,thornton1 ,esq47 8to whom ,i have often compared you1 these reconciling sheets will be perused by some with more attention than if they had no name prefixed to them but that of your most obliged1 affectionate friend and servant1 ,j4 ,,fletcher4 8,,newington1 ,april #af1 #aggg40 ,footnote #cij3 ,the ,rev4 ,walter ,shirley4 ,it is a well-known fact that men like ,romaine were often the guests of ,mr4 ,ireland2 and that ,berridge1 ,venn1 and others of the same way of thinking were always welcome guests in the mansion of ,mr4 ,thornton4 ,both1 however1 were large-hearted men1 and wherever they met with undoubted piety1 whether in a ,calvinist or an ,arminian brother1 they were thankful and glad4 ,no record of the 8friendly interview0 between ,fletcher and ,walter ,shirley now exists2 but1 bearing in mind the position which ,mr4 ,shirley occupied1 there cannot be a doubt that the result of their 8interview0 would be considerable1 and in harmony with the object at which ,fletcher was now strenuously aiming4 ,the task which ,fletcher undertook was arduous1 and he knew it4 ,he writes3-- 8,some persons will urge that truth should never be sacrificed to love and peace2 that the ,calvinists and the ,arminians holding doctrines diametrically opposite1 one party1 at least1 must be totally in the wrong2 and1 as the other party ought not to be reconciled to error1 the agreement1 ,i propose1 is impossible3 it will never take place1 unless the ,calvinists can be prevailed upon to give up unconditional election1 and their favourite doctrines of partial grace2 or the ,arminians can be persuaded to part with conditional election1 and their favourite doctrines of impartial justice2 and as this is too great a sacrifice to be expected from either party1 it is in vain to attempt bringing about a reconciliation between them4 8,this objection is weighty2 but1 far from discouraging me1 it affords me an opportunity of laying before my readers the ground of the hope ,i entertain1 to reconcile the ,calvinists and the ,arminians4 ,i should1 indeed1 utterly despair of effecting it1 were ,i obliged to prove that either party is entirely in the wrong2 but ,i expect some success1 because my grand design is to demonstrate that both parties have an important truth on their side40 ,fletcher proceeds to give his own view on the ,calvinian side of the question1 as follows3-- 8,the partial election and reprobation of free grace is the gracious and wise choice which ,god1 as a sovereign and arbitrary ,benefactor1 makes or refuses to make of some persons1 churches1 cities1 and nations1 to bestow upon them1 for ,his own mercy's sake1 more favours than ,he does upon others4 ,it is the partiality with which ,he imparts ,his talents of nature1 providence1 and grace1 to ,his creatures or servants2 giving five talents to some1 two to others1 and one to others2 not only without respect to their works1 or acquired worthiness of any sort1 but frequently in opposition to all personal demerit40 ,this admirable definition of a sound doctrine is sustained by references to ,abraham1 ,isaac1 ,jacob1 ,moses1 and other ,old ,testament personages2 also to the cities of ,jerusalem1 ,chorazin1 and ,bethsaida2 to the countries of ,egypt1 ,judea1 ,syria1 and ,england1 etc4 ,then1 turning to the ,arminian side of the controversy1 ,fletcher gives the following equally correct definition3-- 8,the impartial election and reprobation of justice is the righteous and wise choice which ,god1 as an equitable and unbribed ,judge1 makes1 or refuses to make1 of some persons1 churches1 cities1 and nations1 judicially to bestow upon them1 for ,christ's sake1 gracious rewards1 according to ,his evangelical promises2 or judicially to inflict upon them1 for righteousness' sake1 condign punishments1 according to ,his reasonable threatenings40 ,this definition is also supported by a large number of ,scripture examples1 showing ,fletcher's perfect knowledge of the holy books4 ,he then writes3-- 8,rigid ,calvinists and rigid ,arminians are both in the wrong2 the former in obscuring the doctrines of impartial justice1 and the latter in clouding the doctrines of partial grace4 ,but moderate ,calvinists and candid ,arminians are very near each other1 and very near the truth2 the difference there is between them being more owing to confusion1 want of proper explanation1 and misapprehension of each other's sentiments1 than to any real1 inimical opposition to the truth1 or to one another40 ,fletcher next propounds his 8,plan of ,reconciliation40 ,first of all1 he adduces the well-known plan of union1 which ,wesley1 thirteen years before1 had ineffectually proposed to the evangelical clergymen of the ,church of ,england1 including ,romaine1 ,shirley1 ,newton1 ,venn1 and ,berridge2 after which he proceeds to observe3-- 8,i do not see why such a plan might not be1 in some degree1 admitted by all the ministers of the ,gospel1 whether they belong to or dissent from the ,establishment4 ,i would extend my brotherly love to all ,christians in general1 but more particularly to all ,protestants1 and most particularly to all the ,protestants of the ,established ,church2 but ,god forbid that ,i should exclude from my brotherly affection1 and occasional assistance1 any true minister of ,christ1 because he casts the ,gospel net among the ,presbyterians1 the ,independents1 the ,quakers1 or the ,baptists6 ,so far as they cordially aim at the conversion of sinners1 ,i will offer them the right hand of fellowship1 and communicate with them in spirit4 ,might not good men and sincere ministers form themselves into a ,society of reconcilers1 whatever be their denomination and mode of worship8 ,there is a ,society for promoting religious knowledge among the poor2 some of its members are ,churchmen and others ,dissenters2 some are ,calvinists and others ,arminians2 and yet it flourishes1 and the design of it is happily answered4 ,might not such a ,society be formed for promoting peace and love among professors8 ,is not charity preferable to knowledge8 ,there is another respectable ,society for promoting the ,christian faith among the heathen2 and why should there not be a ,society for promoting unanimity and toleration among ,christians8 ,ought not the welfare of our fellow-,christians to lie as near our hearts as that of the heathen8 8,many gentlemen1 some laymen and others clergymen1 some ,churchmen and others ,dissenters1 wanted lately to procure the repeal of our articles of religion4 ,notwithstanding the diversity of their employments1 principles1 and denominations1 they united1 wrote circular letters1 drew up petitions1 and used all their interest with men in power to bring about their design4 ,again1 some warm men thought it proper to blow up the fire of discontent in the breasts of our ,american fellow-subjects4 ,how did they go about the dangerous work8 ,with what ardour did they speak and write1 preach and print1 fast and pray1 publish manifestoes and make them circulate1 associate and strengthen their associations1 and at last venture their fortunes1 reputations1 and lives1 in the execution of their warlike project6 ,go1 ye men of peace1 and do at least half as much to carry on your friendly design4 ,associate1 pray1 preach1 and print for the furtherance of peace4 8,might not moderate ,calvinists send1 with success1 circular letters to their rigid ,calvinian brethren2 and moderate ,arminians to their rigid ,arminian brethren1 to check rashness and recommend meekness1 moderation1 and love8 ,might not the ,calvinist ministers who patronise the doctrines of grace display also the doctrines of justice1 and open their pulpits to those ,arminian ministers who do it with caution8 ,and might not the ,arminian ministers1 who patronise the doctrines of justice1 make more of the doctrines of grace1 preach as nearly as they can like the judicious ,calvinists1 admit them into their pulpits1 and rejoice at every opportunity of showing them their esteem and confidence8 ,might not such moderate ,calvinists and ,arminians as live in the same towns1 have from time to time a general sacrament1 and invite one another to it1 to cement brotherly love by publicly confessing the same ,christ1 by jointly taking ,him for their common head1 and by acknowledging one another as fellow-members of ,his mystical body8 8,the sin of the want of union with our pious ,calvinian or ,arminian brethren is attended with peculiar aggravations4 ,we are not only fellow-creatures1 but fellow-subjects1 fellow-,christians1 fellow-,protestants1 and fellow-sufferers1 in reputation at least1 for maintaining the capital doctrines of salvation by faith in ,christ1 and of regeneration by the ,spirit of ,god4 ,how absurd is it for persons1 who thus share in the reproach1 patience1 and kingdom of ,christ1 to embitter each other's comforts1 and add to the load of contempt1 which the men of the world cast upon them6 ,let ,pagans1 ,mahometans1 ,jews1 ,papists1 and ,deists do this work4 ,we may reasonably expect it from them4 ,but for such ,calvinists and ,arminians as the world lumps together under the name of ,methodists1 on account of their peculiar profession of godliness1--for such companions in tribulation to #8bite and devour' each other is highly unreasonable and peculiarly scandalous40 ,in such a spirit did the ,arminian polemic address his ,calvinian opponents4 ,the following is extracted from his concluding remarks3-- 8,god is my record how greatly ,i long after you all in the bowels of ,jesus ,christ1 in whom there is neither ,greek nor ,jew1 neither bond nor free1 neither ,calvinist nor ,arminian1 but ,christ is all in all4 ,grant me my humble1 perhaps my dying request1 reject not my plea for peace4 ,if it be not strong1 it is earnest2 for1 considering my bodily weakness1 ,i write it at the hazard of my life3 animamque in vulnere pono4 8,but why should ,i drop a hint about so insignificant a life1 when ,i can move you to accept of terms of reconciliation by the life and death1 by the resurrection and ascension1 of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,i recall the frivolous hint2 and1 by the unknown agonies of ,him whom you love1 by ,his second coming1 and by our gathering together unto ,him1 ,i beseech you1 put on1 as the ,protestant #8elect of ,god1 bowels of mercies1 kindness1 humbleness of mind1 meekness1 longsuffering1 forbearing one another1 and forgiving one another2 even as ,christ loved and forgave you1 so do ye4' ,instead of absurdly charging one another with heresy1 embrace one another1 and triumph together in ,christ4 ,bless ,god1 ye ,arminians1 for raising such men as the pious ,calvinists1 to make a firm stand against ,pharisaic delusions1 and to maintain1 with you1 the doctrine of man's fallen state1 and of ,god's partial grace1 which the ,pelagians attack with all their might4 ,and1 ye ,calvinists1 rejoice that heaven has raised you such allies as the godly ,arminians1 to oppose ,manichean delusions1 and to contend for the doctrines of holiness and justice1 which the ,antinomians seem sworn to destroy4 ,pharisaism will never yield but to the power of ,bible-,calvinism and the doctrines of grace4 ,nor can ,antinomianism be conquered without the help of ,bible-,arminianism and the doctrines of justice4 ,when ,pharisaism and ,antinomianism shall be destroyed1 the ,church will be sanctified1 and ready to be presented to ,christ a glorious ,church1 #8not having spot1 or wrinkle1 or any such thing4' ,then shall we sing with truth what we now sing without propriety1-- 8#8,love1 like death1 has all destroy'd1 ,render'd all distinctions void2 ,names1 and sects1 and parties fall1 ,thou1 ,o ,christ1 art all in all4'0 ,nothing more need be said respecting ,fletcher's praiseworthy effort to put an end to the contentions then so rampant4 ,no doubt1 his object1 to some extent1 was realized2 but1 for many a long year afterwards1 not a few of the ,calvinists and ,arminians bore a striking resemblance to the ancient ,jews and ,samaritans4 ,they worshipped the same ,god1 but did not love each other4 ,fletcher spent four months1 from ,december #af1 #aggf1 to ,april #af1 #aggg1 in the hospitable home of his ,methodist friends1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,charles ,greenwood1 at ,stoke ,newington2 and never did he forget their remarkable kindness to him4 ,here he wrote a long pastoral letter to his parishioners on ,december #bh1 #aggf2 and1 sixteen days afterwards1 another1 from which the following extracts are taken3-- 8,,newington1 ,january #ac1 #aggg4 8,,my ,,dear ,,companions ,,in ,,tribulation1--,all the children of ,god ,i love2 but1 of all the children of ,god1 none have so great a right to my love as you4 ,your stated or occasional attendance on my poor ministry1 as well as the bonds of neighbourhood1 and the many happy hours ,i have spent with you before the throne of grace1 endear you peculiarly to me4 8,with tears of grateful joy1 ,i recollect the awful moments when we have bound ourselves to stand to our baptismal vow3 to renounce all sin1 to believe all the articles of the ,christian faith1 and to keep ,god's commandments to the end of our life4 ,asking pardon of ,god for not keeping that vow better1 ,i determine1 with new courage and delight1 to love our ,covenant ,god1#cia ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 with all my mind1 heart1 and strength2 with all the powers of my understanding1 will1 and affections4 8,in my weak state of health1 ,i find much comfort from my relation to my ,covenant ,god3 ,i mean 7#a7 ,my clear1 explicit knowledge of the ,father as my ,creator and ,father2 who so loved the world1 you and me1 as to give ,his only-begotten ,son1 that we should not perish1 but have everlasting life4 7#b7 ,i mean my relation to the adorable ,person1 who1 with the strength of ,his ,godhead1 and the strength of ,his pure manhood1 took away my sin4 ,o how my soul exults in that dear ,mediator6 ,o the comfort of cleaving to ,christ by faith1 and of finding ,christ is our all in all6 8,i sometimes feel a desire of being buried where you are buried1 and of having my bones lie in a common earthen bed with yours2 but ,i soon resign that wish1 and exult in thinking that1 whatever distance there may be between our graves1 we can now bury our sins1 cares1 doubts1 and fears1 in the one grave of our divine ,saviour4 ,if ,i1 your poor unworthy shepherd1 am smitten1 be not scattered2 but rather be more closely gathered unto ,christ1 and keep near each other in faith and love1 till you all receive our second ,comforter and ,advocate1 the ,holy ,ghost1 the third ,person in our ,covenant ,god4 ,he is with you2 but1 if you plead the promise of the ,father1 #8which1' says ,christ1 #8you have heard of me1 ,he will be in you4' ,he will fill your souls with ,his light1 love1 and glory1 according to that verse1 which we have so often sung together1-- 8#8,refining fire1 go through my heart1 ,illuminate my soul1 ,scatter thy life through every part1 ,and sanctify the whole4' 8,this indwelling of the ,comforter perfects the mystery of sanctification in the believer's soul4 ,this is the highest blessing of the ,christian covenant on earth4 ,rejoicing in ,god our ,creator1 in ,god our ,redeemer1 let us look for the full comfort of ,god our ,sanctifier4 ,so shall we live and die in the faith1 going on from faith to faith1 from strength to strength1 from comfort to comfort1 till ,christ is all in all to us all4 8,i earnestly recommend to you my dear brother ,greaves4 ,show him all the love you have shown to me1 and1 if possible1 show him more1 who is so much more deserving40#cib ,footnote #cia3 ,wesley had held1 in ,london1 the usual 8,covenant ,service10 on ,wednesday1 ,january #ast4 ,probably1 ,fletcher had attended it1 and1 perhaps1 taken part in it4 ,footnote #cib3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #cj4 ,the letter from which these extracts are taken was forwarded to the care of ,mr4 ,wase1 who1 probably1 was a ,methodist ,local ,preacher4 ,mr4 ,wase wished to be employed by the ,church of ,england in ,america4 ,fletcher disapproved of this4 ,hence the following to ,mr4 ,wase1 written on the same day as the pastoral letter to the parishioners of ,madeley4 ,in fact1 the pastoral letter was appended to it4 8,,newington1 ,january #ac1 #aggg4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,i am two letters in your debt4 ,i would have answered them before now1 but1 venturing to ride out in the frost1 the air was too sharp for my weak lungs1 and opened my wounds1 which has thrown me back again4 8,i am glad to see1 by your last1 that you take up your shield again4 ,you will never prove a gainer by casting it away4 ,voluntary humility1 despondency1 or even a defeat1 should never make you give up your confidence4 8,take no hasty steps about removing4 ,your family and estate seem to me to tie you where you are1 unless you have a very striking call to remove4 ,you must not be above being employed in a little way4 ,the great ,mr4 ,grimshaw0 7of ,haworth7 8was not above walking some miles to preach to seven or eight persons2 and what are we when compared to him8 ,our neighbours will want you more when ,mr4 ,greaves and ,i are gone4 ,in the meantime1 grow in meek1 humble1 patient1 and resigned love2 and your temper1 person1 and labours will be more acceptable to all around you4 ,i saw last week a gentleman from ,america1 who said1 all the church-livings there are in the gift of the ,governor2 and those who get them are brought up at the ,american ,colleges1 and come over for ordination to the ,bishop of ,london4 ,supposing the peace were made1 and missionaries were wanted1 you might be employed in ,america2 but of the latter ,i see little prospect2 and you need not seek trials beyond the seas1 seeing yours at home are as much as you can stand under4 8,i have many things to say to you about your soul2 but you will find the substance of them in two of ,mr4 ,wesley's sermons1 the one entitled1 #8,the ,devices of ,satan1' and the other1 #8,the ,repentance of ,believers4' ,i wish you would read one of them every day1 till you have reaped all the benefit that can be got from them4 ,nor eat your morsel alone1 but let all be benefited by the contents4 8,when you meet with our serious friends at ,broseley1 ,madeley1 ,madeley ,wood1 the ,dale1 ,dawley-,green1 ,wheater1 ,aston1 ,sheriff-,hales1 and the two ,banks1 give my kindest love to them1 and read them the following scrawl4#cic 8,my kind love to ,mrs4 ,wase1 and all your and my friends by name4 ,thank ,michael ,onions1 and ,i4 ,owen2 ,i shall answer their letters when ,i can1 if ,god spare me4 8,your affectionate brother1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#cid ,footnote #cic3 ,the ,pastoral letter already mentioned4 ,the places here named were1 probably1 ,fletcher's ,methodist ,circuit1 in each of which ,methodist ,societies had been formed4 ,footnote #cid3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bc2 and ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahdf1 p4 #ada4 ,the good 8,archbishop of ,methodism10 the ,rev4 ,vincent ,perronet1 ,vicar of ,shoreham1 ,kent1 and his noble daughter1 invited ,fletcher to visit them2 to whom ,fletcher replied in the two following letters3-- 8,,newington1 ,january #ai1 #aggg4 8,,dear ,,father ,,in ,,christ1--,i beg you to accept my multiplied thanks for your repeated favours4 ,you have twice entertained me1 a worthless stranger2 and1 not yet tired of the burden1 you again kindly invite me to share in the comforts of your house and family4 ,kind ,providence leaves me no room1 at present1 to hang a third burden upon you4 ,the good air and accommodations here1 and the nearness to a variety of helps1 joined to the kindness of my friends and the weakness of my body1 forbid me to remove at present4 ,god reward your labour of love and fatherly offers6 ,should the ,lord raise me up1 ,i shall be better able to reap the benefit of your instructions1 a pleasure which ,i promise myself some time1 if the ,lord pleases4 8,i have of late thought much upon a method of reconciling the ,calvinists and ,arminians4 ,i have seen some ,calvinian ministers1 who seem inclined to a plan of pacification4 ,i wish ,i had strength enough to draw the sketch of it for you4 ,i think the thing is by no means impracticable1 if we would but look one another in the face1 and pull together at the feet of ,him #8who makes men to be of one mind in a house1' and who once made all believers to be of one soul in the ,church4 ,let us pray1 hope1 wait1 and be ready to promote the blessing of reconciliation2 in which none could be more glad to second you1 than1 honoured and dear ,sir1 your affectionate1 obliged son in the ,gospel1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#cie ,footnote #cie3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bci4 ,in another letter1 soon to be introduced1 it will be seen that1 among the 8,calvinian ministers10 whom ,fletcher had seen1 were the ,rev4 ,walter ,shirley1 the ,rev4 ,rowland ,hill1 and the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,peckwell4 ,in his letter to ,miss ,perronet1 ,fletcher dwells upon the great truth which then filled his mind and heart1 and which was the chief topic of his conversation with his friends1--the mission of the ,spirit1 and ,his sanctifying work4 ,it was written on the same day as the letter to her father3-- 8,,newington1 ,january #ai1 #aggg4 8,,dear ,,madam1--,i thank you for your care and kind nursing of me when at ,shoreham2 and1 especially1 for the few lines with which you have favoured me4 ,they are so much the more agreeable to me1 as they treat of the one thing needful for the recovery of our souls1--#8the spirit of power1 of love1 and of a sound mind2' together with our need of it1 and the grand promise that this need shall be abundantly supplied1--supplied by an outpouring of that #8,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus1 which makes us free from the law of sin and death4' ,may we hunger and thirst after righteousness in the ,holy ,ghost1 and we shall be filled6 ,may we so come to our first ,paraclete1 ,advocate1 and ,comforter1 as to receive the ,second1 as an indwelling and overflowing fountain of light1 life1 and love6 8,i trust my view of this mystery is scriptural4 ,the ,father so loved the world as to give us the first ,advocate1 ,paraclete1 and ,comforter1 whom we love and receive as our ,redeemer4 ,the first ,advocate has told us1 it was expedient that ,he should leave us1 because1 in that case1 ,he would send another ,advocate1 ,paraclete1 or ,comforter1 to abide with us1 and be in us for ever1 as our ,sanctifier1 our ,urim and ,thummim1 our lights and perfections1 our oracle and guide4 ,this is the grand promise to ,christians1--called the promise of the ,father1 and brought by the ,son4 ,o may it be sealed on our hearts by the ,spirit of promise6 ,may we ever cry-- 8#8,seal thou our breasts1 and let us wear ,that pledge of love for ever there6' 8,then shall we be filled with pure1 perfect love2 for the love of the ,spirit perfects that of the ,father and ,son1 and accomplishes the mystery of ,god in the believing soul4 8,come then1 let us look for it2 this great salvation draws nigh4 ,let us thank ,god more thankfully1 more joyfully1 more humbly1 more penitently1 for ,christ our first ,comforter2 and1 hanging on ,his word1 let us ardently pray for the fulness of ,his ,spirit1--for the indwelling of our second ,comforter1 who will lead us into all truth1 all love1 all power4 ,let us join the few who besiege the throne of grace1 and not cease putting the ,lord in remembrance1 till ,he has again raised ,himself a ,pentecostal ,church in the earth1--,i mean a church of such believers as are all of one heart and one soul40#cif ,footnote #cif3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bdj4 ,fletcher's friends were most ardently attached to him2 and no wonder that they were4 ,the man seemed to be an incarnation of humble1 loving piety4 ,all1 in his serious illness1 were eager to help him4 ,ten days after the date of his letters to ,mr4 and ,miss ,perronet1 he wrote1 as follows1 to ,mr4 ,ireland3-- 8,,newington1 ,january #bi1 #aggg4 8,thanks be to ,god1 and to my dear friend1 for favours upon favours1 for undeserved love and the most endearing tokens of it6 8,i have received your obliging letters1 full of kind offers2 and your jar1 full of excellent grapes4 ,may ,god open to you the book of life1 and seal upon your heart all the offers and promises it contains6 ,may the treasures of ,christ's love1 and all the fruits of the ,spirit1 be open to my dear friend1 and unwearied benefactor6 8,last ,sunday1 ,providence sent me ,dr4 ,turner1 who1 under ,god1 saved my life1 twenty-three years ago1 in a dangerous illness2 and ,i am inclined to try what his method will do4 ,he orders me asses' milk1 chicken1 etc42 forbids me riding1 and recommends the greatest quietness4 ,he prohibits the use of ,bristol water2 advises some water of a purgative nature2 and tries to promote expectoration by a method that so far answers1 though ,i spit by it more blood than before4 8,with respect to my soul1 ,i find it good to be in the balance1--awfully weighed every day for life or death4 ,i thank ,god1 the latter has lost its sting1 and endears to me the ,prince of ,life4 ,but ,o6 ,i want ,christ1 my resurrection1 to be a thousand times more dear to me2 and ,i doubt not ,he will be so1 when ,i am filled with the ,spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of ,him4 ,let us wait for that glory1 praising ,god for all we have received1 and trusting ,him for all we have not yet received4 ,let our faith do justice to ,his veracity2 our hope to ,his goodness2 and our love to all ,his perfections4 ,it is good to trust in the ,lord2 and ,his saints like well to hope in ,him4 8,i am provided here with every necessary and convenient blessing for my state4 ,the great have done me the honour of calling1--,mr4 ,shirley1 ,mr4 ,rowland ,hill1 ,mr4 ,peckwell1 etc4#cig ,i exhort them to promote peace in the ,church1 which they take kindly4 ,lady ,huntingdon also has written me a kind letter4 ,this world to me is now become a world of love40#cih ,footnote #cig3 ,berridge1 of ,everton1 also came to ,fletcher at ,stoke ,newington4 8,they met and parted in the spirit of ,christian love2 and ,i believe saw each other no more in the body40 7,the ,works of the ,rev4 ,john ,berridge1 ,a4,m42 with a ,memoir of his ,life1 by ,rev4 ,r4 ,whittingham1 p4 #fc47 ,another1 who visited him1 was ,dr4 ,price1 who1 afterwards1 said1 8,i was introduced to the company of a man1 whose air and countenance bespoke him fitted rather for the society of angels1 than for the conversation of men40 7,cox's 8,life of ,fletcher10 p4 #aad47 ,footnote #cih3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bdb4 ,madeley was the centre of a kind of ,methodist circuit1 which1 however1 had no ,methodist meeting-house4 ,services were held in cottages2 chapels did not exist4 ,in the midst of his affliction1 ,fletcher and his friends projected the building of one in ,madeley ,wood4#cii ,as will be seen in subsequent letters1 the execution of the scheme brought upon him considerable anxiety4 ,robert ,palmer was the builder1 and the entire cost was #bif #ags4 #e;d41 including #a #ds4 #b;d4 8paid for drink for the men with the teams10 and #c #abs4 paid for 8sixteen stones of malt1 for drink for the workmen40#djj ,the following letter1 addressed to ,mr4 ,wase1 refers to this humble edifice3-- 8,,newington1 ,february #ah1 #aggg4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,my dear friend ,ireland brought me1 last week1 ,sir ,john ,elliott1 who is esteemed the greatest physician in ,london1 in consumptive cases4 ,he gave hopes of my recovery1 upon using proper diet and means4 ,i was bled yesterday for the third time4 ,i calmly leave all to ,god1 and use the means without trusting in them4 ,death has lost its sting4 ,i know not what hurry of spirit is1 or unbelieving fears1 under my most terrifying symptoms4 ,glory be to ,god1 for this unspeakable mercy6 ,help me to praise ,him for it4 8,with respect to our intended room1 ,i beg ,mr4 ,palmer1 ,mr4 ,lloyd1 and yourself to consult about it1 and that ,mr4 ,palmer would contract for the whole4 ,i shall contribute #ajj1 including #aj ,i have had for it from ,mr4 ,ireland1 and #aj from ,mr4 ,thornton40#dja ,footnote #cii3 ,the chapel was enlarged a short time before ,fletcher's death in #aghe4 ,on the morning of the day when his friends began to hew the stones for the enlargement1 he went to the quarry1 and said1 8,first of all1 let us pray40 ,the workers knelt upon the rock2 ,fletcher prayed in a way that few besides himself could pray2 and then1 till duty called him elsewhere1 assisted in shaping the stones for the extension of the building4 7,crowther's 8,portraiture of ,methodism10 p4 #if47 ,footnote #djj3 ,,ms4 in ,fletcher's own handwriting4 ,footnote #dja3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bd4 ,in other ways1 ,fletcher evinced his profound interest in the welfare of his ,madeley friends4 ,mr4 ,greaves occupied his pulpit1 and preached1 with great acceptance1 to his parishioners2 but ,mr4 ,greaves was not a priest1 and1 therefore1 was not qualified to administer the holy sacraments4 ,to meet the case1 ,fletcher wrote as follows to the ,bishop of ,hereford3-- 8,,stoke ,,newington1 ,march #bb1 #aggg4 8,my ,,lord1--,it is near a year since ,i was taken ill with a cough1 spitting of blood1 and hectic fever4 ,this complication of disorders obliged me to go to ,bristol last summer1 for the benefit of the waters2 and it now detains me here1 where ,i stay on account of the greater mildness of the climate1 and the help ,i can have from the ,london physicians1 who1 as well as those of ,bristol1 absolutely forbid me doing duty4 8,it is with great difficulty that ,i have got my church properly served4 ,my chief assistant has been ,mr4 ,greaves1 a young clergyman of the next diocese1 who is only in deacon's orders1 and who1 considering my weak state of health1 has kindly left his curacy to oblige and help me4 ,i give him a title1 and do humbly recommend him to your lordship1 begging you would admit him to the holy order of priest2 without which he cannot properly supply my church1 my parishioners having always been used to a monthly sacrament1 and dying people1 in so populous a part of the diocese1 frequently wanting to have the ordinance administered to them4 8,i am sorry to be obliged to trouble your lordship on this occasion2 but hope1 my lord1 you will not deny me a favour which few clergymen in your lordship's diocese can want as much as your lordship's dutiful son and obedient servant1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#djb ,footnote #djb3 ,unpublished ,,ms4 ,with this letter1 ,fletcher sent the following certificate3-- 8,to the ,right ,reverend ,father in ,god1 ,james ,lord ,bishop of ,hereford4 8,these are to certify to your lordship that ,i1 ,john ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 in the county of ,salop and your lordship's diocese of ,hereford1 do hereby nominate and appoint ,alexander ,benjamin ,greaves1 late ,curate of ,glossop1 in ,derbyshire1 to perform the office of a ,curate in my church of ,madeley aforesaid2 and do promise to allow him the yearly sum of #db for his maintenance in the same2 and to continue him to officiate in my said church until he shall be otherwise provided of some ecclesiastical preferment1 unless1 by fault by him committed1 he shall be lawfully removed from the same4 ,and ,i hereby solemnly declare that ,i do not fraudulently give this certificate to entitle the said ,alexander ,benjamin ,greaves to receive ,holy ,orders1 but with a real intention to employ him in my said church1 according to what is before expressed4 8,witness my hand this twenty-second day of ,march1 in the year of our ,lord #aggg1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#djc ,footnote #djc3 ,ibid4 ,the ,perronet family at ,shoreham dearly loved poor ,fletcher4 ,he had been their guest1 and they had seen his spirit4 ,damaris ,perronet was occasionally one of his correspondents2 and ,william ,perronet was now his loving medical attendant4 ,the saintly ,charles ,perronet had died in the month of ,august1 #aggf1 but was most tenderly remembered by all who knew him4 ,to ,miss ,perronet1 ,fletcher now wrote as follows3-- 8,,newington1 ,april #ba1 #aggg4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,a thousand thanks to you for your kind1 comfortable lines4 ,the prospect of going to see ,jesus and ,his glorified members1 and among them your dear departed brother1 my now everliving friend1 is enough to make me quietly and joyfully submit to leave all my ,shoreham friends1 and all the excellent ones of the earth4 ,but why do ,i talk of leaving any of ,christ's members by going to be more intimately united to the ,head8 8#8,we all are one who ,him receive1 ,and each with each agree2 ,in ,him the ,one1 the truth we live1 ,blest point of unity6' 8,a point this which fills heaven and earth1 which runs through time and eternity4 ,in it sickness is lost in health1 and death in life4 ,there let us ever meet4 8,i cannot tell you how much ,i am obliged to your dear brother for all his kind brotherly attendance as a physician4 ,he has given me his time1 his long walks1 his remedies4 ,he has brought me ,dr4 ,turner several times1 and will not allow me to reimburse his expenses4 ,help me to thank him for all his profusion of love1 for ,i cannot sufficiently do it myself4 8,my duty to your father2 ,i throw myself in spirit at his feet and ask his blessing1 and an interest in his prayers4 ,tell him that the ,lord is gracious to me2 does not suffer the enemy to disturb my peace2 and gives me1 in prospect1 the victory over death4 ,absolute resignation to the ,divine will baffles a thousand temptations1 and confidence in our ,saviour carries us sweetly through a thousand trials40#djd ,footnote #djd3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bdf4 ,the time of ,fletcher's happy sojourn with ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,greenwood at ,stoke ,newington was now ended4 ,one of the family wrote3-- 8,when he first came1 he was1 by ,dr4 ,fothergill's advice1 under the strictest observance of two things--rest and silence4 ,these1 together with a milk diet1 were supposed to be the only probable means of his recovery4 ,in consequence of these directions1 he spoke exceeding little4 ,if ever he spoke more than usual1 it did not fail to increase his spitting of blood1 of which indeed he was seldom quite clear1 although it was not violent4 ,therefore1 a great part of his time was spent in being read to2 but it was not possible to restrain him altogether from speaking4 ,his natural vivacity1 with his intense love of ,jesus1 impelled him to speak2 but on being reminded of his rule1 with a cheerful smile he was all submission1 consenting by signs only to stir up those about him to pray and praise4 ,those who had the privilege of observing his spirit and conduct1 will not scruple to say that he was a living comment on his own account of ,christian perfection4 ,when he was able to converse1 his favourite subject was1 the promise of the ,father1 the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 including the rich peculiar blessing of union with the ,father and the ,son1 mentioned in the prayer of our ,lord1 recorded in ,john xvii4 #8,we must not be content1' said he1 #8to be only cleansed from sin2 we must be filled with the ,spirit4' ,one asking him1 ,what was to be experienced in the full accomplishment of the promise of the ,father8 #8,o1' said he1 #8what shall ,i say8 ,all the sweetness of the drawings of the ,father1 all the love of the ,son1 all the rich effusions of peace and joy in the ,holy ,ghost1 more than ever can be expressed are comprehended here6 ,to attain it1 the ,spirit maketh intercession in the soul1 like a ,god wrestling with a ,god4' 8,in some of these favoured moments of converse1 he mentioned several circumstances1 which1 as none knew them but himself1 would otherwise have been buried in oblivion4 #8,in the beginning1' said he1 #8of my spiritual course1 ,i heard the voice of ,god in an articulate1 but inexpressibly awful sound1 go through my soul in those words1 ,if any man will be ,my disciple1 let him deny himself4 ,at a later date1 ,i was favoured1 like ,moses1 with a supernatural discovery of the glory of ,god1 in an ineffable converse with ,him1 face to face2 so that whether ,i was then in the body1 or out of the body1 ,i cannot tell4' 8,on another occasion he said1 #8,about the time of my entering into the ministry1 ,i one evening wandered into a wood1 musing on the importance of the office ,i was going to undertake4 ,i then began to pour out my soul in prayer2 when such a sense of the justice of ,god fell upon me1 and such a sense of ,his displeasure at sin1 as absorbed all my powers1 and filled me with the agony of prayer for poor lost sinners4 ,i continued therein till the dawn of day2 and ,i considered this as designed of ,god1 to impress upon me more deeply the meaning of those solemn words1 ,therefore1 knowing the terrors of the ,lord1 we persuade men4' 8,one end of his retiring to ,newington was that he might hide himself from company2 but this design was in nowise answered1 for company came from every side4 ,he was continually visited by high and low1 and by persons of various denominations2 one of whom being asked1 when he went away1 what he thought of ,mr4 ,fletcher1 said1 #8,i went to see a man who had one foot in the grave2 but ,i found a man who had one foot in heaven4' ,among them who now visited him were several of his beloved and honoured opponents1 to whom he confirmed his love by the most respectful and affectionate behaviour2 but he did not give up any part of the truth for which he had publicly contended2 although some1 from whom one would have expected better things1 did not scruple to affirm the contrary4 8,it was not without some difficulty that ,mr4 ,ireland prevailed upon him to sit for his picture4 ,while the limner was drawing the outlines of it he was exhorting both him and all that were in the room not only to get the outlines drawn1 but the colourings also of the image of ,jesus on their hearts4 ,he had a very remarkable facility in making allusions of this kind4 ,to give an instance4 ,being ordered to be let blood1 while his blood was running into the cup he took occasion to expatiate on the precious blood-shedding of the ,lamb of ,god4 ,and even when he did not speak at all1 the seraphic spirit which beamed from his languid face1 during those months of pain and weakness1 was-- 8#8,a lecture silent1 yet of sovereign use4'0 ,to this interesting account1 probably written by ,mr4 ,greenwood himself1 ,wesley adds3-- 8,it is necessary to be observed that this facility of raising useful observations from the most trifling incidents1 was one of those peculiarities in ,mr4 ,fletcher which cannot be proposed to our imitation4 ,in him1 it partly resulted from nature1 and was partly a supernatural gift4 ,but what was becoming and graceful in ,mr4 ,fletcher1 would be disgustful almost in any other40#dje ,footnote #dje3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,in the month of ,may1 #aggg1 ,fletcher left the hospitable home of ,mr4 ,greenwood1 at ,stoke ,newington1 and went to his kind friend ,mr4 ,ireland1 at ,brislington1 near ,bristol4 ,in a letter dated 8,may #bh1 #aggg10 and addressed to his 8very dear friends and benefactors ,charles and ,mary ,greenwood10 he wrote3-- 8,i thought myself a little better last ,sunday1 but ,i have since spit more blood than ,i had done for weeks before4 ,glory be to ,god for every providence6 ,his will be done in me by health or sickness1 by life or death6 ,all from ,him is1 and ,i trust will always be1 welcome to your obliged pensioner1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#djf ,footnote #djf3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bdh4 ,to ,michael ,onions1 one of the poor ,methodists at ,coalbrookdale1 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,,bath1 ,july #h1 #aggg4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,i heartily thank you for your kind letter2 and1 by you1 ,i desire to give my best thanks to the dear companions in tribulation whom you meet1 and who so kindly remember me4 ,if ,i should be spared to minister to you again1 my desire is to do it with more humility1 zeal1 diligence1 and love4 ,i hope to see you before the summer is ended1 if it please ,god to give me strength for the journey4 ,i am1 in some respects1 better than when ,i came here1 and was enabled to bury a corpse last ,sunday to oblige the minister of the parish2 but1 whether occasioned by that little exertion or something else1 bad symptoms have returned since4 ,be that as it may1 all is well2 for ,he1 who does all things well1 rules and over-rules all4 8,i have stood the heats we have had these two days better than ,i expected4 ,i desire you will help me to bless the ,author of all good for this and every other blessing of this life2 but above all for the lively hope of the next1 and for ,christ1 our common hope1 peace1 joy1 wisdom1 righteousness1 salvation1 and all4 ,don't let me want the reviving cordial of hearing that you stand together firm in the faith4 ,look much at ,jesus4 ,be much in private prayer4 ,forsake not the assembling of yourselves together in little companies1 as well as in public4 ,walk in the sight of death and eternity1 and ever pray for your affectionate1 but unworthy minister1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#djg 8,p4,s4--,let none of your little companies want4 ,if any do1 you are welcome to my house4 ,take any part of the furniture there1 and make use of it for their relief4 ,and this shall be your full title for so doing1 8,witness my hand1 ,,john ,,fletcher40#djh ,footnote #djg3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bf4 ,footnote #djh3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,at this time1 the ,rev4 ,henry ,venn was preaching in the chapel of the ,countess of ,huntingdon at ,bath2 and ,fletcher attended his ministry4 ,her ladyship wrote3-- 8,dear ,mr4 ,venn has been preaching most successfully at ,bath to overflowing congregations4 ,captain ,scott and ,mr4 ,fletcher have been there1 and heard him preach in the chapel4 ,the latter is far gone in a consumptive disorder1 but is alive to ,god1 and ripening fast for glory4 ,we have exchanged several letters lately4 ,as a last resource1 he is to accompany ,mr4 ,ireland to the south of ,france40#dji ,footnote #dji3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 ii41 p4 #ga4 ,when ,mr4 ,venn had completed his services at ,bath1 he removed to the house of ,mr4 ,ireland1 at ,brislington1 where ,fletcher was an honoured guest4 ,speaking of this visit1 after ,fletcher's death1 to a brother clergyman1 ,venn remarked3-- 8,sir1 ,mr4 ,fletcher was a luminary--a luminary did ,i say8 ,he was a sun6 ,i have known all the great men for these fifty years1 but ,i have known none like him4 ,i was intimately acquainted with him1 and was under the same roof with him once for six weeks2 during which time ,i never heard him say a single word which was not proper to be spoken1 and which had not a tendency to minister grace to the hearers4 ,one time1 meeting him when he was very ill1 ,i said1 #8,i am sorry to find you so ill4' ,mr4 ,fletcher answered1 with the greatest sweetness1 #8,sorry1 ,sir1 why are you sorry8 ,it is the chastisement of our heavenly ,father1 and ,i rejoice in it4 ,i love the rod of my ,god1 and rejoice therein as an expression of ,his love towards me4' ,never10 continued ,mr4 ,venn1 8did ,i hear ,mr4 ,fletcher speak ill of any one4 ,he would pray for those who walked disorderly1 but he would not publish their faults40#daj ,footnote #daj3 8,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 ii41 p4 #gb4 ,in a letter to the ,rev4 ,j4 ,stillingfleet1 ,mr4 ,venn remarked3-- 8,i have been six weeks with the extraordinary and very excellent ,mr4 ,fletcher4 ,oh that ,i might be like him6 ,i strictly observed him1 but1 ,i assure you1 ,i never heard him speak anything but what was becoming a pastor of ,christ's ,church2--not a single unbecoming word of himself1 or of his antagonists1 or of his friends4 ,all his conversation tended to excite to greater love and thankfulness1 for the benefits of redemption2 whilst his whole deportment breathed humility and love4 ,we had many conversations4 ,i told him1 most freely1 that ,i was shocked at many things in his #8,checks2' and pointed them out to him4 ,we widely differ about the efficacy of ,christ's death1 the nature of justification1 and the perfection of the saints2 but ,i believe we could live years together1 as we did1 in great love4 ,he heard me twice2 and ,i was chaplain both morning and evening in the family1 as his lungs would not suffer him to speak long or loud4 ,he desired his love1 by me1 to all his ,calvinistic brethren2 and begged their pardon for the asperity with which he had written4 ,i am persuaded1 as ,i told him1 that1 if he were to live with some of those whom he has been taught to conceive of as ,antinomians1 and hear them preach1 he would be much more reconciled to them40#daa ,footnote #daa3 8,life of ,rev4 ,henry ,venn1 ,m4,a410 p4 #bdj4 ,mr4 ,venn's last remarks were quite unneeded1 for ,fletcher always readily allowed that the hearts and lives of his opponents were far better than their creed4 ,at the close of the month of ,july1 ,wesley came to ,bristol1 to hold his annual conference with his preachers1 and wrote3-- 8,wednesday1 ,july #cj4 ,i spent an hour or two with ,mr4 ,fletcher1 restored to life in answer to many prayers4 ,how many providential ends have been answered by his illness6 ,and perhaps still greater will be answered by his recovery40#dab ,footnote #dab3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,the 8providential ends0 meant by ,wesley were1 probably1 the steps taken by ,fletcher to bring to an end the ,calvinian controversy1 which had so greatly disturbed the ,methodist movement during the last six years4 ,wesley's conference began on ,tuesday1 ,august #e1 and ended on ,friday1 ,august #h4dac ,it was short1 but important4 ,its most interesting event1 however1 was the attendance of ,fletcher4 ,thomas ,taylor remarked1 in his unpublished diary1-- 8,on ,august #g1 that great and good man ,mr4 ,fletcher came into the conference4 ,my eyes flowed with tears at the sight of him4 ,he spoke to us in a very respectful manner1 and took a solemn farewell4 ,dear1 good man6 ,i never saw so many tears shed in my life40 ,footnote #dac3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,fletcher's valued friend1 ,joseph ,benson1 wrote3-- 8,august #h4 ,we have had an edifying conference4 ,mr4 ,fletcher's visit to-day and yesterday has been attended with a blessing4 ,his appearance1 his exhortations1 and his prayers1 broke most of our hearts1 and filled us with shame and self-abasement1 for our little improvement40#dad ,footnote #dad3 ,macdonald's 8,life of ,benson10 p4 #fb4 ,in his 8,life of ,fletcher10 ,benson says3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher happened to be passing by the door of the stable1 belonging to our chapel in ,broadmead1 when ,i was lighting from my horse1 #8on my arrival in ,bristol4' ,i shall never forget with what a heavenly air1 and sweet countenance1 he instantly came to me in the stable1 and1 in a most solemn manner1 put his hands upon my head1 as if he had been ordaining me for the sacred office of the ministry1 and prayed most fervently for and blessed me in the name of the ,lord40 ,by far the best account1 however1 of ,fletcher in connection with the ,bristol ,conference1 was written1 not by one of ,wesley's sturdy ,itinerants1 but by a young ,welshman1 who was present1 for the purpose of offering himself for the ,itinerant work4 ,on account of his delicate health and feeble voice1 the offer of ,david ,lloyd was not accepted2 but1 some years afterwards1 he was ordained by ,bishop ,horsley1 who gave him the living of ,llanbister1 which1 even now1 is not worth more than #aej a year4 ,the parsonage was a plain stone building1 the door of which opened into the main room of the house1--its floor consisting of stone slabs1 its fireplace wide1 with benches in the corners1 and the fire on the hearth made principally of turf4 ,on the same floor was another apartment1 which served as kitchen1 and above were two humble bed-rooms4 8,such10 wrote the late ,rev4 ,james ,dixon1 ,d4,d41 who1 at the commencement of his ministry1 was often the delighted guest of ,mr4 ,lloyd1--8,such was the residence of a philosopher1 a poet1 and a divine1 who seemed to enjoy1 with unmixed contentment1 the inheritance given him by ,providence40 ,mr4 ,lloyd's wife was a good old ,methodist2 their house was the home of ,methodist itinerant preachers2 out of his small income1 ,mr4 ,lloyd subscribed #aj a year to the ,methodist and ,church ,missionary ,societies2 presented to each a donation of #ejj2 by his will1 directed that the residue of his property should be equally divided between these two ,societies2 and built a ,methodist chapel in his parish1 secured it to the ,connexion by deed1 and gave to it an endowment1 8that ,methodist preaching10 as he said1 8might continue in the parish as long as water should run40#dae ,footnote #dae3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine4 ,sixpenny ,edition1 #ahfc1 pp4 #a-h4 ,this remarkable man1 for whom ,dr4 ,dixon had the highest admiration1 wrote as follows to the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,adam ,clarke3-- 8,,llanbister1 ,,near ,,knighton1 ,,radnorshire1 8,november #g1 #ahba4 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,at the conference of the ,methodist preachers1 held at ,bristol in the year #aggg1 an interview took place between the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley and the ,rev4 ,john ,fletcher1 of ,madeley4 ,i was both an eye- and ear-witness to the facts ,i here relate4 ,the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,fletcher had for a long time laboured under the effects of a deep-rooted consumption1 which was then adjudged to be rapidly advancing to its final crisis4 ,he was advised by the faculty to make the tour of the ,continent1 and to breathe his native air4 ,he resided1 at that time1 with ,mr4 ,ireland1 a gentleman of known celebrity for the exercise of catholic love towards all such as possessed the essential attributes of great and good men4 ,on the forenoon of a day1 when the sitting of the ,conference was drawing to a close1 tidings announced the approach of ,mr4 ,fletcher4 ,as he entered the vestibule of the ,new ,room1 supported by ,mr4 ,ireland1 ,i can never forget the visible impulse of esteem which his venerable presence excited in the house4 ,the whole assembly stood up1 as if moved by an electric shock4 ,mr4 ,wesley rose1 ex cathedr1 and advanced a few paces to receive his highly respected friend and reverend brother1 whose visage seemed strongly to bode that he stood on the verge of the grave2 while his eyes1 sparkling with seraphic love1 indicated that he dwelt in the suburbs of heaven4 ,in this his languid but happy state1 he addressed the ,conference1 on their work and his own views1 in a strain of holy and pathetic eloquence1 which no language of mine can adequately express4 ,the influence of his spirit and pathos seemed to bear down all before it4 ,i never saw such an instantaneous effect produced in a religious assembly1 either before or since4 ,he had scarcely pronounced a dozen sentences before a hundred preachers1 to speak in round numbers1 were immersed in tears4 ,time can never efface from my mind the recollection and image of what ,i then felt and saw4 ,such a scene ,i never expect to witness again on this side eternity4 ,mr4 ,wesley1 in order to relieve his languid friend from the fatigue and injury which might arise from a too long and arduous exertion of the lungs through much speaking1 abruptly kneeled down at his side1 the whole congress of preachers doing the same1 while1 in a concise and energetic manner1 he prayed for ,mr4 ,fletcher's restoration to health and a longer exercise of his ministerial labours4 ,mr4 ,wesley closed his prayer with the following prophetic promise1 pronounced in his peculiar manner1 and with a confidence and emphasis which seemed to thrill through every heart1 #8,,he ,,shall ,,not ,,die1 ,,but ,,live1 ,,and ,,declare ,,the ,,works ,,of ,,the ,,lord4' ,the event verified the prediction4 ,mr4 ,fletcher lived for eight succeeding years1 exerting all the zeal of a primitive missionary1 and enjoying all the esteem of a holy patriarch4 8,i am1 dear ,sir1 with high regard and esteem1 your sincere friend and humble servant1 8,,david ,,lloyd40#daf ,footnote #daf3 8,life of ,adam ,clarke1 ,,ll4,d410 by ,rev4 ,samuel ,dunn1 p4 #abg4 ,remembering the position which ,fletcher had occupied1 during the last six years1 as the valiant and greatly abused expounder and defender of ,wesley's ,anti-,calvinian doctrines1 and also bearing in mind the heavenly-mindedness in which ,fletcher was now living1 and1 apparently1 dying1 there is no room to wonder at ,mr4 ,lloyd's account1 or to doubt of its being strictly accurate4 ,who can adequately conceive the influence of ,fletcher's visit on the piety and usefulness of ,wesley's conclave of ,itinerant ,preachers8 ,this is one of the secrets to be revealed hereafter4 ,another incident1 belonging to this period1 must be introduced4 ,james ,rogers was now a young ,itinerant of five years' standing1 but already possessed the confidence and esteem of ,wesley1 and afterwards had the honour of seeing ,wesley die4 ,no doubt1 all of ,wesley's ,preachers1 at this time assembled in ,bristol1 would have been delighted to be introduced to poor ,fletcher at ,brislington2 but1 on account of his state of health1 this was a privilege not many were permitted to enjoy4 ,james ,rogers was one of the favoured few1 and he shall be allowed1 in his own artless way1 to tell the story of his interview1 and of an open-air sacramental service4 ,during the previous year1 he had been stationed in ,edinburgh2 now he was appointed to ,cornwall4 ,he writes3-- 8,in the year #aggg1 ,i was appointed to labour in the east of ,cornwall4 ,a journey of between four and five hundred miles was no small fatigue1 in my then weak state of body2 but the ,lord was with me4 ,i took my appointment as from ,god1 and set out in ,his name1 and found sweet communion with ,him in the way4 8,i had long desired to see that most eminently pious man of ,god1 ,mr4 ,fletcher2 and now an opportunity offered4 ,stopping at ,bristol a few days1 to rest myself and horse1 ,i heard of his being at ,mr4 ,ireland's1 about three miles off1 and1 with two of my brethren1 took a ride to see him4 ,when we came there1 he was returning from a ride1 which he was advised by his physician to take every day4 ,dismounting from his horse1 he came to us with arms spread open1 and eyes lifted up to heaven4 ,his apostolic appearance1 with the whole of his deportment1 greatly affected me4 ,the first words he spoke1 while yet standing in the stable by his horse1 were a part of the sixteenth chapter of ,st4 ,john's ,gospel4 ,he pointed out from thence the descent of the ,holy ,ghost1 as the great promise of the ,father1 and the privilege of all ,new ,testament believers1 in a manner ,i had never heard before4 ,my soul was dissolved into tenderness1 and became as melting wax before the fire4 8,as an invidious report had been spread1 that he had renounced what he had lately written against ,calvinism1 ,i took the liberty to mention the report1 and asked him what he thought had given rise to it8 ,he replied1 he could not tell1 except that he had refrained from speaking on controverted points since he came to ,mr4 ,ireland's3 partly1 by reason of the poor state of his health2 and partly1 because he did not wish to grieve his kind friend1 by making his house a field of controversy2 but he assured us1 he had not seen cause to repent of what he had written in defence of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley's #8,minutes4' ,and1 though he believed his close application to study had been the means of reducing his body to the state in which we then saw it1 yet1 he said1 if he fell a victim1 it was in a good cause4 8,after a little conversation upon his darling topic1 the universal love of ,god in ,christ ,jesus1 we were about to take our leave1 when ,mr4 ,ireland sent his footman into the yard with a bottle of red wine1 and some slices of bread upon a waiter4 ,we all uncovered our heads1 while ,mr4 ,fletcher craved a blessing upon the same2 which he had no sooner done1 than he handed first the bread to each1 and1 lifting up his eyes to heaven1 pronounced these words1 #8,the body of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 which was given for thee1 preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life4' ,afterwards1 handing the wine1 he repeated in like manner1 #8,the blood of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1' etc4 ,such a sacrament ,i never had before4 ,a sense of the ,divine presence rested upon us all2 and we were melted into floods of tears4 ,his worthy friend1 ,mr4 ,ireland1 grieved to see him exhaust his little strength by so much speaking1 took him by the arm1 and almost forced him into the house2 while he kept looking wistfully1 and speaking to us1 as long as we could see him4 ,we then mounted our horses1 and rode away4 ,that hour more than repaid me for my whole journey from ,edinburgh to ,cornwall40#dag ,footnote #dag3 8,experience and ,labours of ,james ,rogers10 written by himself1 #agif1 p4 #bb4 ,the scene so simply described is worthy of being painted by an artistic ,methodist4 ,about the same time1 ,fletcher wrote as follows to the venerable ,vicar of ,shoreham1 the ,rev4 ,vincent ,perronet4 8#aggg1 ,september #f4 ,my very dear father1--,i humbly thank you for the honour and consolation of your two kind letters4 ,your vouchsafing to remember a poor1 unprofitable worm1 is to me a sure token that my heavenly ,father remembers me4 ,he is ,god1 and therefore ,i am not consumed4 ,he is a merciful1 all-gracious ,god1 and therefore ,i am blessed with sympathizing friends and gracious helpers on all sides4 ,o ,sir6 if in this disordered1 imperfect state of the ,church1 ,i meet with so much kindness1 what shall ,i not meet with1 when the millennium you pray for shall begin8 ,o that the happy thought1 the glorious hope may animate me to perfect holiness in the fear of ,god2 that ,i may be accounted worthy to escape the terrible judgments1 which will make way for that happy state of things1 and that ,i may have a part in the first resurrection1 if ,i am numbered among the dead before that happy period begin6 8#8,oh6 for a firm and lasting faith1 ,to credit all the ,almighty saith6 ,to embrace the promise of ,his ,son1 ,and call that glorious rest our own6' 8,we are saved by hope at this time2 but hope that is seen is not hope4 ,let us abound1 then1 in hope through the power of the ,holy ,ghost3 so shall we antedate the millennium1 take the kingdom1 and enjoy beforehand the rest1 which remains for the people of ,god4 8,one of my parishioners brought a horse1 last week1 to carry me home2 and desired to walk by my side all the way4 ,by the advice of your dear son1 ,mr4 ,william ,perronet1 who still continues to bestow upon me all the help ,i could expect from the most loving brother1 ,i sent the man back4 ,i thank ,god1 ,i am a little stronger than when ,i came here4 ,i kiss the rod1 lean on the staff1 and wait the end4 ,i yesterday saw a physician1 who told me my case is not yet an absolutely lost case4 ,but the prospect of languishing two or three years longer1 a burden to everybody1 a help to none1 would be very painful1 if the will of ,god and the covenant of life in ,christ ,jesus did not sanctify all circumstances1 and dispel every gloom4 ,i remember1 with grateful joy1 the happy days ,i spent at ,shoreham3 ,tecum vivere amem2 tecum obeam lubens4 ,but1 what is better still1 ,i shall live with the ,lord and with you for ever and ever4 8,your obliged servant and affectionate son1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#dah ,footnote #dah3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,the next letter has not before been published4 ,it was addressed to the lady who afterwards became his wife3-- 8,,bristol1 ,october #bj1 #aggg4 8,,dear ,,madam1--,the hope of thanking you in person for the favour of your friendly directions1 as well as bodily weakness1 has prevented me sending you a letter full of grateful acknowledgments4 ,but1 as ,providence may postpone your intended journey to ,bath1 and hasten mine into ,spain1 or into eternity1 ,i trouble you with these lines to testify how indebted ,i am to you for thinking of admitting me into the number of your patients4 ,i have not tried your remedy yet1 because the gentlemen of the faculty1 who have attended me here1 say1 that1 though it might be very good for persons of a cold1 phlegmatic habit of body1 it is improper for those who are1 like myself1 of a dry1 bilious habit4 ,i have taken the bark and rhubarb for some days1 and ,i thought yesterday that the former medicine had removed the spitting of blood2 but to-night it has again made its appearance4 ,however1 ,i think ,i can speak a little better1 though ,i cannot bear the motion of a horse so well as ,i could two months ago4 8,all is well that comes from our heavenly ,friend and ,physician4 ,shall we receive the sweet at ,his hands1 and not the bitter8 ,is not ,his every dispensation of providence and grace to be received with thankfulness8 ,i would not get well against ,his will for all the world1 and for what ,i esteem more than all the world1--the pleasure of seeing those whom ,he has chosen out of the world4 ,if ,providence parts us on earth1 we shall meet in heaven4 8,i have had it1 however1 in my thoughts to antedate that pleasure with respect to you and your devoted family3#dai ,i was once going to take the pen to ask your leave to enter and die under your friendly roof2 but the fear of troubling you and taking a step contrary to the leadings of ,providence1 made me decline4 ,if you have not a poor ,lazarus at your door to trouble you1 you have ,lazarus's ,friend in your sight and heart1 to comfort and save you4 ,may ,he1 every day1 appear more glorious in your sight1 and may you1 every hour1 drink deeper into ,his ,spirit6 8,my ,christian love waits upon ,mrs4 ,crosby1 ,miss ,hurrel1 and ,miss ,ritchie4#dbj ,i hope the ,lord binds you each day closer to ,himself and to each other1 and enables you to see and experience the glory of the promise made to the daughters and handmaids1 as well as to the sons and servants of the ,lord4 ,oh1 what a day when we shall all be so filled with power from on high1 as to go forth and prophesy1 and water the ,lord's drooping plants and barren parched garden with rivers of living water flowing from our own souls2 and when an ardent fire of ,divine love will make us put our candle to the chaff of sin1 and fire all the harvests and tents of the ,laodiceans6 ,as ,abraham saw the day of ,christ1 our first ,comforter1 and was glad1 so ,i see the day of the ,spirit1 our other ,comforter1 and rejoice4 ,may you live to enjoy it6 ,may you and yours hasten it by the pleadings of mighty prayer6 ,to thank the ,father for the unspeakable gift of ,his ,son2 and to look to both for the fulness of that other gift of ,god1 for that well of living water which ,christ offered to the woman of ,samaria1 is a blessed work1 in which ,i beg you would assist your obliged brother1 8,j4 ,,fletcher4 8,miss ,bosanquet1 8,at ,cross ,hall1 8,near ,leads1 8,yorkshire1 by ,manchester40 ,bristol postmark4 ,footnote #dai3 ,miss ,bosanquet kept an orphanage1 wholly at her own expense4 ,footnote #dbj3 ,three grand old ,methodists1 and1 at least1 one of them a preacheress4 ,in another letter to ,miss ,bosanquet1 written about the same time1 he remarked3-- 8,i calmly wait1 in unshaken resignation1 for the full salvation of ,god3 ready to trust ,him1 to venture on ,his faithful love and on the sure mercies of ,david1 either at midnight1 noonday1 or cock-crowing3 for my time is in ,his hand1 and ,his time is best1 and shall be my time4 ,death has lost his sting2 and ,i know not what hurry of spirits is1 or what are unbelieving fears1 under the most trying circumstances4 ,thanks be to ,god for ,his unspeakable gift40#dba ,footnote #dba3 ,mrs4 ,fletcher's 8,letter to ,mons4 ,h4 ,l4 ,de la ,flechere10 #aghf1 p4 #ce4 ,at the same period1 ,fletcher commenced a correspondence with another distinguished lady1 the ,right ,hon4 ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald1 daughter of the ,earl of ,bristol1 and aunt of ,lord ,liverpool4 ,she had been married to ,george ,fitzgerald1 ,esq41 and1 for about twelve years past1 had been an exemplary member of the ,methodist ,society4 ,the friendship between her and ,wesley was great1 and ,wesley visited her only nine days before his death4 ,in #ahae1 at the age of ninety1 her clothing caught fire1 and she died1 her last words being1 8,come1 ,lord ,jesus1 my blessed ,redeemer1 come and receive my spirit60 ,in conformity with a clause in her will1 her remains were interred in the burial ground at the front of ,city ,road ,chapel2 and1 in memory of her1 there is a plain white marble tablet in that sacred edifice4#dbb ,the following is an extract from ,fletcher's letter to this ,methodist lady3-- 8,october #ba1 #aggg4 8,,honoured ,,and ,,dear ,,madam1--,the honour of your ,christian letter humbles me2 and the idea of your taking half-a-dozen steps1 much more that of your taking a journey1 to consult so mean a creature as myself1 lays me in the dust4 ,my brothers and sisters invite me once more to breathe my native air1 and the physicians recommend to me a journey to the continent4 ,if ,i go1 ,i shall probably pass through ,london1 and1 in that case1 ,i could have the honour of waiting upon you4 ,i say1 probably1 because ,i shall have to accompany my friend and a serious family1 who intend to spend the winter in the south of ,france1 or in ,spain2 and ,i do not yet know whether they design to embark at ,dover1 or at some port in the west of ,england4 8,you have been afflicted as well as myself4 ,may our maladies yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness1 complete deadness to the world1 and increased faith in the mercy1 love1 and power of ,him1 who supports under the greatest trials1 and can make our extremity of weakness an opportunity of displaying the greatness of ,his power6 8,i have taken the bark for some days1 and it seems to have been blessed to the removal of my spitting of blood4 ,time will decide whether it be a real removal1 or only a suspension of that symptom4 ,either will prove a blessing1 as ,his will is our health4 ,to live singly to ,god1 the best method is to desire it in meekness2 to spread the desire in quietness before ,him who inspires it2 to offer ,him now all we have and are1 as we can2 and to open our mouth of expectation wide1 that ,he may fill it with all ,his fulness1 or that ,he may try our patience1 and teach us to know our total helplessness4 ,with respect to the weeping frame of repentance1 and the joyous one of faith1 they are both good alternately2 but the latter is the better of the two1 because it enables us to do1 and suffer1 and praise1 which honours ,christ more4 ,both are happily mixed4 ,may they be so in you1 ,madam1 and in your unworthy and obliged servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#dbc ,footnote #dbb3 ,stevenson's 8,city ,road ,chapel40 ,footnote #dbc3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bef4 ,to another lady1 ,mrs4 ,thornton1 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,i spend more time in giving my friends an account of my health1 than the matter is worth4 ,you will see by the enclosed1 which ,i beg you to send to the post1 when you have shown it to ,mr4 ,john and ,charles ,wesley1 how their poor servant does4 ,i am kept in sweet peace1 and am looking for the triumphant joy of my ,lord1 and for the fulness expressed in these words1 which sweetly filled the sleepless hours of last night1-- 8#8,drawn--and redeem'd--and seal'd1 ,i bless the ,one and ,three2 ,with ,father1 ,son1 and ,spirit fill'd ,to all eternity4' 8,with respect to my body1 ,i sleep less1 and spit more blood than ,i did when you were here1 nor can ,i bear the least trot of an easy horse4 ,if this continues many days1 instead of thinking to go and see my friends on the continent1 ,i shall turn my steps to my earthly home1 to be ready to lay my bones in my churchyard4 ,two of my parishioners came to convey me safe home1 and had persuaded me to go with them in a post-chaise2 but ,i had so bad a night before the day that ,i was to set out1 that ,i gave it up4 ,i have nothing to look at but ,jesus and the grave4 ,may ,i so look at them1 as to live in my ,resurrection and my life2 and die in all the meekness and holiness of my ,lord and my all40#dbd ,footnote #dbd3 ,letters1 #agia1 pp4 #bdi1 #bec4 ,fletcher having decided to go to the continent1 it became necessary to arrange monetary and other matters before he started4 ,to two of his friends at ,madeley1 ,mr4 ,thomas ,york and ,mr4 ,daniel ,edmunds1 he wrote as follows3-- 8,,bristol1 ,november1 #aggg4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friends1--,the debt of gratitude ,i owe to a dying sister1 who once took a long journey to see me1 when ,i was ill in ,germany1 and whom ,i just stopped from coming1 last winter1 to ,newington to nurse me1--the unanimous advice of the physicians whom ,i have consulted1--and the opportunity of travelling with serious friends1--have at last determined me to remove to a warmer climate4 ,as it is very doubtful whether ,i shall be able to stand the journey2 and1 if ,i do1 whether ,i shall be able to come back to ,england2 and1 if ,i come back1 whether ,i shall be able to serve my church1 it is right to make what provision ,i can to have it properly served while ,i live1 and to secure some spiritual assistance to my serious parishioners when ,i shall die4 8,i have attempted to build a house in ,madeley ,wood1 about the centre of my parish1 where ,i should be glad the children might be taught to read and write in the day1 and the grown-up people might hear the ,word of ,god in the evening1 when they can get an ,evangelist to preach it to them2 and where the serious people might assemble for social worship when they have no teacher4 ,the expense of that building1 and paying for the ground it stands upon1 have involved me in some difficulties2 especially as my ill health has put on me the additional expense of an assistant4 8,if ,i had strength1 ,i would serve my church alone1 board as cheaply as ,i could1 and save what ,i was able to do from the produce of the living to clear the debt1 and leave that little token of my love1 free from encumbrances1 to my parishioners4 8,but1 as ,providence orders things otherwise1 ,i have another object1 which is to secure a faithful minister to serve the church while ,i live4 ,providence has sent me dear ,mr4 ,greaves1 who loves the people1 and is loved by them4 ,i should be glad to make him comfortable2 and1 as all the care of my flock1 by my illness1 devolves upon him1 ,i would not hesitate for a moment to let him have all the profit of the living1 if it were not for the debt contracted about the room4 ,my difficulty lies1 then1 between what ,i owe to my fellow-labourer1 and what ,i owe to my parishioners1 whom ,i should be sorry to have burdened with a debt contracted for the room4 8,my agreement with ,mr4 ,greaves was to allow him forty guineas a year1 out of which ,i was to deduct twelve for his board2 but1 as ,i cannot board him when ,i go abroad1 ,i design to allow him1 during my absence1 #ej a-year1 together with the use of my house1 furniture1 garden1 and my horse1 if he chooses to keep one2 reserving the use of a room1 and a stall in the stable1 to entertain the preachers who help us in their ,round3 not doubting but that the serious people will gladly find them and their horses proper necessaries4 8,but ,i know so little what my income may be1 that ,i am not sure it will yield ,mr4 ,greaves #ej1 after paying all the expenses of the living4 ,now ,i beg you will consult together1 and see whether the ,vicar's income1 i4e41 tithes1 etc41 etc41 will discharge all the expenses of the living1 and leave a residue sufficient to pay a stipend of #ej4 ,i except the royalty1 which ,i have appropriated to the expense of the ,room4 ,if it be1 well2 if there be any surplus1 let it be applied to the ,room2 if there be anything short1 then ,mr4 ,greaves may have the whole1 and take his chance in that respect1 as it will be only taking the ,vicar's chance2 for ,i doubt if sometimes1 after necessary charges defrayed1 the ,vicars have had a clear #ej4 8,i beg you will let me know how the balance of my account stands1 that1 some way or other1 ,i may order it to be paid immediately2 for1 if the balance is against me1 ,i could not leave ,england comfortably without having settled the payment4 ,a letter will settle this business as well as if twenty friends were at the trouble of taking a journey2 and talking is far worse for me than reading or writing4 8,ten thousand pardons1 my dear friends1 for troubling you with this scrawl about worldly matters4 ,i am quite tired with writing1 but ,i cannot lay by my pen without desiring my best ,christian love to all my dear companions in tribulation1 and neighbours in ,shropshire2 especially to ,mrs4 ,york1 ,miss ,simpson1 ,mrs4 ,harper1 ,mr4 ,scott1 ,winny ,edmunds1 and all enquiring friends4 ,thank ,molly for her good management1 and tell her ,i recommend her to our common ,heavenly ,master4 ,if she wants to go to ,london1 or to come to ,bristol1 ,i shall give her such a character as will help her to some good place4 ,i heartily thank ,daniel1 both as churchwarden and as receiver and house-steward2 and ,i beg ,mr4 ,york to pay him a proper salary4 8,i am1 in the best bonds1 your affectionate neighbour1 friend1 and minister1 ,j4 ,,fletcher40#dbe ,footnote #dbe3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #cd4 ,a letter on small matters1 so far as the reader is concerned2 but a letter unveiling ,fletcher's heart1 and exhibiting his perfect unworldliness4 ,the following1 extracted from a letter to ,mr4 ,william ,wase1 reveals other characteristics3-- 8,,bristol1 ,november1 #aggg4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,go to ,mrs4 ,cound1 and tell her1 ,i charge her1 in the name of ,god1 to give up the world1 to set out with all speed for heaven1 and to join the few about her who fear ,god4 ,if she refuses1 call again2 call weekly1 if not daily1 and warn her from me till she is ripe for glory4 ,tell the brethren at ,broseley that ,i did my body an injury the last time ,i preached to them on the ,green2 but1 if they took the warning1 ,i do not repine4 ,give my love to ,george ,crannage2 tell him to make haste to ,christ1 and not to doze away his last days4 8,the physician has not yet given me up2 but1 ,i bless ,god1 ,i do not wait for his farewell1 to give myself up to my ,god and ,saviour4 ,i write by stealth1 as my friends here would have me forbear writing1 and even talking2 but ,i will never part with my privilege of writing and shouting1 #8,thanks be to ,god who giveth us the victory' over sin1 death1 and the grave #8through ,jesus ,christ4' ,to ,him be glory for ever and ever6 ,amen60#dbf ,footnote #dbf3 ,ibid1 p4 #cf4 ,to his congregation in ,madeley ,church1 ,fletcher wrote as follows3-- 8,,bristol1 ,november #bf1 #aggg4 8,to the ,brethren who hear the ,word of ,god in the parish church of ,madeley4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brethren1--,i thank you for the declaration of your affectionate remembrance1 which you sent me by ,john ,owen1 the messenger of your brotherly love4 8,as various reasons prevent my coming to take leave of you in 8erson1 permit me to do it by letter4 ,the hope of recovering a little strength1 to serve you again in the ,gospel1 makes me take the advice of the physicians1 who say that removing to a drier air and warmer climate may be of great service to my health4 8,i am more and more persuaded that ,i have not declared unto you cunningly devised fables1 and that the ,gospel ,i have had the honour of preaching1 though feebly1 among you1 is the power of ,god to salvation1 to every one who believes it4 8,want of time does not permit me to give you more than the following directions4 ,have1 every day1 lower thoughts of yourselves1 higher thoughts of ,christ1 kinder thoughts of your brethren1 and more hopeful thoughts of all around you4 ,love to assemble in the great congregation2 but1 above all1 love to pray to your ,father in secret2 consider your ,saviour2 and listen for your ,sanctifier4 ,wait all day long for ,his glorious appearing within you2 and1 when you are together1 by suitable prayers1 proper hymns1 and enlivening exhortations1 keep up your earnest expectation of ,his pardoning and sanctifying love4 ,let not a drop satisfy you2 desire an ocean4 ,do not eat your morsel by yourselves1 like selfish1 niggardly people1 but be ready to share it with all4 ,let every one with whom you converse be the better for your conversation4 ,be burning and shining lights wherever you are4 ,set the fire of divine love to the hellish stubble of sin4 ,be valiant for the truth4 ,be champions for love4 ,be sons of thunder against sin2 and sons of consolation towards humbled sinners4 ,be faithful to your ,god1 your king1 and your masters4 ,let not the good ways of ,god be blasphemed through any of you4 8,you have need of patience1 as well as of faith and power4 ,you must learn to suffer1 as well as do the will of ,god4 ,think it not strange to pass through fiery trials4 ,let your faith be firm in a tempest4 ,let your hope in ,christ be as a sure anchor cast within the veil2 and your patient love will soon outride the storm4 ,god is the same merciful and faithful ,god1 #8yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever4' ,believe in ,his threefold name4 ,rejoice in every degree of ,his great salvation4 ,triumph in hope of the glory which shall be revealed4 ,do not forget to be thankful for a cup of water2 much less for being out of hell1 for the means of grace1 the forgiveness of sins1 the blood of ,jesus1 the communion of saints on earth1 and the future glorification of saints in heaven4 ,strongly1 heartily believe every ,gospel truth1 especially the latter part of the ,apostles' ,creed4 ,believe it till your faith becomes the substance of the eternal life you hope for2 and then1 come life1 come death1 either or both will be welcome to you1 as1 through grace1 ,i find they are to me4 8,if ,i am no more permitted to minister to you in the land of the living1 ,i rejoice at the thought that ,i shall1 perhaps1 be allowed to accompany the angels1 who1 if you continue in the faith1 will be commissioned to carry your souls into ,abraham's bosom4 ,if our bodies do not moulder away in the same grave1 our spirits shall be sweetly lost in the same sea of divine and brotherly love4 ,i hope to see you again in the flesh2 but my sweetest and firmest hope is to meet you where there are no parting seas1 no interposing mountains1 no sickness1 no death1 no fear of loving too much1 no shame for loving too little4 8,i earnestly recommend you to the pastoral care of the great ,shepherd and ,bishop of souls1 to the brotherly care of one another1 and to the ministerial care of my substitute4 ,should ,i be spared to come back1 let me have the joy of finding you all of one heart and one soul2 continuing steadfast in the ,apostles' doctrine1 in fellowship one with another1 and in communion with our sin-pardoning and sin-abhorring ,god40#dbg ,footnote #dbg3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #dj4 ,immediately after the date of this pastoral epistle1 in company with ,mr4 ,ireland1 two of his daughters1 and another family1 ,fletcher left ,brislington for the south of ,france4 ,during a halt at ,reading1 he wrote the following to the ,rev4 ,vincent ,perronet1 the venerable vicar of ,shoreham3-- 8,,reading1 ,december #b1 #aggg4 8,,honoured ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,i acknowledge1 though late1 the favour of your letter4 ,i have given up the thought of going to my parish1 and am now on the road to a warmer climate4 ,the ,lord may bless as much the change of air1 as ,he has blessed the last remedy your son prescribed for me--,i mean the bark4 ,if ,i should mend a little1 ,i would begin to have faith in your prophecy4 ,in the meantime1 let us have faith in ,christ1 more faith day by day1 till all the sayings of ,christ are verified to us and in us4 ,should ,i go to ,geneva1 ,i shall enquire after the ,swiss friends of my dear benefactors at ,shoreham1 to whose prayers ,i humbly recommend myself and my dear fellow-travellers1 one of whom1 my little god-daughter1 is but eight weeks old40#dbh ,footnote #dbh3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,at the same time1 and on the same sheet1 he wrote as follows to ,miss ,damaris ,perronet3-- 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,i snatch a moment upon the road to acknowledge the favour of your letter1 and to wish you joy in seeing the ,lord is faithful in rewarding as well as punishing4 ,i once met a gentleman1 an infidel1 abroad1 who said1 #8,men have no faith3 if they believed that by forsaking houses1 lands1 and friends1 they should receive a hundredfold1 they would instantly renounce all3 for who would not carry all his money to the bank of heaven1 to receive a hundredfold interest8' ,the ,papists have made so bad a use of the doctrine of the rewardableness of works1 that we dare neither preach it1 nor hold it in a scriptural manner4 ,for my part1 ,i think that if it were properly received1 it would make a great alteration in the professing world4 ,you dare receive it2 try the mighty use of it2 and when you have fully experienced it1 do not keep your light to yourself1 but impart it to all within the reach of your tongue and pen4 ,i am glad you see that every reward1 bestowed upon a reprieved sinner1 has free-grace for its foundation1 and the blood of ,christ for its mark4 ,may the richest rewards of ,divine grace be yours in consequence of the most exalted faithfulness2 and let me beseech you to pray that ,i may follow you1 as you follow ,christ1 till our reward be full40#dbi ,footnote #dbi3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahjd1 p4 #ebj4 ,thus did ,fletcher leave ,england1 reiterating one of the great truths that he had been explaining and defending during the last six years4 ,on the next day after the date of his letter1 he arrived at ,stoke ,newington4 ,wesley writes3-- 8,wednesday1 ,december #c1 #aggg4 ,i visited as many of the sick as ,i could in the north-east part of the town2 and spent the evening at ,newington1 with ,mr4 ,fletcher1 almost miraculously recovering from his consumption4 ,on ,thursday1 ,december #d1 he set out1 with ,mr4 ,ireland1 for the south of ,france40#dcj ,footnote #dcj3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,a ,,long ,,retirement4 #ggh-agha4 ,,when the travellers arrived at ,dover1 ,fletcher wrote as follows to his hospitable friends at ,stoke ,newington3-- 8,ten thousand blessings light upon the heads and hearts of my dear benefactors1 ,charles and ,mary ,greenwood6 ,may their quiet retreat at ,newington become a ,bethel to them6 ,their poor pensioner travels on1 though slowly1 towards the grave4 ,his journey to the sea seems to him to have hastened1 rather than retarded1 his progress to his old mother--,earth4 ,may every ,providential blast blow him nearer to the heavenly haven of his ,saviour's breast2 where he hopes to meet all his benefactors6 ,o1 my dear friends1 what shall ,i render8 ,what to ,jesus8 what to you8 ,may ,he1 who invites the heavy-laden1 take upon ,him all the burdens of kindness you have heaped on your ,lazarus6 ,and may angels1 when you die1 find me in ,abraham's bosom1 and bring you into mine1 that by all the kindness which may be shown in heaven1 ,i may try to requite that you have shown to your obliged brother1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#dca ,footnote #dca3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bdi4 ,leaving ,calais on ,december #ab1 #aggg1 the travellers pursued their way to the ,south of ,france4 ,mr4 ,ireland thus described the journey3-- 8,when we departed from ,calais1 the north wind was very high1 and penetrated us even in the chaise4 ,we put up at ,bretuil1 and the next day got to ,abbeville1 whence we were forced1 by the miserable accommodation we met with1 to set out1 though it was ,sunday4 ,hitherto ,mr4 ,fletcher and ,i had led the way1 but now the other chaises got before us4 ,nine miles from ,abbeville our axletree gave way through the hard frost1 and we were left to the piercing cold on the side of a hill1 without shelter4 ,after waiting an hour and a half1 we sent the axletree and wheels back to be repaired2 and1 leaving the body of the chaise under a guard1 procured another to carry us to the next town4 ,on the #aeth1 our chaise arrived in good repair4 ,the country was covered with snow1 but travelling steadily forward1 we reached ,dijon on the #bgth4 ,during the whole journey1 ,mr4 ,fletcher showed marks of recovery4 ,he bore both the fatigue and cold as well as the best of us4 ,on the #cast1 we put up at ,lyons1 and solemnly closed the year1 bowing our knees before the throne1 which indeed we did all together every day4 ,january #d1 #aggh1 we left ,lyons1 and came on the #ith to ,aix4 ,here we rest1 the weather being exceedingly fine and warm4 ,mr4 ,fletcher walks out daily4 ,he is now able to read and pray with us every morning and evening4 ,he has no remains of his cough nor of the weakness in his breast4 ,his natural colour is restored1 and the sallowness quite gone4 ,his appetite is good1 and he takes a little wine40 ,in another letter ,mr4 ,ireland wrote3-- 8,soon after our arrival here1 ,i rode out most days with my dear and valued friend4 ,now and then he complained of the uneasiness of the horse1 and there were some remains of soreness in his breast2 but this soon went off4 ,the beginning of ,february was warm1 and the warmth1 when he walked in the fields1 relaxed him2 but when the wind got north or east1 he was braced again4 ,his appetite is good2 his complexion as healthy as it was eleven years ago4 ,as his strength increases1 he increases the length of his rides4 ,last ,tuesday1 he set out on a journey of a hundred and twelve miles4 ,the first day he travelled forty miles without feeling any fatigue2 and the third day fifty-five4 ,he bore the journey as well as ,i did2 and was as well and as active at the end of it as at the beginning4 ,during the day1 he cried out1 #8,help me to praise the ,lord for ,his goodness2 ,i never expected to see this day4' ,he accepted a pressing invitation to preach to the ,protestants here2 and he fulfilled his engagement on ,sunday morning1 taking as his text1 #8,examine yourselves1 whether ye be in the faith4' ,both the ,french and ,english were greatly affected2 the word went to the hearts of both saints and sinners4 ,his voice is now as good as ever it was2 and he has an earnest invitation to preach near ,montpelier1 where we are going4 ,you would be astonished at the entreaties of pastors as well as people4 ,he has received a letter from a minister in the ,levine ,mountains1 who intends to come to ,montpelier1 sixty miles1 to press him to go and preach to his flock4 ,he purposes to spend the next summer in his own country1 and the following winter in these parts40#dcb ,footnote #dcb3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,it was probably at this time that ,fletcher and ,mr4 ,ireland made a tour through ,italy1 and visited ,rome1 concerning which visit ,wesley writes3-- 8,while he was at ,rome1 as ,mr4 ,ireland and he were one day going through the streets in a coach1 they were informed the ,pope was coming1 and it would be required of them to kneel while he went by1 as all the people did2 if they did not1 in all probability the mob would knock them on the head4 ,but this they flatly refused to do2 judging the paying such honour to a man was idolatry4 ,the coachman was terrified1 but turned aside into a narrow way4 ,the ,pope was in an open landau1 waved his hands1 and frequently repeated1 #8,god bless you all6' ,mr4 ,fletcher's spirit was greatly stirred1 and he longed to bear a public testimony against anti-,christ2 and he would have done it had he been able to speak ,italian4 ,he could hardly refrain from doing it in ,latin1 till he considered that only the priests could understand him40#dcc ,footnote #dcc3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,while in the south of ,france1 ,fletcher wrote to ,miss ,bosanquet the following letter1 which is now for the first time published3-- 8,,marseilles1 ,march #g1 #aggh4 8,,dear ,,madam1--,your letter did not reach me till after it had lain here1 at the post office1 several days4 8,i cannot be answerable for what the person you mention thinks of ,mr4 ,wesley or me1 or our sentiments4 ,nothing is more common than to see people drawing rash inferences from premises which are partly false and partly true4 ,i can only answer for myself1 and for what ,i deem to be the truth4 8,if you ask me what ,i think to be the truth with respect to ,christian perfection1 ,i reply1 my sentiments are exposed to the world in my essay on #8,christian ,perfection1' and in my essay on #8,truth1' where ,i lay the stress of the doctrine on the great promise of the ,father1 and on the ,christian fulness of the ,spirit4 ,this ,i have done more particularly in a treatise on the #8,birth of the ,spirit2' which treatise is not yet published4 ,i do not rest the doctrine of ,christian perfection on the absence of sin1--that is the perfection of a dove or a lamb2 nor on the loving ,god with all one's power1 for ,i believe all perfect ,gentiles and ,jews have done so2 but on the fulness of that superior1 nobler1 warmer1 and more powerful love1 which the ,apostle calls the love of the ,spirit1 or the love of ,god shed abroad by the ,holy ,ghost1 given to the ,christian believers1 who1 since the ,day of ,pentecost1 go on to the perfection of the ,christian dispensation4 8,you will find my views of this matter in ,mr4 ,wesley's sermons on ,christian ,perfection and on ,spiritual ,christianity2 with this difference1 that ,i would distinguish more exactly between the believers baptized with the ,pentecostal power of the ,holy ,ghost1 and the believer who1 like the ,apostles after our ,lord's ascension1 is not yet filled with that power4 8,i own to you1 ,madam1 that ,i have been much surprised to see the gross inattention to1 and unbelief of1 the promise of the ,father among believers of various classes4 ,it is the sun among the stars1 and yet some can hardly distinguish it4 ,when ,i preached it to the ,calvinists in ,wales1 they called it ,mr4 ,wesley's whim4 ,when ,i have spoken of it to our brethren1 some have called it ,lady ,huntingdon's whim2 and others have looked upon it as a new thing2 which to me is the strongest proof that this capital ,gospel doctrine is as much under a cloud now as the doctrine of justification by faith was at the time of the ,reformation4 8,should you go back by way of ,london1 my essay on the ,birth by which we enter into the ,kingdom in the ,holy ,ghost is in the hands of ,miss ,thornton1 ,mrs4 ,greenwood's sister1 who will give it you if you think worth while to look into it4 ,i build my faith not on my experience1 though this increases it1 but upon the revealed truth of ,god4 ,go1 ,madam1 and do the same1 and pray for your affectionate brother and servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher4 8,miss ,bosanquet1 8at ,mrs4 ,southcot's1 8,broad ,mead1 8,bristol40 ,the 8treatise10 or rather sermon1 referred to in this letter1 was written in ,french1 and was not published during the lifetime of ,fletcher2 but in #agid1 ,henry ,moore1 one of ,wesley's first biographers1 translated and printed it1 with the title1 8,the ,new ,birth4 ,a ,discourse written in ,french1 by the ,rev4 ,john ,fletcher1 late ,vicar of ,madeley1 ,salop40 #hvo1 #ci pp4 ,this was one of the most remarkable productions of ,fletcher's pen2 and great would be the service rendered to the cause of ,christ if1 in this day of loose thinking and carnal living1 it were reprinted in a separate form1 and read by the myriads who call themselves ,methodists4 ,though mere quotations from it cannot do justice to it1 yet two or three may be acceptable4 ,regeneration4--8,what is the state of a soul that is born again2 and in what does regeneration consist8 ,in general1 we may say1 it is that great change by which man passes from a state of nature to a state of grace4 ,he was an animal man2 in being born again he becomes a spiritual man4 ,his natural birth had made him like to fallen ,adam--to the old man1 against whom ,god had pronounced the sentence of death1 seeing it is the wages of sin2 but his spiritual birth makes him like to ,jesus ,christ--to the new man--which is created according to ,god in righteousness and true holiness4 ,he was before born a child of wrath--proud1 sensual1 and unbelieving1 full of the love of the world and of self-love1 a lover of money and of earthly glory and pleasure1 rather than a lover of ,god2 but1 by regeneration1 he is become a child and an heir of ,god1 and a joint heir with ,christ4 ,the humility1 the purity1 the love of ,jesus1 is shed abroad in his heart by the ,holy ,spirit which is given to him1 making him bear the image of the ,second ,adam4 ,he is in ,christ a new creature2 old things are passed away1 all things are become new4 ,all the powers and faculties of his soul are renovated4 ,his understanding1 heretofore covered with darkness1 is illuminated by the experimental knowledge which he has of ,god and of ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ4 ,his conscience1 asleep and insensible1 awakes and speaks with a fidelity irreproachable4 ,his hard heart is softened and broken4 ,his will1 stubborn and perverse1 yields1 and becomes conformable to the will of ,god4 ,his passions1 unruly1 and earthly1 and sensual1 submit to the conduct of grace1 and turn of themselves to objects invisible and heavenly4 ,and the members of his body1 servants more or less to iniquity1 are now employed in the service of righteousness unto holiness40 ,why regeneration is necessary4--8,to rejoice in the pleasures that are at ,god's right hand1 it is needful to have senses and a taste that correspond thereto4 ,the swine trample pearls under their feet4 ,the elevated discourse of a philosopher is insupportable to a stupid mechanic2 and an ignorant peasant1 introduced into a circle of men of learning and taste1 is disgusted1 sighs after his village1 and declares no hour ever appeared to him so long4 ,it would be the same to a man who is not regenerated1 if we could suppose that ,god would so far forget ,his truth as to open to him the gate of heaven4 ,he would be incapable of those transports of love which make the happiness of the glorified saints4 ,it would be insupportable for him now to meditate one hour on the perfections of ,god2 what then shall ,he do among the cherubim and seraphim1 and the spirits of just men made perfect1 who draw from thence their ravishing delights8 ,he loves the pleasures and comforts of an animal life2 but are these the same with the exercises of the spiritual life8 ,his conversations1 his readings1 his amusements1 as void of edification as of usefulness1 rarely fatigue him2 but an hour of meditation or prayer is insufferable4 ,if he be not born again1 not only he cannot be in a state to rejoice in the pleasures of ,paradise1 any more than a deaf man to receive with transport the most exquisite music2 but the ravishing delights of angels would cause in him an insupportable distaste4 ,yes1 he would banish himself from the presence of ,god1 rather than pass an eternity in prostrating himself before the throne1 and crying day and night1 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 is the ,lord of hosts1 who is1 and who was1 and who is to come6 ,we conclude that the gate of heaven must be opened upon earth by regeneration1 and by the love of ,god1 or that it will remain shut for ever2 and that a local paradise would be only a sorrowful prison1 to a man not regenerated1 because1 carrying nothing thither but depraved and earthly appetites and passions1 and finding nothing there but spiritual and celestial objects1 disgust and dissatisfaction would be the consequence2 and1 like ,satan1 his own mind would be his hell40 ,perorations are too often rhetorical flourishes1 and nothing more2 but1 in the case of ,fletcher1 they were the outpourings of a heart overcharged with feeling4 ,the following is the last paragraph in the remarkable 8,treatise0 from which the foregoing extracts are taken3-- 8,i conjure you by the majesty of that ,god before whom angels rejoice with trembling2--by the terror of the ,lord1 who may speak to you in thunder1 and this instant require your soul of you2--by the tender mercies1 the bowels of compassion of your heavenly ,father1 which are moved in your favour1 all ungrateful as you are6--,i conjure you by the incarnation of the ,eternal ,word1 by whom you were created2--by the humiliation1 the pains1 the temptations1 the tears1 the bloody sweat1 the agony1 the cries of our great ,god and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ6--,i conjure you by the bonds1 the insults1 the scourgings1 the robes of derision1 the crown of thorns1 the ponderous cross1 the nails1 the instruments of death which pierced ,his torn body2 by the arrows of the ,almighty1 the poison of which drank up ,his spirit2 by that mysterious stroke of ,divine wrath1 and by those unknown terrors which forced ,him to exclaim1 #8,my ,god1 my ,god1 why hast ,thou forsaken ,me6'--,i conjure you by the interests of your immortal soul1 and by the unseen accidents which may precipitate you into eternity2--by the bed of death1 upon which you will soon be stretched1 and by the useless sighs which you will then pour out1 if your peace be not made with ,god6--,i conjure you by the sword of ,divine justice1 and by the sceptre of grace2--by the sound of the last trumpet1 and by the sudden appearance of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 with ten thousand of ,his holy angels2--by that august tribunal1 at which you will appear with me1 and which shall decide our lot for ever2--by the vain despair of hardened sinners1 and by the unknown transports of regenerate souls6--,i conjure you from this instant work out your salvation with fear and trembling6 ,enter by the door into the sheepfold4 ,sell all to purchase the pearl of great price4 ,count all things dung and dross in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of ,jesus ,christ4 ,let ,him not go till ,he blesses you with that faith which justifies1 and that sanctification without which no man shall see the ,lord4 ,and1 soon transported from this vale of tears into the mansions of the just made perfect1 you shall cast your crown of immortal glory at the feet of ,him that sitteth upon the throne1 and before the ,lamb who has redeemed us by ,his blood3 to whom be the blessing1 and the honour1 and the glory1 and the power for ever and ever6 ,amen40 ,it is time to return to ,fletcher in the south of ,france4 ,at the close of his sojourn here1 he wrote as follows to his curate1 ,mr4 ,greaves3-- 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,brother1--,i received a letter yesterday from my second brother1 who acquaints me1 that he was to set out the #bcrd of last month1 to come hither0 7,montpelier71 8and take me to my native country1 where my sick sister wants greatly to see me2 so that1 if it please ,god1 ,i shall1 next week1 leave this place4 ,the winter has been uncommonly rainy and windy2 and even last week we had half an inch of snow4 ,the climate has1 nevertheless1 agreed with me better than ,england1 and1 as a proof of it1 ,i need only tell you1 that ,i rode last ,friday1 from ,hieres1 the orange gardens of ,france1 hither1 which is nearly fifty miles1 and was well enough to preach last ,sunday in ,french at the ,protestant ,church4 ,two ,english clergymen came to hear me1 and one of them takes these lines to ,england1 where ,i hope they will find you in health of body and soul1 growing in strength of faith1 in firmness of hope1 and in fervency of love to ,god and man1 and especially to those whom you are tempted to think hardly of1 if any such there be4 ,o my dear brother1 no religion will do us or our people any good1 but that which #8works by love1'--humble1 childlike1 obedient love4 ,may that religion fill our souls1 and influence all our tempers1 words1 and actions1 and may the leaven leaven the whole lump6 ,may ,st4 ,james's peaceable religion spread through all our parish6 8,i hope you are settled to your satisfaction2 and ,i shall be glad to do what is in my power to make your stay at ,madeley agreeable4 ,i wish you may have as much success as we desire2 but1 whatever success we have1 we must cast our bread upon the waters1 though we should see as little fruit as he that said of old1 #8,i have laboured in vain3' for our reward will be with the ,lord1 if not with men40#dcd ,footnote #dcd3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,in company with his brother1 ,fletcher left ,montpelier1 and arrived at ,nyon1 the place of his nativity1 where1 in the house once occupied by his father1 he received the utmost attention from his affectionate relatives1 and had medical advice equal to any to be obtained in ,europe4 ,one of his first acts was to write 8to the ,societies in and about ,madeley40 ,he addressed them as 8,my dear1 very dear brethren20 charged them all to meet him in heaven1 8with all the mind that was in ,christ20 and sent his 8love and thanks to ,mr4 ,murlin and ,mr4 ,roberts10 the two ,methodist preachers stationed at ,chester1 showing that ,madeley1 at this period1 was a part of the ,chester circuit4#dce ,footnote #dce3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #dc4 ,soon afterwards1 he wrote to his beloved medical adviser1 in ,england1 ,mr4 ,william ,perronet1 as follows3-- 8,,nyon1 ,may #ae1 #aggh4 8,the climate1 and prospect1 and fine roads1 and pure air ,i enjoy here1 had contributed to strengthen me a little2 when1 about a month ago1 something ,i was chewing got into my windpipe1 and caused a fit of coughing which lasted half-an-hour4 ,i then began to spit blood again1 and ever since ,i have had a bad cough1 which has sometimes exercised me violently for an hour after my first sleep4 ,my cough1 however1 has been better the last two days1 and ,i hope it will go off4 ,i have bought a quiet horse1 whose easy pace ,i can bear2 and ,i ride much4 ,i have not ventured upon preaching since ,i came hither3 it would be impossible for me now to go through it4 ,if the weather should grow hot1 ,i may1 at any time1 go to the hills1 the foot of which is five or six miles distant4 ,i drink goats' milk1 and have left off meat since the cough came on1 but design eating a little again at dinner40#dcf ,footnote #dcf3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,two days after the date of this letter1 ,fletcher was at ,macon1 whither he had gone to meet his friend ,mr4 ,ireland1 on his return from ,montpelier to ,england4 ,whilst he was here1 he wrote two letters1 which must be quoted4 ,the first1 addressed to 8,the ,rev4 ,messrs4 ,john and ,charles ,wesley10 was as follows3-- 8,,macon1 ,,in ,,burgundy1 ,may #ag1 #aggh4 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sirs1--,i hope while ,i lie by1 the ,lord continues to renew your vigour1 and sends you to water ,his vineyard1 and to stand in the gap against error and vice4 8,i preached twice at ,marseilles1 but was not permitted to follow the blow4 ,there are few noble1 inquisitive ,bereans in these parts4 ,the ministers in the town of my nativity have been very civil4 ,they have offered me the pulpit2 but1 ,i fear1 if ,i could accept the offer1 it would soon be recalled4 ,i am loath to quit this part of the field without casting a stone at that giant1 sin1 who stalks about with uncommon boldness4 ,i shall1 therefore1 stay some months longer1 to see if the ,lord will give me strength to venture an attack4 8,gambling and dress1 sinful pleasure and love of money1 unbelief and false philosophy1 lightness of spirit1 fear of man1 and love of the world1 are the principal sins by which ,satan binds his captives in these parts4 ,materialism is not rare2 ,deism and ,socinianism are very common2 and a set of ,free-thinkers1 great admirers of ,voltaire#dcg and ,rosseau1 ,bayle and ,mirabeau1 seem bent upon destroying ,christianity and government4 ,if we believe them1 the world is the dupe of kings and priests4 ,religion is fanaticism and superstition4 ,subordination is slavery4 ,christian morality is absurd1 unnatural1 and impracticable2 and ,christianity the most bloody religion that ever was4 ,and here it is certain1 that1 by the example of ,christians so called1 and by our continual disputes1 they have a great advantage1 and do the truth immense mischief4 ,popery will certainly fall in ,france1 in this or the next century2 and ,i have no doubt ,god will use those vain men to bring about a reformation here1 as he used ,henry the ,eighth to do that work in ,england2 so the madness of ,his enemies shall1 at last1 turn to ,his praise1 and to the futherance of ,his kingdom4 8,in the meantime1 it becomes all lovers of the truth to make their heavenly tempers1 and humble1 peaceful love to shine before all men1 that those mighty adversaries1 seeing the good works of professors1 may glorify their ,father who is in heaven1 and no more blaspheme that worthy name1 by which we are all called ,christians4 8,if you ask1 what system these men adopt8 ,i answer1 some build on ,deism a morality founded on self-preservation1 self-interest1 and self-honour4 ,others laugh at all morality1 except that which being neglected violently disturbs society4 ,and external order is the decent covering of ,fatalism1 while ,materialism is their system4 8,oh1 dear ,sirs1 let me entreat you1 in these dangerous days1 to use your wide influence1 with unabated zeal1 against the scheme of these modern ,celsuses1 ,porphyries1 and ,julians1 by calling all professors to think and speak the same things1 to love and embrace one another1 and to firmly resist those daring men2 many of whom are already in ,england1 headed by the admirers of ,mr4 ,hume and ,mr4 ,hobbes4 ,but it is needless to say this to those who have made1 and continue to make1 such a stand for vital ,christianity2 so that ,i have nothing to do but pray that the ,lord may abundantly support and strengthen you1 and make you a continued comfort to ,his enlightened people1 loving reprovers of those who mix light with darkness1 and a terror to the perverse4 8,i need not tell you1 ,sirs1 that the hour in which ,providence shall make my way plain to return to ,england1 to unite with those who feel or seek the power of ,christian godliness1 will be welcome to me4 ,o favoured ,britons6 ,happy would it be for them1 if they knew their ,gospel privileges6 8,my relations in ,adam are all very kind to me2 but the spiritual relations1 whom ,god has raised me in ,england1 exceed them yet4 ,thanks be to ,christ1 and to ,his blasphemed religion6 8,i am1 ,rev4 ,sirs1 your affectionate son1 and obliged servant in the ,gospel1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#dch ,footnote #dcg3 ,thirteen days after the date of this letter1 ,voltaire1 in ,paris1 took a large dose of opium1 without the advice of his physicians1 and died4 ,footnote #dch3 ,arminian ,magazine1 #aghh1 p4 #chd4 ,on the day after the date of this letter1 ,fletcher wrote the following to the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,conyers1 another ,methodist ,clergyman1 to whom he had sent his 8,reconciliation2 or1 an easy ,method to unite the people of ,god10 published in #aggg3-- 8,,macon1 ,,in ,,burgundy1 ,may #ah1 #aggh4 8,,hon4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,i left orders1 with a friend1 to send you a little book called #8,the ,reconciliation1' in which ,i endeavour to bring nearer the children of ,god1 who are divided about their partial views of divine truths4 ,i know not whether that tract has1 in any degree1 answered its design2 but ,i believe truth can be reconciled with itself1 and the candid children of ,god one with another4 ,o that some abler hand1 and more loving heart1 would undertake to mend my plan1 or draw one more agreeable to the ,word of ,god6 ,my eyes are upon you1 dear ,sir1 and those who are like-minded with you1 for this work4 ,disappoint not my hope4 ,stand forth1 and make way for reconciling love1 by removing1 so far as lies in you1 what is in the way of brotherly union4 8,o ,sir6 the work is worthy of you4 ,if you saw with what boldness the false philosophers of the continent1 who are the apostles of the age1 attack ,christianity1 and represent it as one of the worst religions in the world1 and fit only to make the professors of it murder one another1 or at least to contend among themselves1 and how they urge our disputes to make the ,gospel of ,christ the jest of nations1 and the abhorrence of all flesh1 you would break through your natural timidity1 and invite all our brethren in the ministry to unite and form a close battalion1 and face the common enemy4 8,o dear ,sir6 take courage4 ,be bold for reconciling truth4 ,be bold for peace4 ,you can do all things through ,christ strengthening you2 and1 as ,doctor ,conyers1 you can do many things1 a great many more than you think4 ,what if you go1 ,sir1 in ,christ's name1 to all the ,gospel ministers of your acquaintance1 exhort them as a father1 entreat them as a brother1 and bring them1 or as many of them as you can1 together8 ,think you that your labour would be in vain in the ,lord8 ,impossible1 ,sir6 ,o despair not4 ,if you want a coach1 or a friend to accompany you1 when you go upon this errand of love1 remember there is a ,thornton in ,london1 and an ,ireland in ,bristol1 who will wish you ,god speed2 and ,god will raise many more to concur in the peaceful work4 8,let me humbly entreat you to go to work1 and to persevere in it4 ,i wish ,i had strength to be1 at least1 your postilion when you go4 ,i would drive1 if not like ,jehu1 at least with some degree of cheerful swiftness1 while ,christ smiled on the ,christian attempt4 ,but ,i am confident you can do all in the absence of him1 who is1 with brotherly love1 and dutiful respect1 ,hon4 and dear ,sir1 your obedient servant in the ,gospel1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#dci ,footnote #dci3 ,arminian ,magazine1 #aghh1 p4 #chf4 ,dr4 ,conyers1 to whom this letter was addressed1 was a notable man4 ,born at ,helmsley1 ,yorkshire1 in #agbe1 he1 in due time1 became the ,vicar of that extensive parish4 ,his conversion there1 and his labours1 were remarkable4 ,in #agfe1 he married ,mrs4 ,knipe1 a rich and pious widow1 the sister of the well-known ,john ,thornton1 ,esq41 of ,clapham4 ,three years before the foregoing letter was written1 ,mr4 ,thornton presented him to the living of ,st4 ,paul's1 ,deptford2 and here he died in #aghf1 eight months after the death of ,fletcher4#ddj ,at the beginning of his evangelical career1 he was warmly attached to ,wesley1 and a firm believer in the doctrines of the ,arminians4 ,afterwards1 he was1 to some extent1 influenced by certain of the ,calvinian ,ministers1 with whom he held converse2 but1 like his brother-in-law1 ,john ,thornton1 he was a lover of all good men2 and1 occupying a kind of neutral position between the contending parties1 ,fletcher deemed him well qualified to bring about the reconciliation of the two4 ,footnote #ddj3 ,evangelical ,magazine1 #agid4 ,at this period1 the venerable ,vicar of ,shoreham had been recently informed that he was entitled to a valuable estate in ,switzerland1 and ,william ,perronet1 ,fletcher's medical adviser in ,england1 had undertaken to visit ,switzerland to enforce his father's rights4 ,before doing so1 however1 he wrote to ,fletcher1 requesting his advice2 and ,fletcher's reply was as follows3-- 8,,nyon1 ,june #b1 #aggh4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,when ,i wrote to you last1 ,i mentioned two ladies of your family who have married two brothers1 ,messrs4 ,monod4 ,since then1 they have requested me to send your father the enclosed memorial1 which ,i hope will prove of use to your family4 ,as the bad writing and the language may make the understanding of it difficult1 ,i forward you the substance of it1 and of the letter of the ladies' lawyer4 8,while ,i invite you to make your title clear to a precarious estate on earth1 permit me1 my dear ,sir1 to remind you of the heavenly inheritance entailed on believers4 ,the will1 the ,new ,testament by which we can recover it1 is proved4 ,the ,court is just and equitable2 the ,judge is gracious and loving4 ,to enter into possession of a part of the estate here1 and of the whole hereafter1 we need only believe and prove evangelically that we are believers4 ,let us then set about it now1 with earnestness1 with perseverance1 and with a full assurance that1 through grace1 we shall carry our cause4 ,alas6 what are estates and crowns to grace and glory8 8,i have had a pull back since ,i wrote last4 ,after ,i left ,mr4 ,ireland at ,macon1 to shorten my journey and enjoy new prospects1 ,i ventured to cross the mountains which separate ,france from this country4 ,on the third day of the journey1 ,i found a large hill1 whose winding roads were so steep that1 though we fed the horses with bread and wine1 they could scarcely draw the chaise1 and ,i was obliged to walk in all the steepest places4 ,the climbing lasted several hours2 the sun was hot2 ,i perspired violently2 and the next day ,i spit blood again4 ,i have chiefly kept to goat's milk ever since2 ,i find myself better2 and my cough is neither frequent nor violent4 8,this is a delightful country4 ,if you come to see it1 and to claim the estate1 bring all the papers and memorials you can collect2 and share a pleasant apartment1 and one of the finest prospects in the world1 in the house where ,i was born4 ,i design to try this fine air some months longer4 ,we have a fine shady wood near the lake1 where ,i can ride in the cool all the day1 and enjoy the singing of a multitude of birds4 ,but this1 though sweet1 does not come up to the singing of my dear friends in ,england4 ,there ,i meet them in spirit several hours in the day40#dda ,footnote #dda3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bfc1 and ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,the ensuing letter1 kindly lent by the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,knowles1 of ,tunbridge ,wells1 has not before been published4 ,it was addressed to 8,mr4 ,power1 ,druggist1 in ,broadmead1 ,bristol1 ,angleterre40 8,,nyon1 ,june #bj1 #aggh4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,a journey and my constant rides have hindered me acknowledging sooner the favour of your observations and criticisms1 which ,i received some time ago4 ,if ,i had my little publications here1 to turn to the pages you quote1 ,i would immediately make notes1 and alter or rectify what you object to1 as a preparation for a more correct edition1 should the work be ever reprinted4 ,i wish all my friends had taken as much pains about my works as you have1 ,sir2 they would by this time be more correct4 ,accept my sincere thanks for the favour2 and1 if ,i live to see ,england again1 we shall 7please ,god7 talk the matter over fully4 8,i am obliged to you for your caution about preaching4 ,i have followed it1 and have not yet preached in this country1 though ,i believe ,i shall soon venture again upon it1 but with care and in a sparing manner4 ,i hope at least the ,lord will give me grace so to do4 8,i heartily rejoice that ,mrs4 ,power has been carried safely1 a second time1 through the danger of child-bearing4 ,may she and the two fruits of her body live to the glory of ,god1 and to your comfort6 ,remember me kindly to her2 and give my blessing to my god-son1 whose will1 ,i hope1 you continue to break with the wisdom1 patience1 and steadiness which become a parent4 8,i sent your mother a few lines by ,mr4 ,ireland4 ,i hope she received them2 but ,i shall never get an answer1 if what he writes me is true4 ,is she dead indeed8 ,sometimes ,i hope it is a rumour without foundation2 and yet his account that she died at ,bath1 where your letter mentions she was gone1 makes me fear he was well-informed4 ,if she is no more1 you have lost a tender mother1 and ,i a kind friend2 but the ,lord will make up all our losses1 and has already made them up by giving us ,his ,son4 ,may we receive ,him1 and with ,him all that is excellent among the living and the dead6 ,as she has been for many years a woman of sorrow1--a true ,hannah--wading almost constantly through a sea of temptations1 they may have followed her to the last1 and she may have escaped out of many tribulations1 as the saints mentioned in the ,revelation4 ,a line about it1 and about your welfare1 and that of my god-son1 will greatly oblige1 dear ,sir1 your obedient and already obliged servant1 ,j4 ,,fletcher4 8,my love to your brother1 when you see him40 ,the next letter1 written to ,mr4 ,ireland1 contains a sylvan scene worthy of being painted3-- 8,,nyon1 ,july #ae1 #aggh4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,i have ventured to preach once1 and to expound once in the church4 ,our ministers are very kind1 and preach to the purpose4 ,a young one of this town gave us lately a very excellent gospel sermon4 8,grown-up people stand fast in their stupidity1 or in their self-righteousness4 ,the day ,i preached1 ,i met some children in my wood gathering strawberries4 ,i spoke to them about our common ,father4 ,we felt a touch of brotherly affection4 ,they said they would sing to their ,father1 as well as the birds2 and followed me1 attempting to make such melody as you know is commonly made in these parts4 ,i outrode them1 but some of them had the patience to follow me home2 and said they would speak with me4 ,the people of the house stopped them1 saying1 ,i would not be troubled with children4 ,they cried1 and said1 they were sure ,i would not say so1 for ,i was their good brother4 ,the next day1 when ,i heard this1 ,i enquired after them1 and invited them to come and see me2 which they have done every day since4 ,i make them little hymns1 which they sing4 ,some of them are unde1 sweet drawings4 ,yesterday1 ,i wept for joy on hearing one of them speak1 as an experienced believer in ,bristol would have done1 of conviction of sin1 and of the joy unspeakable in ,christ that followed4 ,last ,sunday1 ,i met them in the wood2 there were a hundred of them1 and as many adults4 ,our first pastor has since desired me to desist from preaching in the wood 7for ,i had exhorted71 for fear of giving umbrage2 and ,i have complied1 from a concurrence of circumstances which are not worth mentioning2 ,i therefore now meet them in my father's yard40#ddb ,footnote #ddb3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bfd4 ,what a contrast to this scene of gentleness among children is the following6 ,fletcher had a nephew1 who had been in the ,sardinian army1 where his ungentlemanly and profligate conduct had given such general offence to his brother officers that they determined to compel him to leave their corps1 or to fight them all in succession4 ,after engaging in two or three duels1 with various success1 the young bravo left the service1 and now1 during ,fletcher's present visit1 he returned to ,switzerland4 ,his resources were soon spent in profligacy2 and1 gaining access to his uncle1 ,general ,de ,gons1 he presented a loaded pistol1 and said1 8,uncle ,de ,gons1 if you do not give me a draft on your banker for five hundred crowns1 ,i will shoot you40 ,the ,general was a brave man1 but1 seeing himself in the power of a desperado capable of any mischief1 he wrote the draft4 8,uncle10 said the young fellow1 8you must do another thing2 you must promise me1 on your honour1 to use no means to recover the draft1 or to bring me to justice40 ,the ,general promised1 and the bandit rode away triumphantly4 ,passing the door of his uncle ,fletcher1 he called upon him1 and told him ,general ,de ,gons had generously given him five hundred crowns4 ,fletcher doubted the truthfulness of this statement4 ,the draft was produced4 8,let me see it10 said ,fletcher4 ,it was handed to him4 ,fletcher examined it1 and remarked1 8,it is indeed my brother's writing1 and it astonishes me2 because my brother is not wealthy1 and ,i know that he justly disapproves your conduct1 and that you are the last in the family to whom he would make such a present40 ,then1 folding the draft and putting it into his pocket1 ,fletcher added1 8,it strikes me1 young man1 that you have obtained this draft improperly2 and1 in honesty1 ,i cannot return it without my brother's approbation40 ,out came the pistol1 and was levelled at ,fletcher's breast4 8,return it10 cried the young scoundrel1 8or ,i will take your life40 8,my life10 calmly replied ,fletcher1 8is secure in the protection of the ,almighty ,power who guards it2 nor will ,he suffer it to be the forfeit of your rashness1 or my integrity4 ,do you think that ,i1 who have been a minister of ,god for five-and-twenty years1 am afraid of death8 ,it is for you to fear death1 who have every reason to fear it4 ,you are a gamester and a cheat1 yet call yourself a gentleman6 ,you are the seducer of female innocence1 and still you say that you are a gentleman6 ,you are a duellist and your hand is red with blood1 and for this you call yourself a man of honour6 ,look there1 ,sir6 look there6 ,see1 the broad eye of heaven is upon us4 ,tremble in the presence of your ,maker1 who can in a moment kill your body1 and for ever damn your soul60 ,the culprit turned pale2 then he argued1 threatened1 and entreated4 ,sometimes1 taking out his pistol1 he fixed himself against the door to prevent egress2 and1 at other times1 closed on frail ,fletcher1 menacing him with instantaneous death4 ,all was of no avail4 ,the poor country parson was as valorous as the most heroic soldier4 ,he gave no alarm to the family2 he sought no weapon2 he attempted no escape2 he simply conversed with the calmness of a hero and a saint4 ,at length1 the young fellow began to be affected2 and now1 having gained the victory1 ,fletcher addressed him in another strain3 8,i cannot return my brother's draft10 said he2 8yet ,i feel for your distress1 and will endeavour to relieve it4 ,my brother ,gons1 at my request1 ,i am sure will give you a hundred crowns2 ,i will do the same2 perhaps my brother ,henry will do as much2 and ,i hope your own family will make up the five hundred crowns among them40 ,fletcher then fell upon his knees1 and began to pray2 uncle and nephew parted1 and the family1 by ,fletcher's mediation1 furnished the young scapegrace with the five hundred crowns he had feloniously attempted to extort4#ddc ,footnote #ddc3 ,cox's 8,life of ,fletcher10 p4 #abi4 ,amidst such scenes1 ,fletcher did not forget his friends at ,madeley4 ,on ,july #ah1 he wrote three messages3-- ,to his curate1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,greaves4--8,i trust you lay yourself out for the good of the flock committed to your care4 ,i shall be glad to hear that they grow in grace1 and humble love40 ,to the congregation in ,madeley church4--8,john ,fletcher begs a farther interest in the prayers of the congregation of ,madeley2 and desires those1 who assemble to serve ,god in the church1 to help him to return public thanks to ,almighty ,god for many mercies received2 especially1 for being able to do a little ministerial duty4 ,he humbly beseeches them to serve ,god as ,christians1 and to love one another as brethren2 neglecting no means of grace1 and rejoicing in all the hopes of glory40 ,to the ,methodist ,societies 8in ,madeley1 ,dawley1 and the ,banks40--8,we are all called to grow in grace1 and1 consequently1 in love1 which is the greatest of all ,christian graces4 ,your prayers for my soul and my body have not been without answer4 ,blessed be ,god6 ,glory be to ,his rich mercy in ,christ1 ,i live yet the life of faith2 as to my body1 ,i recover some strength4 ,god bless you all1 with all the blessings brought to the ,church by ,christ ,jesus1 and by the other ,comforter6 ,my love to the preachers0 7,john ,murlin and ,robert ,roberts71 8whom ,i beg you will thank in my name40#ddd ,footnote #ddd3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #de4 ,two months later 7,september #ae71 he wrote to his friend ,thomas ,york3-- 8,blessed be the ,god of all consolation1 though ,i have still very trying and feverish nights1 ,i am kept in peace of mind2 resigned to ,his will1 who afflicts me for my good1 and justly sets me aside for my unprofitableness4 ,his grace within1 and ,his people without1 turn my trying circumstances into matter of praise4 ,give my love to all your dear family2 to the two or three who may yet remember me at ,shiffnal2 and1 also1 to ,daniel1 and desire him1 when he gathers the ,easter dues1 to give my love and thanks to all my parishioners48#dde ,footnote #dde3 ,ibid1 p4 #de4 ,no doubt ,fletcher's statement to ,mr4 ,york1 respecting himself1 was strictly true2 but1 still1 there must have been a considerable improvement in his health since he left ,england4 ,hence the following interesting letter1 written to ,mr4 ,ireland only ten days later3-- 8,,nyon1 ,september #be1 #aggh4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,i am just returned from an excursion ,i have made with my brother1 through the fine vale in the midst of the high hills which divide ,france from this country4 ,in that vale we found three lakes1 one on ,french ground1 and two on ,swiss3 the largest is six miles long and two wide4 ,it is the part of the country where industry is most apparent1 and where population thrives best4 ,the inhabitants are chiefly woodmen1 coopers1 watchmakers1 and jewellers4 ,they told me1 they had the best singing1 and the best preacher1 in the country4 ,i asked1 if any sinners were converted under his ministry8 ,they stared1 and asked1 what ,i meant by conversion8 ,when ,i had explained myself1 they said1 #8,we do not live in the time of miracles4' 8,i was better satisfied in passing through a part of the vale which belongs to the ,king of ,france4 ,i saw a prodigious concourse of people1 and supposed they kept a fair1 but was agreeably surprised to find three missionaries in the midst of them1 who went about as itinerant preachers to help the regular clergy4 ,they had been there some days1 and were three brothers1 and preached morning and evening4 ,the evening service opened with what they called a conference4 ,one of the missionaries took the pulpit1 and the parish priest proposed questions to him1 which he answered at full length and in a very edifying manner4 ,the subject was the unlawfulness and the mischief of those methods by which persons of different sexes lay snares for each other1 and corrupt each other's morals4 ,the subject was treated with delicacy1 propriety1 and truth4 ,the method was admirably well calculated to draw and fix the attention of a mixed multitude4 ,this conference being ended1 another missionary took the pulpit4 ,his text was our ,lord's description of the day of judgment4 ,before the sermon1 all those who1 for the press1 could kneel1 did1 and sang a ,french hymn to beg a blessing on the word2 and indeed it was blessed4 ,an awful attention was visible upon most1 and1 during a good part of the discourse1 the voice of the preacher was almost lost in the cries and bitter wailings of the audience4 ,when the outcry began1 the preacher was describing the departure of the wicked into eternal fire4 ,they urged that ,god was merciful1 and that ,jesus ,christ had shed ,his blood for them4 #8,but that mercy you have slighted1 and now is the time of justice4 ,that blood you have trodden under foot1 and now it cries for vengeance4 ,know your day4 ,slight the ,father's mercy and the ,son's blood no longer4' ,i have seen but once or twice congregations as much affected in ,england4 8,one of our ministers being ill1 ,i ventured1 a second time1 into the pulpit last ,sunday2 and1 the ,sunday before1 ,i preached1 six miles off1 to two thousand people in the yard of a jail1 where they were come to see a murderer before his execution4 ,i was a little abused by the bailiff on the occasion1 and was refused the liberty of attending the poor man to the scaffold1 where he was to be broken on the wheel4 ,i hope he died penitent4 ,the day before he suffered1 he said he had broken his irons1 and that1 as he deserved to die1 he desired new ones to be put on1 lest he should be tempted to make his escape4 8,you ask1 what ,i design to do8 ,i propose1 if it be the ,lord's will1 to spend the winter here4 ,in the spring1 ,i shall1 if nothing prevents1 return to ,england with you1 or with ,mr4 ,perronet1 if his affairs are settled1 or alone1 if other ways fail4 ,in the meanwhile1 ,i rejoice with you in ,jesus1 and in the glorious hope of that complete salvation ,his faithfulness has promised1 and ,his power can never be at a loss to bestow4 ,we must be saved by faith and hope till we are saved by perfect love1 and made partakers of heavenly glory4 ,i am truly a stranger here4 ,as strangers let us go where we shall meet the assembly of the righteous gathered in ,jesus48#ddf ,footnote #ddf3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bfh4 ,mr4 ,william ,perronet arrived at ,nyon in the month of ,december1 and1 in letters to his father1 related3-- 8,however engaged ,mr4 ,fletcher is the greater part of the day1 he is generally so kind as to spend a little time with me in the evening in prayer and conversation4 ,his chief delight seems to be in meeting his little society of children4 ,he is exceedingly fond of them1 and they appear to be as fond of him4 ,he seldom walks abroad or rides out1 but some of them follow him1 singing the hymns they have learned1 and conversing with him by the way4 ,but you must not suppose that he is permitted to enjoy this happiness unmolested4 ,not only do the drunkards make songs on him and his little companions1 but many of the clergy loudly complain of such irregular proceedings4 ,however1 he is upon good terms with three ministers of the place2 all of whom are serious men1 and desirous of promoting true religion4 8,he is better1 ,i think1 than when he left ,england2 but he frequently puts his strength to too severe a trial1 by meeting his ,society of children1 and some grown persons2 and other exercises of a like nature4 ,when he ventures to preach1 his spitting of blood returns2 and whenever this happens1 his strength and spirits decay surprisingly40#ddg ,footnote #ddg3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher04 ,fletcher and his brother translated all the papers of ,william ,perronet into ,french1 and1 in other ways1 assisted him1 in reference to the estate which he had gone to ,switzerland to obtain4 ,notwithstanding the delicate state of ,fletcher's health1 the three set out1 in the wintry weather of that ,december month1 to visit ,chateau d',oex1 where the property was situated4 ,the distance from ,nyon was fifty-seven miles4 ,when they had made about a quarter of the journey1 8the horses were tired out1 the coachman refused to proceed further10 and they were obliged to return home again4#ddh ,a few days later1 they made another attempt1 and arrived at their destination on ,january #aj1 #aggi4 ,five days afterwards1 they were again at ,nyon4 ,footnote #ddh3 ,ibid4 ,in ,fletcher's state of health1 such a journey was perilous2 but his love to the ,perronet family was such that1 to him1 no labour and risk1 on their behalf1 were too great4 ,in letters to his venerable father1 at ,shoreham1 ,william ,perronet states1 that none of them having been to ,chateau d',oex before1 they were obliged to employ a guide1 and that 8on account of the badness of the ways10 they had 8to go some leagues about10 which made their journey about eighty miles4 ,their coach had to pass 8over mountains of snow and rocks of ice40 ,when nine miles from ,chateau d',oex1 they were obliged to exchange their coach for 8an open sledge20 and now they 8travelled through narrow passes1 cut through the snow1 which1 on both sides1 was many feet above their heads2 on the sides of mountains1 whose summits the eye could scarcely reach2 and frequently on the brink of precipices1 at the bottoms of which they could hear the waters roar like thunder40 ,in one place1 ,fletcher and ,william ,perronet1 being obliged to walk1 their feet slipped3 ,fletcher 8received a violent blow on the back part of the head20 and ,william ,perronet 8sprained0 his 8wrist40 ,in crossing the ,alps1 they had to lie 8two nights in beds that were not only damp1 but musty and without curtains20 and1 8being in a ,popish canton1 and ,friday and ,saturday being meagre days10 they 8were almost starved with hunger as well as cold40 8,the weather was extremely severe1 and it was scarce in the power of clothes1 or even of fire1 to keep0 them 8warm40 ,william ,perronet concludes his narrative of their adventures as follows3-- 8,whether ,i succeed in my temporal business or not1 ,i shall ever remember1 with pleasure and thankfulness1 the opportunities ,i have been blessed with in spending so much time in company with our inestimable friend2 who1 wherever he goes1 preaches the ,gospel1 both by his words and example2 nay1 by his very looks1 not only to his friends1 but to all whom he meets3 so that1 on the top of the frozen ,alps1 and in the dreary vale of ,chateau d',oex1 good seed has been sown4 ,at ,chateau d',oex1 he was visited by some of the principal inhabitants1 who stood around him1 in deep attention1 for almost an hour1 while he exhorted and prayed40#ddi ,footnote #ddi3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,in a postscript to this letter1 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,i have had the pleasure of accompanying your son to your father's birthplace4 ,it is a charming country for those who have a taste for highland prospects2 but what is it to our heavenly ,father's ,hill of ,sion8 ,thither may we all travel1 summer and winter1 and there may we all have a happy meeting1 and find an eternal inheritance60 ,three weeks later1 ,fletcher wrote the following to ,mr4 ,ireland3-- 8,,nyon1 ,february #b1 #aggi4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,i am sorry to hear that you are still tried by illness2 but our good1 heavenly ,father is wise2 ,his will be done2 ,his name be praised6 8,i am better1 thank ,god6 and ride out every day1 when the slippery roads will permit me to venture without the risk of breaking my horse's legs and my own neck4 ,you will ask me how ,i spend my time8 ,i pray1 have patience1 rejoice1 and write1 when ,i can2 ,i saw wood in the house when ,i cannot go out2 and eat grapes1 of which ,i have always a basket by me4 8,our little ,lord-,lieutenant has forbidden the ministers to let me exhort in the parsonage1 because it is the sovereign's house4 ,my second brother has addressed a memorial to him1 in which he informs him that he will give up neither his religious nor civil liberty1 and will open his house for the ,word of ,god4 ,according1 we have since met at his house4 8,on ,sunday1 we met at the young clergyman's who writes against the conduct of the clergy2 but ,i fear we fence against a wall of brass4 ,however1 ,i am quite persuaded that ,providence calls me to leave a testimony to my ,french brethren1 and it may be of some use when ,i shall be no more4 ,i have been comforted by the apology of a minister at ,yverdon1 who was persecuted at the beginning of this century under the name of ,pietist2 and ,i have become acquainted with a faithful minister of ,geneva1 but he dares no more offer me his pulpit than my brother-in-law at ,lausanne4 8,several young women seem to have received the ,word in the love of it1 and four or five grown-up ones2 but not one man1 except the young hopeful clergyman ,i mention1 who helps me at my little meetings1 and begins to preach extempore4 ,the truths ,i chiefly insist upon1 when ,i talk to the people who will hear me1 are those which ,i feed upon myself as my daily bread4 #8,god1 our ,maker and ,preserver1 though invisible1 is here and everywhere4 ,he is our chief good1 because all beauty and all goodness centre in and flow from ,him4 ,he is especially love2 and love in us1 being ,his image1 is the sum and substance of all moral and spiritual excellence--of all true and lasting bliss4 ,in ,adam we are all estranged from love and from ,god2 but the ,second ,adam--,jesus1 ,emanuel1 ,god with us1--is come to make us know and enjoy again our ,god as the ,god of love and the chief good4 ,all who receive ,jesus receive power to become the sons of ,god1' etc41 etc4 8,i hope ,i shall be able to set out for ,england with ,mr4 ,perronet1 in ,april or ,may4 ,o that ,i may find that dear island in peace within and without6#dej ,well1 ,i hope you make peace in the ,church if you cannot make peace with the patriots4 8,the coats and shoes you gave me have lasted all this while1 and are yet good2 so that ,i need not draw upon your banker4 ,thank ,god1 and you1 for a thousand favours6 ,god bless and comfort you1 my dear friend6 ,we are poor creatures1 but we have a good ,god to cast all our burdens upon1 and who often burdens us that we may have constant and free recourse to ,his bounty1 power1 and faithfulness4 ,stand fast in the faith4 ,believe lovingly1 and all will be well40#dea ,footnote #dej3 ,the war with the ,american ,colonists was now raging1 and ,england was greatly excited4 ,footnote #dea3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bga4 ,to his friend and ,methodist helper among the ,madeley ,societies1 ,william ,wase1 ,fletcher wrote as follows3-- 8,,nyon1 ,february #aa1 #aggi4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,i have just received yours of ,january #bd1 and rejoice to hear of the welfare of your friends1 whom ,i long much to see2 but there is no blessing here without some alloy of grief1 and such was to me the account of the poor state of health of dear ,mrs4 ,wase4 ,tell her ,i should be glad to hold up her hands in her fight of affliction2 but1 if the poor1 unprofitable1 weak servant is afar off1 the ,master1 who is rich in mercy1 who fills the whole world with ,his goodness and patience1 is near to her and to all ,his afflicted ones4 ,i recommend to her two remedies4 ,one is a cheerful resignation to the will of ,god1 whereby her animal spirits will be greatly raised or sweetly refreshed4 ,the other is1 four lumps of heavenly sugar1 to be taken every half hour1 day and night1 when she does not sleep4 ,i make a constant use of them1 to my great comfort4 ,they have quickened my soul when ,i was dying1 and ,i doubt not they will have the same effect upon hers4 ,they are3 #8,god so loved the world1' etc4 #8,if any man sin1' etc4 #8,it is a faithful saying1' etc4 #8,come unto ,me1 all ye that are weary1' etc4 8,tell my little god-daughter1 ,patty ,cartwright1 she is big enough and bad enough to take these heavenly pills4 ,tell her mother to take them regularly with her4 ,what a shame it is to have such a remedy and not to make more use of it6 8,remember me in much love to dear ,mr4 ,hatton4 ,thank brother ,costerdine and his fellow-labourer#deb for their occasional help4 ,may the ,lord vouchsafe to consecrate our little ,zoar#dec by calling one sinner and establishing another saint6 ,how abundantly shall we be repaid for our little expense and trouble6 ,thank the brethren you have mentioned2 salute them kindly from me1 not forgetting ,john ,tranter and our friends at the ,fore ,bank--,thomas ,pool and ,thomas ,banks1 and our friends at ,dawley ,green4 ,you may see in the enclosed that ,i am not without hopes of telling you in ,may how much ,i am yours1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#ded ,footnote #deb3 ,james ,barry and ,robert ,costerdine1 the two ,methodist itinerant preachers stationed in the ,chester circuit1 of which ,madeley and its neighbourhood were a part4 ,footnote #dec3 ,the meeting-house ,fletcher had recently erected in ,madeley ,wood1 and which is now a part of the ,wesleyan ,chapel there4 ,footnote #ded3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #dg1 and the ,christian ,miscellany1 #ahgg1 p4 #ccc4 8,the enclosed0 communication bore the same date as this letter to ,william ,wase1 of ,broseley1 and was addressed 8,to the ,brethren in and about ,madeley20 i4e41 the ,methodists3-- 8,,my ,,dear ,,companions ,,in ,,tribulation1--,peace and mercy1 faith1 hope1 and love be multiplied to you all from the ,father of mercies through the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 by the ,spirit of grace6 ,i thank you for your kind remembrance of me in your prayers4 ,i am yet spared to pray for you4 ,o that ,i had more power with ,god6 ,i would bring down heaven into all your hearts4 ,strive together in love for the living faith1 the glorious hope1 the sanctifying love once delivered to the saints4 ,look to ,jesus4 ,move on2 run yourselves in the heavenly race1 and let each sweetly draw his brother along1 till the whole company appears before the redeeming ,god in ,sion4 8,i hope ,god will1 in ,his mercy1 spare me to see you in the flesh2 and if ,i cannot labour for you1 ,i shall gladly suffer with you4 ,if you will put health into my flesh1 joy into my heart1 and life into my whole frame1 be of one heart and of one soul4 ,count nothing your own but your sin and shame2 and bury that dreadful property in the grave of our ,saviour4 ,let all you are and have be ,his who bought you4 ,dig hard in the ,gospel mines for hidden treasure4 ,blow hard the furnace of prayer with the bellows of faith until you are melted into love1 and the dross of sin is purged out of every heart4 ,get together into ,jesus1 the heavenly ark1 and sweetly sail into the ocean of eternity2 so shall you be true miners1 furnacemen1 and bargemen4 ,farewell1 in ,jesus6 ,tell ,mrs4 ,cound ,i shall greatly rejoice if she remembers ,lot's wife40#dee ,footnote #dee3 ,letters1 p4 #dh1 and ibid1 p4 #ccd4 ,six weeks after the date of this letter to the ,madeley ,methodists1 ,wesley visited them1 and wrote3-- 8#aggi4 ,march #be1 ,thursday4 ,i preached in the new house which ,mr4 ,fletcher has built in ,madeley ,wood4 ,the people here exactly resemble those at ,kingswood1 only they are more simple and teachable4 ,but1 for want of discipline1 the immense pains which he has taken with them has not done them the good which might have been expected4 ,i preached at ,shrewsbury in the evening1 and next day1 about noon1 in the assembly-room at ,broseley4 ,it was well we were in the shade1 for the sun shone as hot as it usually does at midsummer4 ,we walked from thence to ,coalbrook ,dale1 and took a view of the bridge which is shortly to be thrown over the ,severn4 ,it is one arch1 a hundred feet long1 fifty-two high1 and eighteen wide2 all of cast-iron1 weighing many hundred tons4 ,i doubt whether the ,colossus at ,rhodes weighed much more40#def ,footnote #def3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,fletcher's health was still feeble1 but he longed to be back to his parishioners and to the ,methodists surrounding ,madeley4 ,hence the following to the ,vicar of ,shoreham3-- 8#aggi1 ,march #bi4 ,i am still weak in body1 but able to ride out and exhort some children4 ,well1 the time shall come when1 in a better state1 we shall be able to glorify our heavenly ,father4 ,in the meantime1 let us do it either in the stocks of weakness or in the fires of tribulation2 and on our death-bed may we sing1 with hearts overflowing with humble love1 #8,the ,resurrection and the ,life1 the ,friend and ,saviour of sinners1 loved me and gave ,himself for me2 and ,i am going to see ,him and to thank ,him1 face to face1 for ,his matchless love6' 8,i hope the prospect respecting the inheritance of your fathers in this country clears up a little1 and ,i trust the matter will be decided without a lawsuit4 ,as soon as the affair is brought to some conclusion1 we design to set out for ,england4 ,the will of the ,lord be done in all things60#deg ,footnote #deg3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,this was written in the week before ,easter4 ,the ,puritanical ,calvinists of ,switzerland of course denounced the observance of holy days1 and hence1 at ,nyon1 there was no service on ,good ,friday1 ,april #b2 but ,fletcher and ,william ,perronet1 who all their life had been accustomed to commemorate the death of the incarnate ,son of ,god1 crossed the lake into ,savoy1 to hear a celebrated ,capuchin4 8,he made10 says ,mr4 ,perronet1 8a very good discourse1 and he and his brethren invited us to dine with them4 ,this we declined2 but1 after dinner1 we paid our respects to them1 when ,mr4 ,fletcher spent two or three hours with them in serious and friendly conversation40#deh ,footnote #deh3 ,ibid4 ,fletcher had expressed a hope that he would be able to return to his flock at ,madeley in ,april or ,may1 but his hope was not realized4 ,the reasons for this will be found in the following extracts from his letters4 ,to his curate1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,greaves1 he said3-- 8,nyon1 ,may #ah1 #aggi4 ,my dear fellow-labourer1--,my departure being delayed some weeks gives me much concern1 although1 from the confidence ,i have in your pastoral diligence1 ,i am easy about the flock you feed4 ,last week1 a ,visitation was held here1 and the clergy of the town took my part against the ,visitor and others1 who said ,i was of a sect everywhere spoken against4 ,the conversation about it held so long1 and was so trying to my grain of humility1 that ,i went out4 ,the matter1 however1 ended peaceably by a vote that they should invite me to dinner4 ,god ever save us from jealous and persecuting zeal4 8,i hope1 my dear friend1 you go on comfortably1 doing more and more the work of an evangelist4 ,remember my love to as many of my parishioners as you meet with1 and especially to all our good neighbours and to the ,society40#dei ,footnote #dei3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #di4 ,on the same day1 he wrote to ,michael ,onions as follows3-- 8,i have complied with the request of my friends to stay a little longer among them1 as it was backed by a small ,society of pious people gathered here4 ,three weeks ago1 they got about me1 and on their knees1 with many tears1 besought me to stay till they were a little stronger and able to stand alone2 nor would they rise till they had got me to comply4 ,however1 yesterday1 ,i spoke with a carrier1 from ,geneva1 to take me to ,london1 who said he would take us at a fortnight's notice4 8,my love to your fellow-leaders1 and1 by them1 to the companies you meet in prayer2 also to the preachers who help in the ,round#dfj40dfa ,footnote #dfj3 ,the name often given by the old ,methodists to a ,methodist ,circuit4 ,footnote #dfa3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ea4 ,on ,may #bb1 ,william ,perronet1 in a letter to his father1 observed3-- 8,on the #ith of this month1 ,mr4 ,fletcher preached in the church1 on #b ,cor4 v4 #bj--#8,we are ambassadors for ,christ1' etc4 ,he spoke with a strong and clear voice for more than three-quarters of an hour1 and did not find himself hurt by it4 ,he has preached four times in the church since ,i have been here1 and might have preached much oftener if his health would have allowed him2 for1 by his friendly and prudent conduct towards the three ministers of the place1 he is upon good terms with them now1 although1 at his first coming hither1 they were afraid to own him1 on account of his irregular conduct2 for such they deemed his exhorting the children1 and holding meetings in private houses40#dfb ,footnote #dfb3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,on the same day1 ,fletcher remarked to the same venerable minister3-- 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,brother1 ,,and ,,honoured ,,father1--,i rejoice that you are yet preserved to be a witness of the grace and saving health of ,jesus4 ,let us rejoice that when our strength shall decay1 ,his will remain entire for ever1 and1 in ,his strength1 we1 who take ,him for our life1 shall be strong4 ,our ,redeemer liveth2 and1 when sickness and death shall have brought down our flesh to the earth1 we shall1 by ,his resurrection's power1 rise and live for ever with ,him in heavenly places2 for the new earth will be a heaven1 or a glorious province in the kingdom of heaven4 ,the meek shall inherit it2 and that inheritance will be fairer than yours at ,chateau d',oex1 and surer too4 8,i hope to accompany your son soon to ,england40#dfc ,footnote #dfc3 ,ibid4 ,the following1 also1 was written at the same time1 and was addressed to his honoured host and friend1 ,mr4 ,charles ,greenwood1 of ,stoke ,newington3-- 8,,nyon1 ,may #bb1 #aggi4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--8,i am yet alive1 able to ride out1 and now and then to instruct a few children4 ,i hope ,mr4 ,perronet will soon have settled his affairs1 and then1 please ,god1 ,i shall inform you1 by word of mouth1 how much ,i am indebted to you1 ,mrs4 ,greenwood and ,mrs4 ,thornton4 ,thank and salute1 on my behalf1 ,mr4 ,john and ,mr4 ,charles ,wesley1 ,dr4 ,coke1 and ,mr4 ,atlay4#dfd ,thanks be to ,god for ,his unspeakable gifts1--,his ,son1 ,his ,spirit1 and ,his ,word6 ,and thanks be to ,his people1 for their kindness towards the poor1 the sick1 the stranger1 and especially towards me6 ,but1 at this time1 a sleepless night and a constant toothache unfit me for almost everything but lying down under the cross1 kissing the rod1 and rejoicing in hope of a better state1 in this world or in the next4 ,perhaps weakness and pain are the best for me in this world4 ,well1 the ,lord will choose for me1 and ,i fully set my heart and seal to ,his choice4 ,let us not faint in the day of adversity4 ,the ,lord tries us1 that our faith may be purged of all the dross of self-will1 and may work by that love1 which beareth all things1 and thinketh evil of nothing4 ,our calling is to follow the crucified1 and we must be crucified with ,him1 until body and soul know the power of ,his resurrection1 and pain and death are done away4 8,i hope my dear friend will make1 with me1 a constant choice of the following mottoes of ,st4 ,paul1--,christ is gain in life and death--,our life is hid with ,christ in ,god--,if we suffer with ,him1 we shall also reign with ,him--,we glory in tribulation--,god will give us rest with ,christ in that day--,we are saved by hope4 ,to the ,lord our ,god1 ,creator1 ,redeemer1 and ,sanctifier1 let us give glory in the fires4 ,amen40#dfe ,footnote #dfd3 ,wesley's ,book ,steward1 who1 nine years afterwards1 seceded from the ,methodists1 and took possession of a chapel which they had built at ,dewsbury4 ,footnote #dfe3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bgb4 ,besides his own physical weakness and suffering1 ,fletcher had other trials in ,switzerland4 ,in a letter1 written about the same time as the foregoing1 he remarked3-- 8,let us bear with patience the decays of nature2 let us see1 without fear1 the approach of death4 ,we must put off this sickly1 corruptible body1 in order to put on the immortal and glorious one4 ,i have some hopes that my poor sister will yet be my sister in ,christ4 ,her self-righteousness1 ,i hope1 breaks as fast as her body4 ,i am come hither to see death make havoc among my friends4 ,i wear mourning for my father's brother1 and for my brother's son4 ,the same mourning will serve for my dying sister1 if ,i do not go before her4 ,she lies on the same bed where my father and mother died1 and where she and ,i were born4 ,how near is life to death6 ,but1 blessed be ,god1 ,christ1 the ,resurrection1 is nearer to the weak1 dying believer60#dff ,footnote #dff3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,fletcher1 notwithstanding his longing to get back to his flock at ,madeley1 was still detained in ,switzerland4 ,hence the following1 addressed to ,mr4 ,thomas ,york3-- 8,,nyon1 ,ibid44 8,,my ,,dear ,,sir1--,providence is still gracious to me1 and raises me friends on all sides4 ,may ,god reward them all1 and may you have a double reward for all your kindness6 ,i hope ,i am getting a little strength4 ,the ,lord has blessed to me a species of black cherry1 which ,i have eaten in large quantities4 ,i have had a return of my spitting blood2 but1 for a fortnight past1 ,i have catechized the children of the town every day2 and ,i do not find much inconvenience from that exercise4 ,some of them seem to be under sweet drawings of the ,father1 and a few of their mothers begin to come1 and desire me with tears in their eyes to stay in this country4 ,they urge much my being born here1 and ,i reply1 that ,i was born again in ,england2 that is1 of course1 the country which1 to me1 is the dearer of the two4 8,my friends have prevailed on me to publish #8,a ,poem on the ,praises of ,god1' which ,i wrote many years ago4 ,the revising it for the press is at once a business and a pleasure1 which ,i go through on horseback4 ,help me1 by your prayers1 to ask a blessing on this little attempt4 8,i wish ,i could procure you an estate in this fine country1 as ,i hope to do ,mr4 ,perronet1 one of the physicians who showed me so much love when ,i lay sick at ,newington4 ,his grandfather was a ,swiss1 who was naturalized in the reign of ,queen ,anne4 ,by calling upon some of his relations1 ,i have found that he is entitled to an estate of some #ajjj1 of which he is come to take possession4 ,so ,providence prepares for me a friend1 a kind physician1 and a fellow-traveller1 to accompany me back to ,england2 where one of my chief pleasures will be to embrace you1 and to assure you1 how much ,i am1 my dear friend1 your obliged servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#dfg ,footnote #dfg3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ec4 ,alas6 little did ,fletcher think that ,william ,perronet would not return to ,england4 8,providence10 said ,fletcher1 in the letter just quoted1 8raises me friends on all sides40 ,he soon had need of them4 ,in the month of ,september1 ,william ,perronet wrote3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher has been wont to preach1 now and then1 in the church here 7,nyon71 at the request of one or other of the ministers2 but1 some time ago1 he was summoned before the ,seigneur ,bailiff1 who sharply reprehended him for preaching against ,sabbath-breaking and stage plays4 ,the former1 he said1 implied a censure on the magistrates in general1 as if they neglected their duty4 ,and the latter he considered as a personal reflection on himself1 he having just then sent for a company of ,french ,comedians to come to ,nyon4 ,accordingly1 he forbade ,mr4 ,fletcher to exercise1 any more1 any of the functions of a minister in this country4 ,however1 one of the ,ministers here has given him a room in his own house to preach in2 and here ,mr4 ,fletcher meets a few serious persons1 particularly a number of children1 two or three times a week4 ,hitherto1 his lordship has not interfered with respect to this mode of exhortation2 and both the number and the seriousness of the congregation increase daily40#dfh ,footnote #dfh3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,referring to the same incident1 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,our ,lord ,lieutenant1 being stirred up by some of the clergy1 and believing firmly that ,i am banished from ,england1 took the alarm1 and forbade the ministers to let me exhort in their houses2 threatening them with the power of the ,senate if they did4 ,they all yielded1 but are now ashamed of it4 ,a young clergyman1 a true ,timothy1 has opened me his house1 where ,i exhort twice a week2 and the other clergymen1 encouraged by his boldness1 come to our meetings40 ,william ,perronet completes this story by relating that the minister1 who began this discreditable opposition1 died suddenly1 as he was dressing to go to church2 and that his successor continued the same intolerant behaviour towards poor1 well-meaning ,fletcher4 ,mr4 ,perronet adds3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher now thinks himself obliged1 before he leaves his native country1 to bear a public testimony to the truth4 ,when his writing will be finished1 ,i cannot say1 for it multiplies under his fertile pen2 so that1 ,i fear1 we shall be obliged to spend another winter in this severe climate40#dfi ,footnote #dfi3 ,ibid4 ,there can be little doubt that the 8public testimony10 which ,fletcher was now composing was his 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul10 to be noticed anon4 ,soon after this1 ,fletcher had an attack of rheumatism1 and wrote as follows to ,william ,perronet1 who had gone to ,lausanne4 ,after relating that the pain in his left shoulder had deprived him of sleep1 and almost crippled him1 he added3-- 8,i have partly recovered the use of my shoulder2 but it is still very weak4 ,i drink a decoction of pine-apple1 which is as warm as guaiacum4 ,my writing does not go on2 but the will of the ,lord is done1 and that is enough4 ,i would press you to come back soon1 if ,i were not persuaded you are better where you are4 ,i have been afraid that our bad meat here would make you lose your flesh2 and1 for the honour of ,switzerland1 ,i should be glad you had some to carry back to ,england1 if we live to go and see our friends there4 ,i had last ,sunday 7,december #ai71 a great trial in my family4 ,i see the ,lord will not use me in this country for good1 and1 when we shall have finished our little matters1 ,i shall be glad to go to my spiritual friends1 and to my flock2 so much the more1 as ,mr4 ,ireland mentions my curate's danger of being in a consumption4 ,my compliments and thanks wait on ,miss ,perronet4 ,she was very obliging to share her drops with me4 ,may we all share the springs of grace and glory together6 ,if you will come a few leagues southward1 and try the weather here1 your room waits for you1 and ,i shall be glad to see you4 ,in the meantime1 keep yourself warm by the ,word of ,god within1 and a good fire without4 ,the ,lord direct us in all things6 ,oh for quietness and ,english friends60#dgj ,footnote #dgj3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher20 and ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahbe1 p4 #gdd4 ,two days after writing this1 ,fletcher addressed his curate1 ,mr4 ,greaves1 as follows3-- 8,,nyon1 ,december #be1 #aggi4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,glory be to ,god for ,his unspeakable gift6 ,may that ,jesus1 that eternal1 all-creating1 all-supporting1 all-atoning1 all-comforting ,word1 which was with ,god1 and is ,god1 and came1 in the likeness of sinful flesh1 to dwell among men1 and to be our ,emmanuel1 ,god with us1--may ,he1 by a lively faith1 be formed in our hearts2 and1 by a warm love1 lie and grow in the manger of our emptiness1 filling it always with the bread that comes down from heaven6 8,though absent in body1 ,i am with you and the flock in spirit4 ,you are now at the ,lord's table4 ,o may all the dear people1 you have just now preached to1 receive ,jesus in the pledge of ,his dying love1 and go home with this lively conviction1 #8,god has given me eternal life1 and this life is in ,his ,son6' 8,glory be to ,god in heaven6 ,peace on earth6 ,love and good-will everywhere6 ,especially in the place where ,providence has called us to cry1 #8,behold6 what manner of love the ,father has testified to us1 in ,jesus1 that we1 children of wrath1 should be made children of ,god1 by that only-begotten ,son of the ,most ,high1 who was born for our regeneration1 crucified for our atonement1 raised for our justification1 and who now triumphs in heaven for our sanctification1 for our full redemption1 and for our eternal glorification4 ,to ,him be glory for ever and ever2' and may all1 who fear and love ,him about you1 say1 for ever1 ,amen6 ,hallelujah6 8,out of the fulness of my heart1 ,i invite them to do so2 but how shallow is my fulness to ,his6 ,what a drop1 compared to an ocean without bottom or shore6 ,let us1 then1 receive continually from ,him1 who is the overflowing and ever-present source of pardoning1 sanctifying1 and exhilarating grace2 and1 from the foot of the ,wrekin1 where you are1 to the foot of the ,alps1 where ,i am1 let us echo back to each other the joyful1 thankful cry of the primitive ,christians1 which was the text here this morning1 #8,out of ,his fulness1 we have all received grace for grace4' 8,i long to hear from you and the flock4 ,how do you go on8 ,let me know that you cast joyfully all your burdens on the ,lord4 ,mr4 ,ireland sends me word1 that ,mr4 ,romaine told him you are not very well4 ,take care of yourself4 ,lay nothing to heart4 ,should your breast be weak1 preach but once on ,sundays2 for you know the evening sermon is not a part of our stated duty4 ,i say this1 that you may not over-do1 and lie by1 as ,i do4 ,god direct1 sustain1 and comfort you in all things6 8,give my pastoral love to all my flock4 ,may all see1 and see more abundantly1 the salvation of ,god6 ,may national distress be sanctified unto them2 and may they all be loyal subjects of the ,king of kings1 and of ,his ,anointed1 our ,king6 ,may the approaching new year be to them a year of peace and ,gospel grace6 ,i hope ,molly takes good care of you4 ,god bless her60#dga ,footnote #dga3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #ef4 ,fletcher refers to the 8national distress40 ,this was great4 ,parliament was excited4 ,ireland was in a state of veiled rebellion4 ,england rang with reports of threatened invasion4 ,the war with the ,american colonists had already added sixty-three millions to the national debt4 ,trade was paralysed1 and taxes were intolerable4 ,popery had been established in ,canada1 and had received encouragement in ,england4 ,the ,protestant ,association had sprung into existence1 and the ,gordon riots were at hand4 ,in the midst of this state of things1 ,fletcher wrote to a nobleman1 whose name is not given1 but who1 probably1 was ,lord ,north1 as follows3-- 8,,nyon1 ,december #ae1 #aggi4 8,,my ,,lord1--,if the ,american ,colonies and the ,west ,india ,islands are rent from the ,crown1 there will not grow one ear of corn the less in ,great ,britain4 ,we shall still have the necessaries of life1 and1 what is more1 the ,gospel1 and liberty to hear it4 ,if the great springs of trade and wealth are cut off1 good men will bear that loss without much sorrow2 for springs of wealth are always springs of luxury1 which1 sooner or later1 destroy the empires corrupted by wealth4 ,moral good may come out of our losses4 ,i wish you may see it in ,england4 ,people on the ,continent imagine they see it already in the ,english on their travels1 who are said to behave with more wisdom and less haughtiness than they used to do40#dgb ,footnote #dgb3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bgc4 ,lord ,north1 ,king ,george the ,third's ,prime ,minister1 was1 at this time1 harassed by the ,american rebellion1 incessantly assailed by the ,opposition1 and frequently threatened with impeachment4 ,probably1 ,fletcher's letter1 of which the above is only a part1 was intended to help him in his troubles4 ,though a foreigner by birth1 ,john de la ,flechere was a most loyal and devoted subject of ,king ,george4 ,hence1 also1 the following1 taken from a letter to his curate1 ,mr4 ,greaves3-- 8,march #g1 #aghj4 ,i long to hear from you4 ,i hope you are well1 and grow in the love of ,christ1 and of the souls bought with ,his blood1 and committed to your care4 ,i recommend to you the most helpless of the flock1--,i mean the children and the sick4 ,they most want your help1 and they are the most likely to benefit by it2 for affliction softens the heart1 and children are not yet quite hardened through the deceitfulness of sin4 8,i beg you will not fail1 when you have opportunity1 to recommend to our flock1 to honour the ,king1 to study to be quiet1 and to hold up the hands of the ,government by which we are protected40#dgc ,footnote #dgc3 ,ibid41 p4 #eg4 ,on the same day1 ,fletcher wrote to his friend and helper1 ,mr4 ,william ,wase1 on another matter which was causing him considerable anxiety4 ,his ,methodist meeting-house in ,madeley ,wood had cost much more than he expected4 ,the letter to ,mr4 ,wase needs no further explanation1 except that the work1 ready to be printed1 was1 probably1 his poem1 in ,french1 entitled1 8,la ,louange40 8,,nyon1 ,march #g1 #aghj4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,i am sorry the building has cost so much more than ,i intended2 but1 as the mischief is done1 it is a matter to exercise patience1 resignation1 and self-denial2 and it will be a caution in the future4 ,i am going to sell part of my little estate here to discharge the debt4 ,i had laid by #ej1 to print a small work1 which ,i wanted to distribute here2 but1 as ,i must be just1 before ,i presume to offer that mite to the ,god of truth1 ,i abandon the design1 and send that sum to ,mr4 ,york4 8,money is so scarce here1 at this time1 that ,i shall sell at a very great loss2 but necessity and justice are two great laws1 which must be obeyed4 ,as ,i design1 on my return to ,england1 to pinch until ,i have got rid of this debt1 ,i may go and live in one of the cottages belonging to the vicar1 if we could let the vicarage for a few pounds2 and1 in that case1 ,i dare say ,mr4 ,greaves would be so good as to take the other little house4 8,my dear friend1 let us die to sin4 ,hold fast ,jesus1 the way1 the truth1 and the life4 ,walk by faith in ,him2 and not by the sight and passions of the old ,adam4 ,i hope the sun of affliction1 which burns poor ,england and us1 will ripen us all for glory4 ,give my best love to all our friends in ,christ1 and tell them that the hope of seeing them does me good40#dgd ,footnote #dgd3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #eh4 ,fletcher was hard at work2 the weather was cold2 and1 for the present1 exercise out of doors was impracticable4 ,the following1 taken from an unpublished letter written by ,william ,perronet1 contains an amusing scene3-- 8,nyon1 ,march #a1 #aghj4 ,as this is ,mr4 ,fletcher's native village1 no wonder that it agrees with him2 otherwise1 it must be very trying to so tender a constitution as his2 for the weather here is much hotter in summer1 and much colder in winter1 than in ,england2 and the transitions from intense heat to extreme cold are often very sudden4 8,mr4 ,fletcher was once told by two physicians 7somewhere71 that the benefit of exercise1 for consumptive persons1 must be estimated by the violence of it2 consequently1 that riding on horseback was better than going in a carriage1 that walking was better than riding1 running than walking1 and jumping better than all of them put together4 ,our worthy friend has scrupulously followed this maxim2 so that1 whenever he does not take his little hasty rides 7which by-the-bye frequently occurs71 he allows himself1 for exercise1 not more than three minutes1 from his studies1 just as dinner is being served1 and then1 like harlequin1 he takes about half a score such violent leaps and plunges across the room1 that ,i am sometimes in pain for the floor1 and always for his bones40 ,during the year #aggi1 ,fletcher and ,william ,perronet had lodged in the same house in ,nyon2 now1 as might be expected from the foregoing extract1 ,william ,perronet's state of health obliged him to seek a more salubrious situation4 ,he went to ,lausanne2 ,fletcher remained at ,nyon2 and was thus pictured by his friend in the month of ,july next ensuing3-- 8,about half a year ago1 we broke up housekeeping at ,nyon4 ,poor dear ,mr4 ,fletcher1 with difficulty1 procured a miserable lodging in the neighbourhood2 and ,i was obliged to go to ,lausanne1 which is seven leagues from ,nyon4 ,i submitted the more willingly to this1 because he talked of spending some time at ,lausanne4 ,i have been disappointed in this respect2 but1 once or twice1 ,i have had the pleasure of seeing him at ,nyon4 ,i found him to-day sitting in his small apartment1 surrounded with books and papers1 writing1 or1 as he expressed it1 #8finishing the first part' of one of his pieces4 ,when the whole is likely to be finished1 one cannot pretend to say40#dge ,footnote #dge3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,fletcher intended to return to ,england in the month of ,september1 but two occurrences prevented him4 ,first of all1 he mislaid a portion of the manuscript which he wished to publish before he left ,switzerland1 and had to re-write what was missing4 8,the misfortune ,i hinted at10 said he to ,william ,perronet1 8was the mislaying of a considerable part of my manuscript4 ,after giving it up as lost1 ,i fell to work again2 went through the double toil2 and1 when ,i had done1 last night1 ,i accidentally found what ,i had mislaid4 ,this has thrown me back a great deal4 ,the ,lord's will be done in all things6 ,i thank ,god1 ,i have been kept from fretting on the occasion2 though ,i would not for a great deal have such another trial40#dgf ,footnote #dgf3 ,ibid4 ,added to this1 and1 perhaps1 partly in consequence of it1 his health relapsed4 ,these1 and other matters1 are referred to in the following letter1 addressed to his curate1 ,mr4 ,greaves3-- 8,,nyon1 ,september #ae1 #aghj4 8,,my ,,dear ,,fellow-,,labourer1--,i had fixed the time of my departure for this month2 but now two hindrances stand in my way4 ,when ,i came to collect the parts of my manuscript1 ,i found the most considerable part wanting2 and1 after a thousand searches1 ,i was obliged to write it over again4 ,this accident compelled me to put off my journey2 and now the change of weather has brought back some symptoms of my disorder4 ,i speak1 or rather whisper1 with difficulty2 but ,i hope the quantity of grapes ,i begin to eat will have as good an effect upon me as in the last two autumns4 8,have patience then a little while4 ,if things are not as you could wish1 you can do but as ,i have done for many years1--learn patience by the things which you suffer4 ,crossing our will1 getting the better of our inclinations1 and growing in experience1 are no mean advantages1 and they may all be yours4 8,mr4 ,ireland writes me word that if ,i return to ,england now1 the winter will undo all ,i have been doing for my health for many years4 ,however1 ,i have not quite laid aside the design of spending the winter with you2 but don't expect me till you see me4 ,i am1 nevertheless1 firmly purposed that1 if ,i do not set out this autumn1 ,i shall do so next spring1 as early as ,i can4 8,till ,i had this relapse1 ,i was able to exhort1 in a private room1 three times a week2 but the ,lord ,lieutenant will not allow me to get into a pulpit1 though they permit the schoolmasters1 who are laymen1 to put on a band and read the ,church prayers2 so high runs the prejudice4 ,the clergy1 however1 tell me that if ,i will renounce my ordination1 and get ,presbyterian ,orders among them1 they will allow me to preach1 and on these terms one of the ministers of this town offers me his curacy4 ,a young clergyman of ,geneva1 tutor to my nephew1 appears to me a truly converted man2 and he is so pleased when ,i tell him there are converted souls in ,england1 that he will go with me to learn ,english1 and converse with the ,british ,christians4 ,he wrote last summer1 with such force1 to some of the clergy1 who are stirring up the fire of persecution1 that he made them ashamed1 and we have since had peace from that quarter4 8,there is little genuine piety in these parts2 nevertheless1 there is yet some of the form of it2 so far as to go to the ,lord's table regularly four times a year4 ,there meet the adulterers1 the drunkards1 the swearers1 the infidels1 and even the materialists4 ,they have no idea of the double damnation that awaits hypocrites4 ,they look upon the partaking of that sacrament as a ceremony enjoined by the magistrate4 ,at ,zurich1 the first town of this country1 they have lately beheaded a clergyman who wanted to betray his country to the ,emperor1 to whom it chiefly belonged4 ,it is the town of the great reformer1 ,zuinglius2 yet there they poisoned the sacramental wine a few years ago4 ,i mention this to show you there is great need to bear a testimony against the faults of the clergy here2 and1 if ,i cannot do it from the pulpit1 ,i must try to do it from the press4 ,their canons1 which were composed by two hundred and thirty pastors1 at the time of the ,reformation1 are so spiritual and apostolic that ,i design to translate them into ,english1 if ,i am spared4 8,farewell1 my dear brother4 ,take care1 good1 constant1 care of the flock committed to your charge2 especially the sick and the young4 ,salute all our dear parishioners4 ,let me still have a part in your prayers1 public and private2 and rejoice in the ,lord1 as1 through grace1 ,i am enabled to do in all my little tribulations40#dgg ,footnote #dgg3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #fj4 ,on the same day1 ,fletcher wrote to ,mr4 ,thomas ,york3-- 8,i have been so well1 that my friends here thought of giving me a wife2 but what should ,i do with a ,swiss wife at ,madeley8 ,i want rather an ,english nurse2 but more still a mighty ,saviour1 and1 thanks be to ,god6 that ,i have4 ,help me to rejoice in that never-dying1 never-moving ,friend4 8,having heard that my dear friend ,ireland has discharged the greatest part of my debt1 ,i have not sent the money2 but ,i hope to bring with me #ajj1 to reimburse my friends in part1 till ,i can do it altogether4 ,but ,i shall never be able to pay you the debt of kindness ,i have contracted with you4 ,i look to ,jesus1 my ,surety1 for that4 ,may ,he repay you a thousand-fold60#dgh ,footnote #dgh3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #fb4 ,to ,william ,wase1 the good old ,methodist1 ,fletcher wrote1 at the same time3-- 8,give my love and thanks to the preachers0 7,william ,boothby and ,jonathan ,hern7 8who come to help us4 ,enforce my exhortation to the ,societies in much love4 ,go and comfort1 from me1 ,mrs4 ,palmer and ,mrs4 ,cartwright2 and1 since ,god has placed you all in a widowed state1 agree to take ,jesus for a never-dying ,friend and ,bridegroom4 ,your ,maker is your husband4 ,he is all in all4 ,what1 then1 have you lost8 ,christ is yours and all things with ,him4 ,the resurrection day will soon come4 ,prepare yourselves for the marriage feast of the ,lamb2 and till then1 rejoice in the expectation of that day4 ,i sympathize with our sickly friends1 widow ,matthews1 ,m4 ,blummer1 ,e4 ,whittaker1 ,i4 ,york1 and ,s4 ,aston4 ,salute them kindly from me4 ,help them to trim their lamps1 and to wait for the ,bridegroom4 ,thank ,thomas and ,nelly ,fennel for their love to the0 7,methodist7 8preachers1 and give them mine1 and also give it to the little companies they meet with1 to call for strength1 comfort1 and help1 in time of need4 ,fare ye all well in ,jesus6 ,i say1 again1 farewell60#dgi ,footnote #dgi3 ,ibid41 p4 #fa4 ,fletcher's 8,exhortation0 to the ,methodist ,societies was as follows3-- 8,to the ,societies in and about ,madeley4 8,grace and peace1 truth and love1 be multiplied to you all4 ,stand fast in the ,lord1 my dear brethren4 ,stand fast in ,jesus2 stand fast to one another2 stand fast to the vow we have so often renewed together1 upon our knees1 and at the ,lord's table4 ,don't be so unloving1 so cowardly1 as to let one of your little company fall into the hands of the world and the devil2 and agree to crucify the body of sin altogether4 8,i am still in a strait between the work which ,providence cuts out for me here1 and the love which draws me to you4 ,when ,i shall have the pleasure of seeing you1 let it not be embittered by the sorrow of finding any of you half-hearted and lukewarm4 ,let me find you all strong in the ,lord1 and increased in humble love4 ,salute from me all who followed with us fifteen years ago4 ,care still for your old brethren4 ,let there be no ,cain among you1 no ,esau1 no ,lot's wife4 ,let the love of ,david and ,jonathan1 heightened by that of ,martha1 ,mary1 ,lazarus1 and our ,lord1 shine in all your thoughts1 your tempers1 your words1 your looks1 and your actions4 ,if you love one another1 your little meetings will be a renewed feast2 and the ,god of love1 who is peculiarly present where two or three are gathered together in the name of ,jesus1 will abundantly bless you4 ,bear me still upon your breasts in prayer1 as ,i do you upon mine2 and rejoice with me that the ,lord1 who made1 redeemed1 and comforts us1 bears us all upon ,his4 ,i am yours in ,him1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#dhj ,footnote #dhj3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #fc4 ,for some time after his arrival in ,switzerland1 ,fletcher lived in the house where he was born1 a respectable old building1 erected on an elevated site at the extremity of the town4 ,close at hand was the shady wood1 where he used to read1 meditate1 and pray1 and meet his flock of little children4 ,near the house was a terrace1 from which the whole of the glorious lake of ,geneva was visible2 and1 in the distance1 might be seen the city itself4 ,towering above all1 there was the unutterably grand ,mont ,blanc4 ,no wonder ,fletcher spoke of the 8pleasant apartment0 where he was born1 as having 8one of the finest prospects in the world40 ,for some reason1 however1 he now exchanged the house of his nativity for another not so enchanting4 ,hence the following letter to ,william ,perronet1 who was residing at ,lausanne3-- 8,,nyon1 ,october #c1 #aghj4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1--,i thank you for your letters4 ,they have given me much pleasure1 as ,i see that you will at last end your business1 and get ready to set out in the spring with ,mr4 ,ireland1 who comes with his family1 ,i know not where2 but ,i think he will spend the winter at or about ,avignon4 ,if you will go and join him1 ,i shall be glad to go also1 for the stream under this house does not make it very wholesome4 8,my brother thinks1 as well as myself1 that you may conclude upon the terms you mention4 #8,better a dinner of herbs with peace1 than a stalled ox and noise therewith4' 8,i hope to go to ,lausanne1 directly after vintage1 to offer a manuscript to the censors1 to see if they will allow its being published2 so ,i do not invite you to share my damp bed4 ,my sister was so kind as to look for another house1 but we find none to let under a year4 ,we are here travellers1 so we must expect some difficulties and a good many inconveniences4 8,if ,mr4 ,ireland goes to ,marseilles1 you might go and see your cousin there4 ,lift up your heart1 and see by faith our ,lord and ,saviour1 our heavenly ,kinsman and ,brother2 and when you rise there1 take by the hand of prayer your affectionate friend1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#dha ,footnote #dha3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahcj1 p4 #hca4 ,soon after this1 ,william ,perronet was seized with mortal illness4 ,in a letter to the ,vicar of ,shoreham1 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,december #e1 #aghj4 ,our wise and good ,god sees fit to try my dear friend1 your son1 with a want of appetite and uneasiness in his bowels4 ,he also often returns the little food he takes4 ,some time ago1 he came to ,nyon1 from ,lausanne1 and we went together to ,geneva1 where we settled your affair with three of the ,geneva co-heirs1 upon the same footing as he had settled with those of ,chateau d',oex4 ,he bears his weakness with much patience and resignation40#dhb ,footnote #dhb3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,fletcher was now employed in finishing the poem1 which he wished to publish before he left ,switzerland2 but he delighted in spending as much time with his dying friend as possible4 8,every night10 says ,william ,perronet1 in a letter dated ,january #bb1 #agha1 8after praying with me1 he sings this verse at parting3-- 8#8,then let our humble faith address ,his mercy and ,his power2 ,we shall obtain delivering grace ,in the distressing hour4'0#dhc ,footnote #dhc3 ,ibid4 ,within three weeks after this1 ,fletcher's book was finished1 and the business of ,william ,perronet was ended4 ,fletcher wished to set out for ,england1 but was still detained in ,switzerland4 ,hence the following1 addressed to ,mr4 ,wase3-- 8,,nyon1 ,february #ad1 #agha4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,i thank you for your kind remembrance of me4 ,i need not be urged to return2 brotherly love draws me to ,madeley1 and circumstances drive me hence4 8,i am exceeding glad that there is a revival on your side the water0 the river ,severn1 8and that you are obliged to enlarge your ,room4#dhd ,i wish ,i could contribute to shake the dry bones in my parish1 but ,i have no confidence in the flesh4 ,what ,i could not do when ,i was in my strength1 ,i have little prospect of doing now that my strength is broken4 ,however1 ,i don't despair1 for the work is not mine but the ,lord's4 ,if the few who love the ,gospel would be simple and zealous1 ,god would again hear their prayers for those who are content to go on in the broad way4 ,i thank you for your view of the iron bridge4#dhe 8,my friend ,ireland invites me to join him in the ,south of ,france2 and ,i long to see whether ,i could not have more liberty to preach the ,word among ,papists than among ,protestants4 ,but it is so little that ,i can do1 that ,i doubt much whether it is worth while going so far upon so little a chance4 ,if ,i were stronger1 and had more time1 the fear of being hanged should not detain me4 ,i trust to set out next month1 and to be in ,england in ,may2 it won't be my fault if it is not in ,april4 8,i am here in the midst of rumours of war4 ,the burghers of ,geneva have disarmed the garrison1 and taken possession of one of the gates4 ,i had1 however1 the luck to get in1 and to bring away my nephew1 who is a student there4 ,troops are preparing to block them up4 ,the ,lord may1 at this time1 punish the repeated backslidings of those ,laodicean ,christians1 most of whom have become infidels4 ,this event may a little retard my journey1 as ,i must pass through ,geneva4 ,it also puts off the printing of my manuscript1 for there is nothing going on in that unhappy town but disputes1 and fights1 and mounting of guards4 8,remember me in much love to ,mr4 ,greaves1 ,mr4 ,gilpin1 and the0 ,methodist 8preachers who labour with us40#dhf ,footnote #dhd3 ,the ,methodist meeting-house4 ,footnote #dhe3 ,the bridge across the ,severn at ,coalbrookdale1 the first iron bridge erected in ,england2 cast in #aggi1 under the direction of ,mr4 ,abraham ,darby4 ,footnote #dhf3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #fg4 ,at the same date1 ,fletcher wrote to ,mr4 ,john ,owen1 his schoolmaster at ,madeley1 as follows3-- 8,nyon1 ,february #ad1 #agha4 ,i thank you1 my dear brother1 for your kind lines4 ,i hope you help both ,mr4 ,greaves and the0 ,methodist 8preachers to stir up the people in my parish4 ,be much in prayer4 ,take counsel with ,michael ,onions1 ,mrs4 ,palmer1 and ,molly ,cartwright about the most effectual means to recover the backsliders1 and to keep together to ,christ and to each other those who still hold their shield4 ,salute them kindly from me1 and tell them that ,i hope they will give me a good account of their little companies0 ,methodist classes 8and of themselves4 8,if ,i were not a minister1 ,i would be a schoolmaster1 to have the pleasure of bringing up children in the fear of the ,lord4 ,that pleasure is yours2 relish it1 and it will comfort and strengthen you in your work4 ,the joy of the ,lord and of charity is our strength4 ,salute the children from me1 and tell them ,i long to show them the way to happiness and heaven4 ,have you mastered the stiffness and shyness of your temper8 ,charity gives a meekness1 an affability1 a child-like simplicity and openness1 which nature has denied you4 ,let me find you shining by these virtues1 and you will revive me much4 ,god bless your labour about the sheep and the lambs6 8,read the following note to all who fear ,god and love ,jesus and each other1 assembling in ,madeley church3-- 8,,my ,,dear ,,brethren1--,my heart leaps with joy at the thought of coming to see you and bless the ,lord with you4 ,let us not stay to praise ,him till we see each other4 ,let us see ,him in ,his ,son1 in ,his works1 and in all the members of ,christ4 ,how slow will post-horses go in comparison of love6 ,meet me1 as ,i do you1 in spirit2 and we shall not stay till ,april or ,may to bless ,god together4 ,now will be the time of union and love40#dhg ,footnote #dhg3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #fe4 ,for another month ,fletcher was detained at ,nyon1 when he wrote to ,michael ,onions the following3-- 8,,nyon1 ,march #agha4 8,i thank you1 my dear brother1 for your kind remembrance of me1 and for your letters4 ,i hope to bring my fuller thanks to you in person4 8,hold up your hands4 ,confirm the feeble knees4 ,set up an ,ebenezer every hour of the day4 ,in everything give thanks2 and1 in order to this1 pray without ceasing1 and rejoice evermore4 ,my heart sympathizes with poor ,molly ,cartwright4 ,tell her1 from me1 that her husband lives in ,him who is the ,resurrection4 ,in ,christ there is no death1 but the victory over death4 ,o6 let us live in ,him1 to ,him1 for ,him1 who more than repairs all our losses4 ,my love to your wife4 ,tell her she promised me to be ,jesus's1 as well as yours4 ,my love to ,john ,owen and all our other0 ,methodist 8leaders1 and by them to the few who do not tire by the way4 ,with regard to the others1 despair of none4 ,charity hopeth all things1 and brings many things to pass4 ,all things are possible to him that believeth2 all things are easy to him that loveth4 ,god be with you1 and make you faithful unto death6 ,this is my prayer for you1 and all the ,society1 and all my dear parishioners1 to whom ,i beg to be remembered4 ,i have no place to write their names1 but ,i pray they may all be written in the book of life4 ,god is merciful1 gracious1 and faithful4 ,i set my seal to ,his lovingkindness4 ,witness my heart and hand1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#dhh ,footnote #dhh3 ,ibid1 p4 #fh4 ,fletcher had promised to join ,mr4 ,ireland at ,montpelier2 but1 meanwhile1 ,william ,perronet1 who had returned to ,lausanne1 was so much worse in health1 that it was impossible for him to accompany his friend4 ,two days before leaving ,switzerland1 ,fletcher visited him1 and1 in a letter to the aged ,vicar of ,shoreham1 wrote3-- 8,miss ,perronet and her mother#dhi are as kind to him as my dear friends at ,stoke ,newington were to me when ,i lay sick there4 ,his mind is quite easy2 he is sweetly resigned to the will of ,god40#dij ,footnote #dhi3 ,probably ,william ,perronet's aunt and cousin2 certainly not his mother and sister4 ,footnote #dij3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,at ,montpelier1 ,fletcher overtaxed his strength2 and at ,lyons1 on his way to ,england1 wrote as follows to his sick and dying friend1 whom he had been obliged to leave behind him3-- 8,,lyons1 ,april #f1 #agha4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,we are both weak1 both afflicted2 but ,jesus careth for us4 ,he is everywhere1 and here ,he has all power to deliver us2 and ,he may do it by ways we little think of3 #8,as ,thou wilt1 when ,thou wilt1 and where ,thou wilt1' said ,baxter3 let us say the same4 ,it was of the ,lord you did not come with me3 you would have been sick as ,i am4 ,i am overdone with riding and preaching4 ,i preached twice in the fields4 ,i carry home with me much weakness and a pain in the back1 which ,i fear will end in the gravel4 ,the ,lord's will be done6 ,i know ,i am called to suffer and die4 ,the journey tires me2 but1 through mercy1 ,i bear it4 ,let us believe and rejoice in the ,lord ,jesus40#dia ,footnote #dia3 ,ibid4 ,three weeks after this1 ,fletcher preached in ,city ,road ,chapel1 ,london1 and1 the next day 7,april #bh71 set out to the hospitable home of his friend1 ,mr4 ,ireland1 at ,brislington4 ,at this time1 one of the ,methodist preachers1 stationed in the ,bristol circuit1 was ,thomas ,rankin1 who had spent nearly five years in ,america1 and who1 in #aggh1 had been driven home by the ,american rebellion4 ,hearing of ,fletcher's arrival at ,brislington1 ,rankin went to visit him1 and wrote3-- 8,i had such an interview with him as ,i shall never forget4 ,i had not seen him for upwards of ten years4 ,his looks1 his salutation1 and his address1 struck me with wonder1 solemnity1 and joy4 ,we retired into ,mr4 ,ireland's garden2 and he began to inquire concerning the work of ,god in ,america4 ,i gave him a full account of everything that he wished to know4 ,during this relation1 he stopped me six times1 and1 in the shadow of the trees1 poured out his soul to ,god1 for the prosperity of the work1 and for our brethren there4 ,he several times called upon me1 also1 to commend them to ,god in prayer4 ,this was an hour never to be forgotten4 ,before we parted1 ,i engaged him to come to ,bristol1 on the ,monday following1 to meet the select band in the forenoon1 and to preach in the evening4 ,during the hour he spent with the select band1 the room appeared as #8the house of ,god1 and the gate of heaven4' ,at night1 he preached from1 #8,we are bound to give thanks alway to ,god for you1 brethren beloved of the ,lord1 because ,god hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation1 through sanctification of the ,spirit and belief of the truth4' ,the whole congregation was in tears4 ,he spoke like one who had but just left the converse of ,god and angels4 ,the different conversations ,i had with him1 and his prayers and preaching1 during the few days he stayed at ,bristol and ,brislington1 were attended with such effects upon me1 that1 for some months afterwards1 not a cloud intervened between ,god and my soul1 no1 not for one hour4 ,of all the men ,i ever knew1 ,i never saw such love to ,god and man1 such deadness to the world1 such entire consecratedness to ,jesus1 as in him4 ,it often appeared to me that his every breath was prayer and praise4 ,he lived more like a disembodied spirit than a human being40#dib ,footnote #dib3 ,thomas ,rankin's ,,ms4 ,journal4 ,when at ,marseilles1 on his way to ,switzerland1 in ,march1 #aggh1 ,fletcher wrote a long letter1#dic to ,miss ,bosanquet1 on ,christian ,perfection1 and respecting his unpublished ,essay on the ,new ,birth4 ,miss ,bosanquet replied to that1 in a letter dated ,august #cj1 #aggh4 ,strange to say1 this letter was not put into ,fletcher's hands until nearly three years afterwards4 ,during this interval1 there seems to have been no correspondence between him and the lady who was speedily to become his wife4 ,on his return from ,switzerland1 he wrote her the following1 which is now for the first time published3-- 8,,brislington1 ,,near ,,bristol1 ,may #a1 #agha4 8,,dear ,,madam1--,your kind favour dated ,august #cj1 #aggh1 having been mislaid in a drawer and forgotten1 did not come into my hands till this morning4 ,i hope my speedy taking of the pen1 to acknowledge so unexpected a favour1 will atone for the forgetfulness of my friend4 8,you speak1 ,madam1 of a letter from ,bath2 ,i do not recollect1 at present1 your having favoured me with one from that place4 ,is it my lot to be tried1 or disappointed in this respect8 ,well1 the hairs of our heads1 and the letters of our friends1 are all numbered3 not one of the former falls1 not one of the latter miscarries1 without the will of ,him1 to whose orders we have long since fully and cheerfully subscribed4 8,i have sincerely aimed at truth in writing the ,essay you have been so kind as to peruse4#did ,if ,i am not mistaken1 ,dr4 ,coke told me1 when ,i passed through ,london1 that he had it2 but ,i went out of town in such a hurry that ,i had not time to take it with me4 ,i feel the propriety of your remarks1 and shall make the alterations you mention1 as soon as ,i shall have the manuscript4 8,i had thought of what you name1 respecting a less plan of the doctrine of the ,new ,birth1--a plan calculated to make way for the larger essay1 and to guide into the truth those who have never taken one step without the leading strings of prejudice1 and who cannot judge of a doctrine if it be not brought within the narrow compass and focus of their understanding4 ,i shall be glad of an opportunity of consulting you about that sketch1 if ,i live to make it4 ,i love truth1 because ,i love ,jesus2 but ,i am1 every way1 too feeble an instrument to defend and hold it forth with success4 ,your thought about it makes me pray with earnestness that ,i may1 in some degree1 answer your too favourable opinion of the importance of my little attempts to vindicate1 or clear up1 some part of the ,gospel truths4 8,alas6 what am ,i8 ,a cracked voice crying in the wilderness2--a blunted pen scribbling in a village4 ,thanks be to grace1 however1 ,i sincerely desire to be a living shadow of the ,divine ,man1 who is truth and love incarnate4 ,i sincerely desire to embrace those great and precious promises given unto us1 whereby we may become partakers of the ,divine nature4 ,i will not rest in the first ,comforter1 so as to slight that other ,comforter1 who is to abide with us for ever4 ,i want not only to see ,jesus altogether lovely1 but to feel ,him altogether powerful and wise1 both in myself and in all my fellow-,christians4 ,restless1 resigned for this1 ,i wait for this4 ,my vehement soul is on the stretch4 ,some tell me ,i carry my views too high2 but how can that be1 if ,god can do in us exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think8 ,is not the soul joined completely to the ,lord1 one spirit with ,him8 ,are we not called to come to the measure of the stature of the fulness of ,christ8 ,is a dwarf's state of grace the full prize of our high calling8 ,if this hope preys upon my feeble frame1 ,i dare not cast it off3 let me rather die a martyr to it than lose it4 ,why should there not be true martyrs for the hope1 as well as for the faith of the ,gospel8 ,at all events1 let us wait for the great salvation of ,god the ,spirit4 ,against hope1 let us believe in hope that we shall see the royal priesthood clothed with ,divine righteousness1 and all ,god's saints rejoice and sing4 8,the openness with which you mention what some might call your enthusiasm1 makes me reveal to you1 ,madam1 what some call mine4 ,i own ,i do not believe that ,scripture repealed1 #8,your young men shall see visions2 your old men shall dream dreams4' #8,these signs shall follow them that believe1' etc4 7,see ,mark xvi4 #ag1 #ah74 #8,my sons and my daughters shall prophesy4' #8,desire spiritual gifts1 but rather that ye may prophesy' 7#a ,cor4 xiv4 #b74 ,shall ,i offend you1 if ,i ask you in simplicity the following questions8 ,do you know any soul filled with all the fulness of ,god8 ,anyone walking as ,christ also walked1 and able to say1 in truth1 #8,as ,he was1 so are we in this world8' ,do you know any knit together in love1 sharing all the riches of the full assurance of understanding1 to the acknowledgment of the mystery of ,god1 and of ,christ in us the hope of glory 7,col4 i4 #bg2 ii4 #b78 ,or1 are the professors about you 7far from having the full assurance of understanding with respect to this mystery7 ready to say1 when one speaks of this mystery1 #8,thou bringest strange things to our ears'8 8,if you condescend to favour me with an answer1 please to direct it to me at ,madeley1 ,salop4 ,there ,i hope to be next week4 ,in the meantime1 ,i pray the ,lord to give us an understanding1 that we may know more of ,him1 and be completely in ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 that is1 in the true1 ,divine1 and eternal life4 ,may the living unction be and abide with you6 ,i ask it ardently for you2 condescend to ask it also for1 dear ,madam1 your obliged friend and servant in the ,gospel1 8,j4 ,,fletcher4 8,p4,s4--,the third part1 which ,i designed to add#die to the #8,essay on the ,new ,birth1' was an application to the disciples of ,moses1 of ,john1 and of ,jesus glorified2 to those who have the fear of ,god1 the faith of the ,son1 and the love of the ,spirit4 ,my health is mended1 thanks be to ,god6 but my lungs remain weak4 ,please to remember me in ,christian love to ,sister ,crosby4 8,miss ,bosanquet1 8,at ,cross ,hall1 8,near ,leads 7sic71 8,yorkshire40 ,footnote #dic3 ,see the letter dated 8,march #g1 #aggh40 ,footnote #did3 ,his 8,essay on the ,new ,birth40 ,footnote #die3 ,this was not added4 ,a few days after the date of this letter1 ,fletcher1 accompanied by ,mr4 ,ireland1 returned to ,madeley1 having been absent from his flock since ,november #aggf1--;four years and a-half4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,literary ,,work ,,done ,,in ,,retirement4 ,,fletcher',s long seclusion from public life is well described in two lines of the poet ,thompson3 8,retirement1 rural quiet1 friendship1 books1 ,progressive virtue1 and approving ,heaven40 ,the four and a-half years1 during which he was away from ,madeley1 were spent in great weakness1 but not in idleness4 ,to say nothing of the works he published1 while he remained in ,england1 namely1 his 8,answer to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,toplady's #8,vindication of the ,divine ,decrees2'0 his 8,vindication of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley's #8,calm ,address to our ,american ,colonies2'0 his 8,american ,patriotism20 his 8,doctrines of ,grace and ,justice20 and his 8,plan of ,reconciliation20 he was employed1 whilst in ,switzerland1 upon two of the most remarkable productions of his fertile genius4 ,the first was a poem1 in the ,french language1 and was published in ,geneva1 with the title 8,la ,louange20--a paraphrastic expansion of ,psalm cxlviii4 ,the work was conceived in ,england1 but was written in ,switzerland4 ,fletcher says he 8was favoured with the critical remarks of many persons distinguished for their learning1 taste1 and the works with which they had enriched the ,church1 and the ,republic of ,letters4 ,at the end of certain ,cantos1 are ,notes1 or small ,dissertations1 serving to explain1 or illustrate1 some of the truths inserted in the body of the work40 ,according to the custom of the country and the age1 before the book could be published1 it had to be submitted to an official appointed to read manuscripts1 previous to their being printed2 and the following was the approbation given to ,fletcher's ,poem3-- 8,i have read this work1 which1 in my judgment1 everywhere breathes ,piety1 ,faith1 and ,christian ,charity4 8,,de ,,bons1 ,censeur40 ,after his return to ,england1 ,fletcher enlarged the work1 and1 in #aghe1 published an edition1 still in the ,french language1 with the title3--8,la ,grace et la ,nature1 ,pome--,seconde ,edition plus complte4 ,a ,londre4 ,de l',imprimerie de ,r4 ,hindmarsh1 ,clerkenwell ,close2 ,chez ,t4 ,longman1 dans ,paternoster ,row2 ,dublin ,chez ,j4 ,charrnier1 dans ,kapel ,street2 et prs du ,pont de fer1 in ,shropshire1 #aghe10 #hvo #ddb pp4 ,by permission1 the book was dedicated1 8,a la ,reine de la ,grande ,bretagne40 ,the dedication1 dated 8 ,madeley prs de ,coalbrook-dale1 dans la ,comt de ,salop1 le #f de ,sept4 #aghd10 was characteristic1 and as follows3-- 8,,madam1--,the parish1 which1 in the centre of your kingdom1 produced an iron bridge1#dif being always fruitful in singularities1 has now produced a ,french poem3 ,his ,majesty gave a favourable reception to the model of our bridge1 and will ,your ,majesty refuse the dedication of our poem8 ,the solidity of an iron bridge sustained by two rocks renders useless the support of a ,royal hand2 but a work on devotion has not the same solidity4 8,a ,french ,poem in ,england will always require support2 but1 if the subject be religious1 a powerful protection becomes doubly necessary2 and where can ,i find1 among mortals1 a more firm security than your august name8 ,your court1 ,madam1 admits the ,french language2 your generous heart cherishes moral virtues2 your exalted mind is pleased to encourage the cultivation of the fine ,arts1 among which poetry occupies the first rank4 ,and1 if a ,queen of ,england permitted ,voltaire to dedicate to her the praises of a ,french ,monarch1#dig your piety1 ,madam1 will not refuse those of the ,king of kings1 celebrated in a poem1 which has for its argument the divine song of a ,sovereign1 and the third ,canto of which regards ,kings and ,princes4 8,may your ,majesty1 constantly surrounded with the most precious benedictions1 never stand in need of the consolations offered to the afflicted in the ninth ,canto6 ,and1 when you have long beheld that happy and sweet peace flourish1 which is celebrated in this poem1#dih may you1 without sorrow1 exchange your heavy crown for one of those brilliant diamonds reserved for princes1 who serve ,god1 and cause righteousness to flourish in the earth6 ,these are the ardent prayers of him who has the honour to be1 with that profound respect1 which virtue truly merits when united to greatness1 8,madam1 your majesty's most humble and devoted servant1 8,j4 ,w4 ,,fletcher40 ,footnote #dif3 ,the bridge across the ,severn1 at ,coalbrook ,dale1 regarded as one of the wonders of the age4 ,footnote #dig3 ,voltaire's 8,henriade10 printed in ,london in #agbf1 was dedicated to the ,queen of ,george ,i4 ,footnote #dih3 8,an ,essay on the ,peace of #aghc10 also written in ,french1 and now incorporated with 8,la ,grace et la ,nature40 ,in his preface1 ,fletcher says3-- 8,a former edition of this poem was entitled #8,praise1'#dii because the writer's principal design was to impress his readers with the force of these words1 #8,offer to the ,lord the sacrifice of praise4' ,it is now presented to the public with alterations1 and the addition of ten new ,cantos1 under the title of #8,grace and ,nature2' or a descant on creation1 as productive of the praise due to the great ,creator40 ,footnote #dii3 ,the title1 in ,french1 was 8,la ,louange40 ,the book is a remarkable one4 ,every creature of ,god1 animate and inanimate1 except devils and damned men in hell1 seems to be called upon to unite in offering praise to ,god4 ,that ,fletcher throbbed with the poetic fire cannot1 in fairness1 be denied4 ,perhaps some of his thoughts are fanciful2 and his work1 in other respects1 may be imperfect2 but many of his conceptions and utterances are worthy not only of being read1 but of being remembered4 ,the following quotations1 taken from a translation of it by the ,rev4 ,miles ,martindale1 may furnish a faint idea of its style and merits4 ,like other poets1 ,fletcher begins with prayer for supernatural inspiration3-- 8,thou ,glorious ,power1 whom thrones supernal praise1 ,eternal source of life1 of love1 and grace2 ,while joyful throngs surround ,thy shining seat1 ,behold a worm low-bending at ,thy feet6 ,his darkness chase with ,thy all-cheering ray2 ,on his weak reason shed celestial day2 ,his breast transform with renovating fire1 ,with harmony divine his soul inspire40 ,it has been already stated that a wood adjoined the house where ,fletcher resided at ,nyon1 and that this was one of his favourite resorts for prayer1 reading1 and meditation1 and that here he was accustomed to instruct his congregation of little children4 ,there can be no doubt that the ensuing lines are descriptive of ,fletcher's enjoyments in this sylvan cathedral3-- 8,ye solemn woods1 where music loves to dwell1 ,whose zephyrs breathe the sweet balsamic smell2 ,here kindles piety divinely bright1 ,the heart replete with love and joyous light4 ,to crown the lay1 the feather'd nations raise ,their notes with mine1 to sound the ,eternal's praise2 ,while innocence inspires the sacred song1 ,ten thousand throats the swelling theme prolong4 ,amid these happy groves1 see ,eden shine1 ,than ,bourbons' pompous gardens1 more divine4 ,fly the vile orchestra1 where impious tongues ,soft warble vice in loose lascivious songs4 ',tis here1 'mid zephyrs' mild and melting strains1 ,lost ,paradise her pristine bliss regains40 ,one more quotation must suffice4 ,it is taken from a long description of the ,lake of ,geneva4 ,after apostrophizing the divine ,creator1 who has 8in heaven0 ,his 8dwelling-place10 ,fletcher proceeds3-- 8,thy bless'd serenity1 ,thy palace fair1 ,the sleeping waters of this lake declare4 ,to give mankind an emblem of ,thy might1 ,an image of ,thy skill supremely bright1 ,thy plastic hand drew the rough rocks around1 ,and scoop'd the wondrous vale1 a gulf profound2 ,where winding ,rhone his active force resigns1 ,and1 in wild fields of ice1 resplendent shines4 ,to shadow heaven1 and the fair scene unfold1 ,this lake with azure glows1 and burnished gold2 ,what brilliant rays1 what awful glories stand1 ,to show the wonders of ,thy mighty hand60 ,to several of the cantos of his poem1 ,fletcher attaches lengthened notes1 in prose2 most of them levelled against the infidelity of ,voltaire1 ,rosseau1 and the ,unitarians4 ,leaving the poem1 8,la ,grace et la ,nature10 another of ,fletcher's works in ,switzerland must be briefly noticed4 ,this also was written in the ,french language2 and after ,fletcher's death was translated1 and published with the following title3 8,the ,portrait of ,st4 ,paul2 or1 the true ,model for ,christians and ,pastors3 translated from the ,french ,manuscript of the late ,rev4 ,john ,william de la ,flechere1 ,vicar of ,madeley4 ,to which is added1 ,some ,account of the ,author1 by the ,rev4 ,joshua ,gilpin1 ,vicar of ,rockwardine1 in the ,county of ,salop4 ,in two volumes4 ,shrewsbury4 #agij40 #abmo1 pp4 #cgg and #ccj4 ,mr4 ,gilpin was an ardent admirer of ,fletcher1 as his biographical 8,notes0 amply show4 ,he had been a resident in ,fletcher's vicarage1 and had enjoyed the unspeakable benefit of his example1 prayers1 and instruction4 ,he writes3-- 8,before ,i was of sufficient age to take holy orders1 ,i thankfully embraced the offered privilege of spending a few months beneath the roof of this exemplary man2 and ,i well remember how solemn an impression was made upon my heart by the manner in which he received me4 ,he met me at his door with a look of inexpressible benignity2 and1 conducting me by the hand into his house1 intimated a desire of leading me immediately into the presence of that ,god to whom the government of his little family was ultimately submitted4 ,instantly he fell upon his knees and poured out an earnest prayer that my present visit might be rendered both advantageous and comfortable1 and that our society might be crowned by an intimate fellowship with ,christ4 ,this may serve as a specimen of the manner in which he was accustomed to receive his guests4 8,in his social prayers1 he paid but little attention to those rules which have been laid down with respect to the composition and order of such devotional exercises4 ,his words flowed spontaneously1 and without premeditation1 though always wonderfully adapted to the occasion4 ,nothing impertinent1 artificial1 or superfluous appeared in his addresses to the ,deity4 ,his prayers were the prayers of faith2 always fervent1 often effectual1 and invariably a mingled flow of supplication and gratitude1 humility and confidence1 resignation and fervour1 adoration and love4 8,of his secret supplications1 ,he alone can judge #8who seeth in secret4' ,his closet was his favourite retirement1 to which he constantly retreated whenever his public duties allowed him a season of leisure4 ,here1 in times of uncommon distress1 he continued during whole nights in prayer before ,god2 and that part of the wall1 against which he was accustomed to kneel1 appeared deeply stained with the breath he had spent in fervent worship40 ,in the preface to his translation1 ,mr4 ,gilpin remarks3-- 8,the following work was begun1 and nearly completed1 in the course of ,mr4 ,fletcher's last residence at ,nyon2 where it formed a valuable part of his private labours during a long and painful confinement from public duty4#ejj ,on his return to ,england1 he suffered the manuscript to lie by him1 intending1 at his leisure1 to translate and prepare it for the press4 ,after his decease1 ,mrs4 ,fletcher discovered it1 and the translator1 finding it a work of no common importance1 was readily induced to render it into ,english4 ,the ,portrait of ,st4 ,paul was originally intended for publication in the author's native country1 to which its arguments and quotations apply with peculiar propriety4 ,it contains ,mr4 ,fletcher's last and best thoughts upon some of the most important subjects that can occupy the human mind40 ,footnote #ejj3 ,mrs4 ,fletcher says1 her husband told her the manuscript 8was a rough draft1 written in his illness when abroad1 and which he intended to re-write and to improve40 78,mrs4 ,fletcher's ,life10 by ,h4 ,moore1 p4 #cie47 ,unfortunately1 ,fletcher's 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul0 has1 at the present day1 but few readers4 ,at the beginning of the century1 it was one of the text-books of the ,methodist itinerant preachers2 and1 even within the last forty years1 the ,methodist ,magazine spoke of it as an 8admirable work0 and an 8inestimable volume40#eja ,methodists1 now-a-days1 too often prefer ornament to truth4 ,footnote #eja3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahde1 p4 #gd4 ,the traits of ,st4 ,paul upon which ,fletcher descants are the following3 his early piety2 his ,christian piety2 his intimate union with ,christ by faith2 his extraordinary vocation to the holy ministry1 and in what that ministry chiefly consists2 his entire devotion to ,jesus ,christ2 his strength and his arms2 his power to bind1 to loose1 and to bless in the name of the ,lord2 the earnestness with which he began and continued to fill up the duties of his vocation2 the manner in which he divided his time between prayer1 preaching1 and thanksgiving2 the fidelity with which he announced the severe threatenings and consolatory promises of the ,gospel2 his profound humility2 the ingenuous manner in which he acknowledged and repaired his errors2 his detestation of party spirit and divisions2 his rejection of praise2 his universal love2 his particular love to the faithful2 his love to those whose faith was wavering2 his love to his countrymen and his enemies2 his love to those whom he knew only by report2 his charity towards the poor2 his charity towards sinners2 the condescension of his humble charity2 his courage in defence of truth2 his prudence in frustrating the designs of his enemies2 his tenderness toward others1 and his severity toward himself2 his love never degenerated into cowardice2 his perfect disinterestedness2 his condescension in labouring with his own hands2 his respect for the holy estate of matrimony2 the ardour of his love2 his generous fears and succeeding consolation2 the grand subject of his glorying2 his patience and fortitude2 his firmness before magistrates2 his courage in consoling his persecuted brethren2 his humble confidence in producing the seals of his ministry2 his readiness to seal with his blood the truths of the ,gospel2 the sweet suspense of his choice between life and death2 the constancy of his zeal and diligence to the end of his course2 his triumphs over the evils of life and the terrors of death4 ,after this follows 8,the ,portrait of ,lukewarm ,ministers and ,false ,apostles20 then ,fletcher answers 8,objections0 to the 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul20 and next1 with consummate ability1 states 8,the ,doctrines of an ,evangelical ,pastor20 and concludes with 8,an ,essay on the ,connexion of ,doctrines with ,morality10 in answer to the infidel philosophy of ,voltaire and ,rosseau1 recently deceased4 ,the last two sections are invaluable1 and exhibit ,fletcher in all the strength of his sanctified genius4 ,to make selections from so comprehensive a work as this is difficult1 but the following specimens may be acceptable and useful3-- ,the faithful pastor4--8,the disposition of a faithful pastor is1 in every respect1 diametrically opposed to that of a worldly minister4 ,if you observe the conversation of an ecclesiastic who is influenced by the spirit of the world1 you will hear him intimating either that he has1 or that he would not be sorry to have1 the precedency among his brethren2 to live in a state of affluence and splendour1 and to secure to himself such distinguished appointments as would increase both his dignity and his income1 without making any extraordinary addition to his pastoral labours4 ,you will find him anxious to be admitted into the best companies1 and occasionally forming parties for the chase1 or some other vain amusement4 ,while the true pastor cries out1 in the self-renouncing language of the great ,apostle1 #8,god forbid that ,i should glory1 save in the cross of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 by whom the world is crucified unto me1 and ,i unto the world4' ,oh6 ye1 who preside over the household of ,god1 learn of the ,apostle ,paul to manifest your real superiority4 ,surpass your inferiors in humility1 in charity1 in zeal1 in your painful labours for the salvation of sinners1 in your invincible courage to encounter those dangers which threaten your brethren1 and by your unwearied patience in bearing those persecutions which the faithful disciples of ,christ are perpetually called to endure from a corrupt world4 ,thus shall you honourably replace the first ,christian prelates1 and happily restore the ,church to its primitive dignity40 ,writing sermons1 and reading or delivering them4--8,he1 who spake as never man spake1 rejected the arts of our modern orators1 delivering ,his discourses in a style of easy simplicity1 and unaffected zeal4 ,we do not find that ,st4 ,paul and the other ,apostles imposed upon themselves the troublesome servitude of penning down their discourses4 ,and we are well assured that1 when the ,seventy and the ,twelve were commissioned to publish the ,gospel1 no directions of this nature were given in either case40 8,what advantage has accrued to the ,church1 by renouncing the apostolic method of publishing the ,gospel8 ,we have indolence and artifice1 in the place of sincerity and vigilance4 ,those public discourses1 which were anciently the effects of conviction and zeal1 are now become the weakly exercises of learning and art4 #8,we believe1 and therefore speak1' is an expression1 that has grown entirely obsolete among modern pastors4 ,nothing is more common among us than to say1 #8,as we have sermons prepared upon a variety of subjects1 we are ready to deliver them1 as opportunity offers4' 8,many inconveniences arise from this method of preaching4 ,while the physician of souls is labouring to compose a learned dissertation upon some plain passage of ,scripture1 he has but little leisure to visit those languishing patients1 who need his immediate assistance4 ,he thinks it sufficient to attend upon them every ,sabbath-day1 in the place appointed for public duty3 but he recollects not1 that those1 to whom his counsel is peculiarly necessary1 are the very persons who refuse to meet him there4 ,his unprofitable employments at home leave him no opportunity to go in pursuit of his wandering sheep4 ,he meets them1 it is true1 at stated periods1 in the common fold2 but it is equally true that1 during every successive interval1 he discovers the coldest indifference with respect to their spiritual welfare4 ,from this unbecoming conduct of many a minister1 one would naturally imagine1 that the flock were rather called to seek out their indolent pastor1 than that he was purposely hired to pursue every straying sheep4 8,since the orator's art has taken the place of the energy of faith1 what happy effects has it produced upon the minds of men8 ,have we discovered more frequent conversions among us8 ,are formal professors more generally seized with a religious fear8 ,do the wicked depart from the ,church1 to bewail their transgressions in private2 and believers to visit the mourners in their affliction8 ,is it not rather to be lamented that we are1 at this day1 equally distant from ,christian charity1 and primitive simplicity8 8,reading approved sermons is generally supposed to be preaching the ,gospel4 ,if this were really so1 we need but look out some schoolboy of tolerable capacity2 and1 after instructing him to read1 with proper emphasis and gesture1 the sermons of ,tillotson1 ,sherlock1 or ,saurin1 we shall have made him an excellent minister of the ,word of ,god4 ,but1 if preaching the ,gospel is to publish among sinners that repentance and salvation1 which we have experienced in ourselves1 it is evident that experience and sympathy are more necessary to the due performance of this work1 than all the accuracy and elocution that can possibly be acquired4 8,when this sacred experience and this generous sympathy began to lose their prevalence in the ,church1 their place was gradually supplied by the trifling substitutes of study and affectation4 ,carnal prudence has now for many ages solicitously endeavoured to adapt itself to the taste of the wise and the learned4 ,but1 while #8the offence of the cross' is avoided1 neither the wise nor the ignorant are effectually converted4 8,in consequence of the same error1 the ornaments of theatrical eloquence have been sought after1 with a shameful solicitude4 ,and what has been the fruit of so much useless toil8 ,preachers1 after all1 have played their part with much less applause than comedians2 and their curious auditories are still running from the pulpit to the stage1 for the purpose of hearing fables repeated with a degree of sensibility1 which the messengers of truth can neither feel1 nor feign40 ,for want of space1 further extracts from ,fletcher's invaluable1 but neglected1 book cannot be given here4 ,those1 however1 already presented deserve attention4 ,though written a hundred years ago1 they are sadly appropriate to the state of things at the present day4 ,as already stated1 both 8,la ,grace et la ,nature10 and the 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul10 were written in the ,french language1 a strong presumptive proof that he intended to publish both of them in his native country4 ,so far as the 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul0 is concerned1 that intention was not fulfilled4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,the ,,first ,,three ,,months ,,after ,,fletcher',s ,,return ,,to ,,madeley4 #agha4 ,,fletcher recommenced his ministry at ,madeley on ,sunday1 ,may #bg1 #agha4ejb ,during his absence of four years and a-half1 religion1 in his parish1 had not prospered4 ,in a letter to his hospitable friend1 ,charles ,greenwood1 at ,stoke ,newington1 he wrote3-- 8,madeley1 ,june #ab1 #agha4 ,i stayed longer at ,brislington than ,i designed4 ,mr4 ,ireland was ill1 and would nevertheless come hither with me2 so that ,i was obliged to stay till he was better4 ,and1 indeed1 it was well ,i did not come without him2 for he has helped me to regulate my outward affairs1 which were in great confusion4 ,mr4 ,greaves leaves me2 and ,i will either leave ,madeley1 or have an assistant able to stir among the people3 for ,i had much rather be gone than stay here1 to see the dead bury their dead4 ,a cloud is over my poor parish2 but1 alas6 it is not the luminous cloud by day1 nor the pillar of fire by night4 ,even the few remaining professors stared at me the other day1 when ,i preached to them on these words1 #8,ye shall receive the ,holy ,ghost2 for the promise is unto you4' ,well1 the promise is unto us3 if others despise it1 still let us believe and hope4 ,nothing enlarges the heart and awakens the soul more than that believing1 loving expectation40#ejc ,footnote #ejb3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahaa1 p4 #cab4 ,footnote #ejc3 ,fletcher's 8,life10 by ,wesley4 ,the following1 addressed to ,wesley1 refers to the same subject1 and also to other matters3-- 8,,madeley1 ,june #f1 #agha4 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,i rejoice to hear that your spiritual bow abides in strength4 ,i would have wished you joy about it since my arrival1 if ,i knew where a letter could overtake you4#ejd ,i heartily thank you for the directions you give me to hinder my bow1 so far split1 from breaking quite4 ,now ,i must imitate your prudence1 or the opportunity of doing it will soon be lost for good4 8,i would do something in the ,lord's vineyard1 but ,i have not strength4 ,i can hardly1 without over-doing myself1 visit the sick of my parish4 ,i was better when ,i left ,switzerland than ,i am now4 ,i had a great pull back1 in venturing to preach in the fields1 in the ,cevennes1 to about two thousand ,french ,protestants4 ,i rode thirty miles to that place1 from ,montpelier1 on horseback1 but was obliged to be brought back in a carriage4 ,and now that ,i am here1 ,i can neither serve my church1 nor get it properly served4 ,mr4 ,greaves owns1 the place is not fit for him1 nor he for it4 ,he will go when ,i can get somebody to help me4 ,could you spare me ,brother ,bayley8#ejg ,it would be a charity4 ,unless ,i can get a curate zealous enough to stir among the people1 ,i will give up the place3 it would be little comfort to me to stay here to see the dead bury the dead4 ,i thank ,god1 however1 for resignation to ,his will4 ,as soon as ,i shall discern it clearly1 ,i shall follow it2 for1 ,i trust1 ,i have learned in what state soever ,i am1 therewith to be content4 8,what a blessing is ,christ to the soul1 and health to the body6 ,when you go to1 or come from the ,conference1 be so good as to remember that you have now a pilgrim's house in the way from ,shrewsbury to ,broseley2 and do not climb our hills without baiting4 ,at our first interview1 ,i shall ask your thoughts about a ,french work or two ,i have upon the anvil2 but which ,i fear ,i shall not have time to finish4 ,be that as it will1 ,god needs not the hand of ,uzzah1 nor my finger1 to keep up ,his ark4 8,i read1 with pleasure and edification1 your ,arminian ,magazine4#ejf ,your storehouse is inexhaustible4 ,the ,lord strengthen you to ,nestor's years1 or rather to the useful length of ,st4 ,john's life6 ,it is worth living to serve the ,church1 and to teach ,christians to love one another4 8,i am1 rev4 and dear ,sir1 your affectionate1 though unprofitable servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#eje ,footnote #ejd3 ,the veteran evangelist was now visiting the ,isle of ,man1 8east1 south1 north1 and west10 and said1 8,i was thoroughly convinced that we have no such circuit as this1 either in ,england1 ,scotland1 or ,ireland40 7,wesley's ,journal47 ,footnote #eje3 ,the ,rev4 ,cornelius ,bayley1 at this time one of the ,masters of ,wesley's ,school at ,kingswood4 ,cornelius ,bailey was born near ,whitchurch1 in ,shropshire1 about the year #ageb4 ,he was an excellent ,hebrew scholar1 and published a ,hebrew grammar1 which procured him a doctor's degree from a foreign university4 ,afterwards1 when he took the same degree1 ,d4,d41 at ,cambridge1 he delivered a ,latin sermon1 which was much applauded4 ,as will soon be seen1 he became ,fletcher's curate4 ,on leaving ,madeley1 he went to ,manchester1 where he became the founder and the minister of ,st4 ,james's ,church4 ,this is not the place to give a detailed account of this remarkable man4 ,suffice it to say1 he died1 in ,manchester1 on ,april #b1 #ahab1 his last words being1 8,o my ,saviour6 ,the ,lord is with me60 ,his remains were interred in a vault of his own church2 more than forty clergymen attended his funeral2 the church was crowded1 and more than a thousand of his friends had to stand outside4 ,the ,rev4 ,john ,crosse1 afterwards so well-known in ,bradford1 preached the funeral sermon4 7,christian ,observer1 #ahab1 p4 #dgg47 ,footnote #ejf3 ,wesley began to publish this magazine during ,fletcher's absence on the continent4 ,footnote #ejg3 ,arminian ,magazine1 #aghb1 p4 #dh4 ,wesley's approaching ,conference was to be held at ,leeds1 and to ,joseph ,benson1 who had recently been married1 ,fletcher wrote as follows3-- 8,i am1 at present1 without an assistant here1 but hope soon to have ,mr4 ,bayley1 one of the masters of ,kingswood ,school4 ,if he come1 ,i shall be at liberty to go to ,leeds1 and ,i hope ,god will strengthen me for the journey4 ,a godly wife is a peculiar blessing from the ,lord4 ,i wish you joy for such a loan4 ,possess it with godly fear and holy joy2 and the ,god who gave her you help you both to see your doubled piety take root in the heart of the child that crowns your union4 ,so prays1 my dear brother1 your affectionate friend1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#ejh ,footnote #ejh3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,meanwhile1 ,fletcher had begun a correspondence with a lady hitherto unknown to him2 or rather she had begun a correspondence with him4 ,miss ,ann ,loxdale1 daughter of ,joseph ,loxdale1 ,esq41 of ,shrewsbury1 was now about twenty-six years of age4 ,two years before the date of her letter to ,fletcher1 she had been converted4 ,in reply to her communication1 he said3-- 8,,madeley1 ,may #bd1 #agha4 8,,dear ,,madam1--,i embrace the first opportunity of thanking my unknown friend for her kind ,christian letter4 ,as ,i believe you are sincere1 and mean what your pen has traced upon paper1 ,i may rejoice over a greater treasure than that of the ,indies--,i mean1 the treasure of a ,christian friend2 for nothing but ,christianity could give you courage to express any degree of friendship for so contemptible a neighbour4 ,i shall preach here next ,sunday1 please ,god4 ,if you can1 and if you are not afraid of dining upon a bit of cold meat1 come and dine with your new and yet old friend1 who1 though he cannot converse long with his friends1 on account of his weakness1 will find a quarter of an hour to assure you1 that1 in the faith1 hope1 and love of the ,gospel1 he is1 8,madam1 your obliged friend and obedient servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#eji ,footnote #eji3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahaa1 p4#cab4 ,there cannot be a doubt respecting ,miss ,loxdale's ardent piety2 but she was in danger of falling into some of the errors of the mystics4 ,she had written to ,wesley1 asking his advice respecting the works of ,madam ,bourignon1 which she had been reading4 ,wesley1 in his reply1 dated 8,june #aj1 #agha10 told her that ,madam ,bourignon's 8new and peculiar expressions0 were 8only shadows10 not 8an excellence1 but a capital defect40 ,wesley continued1-- 8,as ,i apprehend your mind must be a little confused by reading those uncommon treatises1 ,i wish you would give another deliberate reading to the #8,plain ,account of ,christian ,perfection4' ,you may be assured there is no religion under heaven higher or deeper than that which is there described4 ,i desire nothing1 ,i will accept of nothing1 but the common faith and common salvation2 and ,i want you to be only just such a common ,christian as ,jenny ,cooper was40#eaj ,footnote #eaj3 ,wesley's ,works1 vol4 xiii41 p4 #aba4 ,meantime1 ,miss ,loxdale and ,fletcher had met and conversed with each other2 for1 in a long letter to her1 dated twelve days after ,wesley's1 he gave her what he considered suitable advice1 and said1 8,i never doubted your sincerity1 my dear friend2 and can1 without wavering1 confess you a member of my ,lord1 a child of my heavenly ,father1 and a fellow-heir of the kingdom of heaven1 purchased for penitent believers40#eaa ,footnote #eaa3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahaa1 p4 #cab4 ,this epistolary and viv voce intercourse grew into a sincere friendship1 but nothing more than that4 ,miss ,loxdale became one of the most holy and devoted ,methodists of the last century2 and1 in #ahaa1 at the age of fifty-six1 married the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,coke4 ,a year afterwards1 she died at ,york1 and was buried in ,dr4 ,coke's family vault at ,brecon4#eab ,footnote #eab3 ,drew's 8,life of ,coke10 p4 #cdf4 ,just at the time when ,fletcher was writing his letters to ,miss ,loxdale1 and giving her1 most sincerely1 the best advice he could1 his heart was full of ,miss ,bosanquet1 and1 as will soon be seen1 at the beginning of the month of ,june1 he proposed to marry her4 ,the reply was not unfavourable1 and ,fletcher at once decided to attend ,wesley's ,conference at ,leeds1 in the neighbourhood of which ,miss ,bosanquet resided4 ,the following letter1 addressed to ,wesley1 announces this decision1 and refers to the case of ,miss ,loxdale1 and to an interesting incident in ,switzerland3-- 8,,madeley1 ,june #bd1 #agha4 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,as to ,miss ,loxdale1 ,i believe her to be a simple1 holy follower of the ,lord4 ,nothing throws unscriptural mysticism down like holding out the promise of the ,father1 and the fulness of the ,spirit1 to be received now1 by faith in the two ,promisers1 the ,father and the ,son4 ,ah6 what is the penal fire of the mystics1 to the burning love of the ,spirit1 revealing the glorious power of the ,father and the ,son1 according to ,john xiv4 #bf1 and filling us with all the fulness of ,god8 ,plain ,scripture is better than all mystic refinements4 8,when ,i was at ,nyon1 near ,geneva1 three ministers received the ,word1 and preached the ,truth4 ,when persecution arose because of the ,word1 the two pastors were afraid2 but the curate of the first pastor1 a burgess of the town1 stood by me4 ,this ,timothy opened his house1 when the pastors shut both their pulpits and houses2 and ,i heard him preach a discourse before ,i came away1 worthy of you1 ,sir1 upon the heights and depths of holiness4 ,he wrote an apology for me1 which ,i sent to the head of the persecuting ,clergy1 and so stopped the torrent of wrath4 ,he made observations upon the mischief done to ,christianity by bad ,clergy1 such as ,george ,fox and you1 ,sir1 would not disown4 ,when ,i told him of you and the ,methodists1 he expressed a great desire to come to ,england1 to hear you1 to see the ,english brethren1 and to learn the ,english language1 that he might read your works1 and1 perhaps1 translate some of them4 ,he can have no living in his own country1 because he will not swear to prosecute all who propagate ,arminian tenets2 which is more honest than many of the ,clergy1 many of whom are ,arians1 ,socinians1 or ,deists1 and do not scruple to take the ,calvinian ,oaths4 8,i shall endeavour to wait upon you at ,leeds1 at the time of the ,conference3 in the meantime1 ,i am1 ,rev4 and dear ,sir1 your obedient ,servant1 and affectionate ,son in the ,gospel1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#eac ,footnote #eac3 ,arminian ,magazine1 #aghb1 p4 #di4 ,another of ,fletcher's letters1 belonging to this period1 is too valuable to be omitted4 ,his interview with ,thomas ,rankin1 at ,brislington1 has been related4 ,he now wrote to ,rankin1 as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,june #be1 #agha4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,i thank you for your kind letter to me4 ,i found myself of one heart with you1 both as a preacher and believer1 before ,i left ,bristol1 and ,i am glad you find freedom to speak to me as your friend in ,christ4 8,by what you mention of your experience1 ,i am confirmed in the thought1 #a4 ,that it is often harder to keep in the way of faith and light than to get into it4 #b4 ,that speculation and reasoning hinder us to get into that way1 and lead us out of it when we are in it4 #c4 ,the only business of those who come to ,god1 as a ,redeemer or ,sanctifier1 must be to feel their want of redemption and sanctifying #8power from on high1' and to come for it by simple1 cordial1 working faith4 ,easily1 the heart gets into a false rest before our last enemy is overcome4 ,hence arises a relapsing1 in an imperceptible degree1 into indolence and carnal security2 hence a dreaming that we are rich and increased in goods4 8,this is one of the causes of the declension you perceive among some of the ,methodists4 ,another is the outward rest they have4 ,another may be the judging of the greatness of the work by the numbers in ,society4 ,be the consequence what it will1 those who see the evil should honestly bear their testimony against it1 first in their own souls1 next by their life1 and thirdly by their plain and constant reproofs and exhortations4 8,the work of justification seems stopped1 in some degree1 because the glory and necessity of the pardon of sins1 to be received and enjoyed now by faith1 is not pressed enough upon sinners2 and the need of retaining it upon believers4 ,the work of sanctification is hindered1 if ,i am not mistaken1 by the same reason1 and by holding out the being delivered from sin as the mark to be aimed at1 instead of being rooted in ,christ1 and filled with the fulness of ,god1 and with power from on high4 ,the dispensation of the ,spirit is confounded with that of the ,son1 and the former not being held forth clearly enough1 formal and lukewarm believers in ,jesus ,christ suppose they have the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,hence the increase of carnal professors1 see ,acts viii4 #af4 ,and hence so few spiritual men4 8,let us pray1 hope1 love1 believe for ourselves1 and call for the display of the ,lord's arm4 ,my love to your dear fellow-labourer1 ,mr4 ,pawson4 ,pray for your affectionate brother1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#ead ,footnote #ead3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,the sentiments expressed in this valuable letter were important a hundred years ago2 and are far more important now4 ,methodists1 and especially ,methodist ,preachers1 ought to lay them seriously to heart4 ,holding them1 ,fletcher proceeded to the ,methodist ,conference of #agha1 which began at ,leeds on ,tuesday1 ,august #g1 and concerning which ,wesley writes as follows3-- 8#agha4 ,sunday1 ,august #e4 ,at the old church in ,leeds1 we had eighteen clergymen1 and about eleven hundred communicants4 ,i preached there at three2 the church was thoroughly filled2 and ,i believe most could hear1 while ,i explained the #8new covenant' which ,god has now made with the ,israel of ,god4 8,monday1 #fth4 ,i desired ,mr4 ,fletcher1 ,dr4 ,coke1 and four more of our brethren1 to meet every evening1 that we might consult together on any difficulty that occurred4 ,on ,tuesday our ,conference began1 at which were present about seventy preachers1 whom ,i had severally invited to come and assist me with their advice1 in carrying on the great work of ,god4 ,wednesday1 #hth4 ,i desired ,mr4 ,fletcher to preach4 ,i do not wonder he should be so popular2 not only because he preaches with all his might1 but because the power of ,god attends both his preaching and prayer4 ,on ,monday and ,tuesday 7,august #ac and #ad7 we finished the remaining business of the ,conference1 and ended it with solemn prayer and thanksgiving40#eae ,footnote #eae3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,notwithstanding the evils even then existing1 and which were lamented by ,fletcher in the foregoing letter1 these were glorious days1 and their conferences memorable 8times of refreshing from the presence of the ,lord40 ,mr4 ,gorham1 of ,st4 ,neots1 was at the ,conference of #agha1 and wrote3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher preached at five in the morning1 from #b ,peter i4 #d4 ,notwithstanding the earliness of the hour1 at least two thousand persons were present1 who appeared to listen to him with the deepest attention40 ,joseph ,pescod1 one of ,wesley's itinerant preachers1 in a letter to his wife1 remarked3-- 8,i arrived at ,leeds on ,saturday evening2 and on ,sunday morning1 at five o'clock1 ,i had the happiness to hear that venerable servant of ,god1 ,mr4 ,fletcher4 ,never did ,i see any man more like what ,i suppose the ancient ,apostles to have been4 ,his text was #b ,peter i4 #d3 #8,whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises4' ,he spoke particularly of the three great promises of ,god to man4 ,the leading promise of the ,old ,testament1 he remarked1 was1 #8,the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head4' ,on this promise1 he observed1 the saints lived four thousand years1 and were saved through the ,messiah to come4 ,the other two1 he said1 were ,new ,testament promises4 ,first1 the promise of the ,holy ,ghost1 whom our ,lord told ,his disciples ,he would send after ,his ascension4 ,the dispensation of the ,spirit is to renew us after the image of ,god2 which implies light1 and power1 and love4 ,the third promise1 on which he dwelt1 was that of the resurrection of the body4 ,i think ,i never heard a sermon to be compared with it4 ,i wish ,i could tell you every word4 ,i had1 also1 the happiness to receive from his hand the bread in the sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper4 ,the ordinance was administered in the old church1 by ,mr4 ,wesley1 ,mr4 ,fletcher1 and nine other clergymen4 ,mr4 ,wesley preached in the afternoon1 in the church1 from ,hebrews viii4 #aj-ab40eaf ,footnote #eaf3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahbi1 p4 #ebh4 ,wesley's ,conference finished its business on ,august #ad2 but ,fletcher1 the happy guest of ,miss ,bosanquet1 at ,cross ,hall1 continued in the neighbourhood about three weeks longer1 8preaching10 says his delighted hostess1 8in different places1 with much power40#eag ,a record of one of the meetings that ,fletcher attended fortunately exists1 and is here given almost without abridgment4 ,footnote #eag3 ,moore's 8,life of ,mrs4 ,fletcher10 p4 #ada4 ,james ,rogers was1 at this time1 stationed at ,sheffield2 but1 no doubt1 both he and his far-famed wife1 8,hester ,ann10 attended the ,conference at ,leeds4 ,after its sittings were ended1 she1 like ,fletcher1 still remained4 ,on ,august #bd1 ,fletcher came with ,miss ,bosanquet1 and ,mrs4 ,crosby1 to dine at ,mr4 ,smith's1 in ,park ,row1 and to meet the ,select ,society4 ,mrs4 ,rogers writes3-- 8,when ,i entered the room1 where they were assembled1 the heavenly man was giving out the following verses1 with such animation as ,i have seldom witnessed-- 8#8,near us1 assisting ,jesus1 stand2 ,give us the op'ning heavens to see2 ,thee to behold at ,god's right hand1 ,and yield our parting souls to ,thee4 8#8,my ,father1 ,o my ,father1 hear1 ,and send the fiery chariot down2 ,let ,israel's flaming steeds appear1 ,and whirl us to the starry crown4 8#8,we1 we would die for ,jesus too2 ,through tortures1 fires1 and seas of blood1 ,all triumphantly break through1 ,and plunge into the depths of ,god4' 8,after this1 ,mr4 ,fletcher poured out his full soul in prayer to ,god4 ,indeed1 his every breath seemed to be prayer1 or praise1 or spiritual instruction2 and every word that fell from his lips appeared to be accompanied by unction from above4 8,after dinner1 ,i took an opportunity to beg him to explain an expression he had used in a letter to ,miss ,loxdale2#eah namely1 that1 on all who are renewed in love1 ,god bestows the gift of prophecy4 ,he called for the ,bible2 then read and explained ,acts ii42 observing1 that1 to prophesy in the sense he meant1 was1 to magnify ,god with the new heart of love1 and the new tongue of praise1 as they did1 who1 on the day of ,pentecost1 were filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he insisted that believers now are called upon to prove the same baptismal fire2 that the day of ,pentecost was the opening of the dispensation of the ,spirit1--the great promise of the ,father2 and that the latter day glory1 which he believed was near at hand1 should far exceed the first effusion of the ,spirit4 ,seeing then that they1 on the day of ,pentecost1 bore witness to the grace of our ,lord1 so should we2 and1 like them1 spread the flame of love4 8,after singing a hymn1 he cried1 #8,o to be filled with the ,holy ,ghost6 ,i want to be filled6 ,o1 my friends1 let us wrestle for a more abundant outpouring of the ,spirit6' ,to me1 he said1 #8,come1 my sister1 will you covenant with me this day1 to pray for the fulness of the ,spirit8 ,will you be a witness for ,jesus8' ,i answered1 with flowing tears1 #8,in the strength of ,jesus ,i will4' ,he cried1 #8,glory1 glory be to ,god6 ,lord1 strengthen ,thy handmaid to keep this covenant1 even unto death6' 8,he then said1 #8,my dear brethren and sisters1 ,god is here6 ,i feel ,him in this place2 but ,i would hide my face in the dust1 because ,i have been ashamed to declare what ,he has done for me4 ,for many years1 ,i have grieved ,his ,spirit2 ,i am deeply humbled2 and ,he has again restored my soul4' ,last ,wednesday evening1 ,he spoke to me by these words1 #8,reckon yourselves1 therefore1 to be dead indeed unto sin2 but alive unto ,god through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4' ,i obeyed the voice of ,god3 ,i now obey it2 and tell you all1 to the praise of ,his love1--,i am freed from sin4 ,yes1 ,i rejoice to declare it1 and to be a witness to the glory of ,his grace1 that ,i am dead unto sin1 and alive unto ,god1 through ,jesus ,christ1 who is my ,lord and ,king6 ,i received this blessing four or five times before2 but ,i lost it1 by not observing the order of ,god2 who has told us1 ,with the heart man believeth unto righteousness1 and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation4 ,but the enemy offered his bait1 under various colours1 to keep me from a public declaration of what ,god had wrought4' 8#8,when ,i first received this grace1 ,satan bid me wait awhile1 till ,i saw more of the fruits3 ,i resolved to do so2 but ,i soon began to doubt of the witness1 which1 before1 ,i had felt in my heart2 and1 in a little time1 ,i was sensible ,i had lost both4 ,a second time1 after receiving this salvation1 ,i was kept from being a witness for my ,lord1 by the suggestion1 #8,thou art a public character--the eyes of all are upon thee--and if1 as before1 by any means thou lose the blessing1 it will be a dishonour to the doctrine of heart-holiness4' ,i held my peace1 and again forfeited the gift of ,god4 ,at another time1 ,i was prevailed upon to hide it1 by reasoning1 #8,how few1 even of the children of ,god1 will receive this testimony2 many of them supposing every transgression of the ,adamic law is sin2 and1 therefore1 if ,i profess to be free from sin1 all these will give my profession the lie2 because ,i am not free in their sense3 ,i am not free from ignorance1 mistakes1 and various infirmities2 ,i will1 therefore1 enjoy what ,god has wrought in me2 but ,i will not say1 ,i am perfect in love4 ,alas6 ,i soon found again1 ,he that hideth his ,lord's talent1 and improveth it not1 from that unprofitable servant shall be taken away even that he hath4 8#8,now1 my brethren1 you see my folly4 ,i have confessed it in your presence2 and now ,i resolve before you all to confess my ,master4 ,i will confess ,him to all the world4 ,and ,i declare unto you1 in the presence of ,god1 the ,holy ,trinity1 ,i am now dead indeed unto sin4 ,i do not say1 ,i am crucified with ,christ1 because some of our well-meaning brethren say1 by this can only be meant a gradual dying2 but ,i profess unto you1 ,i am dead unto sin1 and alive unto ,god3 and1 remember1 all this is through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,he is my ,prophet1 ,priest1 and ,king--my indwelling ,holiness--my all in all4 ,i wait for the fulfilment of that prayer1 ,that they all may be one1 as ,thou1 ,father1 art in me1 and ,i in ,thee1 that they also may be one in us3 and that they may be one1 even as we are one4 ,o for that pure baptismal flame6 ,o for the fulness of the dispensation of the ,holy ,ghost6 ,pray1 pray1 pray for this6 ,this shall make us all of one heart1 and of one soul4 ,pray for gifts--for the gift of utterance2 and confess your royal ,master4 ,a man without gifts is like a king in disguise3 he appears as a subject only4 ,you are kings and priests unto ,god6 ,put on1 therefore1 your robes1 and wear on your garter1 holiness to the ,lord4' 8,a few days after this1 ,i heard ,mr4 ,fletcher preach upon the same subject2 inviting all1 who felt their need of full redemption1 to believe now for this great salvation4 ,he observed1 #8,as when you reckon with your creditor1 or with your host1 and1 as when you have paid all1 you reckon yourselves free1 so now reckon with ,god4 ,jesus has paid all3 ,he has paid for thee6--has purchased thy pardon and holiness2 therefore1 it is now ,god's command1 ,reckon thyself dead indeed unto sin2 and thou art alive unto ,god from this hour6 ,o1 begin1 begin to reckon now6 ,fear not3 believe1 believe1 believe6 and continue to believe every moment6 ,so shalt thou continue free2 for it is retained1 as it is received1 by faith alone4 ,and1 whosoever thou art that perseveringly believeth1 it will be as fire in thy bosom1 and constrain thee to confess with thy mouth thy ,lord and ,king1 ,jesus4 ,and1 in spreading the sacred flame of love1 thou shalt be saved to the uttermost4' 8,he also dwelt largely on those words1 #8,where sin abounded1 grace did much more abound4' ,he asked1 #8,how did sin abound8 ,had it not overpowered your whole soul8 ,were not all your passions1 tempers1 propensities1 and affections1 inordinate and evil8 ,did not pride1 anger1 self-will1 and unbelief1 all reign over you8 ,and1 when the ,spirit of ,god strove with you1 did you not repel all ,his convictions1 and put ,him far from you8 ,well1 my brethren1 ye were then the servants of sin1 and were free from righteousness2 but now1 being made free from sin1 ye become servants to ,god2 and holiness shall overspread your whole soul1 so that all your tempers and passions shall be henceforth regulated and governed by ,him who now sitteth upon the throne of your heart1 making all things new4 ,as you once resisted the ,holy ,spirit1 so now you shall have power to resist all the subtle frauds or fierce attacks of ,satan4' 8,mr4 ,fletcher then1 with lifted hands1 cried1 #8,who will thus be saved8 ,who will believe the report8 ,you are only in an improper sense called believers who reject this4 ,who is a believer8 ,one who believes a few things which his ,god has spoken8 ,nay1 but one who believes all that ever proceeded out of ,his mouth4 ,here then is the word of the ,lord3 ,as sin abounded1 grace shall much more abound6 ,as no good thing was in you by nature1 so now no evil thing shall remain4 ,do you believe this8 ,or are you a half believer only8 ,come6 ,jesus is offered to thee as a perfect ,saviour4 ,take ,him1 and ,he will make thee a perfect saint4 ,o ye half believers1 will you still plead for the murderers of your ,lord8 ,which of these will you hide as a serpent in your bosom8 ,shall it be anger1 pride1 self-will1 or accursed unbelief8 ,o be no longer befooled6 ,bring these enemies to thy ,lord1 and let ,him slay them4'0#eai ,footnote #eah3 ,the letter already referred to1 and dated ,june #bb1 #agha4 ,see it in ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahaa1 p4 #cab4 ,footnote #eai3 ,dr4 ,coke's funeral sermon on the death of ,mrs4 ,h4 ,a4 ,rogers1 #agie2 and 8,experience and ,letters of ,mrs4 ,hester ,ann ,rogers40 ,mrs4 ,rogers was not a shorthand writer4 ,she wrote from memory2 and though what she relates in the foregoing extracts is1 no doubt1 substantially correct1 yet ,fletcher must not be held accountable for every word she uses4 ,the narrative1 however1 is very valuable1 because it exhibits ,fletcher at a most important epoch of his life1 and exhibits him in his free-and-easy religious dishabille among his friends4 ,wesley says3-- 8,there is a peculiar difficulty in giving a full account of either the life or character of ,mr4 ,fletcher1 because we have scarce any light from himself4 ,he was upon all occasions very uncommonly reserved in speaking of himself1 whether in writing or conversation4 ,he hardly ever said anything concerning himself1 unless it slipped from him unawares4 ,and1 among the great number of papers which he has left1 there is scarce a page 7except the account of his conversion to ,god71 relative either to his own inward experience1 or the transactions of his life4 ,so that the most of the information we have is gathered up1 either from short hints scattered up and down in his letters1 from what he had occasionally dropped among his friends1 or from what one and another remembered concerning him4 8,this defect was indeed1 in some measure1 supplied by the entire intimacy which subsisted between him and ,mrs4 ,fletcher4 ,he did not willingly1 much less designedly1 conceal anything from her4 ,they had no secrets with regard to each other1 but had indeed one house1 one purse1 and one heart4 ,before her1 it was his invariable rule to think aloud2 always to open the window in his breast4 ,and to this we are indebted for the knowledge of many particulars which must otherwise have been buried in oblivion40#ebj ,footnote #ebj3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,no doubt this statement is perfectly accurate4 ,fletcher1 like ,wesley himself1 was never a talkative religious professor2 and the outpourings of his heart1 related by ,hester ,ann ,rogers1 may be regarded as exceptional4 ,nothing more need be added to the present chapter except the incident that1 both in going to ,leeds and returning to ,madeley1 ,fletcher preached at ,sheffield1 where the husband of ,hester ,ann ,rogers was at that time ,wesley's 8,assistant40 ,he was the guest of ,mr4 ,thomas ,holy4 ,the following is taken from an unpublished memoir of ,mr4 ,holy1 written by the late ,rev4 ,james ,everett3-- 8,the sainted ,fletcher was twice an inmate of ,mr4 ,holy's house4 ,this extraordinary man preached twice in ,norfolk ,street chapel1 on going to and returning from the ,conference at ,leeds1 in #agha4 ,one of of his texts was1 #8,the kingdom of ,god is within you2' and the other1 #8,behold1 now is the accepted time2 behold1 now is the day of salvation4' ,on both occasions1 the chapel was crowded1 and several clergymen were present4 ,when he was introduced to ,mr4 ,holy1 his salutation was1 #8,peace be to thee1 my brother2' and1 on crossing ,mr4 ,holy's threshold1 he said1 #8,peace be to this house4' ,mrs4 ,brammah1 the widow of an old itinerant preacher1 and one of ,mr4 ,holy's pensioners1 was present1 and observed that ,mr4 ,fletcher frequently repeated the latter text1 as if desirous to impress the company with its importance and its blessedness4 #8,mr4 ,fletcher's conversation1' remarked ,mr4 ,holy1 #8was always instructive and impressive2 and ,i felt while ,i was with him as if ,i were in the presence of a superior being4' ,during his stay in ,sheffield1 ,mr4 ,fletcher bathed every morning in a river1 about half a mile distant from ,mr4 ,holy's residence4 ,his host always accompanied him1 and was much struck with his excellent swimming40 ,this is a trivial matter1 but trifles concerning 8mighty men1 men of renown10 are worth preserving4 ,a journey from ,madeley to ,leeds1 a hundred years ago1 was a somewhat serious affair4 ,in an unpublished letter1 addressed to ,mr4 ,ireland1 ,fletcher tells his friend that the journey occupied two days and a half1 and that his new saddle was so hard that1 to save himself from suffering1 he was obliged to put the hair-skins1 used for the protection of his chest1 into his 8breeches40 ,in the same letter1 he gives an account of the suicide of his 8atheistical nephew20 and concludes as follows3-- 8,if ,mr4 ,romaine be still with you1 please to remember me in much love to him4 ,i went yesterday to ,salop1 saw ,mr4 ,de ,courcy1#eba and invited ,mr4 ,rowland ,hill to preach here to cement love40 ,footnote #eba3 ,at that time the incumbent of the parish of ,st4 ,alkmond1 ,shrewsbury4 78,life of ,rev4 ,r4 ,hill10 by ,sidney1 p4 #acg47 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,fletcher',s ,,marriage4 #agha4 ,,fletcher spent a happy month among the 8elect0 ladies of ,methodism in the ,north of ,england2 to wit1 ,miss ,bosanquet1 ,hester ,ann ,rogers1 ,sarah ,crosby1 and their friends2 and1 on his return to ,madeley1 he had to correspond with two others in the south1 ,miss ,perronet and ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald4 ,to the former he wrote as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,september #d1 #agha4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,you want #8some thoughts on the love of ,god2' and ,i want the warmest feelings of it4 ,let us believe ,his creating1 feel ,his preserving1 admire ,his redeeming1 and triumph in ,his sanctifying love4 ,loving is the best way to grow in love4 ,let us then look at the love of our heavenly ,father1 shining in the face of our elder ,brother1 and we shall be changed into love--,his image and nature--from one glorious and glorifying degree of love to another4 ,love always delights in the object loved4 #8,delight thou in the ,lord1' then1 and #8thou shalt have thy heart's desire2' for we can desire nothing more than the supreme good and infinite bliss2 both are in ,god4 ,when1 therefore1 we love ,god truly1 we delight in what ,he is2 we share in ,his infinite happiness2 and1 by divine sympathy1 ,his throne of glory becomes ours2 for true love rejoices in all the joy of the object to which it cleaves4 8,add to this1 that when we love ,god we have always our hearts' desire2 for we love ,his will1 ,his desires become ours1 and ours are always perfectly resigned to ,his4 ,now as ,god does whatsoever ,he pleases1 both in heaven and earth1 ,his lovers have always their hearts' desire1 forasmuch as they always have ,his will1 which is theirs4 ,submitting our private will to ,his is only preferring a greater good to a less1 and we are called to do it in afflictions4 8,farewell1 my dear friend1 and excuse these reflections1 which you could make much better than your humble servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#ebb ,footnote #ebb3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bgg4 ,an excellent love-letter1 from one who was now the declared lover of ,mary ,bosanquet4 ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald wished to visit ,fletcher at ,madeley1 and to her he wrote the following3-- 8,,madeley1 ,september #c1 #agha4 8,,my ,,much-,,honoured ,,lady1--,two days ago ,i came here1 after an absence of above a month2 and yesterday ,i received your letter1 without date1 which has been1 ,i am told1 waiting here some time4 8,what a pity ,i did not rejoice sooner in the good news you send me1--that you desire to be entirely devoted to ,god4 ,indeed1 complaints follow2 but heaven is in that holy desire4 ,if you cultivate it1 it will produce all that conformity to a holy ,god1 which love can bring to a human soul4 ,as for your complaints1 they are the natural expressions of that repentance which precedes the coming of the ,comforter1 who is to abide with us for ever4 ,i am ready to rejoice1 or to mourn with my honoured friend2 and ,i have abundant cause to do both with respect to myself1 my ministrations1 the ,church1 and my people4 8,and will you1 indeed1 find it in your heart to honour my house with your presence1 and perfume also with your prayers the plain apartment occupied by your friend ,johnson8#ebc ,i wonder at nothing on earth1 when ,i consider the condescension with which ,emmanuel came down from heaven and filled a stable with ,his glory4 ,your time1 my condescending friend1 will suit me best4 ,you will be queen in my hermitage2 the ,lord will rule in our hearts2 and you will command1 under ,him1 within our walls4 ,you smile1 perhaps1 at the vastness of your new empire2 but if you can be content and happy in ,god in my homely solitude1 you will make greater advances towards bliss than if you obtained the ,principality of ,wales4 ,but if you cannot be happy with ,jesus1 prayer1 praise1 godly conversation1 and retirement1 expect a disappointment4 ,however1 my honoured friend1 if you come1 come as the serious ,catholics go on a pilgrimage1 as ,french noblemen go to the ,carthusian ,convent at ,la ,trappe1 as the ,french king's aunts went to the ,carmelites1--come and do evangelical penance4 ,our good friend ,johnson will tell you of an upper room where we crucify our old man1 and have had many a visit from the new4 ,if you do not bring her with you1 bring her faith1 which brought ,him down1 and then you shall not pine for the company of earthly princes4 ,the ,prince of ,peace ,himself will keep ,his court in our cottage1 and your heart shall be one of ,his favourite thrones40#ebd ,footnote #ebc3 ,probably ,ann ,johnson1 who was a member of the ,methodist ,society in ,london sixty years2 a class-leader1 thirty-seven2 who died at the age of eighty in #ahbh1 and whose remains were interred in the burial-ground of ,city ,road ,chapel4 ,see ,stevenson's 8,city ,road ,chapel10 p4 #deh4 ,footnote #ebd3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bgf4 ,from these ,christian ladies1 the reader's attention must now be directed to another4 ,mary ,bosanquet1 oddly enough1 was born in the same month1 and on the same day of the month1 as ,fletcher2 but there was this difference--she was ten years younger than he4 ,her birth took place in #agci1 the year in which ,methodism was cradled4 ,her father was 8one of the chief merchants in ,london10#ebe and 8lord of the manor of ,leytonstone1 in ,essex40#ebf ,the place of her nativity was ,forest ,house1 a fine old mansion1 three stories high1 still standing in its own beautiful and spacious grounds1 about a mile from ,leyton1 and still owned by a member of the ,bosanquet family 7,s4 ,r4 ,bosanquet1 ,esq471 who has recently given a plot of ground in the main street of the town on which to build the 8,mary ,fletcher ,memorial ,chapel40 ,footnote #ebe3 8,life of ,rev4 ,h4 ,venn10 p4 #cgf4 ,footnote #ebf3 8,sermon on the death of ,mrs4 ,fletcher10 by ,john ,hodson1 p4 #dg4 ,by means of a ,methodist servant1 ,mary ,bosanquet found peace with ,god1 through faith in ,jesus ,christ1 when she was only eight years old4 ,at the age of thirteen1 she became acquainted with ,mrs4 ,lefevre1 whose admirable 8,letters on ,religious ,subjects0 used to be one of the favourite books of the early ,methodists2 and concerning which ,wesley himself testified3 8,the #8,letters' are patterns of truly polite epistolary correspondence2 expressing the noblest sentiments in the most elegant manner1 in the purest1 yea1 and finest language40#ebg ,at the house of ,mrs4 ,lefevre1 ,miss ,bosanquet was introduced to a number of godly people1 many of them ,methodists4 ,when fourteen years of age1 she was confirmed in ,st4 ,paul's ,cathedral1 and began to receive the sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper4 ,footnote #ebg3 ,preface to the ,letters4 ,soon after this1 her father and mother thought her 8righteous over much10 and great uneasiness1 on both sides1 followed4 ,the parents were members of the ,church of ,england2 but1 like many other professedly ,christian people1 they loved gaiety and worldly pleasure4 ,their daughter grieved them1 because she attired herself plainly1 and objected to go to balls and theatres4 ,in the midst of this unpleasantness1 she became acquainted with ,sarah ,ryan and ,sarah ,crosby1 and1 at their humble dwelling1 in ,christopher ,alley1 ,moorfields1 was accustomed to meet companies of the ,old ,foundery ,methodists4 ,meanwhile1 the unhappiness at home increased4 ,at the age of twenty-one1 ,miss ,bosanquet came into possession of 8a small fortune20 and1 for her own comfort and that of her family1 she left the parental home1 and rented two unfurnished rooms in the house of ,mrs4 ,gold1 in ,hoxton ,square4 ,she 8hired a sober girl20 her mother gave her two beds2 and she was driven to her lodgings in her father's coach4 ,she reached her new home about eight o'clock at night4 ,she had no candle4 ,the people of the house she had never seen4 ,she borrowed a table2 and the window seat served her as a chair4 ,her supper consisted of bread1 8rank salt butter1 and water20 but she says1 she 8could truly say1 #8,i eat my meat with gladness and singleness of heart4' ,the bedstead was not1 as yet1 put up1 and1 therefore1 she laid upon the floor2 8and the windows0 of the bedless bedroom 8having no shutters1 and it being a bright moonlight night10 she remarks1 8the sweet solemnity thereof well agreed with the tranquillity of my spirit40 ,her 8maid was dull and ignorant1 though good20 and she herself 8knew little more of the world than0 did her maid1 8having been used to so different a way of life40 ,just at this juncture1 ill-health obliged ,sarah ,ryan to leave ,wesley's meeting-house in ,bristol1 and to return to ,london1 where she lodged with her sister4 ,here her illness became serious2 and ,miss ,bosanquet served1 as her nurse1 8night and day40 8,after a time10 writes ,miss ,bosanquet1 8the ,lord was pleased to restore her to health2 and1 having one heart1 one mind1 and one purse1 we agreed that one habitation also would be most profitable20 and1 accordingly1 the two now resided together at ,hoxton4 ,on ,march #bd1 #agfc1 ,miss ,bosanquet and ,sarah ,ryan removed from ,hoxton to ,leytonstone1 and occupied a house belonging to the former4 ,miss ,bosanquet told her father that she intended to have ,methodist preaching in her house2 her father made no objection1 but remarked1 8,if a mob should pull your house about your ears1 ,i cannot hinder them40 ,she and ,sarah ,ryan began to hold meetings1 on ,thursday nights1 at which they 8read a chapter1 and sometimes spoke from it40 ,they also gathered a ,methodist class1 of twenty-five members2 and1 in due time1 ,wesley sent his ,itinerant1 ,john ,murlin1 to preach to them4 ,thus began ,methodism at ,leytonstone4 8,sometimes on ,sundays1 when the nights were dark1 a mob would collect at the gate0 of ,miss ,bosanquet's domestic cathedral1 8and throw dirt at the people as they went out2 after which1 they used to come into the yard1 and1 putting their faces to a window1 which was without shutters1 would roar and howl like wild beasts40 ,at the first1 ,miss ,bosanquet's family at ,leytonstone consisted of herself1 her maid1 ,sarah ,ryan1 and 8,sally ,lawrence1#ebh a child about four years old1 whom0 she had 8taken from the side of her mother's coffin40 ,in a little while1 five other orphans were admitted2 and it became necessary to employ ,ann ,tripp#ebi to serve as their governess4 ,miss ,bosanquet writes3 8,some serious women also were added to our household1 and each had their duties and employments assigned them4 ,in the whole1 we received thirty-five children1 and thirty-four grown persons1 but not all at one time40 ,thus did ,miss ,bosanquet turn her dwelling into a chapel1 an orphanage1 and a poor-house4 ,all in the house1 herself included1 wore the same kind of dress1 made of 8a dark purple cotton20 and all dined at the same table1 which was 8five yards long10 and stood in the hall4 ,here also they all assembled 8for morning and evening devotion1 and on several other occasions40 ,footnote #ebh3 ,sarah ,lawrence was the niece of ,sarah ,ryan4 ,she lived with her benefactress until her death1 which occurred at ,madeley1 on ,december #c1 #ahjj4 ,like ,mrs4 ,fletcher1 for several years1 she was a preacheress1 and very useful4 ,footnote #ebi3 ,ann ,tripp was converted under the ministry of ,wesley and ,thomas ,maxfield4 ,after the marriage of ,miss ,bosanquet and her removal to ,madeley1 she settled at ,leeds1 and1 at the time of her death1 in #ahbc1 was one of the oldest leaders of the ,leeds ,society4 7,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahbc1 p4 #gjf47 ,miss ,bosanquet soon found that her family was larger than her income could maintain2 but even this did not discourage her1 as she was at perfect liberty to spend her capital4 ,most of the children when admitted to her house 8were naked1 full of vermin1 and some of them were afflicted with disagreeable distempers4 ,the first thing was to clean and clothe them1 and attend to their health2 which usually was followed with much success40 8,the eldest of the children arose between four and five2 the younger not much later4 ,at half-an-hour after six10 says ,miss ,bosanquet1 8we had family prayer2 at seven1 we breakfasted together on herb tea1 or milk porridge4 ,the small children then went into the garden till eight4 ,at eight1 the bell rang for school1 which continued till twelve4 ,then1 after a few minutes spent in prayer1 the children came down to us1 when we either walked out with them1 or1 if the weather did not permit1 we found them some employment in the house1 endeavouring1 at the same time1 to give them both instruction and recreation4 ,at one1 we dined2 about two1 the bell rang again for school2 and1 at five1 they returned to us1 and were employed as before till supper time4 ,then1 after family prayer1 they were washed1 and were put to bed at eight4 ,four or five of the bigger girls were each week kept out of the school1 by turns1 and employed in house-work1 cooking1 etc41 that they might be accustomed to every sort of business2 and there was work enough in so large a family4 ,several of the children were very young1 though ,i do not remember we had any under two years1 except one of about a month old1 which was laid1 very neatly dressed1 one night late at our door2 but it lived only a fortnight1 being full of humours1 probably derived from its parents4 8,we had1 ,i think1 never more than ten grown persons in the family at one time1 who were not invalids2 nor do ,i remember above five or six altogether in health4 ,the children also1 for the first few years1 suffered under various disorders2 for we did not refuse either old or young1 on account of their being sick or helpless40 ,miss ,bosanquet1 as might be expected1 was soon involved in pecuniary embarrassments4 ,just about this period1 a young lady of fortune1 ,miss ,lewen1 came to board and lodge with her1 and also brought two children of whom she had taken charge4 ,after residing about half a year in this unique retreat at ,leytonstone1--chapel1 orphanage1 school1 poor-house1 and infirmary all combined in one1--,miss ,lewen wished to make a new will1 and to bequeath her hostess 8a large sum of money40 ,miss ,bosanquet objected1 because ,miss ,lewen had already 8left the bulk of her estate 7which was large7 to charitable uses40 ,in #agff1 ,miss ,lewen became suddenly very ill2 and1 one night1 while some of the inmates of the house were watching at her side1 she cried1 8,give me pen and paper2 ,i cannot die easy1 unless ,i write something of my mind concerning ,sister ,bosanquet having #b1jjj40 ,pen and paper were supplied1 and the writing was written2 but1 of course1 it was illegal and worthless4 ,miss ,lewen died2 but ,miss ,bosanquet1 instead of receiving the #b1jjj1 which ,miss ,lewen wished her to have1 received not a farthing1 and was considerably out of pocket on her dead friend's account4 ,about the beginning of #agfe1 ,miss ,bosanquet's father died2 and nine months afterwards her mother4 ,by his will1 her father bequeathed her #d1ejj1 to be invested by her trustees for her benefit2 and1 when she married with their approval and consent1 this amount of money was to be transferred to herself1 and to be absolutely at her own disposal4#ecj ,footnote #ecj3 8,probate of ,mr4 ,bosanquet's ,will40 ,from a letter1 written by ,s4 ,bosanquet1 ,esq41 and dated 8,forest ,house1 ,october #ae1 #agha10 it appears that ,miss ,bosanquet had altogether a fortune of not less than #aj1ejj1--;a large sum1 when it is remembered that money then was about three or four times the value of money now4 ,mr4 ,bosanquet's letter was addressed to his sister1 and in it he says3-- 8,you had ,leytonstone estate1 valued at #c1jjj ,you had from my grandmother #b1ejj ,you had the savings of ,leyton estate till you came #ejj of age ,you had by my father's will #d1ejj ------------ #aj1ejj0 #eca ------------ ,footnote #eca3 ,unpublished letter4 ,with the exception of her father's bequest1 the whole of this money was at her own disposal1 and1 at the time of her marriage1 was entirely spent1 not on herself1 but solely on behalf of others4 ,added to this1 she was also1 to a serious amount1 in debt2 but more of this anon4 ,about three years after the death of ,miss ,bosanquet's father1 ,richard ,taylor1 a good and well-meaning man1 8left his wife and young family0 in ,yorkshire1 8and came to ,london in hope of settling with his creditors40 ,sarah ,crosby1 who was now resident in ,miss ,bosanquet's house1 and ,john ,murlin1 one of the itinerant preachers stationed in the ,london ,circuit1 recommended ,taylor1 the improvident debtor1 to ,miss ,bosanquet's notice1 and1 for some time1 he also became a member of her motley household4 ,this unfortunate event created a world of trouble4 ,by her father's bequest1 ,miss ,bosanquet's income was increased2 but her income was not equal to her expenses4 ,added to this1 ,sarah ,ryan's health entirely failed2 and1 partly on her account1 and also for other reasons1 ,miss ,bosanquet entertained the thought of removing her family to ,yorkshire4 ,accordingly1 on ,june #g1 #agfh1 she and her two friends1 ,sarah ,ryan and ,sarah ,crosby1 set out1 in a chaise1 on this long and tiresome journey1 ,richard ,taylor accompanying them on horseback4 ,for seven weeks1 they lived in the house of ,taylor's father-in-law1 when they procured a house for themselves at ,gildersome1 a village in the parish of ,batley1 and about four miles and a half from ,leeds4 ,at the same time 7on ,august #ag1 #agfh71 ,sarah ,ryan died2 and this event augmented ,miss ,bosanquet's anxieties1 and affected her health4 ,she writes3-- 8,my health began to fail4 ,for three years1 ,i had had much fatigue in nursing my dear friend4 ,i grew large1 and had dropsical symptoms4 ,my soul1 also1 was in a low and cold state4 ,my path was strewed with many perplexities4 ,my family consisted of thirty persons1 some of whom were rather unruly4 ,i saw the need of taking the reins into my own hands1 and supplying the place of my friend ,ryan4 ,but this determination was very difficult to execute2 and ,i daily and hourly felt my insufficiency4 ,while she was alive1 ,i considered her as a mother1 and desired her to allot me my employments1 as she did in the case of the young women4 ,these were1 #a4 ,an attention to the spiritual affairs of the family4 #b4 ,taking care for their sustenance4 #c4 ,instructing the children4 #d4 ,meeting each member of the family1 one by one1 at fixed times4 #e4 ,superintending1 by turns1 the more public meetings of the ,society4 #f4 ,attending my friend in her frequent illnesses2 with the direction and management of the sick4 ,but the care of the kitchen1 buying stores1 managing the needlework1 and many other things belonging to housekeeping1 ,i was quite unaccustomed to4 ,while ,i lived in my father's house1 ,i saw very little of domestic affairs1 because we lived rather high4 8,beside1 the manner of life in ,yorkshire was entirely different from what ,i had been used to about ,london4 ,here wheat was to be bought to be made into flour2 bread to be made2 cows to be managed2 and men-servants to be directed4 ,and when ,i had provided as well as ,i could1 some persons in my family would despisingly say1 my victuals were not worth eating1 and that ,i knew not how to order anything4 ,the house was large1 and there was land to it2 but1 one day1 ,richard ,taylor1 whom ,i had employed in ordering the out-door affairs1 brought me word of a farm very cheap1 on which were malt-kilns1 a small house1 and many out-buildings4 ,the farm was large1 and he thought if1 besides the farm-house1 we were to build one big enough for our family1 it would be cheaper than to rent a house4 ,i went to ,leeds to consult the most judicious of my friends2 in particular ,mr4 ,r----1 a man well acquainted with business1 and the most intimate friend ,i had in ,yorkshire4 ,he replied1 #8,had you waited a dozen years1 you might not have met with such an opportunity4 ,richard ,taylor knows well how to manage1 if you do not2 and ,i have no doubt the farm will clear you #aej a year1 which will be good interest for your money4 8,i prayed for light1 bought the estate1 formed the plan for the house1 and set about it4 ,but ,i found building no cheaper in ,yorkshire than in the south1 or but little so4 ,it cost a good deal more than was at first proposed4 ,the farm took much money to stock it1 and to bring it into order2 and1 as ,i had not sufficient for all the expenses1 ,i was obliged to take up money on interest1 which ,i hoped to pay off at the rate of #ej a year4 ,the malt-kilns seemed to answer well1 and cleared the first year #ej1 above all expenses4 8,i found my mind much united to ,brother and ,sister ,taylor4 ,i strove to remove their burdens1 and went in person to their creditors4 ,after meeting with some opposition1 ,i got their affairs settled1 at the expense of between two and three hundred pounds4 8,my perplexities increased4 ,the farm had sunk a very large sum to bring it into order1 and the kilns took much money to work them1 a great deal of which lay scattered up and down in debts1 owing to me from lesser maltsters4 ,i also saw that ,richard ,taylor went too far2 that he was inclined to venture much2 that he kept too many men2 and that he gave a great deal too much credit4 8,i lessened my family all ,i could1 by putting out some of the bigger children to trades1 or servants' places2 but much expense attended it4 ,richard ,taylor also had several children1 while with me1 so that the family still consisted of twenty-five persons2 the majority of whom were grown persons4 ,losses continually occurred4 ,i consulted ,mr4 ----1 and other friends about my situation2 but most of them were for some further exertion in trade4 ,that ,i knew would not do4 ,some said1 #8,turn away all the members of your family3 you have enough to live on alone with a servant or two2' but ,i could not see how that could be done1 for several of them were old1 sickly1 or helpless4 ,mr4 ---- said1 #8,there is but one way for you2 put the farm into the hands of ,richard ,taylor1 entirely separate from yourself2 let him have the stock just as it is1 and work the kilns as he can raise the money4 ,let him pay you #fj a year1 and take his family to the end of the house4 ,i agreed to this1 and ,richard ,taylor paid his rent regularly3 but1 as he was to have the farm free of debt1 ,i found a good deal to pay which he had not brought to account2 so that1 before all was settled1 ,i had again to take up money on interest1 which was no small affliction to me4 ,could ,i have sold the place1 ,i would have chosen it rather4 8,we went on tolerably for three years4 ,mr4 ---- thought the farm increased in heart2 the stock also improved1 and all was cheerful1 except in my own mind1 which foreboded deep waters4 ,this was soon realized4 ,in the beginning of the fourth year1 ,taylor was #fjj in debt4 ,i thought1 ,i am not obliged to pay his debt2 let him break1 and bear his own burden2 but ,i soon saw that ,i must either give up the stock1 which would be sold for half its value1 or ,i must pay the money4 ,besides1 ,i was now informed1 that1 when he ceased to act as my agent1 ,i ought to have advertised it1 that no one might trust him through confidence in me40 ,thus1 through wretched ,richard ,taylor1 ,miss ,bosanquet found herself in a most serious entanglement4 ,at the first1 she felt she was not bound to pay ,taylor's debt2 but ,taylor's wife1 big with child1 came to her wringing her hands1 and entreating her to save her husband from being sent to prison4 ,the result was1 ,miss ,bosanquet paid the debt1 by accepting the offer of a loan of #fjj from ,mr4 ----1 who became a partner with her in the farm and malt-kilns1 and took the management of the whole4 ,this1 however1 did not end her anxieties4 ,she writes3-- 8,in my deep troubles1 a thought occurred to my mind4 #8,perhaps ,mr4 ,fletcher is to be my deliverer2' but ,i started from the idea1 lest it should be a stratagem of ,satan4 ,we had not seen or heard from each other for more than fifteen years4 ,besides1 ,i was now 7in ,august1 #aggg71 told that ,mr4 ,fletcher was dying4 ,as ,i was1 one day1 in prayer1 offering him up to the ,lord1 these words occurred to me1--#8,the prayer of faith shall save the sick1 and the ,lord shall raise him up4' ,i thought if the ,lord should raise him up1 and should bring him back from ,switzerland to ,england1 and he should propose to marry me1 could ,i doubt its being of ,god8 ,i felt an unaccountable liberty to ask1--#a4 ,that ,mr4 ,fletcher might be raised up4 #b4 ,that he might be brought back to ,england4 #c4 ,that he might write to me on the subject before he saw me1 though we had been so many years asunder1 without so much as a message passing on any subject4 #d4 ,that he might tell me1 in his letter1 that 7marrying me7 had been the subject of his thoughts and prayers for years4 ,it also occurred to me1 that1 should this take place in the end of #agha1 it would be a still greater confirmation1 as ,providence seemed to point me to that season as a time of hope40 ,miss ,bosanquet's troubles were continued4 ,her new partnership was disastrous1 and ,mr4 ----'s management a failure4 ,he had told her she would receive #ajj a-year towards paying off the debts she owed to himself and others2 but the farm1 instead of yielding a profit1 was worked at a loss4 ,the interest she had to pay so reduced her income1 that it became impossible to keep more than half her family with what remained4 ,she writes3-- 8,as to the kilns1 ,i had neither money nor courage to work them4 ,i strove1 ,i worked hard1 ,i prayed2 and1 at length1 ,i proposed to the members of my family to disperse1 and learn some little business2 and ,i would allow to each of them what ,i could4 ,it was a most painful thing2 but ,i saw there was no way but first to sell the place1 and then disperse4 8,just at this time1 a gentleman proposed to buy the place1 stock1 lease1 and everything4 ,he was a man both of fortune and of honour1 and really wished to help me out of my difficulties2 and the price he offered would bring me through all1 and leave me a good income4 ,the bargain was in part made2 but1 alas6 he took a fever1 and1 in a few days1 died4 ,i now saw but one way--to advertise ,cross ,hall1 and sell it for what ,i could2 and1 paying the purchase money away as far as it would go1 strive yearly to lessen the remaining part of the debt by my income1 reserving only #ej per year to live on1 and to help my friends4 ,but ,i recollected that ,i might not live long enough thus to pay the debt by my income4 ,i then proposed to myself to keep only #bj per year2 nay1 ,i thought1 how can ,i have a right even to twenty8 ,justice is before mercy4 ,one day1 as ,i was standing at a window1 musing on this subject1 ,i saw a poor man driving asses laden with sand1 by which he gained his bread4 ,as ,i looked on him1 ,i thought1 ,i am perfectly willing to take up the business of that man4 ,if ,i can preserve unsold one of the freehold cottages1 the asses might graze on the common1 and ,i could follow them with something to sell4 ,there were but few trades which my conscience would suffer me to follow2 and my abilities were equal to still fewer2 but to anything in the world would ,i turn1 that was not sinful1 rather than remain in debt40 8,the #gth of ,june1 #agha1 was the day that began my fourteenth year in ,yorkshire4 ,i saw difficulties1 as mountains1 rise all around me2 but the very next day1 ,june the #hth1 ,i received a letter from ,mr4 ,fletcher1 in which he told me1 that he had1 for twenty-five years1 found a regard for me1 which was still as sincere as ever2 and1 though it might appear odd that he should write on such a subject1 when but just returned from abroad1 and more so without seeing me first1 he could only say1 that his mind was so strongly drawn to do it1 he believed it to be the order of ,providence40#ecb ,footnote #ecb3 ,these statements are partly taken from 8,a ,letter to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,wesley4 ,by a ,gentlewoman1 #agfd0 7,miss ,bosanquet72 and partly from the 8,life of ,mrs4 ,mary ,fletcher4 ,by ,henry ,moore1 #ahah40 ,thus began ,fletcher's courtship1 which ended five months afterwards in his marrying ,mary ,bosanquet4 ,the foregoing is a strange story4 ,of set purpose1 nothing has been said of ,miss ,bosanquet's earnest piety1 gospel labours1 and spiritual successes1 both in the south of ,england and in ,yorkshire4 ,the object has been to show to what straits a young lady of fortune was brought1 by injudicious generosity1 by foolish advisers1 and1 perhaps1 it may be added1 by crafty mendicants4 ,eighteen years before this1 in a letter to ,charles ,wesley1 ,fletcher confessed that he regarded ,miss ,bosanquet with admiration2#ecc and that ,miss ,bosanquet regarded ,fletcher with equal admiration the foregoing extracts amply prove2 as does also a letter1 which she addressed to ,wesley1 nearly six years before her marriage1 and from which the following is taken3-- 8,,cross ,,hall1 ,february #g1 #aggf4 8,,rev4 ,,sir1--,i thank you for your kind favour of ,january #bg4 ,it yielded us much satisfaction2 for never before could we get any account to be depended on4 8,i am exceedingly thankful ,mr4 ,fletcher is with ,mrs4 ,greenwood4 ,she will tenderly care for him3 and1 having a spiritual mind1 will be sensible of the honour ,god does her1 in giving her such an opportunity4 8,how wise are all the ways of ,god1 in keeping ,his faithful servant in that retired spot0 7,stoke ,newington71 8while those precious works are completed1 by which he will yet speak to us1 though in glory3 and now to enable him to bring them out1 while his exemplary life and conversation add a lustre to the truths he has so powerfully defended4 8,we could have liked to have seen him once more2 but the will of the ,lord be done6 ,should it happen that this sickness is not unto death1 we shall rejoice in having an opportunity of assisting him in anything which lies in our power4 ,should this favour be denied us1 we must be content2 and beseech ,god to reward those who may supply our lack of service4 8,the blessed account you give of the state of his mind filled my soul with sacred joy1 as also those of my friends4 ,while ,i was reading it1 it was a solemn season of faith and love1 and we could not help saying1 #8,ah1 ,lord6 ,let not this shining light be so soon extinguished6' 8,a few weeks ago1 ,i once more read the #8,equal ,check' and felt an unction in it above all ,i had ever found before4 ,the #8,essay on ,truth1' with the ,appendix1 is as marrow and fatness to my soul4 ,o may all the height and depth of every ,gospel promise be written on his heart60#ecd ,footnote #ecc3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #adc4 ,footnote #ecd3 ,arminian ,magazine1 #aghh1 p4 #dh4 ,did ,fletcher ever see this loving1 admiring letter8 ,perhaps he did4 ,at all events1 ,wesley's most intimate and confidential friendship with both ,fletcher and ,miss ,bosanquet was such as to justify utterances1 which1 under other circumstances1 would have been almost impertinent4 ,in his sermon on the death of ,fletcher1 ,wesley remarked1 8,miss ,bosanquet was the only person in ,england whom ,i judged to be worthy of ,mr4 ,fletcher20 and again1 in a letter to ,hester ,ann ,rogers1 written a month after the marriage took place1 he observed1 8,i should not have been willing that ,miss ,bosanquet should have been joined to any other person than ,mr4 ,fletcher40#ece ,to some1 such language may seem unusual1 but1 in reality1 it was natural2 for ,wesley had long been regarded as their father in ,christ1 both by ,fletcher and his wife2 and1 no doubt1 both of them had consulted him with respect to the step they proposed to take4 ,footnote #ece3 ,wesley's ,works1 vol4 xiii41 p4 #gh4 ,after all1 ,fletcher's matrimonial offer was a curious incident4 ,he was now fifty-two years of age4 ,for the last four years and a-half1 he had been absent from his parish1 and so seriously ill1 that1 again and again1 his friends expected him to die4 ,some of his views1 also1 of ministers marrying at all were rather peculiar1 though rational and sound4 ,in his 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul10 composed in ,switzerland1 and revised and finished after his return to ,madeley1 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,when a man is perpetually called to travel from place to place1 prudence requires that he should not encumber himself with those domestic cares1 which must occasion many unavoidable delays in the prosecution of his business3 or1 if he derives his maintenance from the generosity of the poor1 charity should constrain him to burden them as little as possible4 ,st4 ,paul could not prevail upon himself to expose a woman and children to those innumerable dangers1 which he was constantly obliged to encounter4 ,the first peril1 from which he made his escape1 was that which compelled him to descend from the wall of ,damascus in a basket3 now if a family had shared with him in the same danger1 what an addition would they have made to his affliction and his care6 ,is it not evident1 that1 in such circumstances1 every man1 who is not obliged to marry from reasons either physical or moral1 is called to imitate the example of this disinterested ,apostle1 from the same motives of prudence and charity4 ,this indefatigable preacher1 always on a mission1 judged it advisable to continue in a single state to the end of his days3 but1 had he been fixed in a particular church2 had he there felt how much it concerns a minister neither to tempt others1 nor to be tempted himself2 and had he known how much assistance a modest1 provident1 and pious woman is capable of affording a pastor1 by inspecting the women of his flock1 he would then probably have advised every resident pastor to enter into the marriage state1 provided they should fix upon regenerate persons1 capable of edifying the ,church40 ,probably1 while writing this1 ,fletcher was thinking of ,wesley and his itinerant preachers1 and also of the difference between them and himself1 as the ,vicar of ,madeley4 ,be that as it may1 from the doctrine he has laid down1 he deduces the following principles3-- 8#a4 ,in times of great trouble and grievous persecutions1 the followers of ,christ should abstain from marriage1 unless obliged thereto by particular and powerful reasons4 #b4 ,the faithful1 who mean to embrace the nuptial state1 should be careful1 on no account1 to connect themselves with any persons1 except such as are remarkable for their seriousness and piety4 #c4 ,missionaries ought not to marry1 unless there is an absolute necessity4 #d4 ,a bishop1 or resident pastor1 is usually called to the marriage state4 #e4 ,a minister of the ,gospel1 who is able to live in a state of celibacy for the kingdom of heaven's sake1 that he may have no other care except that of preaching the ,gospel and attending upon the members of ,christ's mystical body1--such a one is undoubtedly called to continue in a single state40 ,many will disapprove of some of ,fletcher's deductions2 but it is easier to disapprove than to refute4 ,on the #hth of ,june1 #agha1 ,miss ,bosanquet received ,fletcher's offer of marriage4 ,they had long admired each other1 but1 when they first became acquainted1 ,fletcher regarded ,miss ,bosanquet's fortune as an insuperable barrier to their union2 and ,miss ,bosanquet was too much occupied with her philanthropic schemes to think of being married4 ,now1 ,fletcher1 to a great extent1 was an invalid1 and1 as much as any man alive1 needed a pious and loving nurse4 ,miss ,bosanquet1 also1 was in a quagmire of financial embarrassments1 and greatly needed a tender1 judicious friend4 ,fletcher's letter1 despatched early in the month of ,june1 led to a correspondence which lasted till ,august #a1 when ,fletcher arrived in ,yorkshire to attend ,wesley's ,conference at ,leeds4 ,miss ,bosanquet writes3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher came to ,cross ,hall1 and abode there a month2 preaching in different places with much power4 ,having opened our whole hearts to each other1 both on temporals and spirituals1 we believed it to be the order of ,god that we should become one1 when ,he should make our way plain40#ecf ,footnote #ecf3 8,mrs4 ,fletcher's ,life40 ,properly enough1 ,fletcher wished1 before marrying ,miss ,bosanquet1 to consult her family1 and to obtain their approval4 ,to this she consented2 and1 three weeks after his return to ,madeley1 ,fletcher wrote the following1 hitherto unpublished1 letters4 ,some will condemn the printing of this private correspondence2 but as it contains nothing but what is honourable to all the parties concerned1 and as it exhibits the ,vicar of ,madeley in a new position1 most readers will be thankful for it4 ,the first letter was addressed to ,miss ,bosanquet1 and shows the ardour of her wooer3-- 8,,madeley1 ,september #bb1 #agha4 8,,my ,,dearest ,,friend1--,i have received thy dear letter1 with the one enclosed from thy brother4 ,i shall send it back to thee by ,mr4 ,brisco1#ecg who will call here on his way to ,birstal4 8,o ,polly6 generous1 faithful ,polly6 dost thou indeed permit me to write to thy friends1 and to ask the invaluable gift of thy hand8 ,that hand1 that is half mine1 shall be wholly mine4 ,i have1 to-day1 written two letters1--one to thy uncle1 the other to thy elder brother4 ,correct them1 and1 when thou hast1 forward them with much prayer and love4 ,back them with some of thy sweet arguments4 ,thou knowest how to come at thy friends4 ,i don't3 ,i have only followed my instinct for thee in this new business4 8,polly6 ,i read thy letter1 and wondered at the expression in it1--#8,if you think me worth writing for4' ,ah6 my holy1 my loving1 my lovely1 my precious friend1 ,i think thee worth writing for with my vital blood3 ,i am only sorry that ,i had not thee beside me to write with thy wisdom4 ,however1 ,i write by the first post3 direct the letters properly2 and excuse my sending them by thee1 as ,i don't remember the names and streets4 8#8,difficulties6' ,if thou hast any1 ,i shall gladly share them with thee1 and think myself well repaid with the pleasure of praying and praising with thee1 and for thee4 ,therefore1 do not talk of struggling through alone4 ,i charge thee1 by thy faithfulness1 let me be alone as little time as thou canst4 8#8,three thousand pounds' with thee6 ,my dear1 if thou art mine1 and canst live in our cottage here1 praising and blessing ,god1 ,i shall rejoice more than ,mephibosheth1 when1 through joy1 he said1 #8,let ,ziba take all1 forasmuch as my lord the king is come back in peace' 7#b ,sam4 xix4 #cj74 ,let not thy wisdom1 ,polly1 make thee suspect and surmise evil4 ,let thy charity make thee hope all things for thy friends4 8,i thank thee for that believing sentence1--#8,but1 all shall be right4' ,the worst thy friends can do is to keep thy money1 which ,i look upon as dung and dross in comparison of thee4 ,ah ,polly6 with the treasure of thy friendship1 and the unsearchable riches of ,christ1 how rich thinkest thou ,i am8 ,count--cast up--but thou wilt never make out the amazing sum4 8,so thou wilt keep #8two years' from me to bring me some money6 ,oh1 ,polly6 that is a saying more worthy of ,change ,alley than of the paradise of love4 ,let me comfort thee a little4 ,if thou lovest me half as much as ,i do thee1 thou wilt think thyself rich4 ,thou art worth to me a million2 and cannot ,i be worth thy #e1jjj8 8,i embrace thee in spirit1 and more than mix my soul with thine4 ,farewell6 8,j4 ,,fletcher40 ,footnote #ecg3 ,thomas ,brisco1 a fine old ,methodist ,itinerant ,preacher1 at that time the ,superintendent of the ,birstal ,circuit4 ,the two letters referred to in this sweethearting epistle1 and addressed to ,miss ,bosanquet's uncle1 ,claudius ,bosanquet1 ,esq41 and to her brother1 ,s4 ,bosanquet1 ,esq41 were the following3-- 8,to ,claudius ,bosanquet1 ,esq4 8,,madeley1 ,september #bb1 #agha4 8,,sir1--,permit a stranger to claim some moments of the time you consecrate to your neighbours' happiness and the welfare of your own family4 8,i was born in the ,pays de ,vaud at ,nyon1 a town about fifteen miles north of ,geneva1 on the borders of the lake4 ,my father1 in his youth1 was an officer in the ,french service1 which he left to marry4 ,he was afterwards a colonel in the militia of his country1 and a judge or assessor to the lord-lieutenant of the town where he lived4 ,i am the youngest of his eight children4 ,having some desires to be a clergyman1 ,i was1 for seven years1 sent to ,geneva to pursue my studies4 ,but after ,i had stayed there seven years1 a fear of being unfit for the ,christian ministry1 and the enticing offers of my father's brother1 who was a lieutenant-colonel in the ,dutch service1 made me for a time prefer the sword to the gown4 ,i left the academy0 at ,geneva 8and went to ,flanders to join my eldest brother1 who was an officer in the ,dutch service2 but1 before ,i could enter the army1 the peace was made1 and my uncle1 on whom my hopes depended1 left the service4 8,seeing my way to military preferment blocked up by these two events1 ,i came to ,england1 to get more perfect in the ,english tongue1 which ,i had begun to learn at ,geneva4 ,some months after ,i was come over1 ,mr4 ,des ,champs1 a ,french minister1 to whom ,i had been recommended1 procured me the place of tutor to the son of ,mr4 ,hill1 member of ,parliament for ,shrewsbury4 ,in his family ,i lived some years1 and applied myself to the study of divinity2 and1 at his request1 and by his interest1 ,i got into ,orders2 a calling which now suited my more serious turn of mind4 8,it was soon after my ordination that ,i saw ,miss ,mary ,bosanquet1 your pious niece4 ,i had resolved not to marry1 but the sweetness of her temper1 and her devotedness to ,god1 made me think that if ever ,i broke through my resolution1 it would be to cast my lot with one like her4 8,not long after1 at ,mr4 ,hill's request1 his nephew1 ,mr4 ,kinaston1 member for ,montgomery1 presented me to the living of ,madeley1 a little market-town in the county of ,salop1 worth about #ajj per annum2 and here ,i have chiefly lived1 sequestered from the world1 as your amiable niece has done at ,leyton and at ,cross ,hall4 8,after having corresponded some years with her on various subjects1 last spring1 on my return from a journey to the continent1 ,i ventured to mention to her my first thoughts about a closer union with her1--thoughts which ,i had kept to myself for nearly twenty-five years4 ,after maturely discussing the point1 your pious niece has given me room to hope she will give me her hand1 if you1 ,sir1 whom she honours as a father1 give your consent to our union4 ,i earnestly ask it1 ,sir2 and beg you will share the pleasure of uniting two persons who1 from a remarkable agreement of taste1 sentiments1 and pursuits1 as well as from a particular sympathy1 seem formed for each other by the ,god of nature and of grace4 8,i wish1 ,sir1 ,i had a fortune equal to ,miss ,bosanquet's deserts2 but ,i hope ,i have one suitable to her piety1 and to the moderate wishes of that godliness which1 together with contentment1 is a great gain4 ,i have only about #a1ejj worth of property in my native country1 and about #djj or #ejj more in my parish1 besides the income of my living1 and a house much better than those with which most country clergymen are obliged to put up4 8,whatever be your pious niece's fortune1 ,i assure you1 ,sir1 ,i seek her person1 not her property2 and to convince you of it1 ,i request that before she gives me her hand1 her whole fortune may be secured to her by a proper settlement4 8,with respect to my character1 and the truth of what ,i have here advanced1 ,i beg leave to refer you1 ,sir1 to four creditable persons4 ,with regard to my conduct1 and what ,i affirm of myself as ,vicar of ,madeley1 you may get proper informations from ,thomas ,hill1 ,esq41 now in ,salop1 the old gentleman in whose house or neighbourhood ,i have lived very near thirty years2 and from his son1 ,noel ,hill1 ,esq41 member for ,shropshire1 the gentleman to whom ,i was tutor4 ,with respect to what ,i have mentioned of myself as a native of ,switzerland1 you may1 ,sir1 procure proper informations from two clergymen now in that country1 ,mr4 ,de ,bons and ,mr4 ,tavan1 whom ,i saw last ,christmas at ,lausanne1 and whom you have probably seen in ,london1 when they served ,french churches there4 8,i would1 ,sir1 have waited upon you in person1 in ,london1 if some journeys which my curate must take did not oblige me to stay here to serve my own church4 8,i shall have the honour to write upon the same subject to ,miss ,bosanquet's brothers1 and shall take the liberty of referring them to this letter1 for some account of him who aspires to the hand of their pious sister2 and who1 with respect to temporal happiness1 desires nothing so ardently as to have your leave to add the name of nephew to that of1 ,sir1 your most humble and obedient servant1 8,,john ,,delaflechere4 8,p4,s4--,soon after ,i came to ,england1 my ,english friends1 complaining of the length of my ,swiss name1 began to contract it by dropping the ,french syllables of it4 ,so they called me ,fletcher2 and by that name ,i have been known among the ,english ever since4 ,if you favour me with an answer1 ,sir1 it will find me if it is directed thus3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher1 8,vicar of ,madeley1 8,near ,shiffnal1 8,shropshire40 ,the letter addressed to ,miss ,bosanquet's brother was as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,,near ,,shiffnal1 ,,shropshire1 8,september #bb1 #agha4 8,,sir1--,aspiring to the happiness of being united to your pious sister1 ,miss ,bosanquet1 and to the honour of being1 by her means1 connected with your family1 ,i should be wanting both to my duty and my inclination if ,i proceeded in my addresses to her without informing you of my design1 and asking your approbation of it4 8,by this post ,i send to ,claudius ,bosanquet1 ,esq41 some account of myself1 which ,i hope he will communicate to you1 ,sir1 and to your brother4 ,i shall only add two things4 8,among the reasons which hindered me from making my addresses to your amiable sister1 when first ,i felt that sympathy which binds my soul to hers1 the superiority of her fortune was not the least4 ,since that time1 debts1 which unforeseen circumstances led her to contract1 have considerably lessened that difficulty2 and the prudent fear of contracting new ones seems to make it expedient for her to get into a state where she may1 without difficulty and with propriety1 bring her expensive housekeeping within narrower bounds4 ,that end will at once be attained if she favours me with her hand4 8,further1 in extricating herself from some difficulties1 she will crown the wishes of the oldest and warmest of her friends2 and contribute not to my happiness only1 but to that of my numerous flock4 ,you are too well acquainted with your pious sister's turn of mind not to know that ,providence designed her for a clergyman's partner and fellow-helper4 ,her instructions1 her employment1 her very pleasures from her childhood1 have led her to assist her neighbours in temporal as well as in spiritual matters4 ,she has even been blamed for the warmth of her zeal4 ,but what seemed rather awkward and improper in a single woman1 will become highly expedient and highly commendable in a clergyman's wife4 ,the secondary inspection and care of the children and women of a flock of two thousand souls will then naturally devolve to her share1 and in some sense become her duty4 8,i hope that if you1 ,sir1 your worthy uncle1 your brother1 and ,mrs4 ,gassen#ech weigh these particulars you will consent to our union1 and by that means contribute more than ,i can express to the happiness1 ,sir1 of your most humble and most obedient servant1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40 ,footnote #ech3 ,miss ,bosanquet's married sister4 ,the two sisters began their religious life together at a very early age4 ,in due time1 in a letter1 dated 8,forest ,house1 ,october #b1 #agha10 ,s4 ,bosanquet1 ,esq41 informed ,fletcher that he approved of the proposed marriage2 but added3-- 8,my sister's fortune is so encumbered1 that nothing but the sale of all her landed estate can free her from her difficulties2 and1 if that portion of her fortune1 which came to her by my father's will1 had not been tied up1 she would have been ruined40#eci ,footnote #eci3 ,unpublished letter4 ,a fortnight later1 ,mr4 ,s4 ,bosanquet wrote to his sister1 and gave her an account of her fortune1 amounting in the aggregate to #aj1ejj4 ,he then told her that she had already squandered the whole of this amount1 with the exception of #d1ejj settled on trustees1 for her benefit1 by her father's will4 ,he continued3-- 8,one reason why my father secured this money1 by leaving it on trust1 was1 lest1 by your placing too great confidence in those with whom you were connected1 and by your endeavouring to do more good than your circumstances would afford1 you might be left destitute40 ,he then added3-- 8,i cannot conclude without remarking that1 although you are encumbered with debts1 you must be1 at least1 an equal match for ,mr4 ,fletcher4 ,your two estates#edj have always been considered as fully equal to your debts2 but1 suppose they should not turn out to be so1 the difference cannot be very great2 and1 as the remainder of your income exceeds #bjj a year1 it at least equals ,mr4 ,fletcher's income1 such as it has been stated to me2 besides the consideration that the greater part of his income dies with him1 and the capital of yours survives in case there should be children1 for their benefit40#eda ,footnote #edj3 ,the ,leytonstone estate1 valued at #c1jjj2 and that bequeathed by her grandmother1 valued at #b1ejj4 ,footnote #eda3 ,unpublished letter4 ,at the same time1 ,miss ,bosanquet's brother ,william1 in a letter dated 8,lime ,street1 ,london1 ,october #af1 #agha10 replied to her wail that she could 8carry ,mr4 ,fletcher nothing but debts10 and stated that he was in favour of her marrying ,fletcher4#edb ,footnote #edb3 ,ibid4 ,before taking leave of the ,bosanquet family1 it may be added1 that ,mr4 ,s4 ,bosanquet sent his sister1 as his wedding present1 a pair of silver candlesticks2#edc and that her brother ,william1 in a letter dated 8,november #bg1 #agha10 and addressed 8,mrs4 ,fletcher1 ,cross ,hall1 ,morley ,common1 near ,leeds10 wrote3-- 8,i cannot but hope the greatest happiness will attend your union with a gentleman to whom1 by general report1 the highest praise is due4 ,permit me to wish you joy on this occasion1 and to add my best respects to ,mr4 ,fletcher1 assuring him that ,i shall be happy to cultivate his acquaintance1 and to show him every attention in my power40#edd ,footnote #edc3 ,ibid4 ,footnote #edd3 ,ibid4 ,with this loving letter1 ,mr4 ,william ,bosanquet forwarded to his sister a nuptial present of #ajj4 ,another fact must be mentioned4 ,william ,bosanquet loved his sister1 and1 not only now1 but in aftertime1 he showed the genuineness of his affection by his deeds4 ,the uncle1 ,claudius ,bosanquet1 in his last will and testament1 bequeathed to ,miss ,bosanquet's two brothers #ah1jjj each2 but ,miss ,bosanquet and her sister ,gassen were unnamed4 ,at the uncle's death1 their brother ,william1 ever generous and open-handed1 gave them #ejj each2 when ,fletcher died1 he presented to the widow #dj a year to relieve the wants of the poor of ,madeley2 and when he himself died1 in #ahac1 he bequeathed her the sum of #b1jjj4 ,these details have not been given without a reason4 ,some ill-informed ,methodists have a sort of floating idea that ,fletcher's marriage was an unequal one--that is1 they seem to think that the ,bosanquet family was much more respectable than that of ,fletcher2 and that ,miss ,bosanquet's fortune was much greater than the fortune of the man who became her loving and devoted husband4 ,enough has been said to show the inaccuracy of this4 ,fletcher's family was quite equal1 in point of respectability1 to the ,bosanquet family1 and1 perhaps1 superior2 and his yearly income was not less than that of the lady who rejoiced to become his wife4 ,never was there a marriage more free from mercenariness than that of ,john ,fletcher1 of ,madeley1 and ,mary ,bosanquet1 of ,cross ,hall1 ,yorkshire4 ,it was1 in the highest and purest sense1 a love-match4 ,the letters1 just given1 exhibit ,fletcher's affection1 disinterestedness1 honour1 and respect for others4 ,miss ,bosanquet had still a remnant of her fortune2 but he wished the whole of this to be settled upon herself4 ,he wished to marry her1 but1 before carrying out his wish1 as a courteous gentleman1 he asked for the approbation of her family1 thereby setting a good example to his inferiors and juniors4 ,she wished to marry him2 but1 shrinking from the idea of involving him in her pecuniary embarrassments1 she proposed to postpone the marriage till her affairs were in a more settled state4 ,her family were consulted by ,fletcher2 and they responded in the most kind and straightforward manner4 ,in genius1 talent1 and learning1 ,fletcher was immensely ,miss ,bosanquet's superior2 but1 for pure1 ardent1 disinterested1 unselfish love1 it is impossible to decide which of the two was entitled to bear the palm4 ,consent to the marriage having been obtained from the ,bosanquet family1 ,fletcher made an arrangement to spend the remainder of the year with his affianced in ,yorkshire4 ,the well-known ,rev4 ,john ,crosse1#ede ,vicar of ,bradford1 took ,fletcher's pulpit at ,madeley1 and ,fletcher took ,mr4 ,crosse's at ,bradford4#edf ,to some1 this may seem somewhat strange2 but it must be borne in mind that ,miss ,bosanquet's temporal affairs were in a most entangled state1 and that it was of great importance that her ,cross ,hall property should be sold1 and all her business assets and debts in ,yorkshire satisfactorily settled before her removal to ,madeley4 ,fletcher went to help his intended bride1 and did help her2 for her brother ,william1 in a letter1 written to her a fortnight after her marriage1 observed1 8,you have done very well in disposing of your place40#edg ,for months past1 she had been longing and trying to turn her troublesome property into money3 now she succeeded in doing so4 ,a week after ,fletcher's arrival1 8a gentleman came quite unexpectedly1 and bought0 the ,cross ,hall#edh estate 8for #a1fbj2 and1 three days afterwards1 another took the stock1 etc40 ,arrangements were also made for the locating of her domestic dependants2 and she was enabled to write3-- 8,all was now so far settled1 that ,i did not need to sell ,leytonstone estate4 ,my income would afford to allow my dispersed family #ee per year2 pay the interest of the money still owing2 and yet leave me such an annual sum as was about equal to my dear ,mr4 ,fletcher's2 and1 in case of my death1 there was in ,leytonstone more than would pay all4 ,so1 on ,monday1 the #abth of ,november1 #agha1 in ,batley ,church1 we covenanted in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost1 to bear each other's burdens1 and to become one for ever40#edi ,footnote #ede3 ,mr4 ,crosse had been acquainted with ,miss ,bosanquet when she resided at ,leytonstone1 and1 from that time to this1 a warm friendship had existed between them4 78,life of ,crosse10 by ,morgan1 p4 #h47 ,footnote #edf3 8,life of ,rev4 ,john ,crosse10 by ,morgan1 p4 #i4 ,footnote #edg3 ,unpublished letter4 ,footnote #edh3 ,cross ,hall still exists2 at all events1 it did a few years ago1 when the present writer visited it--a square1 substantial1 two-story edifice1 built of stone1 shaded with trees1 and having a good garden behind it4 ,footnote #edi3 8,mrs4 ,fletcher's ,life10 by ,h4 ,moore1 p4 #adb4 ,fletcher reached ,cross ,hall towards the end of ,october1 #agha1 and continued there till ,january #b1 #aghb1 when he and his bride set out for ,madeley4 ,a glimpse of this brief interval1 and of his unique wedding1 may interest the reader4 ,of course1 ,fletcher had to preach every ,sunday in ,mr4 ,crosse's church2 but1 in addition to this1 he also preached in ,methodist chapels4 ,samuel ,bradburn1 at that time ,wesley's 8,assistant0 in the ,bradford ,circuit1 wrote3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher is married to ,miss ,bosanquet4 ,such a pair6 ,i am inclined to think there never was a holier1 or a happier1 couple1 since ,adam ate the forbidden fruit4 ,at all events1 ,i can say1 such a man and woman ,i never knew married before4 ,he has preached in two of our houses at ,halifax and ,bradford2 and ,i think that there never were two better sermons preached in ,england40#eej ,footnote #eej3 ,unpublished letter4 ,this1 from one of the greatest of ,methodism's pulpit orators1 was no ordinary praise4 ,mrs4 ,crosby was one of the members of ,miss ,bosanquet's family1 and wrote3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher's general conversation1 while at ,cross ,hall1 was praising ,god1 and speaking of the love of our dear ,redeemer4 ,he took opportunities of speaking to every one in the family1 concerning the state of their souls1 and of giving them suitable directions4 ,at other times1 he met us all together1 and exhorted us4 ,our daily meals were like sacraments4 ,when he drank to any one1 it was1 #8,heavenly health6' or #8,the cup of salvation6' ,at1 or after each meal1 he generally began1 or called upon us to begin1 to sing-- 8#8,still1 ,o my soul1 prolong ,the never-ceasing song6 ,christ my theme1 my hope1 my joy6 ,his be all my happy days6 ,praise my every hour employ3 ,every breath be spent in praise6' 8,thus did he walk with ,god1 filled with the ,spirit3 confirming his love to all the family1 and caring for both their spiritual and temporal concerns4 ,he preached in many places while in ,yorkshire1 and to numerous congregations4 ,many were blest thereby2 some convinced of sin2 others comforted4 ,whenever he either preached or conversed1 the comforts of the ,holy ,ghost were multiplied4 8,monday1 ,november #ab1 was the day appointed for the marriage4 ,on the morning of this day1 several friends met together4 ,they reached ,cross ,hall before family prayers4 ,mr4 ,fletcher was dressed in his canonicals4 ,after giving out one of ,mr4 ,wesley's marriage hymns1 he read ,rev4 xix4 #g1 #h1 #i1 #8,let us be glad1 and rejoice1 and give honour to ,him2 for the marriage of the ,lamb is come1 and his wife hath made herself ready4 ,and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen1 clean and white2 for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints4 ,and he saith unto me1 ,write1 ,blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the ,lamb4 ,and he saith unto me1 ,these are the true sayings of ,god4' ,mr4 ,fletcher then spoke from these verses1 in such a manner as greatly tended to spiritualize the solemnities of the day4 ,he said1 #8,we invite you to our wedding2 but the ,holy ,ghost invites you to the marriage of the ,lamb4 ,the bride1 the ,lamb's wife1 represents the whole ,church1 triumphant and militant united together4 ,you may all be the ,bride1 and ,jesus will condescend to be the ,bridegroom4 ,make yourselves ready by being filled with the ,spirit4' ,he then engaged in prayer1 and said1 #8,lord1 thou knowest we would not take this step1 if we had not eternity in view1 and if we were not as willing to be carried into the churchyard1 as to go into the church4' ,at breakfast1 he remarked1 #8,the postilions are now ready to carry us to the church2 but death will soon be here to carry us to the marriage supper of the ,lamb4' 8,on the way to ,batley ,church1 which was nearly two miles distant1 he spoke much of the mystery represented by marriage1 namely the union between ,christ and ,his ,church4 ,they were married in the face of the congregation3 the doors were opened1 and everyone came in that would4 ,we then returned home1 and spent a considerable time in singing and prayer4 ,there were nearly twenty of us4 ,i then presented ,mrs4 ,fletcher with some wedding hymns4 ,she looked over them1 and gave them to ,mr4 ,fletcher4 ,he read the ,scripture text at the top1 namely1 #8,husbands1 love your wives1 as ,christ loved the ,church4' ,then turning to the company1 he said1 #8,my ,god1 what a task6 ,help me1 my friends1 by your prayers1 to fulfil it4 ,as ,christ loved the ,church6 ,he laid aside ,his glory for the ,church2 ,he submitted to be born into our world2 to be clothed with a human body1 subject to all our sinless infirmities2 ,he endured shame1 contempt1 pain1 yea1 death itself for ,his ,church6 ,o my ,god1 none is able to fulfil this task1 without ,thine ,almighty aid6 ,help me1 ,o my ,god6 ,pray for me1 ,o my friends6' 8,he next read1 #8,wives1 submit yourselves to your own husbands4' ,mrs4 ,fletcher added1 #8,as unto the ,lord4' #8,well1 my dear1' returned ,mr4 ,fletcher1 #8only in the ,lord4 ,and if ever ,i wish you to do anything otherwise1 resist me with all your might4' 8,from dinner1 which was a spiritual meal as well as a natural one1 until tea-time1 our time was chiefly spent in prayer or singing4 ,after singing the covenant hymn1 ,mr4 ,fletcher went to ,mrs4 ,fletcher1 and said to her1 #8,well1 my dearest friend1 will you unite with me in joining ourselves in a perpetual covenant to the ,lord8 ,will you with me serve ,him in ,his members8 ,will you help me to bring souls to the ,blessed ,redeemer8 ,and1 in every possible way1 this day lay yourself under the strongest ties you can1 to help me to glorify my gracious ,lord8 ,she answered1 #8,may my ,god help me so to do6' 8,in the evening1 ,mr4 ,valton#eea preached in the hall1 from1 #8,what shall ,i render unto the ,lord for all ,his benefits8 ,i will take the cup of salvation1 and call upon the name of the ,lord4' ,his words did not fall to the ground2 many were greatly refreshed4 ,after the preaching1 there was a sweet contest among us3 every one thought1 #8,i1 in particular1 owe the greatest debt of praise2' at length we agreed to sing1-- 8#8,i'll praise my ,maker1 while ,i've breath1 ,and when my voice is lost in death1 ,praise shall employ my nobler powers3 ,my days of praise shall ne'er be past1 ,while life1 and thought1 and being last1 ,or immortality endures4'0#eeb ,footnote #eea3 ,john ,valton1 one of ,wesley's ,preachers1 then in the seventh year of his itinerancy1 and labouring in the ,birstal ,circuit4 ,he wrote3 8,on the #abth of ,november1 #agha1 ,mr4 ,fletcher stole hallowed fire from my people1 by taking away ,miss ,bosanquet4 ,i and a few friends accompanied them to ,batley ,church4 ,surely1 such a blessed wedding ,i never knew before4 ,by request1 ,i improved the occasion in the evening1 from these words1 #8,what shall we render to the ,lord for all ,his benefits8 ,i will take the cup of salvation1 and call upon ,his name4' ,it was a refreshing time2 and many prayers were offered that eternal blessings might crown the devoted pair40 78,life of the ,rev4 ,john ,valton10 p4 #ajd47 ,footnote #eeb3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,is there on record another wedding day such as this8 ,to criticise the account would spoil it4 ,it may1 however1 interest the reader to give a verbatim copy of the marriage certificate3-- 8,no4 #aab4 ,john ,william ,fletcher1 of the parish of ,madeley1 in the county of ,salop1 ,clerk1 and ,mary ,bosanquet1 of this parish1 were married in this church 7,batley7 by license1 this twelfth day of ,november1 in the year #agha1 by me1 ,john ,deighton1 ,curate4 8,this marriage was solemnized between us1 ,john ,william ,fletcher1 or ,de la ,flechere1 and ,mary ,bosanquet1 in the presence of ,william ,smith and ,ann ,tripp40 ,twelve days after the marriage1 ,wesley wrote to ,fletcher the following characteristic letter3-- 8,,london1 ,november #bd1 #agha4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,there is not a person to whom ,i would have wished ,miss ,bosanquet joined besides you4 ,but this union1 ,i am thoroughly persuaded1 is of ,god2 and so are all the children of ,god with whom ,i have spoken4 ,mr4 ,bosanquet's being so agreeable to it1 ,i look upon as a token for good2 and so was the ready disposing of the house and stock1 which otherwise would have been a great encumbrance4 8,from the first day which you spend together at ,madeley1 ,i hope you will lay down an exactly regular plan of living2 something like that of the happy family at ,leytonstone4 ,let your light shine to all that are round about you4 ,and let ,sister ,fletcher do as much as she can for ,god1 and no more4 ,to ,his care ,i commit you both1 and am1 my dear friends1 8,your very affectionate brother1 8,,john ,,wesley40#eec ,footnote #eec3 ,wesley's ,works1 vol4 xii41 p4 #aed4 ,a curious letter to be written to a man on his being married2 but ,wesley and ,fletcher were far too earnest1 and were engaged in far too great a work1 to permit them to write commonplace and empty congratulations4 ,one of the first acts of ,fletcher1 after his marriage1 was to make a settlement of his own monetary matters4 ,the following is an exact copy of his will1 written by himself3-- 8,this is the last ,will and ,testament of ,john ,william ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 in the ,county of ,salop1 whereby ,i give and bequeath to my dear wife1 ,mary ,fletcher1 all my personal estate1 of what nature or kind soever1 in the kingdom of ,great ,britain1 for her own use and benefit4 8,with regard to my personal estate in ,switzerland1 ,i give and bequeath it all to my second brother1 ,henry de la ,fletcher1 assessor to the ,lord ,bailie1 at ,nyon1 in the ,canton of ,berne1 on condition that he or his heirs will take care to pay to my said dear wife1 ,mary ,fletcher1 or order1 the income or produce of that personal estate during the term of her natural life2 and1 in case my said brother or his heirs do not fulfil this condition1 according to the tenour of this ,will1 then my said wife shall sell1 or cause to be sold1 that my said personal estate in ,switzerland1 for her own use and benefit2 and get the money over to ,england1 on condition that she shall pay one hundred crowns to the poor of ,nyon1 in the said ,canton of ,berne4#eed 8,and ,i do hereby appoint my said dear wife sole executrix of this my last ,will and ,testament4 ,in witness whereof ,i have hereunto set my hand and seal this #bdth of ,december1 #agha4 8,,john ,,william ,,fletcher1 ,,or ,,de ,,la ,,flechere4 8,signed and sealed by the ,testator1 and by him declared to be his last ,will and ,testament1 in the presence of us1 8,,john ,,valton4 8,,richard ,,taylor4 8,,thomas ,,garforth40#eee ,footnote #eed3 ,fletcher's relatives in ,switzerland most faithfully fulfilled this part of ,fletcher's ,will4 ,in an unpublished letter to ,mrs4 ,crosby1 dated ,june #bj1 #aghf1 his widow wrote3-- 8,my brother ,henry possesses so much of the spirit of my dear husband1 that his care of me exceeds all imagination4 ,the family have sent me a bond1 laying in their own estates as security to forward me the whole produce every year4 ,i do not yet know exactly what it will be2 but it is far better than ,i thought2 and so is everything in which my dearest ,mr4 ,fletcher has been concerned40 ,footnote #eee3 ,the ,wesley ,banner1 #ahej1 p4 #cad4 ,fletcher's marriage was1 in all respects1 a happy one4 ,he was thankful for his wife1 and proud of her4 ,hence the following letter to 8,the ,hon4 ,mrs4 ,c----30 8,,cross ,,hall1 ,,yorkshire1 ,december #bf1 #agha4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,friend1--,your favour of the #dth instant did not reach me until a considerable time after date1 through my being still absent from ,madeley2 a clergyman of this neighbourhood having made an exchange with me1 to facilitate my settling some temporal affairs in this county4 8,the kind part you take in my happiness demands my warmest thanks2 and ,i beg you will accept them1 multiplied by those which my dear partner presents to you4 ,yes1 my dear friend1 ,i am married in my old age1 and have a new opportunity of considering a great mystery1 in the most perfect type of our ,lord's mystical union with ,his ,church4 ,i have now a new call to pray for a fulness of ,christ's holy1 gentle1 meek1 loving ,spirit1 that ,i may love my wife1 as ,he loved ,his spouse1 the ,church4 ,but the emblem is greatly deficient3 the ,lamb is worthy of ,his spouse1 and more than worthy2 whereas ,i must acknowledge myself unworthy of the yoke-fellow1 whom heaven has reserved for me4 ,she is a person after my own heart2 and1 ,i make no doubt1 we shall increase the number of the happy marriages in the ,church militant4 8,indeed1 they are not so many1 but it may be worth a ,christian's while to add one more to the number4 ,god declared it was not good that man1 a social being1 should live alone1 and1 therefore1 ,he gave him a help-meet for him4 ,for the same reason1 our ,lord sent forth ,his disciples two and two4 ,had ,i searched the three kingdoms1 ,i could not have found one brother willing to share gratis my weal1 woe1 and labours1 and complaisant enough to unite his fortunes to mine2 but ,god has found me a partner1 a sister1 a wife1 to use ,st4 ,paul's language1 who is not afraid to face with me the colliers and bargemen of my parish1 until death part us4 8,buried together in our country village1 we shall help one another to trim our lamps1 and wait for the coming of the heavenly ,bridegroom40#eef ,footnote #eef3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bha4 ,before leaving this memorable year1 #agha1 it must be added that1 twenty days after ,fletcher's marriage1 his beloved friend and travelling companion1 ,william ,perronet1 died1 on his way to ,england1 at ,douay4 ,three months before this event took place1 ,fletcher remarked1 in a letter to ,william ,perronet's venerable father3-- 8,madeley1 ,september #d1 #agha4 ,i have been for some weeks in ,yorkshire1 chiefly at the house of an old friend of mine1 ,miss ,bosanquet1 whose happy family put me in mind of yours4 ,at my return home1 ,i have found a letter from my brother1 who informs me that my dear friend1 your son1 continues very weak4 ,he is now at ,gimel1 a fine village between ,lausanne and ,geneva1 where ,miss ,perronet's sister is settled4 ,there he rides1 and drinks ass's milk1 and breathes the purest air4 ,mrs4 ,perronet is there with her two daughters1 so that if the illness of my dear friend should grow more grievous1 he will not want for good attendance and the most tender nursing40#eeg ,footnote #eeg3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahag1 p4 #hfd4 ,now1 in another letter to the father of ,william ,perronet1 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,i condole with you1 ,rev4 and dear ,sir1 about the death of my dear friend and your dear son4 ,we shall one day see why our heavenly ,father made your sons go before you1 and my kind physician before me4 ,about the time he died1 so far as ,i can find by your kind letter1 a strong concern about him fell upon me by day and by night1 insomuch that ,i could not help waking my wife to join me in praying for him2 and at once that concern ceased1 nor have ,i since had any such spiritual feeling1 whence ,i concluded that the conflict ,i supposed my friend to be in was ended4 ,but how surprised was ,i to find it was by death6 ,well1 whether ,paul or ,apollos1 or life or death1 all things are ours through ,jesus1 who knows how to bring good out of evil1 and how to blow us into the harbour by a cross wind1 or even by a dreadful storm40#eeh ,footnote #eeh3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,two ,,years ,,of ,,married ,,life ,,at ,,madeley4 #aghb ,,and #aghc4 ,,in a letter to an aristocratic friend in ,london1 ,fletcher began the year #aghb as follows3-- 8,january #a1 #aghb4 ,i live1 blessed be ,god1 to devote myself again to ,his blessed service in this world or in the next1 and to wish my dear friends all the blessings of a year of jubilee4 ,whatever this year brings forth1 may it bring us the fullest measures of salvation attainable on earth1 and the most complete preparation for heaven4 8,i have a solemn call to gird my loins and keep my lamp burning4 ,strangely restored to health and strength 7considering my years71 ,i have ventured to preach of late as often as ,i did formerly2 and after having read prayers and preached twice on ,christmas-day1 ,i did1 last ,sunday1 what ,i had never done1--,i continued doing duty from ten o'clock in the morning till after four in the afternoon4 ,this was owing to christenings1 churchings1 and the sacrament1 which ,i administered to a church full of people1#eei so that ,i was obliged to go from the communion table to begin the evening service1 and then to visit some sick4 ,this has brought back upon me one of my old1 dangerous symptoms2 so ,i have flattered myself in vain that ,i should be able to do the whole duty of my own parish4 ,my dear wife is nursing me with the tenderest care2 gives me up to ,god with the greatest resignation2 and helps me to rejoice that life and death1 health and sickness1 work for our good1 and are all ours1 as blessed means to forward us in our journey to heaven4 8,we intend to set out for ,madeley to-morrow4 ,the prospect of a winter's journey is not sweet2 but the prospect of meeting you1 and your dear sister1 and ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald1 and all our other companions in tribulation in heaven1 is delightful4 ,if ,lady ,huntingdon is in ,london1 ,i beg you to present my duty to her1 with my best wishes40#efj ,footnote #eei3 ,no doubt this six hours' continuous service took place in the parish church1 ,bradford4 ,footnote #efj3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bhc4 ,fletcher and his bride left ,cross ,hall on ,wednesday1 ,january #b1 #aghb4 ,mrs4 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8#aghb1 ,january #b4 ,we set out for ,madeley4 ,where shall ,i begin my song of praise8 ,what a turn is there in all my affairs6 ,from what a depth of sorrow1 distress1 and perplexity am ,i delivered6 ,how shall ,i find language to express the goodness of the ,lord6 ,i know no want but that of more grace4 ,i have a husband1 in everything suited to me4 ,he bears with all my faults and failings in a manner that continually reminds me of the text1 #8,love your wives1 as ,christ loved the ,church4' ,his constant endeavour is to make me happy2 his strongest desire is for my spiritual growth4 ,he is1 in every sense of the word1 the man my highest reason chooses to obey4 ,i am also happy in a servant#efa whom ,i took from the side of her mother's coffin when she was four years old4 ,she loves us as if we were her parents1 and is also truly devoted to ,god40#efb ,footnote #efa3 ,sarah ,lawrence4 ,footnote #efb3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,on ,january #f1 ,fletcher and his wife spent their first ,sunday at ,madeley4 ,seventeen years afterwards1 ,mrs4 ,fletcher remarked3-- 8,the first ,sabbath after ,i came to ,madeley my dear husband took me into the kitchen1 where his people were assembled to partake of refreshment between the times of worship4 ,he introduced me to them1 saying1 #8,i have not married this wife for myself only1 but for your sakes also4'0 ,and then the happy throng sang the hymn beginning with the verse-- 8,blow ye the trumpet1 blow ,the gladly solemn sound2 ,let all the nations know1 ,to earth's remotest bound2 ,the year of jubilee is come6 ,return1 ye ransomed sinners1 home40 ,a few weeks after this1 ,wesley paid his friends a visit of one day and two nights4 ,he says3-- 8#aghb4 ,saturday1 ,march #bc4 ,it was with a good deal of difficulty that we got0 from ,kidderminster 8to ,bridgenorth1 much of the road being blocked up with snow4 ,in the afternoon1 we had another kind of difficulty2 the roads were so rough and so deep that we were in danger1 every now and then1 of leaving our wheels behind us4 ,but1 by adding two horses to my own1 at length we got safe to ,madeley4 8,both ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,fletcher complained that1 after all the pains they had taken they could not prevail on the people to join in ,society2 no1 nor even to meet in class4 ,resolved to try1 ,i preached to a crowded audience on #8,i am not ashamed of the ,gospel of ,christ4' ,i followed the blow in the afternoon by strongly applying those words1 #8,awake1 thou that sleepest2' and then enforcing the necessity of ,christian fellowship on all who desired either to awake or keep awake4 ,i then desired those that were willing to join together for this purpose to call upon me and ,mr4 ,fletcher after service4 ,ninety-four or ninety-five persons did so--about as many men as women4 ,we explained to them the nature of a ,christian ,society1 and they willingly joined therein40#efc ,footnote #efc3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,methodist preachers1 for some time past1 had preached in ,madeley ,wood1 ,coalbrookdale1 and other adjacent places1 and here ,society ,classes seem to have been formed2 but1 up to the present1 the ,methodist people at ,madeley had refused to meet in class4 ,henceforth1 it was different4 ,this altered state of things was owing partly to ,wesley and to ,fletcher1 but chiefly to ,fletcher's devoted wife4 ,at the time of ,wesley's visit1 there was living at ,little ,dawley1 near ,madeley1 a child nearly four years old1 who1 nineteen years afterwards1 became a ,methodist ,itinerant ,preacher1 and who1 in #ahgi1 died in the one hundred and first year of his age--the tall1 stalwart1 grand old ,william ,tranter4 ,naturally1 ,mr4 ,tranter loved ,madeley1 and affectionately cherished the memory of ,fletcher and his wife4 ,in an article published forty-five years ago1 he wrote3-- 8,when ,mr4 ,wesley's preachers came to the neighbourhood of ,madeley1 ,mr4 ,fletcher hospitably received those laborious servants of ,god into his house2 the vicarage kitchen1 before consecrated by his prayers1 was now further consecrated by their earnest and faithful preaching2 the ,vicar of ,madeley himself being one of their humblest and most prayerful hearers4 ,the kitchen becoming too small1 a barn on the premises was neatly fitted up for a preaching room4 ,in this place1 the ,methodist travelling preachers1 and the curate of the parish1 regularly preached the ,word of ,god4 ,here1 also1 ,mrs4 ,fletcher1 after the removal of her holy husband to his heavenly rest1 held her meetings for exposition of the ,scriptures1 religious experience1 and prayer4 ,surviving her husband many years0 7thirty71 8she lived a widow indeed1 doing good to all around her1 and winning the veneration and love of rich and poor1 not only in the village and parish of ,madeley1 and in the adjoining parishes1 but in all places where she was known1 and to which the fame of her piety and charity had extended4 ,the rector not only allowed her to remain in the vicarage-house1 undisturbed during life1 but allowed her to choose the curate by whom the duties of the living were to be performed2 assigning as his reason1 that she knew better than himself what would suit and benefit the parishioners4 ,besides exercising publicly1 at stated times1 in the vicarage room1 she occasionally visited ,madeley ,wood1 ,coalbrookdale1 ,coalport1 and other places more distant1 at which times the chapels were usually crowded with delighted and profited hearers4 ,to her house1 the ,itinerant ,preachers continued to come to the end of her earthly sojourn4 ,here they always found a hearty welcome1 and a delightful home4 ,several lovely ,societies were formed1 others were augmented1 hundreds of souls were converted1 ,christian believers were edified and blessed1 the fruit of ,mr4 ,fletcher's ministry was preserved1 and ,madeley became the rendezvous for religious persons and purposes--a privileged1 honoured place1--a sort of ,christian ,jerusalem4 ,it was not uncommon to see two1 three1 or more clergymen1 pious and able men1 from neighbouring and even distant parishes1 among the congregation at her week-night lectures4 ,on the ,sabbath1 the pious people1 living at the distance of from one to four miles from ,madeley1 usually arrived in time for her morning meeting1 at nine o'clock2 and1 from there1 they went to the parish church close at hand4 ,at noon1 respectable strangers1 visiting ,madeley for religious purposes1 were usually invited to dine with her at the vicarage2 the poor1 living too far off to allow them to return from their own houses for the after services of the day1 partook1 if so disposed1 of her hospitalities in the vicarage-kitchen2 others1 having brought their provisions with them1 were seen1 in fine weather1 in little companies in the fields1 engaged in heavenly conversation and prayer2 and others of the respectable portion of these pious people1 had1 in an apartment to themselves1 a cheap family dinner provided at the village inn4 ,on the ringing of a bell1 at one o'clock1 all assembled at ,mrs4 ,fletcher's meeting1 when she was accustomed to read the life of some eminently holy man1 and make remarks upon it2 then they adjourned to the church1 for the afternoon service there1 and sermon2 after which they repaired to their respective homes1 and attended their own meeting-houses1 at one or other of which the ,curate of ,madeley officiated every ,sabbath evening1 as well as occasionally on the week-days1 always announcing at the close of the afternoon service in the church1 the chapel in which he would preach that evening4 ,this plan was adopted by ,mr4 ,fletcher1 and was followed by his evangelical and pious successors1 for upwards of forty years40#efd ,footnote #efd3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahcg1 p4 #ijc4 ,the godly reader will easily forgive this rich digression1 and will be inclined to sing1 with ,charles ,wesley3-- 8,meek1 simple followers of the ,lamb1 ,they lived1 and spake1 and thought the same2 ,they joyfully conspired to raise ,their ceaseless sacrifice of praise4 8,with grace abundantly endued1 ,a pure1 believing multitude1 ,they all were of one heart and soul1 ,and only love inspired the whole4 8,o what an age of golden days6 ,o what a choice1 peculiar race6 ,washed in the ,lamb's all-cleansing blood1 ,anointed kings and priests to ,god60#efe ,footnote #efe3 ,deep indentations in the stone pillars of the vicarage gate still exist1 occasioned by the ,sunday visitors to ,madeley sharpening their knives to eat their dinners4 7,randall's 8,lives and ,usefulness of the ,rev4 ,j4 and ,mary ,fletcher10 p4 #cc47 ,madeley will long continue to be a kind of ,mecca to the ,methodists4 ,many years ago1 the present writer1 in company with the late ,rev4 ,dr4 ,jobson1 visited it4 ,they met with the utmost courtesy1 the lady of the ,vicar showing them everything likely to interest a ,methodist4 ,she had a lock of ,fletcher's silky hair1 which she greatly prized4 ,they were taken into ,fletcher's study1 about nine feet by twelve in size1 and had pointed out to them a portion of the wall1 still stained with ,fletcher's breathings while engaged in prayer4 ,the old barn-chapel was no longer in existence1 but1 near to its site1 there was a small building1 containing its pulpit1 brass lamps1 and prayer-book1 together with the small oaken communion table at which ,fletcher celebrated his last sacrament4 ,the vicarage1 a respectable old edifice1 had beautiful gardens and grounds attached to it2 and the parish church1 built upon the site of the small old church1 in which ,fletcher ministered to crowded congregations1 contained several mementoes to remind visitors of its memorable vicar4 ,the steps leading both to the reading-desk and pulpit were those which ,fletcher used to tread2 and1 in a small vestry1 was preserved the register of all the baptisms1 marriages1 and deaths during his incumbency1 and showing that his last baptism was on ,july #bi1 #aghe1 six weeks before his death4 ,the old church1 in which ,fletcher preached1 would hold five hundred2 the present one1 built in #agid1 will seat about a thousand2 and1 since its erection1 two others have been built in other parts of the parish4 ,besides these1 the following ,wesleyan ,methodist chapels have been built3 one in ,court ,street1 ,madeley1 holding eight hundred2 another1 of the same size1 in ,madeley ,wood2 another1 half the size1 in ,coalbrookdale2 and a fourth at ,coalport1 capable of containing two hundred4 ,and to these may be added two chapels1 at ,madeley and ,madeley ,wood1 belonging to the ,methodist ,new ,connexion2 and another belonging to the ,primitive ,methodists4 ,it is time to return to ,fletcher4 ,among the first ,methodists in ,ireland were ,henry and ,robert ,brooke1 who1 up to the year #ageh1 resided in the neighbourhood of ,rantavan4 ,henry became the far-famed author of 8,the ,fool of ,quality2 or1 ,the ,history of ,henry1 ,earl of ,moreland20 published1 in five volumes1 #agff-aggj2 and of other ably-written books1 which gained him the friendship of ,pope1 ,swift1 and several more of the literati of his age4 ,he married a young lady1 to whom he was guardian1 when she was thirteen years of age1 by whom he had seventeen children1 only two of whom survived him1 when he died in #aghc4 ,his brother ,robert had three children3 ,henry1 the eldest1 who1 for about forty years1 was one of the leading ,methodists in ,dublin2 ,robert1 the second1 a colonel in the army2 and ,thomas ,digby1 the youngest1 also connected with the ,dublin ,methodist ,society4 ,in the year #aggb1 ,henry wrote to ,fletcher2 ,fletcher mistook the nephew for the uncle1 whose 8,fool of ,quality0 had recently been completed2 and this amusing mistake led ,fletcher to address to the famous author the following valuable epistle3-- 8,,madeley1 ,september #f1 #aggb4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,i cannot tell you how often ,i have thought of thanking you for your kind letter4 ,my controversy made me put it off some time1 and1 when ,i was going one day to answer you1 a clergyman called upon me1 read your letter1 said you were a sensible author1 and1 if ,i would let him have it1 he would let me have your #8,fool of ,quality1' of which ,i had never heard4 ,i forgot to take your address2 but1 after some months1 my friend has sent me back your unexpected and welcome favour2 and ,i now know in what street you live4 ,a thousand thanks for your letter4 ,may this sheet convey them from my heart to yours2 and thence may they fall1 like a thousand drops1 into that immense ocean of goodness1 truth1 and love1 whence come all the streams1 which gladden the universe of ,god6 8,i thankfully accept the pleasure1 profit1 and honour of your correspondence4 ,but ,i must not deceive you2 ,i have not yet learned the blessed precept of our ,lord in respect of writing and receiving letters4 ,i still find it more blessed to receive1 than to give2 and1 till ,i have got out of this selfishness1 never depend on a letter from me till you see it1 and be persuaded1 nevertheless1 that one from you will always be welcome4 8,i see1 by your works1 that you love truth1 and that you will force your way1 through all the barriers of prejudice1 to embrace it in its meanest dress4 ,that makes me love you4 ,i hope to improve by your example and your lessons4 ,one thing ,i want truly to learn1 that is1 that creatures and visible things are but shadows1 and that ,god is ,god1 ,jehovah1 the true1 eternal ,substance4 ,to live practically in this truth is to live in the suburbs of heaven4 ,really to believe that in ,god we live1 move1 and have our being1 is to find and enjoy the root of our existence3 it is to slide from self into our original principle2 from the carnal into the spiritual2 from the visible into the invisible2 from time into eternity4 ,give me1 at your leisure1 some directions1 how to cease from busying myself about the husks of things1 and how to break through the shell1 so that ,i may come to the kernel of resurrection1 life1 and power1 that lies hidden from the unbeliever's sight4 8,about feelings4 ,pray1 my dear ,sir1 are you possessed of all the feelings of your ,clinton1 ,clement1 and ,harry8 ,are they natural to you1 ,i mean1 previous to what we generally call conversion8 ,i have often thought that some of the feelings you describe depend a good deal upon the fineness of the nerves1 and bodily organs2 and1 as ,i am rather of a ,stoic turn1 ,i have1 sometimes1 comforted myself in thinking1 that my want of feelings might1 in a degree1 proceed from the dulness of ,swiss nerves4 ,if ,i am not mistaken1 ,providence directs me to you to have this important question solved4 ,may not some persons have as much true faith1 love1 humanity1 and pity1 as others who are ten times more affected1 at least for a season8 ,and what directions would you give to a ,christian ,stoic1 if these two ideas are not absolutely incompatible8 8,my ,stoicism helps me1 ,i think1 to weather out a storm of displeasure1 which my little pamphlets have raised against me4 ,you see1 ,i at once consult you as an old friend and spiritual casuist2 nor know ,i how to testify better to you how unreservedly ,i begin to be1 my very dear friend1 8,yours in the ,lord1 8,j4 ,,fletcher40#eff ,footnote #eff3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bad4 ,probably 8,the ,fool of ,quality0 was the only novel ,fletcher ever read2 but it taught him to respect its author4 ,it is more than doubtful1 however1 whether ,fletcher's letter ever reached the gentleman for whom it was intended4 ,at all events1 there is no evidence whatever that any correspondence took place between ,henry ,brooke1 senior1 and the ,vicar of ,madeley4 ,of course1 ,fletcher's communication reached the nephew of ,brooke1 and1 nearly ten years afterwards1 he and others wrote to ,fletcher1 requesting him and his newly-wedded wife to visit the ,methodists in ,dublin4 ,fletcher replied3-- 8,,madeley1 ,april #bj1 #aghb4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,last ,saturday1 ,i received your kind invitation to take a journey to ,dublin1 with my wife2 and we join in sincere thanks for the kind and generous offer which accompanies that invitation4 8,two reasons1 at this time1 concur to make me postpone the accepting of it4 ,not to mention my state of health1 ,i have been so long absent from my parish1 that my parishioners have a just claim to my stated labours for some time2 and ,mr4 ,bayley1 my curate1 being wanted at ,kingswood ,school1 ,i must serve my own church myself1 and the duty is so continual that ,i dare not go twenty miles from home1 much less to a neighbouring kingdom4 ,providence may1 if it be for the glory of ,god1 make a way for me to go1 and return my thanks in person4 ,in the meantime1 ,i beg you1 ,sir1 to present them to all our brethren1 who set their hands to your kind letter4 8,if ,i took you1 ,sir1 for the author of #8,the ,fool of ,quality1'#efg ,i thought ,i saw his style in the style of your letter2 however1 ,i was not much mistaken4 ,your pen is nearly allied to his1 as your blood is to his4 ,may one ,spirit1 the humble1 loving ,spirit of ,jesus1 make us all of one heart and soul6 ,may we1 notwithstanding the channel which separates our bodies1 rejoice that one truth unites our souls1 and that the common faith and love make us join daily in ,christ our ,head6 ,so prays1 dear ,sir1 your affectionate and obliged brother and servant1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#efh ,footnote #efg3 ,two years before this1 ,wesley had published his abridged edition of 8,the ,fool of ,quality10 in two volumes1 #abmo4 ,footnote #efh3 ,original ,letter4 ,fletcher and his wife remained at ,madeley1 and the latter wrote3-- 8,may #cj1 #aghb4 ,i have the kindest and tenderest of husbands2 of so spiritual a man1 and so spiritual a union1 ,i had no adequate conception4 ,he is every way suited to me1 all ,i could wish4 ,the work among souls increases40#efi ,footnote #efi3 8,mrs4 ,fletcher's ,life10 by ,h4 ,moore4 ,a few weeks later1 in a letter to ,wesley1 she said3-- 8,,madeley1 ,july #g1 #aghb4 8,,very ,,dear ,,sir1--,i find a desire of informing you how we go on4 ,the people you joined1 when here1 are1 ,i trust1 coming forward4 ,i have not conversed with the men2 but the women are more in number than at that time4 ,some have been clearly justified1 ,i think five2 and three or four are restored to that communion with ,god1 which they had for some years lost4 ,a few are athirst for a clean heart2 and1 on the whole1 there is a good increase of freedom and liberty in our class-meetings4 ,we have now also a band1#egj into which ,i gather the most lively2 all that are newly blest1 or that have any light into sanctification2 and we have much of the presence of ,god with us4 8,my dear ,mr4 ,fletcher spares no pains4 ,i know not which is greater1 his earnest desire for souls1 or his patience in bearing with their infirmities and dulness4 ,his preaching is exceeding lively2 and our sacraments are more like those in the chapels of ,london than any ,i have seen since ,i left it4 ,yet1 ,i find a great difference between the people here and those in ,yorkshire3 however1 the ,lord has little ones here also4 8,last ,friday1 after riding two hours in the rain1 we came to a good congregation1 where there was neither house nor church to cover us2 but ,i have not seen more of the ,yorkshire attention since ,i left that county1 nor had a more solemn time2 though we were under a wet cloud all the while1 and our poor servant waiting for us1 who brought us safe home by ten o'clock the same night4 ,this is one of the old congregations which my husband has visited for years2 and where he joined 7in ,society7 sixty persons4 ,next ,friday1 we are to see them again1 and he purposes to enquire into the state of those which remain4 ,there are1 in many parts about here1 some serious hearers1 and we wish them all to be brought into a regular discipline4 ,my husband has been at near #ejj expense in building a small ,preaching-house1 that1 if he should be removed1 they may have a fold to prevent them from being scattered4 ,but were they joined 7in ,society7 now1 it would be far more likely to answer the end4 ,on this subject we wish to have a little conversation with you4 8,i am your affectionate servant1 8,,mary ,,fletcher48#ega ,footnote #egj3 ,a term well understood by ,methodists3 a meeting of the most spiritual people who met in class4 ,footnote #ega3 ,arminian ,magazine1 #agij1 p4 #cia4 ,two months after this1 ,fletcher was temporarily disabled by an accident1 mentioned in a long letter to ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald1 from which the following is extracted3-- 8,,madeley1 ,august #bh1 #aghb4 8,,my ,,honoured ,,friend1--,the ,lord has peculiar favours in store for your ladyship1 and for me2 the proof is1 that we are afflicted4 ,have you been in a weak state of health8 ,i have had the honour to drink of your cup4 ,the influenza laid me down2 and1 when ,i was partly well1 ,i broke my shin against a bench1 in consequence of which ,i am confined by a bad leg to my bed1 where ,i write this4 8,you still complain of vile self4 ,let vile self be reduced to order1 and1 though he be a bad master1 he will become an excellent servant4 ,do this1 by letting the ,lord1 the ,maker1 the ,preserver1 the ,redeemer1 the ,lover of your soul1 ascend upon the throne of your thoughts1 will1 and affections4 ,who deserves to engross them better than ,he does8 ,is not ,he your first ,lord1 your best ,husband1 your most faithful ,friend1 and your greatest ,benefactor8 ,oh6 allow ,jehovah1 the ,supreme ,being1 to be to you what ,he deserves to be1 ,all in all4 ,one lively act of faith1 one assent and consent to this delightful truth1 that your ,father1 who is in heaven1 loves you a thousand times more than you love your idol 7for ,god's love is1 like ,himself1 infinite and boundless71 will set your heart at liberty1 and even make it dance for joy4 ,what1 if to this ravishing consideration1 you add the transporting truth1 that the ,son of ,god1 fairer than the sons of men and brighter than the angels1 has loved you unto death1 to the death of the cross1 and loves you still more than all your friends do1 were their love collected into one heart1 could you help thinking1 with a degree of joyous gratitude1 of such an instance of ,divine condescension8 ,no1 your vile self would be ennobled1 raised1 expanded1 and set at liberty by this evangelical thought4 ,self would be nobody2 ,emmanuel would be all in all4 ,you would be so employed in praising your ,father's mercy1 and your ,saviour's love and tenderness1 that you would have but little time to speak either of good or bad self4 ,when self is forgotten1 as nothing before ,god1 you put self in its proper place2 and you make room for the heavenly ,being1 whose holy and happy existence you are to shadow out4 ,if you have left off attending on the ,princess1#egb attend on the ,prince of ,peace with double diligence4 8,shall we ever have the honour of seeing you1 my lady8 ,my wife1 who joins in respectful love and thanks to your ladyship1 for your remembrance of her1 says1 she will do her best to render our cold house safe for you1 if not convenient4 ,you would have had a repeated invitation from us1 if a concern for your health1 heightened by the bad weather1 had not checked our desires to have an opportunity of assuring you how much we are devoted to your service4 ,but the roads and weather beginning to mend1 we venture to offer you the best apartment in our hermitage4 ,i wish it were large enough to take in dear ,mrs4 ,g----1#egc and our dear friends in ,st4 ,james's ,place2 but we have only two small rooms2 to which1 however1 you would be received with two enlarged hearts1--,i mean those of your ladyship's obedient1 devoted servants1 8,,john ,,and ,,mary ,,fletcher40#egd ,footnote #egb3 ,probably1 ,princess ,elizabeth ,caroline1 the third daughter of ,george the ,second1 one of the most excellent of women4 ,she died1 in ,st4 ,james's ,palace1 in #aghg4 ,footnote #egc3 ,probably ,mrs4 ,grinfield1 8one of ,csar's household10 as ,whitefield called her1 an attendant at ,st4 ,james's ,palace4 ,footnote #egd3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bhg4 ,how long ,fletcher was laid aside from his public work there is no evidence to show4 ,his position was somewhat trying1 for the work was heavy1 and ,mr4 ,bayley1 his curate1 had been obliged to return to ,wesley's school at ,kingswood4 ,this and other matters are referred to in the following letter to ,charles ,wesley3-- 8,,madeley1 ,december #ai1 #aghb4 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,dear ,,sir1--,i thank you for your hint about exemplifying the love of ,christ and ,his ,church4 ,i hope we do4 ,i was afraid1 at first1 to say much of the matter2 but1 having lived thirteen months in my new state1 ,i can tell you1 ,providence has reserved a prize for me1 and that my wife is far better to me than the ,church to ,christ1 so that if the parallel fails1 it will be on my side4 8,be so good as to peruse the enclosed sheets4 ,mr4 ,de ,luc1 to whom they are addressed1 is reader to the ,queen1 and the author of some volumes of ,letters to her3 he is a true philosopher4 ,i flatter myself1 he will present my letter to the ,queen4 ,do you find anything improper in the addition ,i have made to my poem8 ,i wish ,i were near you for your criticisms2 you would direct me1 both as a poet and a ,frenchman4 8,i have yet strength enough to do my parish duty without the help of a curate4 ,o that the ,lord would help me to do it acceptably and profitably6 ,the colliers began to rise in this neighbourhood3 happily the cockatrice's egg was crushed1 before the serpent came out4 ,however1 ,i got many a hearty curse from the colliers1 for the plain words ,i spoke on that occasion4 ,i want to see days of power both within and without2 but1 meantime1 ,i would follow closely my light in the narrow path4 8,my wife joins me in respectful love to ,mrs4 ,wesley and yourself2 and1 requesting an interest in your prayers for us1 ,i remain1 my dear ,sir1 your affectionate1 obliged brother1 servant1 and son in the ,gospel1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#ege ,footnote #ege3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bhh4 ,the 8poem10 mentioned in this letter1 was 8,la ,grace et la ,nature10 which ,fletcher had composed in ,switzerland1 and published in ,geneva4 ,he had now enlarged it1 and wished to publish a second edition of it1 and to dedicate the book to the ,queen of ,king ,george the ,third4 ,this was done a few months before he died2 but1 previous to committing his sheets to the press1 he submitted them to the criticism of ,charles ,wesley1 ,methodism's unequalled hymnologist4 ,this1 however1 was not the only poem on which ,fletcher was now engaged4 ,on ,november #cj1 #aghb1 the preliminaries of the peace with ,america were signed2 and1 on ,january #bj1 #aghc1 peace was concluded with ,france and ,spain4 ,the termination of the long and disastrous war gave no one greater joy than it did ,fletcher4 ,he celebrated it in another poem1 written also in ,french1 and dedicated to the ,archbishop of ,paris4#egf ,this was published1 but is now extremely scarce4 ,fletcher enlarged it2 and1 in #aghe1 ,mr4 ,gilpin translated it into ,english1 and intended to dedicate his translation to the author2 but1 just as this ,english edition was being printed1 ,fletcher died1 and the dedication1 dated exactly a fortnight after ,fletcher's death1 was1 8,to the ,honoured ,mrs4 ,mary de la ,flechere1 of ,madeley1 in ,shropshire40 ,the title of the poem was1 8,an ,essay upon the ,peace of #aghc4 ,dedicated to the ,archbishop of ,paris4 ,translated from the ,french of the ,rev4 ,j4 ,fletcher1 late ,vicar of ,madeley4 ,by the ,rev4 ,j4 ,gilpin1 ,vicar of ,wrockwardine1 ,salop4 ,london3 ,printed by ,r4 ,hindmarsh1 #aghe40 #dto1 #gi pp4 ,want of space renders it impossible to furnish extracts from this poetical production4 ,in rhyme and rhythm1 ,fletcher1 or1 more probably1 his translator1 was far from perfect2 but that the ,vicar1 bred among the inspiring scenery of ,switzerland1 was possessed of real poetic genius1 there cannot be a doubt4 ,his descriptions of a naval battle1 and of a fight on land1 and of the bombarding of ,gibraltar1 are very graphic4 ,so also are his definitions of the passions which war too frequently evokes4 ,though hardly worth mentioning1 it may be stated1 that the only thing published by ,fletcher1 in the year #aghb1 was the following3 8,a ,race for ,eternal ,life3 being an ,extract from the ,heavenly ,footman4 ,a ,sermon on #a ,cor4 ix4 #bd3 written by the ,author of the #8,pilgrim's ,progress4' ,by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,fletcher4 ,london3 printed by ,r4 ,hindmarsh40 #abmo1 #af pp4 ,fletcher says3-- 8,this extract is published1--#a4 ,to stir up lazy and inconsistent ,arminian professors1 who assert that we should work out our own salvation with all diligence1 and yet neglect doing it4 ,and1 #b4 ,to convince of partiality the contentious ,calvinists1 who quarrel with their brethren for preaching consistently the very same doctrine1 which is inconsistently maintained by their orthodox teachers1 among whom pious ,john ,bunyan stands in the first rank40 ,footnote #egf3 ,fletcher's dedication is dated1 8,madeley1 ,salop1 ,january #bh1 #aghd40 ,about this time1 two young men were introduced to ,fletcher1 whom he helped to the utmost of his power1 and who1 soon afterwards1 attained distinction1 as clergymen of the ,church of ,england4 ,one of these was ,nathaniel ,gilbert1 the eldest son of ,nathaniel ,gilbert1 ,esq41 ,speaker of the ,house of ,assembly in ,antigua1 and who formed the first ,methodist ,society in the ,west ,indies4 ,in #agei1 he had requested ,fletcher to accompany him to the ,western ,archipelago2 but ,fletcher had declined1 on the ground that he had neither 8sufficient zeal1 nor grace1 nor talents0 for such missionary work4 ,his son1 ,nathaniel1 was sent to ,england at the age of seven 7about the year #agfa71 and1 three years later1 was placed under the care of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,hatton1 of ,water's ,upton1 in ,shropshire1 where he acquired a knowledge of the ,latin and ,greek languages4 ,on returning to ,antigua1 he found that the estate of his father was overwhelmed with debt1 and that the subsistence of the family depended on a small jointure belonging to his mother4 ,he came back to ,england2 settled in the parish of ,madeley2 enjoyed the advantages of ,fletcher's ministry and counsels2 and devoted himself to ,god4 ,on receiving episcopal ordination1 the places of his ministerial labours were ,bristol1 ,london1 ,budworth1 ,sierra ,leone1 ,aveley1 and ,bledlow4 ,he was an eminently good and useful man2 and peacefully fell asleep in ,jesus1 in #ahjg1 in the forty-sixth year of his age4#egg ,footnote #egg3 ,christian ,observer1 #ahjg1 pp4 #gfh-ggb4 ,the other youth1 who greatly benefited by ,fletcher's example and advice1 was ,melville ,horne1 who1 for a few years1 was one of ,wesley's ,itinerant ,preachers1 and then was ordained for the ministry of the ,church of ,england4 ,melville ,horne was a remarkable man1 of whom it would be an easy and pleasant task to write a more than ordinary biography4 ,suffice it to say here1 that1 a year after ,fletcher's death1 he became the officiating minister in ,fletcher's church2 that1 in #agib1 he and his friend ,gilbert went as missionaries to ,sierra ,leone2 that1 on his return in #agid1 he was appointed ,chaplain of ,magdalen ,chapel1 ,bristol2 and then became ,vicar of ,olney4#egh ,this is not the place to record his subsequent career of distinguished usefulness2 but the testimony of such a man1 concerning ,fletcher1 is worthy of being quoted4 ,many years after his first introduction to ,fletcher1 he wrote3-- 8,on all my visits to ,mr4 ,fletcher1 ,i derived the highest pleasure and edification4 ,i not only had the opportunity of hearing many excellent sermons1 but of seeing him in the privacies of life2 and ,i know not which most to venerate1--his public or his private character4 ,grave and dignified in his deportment and manners1 he yet excelled in all the courtesies of the accomplished gentleman4 ,in every company1 he appeared as the least1 the last1 and the servant of all4 ,from head to foot1 he was clothed with humility2 while the heavenly-mindedness of an angel shone from his countenance1 and sparkled in his eyes4 ,his religion was without labour1 and without effort2 for ,christianity was not only his great business1 but his very element and nature4 ,as a mortal man1 he doubtless had his errors and failings2 but what they were1 they who knew him best would find it difficult to say2 for he appeared as an instrument of heavenly minstrelsy always attuned to the ,master's touch4 8,in every view1 he was a great man1 and entitled to rank in the very first class of ministers2 but it was his goodness that raised him above all the ministers of his day4 8,on my occasional visits to ,madeley1 ,i was struck with several things4 ,once1 when preaching on ,noah as a type of ,christ1 he was in the midst of a most animated description of the terrible day of the ,lord1 when he suddenly paused4 ,every feature of his expressive countenance was marked with painful feeling2 and1 striking his forehead with the palm of his hand1 he exclaimed1 #8,wretched man that ,i am6 ,beloved brethren1 it often cuts me to the soul1 as it does at this moment1 to reflect1 that1 while ,i have been endeavouring1 by the force of truth1 by the beauty of holiness1 and even by the terrors of the ,lord1 to bring you to walk in the peaceable paths of righteousness1 ,i am1 with respect to many of you who reject the ,gospel1 only tying millstones round your necks1 to sink you deeper in perdition6' ,the whole congregation was electrified1 and it was some time before he could resume his subject4 8,on another occasion1 after the morning service1 he asked if any of the congregation could give him the address of a sick man whom he was desired to visit4 ,he was answered1 #8,he is dead1 ,sir4' #8,dead6 dead6' he exclaimed2 #8another soul launched into eternity6 ,what can ,i do for him now8 ,why1 my friends1 will you so frequently serve me in this manner8 ,i am not informed you are ill till ,i find you dying1 or hear that you are dead4' ,then sitting down1 he covered his head with his gown1 and1 when the congregation had retired1 walked home crushed with sorrow4 8,one ,new ,year's ,day1 ,gilbert and myself dined with him1 as did also a pious young man and his wife4 ,after he had entertained us with much pious and instructive conversation1 as we all stood around the fire and were ready to separate1 he took ,gilbert's hand and mine and joined them together1 and said1 #8,you two young men are united by blood1 by friendship1 and by your destination to the blessed service of the sanctuary4' ,then1 turning to the young man and his wife1 he remarked1 #8,do you also1 whom ,god has joined in the tenderest of earthly bonds1 join hands1 and ,i will take that of my beloved wife4' ,this being done1 he continued1 #8,and now what shall we render unto the ,lord for all ,his benefits8 ,what blessings have we received6 ,what mercies have followed us the last year6 ,this is the first day of a new year4 ,let us give our whole soul to ,god4 ,let us start afresh on the road to immortality4 ,forgetting the things that are behind1 let us press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of ,god in ,christ ,jesus4' ,and then1 lifting his eyes to heaven1 he prayed for the whole of us most fervently and affectionately40#egi ,footnote #egh3 ,unpublished letters4 ,footnote #egi3 ,cox's 8,life of ,fletcher10 p4 #adg4 ,after this account of the covenant service in ,fletcher's vicarage1 ,mr4 ,horne proceeds to relate other anecdotes which came within his own personal knowledge4 ,he writes3-- 8,in the contests of humility1 kindness1 and affection1 it was impossible to surpass ,mr4 ,fletcher4 ,on one occasion1 the ,rev4 ,moseley ,cheek had been preaching in his parish2 and1 on their way home to ,madeley1 in a dark night1 and along a deep1 dirty road1 ,mr4 ,fletcher carefully held the lantern to ,mr4 ,cheek1 while he himself walked through the mire4 ,mr4 ,cheek made fruitless attempts to take the lantern from him2 ,mr4 ,fletcher replying to his protests1 #8,what1 my brother1 have you been holding up the glorious light of the ,gospel1 and will you not permit me to hold this dim taper to your feet8' 8,at another time1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,gilpin perceiving a funeral waiting at the church gate1 took the surplice and commenced the service2 but he had hardly got into the desk when ,mr4 ,fletcher1 who had been visiting a sick person1 came into the church1 and gently drawing away a lad who was officiating in the absence of the clerk1 took his place4 ,after the service was ended1 he observed that he could not bear to see the place of an inferior servant of the ,church improperly filled up without attempting to supply it himself with a greater degree of decorum and reverence4 8,once1 when my coat was dusty with riding1 he insisted on brushing it1 but objected to let me perform the same office for himself4 ,mrs4 ,fletcher1 who perceived our contest1 said1 with a smile1 #8,then suffer me to do it2 for ,i assure you1 my dear1 you need it as much as ,mr4 ,horne4' #8,if you please1 my love1' was the reply1 #8you shall do it1 for you are a part of myself4'0#ehj 8,some of these anecdotes10 says ,mr4 ,cox1 8may1 at first sight1 appear too trivial for publication2 but they are highly descriptive of ,mr4 ,fletcher's general demeanour2 and1 as ,rosseau observes1 #8,the physiognomy does not show itself in great features1 nor the character of a man in great actions4 ,it is in trifles that the natural disposition discovers itself4'0#eha ,footnote #ehj3 ,ibid41 p4 #adi4 ,footnote #eha3 ,cox's 8,life of ,fletcher10 p4 #aej4 ,while ,fletcher was forming new friendships with young ,nathaniel ,gilbert and ,melville ,horne1 his old friends were rapidly dying4 ,his generous host1 ,mr4 ,charles ,greenwood1 of ,stoke ,newington1 triumphantly exchanged mortality for eternal life on ,february #ba1 #aghc1 on which occasion ,fletcher wrote the following to ,mrs4 ,thornton3-- 8,,madeley1 ,march #c1 #aghc4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,yesterday1 ,i received your melancholy joyful letter as ,i came from the sacrament1 where the grace of ,god had armed me to meet the news4 ,and is my merciful host gone to reap the fruit of his mercy to me8 ,i thought ,i should have been permitted to go first1 and welcome him into everlasting habitations2 but ,providence has ordered it otherwise1 and ,i am left behind to say1 with you and dear ,mrs4 ,greenwood1 #8,the ,lord gave and has taken away2 blessed be the name of the ,lord4' ,the glory with which ,mr4 ,greenwood's setting sun was gilded1 is the greatest comfort by which heaven could alleviate his loss4 ,let me die as he died1 and let my last end be like his6 ,i was so affected by your account that ,i could not help reading part of your letter at church in the afternoon1 and desiring all the congregation to join me in thanksgiving for the late mercies ,god has vouchsafed to my generous benefactor4 ,on such occasions1 let sighs be lost in praise1 and repining in humble submission and thankful acquiescence4 ,i hope dear ,mrs4 ,greenwood mixes tears of joy with tears of sorrow4 ,who would not be landed on the other side of the stream of time if he were sure of such a passage8 ,who would wish his best friend back on the shores of sorrow so triumphantly left by ,mr4 ,greenwood8 8,so ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,perronet are no more2 and ,lazarus is still alive6 ,what scenes does this world afford6 ,but the most amazing is that of ,emmanuel crucified1 and offering us pardons and crowns of glory60#ehb ,footnote #ehb3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bij4 ,another letter1 written three months after this1 was addressed to ,john ,valton1 the ,methodist itinerant1 who preached at ,cross ,hall to the wedding party on the evening of ,fletcher's marriage4 8,,madeley1 ,july1 #aghc4 8,our dear friend's acceptable favour gave us much pleasure1 though we have been so long in thanking him for it4 8,never did we imagine till lately how great your trial has been about the house at ,birstal4#ehc ,but how gracious is the ,lord6 ,how has ,he here paid you by the refreshing shower which has since distilled as the dew on the grass4 ,o what comfortable accounts have reached us of the wonderful revival in your circuit4#ehd ,in this my heart does indeed rejoice4 8,god is good unto us also4 ,he has not left us without encouragement4 ,for some time past1 we have scarcely had a week in which one or more has not been set at liberty4 ,but we are called1 ,i believe1 to leave them for a little while1 and to spend a few weeks in ,dublin4 ,they complain of this1 but the will of the ,lord must be done4 ,when ,he calls1 even life itself must not be esteemed too dear4 8,you will be thankful to hear that my best earthly friend continues in tolerable health1 though neither of us is strong4 ,we are more and more sensible of the loving kindness of the ,lord in casting our lot together4 ,every day helps us to praise ,him more and more for ,his condescension and goodness to such unworthy worms4 ,i speak thus freely to you because you were a witness of the beginning of our pilgrimage together4 ,i see many professors1 and many really in earnest2 but1 alas6 very seldom any who can warm one's heart with the deep things of ,god4 ,o for a deeper baptism of the ,spirit6 ,i want that promise more fully accomplished1 #8,i and my ,father will come1 and will make our abode with you4' 8,praying that the ,lord may be with you all at the ensuing ,conference1 we remain1 dear brother1 your affectionate friends1 8,,john ,,and ,,mary ,,fletcher40#eheehf ,footnote #ehc3 ,the ,methodist meeting-house1 erected1 under the auspices of ,john ,nelson1 about the year #agea4 ,the trouble1 at this time1 arose out of the demand of the trustees to elect1 after ,wesley's death1 their own preachers1 and to order them to preach in ,birstal chapel twice every ,sunday1 every ,christmas ,day1 ,new ,year's ,day1 and ,good ,friday1 and also every ,thursday night4 7,see 8,life and ,times of ,wesley10 vol4 iii41 pp4 #cgc-chc47 ,footnote #ehd3 ,see an account of this remarkable work of ,god in the 8,life and ,labours of the ,rev4 ,john ,valton1 edited by ,joseph ,sutcliffe1 ,a4,m41 #ahcj10 pp4 #ajd-aad4 ,footnote #ehe3 ,methodist ,magazine1 #agih1 p4 #eih4 ,footnote #ehf3 ,it is said that1 after his marriage1 ,fletcher1 when writing to his friends1 always subscribed his letters 8,john and ,mary ,fletcher40 7,see 8,six ,letters of the late ,rev4 ,j4 ,fletcher4 ,bath1 #aghh40 #abmo1 #bj pp47 ,the foregoing letter mentions an intended visit to ,dublin4 ,it has been already stated that ,fletcher received an invitation from the ,dublin ,methodists to visit them in #aghb2 and that he was then obliged to decline their invitation4 ,now his way to ,ireland seemed open4 ,mrs4 ,fletcher writes3-- 8#aghc1 ,august #e4 ,since ,may #bb0 the date of the last entry in her journal1 8a fever has been in the parish1 which took off many whom we saw it our duty to attend4 ,it brought eternity very near1 and that always does me good4 ,it came into our family1 and ,sally0 ,lawrence 8was attacked with it2 but ,god raised her up again in a wonderful manner4 ,soon after her recovery1 ,dr4 ,coke came1 on his way from ,dublin1 and brought letters to each of us4 ,we went to church1 where the doctor preached4 ,when we returned home1 ,i followed my dear to his study1 and told him if he saw it his call to go to ,dublin1 ,i saw it mine to go with him4 ,since that day1 we have been preparing for our journey4 ,my dear husband's health is not very good4 ,what the ,lord will do with us ,i know not4 ,we are1 however1 ready for setting off40 ,five weeks after this1 ,mrs4 ,fletcher wrote again in her journal as follows3-- 8#aghc1 ,september #ab1 ,william ,street1 ,dublin4 ,this day of our birth calls for solemn praise4 ,i say ,,our birth1 because1 as far as we can learn1 my dear ,mr4 ,fletcher was born on the same day ten years before me4 8,with the prayers and blessings of many of our friends1 we set off from ,madeley on ,tuesday1 ,august #ab4 ,at night1 we were affectionately received by ,mrs4 ,glynne1 of ,shrewsbury1 whose love to the children of ,god does not grow cold4 ,my dear husband preached on the danger of being ashamed of the ,gospel4 8,the next day1 we pursued our journey as far as ,llangollen1 in ,wales1 where we abode all night4 ,enquiring1 as we walked about the town1 whether they had any praying people among them1 the poor things answered us in the best manner they could1 and said1 #8,yes1 ,sir1 there are some people who pray in houses at the other end of the town1 but we know not what they be4 ,this very night a man is to preach in their chapel4' ,we went to the place1 and found a few poor people gathered in a building which1 ,i believe1 was part of an old house4 ,the preacher seemed very earnest1 but we could not understand a word he said1 except ogoniant and gwaed--glory and blood2 which1 with much emphasis1 he often repeated4 ,after we were returned to our inn1 a few1 who could understand ,english1 came to us1 and desired my dear to give them a sermon in the morning1 which he did1 on these words1 #8,this is ,his commandment1 that we should believe on the name of ,his ,son1 ,jesus ,christ1 and love one another1 as ,he hath given us commandment4' ,it was a good time1 and several were present who understood ,english4 8,we then sent off for ,conway1 and1 on ,friday afternoon1 reached ,holyhead4 ,mr4 ,fletcher was very poorly1 and a swelling on his face now broke1 which gave him much inconvenience2 but1 on ,saturday morning1 we embarked4 ,mr4 ,fletcher was not affected by the sea1 but ,i was very ill4 ,about one o'clock on ,sunday morning1 we cast anchor three miles from ,dublin2 and1 at five1 reached the ,hotel on ,dublin ,quay4 8,we now abide with our hospitable friends1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,smyth1 in ,william ,street1 and have seen much of the ,lord's hand in bringing us hither4 ,my dear husband has been favoured with much unction in preaching the word4 ,the present 7,methodist7 preachers in ,dublin1 brothers ,rutherford and ,jackson1 are simple1 pious men1 and respect that command1 #8,in honour preferring one another4' ,they heartily rejoice in the message my dear husband delivers among them4 ,i feel much liberty in meeting the classes4 ,here are a few truly athirst for full salvation4 ,our kind and generous host and hostess allow us all freedom in their house1 for the glory of ,god1 and the good of ,his people2 and1 as their servants also are pious1 upright persons1 we can here worship with them in calm and brotherly love40 ,before referring to the testimonies of other persons1 it may be best to complete what ,mrs4 ,fletcher has to say concerning this evangelistic visit to the sister island4 ,she writes3-- 8,madeley1 ,october #cj4 ,on the #gth of this month1 we left ,dublin1 and embarked for ,holyhead4 ,in the night1 the wind grew high4 ,my husband1 myself1 and also ,sally1 were so ill1 we could scarce speak1 or look towards each other4 ,since our return1 ,i have closely examined what ,i have lost or got in these last three months4 ,i praise the ,lord that we went to ,dublin1 and that for various reasons4 ,there are some there with whom ,i found much fellowship2 at whose feet ,i sat1 and1 ,i trust1 learned many useful lessons4 ,my dear ,mr4 ,fletcher preached in several places besides the 7,methodist7 ,preaching-house in ,white-,friars-street1 both to the ,french and ,english1 and we had some remarkable proofs that he was called there by ,god4 8,since our return1 my dear husband has taken another journey of about two hundred miles1#ehg from which he has suffered a good deal4 ,his face is not yet well2 but the unwearied patience1 wherewith he goes through all1 is to me a continual lesson4 8,november #ab4 ,we see another anniversary of our blessed union1 and are yet more happy1 and more tender towards each other2 and1 what is better1 our souls get nearer ,god4 ,we are more spiritual1 and live more for eternity40#ehh ,footnote #ehg3 ,this was a journey to ,bristol1 whither he escorted his hostess1 ,mrs4 ,smyth1 ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald1 and the eldest daughter of the ,rev4 ,edward ,smyth4 78,life and ,times of the ,countess of ,huntingdon10 vol4 ii41 p4 #aie47 ,footnote #ehh3 8,mrs4 ,fletcher's ,life10 by ,h4 ,moore1 p4 #aee4 ,henry ,moore1 ,wesley's sturdy ,itinerant1 was appointed to the ,dublin ,circuit1 three years after ,fletcher's visit1 and1 in #ahah1 wrote3-- 8,never did ,i see such deep impressions made on the people of ,dublin as by the truly evangelical labours of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,fletcher1 except1 perhaps1 in the very short visits of ,mr4 ,wesley4 ,a great revival of pure religion followed in the ,dublin ,society4 ,that ,society had usually consisted of about #ejj persons1 but it soon increased to upwards of #ajjj1 and has never since fallen below that number4 ,such longing after entire conformity to the ,son of ,god ,i never beheld4 ,how wide this sacred influence might have extended1 who can tell1 if a poor sectarian spirit had not limited ,mr4 ,fletcher's labours4 ,on his arrival in ,dublin1 his host1 ,mr4 ,smyth1 a distinguished and most respectable gentleman1 applied to the rector of ,st4 ,andrew's ,parish1 in which he lived1 to allow ,mr4 ,fletcher to preach in his church1 and this was immediately granted4 ,the church was crowded to excess4 ,mr4 ,fletcher's text was1 #8,almost thou persuadest me to be a ,christian4' ,his earnestness and power astonished the congregation1 some of whom seemed to doubt if he were not more than human4 ,but1 alas6 it was soon known that he preached on the evening of that same day at the ,methodist ,preaching-house2 and the pulpits of the churches were immediately closed against him1 with the exception of that of the ,french ,church4 ,the first time he preached there1 his text was ,hebrews x4 #cb1 when he brought before the congregation the faith of their ancestors4 ,when some of them were asked1 #8,why did you go to hear ,mr4 ,fletcher1 when you could not understand a word he said8' they answered1 #8,we went to look at him1 for heaven seemed to beam from his countenance4'0#ehi ,footnote #ehi3 8,mrs4 ,fletcher's ,life10 by ,h4 ,moore1 p4 #aed4 ,mr4 ,henry ,brooke1#eij who took a leading part in inviting ,fletcher to visit ,dublin1 wrote3-- 8#aghc1 ,september #f4 ,the same grace and power which attend ,mr4 ,fletcher's pulpit lectures1 and gather innumerable crowds of hungering1 thirsting souls to flock to his ministry1 also attend his conversation in private4 ,he seems never--no1 never--for a moment1 to turn his eye from the one great object of our faith and love2 and he continually stirs up all around him to love and praise4 ,he appears to live and breathe nothing else40 ,footnote #eij3 ,mr4 ,brooke is described1 in ,wesley's 8,last ,will and ,testament10 as a 8,painter40 ,in another letter1 to his father1 ,mr4 ,brooke observed3-- 8,i wish it were in my power to convey to you the substance and energy of those precious and excellent discourses1 with which we are frequently favoured from ,mr4 ,fletcher4 ,his words are living sparks1 rushing from the furnace of divine love glowing in his heart40 ,mr4 ,brooke1 in a letter to the ,rev4 ,j4 ,gilpin1 the translator of ,fletcher's 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul10 remarked3-- 8,when ,mr4 ,fletcher was about to leave us1 knowing the scanty pittance he received from his parish1 we thought it but an act of common honesty to refund him the expense he had been at in coming to ,dublin1 and to bear his charges back again to ,madeley4 ,accordingly1 after he had preached on the last evening of his stay among us1 the stewards and trustees united to press his acceptance of a small purse1 not as a present1 but as a debt justly due to him4 ,but he firmly and absolutely refused it4 ,at length1 being very urgent with him and importunate to an excess1 he took the purse in his hand1 and said1 #8,do you really force it upon me8 ,must ,i accept it8 ,is it entirely mine8 and may ,i do what ,i please with it8' #8,yes1 yes1' we all replied4 #8,god be praised then6 ,god be praised6' cried he1 raising his eyes towards heaven4 #8,what a mercy is here6 ,i heard some of you complaining that your ,poor's ,fund was never so low before2 take this purse2 ,god has sent it to you2 raised it among yourselves2 and bestowed it upon your poor4 ,you cannot deny me2 it is sacred to them4 ,god be praised6 ,i thank you1 ,i heartily thank you1 my dear kind brethren4'0#eia ,footnote #eia3 8,life of ,mr4 ,henry ,brooke10 by ,isaac ,d',olier1 ,,ll4,d41 pp4 #ajb-aba4 ,a number of other anecdotes respecting this memorable visit1 all more or less authentic1 might be inserted2 but enough has been said to show that it must always be one of the great events in the history of ,methodism in ,dublin4 ,soon after the return to ,madeley of ,fletcher and his wife1 they received the following1 hitherto unpublished letter1 signed by one hundred and fifty-one members of the ,dublin ,methodist ,society1 the signature of 8,henry ,brooke0 standing first4 8#aghc1 ,october4 8,,rev4 ,,and ,,very ,,dear ,,sir ,,and ,,madam1--,your kindness in accepting our united invitation1 your labour of love in crossing the sea to visit us1 and your spending body and soul for our profit while among us1 demand a return of acknowledgment and gratitude1 which we find ourselves1 jointly and severally1 as unable to express as to repay4 8,confession of our debt is the utmost extent of our ability4 ,as for reward1 we must call upon ,him to answer for us1 who has already paid the mighty debt due by the whole world4 ,may ,he1 then1 even that ,master1 the sound of whose feet was heard behind you1 and the power of whose ,spirit clothed your word in private and in public1--may ,he abundantly reward both your bodies and souls1 and1 according to the measure you have meted out1 measure to you again a hundred-fold1 pressed down1 shaken together1 and running over into your own bosoms in time and eternity4 8,your liberality to the sick poor1 in the generous donation of twenty-five guineas1 has gladdened the hearts of numbers1 besides those who are partakers of your alms2 for you have nobly honoured the ,lord by your free ministry1 and set your seal to ,his ,word with your substance4 ,may you be watered again and again abundantly for it6 8,we can only pray for the prosperity of your labours where the adorable providence of ,god has cast your lot in ,his vineyard2 and hope that the ,lord may give the people to see and know 7in mercy and not in judgment7 that a prophet has been among them4 8,lastly1 we entreat that1 after the example of ,st4 ,paul1 you will remember us all in your daily and nightly addresses to the throne of grace1 that the precious seed1 which has been sown1 may bring forth its hundred-fold increase1 to our joint happiness in the kingdom of ,god40 ,in the month of ,november1 a reply was sent to this1 from which the following extract is taken3-- 8,,madeley1 ,november1 #aghc4 8,to the ,society in ,dublin4 8,to all the dear ,brethren1 who1 after kindly inviting ,john and ,mary ,fletcher1 patiently bearing with them and their infirmities1 and entertaining them in the most hospitable manner1 have added1 to all their former favours1 that of thanking them for their most pleasant and profitable journey4 8,we had felt shame enough under the sense of your kindness and patience towards us1 and of our unprofitableness towards you1 when at ,dublin4 ,we owed you the letter of thanks you have gratuitously sent to us4 ,but in all things1 you will have the pre-eminence1 and we are glad to drink the cup of humility at your feet4 ,if your profuse liberality toward us abounded to the comfort of our poor brethren1 we doubly rejoice on your account1 and on theirs4 8,when we see so many of your dear names1 we rejoice in hope that they are enrolled on the list of the dear people1 whom our great ,high ,priest bears1 not on the breastplate as ,aaron1 but on ,his bleeding hands1 and in ,his very heart1 which is the overflowing and ever-flowing fountain of divine and brotherly love4 ,let our worthless names still find a place in your memory1 when you remember your brethren distant in the flesh1 but near in the ,spirit4 ,among such1 vouchsafe to reckon your very affectionate and truly obliged servants in ,christ1 8,,john ,,and ,,mary ,,fletcher40 ,to their ,irish host1 ,william ,smyth1 ,esq41 ,fletcher wrote as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,november1 #aghc4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,the many and great favours with which you loaded us1 during our long stay under your hospitable roof1 have been1 are now1 and1 we trust1 ever shall be deeply engraven on our hearts4 ,you united1 for us1 ,irish hospitality1 ,english cordiality1 and ,french politeness4 ,and now1 ,sir1 what shall we say8 8,you are our generous benefactor1 and we are your affectionate1 though unprofitable servants4 ,in one sense1 we are on a level with those to whom you show charity in the streets3 we can do nothing but pray for you and yours4 ,you kindly received us for ,christ's sake2 may ,god receive you freely for ,his sake also6 ,you bore with our infirmities2 the ,lord bear with yours6 ,you let your servant serve us2 the ,lord give all ,his servants and ,his angels charge concerning you6 ,you gave us a most comfortable apartment1 next your own chamber2 the ,lord grant you eternal rest with ,himself in ,his heavenly mansions6 ,you fed us with the richest food2 may the ,giver of every perfect gift fit you for a place at ,his table1 and may you rank there with ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob6 ,you gave us wines2 may you drink1 with ,christ ,himself1 the fruit of the vine1 new in your ,father's kingdom60#eib ,footnote #eib3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #bic4 ,it has been asserted1 that1 8towards the close of his life10 ,fletcher 8abstained entirely from wine and strong drink20#eic but the evidence in favour of this is dubious1 and1 certainly1 the last sentence of the foregoing letter seems to disprove it4 ,throughout the whole of his life1 he was exceedingly temperate in eating and drinking2 but it may fairly be doubted whether ,fletcher was ever a 8teetotaler40#eid ,it is a curious fact1 however1 that in this very year1 #aghc1 he wrote a pamphlet bearing upon the subject of drunkenness and other matters1 which he intended to be published1 but which1 ,i believe1 never was4 ,it was sent to 8,mr4 ,hindmarsh1 printer1 in ,baker's ,court1 ,holborn ,bars1 ,london10 together with a letter of instructions as to the printing of it1 dated1 8,madeley1 ,november #bj1 #aghc40 ,when printed1 ,mr4 ,hindmarsh was requested to send1 as soon as possible1 a copy to every member of ,parliament4 ,the title was1 8,three ,national ,grievances1--the ,increase of ,taxes1 the ,hardships of ,unequal ,taxation1 and the ,continual ,rise of the ,poor's ,rates3 with the ,causes and ,remedies of these ,evils3 ,humbly ,submitted to the ,consideration of the ,legislature1 in a ,letter to the ,right ,honorable ,lord ,john ,cavendish1 ,chancellor of the ,exchequer1 and one of the ,lords of the ,treasury4 ,london3 ,november1 #aghc40 ,footnote #eic3 ,local ,preachers' ,magazine1 #ahec1 p4 #agb4 ,footnote #eid3 ,jonathan ,crowther1 ,president of the ,methodist ,conference in #ahai1 says1 in his unpublished autobiography3-- 8,mr4 ,yates1 of ,madeley1 told me that1 one cold1 snowy1 frosty day1 when ,mr4 ,fletcher called at his house1 as he was sallying out to visit his parishioners1 he asked him to take a little punch1 which was then upon the table1 after dinner4 ,mr4 ,fletcher consented1 but said1 #8,first1 let us ask a blessing3 it makes it twice as good4'0 ,the temptation is strong to insert this remarkable production in extenso2 but to do so1 in a chapter like the present1 would be an inconvenient excrescence2 besides1 want of space makes it impossible4 ,suffice it to say1 that1 under the heading of the first 8,grievance10 ,fletcher argues1 that1 the decrease of the national revenue1 and consequent increase of the national taxation1 were occasioned by 8the amazing progress of smuggling40 ,he says1 8,no one can deny that vast quantities of foreign brandy1 rum1 gin1 tobacco1 snuff1 tea1 wines of all sorts1 and a variety of other articles1 are fraudulently imported and that these1 on the sea-coast1 are sold at 8half the price which they cost the conscientious merchant40 8,many thousands of lawless men are perpetually forming or executing schemes1 to defraud the ,government1 and reduce us to beggary40 ,fletcher says1 it was once his opinion that 8smuggling might be prevented1 by the combined services of the army and navy2 but10 he adds1 8as most of the inferior ,custom ,house officers on the coast1 with #ej a year1 live in splendour1 and as the evil is deeply rooted1 ,i am now convinced that the only way to check it is to take off the duties1 to lessen the number of officers in both ,customs and ,excise1 and to advance the salaries of those who are retained4 ,if ,i prove that1 by lessening the duties1 the revenue will be increased and smuggling suppressed1 there can be no objection to the adoption of the plan proposed40 ,fletcher enters into many details to establish his theory2 and thus1 long before the days of ,peel and ,gladstone1 took the part of free-traders4 ,his chapter on unequal taxation must be passed2 but some of his statements1 in the third1 deserve notice4 ,he insists that-- 8,the continual increase of the ,poor ,rates is occasioned by the corrupted morals of the lower classes of the people1 who are seduced into idleness and neglect of their families1 in the public-houses to be met with at every turn4 ,there are also multitudes of private retailers of smuggled spirits1 who1 by enticing their neighbours into drunkenness1 entail ruin on them and their families4 ,in some parishes1 the number of these lawless retailers far exceeds that of the publicans4 ,but to speak only of licensed houses1 what multitudes of these are found all over ,england6 ,in some places1 almost every fifth house is one of those nurseries of vice40 ,terrible is the picture which ,fletcher draws1 respecting the ruinous consequences of drunkenness2 and his arguments would help ,sir ,wilfrid ,lawson to make a most effective speech on 8,local ,option0 in the ,house of ,commons4 8,if10 continues ,fletcher1 8these paltry public-houses are the bane of the nation1 let the legislative power interfere in ,england1 as it has done in ,holland4 ,let two-thirds of these nuisances be suppressed2 and by raising the licenses of the others1 so as to indemnify the revenue1 let the law put it out of the power of the idle poor to set up these petty schools of idleness and vice4 ,then people of character will no longer be afraid to become publicans40 ,in a 8postscript10 ,fletcher refers to a pamphlet which states that-- 8,sixty thousand of the ablest young men in the kingdom1 and one hundred thousand horses1 are employed in smuggling1 whilst one hundred thousand women and children make it their business to hawk about the country the articles which the men have smuggled4 ,if these one hundred and sixty thousand people were employed in fishing1 agriculture1 spinning1 etc41 their labour would amount annually to #b1dfd1jjj1 to which must be added the sum of #a1hbj1jjj1 the cost of keeping the one hundred thousand horses used by smugglers4444 ,the ,dutch catch fish1 on our coasts1 to the yearly amount of one million sterling4444 ,fishing and smuggling never flourish together4444 ,in ,scotland1 there are upwards of ten thousand private stills10 etc41 etc4 ,thus ,fletcher1 the polemical divine1 turned social reformer2 and his efforts to correct the crying evils of the age were not confined to the employment of his pen4 ,in his own parish1 there were eighteen public houses1--all of them 8nurseries for sin1 particularly on ,sunday evenings40 ,he had long desired to correct these abuses2 but had seldom been favoured with the services of a churchwarden willing to second his endeavours4 ,now he had one1 who was resolved to act according to the oath he had taken4 ,fletcher visited several of these dens of iniquity every ,sunday1 and all of them in their turn4 ,in every one of them1 he bore a faithful testimony against their wickedness2 and1 in some instances1 his efforts were attended with much success4#eie ,footnote #eie3 8,letter to ,mons4 ,h4 ,l4 ,de la ,flechere10 #aghf1 p4 #af4 ,at this period1 trade was bad1 taxes were crushing1 and corn was dear4 ,king ,george the ,third1 in his speech to 8,my ,lords and ,gentlemen10 the members of the two ,houses of ,parliament1 remarked1 8,the scarcity1 and consequent high price of corn1 requires your instant interposition40 ,corn was scarce1 and1 in many instances1 it was bought and hoarded by execrable speculators1 for the purpose of raising the price of it1 and increasing their own blood-soaked profits4 ,fletcher was indignant1 and proposed the formation of an association of persons of unblemished character3-- 8#a4 ,to prosecute legally all engrossers and forestallers of the necessaries of life4 8#b4 ,if there be any laws against those who cause an artificial scarcity1 by monopolizing the necessaries of life1--to apply to the magistrates to put such laws in force against the offenders1--and1 if1 through fear or favour1 the magistrates refuse1 to apply for redress to ,quarter ,sessions1 or to the ,court of ,king's ,bench4 8#c4 ,that the members of the ,association subscribe1 according to their ability1 towards defraying the expense of detecting1 and legally prosecuting the offenders40 ,fletcher added3-- 8,if such a plan is entered upon1 and carried on in this county0 7,salop71 8,i will gladly become a subscriber of a guinea1 provided no illegal steps be taken by the associates40 ,this is copied from an unpublished manuscript in ,fletcher's own handwriting4 ,the following also is taken from another original manuscript1 written by ,fletcher3-- 8,it is proposed-- 8#a4 ,that ,sunday ,schools be set up in this parish1 for such children as are employed all the week1 and for those whose education has been neglected4 8#b4 ,that1 in those schools1 children shall be taught to read and write1 and shall be instructed in the principles of morality and piety4 8#c4 ,that1 in the ,dale1 in ,madeley1 and in ,madeley ,wood1 there shall be a school for boys1 and another for girls1--six schools in all4 8#d4 ,that #bj be raised1 by subscription1 for this charity2 namely1 #ad for the salaries of six teachers2 which1 at the rate of one shilling1 per time1 for fifty-two ,sunday afternoons1 excepting ,easter-,day and ,whit-,sunday1 will amount to fifty shillings each teacher4 ,the remaining #f shall be laid out in tables1 benches1 books1 paper1 pens1 and ink4 8#e4 ,that1 if the expenses incurred should run higher than is here supposed1 the subscribers shall be acquainted with it1 and their charity shall be again solicited4 8#f4 ,that1 whosoever shall subscribe a guinea towards this charity shall be a director of it4 8#g4 ,that1 at a parish meeting1 two treasurers shall be appointed to ask and to receive the contributions of those who shall be willing to encourage this charity4 8#h4 ,that1 three or four inspectors shall be appointed to visit these schools1 to see that the children attend regularly1 and that the masters do their duty by the children1 and to make their report to the directors4 8#i4 ,that1 a book shall be provided by the treasurers1 in which they1 or a secretary whom they shall appoint1 shall yearly enter the sums subscribed1 and the manner in which they are laid out2 and that such book shall be laid before the subscribers when they shall desire it4 8#aj4 ,that1 another book shall be provided1 in which the names of the masters and the scholars1 belonging to each school1 shall be entered4 8#aa4 ,and lastly1 that1 to encourage emulation1 at a solemn visitation of these schools1 once or twice a year1 some premium shall be given to the children who distinguish themselves by their assiduity and improvement40 ,this was rather elaborate legislation for the administration of a charity fund of #bj a year2 but money1 in #aghc1 was scarce1 and the ,sunday ,school institution was then in its infancy4 ,for some years1 ,fletcher had had a school at ,madeley1 which he himself taught every day2 and he had also established a similar school in ,madeley ,wood4 ,now he commenced his ,sunday ,schools1 being1 in this respect1 almost contemporaneous with ,raikes at ,gloucester4 8,three hundred children were soon gathered1 whom he took every opportunity of instructing1 by regular meetings1 for some time before the schools were opened2 and these meetings he attended to the very last ,thursday before his fatal illness4 ,he gave the children little hymn-books2 and pointed them to some friend or neighbour1 who would teach them the hymns1 and instruct them to sing4 ,many of the little creatures would scarcely allow themselves time to eat or sleep1 for the desire they had of learning their lessons4 ,in every meeting1 after inquiring who had made the greatest proficiency1 he never forgot to distinguish it by a little reward40 8,his proposals to the parish were received with the greatest unanimity4 ,many1 both of the rich and trading people1 lent their helping hand1 not only to defray the expense of teachers1 but to raise a very convenient school-house in ,coalbrookdale40#eif ,footnote #eif3 8,letter to ,mons4 ,h4 ,l4 ,de la ,flechere1 #aghf1 pp4 #ag and #ah4 ,the 8,proposals0 were prefaced with a statement of 8the advantages likely to arise from ,sunday ,schools10 which was as follows3-- 8,our parochial and national depravity turns upon two hinges1--the profanation of the ,lord's day1 and the immorality which flows from neglecting the education of children4 ,till these two great inlets of wickedness are stopped1 we must expect to see our workhouses full of aged parents forsaken by their prodigal children2 of wives deserted by their faithless husbands2 or of the wretched offspring of lewd women1 and idle and drunken men4 ,nay1 we may expect to see the jails1 and even the gallows1 stocked with unhappy wretches1 ready to fall a sacrifice to the safety of their neighbours1 and the penal laws of their country4 8,persons concerned for the welfare of the next generation1 and well-wishers to the ,church and ,state1 have already set us a fine example in ,stroud1 ,gloucester1 ,leeds1 ,manchester1 ,birmingham1 ,bristol1 and in several country parishes4 ,they have attempted to remedy these evils by setting up ,sunday ,schools1 which1 by keeping children from corrupting one another1 by promoting their attendance on ,divine worship1 and by laying the first principles of useful knowledge in their minds1 and of true piety in their hearts1--bid fair for a public reformation of manners2 and seem well calculated to nip in the bud the vices of ignorance and impiety1 so common among the lower and more numerous classes of the people40#eig ,footnote #eig3 8,letter to ,mons4 ,h4 ,l4 ,de la ,flechere10 #aghf1 p4 #bj4 ,it may be added1 that the last productions of ,fletcher's pen were an unfinished catechism1 to be used in his ,sunday ,schools2 prayers to be read by the children2 and 8,hints0 to the teachers4 ,among the last mentioned1 were instructions respecting the correction of any child 8guilty of lying1 swearing1 ,sabbath-breaking1 stealing1 fighting1 or disobedience20 and recommendations that the teachers should 8attend the scholars to ,divine worship02 that they should 8not break up too early in the evening1 that being the time in which children are most likely to run into temptation20 and that 8pious persons0 should be induced to 8visit and interrogate the children1 in order that the whole might be carried on as a business sanctified by the ,word of ,god1 by prayer1 and by ,christian admonition40#eih ,footnote #eih3 ,ibid41 p4 #fc4 ,it would not be difficult to enlarge on facts and principles such as these2 but the intelligent reader can do this himself4 ,before leaving the year #aghc1 one more incident must be introduced4 ,at the close of the year1 the celebrated ,rev4 ,henry ,venn visited ,fletcher1 at ,madeley1 and wrote3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher is a genius1 and a man of fire--all on the stretch to do good--to lose not a day1 not an hour4 ,he is married to a lady worthy of him1 ,miss ,bosanquet1 a lady with whom ,i was acquainted twenty-nine years ago4 ,she was then sixteen1 and bred up in all the pride of life2 her father being one of the chief merchants of ,london4 ,by the grace of ,god1 she1 at that time1 renounced the world1 and gave up herself to the ,lord4 ,since then1 she has bred up seventy-four destitute young girls for service1 and seen them placed out to her satisfaction2 and1 instead of dressing1 visiting1 and conforming to all the vain and expensive customs of the world1 she has been wholly employed in doing good4 ,i left this happy house as ,cecil1 ,secretary to ,queen ,elizabeth1 left ,bernard ,gilpin's1 saying1 #8,there dwells as much happiness as can be known on earth4'0#eii ,footnote #eii3 8,life of ,rev4 ,henry ,venn10 p4 #cgg4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,last ,,days ,,on ,,earth4 #aghd-aghe4 ,,fletcher took a profound interest1 not only in ,sunday ,schools1 which were being opened in various places1 but in an institution which has long been the greatest of which the ,methodists can boast4 ,in #aghc1 ,dr4 ,coke and a few of his friends drew up 8,a ,plan of the ,society for the ,establishment of ,missions among the ,heathen40 ,this curious and most interesting document is too long to be inserted here4 ,suffice it to say1 there is reason to believe that ,fletcher was one of ,coke's counsellors4 ,it has been already stated that1 in the summer of #aghc1 the ,doctor1 on his way from ,dublin1 called at ,madeley1 and preached in ,fletcher's church4 ,soon after this1 ,fletcher and his wife went to ,dublin2 and now1 at the beginning of the year #aghd1 ,coke forwarded to ,fletcher the aforesaid 8,plan10 and a list of his missionary subscribers1 twenty-six in number1 seven of whom resided in ,dublin4 ,is it chimerical to suppose that the formation of this ,missionary ,society was a subject of conversation between ,coke and ,fletcher1 when the former was at ,madeley1 and that it was mainly through ,fletcher's influence that so many of its first subscribers were ,dublin ,methodists8 ,it is a curious fact that neither of the ,wesleys appeared in the list of contributors1 the reason perhaps of which might be that they had not been consulted in drawing up the 8,plan40 ,fletcher1 however1 subscribed #b #bs4 #j;d4 of the first year's income1 which amounted to #ff #cs4 #j;d41 and to him ,coke sent the 8,plan0 and the report1 and also the following letter appended3-- 8,near ,,plymouth1 ,january #f1 #aghd4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,sir1--,lest ,mr4 ,parker should neglect to send you one of our ,plans for the establishing of foreign ,missions1 ,i take the liberty of doing it4 ,ten subscribers more1 of two guineas per annum1 have favoured me with their names4 ,if you can get a few subscribers more1 we shall be obliged to you4 8,we have now a very wonderful outpouring of the ,spirit in the ,west of ,cornwall4 ,i have been obliged to make a winter campaign of it1 and preach here and there out of doors4 8,i beg my affectionate respects to ,mrs4 ,fletcher4 ,i entreat you to pray for 8,your most affectionate ,friend and ,brother1 8,,thomas ,,coke40 ,at this period1 ,fletcher was engaged in the last of his literary works4 ,the following1 hitherto unpublished letter1 may serve as an introduction to the essays ,fletcher was now writing4 ,it was addressed to the 8,rev4 ,mr4 ,bouverot1 ,geneva20 and1 though without date1 was evidently written a few days before ,fletcher's memorable visit to ,dublin3-- 8,the ,society of ,christian ,philosophers1 which you mention1 seems1 in this day1 to be a useful ,institution4 ,the most redoubtable attacks upon religion come from our modern ,sadducees1 who say there is neither angel nor spirit2 and the famous ,dr4 ,priestly openly maintains that we have no soul1 or1 at least1 that it is no other than the animal spirits4 ,it may be1 therefore1 that ,god1 who never leaves ,himself without witnesses1 has permitted this ,society for the maintenance of a metaphysical doctrine so opposite to that of materialism4 #8,prove all things2 hold fast that which is good4' 8,a ,swedish gentleman1 called ,baron ,swedenborg1#fjj published many pieces in ,england1 and declared he had conversed with angels and spirits for more than forty years1 and that with as much familiarity as with men4 ,some of his works have been translated into ,english4 ,there is one1 of which ,i have the original ,latin by me1 entitled1 #8,mirabilia ,coeli et ,inferni1' and which ,i mean to send you as soon as ,i shall find a convenient opportunity4 ,it is certain1 if believers were more detached from earthly things1 and more concentred in ,christ by faith1 they would converse with angels and with the spirits of the departed saints1 as the ,patriarchs and first ,christians were accustomed to do4 ,there would1 indeed1 in this1 be some danger of following after piety1 with a view to such an advantage1 through a species of curiosity1 which1 if it ought not to be called the back door1 yet would not deserve to be entitled the front1 which consists in an humble faith disengaged from sense and from all self-seeking10 etc41 etc4 8,i have not yet had leisure to cast my eyes over mys' ,next week1 at the invitation of many who love the ,word of ,god1 ,i mean to make a tour into ,ireland1 from whence ,i propose returning before winter4 ,mr4 ,wesley1 who is eighty years of age1 is now on a tour in the ,low ,countries1 where he preaches1 even at ,amsterdam4 8,assist me to bless ,god1 who has sustained me hitherto1 and who is my light and my salvation in ,jesus ,christ1 to whom be glory for ever and ever6 ,remember me before ,god in your prayers1 as ,i have a continual remembrance of you in mine40 ,footnote #fjj3 ,swedenborg died in #aggb4 ,fletcher's bold speculation1 respecting the possibility of conversing with angels and the spirits of departed saints1 may be passed in silence4 ,the reader's attention must now be asked to the famous ,dr4 ,priestley4 ,this remarkable man was born at ,fieldhead1 near ,leeds1 in #agcc4 ,while a student at the ,dissenting ,academy1 kept by ,dr4 ,ashworth1 at ,daventry1 he became an ,arian4 ,his subsequent career need not here be traced4 ,it is enough to say1 that1 about the year #agfg1 while he was the minister of a large congregation of ,dissenters at ,leeds1 he embraced ,socinianism2 and that1 about #agha1 he wrote and published his 8,history of the ,corruptions of ,christianity10--some of the teachings of which work ,fletcher felt it his duty to refute4 ,dr4 ,priestley died at ,philadelphia1 in the ,united ,states of ,america1 in #ahjd4 ,it has been already stated1 that1 early in the year #aghe1 ,fletcher published a second and enlarged edition of his poem1 entitled1 8,la ,grace et la ,nature40 ,at the end of that work1 the following advertisement was inserted3 8,prt tre publi en ,anglois3 ,a ,rational ,vindication of the ,catholic ,faith1 respecting the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost3 being the ,first ,part of a ,scriptural ,vindication of ,christ's ,divinity4 ,inscribed to the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,priestley40 ,the ,rev4 ,joseph ,benson1 the quondam tutor of ,lady ,huntingdon's ,trevecca ,college1 when ,fletcher was its president1 says this 8,rational ,vindication0 was left by ,fletcher 8not quite finished20 which assertion seems to clash with ,fletcher's own advertisement just given4 ,there can be no doubt it was as finished as ,fletcher meant it to be2 though not as complete as ,mr4 ,benson thought it ought to be1 and as he himself tried to make it4 ,in addition to this1 however1 ,fletcher began a second essay1 entitled1 8,socinianism ,unscriptural2 or1 the ,prophets and ,apostles vindicated from the ,charge of holding the ,doctrine of ,christ's mere ,humanity3 being the ,second ,part of a ,vindication of ,his ,divinity4 ,inscribed to the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,priestley40 ,the first of these was intended to be an answer to ,priestley's assertion that 8the doctrine of the ,trinity is irrational20 and the second to refute his equally unfounded dogma1 that1 the doctrine of ,christ's 8divinity has no proper foundation in the ,old ,testament1--the prophets speaking of the ,messiah only as a man like themselves20 nor in the 8,new ,testament1--the ,apostles never giving our ,lord any higher title than that of a man approved of ,god40 ,in ,mr4 ,benson's opinion1 both of the essays were left unfinished2 and it is certain that neither of them was published in ,fletcher's lifetime4 ,rightly or wrongly1 ,mr4 ,benson--a very able theologian--undertook1 after ,fletcher's death1 to write supplements to both1 and then published them2 and these irrefutable productions of ,mr4 ,benson's pen have1 ever since #ahah1 when he was the ,methodist ,connexional ,editor1 been improperly incorporated in ,fletcher's 8,collected ,works40 ,mr4 ,benson's additions to ,fletcher's essays are invaluable2 but they ought1 in fairness to both authors1 to be published separately4 ,on this subject1 however1 nothing more need be added4 ,fletcher's replies to ,priestley1 which were printed a few years subsequent to his death1#fja were revised by ,wesley1 who writes1 in his ,journal3-- 8#aghd1 ,saturday1 ,march #bg4 ,i went to ,madeley2 and1 at ,mr4 ,fletcher's desire1 revised his letters to ,dr4 ,priestley4 ,i think there is hardly another man in ,england so fit to encounter him4--,sunday1 #bh4 ,notwithstanding the severe weather1 the church was more than filled4 ,i preached on part of the ,epistle 7,heb4 ix4 #ac1 etc472 in the afternoon1 ons' and ,i believe ,god applied it to many hearts40 ,footnote #fja3 ,the titles were3--#a4 8,a ,rational ,vindication of the ,catholic ,faith3 being the ,first ,part of a ,vindication of ,christ's ,divinity2 inscribed to the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,priestley1 by ,j4 ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 ,salop4 ,left imperfect by the ,author1 and now revised and finished1 at ,mrs4 ,fletcher's request1 by ,joseph ,benson1 ,hull40 #abmo1 #bbc pp4 ,no date1 but published in #aghh or #aghi4 ,the work consists of fourteen chapters1 only four of which were written by ,fletcher4 ,the remaining ten were ,mr4 ,benson's productions4 #b4 8,socinianism ,unscriptural2 or1 the ,prophets and ,apostles vindicated from the ,charge of holding the ,doctrine of ,christ's mere ,humanity3 being the ,second ,part of a ,vindication of ,his ,divinity3 inscribed to the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,priestley1 by the late ,rev4 ,john ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 ,salop4 ,to which is added1 a ,demonstration of the want of ,common ,sense in the ,new ,testament ,writers1 etc41 etc41 in a ,series of ,letters to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley1 by ,joseph ,benson4 ,birmingham3 #agia40 #abmo1 #bci pp4 ,fletcher's part of the volume occupies #aah pages4 ,never has there been a time when there was more need of essays like those of ,fletcher than that which is now passing4 ,socinianism1 in various shapes1 even among many who think themselves orthodox1 is rampant2 and the ,methodist ,book ,committee would render incalculable service to the cause of ,christian truth1 by publishing in a separate form1 and at as cheap a price as possible1 ,fletcher's two unanswerable replies to the redoubtable ,dr4 ,priestley4 ,in his 8,expostulatory ,letter10 ,fletcher writes3-- 8,while you invite archdeacons and bishops to defend their church and the divinity of their ,saviour1 may the voice of a poor country vicar be heard amidst the groans of the press which repeats your challenges8 ,will not your sense of honour feel too great a disappointment in seeing so mean a person step forth to present you with an expostulatory letter1 and to break a spear with you1 on the very ground where you think yourself invincible1--philosophy1 reason1 and common sense8 8,conscious of the variety of your learning1 and the greatness of your reputation1 ,i apologize for my boldness1 by observing1 that the ,church is my mother2 that the feeblest child has a right to cry out when his mother is stabbed to the heart2 and that1 when the ,divine crown of our ,lord is publicly struck at1 the least of believers may show his astonishment at the antichristian deed4 8,when the ,socinians of the last century said that it was impossible to believe ,god and man were united in the person of our ,lord1 the ,catholics replied1 it was as easy to believe that ,god and man make one ,christ1 as to believe that the immortal soul and the mortal body are one man4 ,and ,dr4 ,sherlock added1 that the best way for the ,socinians to set aside this argument against the mystery of our ,lord's incarnation1 was to deny the union of soul and body1 because they could not understand it2 and openly to maintain1 that man is a body without a soul1 a compound of mere matter4 8,when that judicious divine dropped this hint1 he little thought that some philosophers of our day would be so desperately bent upon divesting ,christ of ,his ,divine glory1 that they would be content to die like dogs1 without leaving any surviving part of themselves1 so that they might win the day against the ,catholic ,church1 and the divinity of our ,lord4 8,i am sorry to observe that you have the dangerous honour to be at the head of these bold philosophers4 ,dr4 ,berkeley was so singular as to deny the existence of matter4 ,according to his doctrine1 there is nothing but spirit in the world1 and matter exists only in our ideas4 ,as a rival of his singularity1 you run into the opposite extreme2 you annihilate our souls2 you turn us into mere machines2 we are nothing but matter2 and if you allow us any spirit1 it is only such as can be distilled like spirits of wine4 ,thus1 if we believe you both1 being ground not only to atoms but to absolute nonentity between the two millstones of your preposterous and contrary mistakes1 we have neither form nor substance1 neither body nor soul6 8,glad am ,i1 ,sir1 that when you made so free with the souls of men you did not pass your philosophical sponge over the existence of the ,father of spirits1 the great ,soul which gives life and motion to the universe4 ,but1 though you spare the ,father's dignity1 you attack the ,son's divinity2 you deny the sanctifying influences of the ,holy ,ghost2 and1 by hasty strides1 you carry us back to a dwarf1 mongrel ,christianity1 made up of materialism1 ,judaism1 and the baptism of ,john4 8,to gain this inglorious end1 in yours' you collect the capital errors invented by fallen ,christians in the corrupt ages of ,christianity2 then1 taking some of the most precious ,gospel truths1 you blend them with these errors1 and rendering them all equally odious1 you turn them promiscuously out of the ,church as the #8,corruptions of ,christianity4' ,thus you cleanse the temple of truth as our ,lord would have cleansed that of ,jerusalem1 if he had thrown down the tables of show-bread as well as the tables of the money changers1 and if ,he had turned out the cherubim of glory as ,he did the beasts which defiled that holy place4 ,in short1 you treat our ,lord's divinity as the ,jews treated ,his humanity when they numbered ,him with felons1 that the mob might cry with a show of piety1 #8,away with ,him6 ,crucify ,him6' with the thieves1 ,his accursed companions60 ,on the mysterious and holy doctrine of the ,trinity in unity1 ,fletcher writes3-- 8,that there is a ,supreme1 ,infinite1 and ,eternal ,mind by which the world was made1 is evident from the works of creation and providence4 ,every leaf of the trees which cover a thousand hills1 every spire of the grass which clothes a thousand vales1 echoes1 #8,there is a ,god4' ,but the peculiar mode of ,his existence is far above our reach4 ,of this we only know what ,he plainly reveals to us1 and what we may infer from what ,he hath plainly revealed2 for sooner shall the vilest insect find out the nature of man1 than the brightest man shall of himself discover the nature of ,god4 8,it is agreed on all hands that the ,supreme ,being1 compared with all other beings1 is ,one1--one ,creator over numberless creatures1 one ,infinite ,being over myriads of finite beings1 one ,eternal ,intelligence over millions of temporary intelligences4 ,the distance between the things made and ,him that made them being boundless1 the living ,god must stand for ever far higher above all that lives1 than the sun stands superior to all the beams it emits1 and to all the tapers lighted at its fire4 ,in this sense1 true ,christians are all ,unitarians3 ,god having plainly revealed ,his unity by the prophets1 by the ,apostles1 and by our ,lord ,himself1 there is no doubt about this point4 ,and may the hand which writes these sheets wither a thousand times over rather than it should designedly write one word against this glorious and ever-adorable unity6 8,but although the ,supreme ,being is ,one when ,he is compared to all created beings1 shall we quarrel with ,him when ,he informs us that notwithstanding he has no second in the universe of creatures1 yet1 in ,himself1 ,he exists in a wonderful manner1 insomuch that ,his own eternal and perfect essence subsists1 without division or separation1 under three adorable distinctions1 which are called sometimes #8the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost2' and sometimes #8the ,father1 the ,word1 and the ,spirit'8 #8,shall the thing formed say to ,him that formed it1 ,why hast ,thou made me thus8' or1 ,why dost ,thou exist after such a manner80 ,fletcher then proceeds to describe the different opponents of his doctrine2 namely1-- 8,tritheists1 who so unscripturally distinguish the ,divine ,persons as to divide and separate them into three deities2 and who1 by this means1 run into polytheism1 or the belief of many gods4 ,ditheists1 generally called ,arians1 who worship two gods1 a great god and a little god2 the former uncreate1 the latter created2 the former ,god by nature1 and the latter only by courtesy4 ,deists1 who so unscripturally maintain the unity of the ,divine essence as to admit but one ,divine subsistence20 and who include ,jews1 ,mahometans1 ,infidels1 and ,socinians4 ,fletcher next undertakes to show and prove that ,god the ,father has a proper ,son1 by whom ,he made the world2 that our ,lord ,jesus ,christ claimed the divine honour of being this ,son2 that ,he is the ,redeemer and ,saviour of lost mankind2 that ,he is to be the final and universal ,judge2 and that divine worship was paid to ,him by patriarchs1 prophets1 and ,apostles1 and is ,his undoubted right4 ,fletcher's second pamphlet1 entitled 8,socinianism ,unscriptural10 consists of eight letters1 addressed to ,dr4 ,priestley1 in which he shows that ,socinians err when they assert that the prophets always spoke of the ,messiah as of a mere man like themselves4 ,he proves that our first parents expected a ,divine ,messiah1 and that the ,divine ,person who appeared to the patriarchs1 and to ,moses1 was ,jehovah1 the ,son1 or ,christ in ,his pre-existent state2 that the foundation of the proofs of ,christ's divinity1 in the writings of the prophets1 is laid in the three original prophecies 7,gen4 iii4 #ae1 xxii4 #af1 etc41 and xlix4 #h-aj71 recorded by ,moses concerning the ,messiah2 that all the prophets bear witness to ,his ,godhead1 as do also the ,evangelists and ,apostles4 ,this is a meagre outline of ,fletcher's exceedingly able pamphlet1 but nothing more can be here attempted4 ,two brief extracts1 however1 may be added1 illustrative of his style3-- 8,i have proved that the king of ,israel who brought his people out of ,egypt was ,christ1 in ,his pre-existent nature4 ,moses was the prime minister of this great ,king2 ,joshua1 the general of ,his armies2 the tabernacle1 ,his palace2 the mercy-seat1 ,his throne2 the ark1 ,his royal standard2 the priests1 ,his officers2 the ,levites1 ,his guards2 and the shekinah1 the visible display of ,his presence40 8,read1 dear ,sir1 the ,scriptures without the veil of your system1 and you will see that the ,messiah1 the wonderful ,person whom you so constantly endeavour to degrade1 was to be a mediating ,prophet1 like ,moses2 an atoning ,priest1 like ,aaron2 a pacific ,king1 like ,solomon2 a royal ,prophet1 like ,david2 a kingly ,priest1 like ,melchisedec2 the ,everlasting ,father1 as the ,logos by whom all things were created2 and the ,mighty ,god1 as the proper ,son of ,him with whom ,he shares1 in the unity of the ,divine ,spirit1 the supreme title of #8,jehovah1 ,lord of hosts4'0 ,it has been already shown in a letter which ,fletcher addressed to ,wesley in #agee1 the year of his conversion1 that he was what is commonly called a ,millenarian4 ,twenty-nine years had elapsed since then4 ,during this long interval1 no man had been a more diligent and devout student of the ,holy ,scriptures than himself1 and yet his ,millenarian belief remained unchanged4 ,hence the following remarkable passage in his 8,socinianism ,unscriptural40 ,after quoting and paraphrasing ,isa4 lxvi4 #ae-bd1 ,fletcher proceeds to say3-- 8,here ends ,isaiah's account of that glorious reign of ,jehovah-,shiloh1 which the fathers called the #8,millennium1' as being to last a thousand years1 and during which it is probable our ,lord will use these extraordinary means to keep all the nations in the way of obedience3--#a4 ,a constant display of ,his goodness over all the earth1 but particularly in and about ,jerusalem1 where the ,lord will manifest ,his glory1 and bless ,his happy subjects with new manifestations of ,his presence every ,lord's day and every new moon4 #b4 ,a distinguishing interposition of ,providence which will withhold the ,messiah's wonted blessings from the disobedient 7,zech4 xiv4 #ag74 #c4 ,the constant endeavours of the saints1 martyrs1 patriarchs1 prophets1 and ,apostles1 raised from the dead and conversing with men1 as ,moses and ,elijah did with our ,lord's disciples upon the mount1 where they were indulged with a view of ,his glorified person1 and of ,his #8kingdom come with power4' ,these glorified high priests and kings1 as ministers and lieutenants of the ,messiah1 will rule all churches and states with unerring wisdom and unwarped fidelity4 #d4 ,the care that the ,lord ,himself will take to set apart for the ministry1 under ,his glorified saints1 those who in every nation shall distinguish themselves by their virtue and piety4 ,this seems to be the meaning of ,his own words3 #8,and when they shall come out of all nations to ,my holy mountain1 ,i will take of them for priests and ,levites1 saith the ,lord1' ,isaiah lxvi4 #bj1 #ba4 #e4 ,a standing display of the ministration of condemnation1 as appears from ,isaiah lxvi4 #bd1 and from other parallel ,scriptures4 #f4 ,at the same time that the ministration of condemnation will powerfully work upon the fears of mankind to keep men in the way of duty1 an occasional display of the ministration of righteous mercy will work upon their hopes4 ,how will those hopes be fired when they shall #8see the ,lamb' of ,god #8standing on the ,mount ,sion1 and with ,him' ,his #8hundred and forty-four thousand' worthies1 #8having ,his ,father's name1' ,divine ,majesty1 ,irresistible ,power1 ,ineffable ,love1 and ,bliss ,inexpressible1 #8written on their foreheads6' 7,rev4 xiv74 ,but1 #g4 ,what will peculiarly tend to keep men from lapsing into rebellion against ,god will be the long life of the godly1 and the untimely death of those who shall offer to tread the paths of iniquity4 ,the godly shall attain to the years of antediluvian patriarchs1 and the wicked shall not live out half their days2 they shall not live above a hundred years2 or1 to speak after our manner1 they shall die in their childhood4 ,this seems to be ,isaiah's meaning in ,isaiah lxv4 #ag-be40 ,leaving it to others to advocate or to attack these interpretations of ,scripture1 the present writer will only add1 that thus full of firm unwavering faith in the ,divine majesty and glorious kingship of his ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 the devout and reverent ,fletcher drew near to the mysterious spirit-world4 ,in harmony with all this1 ,fletcher wrote to his friend1 ,mr4 ,henry ,brooke1 of ,dublin1 as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,april #bg1 #aghd4 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,mercy1 peace1 and perfect love attend you1 and your dear partner1 and the dear friends who live under your roof2 and with whom ,i beg you may abide under the cross1 till1 with ,john1 ,mary1 and ,salome1 you all can say1 #8,we are crucified with ,him1 and the life we now live1 we live by the faith of the ,son of ,god1 who loved us1 and gave ,himself for us4' 8,with respect to the glory of the ,lord1 it is at hand2 whatever false wisdom and unbelief may whisper to our hearts4 ,it can be no farther off than the presence of ,him1 who fills all in all4 8,with respect to what you say of the kingdom not coming with the outward pomp1 which is observable by the men of the world1 it is strictly true2 but that there is an inward display of power and glory under ,pentecostal ,christianity is undeniable1 both from our ,lord's promises to ,his imperfect disciples1 and from their experiences after the kingdom of ,god was come to them with power4 ,to wait in deep resignation1 and with a constant attention to what the ,lord will please to do or say concerning us and ,his ,church2 and to leave to ,him the times and seasons1 is what ,i am chiefly called to do2 taking care to avoid falling into either speculation careless of action1 or into the activity which is devoid of spirituality4 ,i would not have a lamp without oil2 and ,i could not have oil without a lamp1 and a vessel to hold it in for myself1 and to communicate it to others4 8,fare you all well in ,christ6 ,so prays 8,,john ,,fletcher40#fjb ,footnote #fjb3 8,thirteen ,original ,letters of the ,rev4 ,john ,fletcher40 ,bath1 #agia1 p4 #cf4 ,on the day that ,fletcher penned the foregoing1 his wife wrote as follows to ,mrs4 ,smyth1 their hostess in ,dublin4 ,the letter1 however1 was signed1 8,john and ,mary ,fletcher10 and has not before been published4 ,it furnishes a glimpse of the ,madeley ,methodists3-- 8,april #bg1 #aghd4 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,madam1--,if anything ,i said in my last was attended with a blessing1 ,i give glory to my adorable ,father4 ,i am ready to wonder that ,he ever works by so poor a worm4 8,i wish you had been with us yesterday morning1 in our upper chamber1 to hear the simple tales of our dear women4 ,do you remember a little woman1 who sat in the window of the room when you met the class1 and who expressed great desire for more of the life of ,god8 ,it was she who lived on horse-beans so many weeks1 while suckling twins1 for fear of running into debt for bread4 ,she has1 since then1 been greatly exercised by poverty1 temptation1 and illness2 but1 in all1 her desire for the pure image of ,god seemed to rise above every other wish2 and1 about a fortnight ago1 the ,lord poured out upon her such an abundance of ,his ,spirit1 that nature almost sank beneath it4 ,she told us yesterday1 that every moment she seems to be so surrounded with ,god1 and so penetrated with ,his love1 that1 said she1 #8,i cannot help1 many times in the day1 stopping in the midst of my work1 when alone1 to shout aloud1 ,glory6 ,glory6 ,glory6 ,my very heart is glad4 ,yes1 my heart is so glad1 ,i could shout from morning till night2 but1 oh6 ,i can think of no words to tell what ,i see and feel of ,jesus4 ,i can choose nothing3 ,i know no will--no choice3 the will of ,god is my all4' ,had you heard her speak1 and also two others who have just found the ,lord1 you would have wept tears of love and joy4 8,our love to ,dr4 ,coke2 and thank him for his two letters1 which we have received4 8,begging our tender regards to all our dear ,christian friends1 we remain1 with kindest remembrance and grateful acknowledgment to our dear ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,smyth1 their sincere though unworthy friends1 8,,john ,,and ,,mary ,,fletcher40 ,the next is a letter which1 ,i believe1 has not before been published4 ,it was addressed to a sister of ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald1 and is full of faith in ,christ3-- 8,christ ,jesus is alone the desirable1 the everlasting distinction and honour of men4 ,all other advantages are like the down on the thistle1 blown away in a moment4 ,riches are incapable of satisfying2 friends are changeable2 dear relations are taken away with a stroke2 but1 amid all the changes of life1 ,christ is a ,rock4 ,to see ,him by faith1 to lay hold on ,him1 to rely on ,him1 to live upon ,him1 this--this is the refuge from the storm1 the shadow from the heat4 8,in order that you may obtain it1 nothing more or less is required1 on your part1 than a full and frequent confession of your own abominable heart2 and kneeling1 as a true beggar1 at the door of mercy1 declaring you come there only expecting notice and relief because ,god our ,saviour came to redeem incarnate devils and to convert them into saints4 8,i think you take a sure method to perplex yourself if you look at yourself for proof of faith4 ,others must see it in your works2 but you must feel it in your heart4 ,the glory of ,jesus is1 by faith1 realized to the mind in some such manner as an infinitely grand and beauteous object in the firmament of heaven arrests the spectator on itself4 ,it captivates him2 and1 by the pleasure it imparts1 he is led on to view it4 ,so it is with ,jesus1 our peace1 strength1 righteousness1 salvation4 8,for my own part1 ,i am often tempted to suspect whether ,i am not speaking great swelling words of ,christ1 and yet am myself nothing more than sounding brass1 or a tinkling cymbal2 and ,i find that the only successful way of answering this doubt is an immediate address to ,jesus ,christ1 and prayer to ,him1 to this effect3 #8,whosoever cometh unto ,thee1 ,thou wilt in no wise cast out4 ,lord1 have ,i not come unto ,thee8 ,am ,i not depending on ,thee for life1 as a brand plucked out of the fire8 ,see if there be any way of wickedness in me1 and lead me in the way everlasting6' 8,my eyes look to the blessed ,jesus2 my heart longs to be more in ,his service2 ,i mourn my corruptions2 they are many and great4 ,when ,i look at ,him1 and contemplate ,his finished salvation1 ,i admire1 ,i adore1 in some measure ,i love4 ,when ,i look at myself1 my heart rises at the sight1--black and selfish1 proud and carnal1 covetous and unclean4 ,i want all things that are good2 but1 oh6 ,i have a blessed ,lord ,christ1 in whom all fulness dwells for me1 and for my dear friend to whom ,i am writing1--a fulness of pardon1 wisdom1 holiness1 strength1 peace1 salvation1 righteousness1--a fulness of mercy1 goodness1 truth1--all this1 and ten thousand times more1 without condition1 without qualification1 without workings1 without servings1 only for receiving4 ,o blessed free grace of ,god6 ,what a gift6 ,and for whom8 ,my dear friend1 for you4 ,what says the everlasting ,god8 #8,believe ,he gave ,his ,son for sinners4' ,can ,god lie8 ,impossible6 ,can we have a better foundation to build upon than the promise and the oath of ,god8 8,my very dear friend1 ,i know you will not be angry at my preachment4 ,i aim all ,i say at my own heart4 ,i stand more in need of it than you2 and ,i always feel my heart refreshed when ,i am talking or thinking of the blessed ,jesus4 ,but oh6 how little ,i know of ,him6 ,o ,thou light of the world1 enlighten me6 ,teach me to know more of ,thy infinite1 unsearchable riches1 that ,i may love ,thee with an increasing love1 and serve ,thee with an increasing zeal till ,thou bring me to glory60 ,gratitude was one of ,fletcher's characteristics4 ,hence1 when the son of his dead friend1 ,mr4 ,charles ,greenwood1 of ,stoke ,newington1 visited him at ,madeley1 he wrote to the loving widow3-- 8,madeley1 ,june #bj1 #aghd4 ,the sight of ,mr4 ,greenwood1 in his son1 has brought some of my ,newington scenes to my remembrance1 and ,i beg leave to convey my tribute of thanks by his hands4 ,thanks6 ,thanks6 ,what1 nothing but words8 ,there is my humbling case4 ,i wish to requite your manifold kindnesses1 but ,i cannot4 ,i must be satisfied to be ever your insolvent debtor4 ,nature and grace do not love it4 ,proud nature lies uneasy under great obligations2 and thankful grace would be glad to put something in the scale opposite to that which you have filled with so many favours4 ,but what shall ,i put8 ,i wish ,i could send you all the ,bank of ,england1 and all the ,gospel of ,christ2 but the first is not mine1 and the second is already yours40#fjc ,footnote #fjc3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #cjj4 ,wesley's annual ,conference1 in #aghd1 was held at ,leeds4 ,he writes1 in his ,journal3-- 8#aghd1 ,tuesday1 ,july #bg4 ,our ,conference began2 at which four of our brethren1 after long debate 7in which ,mr4 ,fletcher#fjd took much pains71 acknowledged their fault1 and all that was past was forgotten4 ,thursday1 ,july #bi1 being the public ,thanksgiving ,day1 as there was not room for us in the old church1 ,i read prayers1 as well as preached1 at our ,room4 ,i admired the whole service for the day4 ,the prayers1 ,scriptures1 and every part of it1 pointed at one thing3 #8,beloved1 if ,god so loved us1 we ought also to love one another4' ,having five clergymen to assist me1 we administered the ,lord's ,supper1 as was supposed1 to sixteen or seventeen hundred persons4 ,sunday1 ,august #a4 ,we were fifteen clergymen at the old church4 ,tuesday1 ,august #c4 ,our ,conference concluded in much love1 to the great disappointment of all40 ,footnote #fjd3 ,before attending the ,conference1 ,fletcher visited ,miss ,ritchie1 who wrote3 8#aghd1 ,july #af4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,fletcher visited ,otley4 ,i was truly blessed and edified by their society4 ,our house was full of company40 78,memoir of ,mrs4 ,mortimer10 by ,agnes ,bulmer1 p4 #ig47 ,such is ,wesley's brief account of one of the most important ,conferences he ever held1 and the last which ,fletcher had the opportunity of attending4 ,during the year1 ,dr4 ,coke had begun the ,methodist ,foreign ,missionary ,society2 and ,wesley had signed and sealed his famous 8,deed of ,declaration10 constituting1 for all time to come1 the ,legal ,conference of the ,methodists1 and defining the powers and duties of its members4 ,charles ,atmore1 who was present1 relates1#fje that1 on the ,sunday evening before the ,conference opened1 the congregation1 assembled to hear ,wesley1 was four times greater than the chapel could contain1 and1 therefore1 ,wesley 8preached in a field adjoining1 on the judgment of the great day40 ,on ,monday morning1 ,fletcher 8preached an excellent sermon from ,matt4 v4 #ac-af1 #8,ye are the salt of the earth1'0 etc4 ,at night1 ,wesley took for his text1 8,give the king ,thy judgments1 ,o ,god1 and ,thy righteousness unto the king's son40 ,on ,tuesday morning1 at five o'clock1 ,henry ,moore delivered a sermon founded upon 8,casting all your care upon ,him2 for ,he careth for you40 ,at the conclusion of the service1 ,wesley 8opened the ,conference20 and1 in the evening of the day1 preached from1 8,even the very hairs of your head are all numbered10 etc4 ,next morning1 ,july #bh1 at five o'clock1 the text of ,thomas ,taylor was1 8,what then8 notwithstanding1 every way1 whether in pretence1 or in truth1 ,christ is preached2 and ,i therein do rejoice1 yea1 and will rejoice40 ,at night1 ,wesley preached from1 8,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart1 and with all thy soul1 and with all thy mind40 ,thursday1 ,july #bi1 8was a high day indeed40 ,at five a4m4 ,thomas ,hanby discoursed on 8,my grace is sufficient for thee10 etc4 ,in the forenoon1 ,wesley expounded and enforced #a ,cor4 xiii4 #a-d1 8,though ,i speak with the tongues of men and of angels1 and have not charity10 etc4 ,then followed the sacramental service1 in which ,wesley was assisted by ,fletcher1 ,coke1 ,cornelius ,bayley1 who had been ,fletcher's curate1 ,mr4 ,dillon1 an ordained clergyman from ,ireland1 and the well-known ,david ,simpson1 of ,macclesfield1 the services of the day being concluded with another sermon from ,wesley1 on the text1 8,this is the first and great commandment40 ,at five a4m4 on ,friday1 ,july #cj1 ,joseph ,pilmoor preached from 8,i have set the ,lord always before me2 because he is at my right hand1 ,i shall not be moved02 and1 at night1 ,fletcher1 from1 8,these all having obtained a good report through faith1 received not the promise3 ,god having provided some better thing for us1 that they without us should not be made perfect40#fjf ,at seven o'clock on ,sunday morning1 ,august #a1 ,fletcher preached again1 taking as his text #a ,kings xiii4 #bf1 selected from the first lesson for the day3 8,it is the man of ,god1 who was disobedient unto the word of the ,lord3 therefore the ,lord hath delivered him unto the lion1 which hath torn him1 and slain him1 according to the word of the ,lord1 which he spake unto him40 ,joseph ,benson1 who was present1 writes3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher drew such a picture of the degradation and misery of a backsliding minister1 and of the corruption and injury he introduced into the ,church of ,christ1 as produced a general and deep sensation1 not easily to be forgotten40 ,footnote #fje3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahde1 p4 #ab4 ,footnote #fjf3 ,respecting this sermon1 ,john ,beaumont1 father of the celebrated ,rev4 ,dr4 ,joseph ,beaumont1 wrote3 8,mr4 ,fletcher dwelt much on the context1 which speaks of the faith and works of the ancient worthies1 and strongly enforced what he termed a working faith4 ,i was blessed beyond description1 and thought him certainly the most angelic man ,i had ever heard40 78,the ,experience and ,travels of ,john ,beaumont407 ,and ,henry ,moore1 another of ,fletcher's auditors1 remarks3-- 8,i was extremely impressed with the whole service3 the shadow of the ,divine presence was seen among us1 and ,his going forth was in our sanctuary40 ,next morning1 ,mr4 ,moore himself had to preach4 ,he writes3-- 8,i went to the chapel at the hour appointed1 and1 to my dismay1 found the venerable ,mr4 ,fletcher in the pulpit1 leaning upon his staff4 ,my first impression was to run away2 but a moment's reflection changed my purpose4 ,i ascended the pulpit and gave out the hymn2 while ,i did so1 my knees smote one against the other3 ,i knelt down to pray1 and indeed lifted my heart with my voice1 that ,i might be endued with power and wisdom from on high3 my soul was calmed1 and ,i took my text1 and continued the service1 fully set free from fear1 and strengthened in my resolution ever to obey the voice of duty40#fjg ,footnote #fjg3 8,life of ,henry ,moore10 by ,mrs4 ,smith1 p4 #cba4 ,at five o'clock on the following morning1 ,wesley1 eighty-one years of age1 again preached1 selecting a text admirably adapted to be a sequel to that chosen by ,fletcher on the previous ,sunday2 and also peculiarly suited to what had taken place in the ,conference3 8,and ,jeremiah said unto the house of the ,rechabites1 ,thus saith the ,lord of hosts1 the ,god of ,israel3 ,because ye have obeyed the commandment of ,jonadab your father1 and kept all his precepts1 and done according unto all that he hath commanded you2 therefore1 thus saith the ,lord of hosts1 the ,god of ,israel2 ,jonadab the son of ,rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever0 7,jer4 xxxv4 #ah1 #ai74 ,the ,conference was concluded on ,tuesday1 ,august #c2 and next morning1 at five o'clock1 ,wesley delivered another sermon1 and immediately afterwards took the coach for ,wales4 ,his last text1 at this remarkable ,conference1 was1 8,take heed unto thyself1 and unto the doctrine2 continue in them3 for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself1 and them that hear thee40#fjh ,footnote #fjh3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahde1 p4 #ad4 ,a purpose is intended to be served by these minute statements1 namely1 to convey an idea of what ,methodist ,conferences were in the olden times1 and to indicate the chief preachers1 and the kind of texts they took4 ,it is a well-known fact that the great event of the ,conference of #aghd was the rebellion raised in ,wesley's camp of preachers4 ,in his 8,deed of ,declaration10 he had appointed his brother ,charles1 ,dr4 ,coke1 ,james ,creighton1 and ninety-seven of his itinerants to be1 after his decease1 his legalized successors1 and to exercise the powers he had exercised from the beginning4 ,by confining the number of the members of the legal ,conference to a hundred1 he necessarily excluded not fewer than ninety-two1 whom he had employed in circuit work2 and1 among these1 there were several who had claims quite equal to many of the elected ones1 as1 to wit1 ,thomas ,lee1 ,john ,atlay1 ,john ,pritchard1 ,john ,pool1 ,john ,hampson1 sen41 ,john ,hampson1 jun41 ,william ,eells1 and ,joseph ,pillmoor4 ,previous to the ,conference being held1 certain of the non-elected preachers published a protest against ,wesley's partiality4 ,the crisis was a serious one4 ,fletcher was not included in the hundred1 probably because he desired to be left out2 but he was intensely anxious respecting apprehended results4 ,mrs4 ,fletcher wrote3-- 8,o how deeply was he affected for the welfare of his brethren1 when we were at ,leeds1 in the year #aghd6 ,when disputes arose among them1 his soul groaned beneath the burden4 ,by two or three o'clock in the morning1 ,i was sure to hear him breathing out prayers for the peace and prosperity of ,sion2 and when ,i said to him1 ,i was afraid this would hurt his health1 and that ,i wished him to sleep more1 he would answer1 #8,o ,polly1 the cause of ,god lies near my heart4'0 ,at the opening of the ,conference1 on ,july #bg1 ,wesley mentioned the 8,deed of ,declaration10 and the 8,appeal0 which had been published against it3-- 8,he showed that1 from the commencement of ,methodism1 the annual ,conferences had always consisted of persons whom he had desired to meet for the purpose of conferring with him4 ,he insisted1 that he had a right to name the members of the ,legal ,conference1 and to fix their number4 ,the #8,appeal1'0 he said1 8represented him as unjust1 oppressive1 and tyrannical1 which he was not2 the authors of it had betrayed him2 and1 by doing so1 had hurt the minds of many1 and kindled a flame throughout the kingdom4 ,hence1 he required that they should acknowledge their fault1 and be sorry for it1 or he could have no further connection with them40#fji ,footnote #fji3 ,benson's 8,life10 by ,macdonald1 p4 #afj4 ,for seven days1 the dispute remained unsettled4 ,fletcher acted as mediator4 8,never10 says ,charles ,atmore1 8shall ,i forget the ardour and earnestness with which ,mr4 ,fletcher expostulated1 even on his knees1 both with ,mr4 ,wesley and the preachers4 ,to the former1 he said1 #8,my father6 my father6 they have offended1 but they are your children6' ,to the latter1 he exclaimed1 #8,my brethren6 my brethren6 he is your father6' and then1 portraying the work in which they were unitedly engaged1 he fell again on his knees1 and with fervour and devotion engaged in prayer4 ,the ,conference was bathed in tears2 many sobbed aloud40#faj ,footnote #faj3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahde1 p4 #ae4 ,this appears to have been on the last day but one that the ,conference sat4 ,hence ,joseph ,benson writes3-- 8,august #b4 ,our brethren1 who had been concerned in the #8,appeal1' rejoiced our hearts1 by acknowledging their fault1 and making submission4 ,in consequence of their doing so1 they were admitted among their brethren1 and appointed to ,circuits40#faa ,footnote #faa3 ,benson's 8,life10 by ,macdonald1 p4 #afj4 ,it may be added1 that1 the principal appellants--,john ,hampson1 sen41 and ,john ,hampson1 jun41 ,joseph ,pillmoor1 ,john ,atlay1 and ,william ,eells--soon afterwards left the ,connexion4 ,two other incidents1 concerning the ,conference1 must be mentioned4 ,it is a well-known fact1 that1 one of the most important questions asked at ,wesley's ,conferences was1 8,are there any objections to any of our preachers80 ,upon the question being put1 the names of all 7,wesley's name included71 were read seriatim4 ,when this part of the business of the ,conference1 in #aghd1 was reached1 ,fletcher rose from his seat1 to withdraw from the chapel4 8,he was eagerly recalled1 and asked why he would leave them8 #8,because1' said he1 #8it is improper1 and painful to my feelings1 for me to hear the minute failings of my brethren canvassed1 unless my own character be submitted to the same scrutiny4' ,they promised1 if he would stay1 that his character should be investigated4 ,on these terms1 he consented to remain2 and1 when his name was read1 an aged preacher rose1 bowed to him1 and said1 #8,i have but one thing to object to ,mr4 ,fletcher2 ,god has given him a richer talent than his humility will suffer him duly to appreciate4 ,in confining himself to ,madeley1 he puts his light1 comparatively1 under a bushel2 whereas1 if he would come out more among us1 he would draw immense congregations1 and would do much more good4' ,in answer to this1 ,mr4 ,fletcher stated the tender and sacred ties which bound him to his parish2 its numerous population2 the daily calls for his services2 the difficulty of finding a proper substitute2 his increasing infirmities1 which disqualified him for horse exercise2 his unwillingness to leave ,mrs4 ,fletcher at home2 and the expense of travelling in carriages4 ,in reply to his last argument1 another preacher arose1 and observed that the expense of his journeys would be cheerfully paid2 and that1 though he knew and highly approved ,mr4 ,fletcher's disinterestedness and delicacy in pecuniary transactions1 yet he feared there was a mixture of pride in his objection2 for that by no importunity could he be prevailed on to accept a present to defray his expenses on his late visit to ,ireland4 #8,a little explanation1' replied ,mr4 ,fletcher1 #8will set that matter right4 ,when ,i was invited to visit my friends at ,dublin1 ,i had every desire to accept their invitation2 but ,i wanted money for the journey1 and knew not how to obtain it4 ,in this situation1 ,i laid the matter before the ,lord1 humbly requesting that1 if the journey were a providential opening to do good1 ,i might have the means of performing it4 ,shortly afterwards1 ,i received an unexpected sum of money1 and took my journey4 ,while in ,dublin1 ,i heard our friends commiserating the distresses of the poor1 and lamenting the inadequate means they had to relieve them4 ,when1 therefore1 they offered me a handsome present1 what could ,i do8 ,the necessary expenses of my journey had already been supplied2 my general income was quite sufficient2 ,i needed nothing4 ,had ,i received the money1 ,i should have given it away4 ,the poor of ,dublin most needed1 and were most worthy of1 the money of their generous countrymen4 ,how then could ,i hesitate to beg that it might be applied to their relief8 ,you see1 brethren1 ,i could not in conscience do otherwise than ,i did4'0#fab ,footnote #fab3 ,benson's 8,life of ,fletcher40 ,after these explanations1 the honest old ,methodist preachers1 of course1 recorded no objection to the 8character0 of ,john ,fletcher2 but ,wesley1 nearly a year afterwards1 wrote to his brother ,charles3-- 8#aghe1 ,june #b4 ,about once a quarter1 ,i hear from ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,fletcher4 ,i grudge his sitting still2 but who can help it8 ,i love ease as well as he does2 but ,i dare not take it while ,i believe there is another world40#fac ,footnote #fac3 ,wesley's ,works1 vol4 xii41 p4 #adb4 ,fletcher's examination1 on this occasion1 took place by special arrangement3 if he had lived1 perhaps1 it would afterwards have been a matter of course2 for1 about the middle of the ,conference1 he rose1 and1 addressing ,wesley1 said3-- 8,i fear my successor will not be interested in the work of ,god1 and my flock may suffer4 ,i have done what ,i could4 ,i have built a chapel in ,madeley ,wood1 and ,i hope1 ,sir1 you will continue to supply it1 and that ,madeley may still be part of a ,methodist ,circuit4 ,if you please1 ,i should be glad to be put down in the #8,minutes' as a supernumerary40 ,wesley was not easily moved1 but even he could hardly bear this1 and the preachers burst into tears4#fad ,footnote #fad3 ,mrs4 ,fletcher's 8,life10 by ,h4 ,moore1 p4 #ahc4 ,the other incident1 to be mentioned1 was of a different kind1 and is a good illustration of the remarkable allegorical talent which ,fletcher possessed1 and often exercised1 not only in his published works1 but in his correspondence1 and in conversation among his friends4 ,on ,march #ca1 #aghd1 ,wesley visited ,burslem1 where ,mr4 ,enoch ,wood resided1 a ,methodist1 and an artist of great ability4 ,mr4 ,wood prevailed on ,wesley to permit him to model a bust from his person2 and a considerable number of copies were executed4 ,the likeness was so striking1 that1 when ,wesley looked at the bust1 he said to ,mr4 ,wood1 8,if you touch it again1 you will mar it40 ,every wrinkle1 dimple1 and vein of the face and forehead were marked with perfect accuracy4 ,four months afterwards1 ,mr4 ,wood went to the ,conference at ,leeds1 and soon became one of the most popular men there4 ,samuel ,bardsley hoisted the artist on his shoulder2 at the moment1 ,fletcher was passing through the grave-yard1 and was told1 by the applauding preachers1 the name of the hero1 so ludicrously exhibited4 ,fletcher paused a moment1 and then said1 8,are you the young man who made that beautiful likeness of ,mr4 ,wesley80 ,being answered in the affirmative1 and having been made acquainted with the whole process of making the bust1 he stood on a grave1 and1 putting his hand on the artist's shoulder1 he began to spiritualize what he had heard1 by using it to illustrate the work of ,god1 in the new creation of the human soul1 by the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he spoke of the rough and unpromising materials1--the corrupt nature derived from fallen ,adam2 he showed how this1 by the energy of the ,holy ,spirit1 is softened and melted down into godly sorrow2 how it becomes plastic in the hands of the ,divine ,artist2 how it is cast into a new mould3 and how it is formed after the likeness of ,christ4 ,his extemporaneous address lasted twenty minutes1 and was never forgotten by those who heard it4#fae ,footnote #fae3 ,christian ,miscellany1 #ahdh1 p4 #bcj4 ,it may be added that1 some years afterwards1 ,dr4 ,adam ,clarke obtained from ,mr4 ,wood the loan of the original mould1 and had a bust cast in solid brass1 which is now in the possession of ,mr4 ,g4 ,j4 ,stevenson4 ,this was lent to the sculptor who chiselled the marble effigy of ,wesley1 now placed in the entrance-hall of the ,wesleyan ,theological ,institution1 ,richmond4 ,the face and head of the effigy were obtained from it4#faf ,footnote #faf3 ,stevenson's 8,memorials of the ,wesley ,family10 p4 #cdi4 ,on his return to ,madeley1 ,fletcher wrote to his friend1 ,mr4 ,ireland1 as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,september #ac1 #aghd4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,i keep in my sentry-box till ,providence removes me4 ,my situation is quite suited to my little strength4 ,i may do as much or as little as ,i please1 according to my weakness2 and ,i have an advantage1 which ,i can have nowhere else in such a degree1--my little field of action is just at my own door1 so that if ,i happen to overdo myself1 ,i have but to step from my pulpit to my bed1 and from my bed to my grave4 ,if ,i had a body full of vigour1 and a purse full of money1 ,i should like well enough to travel about as ,mr4 ,wesley does2 but as ,providence does not call me to it1 ,i readily submit4 ,the snail does best in its shell2 were it to aim at galloping1 like the racehorse1 it would be ridiculous indeed4 ,my wife is quite of my mind with respect to the call we have to a sedentary life4 ,we are two poor invalids1 who between us make half a labourer4 8,we shall have tea cheap and light very dear2#fag ,i don't admire the change4 ,twenty thousand chambers walled up1 and filled with foul air1 are converted into so many dungeons for the industrious artizan1 who1 being compelled by this murderous tax1 denies himself the benefit of light and air4 ,blessed be ,god6 the light of heaven and the air of the spiritual world are still free4 8,my dear partner sweetly helps me to drink the dregs of life1 and to carry with ease the daily cross4 ,we are not long for this world--we see it1 we feel it2 and1 by looking at death and his conqueror1 we fight beforehand our last battle with that last enemy whom our dear ,lord has overcome for us4 ,that we may triumph over him with an humble1 ,christian courage is the prayer of1 my dear friend1 yours1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#fah ,footnote #fag3 ,on ,june #ba1 ,pitt moved several resolutions to put an end to smuggling by reducing the duty upon tea from #ej to #ab per cent42 and to increase the window tax in proportion4 ,these resolutions were passed1 though not without much debate4 ,footnote #fah3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #cjb4 ,fletcher's apprehension of the nearness of death1 so far as he was concerned1 was realized2 but his wife did not die until thirty-one years after this1 not a year of which passed without her keeping the anniversary of their wedding-day4 ,in the present year she wrote3-- 8#aghd1 ,november #ab4 ,we have been married three years this day4 ,a good day it has been to me6 ,while reflecting on the wonderful goodness of ,god in my providential union with my dear husband 7so far1 so very far1 beyond my warmest wishes71 my heart was enlarged with desire to render to my ,god a suitable return for all ,his mercies60#fai ,footnote #fai3 8,mrs4 ,fletcher's ,life10 by ,h4 ,moore1 p4 #aeh4 ,on her birthday1 two months previously1 she had written in her journal3-- 8,september #ab4 ,this day ,i am forty-five years old4 ,i have had such a sense of the goodness of ,god toward me as ,i cannot express4 ,i am filled with favours4 ,i have the best of husbands1 who daily grows more and more spiritual1 and ,i think more healthful1 being far better than when we first married4 ,my call also is so clear1 and ,i have such liberty in the work1 and such sweet encouragement among the people4 ,my servant1 too1 is much improved1 and as faithful as if she were my own child4 ,an income quite comfortable1 and a good deal to help the poor with6 ,o what shall ,i render to the ,lord for all the mercies ,he hath shown unto me60 ,in this happy home1 ,fletcher wrote the following happy letter to a youth1 his godson1 by name ,john ,fennel3-- 8,,madeley1 ,november #bh1 #aghd4 8,,dear ,,john1--,i rejoice to hear that you think of a better world2 and of that better part which ,mary1 and your mother--another ,mary--chose before you4 ,may all her prayers1 and1 above all1 may the dew of heaven1 come down upon your soul in solemn thoughts1 heavenly desires1 and strong resolutions to be the ,lord's1 cost what it will4 ,let the language of your heart and lips be1 #8,i will be a follower of ,christ1 a child of ,god1 an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven4' ,a noble promise this6 of which ,i have so peculiar a right to put you in mind4 ,in order to be this happy and holy soul1 you must not forget that your ,christian name1 your ,christian vow1 and ten thousand reasons beside1 bind you to turn your back upon the world1 the flesh1 and the devil2 and to set yourself to look steadfastly to the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 your ,creator1 ,redeemer1 and ,sanctifier4 8,dear ,john1 you have no time to lose4 ,we have calls here to the young without end4 ,i lately buried1 in our churchyard1 two brothers and sisters in the same grave4 ,be you also ready6 ,i was praying for you some nights ago on my bed1 in my sleepless hours2 and ,i asked for you the faith of righteous ,abel1 the chastity of ,joseph1 the early piety of ,samuel1 the right choice of young ,solomon1 the self-denial and abstinence of ,daniel1 together with the early zeal and undaunted courage of his three friends2 but1 above all1 ,i asked that you might follow ,john the ,baptist and ,john the ,apostle as they followed our ,lord4 ,back1 earnestly back my prayers4 ,so shall you be faithful1 diligent1 godly2 a blessing to all around you1 and a comfort to your affectionate old friend and minister1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#fbj ,footnote #fbj3 ,the ,youth's ,instructor1 #ahce1 p4 #cje4 ,at this period1 the ,rev4 ,charles ,simeon1 a young man of twenty-five1 and full of faith and zeal1 was rising into great popularity among the ,methodist clergymen of the day4 ,he was an intimate friend of ,berridge and of ,henry ,venn2 and had recently visited ,riland at ,birmingham1 ,cadogan at ,reading1 ,pentycross at ,wallingford1 and ,robinson at ,leicester2#fba and now1 toward the end of #aghd1 he came to ,fletcher at ,madeley4 ,as soon as he entered the vicarage1 ,fletcher took him by the hand and brought him into the parlour1 where the two engaged in prayer4 ,that being ended1 ,fletcher asked ,simeon to preach in the church4 ,after some hesitation1 ,simeon consented2 and away went ,fletcher1 bell in hand1 through the village1 and1 ringing as loudly as he could1 told the people they must attend church1 for a young clergyman from ,cambridge had come to preach to them4 ,footnote #fba3 8,simeon's ,memoirs10 by ,w4 ,carus1 ,m4,a4 ,after the service in the church1 ,fletcher and his visitor went for a walk1 in the course of which they entered the ironworks4 ,simeon was surprised at the aptitude of ,fletcher to turn everything he saw to spiritual profit4 ,to one of the ironworkers1 hammering on an anvil1 he remarked1 8,o1 pray to ,god that ,he may hammer that hard heart of yours40 ,to another1 who was heating a bar of iron1 8,ah6 thus it is that ,god tries ,his children in the furnace of affliction40 ,and to a third1 who was drawing a furnace1 8,see1 ,thomas6 if you can make such a furnace as that1 think what a furnace ,god can make for sinners40#fbb ,footnote #fbb3 ,christian ,miscellany1 #ahdh1 p4 #cbf4 ,soon after this1 ,wesley wrote3-- 8#aghd1 ,monday1 ,december #bj4 ,i went to ,hinxworth1 where ,i had the satisfaction of meeting ,mr4 ,simeon1 ,fellow of ,king's ,college in ,cambridge4 ,he has spent some time with ,mr4 ,fletcher1 at ,madeley3 two kindred souls2 much resembling each other both in fervour of spirit and in the earnestness of their address4 ,he gave me the pleasing information that there are three parishes in ,cambridge wherein true ,scriptural religion is preached1 and several young gentlemen who are happy partakers of it40#fbc ,footnote #fbc3 ,wesley's ,journal4 ,fletcher1 the ,madeley revivalist1 was closing his last year on earth2 ,simeon1 the ,cambridge one1 lived and laboured for more than half a century afterwards2 and who can say that in ,simeon's life and labours the influence of ,fletcher's spirit and example was not an element8 ,a few more extracts from ,fletcher's letters1 and then the end will come4 ,already he seemed to be waiting to 8gather up his feet10 and die4 ,in a letter to ,mrs4 ,thornton1 a friend of the ,greenwood family1 at ,stoke ,newington1 he wrote3-- 8,madeley1 ,january #ba1 #aghe4 ,i make just shift to fill up my little sentry box1 by the help of my dear partner4 ,had we more strength1 we should have opportunity enough to exert it4 ,o that we were but truly faithful in our little place6 ,your great stage of ,london is too high for people of little ability and little strength2 and1 therefore1 we are afraid of venturing upon it4 ,we should be glad to rise high in usefulness2 but ,god1 who needs us not1 calls us to sink in deep resignation and humility4 ,his will be done60#fbd ,footnote #fbd3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #cjc4 ,three weeks later1 he wrote to the ,right ,hon4 ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald1 as follows3-- 8,madeley1 ,february #aa1 #aghe4 ,who are we1 my lady1 that we should not be swallowed up by the holy1 loving1 living ,spirit1 who fills heaven and earth8 ,whether we consider it or not1 there ,he is1 a true1 holy1 loving1 merciful ,god4 ,assent to it1 my lady1 believe it2 rejoice in it4 ,let ,him be ,god1 all in all2 your ,god in ,christ ,jesus4 ,what an ocean of love to swim in--to dive into60#fbe ,footnote #fbe3 ,ibid41 p4 #cjd4 ,from ,fletcher's letter to ,wesley in #agee1 and his 8,socinianism ,unscriptural10 written during the last years of his life1 it is undeniably evident that ,fletcher was a ,millenarian4 ,the following letter1 to ,mr4 ,henry ,brooke1 of ,dublin1 refers to the same subject1 but shows that he was not so confident with respect to some of his views as he had been heretofore-- 8,,madeley1 ,february #bh1 #aghe4fbf 8,,my ,,dear ,,brother1--,we are all shadows4 ,your mortal parent has passed away2 and we must pass away after him4 ,a lesson ,i learn daily1 is to see things and persons in their invisible root1 and in their eternal principle2 where they are not subject to change1 decay1 and death2 but where they blossom and shine in the primval excellence allotted them by their gracious ,creator4 ,by this means1 ,i learn to walk by faith1 and not by sight4 ,tracing ,his image1 in all the footsteps of nature1 and finding out that which is of ,god in ourselves1 is the true wisdom1 genuine godliness4 ,i hope you will never be afraid1 nor ashamed of it4 ,i see no danger in these studies and meditations1 provided we still keep the end in view--the all of ,god1 and the shadowy nothingness of all that is visible4 8,with respect to the great ,pentecostal display of the ,spirit's glory1 ,i still look for it within and without2 and to look for it aright is the lesson ,i am learning4 ,i am now led to be afraid of that in my nature1 which would be for pomp1 show1 and visible glory4 ,i am afraid of falling1 by such an expectation1 into what ,i call a spiritual ,judaizing2 into a looking for ,christ's coming in my own pompous conceit1 which might make me reject ,him1 if ,his wisdom1 to crucify mine1 chose to come in a meaner way3 if1 instead of coming in ,his ,father's glory1 ,he chose to come meek1 riding1 not on the cherubim1 but on the foal of an ass4 ,our ,saviour said1 with respect to ,his going to the feast1 #8,my time is not yet come3' whether ,his time to come and turn the thieves and buyers out of the outward church is yet come1 ,i know not4 ,i doubt ,jerusalem1 and the holy place1 are yet given to be trodden under foot by the ,gentiles4 ,but my ,jerusalem6 why it is not swallowed up of that which comes down from heaven1 is a question which ,i wait to be solved by the teaching of the great ,prophet1 who is alone possessed of ,urim and ,thummim4 ,the mighty power to wrestle with ,him is all divine3 and ,i often pray1-- 8#8,that mighty faith on me bestow1 ,which cannot ask in vain1 ,which holds and will not let ,thee go1 ,till ,i my suit obtain3 8#8,till ,thou into my soul inspire ,that perfect love unknown1 ,and tell my infinite desire1 ,whate'er ,thou wilt be done4' 8,in short1 the ,lord crucifies my wisdom and my will every way2 but ,i must be crucified as the thieves4 ,all my bones must be broken2 for there is still in me that impatience of wisdom1 which would stir1 when the tempter says1 #8,come down from the cross4' ,it is not for us to know the times and seasons1 the manner and mystical means of ,god's working2 but only to hunger and thirst1 and lie passive before the great ,potter4 ,i begin to be content to be a vessel of clay or of wood1 so that ,i may be emptied of self1 and filled with my ,god1 my all4 8,i am exceeding glad that your dear partner goes on simply and believingly4 ,such a companion is a great blessing2 for when two shall agree touching one thing in prayer1 it shall be done4 ,my wife and ,i endeavour to fathom the meaning of that deep promise4 ,join us1 and let us search after that which exceeds knowledge--,i mean the wisdom1 and the power1 the love1 and the faithfulness of ,god4 8,adieu6 ,be ,god's1 as the ,french say1 and see ,god is yours in ,christ1 for you1#fbg for brothers ,dugdale1 ,shannon1 ,pickering1 ,mrs4 ,blashford1 etc4 8,we are your obliged friends1 8,,john ,,and ,,mary ,,fletcher40#fbh ,footnote #fbf3 ,in an unpublished letter1 dated1 8,sunday ,evening1 ,february #bg1 #aghe10 and signed 8,john and ,mary ,fletcher10 but evidently written by the latter1 it is said3--8,my dear ,mr4 ,fletcher has had a bad cold2 but is better4 ,he is all alive1 and living for eternity40 ,footnote #fbg3 ,these names are in the original letter4 ,footnote #fbh3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #cjg4 ,it must be confessed that there is a little mysticism in ,fletcher's letter2 but let it pass4 ,the next was written a month later4 ,the ,rev4 ,peard ,dickenson was now in the twenty-sixth year of his age4 ,he had been ordained a deacon1 on ,june #af1 #aghc1 and1 a few months afterwards1 had been ordained a priest by the ,archbishop of ,canterbury4 ,he was now the ,curate of the venerable ,vicar of ,shoreham1 the ,rev4 ,vincent ,perronet1 and wrote to ,fletcher1 asking his advice respecting pastoral visitation4 ,fletcher replied1 as follows3-- 8,,madeley1 ,march #bi1 #aghe4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,i did not answer your obliging letter1 because ,i thought it would be presumption in me to advise you1 when you have my reverend father1 ,mr4 ,perronet1 to advise with4 ,to send a line1 in those circumstances1 appeared to me like #8sending coals to ,newcastle4' 8,however1 having now an opportunity to forward a letter to ,london1 ,i shall say what ,i have thought on the subject4 ,it is exceeding well to visit from house to house1 even the ,infidels1 to feel their pulse1 and to see whether they do not begin to entertain more favourable thoughts of #8the pearl of great price' than grunting #8swine' or snarling #8dogs' generally do4 ,such visits1 half upon the footing of ,christian love1 and half upon the footing of human civility1 may tend to remove prejudices4 ,in some cases1 writing a letter with tenderness1 or giving a little tract suited to the circumstances of the person1 may clear our own conscience1 though it should do him no good4 8,my love1 respects1 and duty1 to your venerable ,vicar1 who1 ,i am told1 is now your grandfather4#fbi ,i hope the report is well grounded2 and1 if it is1 ,i wish you joy on entering into so respectable a family2 and ,i wish you and your partner all the help and comfort ,i find in mine2 who1 as well as myself1 desires to be kindly remembered to all the dear family at ,shoreham4 8,i am1 dear ,sir1 your affectionate brother and servant in ,christ1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#fcj ,footnote #fbi3 ,this was a premature statement4 ,mr4 ,dickenson did not marry ,miss ,briggs1 ,mr4 ,perronet's grand-daughter1 until three years later4 ,footnote #fcj3 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,magazine1 #ahbe1 p4 #gde4 ,the ,rev4 ,melville ,horne was one of ,fletcher's protegees4 ,at ,wesley's ,conference1 in #aghd1 he had been 8admitted on trial10 as a ,methodist ,itinerant ,preacher1 and appointed to the ,liverpool circuit4 ,it is well known that1 after this1 he obtained episcopal ordination1 became curate at ,madeley1 published a collection of ,fletcher's letters in #agia1 went as a missionary to ,western ,africa1 and1 on his return to ,england1 rose to considerable distinction4 ,fletcher had lent the young itinerant certain books1 and now wrote to him the following letter1 which refers to a practice which must have been of recent adoption4 ,romaine made it a rule to read nothing but the ,bible2 wisely or unwisely1 ,fletcher had begun1 to some extent1 to copy his example3-- 8,,madeley1 ,may #aj1 #aghe4 8,,dear ,,brother1--,i am sorry you should have been uneasy about the books4 ,i received them safely1 after they had lain for some days at ,salop4 ,i seldom look into any book but my ,bible2 not out of contempt1 as if ,i thought they cannot teach me what ,i do not know2 but because1 #8,vita brevis1 ars longa1' ,i may never look into them again4 8,go on improving yourself by reading1 but above all by meditation and prayer3 and allow our ,lord to refine you in the fire of temptation4 ,where you see a want1 at home or abroad1 within or without1 look upon that want as a warning to avoid the cause of the leanness you perceive1 and a call to secure the blessings which are ready to take their flight2 for sometimes #8the true riches1' like those of this world1 make themselves wings and flee away4 ,the heavenly dove may be grieved1 and take its flight to humbler and more peaceful roofs4 ,i am glad you do not want hard or violent measures3 ,i hope you will never countenance them1 no1 not against what you dislike4 ,i believe things will turn out very well at the ,conference1 and ,i shall be a witness of it1 if the ,lord gives me a commission to be a spectator of the order and quietness of those who shall be there4 ,if not1 ,i shall help you by prayer to draw the blessing of love upon our friends4#fca 8,in being moderate1 humble1 and truly desirous to be a ,christian1--that is1 to be the least1 the last1 and the servant of all1 we avoid running ourselves into difficulties2 we escape many temptations1 and many mortifying disappointments4 ,for my part1 as ,i expect nothing from men1 they cannot disappoint me2 and1 as ,i expect all good things from ,god1 in the time1 way1 measure1 and manner it pleaseth ,him to bestow1 here ,i cannot be disappointed2 because ,he does1 and will do1 all things well4 8,i trust you labour for ,god and souls1 not for praise and self4 ,when the latter are our aim1 ,god1 in mercy1 blesses us with barrenness1 that we may give up ,barabbas1 and release the humble ,jesus1 whom we crucify afresh by setting the thief on the throne1 and the ,lord of glory as our footstool3 for so do those who preach ,christ out of contention1 or that they may have the praise of men4 8,that ,god may bless you and your labours is the prayer of your old brother1 8,,john ,,fletcher40#fcb ,footnote #fca3 ,evidently1 ,fletcher hoped to attend ,wesley's ,conference1 begun in ,london on ,july #bf1 #aghe1 but his hope was not fulfilled4 ,footnote #fcb3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #cji4 ,a capital letter for a young ,methodist preacher1 like ,melville ,horne1 who1 six years afterwards1 published it for the benefit of all ,methodist probationers4 ,at this time1 fever was raging at ,madeley4 ,mr4 ,w4 ,bosanquet1 in an unpublished letter1 addressed to his sister1 ,mrs4 ,fletcher1 and dated 8,bishopsgate ,street1 ,may #af1 #aghe10 observed3-- 8,i am very happy to hear that both you and ,mr4 ,fletcher have escaped the fevers1 having been so much among them4 ,the poor must feel themselves greatly obliged for this2 for it is of much more use to visit them when sick than even to give them money40 ,the revered ,vicar of ,shoreham1 the ,rev4 ,vincent ,perronet1 died exactly a week before the date of this letter1 and was buried on ,may #ad1 by ,charles ,wesley1 who wrote to ,mrs4 ,fletcher1 as follows3-- 8,,marylebone1 ,may #bd1 #aghe4 8,,my ,,dear ,,sister1--,if you love ,mr4 ,fletcher1 you ought to love the poor ,methodists2 for to their prayers you owe him1 and he you4 ,i found words1 and the people faith1 while we heard1 at ,bristol0 7in #aggf71 8that our friend was just departing4#fcc ,you have been the instrument of adding some years to his valuable life4 ,remember1 for the short time that ,i shall want your prayers1 my dear friend1 your old faithful servant1 8,c4 ,,wesley40 ,footnote #fcc3 ,the reference is to the hymn quoted at page #cfb of the present work4 ,and then1 on the same sheet1 the poet of ,methodism wrote to ,fletcher himself the following3-- 8,,my ,,very ,,dear ,,brother1--,you ought to have paid the last office1 instead of me1 to our most venerable ,archbishop at ,shoreham4 ,on ,sunday1 ,i deposited the sacred ashes in his partner's grave1 and preached twice4 ,his death was such as his life promised4 ,for many years1 he breathed the pure spirit of love4 ,the survivor who follows him nearest is longo proximus intervallo4 8,a fortnight ago1 ,i preached the condemned sermon to above twenty criminals4 ,every one of them1 ,i have good grounds to believe1 died penitent4 ,twenty more must die next week4 8,sally presents her duty and love3 the rest join4 ,direct to me in ,marylebone1 and help me to depart in peace40#fcd ,footnote #fcd3 8,memoir of ,mrs4 ,mortimer10 p4 #aja4 ,this1 probably1 was the last letter which ,fletcher received from his old and loving friend4 ,within three years afterwards1 ,charles ,wesley did 8depart in peace40 ,fletcher's last letters1 written eight weeks after the date of the foregoing1 were addressed to ,james ,ireland1 ,esq41 and to ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald4 ,it has been already stated that fever was fatally prevalent at ,madeley in the summer of #aghe1 and an extract from a letter written by ,william ,bosanquet1 ,esq41 expressing his happiness that ,fletcher and his wife had escaped the pestilence1 has been already given4 ,soon after that1 the sister of ,mr4 ,bosanquet caught the infection2 and ,fletcher wrote as follows to ,mr4 ,ireland3-- 8,,madeley1 ,july #ai1 #aghe4 8,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,blessed be ,god1 we are still alive1 and1 in the midst of many infirmities1 we enjoy a degree of health1 spiritually and bodily4 ,o how good was the ,lord1 to come as ,son of man to live here for us1 and to come in ,his ,spirit to live in us for ever6 ,this is a mystery of godliness4 ,the ,lord make us full witnesses of it6 8,a week ago1 ,i was tried to the quick by a fever with which my dear wife was afflicted4 ,two persons1 whom she had visited1 having been carried off1 within a pistol-shot of our house1 ,i dreaded her being the third4 ,but the ,lord has heard prayer1 and she is spared4 ,oh1 what is life6 #8,on what a slender thread hang everlasting things6' ,my comfort1 however1 is1 that this thread is as strong as the will of ,god1 and the word of ,his grace1 which cannot be broken4 8,that grace and peace1 love and thankful joy1 may ever attend you is the wish of your most obliged friends1 8,,john ,,and ,,mary ,,fletcher40#fce ,footnote #fce3 ,letters1 #agia1 p4 #caj4 ,the day after this1 he wrote the following to the ,right ,honorable ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald3-- 8,,madeley1 ,july #bj1 #aghe4 8,,hon4 ,,and ,,dear ,,lady1--,we have received your kind letter1 and have mournfully acquiesced in the will of our heavenly ,father1 who1 by various infirmities and providences1 weans us from ourselves and our friends1 that we may be ,his without reserve4 ,it was1 perhaps1 a peculiar mercy that ,providence blocked up your way to this place this summer4 ,a bad putrid fever carries off several people in these parts4 ,two of our neighbours died of it last week2 and my wife1 who had visited them1 was taken in so violent a manner1 that ,i was obliged to offer her up to ,god in good earnest1 as an oblation worthy a son of ,abraham4 ,i hope the worst is over2 but her weakness will long preach to me1 as well as my own4 8,dying people1 we live in the midst of dying people4 ,o let us live in sight of a dying1 rising ,saviour2 and the prospect of death will become first tolerable1 and then joyous6 ,or1 if we weep1 as our ,lord1 at the grave of our friends1 or at the side of their deathbeds1 we shall triumph in hope that all will be for the glory of ,god1 and the good of our souls4 8,i am1 my dear lady1 etc41 8,,john ,,fletcher40#fcf ,footnote #fcf3 ,fletcher's ,works1 vol4 viii41 p4 #cbi4 ,twenty-five days after writing this1 his last letter1 ,fletcher himself was dead4 ,his wife1 who had so narrowly escaped becoming a victim to the prevailing fever1 shall tell the remainder of his earthly story4 ,the day after the funeral1 she wrote a letter to ,wesley1 a copy of which she immediately gave to ,fletcher's 8old friend1 ,winifred ,edmunds1 whose son10 says she1 8prints it for the satisfaction of many who have made applications for some account of ,god's dealings with my beloved husband4 ,i consider this a debt ,i owe to his dear orphans at ,madeley2 and1 as it is probable ,i may be called away by the same fever1 perhaps this may be the last office of love ,i can yield them40 ,the title of the publication was1 8,a ,letter to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wesley1 on the ,death of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 in ,shropshire4 ,madeley3 ,printed by ,j4 ,edmunds40 #afmo1 #af pp4 ,about the same time1 however1 ,mrs4 ,fletcher wrote a much longer account1 which was printed with the following title3 8,a ,letter to ,mons4 ,h4 ,l4 de la ,flechere1 ,assessor ,ballival of ,nyon1 in the ,canton of ,berne1 ,switzerland1 on the ,death of his ,brother1 the ,reverend ,john ,william ,de la ,flechere1 ,twenty-five ,years ,vicar of ,madeley1 ,shropshire4 ,london1 #aghf40 #abmo1 #fd pp4 ,from these two publications1 the following account is taken4 ,writing to ,fletcher's brother1 the mourning widow said3-- 8,as there is no one to whom my dearest husband was more closely united than yourself1 so there is no one who can more tenderly sympathize with me in a loss so mutual4 ,you have expressed a desire to receive from my own pen some account of a life the most angelic ,i have ever known2 and ,i will endeavour to comply with your request as far as my weak state of body and torn nerves will permit4 8,from the beginning1 he was a laborious workman in his ,lord's vineyard1 till he had spent himself in the best of services and was ripening fast for glory4 ,those sinners who fled from him he pursued to every corner of his parish by all sorts of ways1 public and private1 early and late1 in season and out of season1 entreating and warning them to flee from the wrath to come4 ,some made it an excuse for not attending the service on ,sunday mornings that they did not awake early enough to get their families ready4 ,he promised to be their watchman2 and1 taking a bell in his hand1 was accustomed1 at five in the morning1 to go round the more distant parts of the parish1 reminding the inhabitants of their invitation to the house of ,god4 8,but he did not confine his labours to this parish4 ,for many years1 he regularly preached at places eight1 ten1 or sixteen miles distant1 returning home the same night1 though he seldom reached it before one or two in the morning4 ,at a little ,society1 which he had gathered about six miles from ,madeley1 he preached two or three times in a week at five in the morning4 ,as to visiting the sick1 this was a duty for which he was ever ready4 ,if he heard the knocker in the middle of the coldest winter night1 his window was instantly thrown up1 and the uniform answer was1 #8,i will attend you immediately4' 8,his frequent journeys to ,trevecca1 where he superintended a college of young men designed for the ministry1 added much to his other fatigues1--riding on bad roads and wading through waters4 ,very often1 in travelling through ,wales1 he was obliged to lie in damp and unsuitable lodgings2 which1 ,i have heard him observe1 gave a deep stroke to his constitution4 8,with regard to the success of his labours1 it is a subject on which he has so often stopped my mouth that ,i will only say1 besides the great reformation that has taken place in this parish1 as to outward behaviour1 he has left behind him a goodly company of upright1 earnest people1 whom he had gathered into little ,societies1 and who now mourn1 as sheep bereaved of their dear shepherd4 8,never did ,i behold any one more dead to the things of the world4 ,i have heard him say he was never happier than when he had given away the last penny he had in the house4 ,if at any time ,i had gold in the drawer1 it seemed to afford him no comfort2 but if he could find a handful of small silver when going out to visit the sick1 he would express as much pleasure over it as a miser would in discovering a bag of hidden treasure4 ,he was never better pleased with my employment than when he had set me to prepare food or physic for the poor4 ,he could hardly relish his dinner if some sick neighbour had not a part2 nor could ,i sometimes keep the linen in his drawers for the same reason4 ,on ,sabbath days1 he provided refreshments for numbers of people who came from a distance to hear the ,word1 and his house was devoted to their convenience4 ,once a poor widow1 who feared ,god1 being brought into difficulties1 he immediately took all his pewter from the kitchen shelves1 saying1 #8,this ,i can do without2 it will relieve your want1 and a wooden trencher serves me better4' ,sometimes1 in epidemic disorders1 when the neighbours were afraid to nurse the sick1 he has gone from house to house seeking help for them2 and1 when none could be found1 has offered to sit up with the sick himself4 ,in his younger years1 he was ready to weep when five or six letters were brought1 at threepence or fourpence a-piece1 and he1 perhaps1 had only a shilling in the house to distribute among the poor to whom he was going4 ,frequently would he say to me1 #8,o ,mary1 cannot we do without beer8 ,let us drink water1 and buy less meat1 that our necessities may give way to the extremities of the poor4' ,but with all his charity1 he was careful to avoid debts4 ,while he gave all he could1 he made it a rule to pay ready money for everything1 believing this was the only way to keep the mind free from cares4 8,he always had a steady1 firm reliance upon the love and faithfulness of ,god4 ,sometimes1 when ,i have expressed a fear of trials1 he would answer1 #8,the ,lord orders all1 and ,i leave everything to ,him4 ,i always seem conscious ,he gives ,his angels charge concerning us1 and therefore think we are equally safe everywhere4' ,he had many remarkable deliverances4 ,sometimes1 both himself and his horse1 in dark nights1 have fallen down steep places1 and yet both have been preserved4 ,once1 ,i believe in ,wales1 in passing over a wooden bridge it broke asunder1 and he and his mare sank into the river1 but both got safe to land4 8,a little before his last illness1 being on his knees in prayer for light whether he should go to ,london or not1#fcg the answer seemed to him1 #8,no1 not to ,london1 but to your grave4' ,acquainting me with this1 he said1 with a heavenly smile1 #8,satan would represent this as something awful1 the cold grave1 the cold grave6' ,on the following ,sabbath 7which ,i think was the next day71 the anthem sung in the church was the ,twenty-third ,psalm4 ,on his return home1 he observed how the words of the ,psalm had been blest to him2 and from that time he seemed to be without the least temptation4 8,still1 there was scarce a night but some part of it was spent in groans for the souls and bodies of those committed to his care4 ,i really dreaded his hearing either of the sins or sufferings of any of his people before he went to bed1 knowing how strong the impression would be upon his mind4 8,in the last years of his life1 he never1 except once1 travelled far from home without being in danger of a relapse into his consumption2 and after his return1 he would be weeks before he recovered his usual strength4 ,he also sometimes said to me that1 though he had been engaged in the work of the ,lord in various places and situations1 the seasons of his closest communion with ,god were always in his own house and church4 8,with regard to his communion with ,god1 he constantly endeavoured to maintain an uninterrupted sense of the ,divine presence4 ,in order to this1 he was slow of speech1 and had the greatest government of his words4 ,he acted1 he spake1 he thought1 as under the immediate eye of ,god4 ,thus setting ,god always before him1 he remained unmoved1 at all times possessing internal recollection4 ,i never saw him diverted therefrom on any occasion whatever4 ,i travelled with him above a thousand miles1 during which journeys neither change of company1 place1 nor circumstances ever seemed to make the least difference in his fixed attention to the presence of ,god4 ,he was always striving to raise his own and every other spirit into close and immediate intercourse with ,god2 and ,i can say1 with truth1 that all his union with me was so mingled with prayer and praise1 that every employment and every meal were perfumed therewith4 8,some time ago1 when the fever began to rage among us1 he preached a sermon on visiting the sick2 in which he seemed to be carried out of himself1 observing1 #8,what do you fear8 ,you are afraid of catching the distemper1 and of dying with those who have it4 ,o fear no more6 ,what an honour to die in your ,master's service6 ,if this were permitted to me1 ,i should esteem it a singular favour4' 8,during the last few months1 though his health and strength sensibly increased1 he was constantly crying out for dying grace4 ,often would he say1 #8,o ,mary1 ,i am afraid lest we should have our good things here4 ,let us look up4 ,let us live above all4 ,we have one foot in the grave4' ,he scarcely ever lay down or rose up without repeating-- 8,i nothing have1 ,i nothing am2 ,my treasure's in the bleeding ,lamb1 ,both now and evermore4 8,there was scarce an hour in which he was not calling upon me to drop every thought and every care1 that we might attend to nothing but drinking deeper into ,god4 ,we spent much time in prayer for the fulness of the ,spirit1 and were led to an act of abandonment 7as we called it7 of our whole selves into the hands of ,god1 to do or to suffer whatever was pleasing to ,him4 8,on ,thursday1 ,august #d1 he was occupied in the work of ,god from three in the afternoon till nine at night2 when he came home1 and said1 #8,i have taken cold4' ,on ,friday and ,saturday1 he was poorly2 but went out part of each day1 and seemed uncommonly drawn out in prayer4 8,on ,saturday night1 his fever first appeared very strong4 ,i begged him not to go to the church in the morning2 but to let a pious brother1#fch who was with us1 preach in the yard2 but he told me1 it was the will of the ,lord that he should go4 ,when ,i met a little company of our pious women1 on ,sunday morning1 ,i begged they would pray that he might be strengthened4 ,in reading the prayers1 he almost fainted4 ,i got through the crowd1 with a friend1 and entreated him to come out of the desk1 as did some others2 but1 in his sweet manner1 he let us know we were not to interrupt the order of ,god4 ,i then retired to my pew4 ,all around me were in tears4 ,when he was a little refreshed1 by the windows being opened and a nosegay thrown into the desk by a friend1 he proceeded with the service4 ,going into the pulpit1 he preached with a strength and recollection which surprised us all4 ,in his first prayer1 he said1 #8,lord1 ,thou wilt manifest ,thy strength in weakness4 ,we confer not with flesh and blood2 but put our trust under the shadow of ,thy wings4' 8,his text was1 #8,o ,lord1 ,thou preservest man and beast4 ,how excellent is ,thy lovingkindness1 ,o ,god6 therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of ,thy wings4' ,after sermon1 he went up the aisle to the communion-table1 with these words1 #8,i am going to throw myself under the wings of the cherubim1 before the mercy-seat4' ,the congregation was large1 and the service lasted till nearly two o'clock4 ,sometimes he could scarcely stand1 and was often obliged to stop for want of power to speak4 ,the people were deeply affected4 ,weeping was on every side4 ,notwithstanding his extreme weakness1 he gave out several verses of hymns1 and uttered various lively sentences of exhortation4 8,as soon as the service was over1 we hurried him away to bed1 where he immediately fainted4 ,he then dropped into a sleep for some time2 and1 when he awoke1 he cried out1 with a pleasant smile1 #8,now1 my dear1 thou seest ,i am no worse for doing the ,lord's work4 ,he never fails me when ,i trust in ,him4' ,he dozed most of the evening1 now and then awaking full of the praises of ,god4 ,at night1 his fever returned1 and his strength decreased amazingly4 8,on ,monday and ,tuesday1 he lay on a couch in the study1 was at times very restless1 but often slept4 ,when awake1 he was delighted in hearing me read hymns1 and tracts on faith and love4 ,his words were animating1 and his patience beyond expression4 ,i asked1 #8,hast thou any conviction that the ,lord is about to take thee8' ,he answered1 #8,no1 not in particular2 only ,i always see death so near1 that we both seem to stand on the verge of eternity4' ,sometimes he would say1 #8,o ,polly6 shall ,i ever see the day when thou must be carried out to be buried8 ,i shrink at giving my dear ,polly to the worms4' ,awaking on one occasion1 he said1 #8,it was ,israel's fault that they asked for signs4 ,we will not do so2 but1 abandoning our whole selves into the hands of ,god1 we will there lie patiently1 assured that ,he will do all things well4' 8,on ,wednesday1 ,august #aj1 he told me1 he had received such a manifestation of the full meaning of the words1 #8,god is love1' as he could not tell4 #8,it fills me1' he said1 #8it fills me every moment4 ,o ,polly6 my dear ,polly6 ,god is love6 ,shout6 ,shout aloud6 ,oh6 it so fills me1 that ,i want a gust of praise to go to the ends of the earth4 ,but it seems as if ,i could not speak much longer4 ,let us fix upon a sign between ourselves' 7tapping me twice with his finger74 #8,by this ,i mean ,god is love1 and we will draw each other into ,god4 ,observe6 by this we will draw each other into ,god4' ,sally coming in1 he cried1 #8,o ,sally6 ,god is love6 ,shout1 both of you6 ,i want to hear you shout ,his praise6' ,all this time1 his medical attendant hoped he was in no danger4 ,he knew his disease to be the fever2 but1 as he had no bad headache1 slept much without the least delirium1 and had an almost regular pulse1 the symptoms were thought to be favourable4 8,on ,thursday1 ,august #aa1 his speech began to fail2 but to his friendly doctor he would not be silent while he had any power to speak1 often saying1 #8,o ,sir1 you take much thought for my body2 give me leave to take thought for your soul4' ,when ,i could scarcely understand anything he said1 ,i spoke the words1 #8,god is love6' ,instantly he caught them1 and broke out in a rapture1 #8,god is love1 love1 love6 ,o for the gust of praise ,i want to sound6' ,here his voice again failed4 ,if ,i named his sufferings1 he would smile1 and make the sign4 8,on ,friday1 ,august #ab1 finding his body covered with spots1 ,i so far understood them as to feel a sword pierce through my soul4 ,as ,i knelt by his bed1 with my hand in his1 intreating the ,lord to be with us in this tremendous hour1 he strove to say many things1 but could not4 ,at length1 pressing my hand1 and often repeating the sign1 he breathed out1 #8,head of the ,church1 be head to my wife6' ,sally said to him1 #8,my dear master1 do you know me8' ,he replied1 #8,sally1 ,god will put ,his right hand under you4' ,she added1 #8,o my dear master1 should you be taken away1 what a disconsolate creature will my poor mistress be6' ,he answered1 #8,god will be her all in all4' ,he had always delighted in the lines-- 8#8,jesu's blood1 through earth and skies1 ,mercy1 free1 boundless mercy cries4' 8,when ,i repeated them to him1 he cried1 #8,boundless1 boundless6' and added1 though with great difficulty-- 8#8,mercy's full power ,i soon shall prove1 ,lov'd with an everlasting love4' 8,on the afternoon of ,saturday1 ,august #ac1 while a few ,christian friends were standing near his bed1 he stretched out his hand to each of them1 and1 to a minister1 remarked1 #8,are you ready to assist to-morrow8' ,one asked1 #8,do you think the ,lord will raise you up8' ,he strove to answer1 #8,raise in resur444 raise in resur4444' ,to another1 who put the same question1 he replied1 #8,i leave it all to ,god4' ,i said1 #8,my dear creature1 ,i ask not for myself1 but for the sake of others4 ,if ,jesus is very present with thee1 lift thy right hand4' ,he did so4 ,i added1 #8,if the prospect of glory opens before thee1 repeat the sign4' ,he raised his hand again2 and1 in half a minute1 a second time4 ,after this1 his dear hands moved no more2 but1 on my asking1 #8,art thou in much pain8' he answered1 #8,no4' 8,from this time1 he entered into a kind of sleep1 though with his eyes open and fixed4 ,twenty-four hours1 my dearly beloved breathed like a person in common sleep2 and then1 at thirty-five minutes past ten on ,sunday night1 ,august #ad1 his precious soul entered into the joy of his ,lord1 in the fifty-sixth year of his age4 ,i was scarce a minute at a time from him1 night or day1 during his illness1 and ,i can truly say-- 8#8,no cloud did arise1 to darken the skies1 ,or hide for one moment his ,lord from his eyes4' 8,and here ,i break off my mournful story4 ,on my bleeding heart1 his fair picture of heavenly excellence will be for ever drawn4 ,when ,i call to mind his ardent zeal1 his laborious endeavours to seek and save the lost1 his diligence in the employment of his time1 his ,christlike condescension towards me1 and his uninterrupted converse with heaven1 ,i may well be allowed to add1 my loss is beyond the power of words to paint4 8,on ,august #ag1 his dear remains were deposited in ,madeley churchyard2 amid the tears and lamentations of thousands1 who flocked about the bier of their dead pastor4 ,between the house and the church1 they sung these verses3-- 8#8,with heavenly weapons he hath fought ,the battles of the ,lord3 ,finish'd his course1 and kept the faith1 ,and gain'd the great reward4 8#8,god hath laid up in heaven for him ,a crown which cannot fade2 ,the righteous ,judge1 at that great day1 ,shall place it on his head4' 8,the service was performed by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,hatton1 ,rector of ,waters-,upton1 whom the ,lord moved1 in a pathetic manner1 to speak to the weeping flock4 ,at my request1 he read the following paper3--#fci 8#8,it was the desire of my beloved husband to be buried in this plain manner1 and1 out of tenderness1 he begged that ,i might not be present4 ,in all things ,i would obey him4 8#8,permit me1 by the mouth of a friend1 to bear my testimony1 to the glory of ,god1 that ,i never knew anyone walk so closely with ,god as he did4 ,the ,lord gave him a conscience tender as the apple of an eye4 ,he literally preferred the interest of every one to his own4 ,he shared his all with the poor1 who lay so close his heart1 that1 when his speech was so gone that he could utter nothing without difficulty1 he cried out1 8,o my ,poor6 ,what will become of my ,poor80 ,he was blessed with so great a degree of humility as is scarcely to be found4 ,i am witness1 how often he has taken real pleasure in being treated with contempt4 ,it seemed the very food of his soul1 to be little and unknown4 ,when he said to me1 8,thou wilt write a line or two to my brother in ,switzerland1 if ,i die10 ,i replied1 8,my dear1 dear love1 ,i will write him all the ,lord's dealings with thee40 8,no1 no10 said he1 8write nothing about me4 ,i only desire to be forgotten4 ,god is all40 8#8,his diligent visitation of the sick laid the foundation of the spotted fever of which he died2 and his vehement desire to take his last leave of you1 with dying lips and hands1 gave 7it is supposed7 the finishing stroke1 by preparing his blood for putrefaction4 ,thus did he live and die your servant4 8#8,he walked with death always in sight4 ,about two months ago1 he came to me and said1 8,my dear love1 ,i know not how it is1 but ,i have a strange impression death is very near us1 as if it would be a sudden stroke upon one of us2 and it draws out my soul in prayer that we may be ready40 ,he then broke out1 8,lord1 prepare the soul ,thou wilt call2 and1 ,o stand by the poor disconsolate one who shall be left behind60 8#8,three years1 nine months1 and two days1 ,i have possessed my heavenly-minded husband2 but now the sun of my earthly joy is set for ever4'0 ,footnote #fcg3 ,no doubt to attend ,wesley's ,conference1 which began on ,july #bf4 ,footnote #fch3 ,no doubt1 one of ,wesley's preachers4 ,footnote #fci3 ,mr4 ,hatton also preached a funeral sermon1 founded on ,hebrews xiii4 #g4 ,this is a very artless story2 but it is not less valuable because of that4 ,mrs4 ,fletcher sent a copy to ,charles ,wesley1 together with the following note3-- 8,,madeley1 ,august #bd1 #aghe4 8,,dear ,,sir1--,enclosed you have an account of my feelings when ,i thought myself dying1 as did most about me4 ,i prayed for strength to do justice to my dearest1 dearest love4 ,i wrote it in one day1 but could not go over it a second time4 ,take it1 then1 as it flowed from my full heart1 without a second thought1 and pray for your deeply distressed friend4 ,i cannot find your brother4 ,i wrote to him at first1 but have got no answer40#fdj ,footnote #fdj3 ,jackson's 8,life of ,c4 ,wesley10 vol4 ii41 p4 #dcb4 ,wesley1 in his eighty-third year1 was in the west of ,england1 travelling and preaching with surprising energy4 ,on the day of ,fletcher's death1 he preached twice at ,salisbury2 then hastened to ,shaftesbury1 ,castle-,carey1 ,shepton-,mallet1 ,taunton1 ,collumpton1 ,exeter1 and ,plymouth2 then went right through ,cornwall2 and1 on ,september #c1 got to ,bristol1 in the neighbourhood of which city he spent a month4 ,on ,october #c1 he came to ,london2 then made what he calls 8a little excursion0 into ,hertfordshire1 another into ,oxfordshire1 and a third into ,norfolk4 ,here1 at ,norwich1 on ,october #bd1 he found time to write a sermon on the death of ,fletcher1 which he delivered in ,london on ,november #f4 ,the sermon was published immediately1 with the following address 8,to the reader0 prefixed#fda3-- 8,a consciousness of my own inability to describe1 in a manner worthy of the subject1 such a person as ,mr4 ,fletcher1 was one great reason of my not writing this sooner4 ,i judged1 only an ,apelles was proper to paint an ,alexander4 ,but ,i1 at length1 submitted to importunity1 and hastily put together some memorials of this great man3 intending1 if ,god permit1 when ,i have more leisure and more materials1 to write a fuller account of his life4 8,,john ,,wesley4 8,london1 ,november #i1 #aghe40 ,footnote #fda3 ,the title was1 8,a ,sermon preached on the ,occasion of the ,death of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,john ,fletcher1 ,vicar of ,madeley1 ,shropshire4 ,by ,john ,wesley1 ,a4,m40 #abmo4 #cb pp4 ,the concluding paragraph of ,wesley's sermon must be quoted3-- 8,for many years1 ,i despaired of finding any inhabitant of ,great ,britain that could stand in any degree of comparison with ,gregory ,lopez1 or ,monsieur de ,renty4 ,but let any impartial person judge1 if ,mr4 ,fletcher was at all inferior to them8 ,did he not experience as deep communion with ,god1 and as high a measure of inward holiness1 as was experienced either by one or the other of those burning and shining lights8 ,and it is certain his outward holiness shone before men1 with full as bright a lustre as theirs4 ,but if any should attempt to draw a parallel between them1 there are two circumstances that deserve consideration4 ,one is1 we are not assured that the writers of their ,lives did not extenuate1 if not suppress1 what was amiss in them4 ,and some things amiss we are assured there were1 namely1 many touches of superstition1 and some of idolatry1 in worshipping ,saints1 the ,virgin ,mary in particular4 ,but ,i have not suppressed or extenuated anything in ,mr4 ,fletcher's character4 ,for indeed ,i knew nothing that was amiss1 nothing that needed to be extenuated1 much less suppressed4 ,a second circumstance is1 that the ,writers of their ,lives could not have so full a knowledge of them1 as both ,mrs4 ,fletcher and ,i had of ,mr4 ,fletcher1 being both eye and ear-witnesses of his whole conduct4 ,consequently1 we know that his life was not sullied with any mixture of either idolatry or superstition4 ,i was intimately acquainted with him for above thirty years4 ,i conversed with him morning1 noon1 and night1 without the least reserve1 during a journey of many hundred miles4 ,and1 in all that time1 ,i never heard him speak one improper word1 nor saw him do an improper action4--,to conclude4 ,many exemplary men have ,i known1 holy in heart and life1 within fourscore years4 ,but one equal to him ,i have not known3 one so inwardly and outwardly devoted to ,god4 ,so unblameable a character in every respect1 ,i have not found either in ,europe or ,america4 ,and ,i scarce expect to find another such1 on this side eternity40 ,human praise could not be higher than this2 and yet even the ,monthly ,review1 which had so often and so unjustly denounced the ,methodists1 in its notice of ,wesley's sermon1 remarked3-- 8,mr4 ,fletcher was one of the most considerable among the ,methodist ministers of the ,wesleyan division4 ,we have long been acquainted with his good character2 and we firmly believe that the high encomiums here passed on him were justly merited in their fullest extent40#fdb ,footnote #fdb3 ,monthly ,review1 #aghf1 p4 #gi4 ,scores of other eulogies have been written1 but only four shall be added here1 and these by persons who were well acquainted with the man of whom they speak4 ,the ,rev4 ,joshua ,gilpin's elaborate biographical 8,notes10 interspersed in ,fletcher's 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul10 are too numerous and lengthened to be introduced1 but an extract from the last of them 7the twenty-ninth7 must be given3-- 8,on the day of ,mr4 ,fletcher's departure1 as ,i was preparing to attend my own church1 which was at the distance of nine miles from ,madeley1 ,i received a message from ,mrs4 ,fletcher1 requesting my immediate attendance at the vicarage4 ,i instantly followed the messenger1 and found ,mr4 ,fletcher with every symptom of approaching dissolution upon him4 ,i had ever looked up to this man of ,god with an extraordinary degree of affection and reverence2 and1 on this afflicting occasion1 my heart was uncommonly affected and depressed4 ,it was now in vain to recollect that public duty required my presence in another place4 ,unfitted for every duty1 except that of silently watching the bed of death1 ,i found it impossible to withdraw from the solemn scene4 ,i had received from this evangelical teacher1 in days that were past1 many excellent precepts with respect to holy living2 and now ,i desired to receive from him the last important lesson with respect to holy dying4 ,and truly this concluding lesson was of inestimable worth1 since so much patience and resignation1 so much peace and composure1 were scarcely ever discovered in the same circumstances before4 8,while their pastor was breathing out his soul into the hands of a faithful ,creator1 his people were offering up their joint supplications on his behalf in the house of ,god4 ,little1 however1 was seen among them but affliction and tears4#fdc ,the whole village wore an air of consternation and sadness1 and not one joyful song was heard among its inhabitants4 ,hasty messengers were passing to and fro with anxious enquiries and confused reports2 and the members of every family sat together in silence that day1 awaiting1 with trembling expectation1 the issue of every hour4 ,after the conclusion of the evening service1 several of the poor1 who came from distant parts1 and who were usually entertained under ,mr4 ,fletcher's roof1 still lingered about the house1 and seemed unable to tear themselves away from the place without a sight of their expiring pastor4 ,secretly informed of their desire1 ,i obtained them the permission they wished2 and the door of the chamber being set open1 immediately before which ,mr4 ,fletcher was sitting upright in his bed1 with the curtains undrawn1 they slowly moved1 one by one1 along the gallery1 severally pausing as they passed by the door1 and casting in a look of mingled supplication and anguish4 ,it was1 indeed1 an affecting sight4 8,and now the hour speedily approached that was to put a solemn termination to our hopes and fears4 ,his weakness very perceptibly increased1 but his countenance continued unaltered to the last4 ,mrs4 ,fletcher was kneeling by the side other departing husband1 the medical attendant sat at his head1 while ,i sorrowfully waited near his feet4 ,uncertain whether or not he was totally separated from us1 we pressed nearer2 but his warfare was accomplished1 and the happy spirit had taken its everlasting flight40 ,footnote #fdc3 ,another writer1 who was present1 relates that the congregation sang1 or tried to sing1 the affecting hymn which was composed and used at the time of ,fletcher's dangerous illness in #aggf 7see pp4 #cfb and #cfh74 ,he further says1 8,i never was witness to a scene so impressive and pathetic4 ,every breast felt1 every countenance expressed1 one common sentiment4 ,tears1 sobs1 and suppressed groans showed how sincerely the people esteemed their venerable pastor4 ,when the hymn was sung1 there was a general burst of sorrow4 ,even those who had spurned his instructions1 deprecated his death as a public loss1 and expressed their grief with uncommon agitation40 7,methodist ,magazine1 #ahjb1 p4 #egb47 ,james ,ireland1 ,esq41 was one of ,fletcher's most loving and well-beloved friends4 ,in an unpublished letter1 addressed to ,mrs4 ,fletcher1 and dated 8,brislington1 ,november #f1 #aghe10 he says1 ,wesley had informed him he was about to write the 8,life of ,fletcher10 and had asked him to supply materials4 ,in his reply1 he had said1 8,i cannot assist you to write the life of my dear friend1 though ,i have ever respected and honoured you40 ,mr4 ,ireland adds1 that whatever information he can furnish he will send to ,mrs4 ,fletcher1 and leave it to her to use as she thinks best4 ,he then proceeds3-- 8,i have often felt that ,i would have divided my last shilling with ,mr4 ,fletcher4 ,we were once for months together1 day and night2 and when we parted1 we both wept4 ,such a soul ,i never knew2 such a great man1 in every sense of the word4 ,he was too great to bear the name of any sect4 ,mr4 ,townsend1 with whom ,i lately parted1 speaks of him as the greatest man that has lived in this century1 and begs his life may not be penned in haste40 ,in another unpublished letter1 also addressed to ,mrs4 ,fletcher1 and dated 8,october #f1 #aghf10 ,mr4 ,ireland wrote3-- 8,i never saw ,mr4 ,fletcher's equal4 ,on him great grace was bestowed4 ,what deadness to the world6 ,what spiritual mindedness6 ,what zeal for souls6 ,what communion with ,god6 ,what intercourse with heaven6 ,what humility at the feet of ,jesus6 ,what moderation towards all men6 ,what love for the poor6 ,in short1 he possessed the mind which was in ,christ ,jesus40 8,the ,rev4 ,henry ,venn1 after reading ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher10 wrote as follows to ,lady ,mary ,fitzgerald3-- 8,yelling1 ,march #c1 #aghg4 ,mr4 ,fletcher's humility was so unfeigned and so deep1 that when ,i thanked him for two sermons he had one day preached to my people at ,huddersfield1 he answered as no man ever did to me4 ,with eyes and hands uplifted1 he exclaimed1 #8,pardon1 pardon1 pardon1 ,o my ,god6' ,the words went to my very soul4 ,great grace was upon this blessed servant of ,christ4 8,love to man and bowels of mercies displayed in him a noble imitation of his ,incarnate ,god4 ,he indeed thought a day lost1 and could find no rest in his soul1 unless he was doing good to the bodies and souls of men4 8,love to the ,lord4--,how did it govern and flourish in dear ,mr4 ,fletcher6 ,his admirable consort tells us1 he scarcely was awake in the night a moment without lifting up his soul to ,god in holy aspirations4 8,i have seen ,mr4 ,fletcher1 for six weeks together1 under a hectic fever1 sometimes spitting blood1 when night after night he could rest very little--well pleased to suffer--never complaining1 never but cheerful4 ,once1 when ,i asked him how he did1 #8,oh6' said he1 #8how light is the chastisement ,i suffer6 ,how heavy the strokes ,i deserve6 ,i love the rod of my heavenly ,father6' ,like his ,saviour1 he could continue in prayer1 in the wood1 all night long2 and1 like ,him1 lie prostrate on the ground1 pleading for grace to fulfil his ministry40#fdd ,footnote #fdd3 8,life of ,rev4 ,h4 ,venn10 pp4 #egh-ehd4 ,between ,fletcher and ,joseph ,benson there was a most intimate and confidential friendship4 ,benson1 in a letter to ,wesley1 wrote3-- 8,as to drawing the character of that great and good man1 ,mr4 ,fletcher1 it is what ,i will not attempt4 ,i have been looking over many of his letters1 and observe in them all1 what ,i have a thousand times observed in his conversation and behaviour1 the plainest marks of every ,christian grace and virtue4 8,perhaps1 if he followed his ,master more closely in one thing than another1 it was in humility4 ,he was constantly upon his guard lest any expression should drop1 either from his lips or pen1 which tended to make anyone think well of him2 either on account of his family1 or learning1 or parts1 or usefulness4 ,he took as much pains to conceal his excellences1 as others do to show theirs4 8,he was a man of a serious spirit1 one that stood at the utmost distance from levity of every kind4 ,though he was constantly cheerful1 as rejoicing in hope of his heavenly inheritance1 yet he had too deep a sense of his own wants1 and the wants of the ,church of ,god1 as also of the sins and miseries of mankind1 to be at any time light or trifling4 8,in hungering and thirsting after righteousness1 he was peculiarly worthy of our imitation4 ,he never rested in anything he had either experienced or done in spiritual matters4 ,he was a true ,christian racer1 always on the stretch for higher and better things4 ,though his attainments1 both in experience and usefulness1 were far above the common standard1 yet the language of his conversation and behaviour always was1 #8,not as though ,i had already attained1 either were already perfected2 but ,i follow after1 if by any means ,i may apprehend that for which ,i am apprehended of ,christ ,jesus4' ,he had his eye upon a full conformity to the ,son of ,god2 or what the ,apostle terms1 #8the measure of the stature of the fulness of ,christ4' ,nor could he be satisfied with anything less4 8,he was meek1 like his ,master1 as well as lowly in heart4 ,not that he was so by nature1 but of a fiery1 passionate spirit2 insomuch that he has frequently thrown himself on the floor1 and lain there most of the night bathed in tears1 imploring victory over his own temper4 ,and he did obtain the victory1 in a very eminent degree4 ,for twenty years and upwards before his death1 no one ever saw him out of temper1 or heard him utter a rash expression1 on any provocation whatever4#fde ,and he did not want provocation1 and that sometimes in a high degree2 especially from those whose religious sentiments he thought it his duty to oppose4 ,but none of these things moved him3 no1 not in the least degree4 ,the keenest word he used was1 #8,what a world1 what a religious world we live in6' ,i have often thought the testimony1 that ,bishop ,burnet bears of ,archbishop ,leighton1 might be borne of him with equal propriety3 #8,after an intimate acquaintance of many years1 and after being with him by night and by day1 at home and abroad1 in public and in private1 on sundry occasions and in various affairs1--,i must say1 ,i never heard an idle word drop from his lips1 nor any conversation which was not to the use of edifying4 ,i never saw him in any temper1 in which ,i myself would not have wished to be found at death4' ,any one1 who has been intimately acquainted with ,mr4 ,fletcher1 will say the same of him3 and they who knew him best will say it with the most assurance4 8,hence arose his readiness to bear with the weaknesses1 and forgive the faults of others3 which was the more remarkable1 considering his flaming zeal against sin1 and his concern for the glory of ,god4 ,such hatred to sin1 and such love to the sinner1 ,i never saw joined together before4 8,he never mentioned the faults of an absent person1 unless absolute duty required it4 ,and then he spoke with the utmost tenderness1 extenuating1 rather than aggravating4 ,none could draw his picture more exactly than ,st4 ,paul has done1 in the thirteenth chapter of the first ,epistle to the ,corinthians4 #8,he suffered long and was kind2 he envied not2 acted not rashly2 was not puffed up2 did not behave himself unseemly2 sought not his own2 was not easily provoked2 he thought no evil2 rejoiced not in iniquity1 but rejoiced in the truth2 he covered all things2 believed all things2 hoped all things2 and endured all things4' ,it would be easy to enlarge on all these particulars1 and show how they were exemplified in him2 but1 waiving this1 ,i would only observe1 that1 with regard to two of them1 kindness to others1 and not seeking his own1 he had few equals4 8,his kindness to others was such1 that he bestowed his all upon them3 his time1 his talents1 his substance4 ,his knowledge1 his eloquence1 his health1 his money1 were employed1 day by day1 for the good of mankind4 ,he prayed1 he wrote1 he preached1 he visited the sick and well1 he conversed1 he gave1 he laboured1 he suffered1 winter and summer1 night and day3 he endangered1 nay1 destroyed his health1 and in the end gave his life also for the profit of his neighbours1 that they might be saved from everlasting death4 ,he denied himself even of such food as was necessary for him1 that he might have to give to them that had none4 ,and when he was constrained to change his manner of living1 still his diet was plain and simple4 ,and so were his clothing and furniture1 that he might save all that was possible for his poor neighbours4 8,he sought not his own in any sense3 not his own honour1 but the honour of ,god1 in all he said or did4 ,he sought not his own interest1 but the interest of his ,lord1 spreading knowledge1 holiness1 and happiness1 as far as he possibly could4 ,he sought not his own pleasure1 but studied to #8please all men1 for their good to edification2' and to please ,him that had called him to ,his kingdom and glory4 8,but ,i do not attempt his full character4 ,i will only add1 #8,he was blameless and harmless1 a son of ,god1 without rebuke1 in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation3 shining among them as a light in the world4'0 ,footnote #fde3 ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher10 p4 #agc4 ,both ,wesley and ,benson insert this eulogium in their lives of ,fletcher2 but ,wesley adds3-- 8,i think one talent wherewith ,god had endued ,mr4 ,fletcher has not been sufficiently noted yet4 ,i mean his courtesy2 in which there was not the least touch either of art or affectation4 ,it was pure and genuine1 and sweetly constrained him to behave to everyone 7although particularly to inferiors71 in a manner not to be described3 with so inexpressible a mixture of humility1 love1 and respect4 ,this directed his words1 the tone of his voice1 his looks1 his whole attitude1 his every motion4 8#8,grace was in all his steps1 heaven in his eye1 ,in all his gestures sanctity and love4'0 ,the entry of ,fletcher's death1 in the register of ,madeley parish church1 is a brief obituary3-- 8,memorandum4 8,john ,fletcher1 ,clerk1 died on ,sunday evening1 ,august #ad1 #aghe4 ,he was one of the most apostolic men of the age in which he lived4 ,his abilities were extraordinary1 and his labours were unparalleled4 ,he was a burning and shining light2 and as his life had been a common blessing to the inhabitants of this parish1 so the death of this great man was lamented by them as a common and irreparable loss4 8,this little testimony was inserted by one who sincerely loved and honoured him4 8,,joshua ,,gilpin1 ,,vicar ,,of ,,rockwardine40 ,the inscription on his tombstone was written by his widow1 and is as follows#fdf3-- 8,,here ,,lies ,,the ,,body ,,of ,,the ,,rev4 ,,john ,,william ,,de ,,la ,,flechere1 ,,vicar ,,of ,,madeley1 ,,who ,,was ,,born ,,at ,,nyon1 ,,in ,,switzerland1 ,,september ,,the #ab,,th1 #agbi1 ,,and ,,finished ,,his ,,course1 ,,august ,,the #ad,,th1 #aghe1 ,,in ,,this ,,village2 ,,where ,,his ,,unexampled ,,labours ,,will ,,long ,,be ,,remembered4 ,,he ,,exercised ,,his ,,ministry ,,for ,,the ,,space ,,of ,,twenty-,,five ,,years1 ,,in ,,this ,,parish1 ,,with ,,uncommon ,,zeal ,,and ,,ability4 ,,many ,,believed ,,his ,,report1 ,,and ,,became ,,his ,,joy ,,and ,,crown ,,of ,,rejoicing2 ,,while ,,others ,,constrained ,,him ,,to ,,take ,,up ,,the ,,lamentation ,,of ,,the ,,prophet1 #8,,all ,,the ,,day ,,long ,,have ,i ,,stretched ,,out ,,my ,,hands ,,unto ,a ,,disobedient ,,and ,,gainsaying ,,people3 ,,yet ,,surely ,,my ,,judgment ,,is ,,with ,,the ,,lord1 ,,and ,,my ,,work ,,with ,,my ,,god4' --- 8#8,he being dead1 yet speaketh4'0 ,footnote #fdf3 ,the inscription1 given at the end of ,wesley's 8,life of ,fletcher10 is slightly different4 ,in an unpublished letter1 to ,mrs4 ,crosby1 dated ,august #af1 #aghh1 ,mrs4 ,fletcher wrote3 8,what was written on my dear's tomb was different from my directions1 though done with a good design to mend my language4 ,i saw it not to be as good as my own1 and had it altered0 7then follows the inscription74 8,compare this with that in ,mr4 ,wesley's #8,life1' and give ,mr4 ,downes a copy of the right one4 ,every one was much pleased with the change2 and1 indeed1 ,i was never at ease till it was done2 but there were so many anxious to have it right that they spoiled it40 ,another monument of ,fletcher must be mentioned1 erected in ,methodism's 8,westminster ,abbey0--the sacred old chapel in ,city ,road1 ,london4 ,it is placed on the right-hand side of the communion table1 immediately under a monument of ,wesley4 ,the sculpture at the top of it is a representation of the ,ark of the ,covenant4 ,at one side are volumes1 inscribed with the words1 8,checks10 and 8,portrait of ,st4 ,paul40 ,at the other side is an expanded scroll1 with the motto1 8,with the meekness of wisdom40 ,at the bottom is a dove1 hovering over pens and a roll of paper4 ,the inscription on the tablet1 composed by the ,rev4 ,richard ,watson1#fdg is as follows3-- 8,,sacred ,,to ,,the ,,memory ,,of ,,the ,,rev4 ,,john ,,william ,,de ,,la ,,flechere1 ,,vicar ,,of ,,madeley ,,in ,,shropshire2 ,,born ,,at ,,nyon1 ,,in ,,switzerland1 ,,the ,,xii4 ,,of ,,september1 ,a4,d4 ,,mdccxxix2 ,,died ,,the ,,xiv4 ,,of ,,august1 ,,mdcclxxxv4 ,a ,,man ,,eminent ,,for ,,genius1 ,,eloquence1 ,,and ,,theological ,,learning2 ,,still ,,more ,,distinguished ,,for ,,sanctity ,,of ,,manners1 ,,and ,,the ,,virtues ,,of ,,primitive ,,christianity4 ,,adorned ,,with #8,,whatsoever ,,things ,,are ,,pure1 ,,whatsoever ,,things ,,are ,,lovely1' ,,and ,,bringing ,,forth #8,,the ,,fruits ,,of ,,the ,,spirit1' ,,in ,,singular ,,richness ,,and ,,maturity4 ,,the ,,measure ,,of ,,every ,,other ,,grace ,,in ,,him ,,was ,,exceeded ,,by ,,his ,,deep ,,and ,,unaffected ,,humility4 ,,of ,,enlarged ,,views ,,as ,,to ,,the ,,merit ,,of ,,the ,,atonement1 ,,and ,,of ,,those ,,gracious ,,rights ,,with ,,which ,,it ,,invests ,,all ,,who ,,believe1 ,,he ,,had #8,,boldness ,,to ,,enter ,,into ,,the ,,holiest ,,by ,,the ,,blood ,,of ,,jesus1' ,,and ,,in ,,reverent ,,and ,,transporting ,,contemplations1--,,the ,,habit ,,of ,,his ,,devout ,,and ,,hallowed ,,spirit1-- ,,there ,,dwelt ,,as ,,beneath ,,the ,,wings ,,of ,,the ,,cherubim1 ,,beholding #8,,the ,,glory ,,of ,,god ,,in ,,the ,,face ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ1' ,,and ,,was #8,,changed ,,into ,,the ,,same ,,image2' ,,teaching ,,by ,,his ,,own ,,attainments1 ,,more ,,than ,,even ,,by ,,his ,,writings1 ,,the ,,fulness ,,of ,,evangelical ,,promises1 ,,and ,,with ,,what ,,intimacy ,,of ,,communion ,,man ,,may ,,walk ,,with ,,god4 ,,he ,,was ,,the ,,friend ,,and ,,coadjutor ,,of ,,the ,,rev4 ,,john ,,wesley1 ,,whose ,,apostolic ,,views ,,of ,,the ,,doctrines ,,of ,,general ,,redemption1 ,,justification ,,by ,,faith1 ,,and ,,christian ,,perfection1 ,,he ,,successfully ,,defended1 ,,leaving ,,to ,,future ,,ages ,,an ,,able ,,exposition ,,of #8,,the ,,truth ,,which ,,is ,,according ,,to ,,godliness1' ,,and ,,erecting ,,an ,,impregnable ,,rampart ,,against ,,pharisaic ,,and ,,antinomian ,,error1 ,,in ,a ,,series ,,of ,,works1 ,,distinguished ,,by ,,the ,,beauty ,,of ,,their ,,style1 ,,by ,,force ,,of ,,argument1 ,,and ,,by ,a ,,gentle ,,and ,,catholic ,,spirit2 ,,affording ,,an ,,edifying ,,example ,,of #8,,speaking ,,the ,,truth ,,in ,,love1' ,,in ,a ,,long ,,and ,,ardent ,,controversy4 ,,for ,,twenty-,,five ,,years1 ,,the ,,parish ,,of ,,madeley ,,was ,,the ,,scene ,,of ,,his ,,unexampled ,,pastoral ,,labours2 ,,and ,,he ,,was ,,there ,,interred1 ,,amidst ,,the ,,tears ,,and ,,lamentations ,,of ,,thousands1 ,,the ,,testimony ,,of ,,their ,,hearts ,,to ,,his ,,exalted ,,piety1 ,,and ,,to ,,his ,,unwearied ,,exertions ,,for ,,their ,,salvation3 ,,but ,,his ,,memory ,,triumphed ,,over ,,death2 ,,and ,,his ,,saintly ,,example ,,exerts ,,increasing ,,influence ,,in ,,the ,,churches ,,of ,,christ1 ,,through ,,the ,,study ,,of ,,his ,,writings1 ,,and ,,the ,,publication ,,of ,,his ,,biography4 ,,in ,,token ,,of ,,their ,,veneration ,,for ,,his ,,character1 ,,and ,,in ,,gratitude ,,for ,,the ,,services ,,rendered ,,by ,,him ,,to ,,the ,,cause ,,of ,,truth1 ,,this ,,monument ,,was ,,erected ,,by ,,the ,,trustees ,,of ,,this ,,chapel1 ,a4,d4 ,,mdcccxxii40 ,footnote #fdg3 ,jackson's 8,centenary of ,methodism10 p4 #ahf4 ,no wonder that ,wesley desired and requested ,fletcher to be his successor2 and no wonder that1 while among his numerous publications there is only one biography written by himself1 that conspicuous exception is 8,a ,short ,account of the ,life and ,death of the ,rev4 ,john ,fletcher48 ,fletcher was distinguished for his genius2 his learning2 and his biblical and theological knowledge2 but let all ,methodists1 throughout the world and as long as ,methodism lasts1 remember1 in all their church-meetings and church-appointments1 that 8,wesley's ,designated ,successor0 was pre-eminently1--8,a ,,good ,,man1 ,,and ,,full ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,ghost ,,and ,,of ,,faith40 ,,the ,,end ,hazell1 ,watson1 and ,viney1 ,printers1 ,london and ,aylesbury4 ,,index4 ,,names ,,of ,,persons ,,and ,,places4 ,aberford1 #aai ,abergavenny1 #ahd ,agutter1 ,rev4 ,william1 #add1 #ade ,appian ,way1 #afb ,appleton1 ,mr41 #bb ,asbury1 ,francis1 #c ,ashworth1 ,dr41 #ecb ,atcham1 #ba1 #bb1 #bi1 #ca ,atlay1 ,john1 #cdj1 #dcc1 #ede1 #edf ,atmore1 ,charles1 #edb1 #ede ,baratier1 ,m41 #ade ,bardsley1 ,samuel1 #edh ,barnard1 ,mary1 #gd ,barry1 ,james1 #dbd ,bath1 #ajb1 #aba1 #agb1 #cic1 #dbj ,batley1 #did1 #dif1 #dig ,bayley1 ,rev4 ,cornelius1 #dfa1 #dfb1 #ejh1 #edb ,beaumont1 ,john1 #edc ,beaumont1 ,dr4 ,joseph1 #edc ,bell1 ,george1 #hd1 #he1 #ij ,benson1 ,joseph1 #c1 #ci1 #aeg1 #aei1 #aff1 #afg1 #age-agg1 #agi1 #ahb1 #ahc1 #bji1 #baf1 #bbj1 #bed1 #bee1 #caj1 #cbf1 #cdh1 #cee-ceh1 #cfg1 #cgj1 #cie1 #dfb1 #ecb1 #ecc1 #edc1 #edf1 #egj-egb ,bentley1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #aai ,berkeley1 ,dr41 #ecd ,berridge1 ,rev4 ,john1 #ea-ec1 #fb1 #agb1 #bhc-bhe1 #bid1 #bih1 #cjg1 #ccj1 #ccd1 #cde1 #cga1 #chg ,berwick1 #aaa1 #aed ,birches1 ,the1 #bgd ,birstal1 #dhg1 #eag ,boothby1 ,william1 #ddb ,bosanquet1 ,miss1 #ae1 #bh1 #ic1 #abf1 #djj1 #dja1 #daj1 #ddh1 #dfc1 #dfg1 #dgi-dig1 #dii1 #ebi ,bosanquet1 ,claudius1 ,esq41 #dhh1 #dib ,bosanquet1 ,s41 ,esq41 #dgi1 #dhh1 #dij-dib ,bosanquet1 ,s4 ,r41 ,esq41 #dge ,bosanquet1 ,william1 ,esq41 #dib1 #did1 #eef ,bourignon1 ,madam1 #dfc ,bouverot1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #eca ,bradburn1 ,samuel1 #bff-bfh1 #did ,bradford1 #dic1 #did1 #eja ,bradford1 ,joseph1 #cbg ,brammah1 ,mrs41 #dga ,brecknock1 #aha ,breedon1 #ajj1 #aeb ,brighton1 #ea1 #aaa1 #abj ,brisco1 ,thomas1 #dhg ,bristol1 #ca1 #cc1 #cd1 #ajb1 #aca1 #add1 #aeh1 #agb1 #ahj1 #bch1 #bdb1 #bee1 #ccj1 #ceg1 #chh1 #cid-cig1 #eai ,bristol1 ,earl of1 #dja ,brooke1 ,robert1 #ejf1 #ejg ,brooke1 ,henry1 #ejf1 #ejg1 #ebj1 #eba1 #ech1 #eeb ,broseley1 #cfc1 #dje1 #dcj ,brown1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #ajc1 #ajg1 #aah1 #cca ,buchan1 ,earl of1 #abc1 #bge ,burchell1 ,mr41 #aj ,burnet1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #aai ,burslem1 #edh ,cartwright1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #ba ,cartwright1 ,molly1 #ddb1 #dde1 #ddf ,chambers1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #dg1 #ee ,chateau d',oex1 #dbf1 #dbg ,cheek1 ,rev4 ,moseley1 #eae ,cheshunt ,college1 #acg ,chester1 #bfg1 #dae1 #dbi ,childs1 ,elizabeth1 #bgb ,clarke1 ,dr4 ,adam1 #bfh1 #cif1 #edh ,clarke1 ,mary1 #cc ,coalbrook ,dale1 #fc1 #fd1 #ii1 #cfc1 #cib1 #dcj1 #dde1 #ebg ,coke1 ,rev4 ,dr41 #cca-ccc1 #dcc1 #dfc1 #dff1 #eah1 #ecj1 #eca1 #edb1 #edd ,coles1 ,elisha1 #aee ,conyers1 ,rev4 ,dr41 #aai1 #dag ,costerdine1 ,robert1 #dbi ,cound1 ,mrs41 #dje1 #dcj ,cownley1 ,joseph1 #ij1 #ceh ,creighton1 ,rev4 ,james1 #edd ,crisp1 ,rev4 ,dr41 #aid1 #bjb1 #bad ,crosby1 ,sarah1 #bh1 #cc1 #djj1 #dfg1 #dgc1 #dge1 #dgi1 #dhj1 #die1 #egc ,crosse1 ,rev4 ,john1 #dfa1 #dic ,cross ,hall1 #dfg1 #dhf1 #dhi1 #did1 #die1 #ejb ,crowther1 ,jonathan1 #hb1 #ebc ,dartmouth1 ,earl of1 #cec ,daventry1 #ecb ,davies1 ,rev4 ,howell1 #adi-aea ,dawley1 #dbi1 #ejc ,de ,bons1 ,mr41 #dhi ,de ,champs1 ,mr41 #aa1 #dhh ,de ,courcy1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #dgb ,deighton1 ,rev4 ,john1 #dig ,de ,luc1 ,mr41 #eaa ,deptford1 #dah ,dewsbury1 #dcc ,dickenson1 ,rev4 ,peard1 #eed ,dillon1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #edc ,dixon1 ,dr4 ,james1 #cif ,dort1 ,synod of1 #aee ,downes1 ,john1 #ij ,downs1 ,mr41 #dd ,downs1 ,john1 #dd ,dublin1 #bba1 #ejf1 #ejh1 #eag-ebb1 #ecj ,dunham1 #ed ,easterbrook1 ,rev4 ,joseph1 #aca-acd1 #add ,eddowes1 ,mr41 #bhh ,edmondson1 ,jonathan1 #aeb ,edmunds1 ,daniel1 #djc ,edmunds1 ,winifred1 #eeh ,edwards1 ,richard1 #ad1 #bc1 #ca ,eells1 ,william1 #ede1 #edf ,elliott1 ,sir ,john1 #chh ,elwall1 ,edward1 #bah1 #bai ,erskine1 ,lady ,anne1 #aag1 #abj1 #acg1 #adi1 #aga1 #agd ,evans1 ,caleb1 #ccd1 #cdg-cec1 #ceg1 #ceh ,everton1 #ea1 #cga ,fennel1 ,john1 #eej ,ferrars1 ,earl of1 #ej ,fitzgerald1 ,lady ,mary1 #dja1 #dgc1 #dgd1 #eja1 #eji1 #edj1 #eeb1 #eeh1 #efi ,fletcher1 ,henry1 #aa1 #ad1 #ah1 #dih1 #eei ,fletcher1 ,mrs41 #ejb-ejd1 #ejh1 #eab1 #eag-eai1 #eba1 #ebb1 #eci1 #eej1 #eec1 #eef1 #eeh-efe1 #efh1 #efi1 #egc ,fothergill1 ,dr41 #cij ,fox1 ,mr41 #cgj ,furley1 ,miss1 #dd1 #df ,garforth1 ,thomas1 #dih ,geneva1 #g1 #dde1 #ded ,genoa1 #afj ,gilbert1 ,nathaniel1 ,esq41 #cf1 #eac ,gilbert1 ,rev4 ,nathaniel1 #eac1 #ead ,gildersome1 #dhj ,gilpin1 ,rev4 ,joshua1 #ha1 #afj1 #dde1 #dee1 #eab1 #eae1 #ebj1 #efg1 #egb ,glascott1 ,rev4 ,cradock1 #abj1 #aba1 #ace1 #acf1 #aed1 #ahi ,glazebrook1 ,rev4 ,james1 #abb1 #abd ,glenorchy1 ,lady1 #agd1 #age ,glossop1 #chi ,glynne1 ,mrs41 #bb1 #eah ,gold1 ,mrs41 #dgf ,good1 ,mr41 #cgj ,gorham1 ,mr41 #cga1 #cgb1 #dff ,greaves1 ,rev4 ,alexander ,b41 #cfe1 #cff1 #cfh1 #chd1 #chh1 #chi1 #djd1 #dad1 #dbc1 #dca1 #dcf1 #dch1 #ddj1 #dde1 #dfj1 #dfa ,green1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #ad ,greenwood1 ,charles1 #cgb1 #cgc1 #chb1 #cij1 #cib1 #dji1 #dcb1 #dcc1 #dfj1 #eaf1 #eda ,greenwood1 ,james1 #cgb ,grimshaw1 ,rev4 ,william1 #ig1 #aai1 #chd ,halifax1 #did ,hampson1 ,john1 senior1 #ede1 #edf ,hampson1 ,john1 junior1 #ede1 #edf ,hanby1 ,thomas1 #c1 #edb ,hare1 ,mr41 #cgj ,harris1 ,howell1 #adh-aea1 #aga1 #ahb-ahd ,harwich1 #ada ,hatfield1 #aj ,hatherleigh1 #aba ,hatton1 ,miss1 #ij1 #ia1 #ie1 #ajf-ajh1 #aaa1 #aae ,hatton1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #hj1 #eac1 #efd1 #efe ,hatton1 ,samuel1 #ij1 #ia1 #ahh1 #dbi ,haughton1 ,mr41 #gh ,haworth1 #aai ,hay1 #ahb ,helmsley1 #dah ,henderson1 ,john1 #add-adh ,henderson1 ,richard1 #ade-adg1 #adi ,hereford1 ,bishop of1 #eh1 #chi ,hern1 ,jonathan1 #ddb ,hervey1 ,rev4 ,james1 #cde ,hicks1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #eb ,hill1 ,noel1 ,esq41 #dhi ,hill1 ,sir ,richard1 #dj1 #aaa1 #abj1 #aed1 #ahi1 #bae1 #bai1 #bbc-bcg1 #bda1 #bdd1 #bdh-beb1 #bgi-bhb1 #bhe-bie1 #bii1 #cjc1 #cjg1 #caa-cac1 #caf-cbj1 #cbb1 #ccj1 #ccd1 #cce ,hill1 ,rev4 ,rowland1 #agh1 #ahf1 #bcg1 #bda1 #bdd1 #bde1 #bdh1 #bhg1 #ccj1 #ccd1 #che1 #chg1 #dgb ,hill1 ,thomas1 ,esq41 #aa1 #ad1 #bb1 #be1 #bi1 #cb1 #ce1 #cg1 #da1 #dg1 #ed1 #ee1 #eh1 #fd1 #dhh1 #dhi ,hodson1 ,john1 #ih ,holy1 ,thomas1 #dga ,hopper1 ,christopher1 #c ,horne1 ,rev4 ,melville1 #hh1 #abf1 #eac-eaf1 #eee ,hotham1 ,sir ,charles1 #aaa ,hotham1 ,lady ,gertrude1 #di ,hoxton ,square1 #dgf ,huddersfield1 #aai1 #aba ,hull1 #cgj ,hurrel1 ,miss1 #djj ,huntingdon1 ,countess of1 #ca1 #cb1 #cg1 #dd1 #dh-eb1 #ef1 #eg1 #ei1 #fb1 #fd1 #ajb1 #aaa1 #aaf-abb1 #abe1 #aca1 #acd1 #acf1 #acg1 #adc1 #adi1 #aea1 #aee1 #aeg1 #afd1 #aga1 #agb1 #agd1 #age1 #agh-aij1 #aib1 #aig1 #bji1 #bfd1 #bii-cjb1 #cje1 #caj1 #cde1 #ceg1 #chg1 #cic1 #eja ,ingham1 ,rev4 ,benjamin1 #aai ,ireland1 ,james1 ,esq41 #ajc1 #ajd1 #aji1 #aae1 #aah1 #abj1 #aba1 #acg1 #ach1 #adj1 #aee1 #aef1 #aeh1 #afj-afb1 #aga1 #ahi1 #aia1 #aib1 #aid1 #aig1 #bfi1 #bii1 #cja1 #cdh1 #cee1 #cfe1 #cff1 #cgh1 #chg1 #chh1 #cib1 #cic1 #cii1 #djg1 #dji1 #daj1 #daf-dba1 #dbd1 #dbg1 #dcf1 #ddj1 #ddd1 #dde1 #ddg1 #dej1 #dfj1 #dgb1 #edi1 #eeg1 #efi ,ireland1 ,miss1 #ajg1 #ajh1 #ach1 #aci ,jackson1 ,daniel1 #eai ,jackson1 ,thomas1 #ccb ,janes1 ,thomas1 #bdb1 #bdc ,jobson1 ,dr41 #eje ,johnson1 ,ann1 #dgd ,johnson1 ,dr41 #adf1 #cdg ,jones1 ,rev4 ,john1 #ada-add ,jones1 ,sir ,william1 #adf ,keen1 ,mr41 #aag1 #acg ,kinaston1 ,mr41 #dhi ,kingswood1 #ca1 #fd1 #aca1 #add1 #adg1 #aeb1 #aeg1 #dfb ,kippax1 #aah-abj ,knipe1 ,mrs41 #dah ,knowles1 ,dr41 #dbj ,kruse1 ,mrs41 #ci ,kruse1 ,peter1 #ci ,lausanne1 #dce1 #dci1 #ddj1 #ddc1 #ddg1 #dhi ,lawrence1 ,sarah1 #dgg1 #eah1 #efc ,ledsham1 #aec ,lee1 ,mr41 #aaa ,lee1 ,thomas1 #ede ,leeds1 #aba1 #dfe-dgj1 #dgg1 #dha1 #ecb1 #eda1 #ede-edi ,lefevre1 ,mrs41 #dge ,lentzburg1 #g ,lewen1 ,miss1 #dgh1 #dgi ,ley1 ,rev4 ,william1 #he ,leytonstone1 #dge1 #dgf1 #dgi1 #dhi1 #dia ,liverpool1 ,lord1 #dja ,llanbister1 #cie ,llangollen1 #eah ,lloyd1 ,rev4 ,david1 #cie ,lloyd1 ,john1 #aga1 #ahh ,london1 #aa1 #cf-ci1 #da1 #dg1 #di1 #ej1 #hd1 #aaa1 #aad1 #ahj1 #bdb1 #ddg1 #egc ,lowestoft1 #cfi ,loxdale1 ,miss ,ann1 #dfb-dfd1 #dfh ,ludlow1 #gh ,lyons1 #ddg ,macon1 #daf1 #dag1 #dai ,madan1 ,rev4 ,martin1 #eb1 #gi1 #aai1 #acd1 #bae1 #bdf1 #cbd1 #cfa ,madeley1 #dg1 #ee1 #eg-fb1 #gf1 #hi1 #ic1 #aeh1 #aia1 #bee1 #beh1 #cfi1 #cgc1 #chb1 #chi1 #dje1 #dae1 #dbc1 #dbi1 #dcj1 #dej1 #dfj1 #dhi1 #dib1 #ejb1 #eje1 #ebf1 #ebg1 #ecj1 #eci1 #eea ,madeley ,wood1 #fc1 #fd1 #gd1 #gf1 #gi1 #hc1 #aah1 #bee1 #chh1 #djc1 #dbi1 #dcj1 #dch1 #ebf1 #ebg1 #edg ,maidenhead1 #aeb ,manchester1 #dfa ,marseilles1 #afj1 #daf1 #ddh ,mather1 ,alexander1 #c1 #ii1 #bji ,matthews1 ,mary1 #gd1 #gf1 #gg ,maxfield1 ,rev4 ,thomas1 #cc1 #ci1 #hd1 #he1 #ij1 #ia1 #add1 #ahj1 #aha ,maxwell1 ,lady1 #bbj ,medhurst1 ,mrs41 #aai1 #abj ,minethorpe1 ,william1 #ii ,montpelier1 #aee1 #daj1 #dad1 #daf1 #ddg1 #dfa ,moore1 ,henry1 #dab1 #eai1 #edb1 #edc ,more1 ,miss ,hannah1 #adf ,morris1 ,james1 #cdg ,murlin1 ,john1 #dae1 #dgg1 #dgi ,nelson1 ,john1 #c1 #eag ,newcastle-on-,tyne1 #cef ,newton1 ,rev4 ,john1 #bhc ,north1 ,lord1 #dcg1 #dch ,norwich1 #cfi ,nowell1 ,rev4 ,dr41 #aed1 #bjf1 #bcb ,nyon1 #d1 #g1 #i1 #aef1 #afb1 #dae1 #dba1 #dbd-dbg1 #dca1 #dcd-dcf1 #dci1 #ddc-ddf1 #dec1 #dee1 #dfd1 #dhh1 #dih ,oathall1 #aaa1 #aab1 #aag ,olivers1 ,thomas1 #c1 #aij1 #bjh1 #bji1 #bcb1 #bij1 #cce1 #ccg1 #cci ,onions1 ,michael1 #cfc1 #che1 #cib1 #dcb1 #dde1 #ddf ,orton1 ,miss1 #aag1 #aga ,otley1 #eda ,owen1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #ahi ,owen1 ,john1 #dde1 #ddf ,palmer1 ,robert1 #chh ,pawson1 ,john1 #c1 #aec1 #bdb ,peckwell1 ,rev4 ,dr41 #che1 #chg ,perronet1 ,charles1 #beb1 #cfd1 #cfe1 #cij ,perronet1 ,miss ,damaris1 #che1 #chi1 #cij1 #djg1 #dgc ,perronet1 ,edward1 #bhe ,perronet1 ,henry1 #ig ,perronet1 ,rev4 ,vincent1 #cfd1 #cfe1 #che1 #cij1 #djg1 #dai1 #dcj1 #dcb1 #ddg1 #dii1 #ejj1 #eed1 #eef ,perronet1 ,william1 #chi1 #cii1 #dae1 #dai1 #dbe-dbh1 #dca-dce1 #dci1 #ddj1 #ddd1 #ddg1 #dii1 #ejj ,pescod1 ,joseph1 #dff ,pewsey1 #aai ,pilmoor1 ,joseph1 #c1 #edc1 #ede1 #edf ,pine1 ,william1 #aia1 #aib1 #cdi ,pool1 ,john1 #ede ,power1 ,mr41 #dbj ,powley1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #aai ,powys1 ,thomas1 ,esq41 #aaa1 #aae1 #ahi1 #bae ,preston1 ,mr41 #cgj ,price1 ,dr41 #bai1 #ccd1 #cej-cec1 #ceg1 #ceh1 #chg ,price1 ,owen1 #ch ,priestley1 ,dr41 #eca-ecg ,pritchard1 ,john1 #ede ,prothero1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #fe ,ramsden1 ,mr41 #cgj ,rankin1 ,thomas1 #c1 #ddg1 #dfd ,reader1 ,thomas1 #cbj ,reading1 #djg ,richardson1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #aai ,ritchie1 ,miss1 #djj1 #eda ,roberts1 ,john1 #bgd ,rock ,church1 #gf1 #gi ,rogers1 ,hester ,ann1 #dfg-dga1 #dgc1 #dhe ,rogers1 ,james1 #cig1 #dfg ,romaine1 ,rev4 ,william1 #aaa1 #abb1 #aed1 #agd1 #cde1 #dgb ,rome1 #daj ,roquet1 ,rev4 ,james1 #bdb1 #bdc1 #cee1 #cff ,rowlands1 ,rev4 ,daniel1 #adh1 #adi1 #aea1 #aga1 #agb ,rutherford1 ,thomas1 #c1 #eai ,ryan1 ,sarah1 #bh1 #cc1 #ce1 #dc1 #df1 #dge-dgg1 #dhj ,ryland1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #aai ,scott1 ,captain1 #aaf-aah1 #abj ,sellon1 ,rev4 ,walter1 #aja1 #aea1 #ahg1 #bjf-bjh1 #bai1 #bcb1 #beb1 #bib ,serle1 ,ambrose1 #bid ,shadford1 ,george1 #c ,sheffield1 #dfg1 #dga ,sherlock1 ,bishop1 #cb1 #ecd ,shirley1 ,lady ,frances1 #di ,shirley1 ,rev4 ,walter1 #ej1 #adi-aea1 #aga1 #agb1 #agd1 #agg1 #agi1 #ahc1 #ahe1 #ahh-aig1 #bja-bjd1 #bjg1 #bji-bae1 #bbj-bbc1 #bbi1 #bch1 #bci1 #ccd1 #cde1 #cgh1 #che1 #chg ,shoreham1 #che1 #djg ,shrewsbury1 #bb1 #bi1 #ca1 #cd1 #ig1 #abj1 #acf1 #aia1 #bhh1 #dcj1 #eah ,simeon1 ,rev4 ,charles1 #eea1 #eeb ,simpson1 ,mr41 #cgj ,simpson1 ,rev4 ,david1 #afh1 #edc ,smisby1 #aeb ,smith1 ,william1 #dfg1 #dig ,smyth1 ,mrs41 #eah1 #eai1 #eci ,smyth1 ,william1 #eah1 #ebj1 #ebb ,south ,mimms1 #aj ,southey1 ,robert1 #cbi ,st4 ,albans1 #ad ,st4 ,neots1 #cga1 #cgb1 #dff ,stevenson1 ,g4 ,j41 #bji1 #edi ,stillingfleet1 ,rev4 ,edward1 #acc1 #cid ,stoke ,newington1 #cgb1 #cgc1 #chb1 #cia1 #djc1 #djh1 #dji1 #dhd1 #eeb ,story1 ,george1 #c ,swedenborg1 ,baron1 #eca ,taunton1 #cbj1 #ceg ,tavan1 ,mr41 #dhi ,taylor1 ,isaac1 #cbi ,taylor1 ,richard1 #dgi-dhb1 #dih ,taylor1 ,thomas1 #c1 #cie1 #edb ,terry1 ,mr41 #cgj ,thompson1 ,william1 #c ,thornton1 ,mrs41 #djb1 #dcc1 #eaf1 #eeb ,thornton1 ,john1 ,esq41 #bhc1 #bhd1 #cgh1 #chh1 #dah ,toplady1 ,rev4 ,augustus1 #aed1 #bjc1 #bjf1 #bjh1 #bcb1 #bhd1 #bid1 #cab1 #cbd1 #ccd-cdg1 #dea ,townsend1 ,rev4 ,joseph1 #aai1 #acb ,tranter1 ,william1 #ejc ,trevecca ,college1 #aaf1 #aag1 #aba1 #aca1 #acd-acg1 #ada1 #add1 #ade1 #adh-aea1 #aeg1 #aeh1 #afd1 #aga1 #age-ahf1 #bji1 #eei ,tripp1 ,ann1 #bh1 #dgg1 #dig ,tunbridge1 #ca1 #cb ,turner1 ,dr41 #chg ,valton1 ,john1 #dif1 #dih1 #eaf ,vaughan1 ,mr41 #bb1 #bi1 #db1 #bfh1 #bfi1 #cec1 #ceh ,venn1 ,rev4 ,henry1 #eb1 #aaa1 #aai1 #abb1 #acc1 #aga1 #agb1 #agd1 #cga1 #cic1 #cid1 #ebi1 #efi ,voltaire1 #daf1 #deb1 #deg ,walsh1 ,father1 #bae ,walsh1 ,thomas1 #bh1 #cj1 #cg1 #ch ,wandsworth1 #cf ,wase1 ,william1 #chd1 #chh1 #dje1 #dbi1 #dch1 #ddb1 #ddd ,washington1 ,general ,george1 #cdg ,watson1 ,richard1 #egd ,wellington1 #ii ,wem1 #ij1 #ie1 #ajg1 #agg ,wenlock1 #gi ,wesley1 ,rev4 ,charles1 #ca1 #cb1 #ce-ch1 #da1 #db1 #dd1 #de1 #dg1 #dh1 #ej1 #ea1 #ee1 #eg1 #fb-fd1 #ff1 #gf1 #gh-hj1 #hd1 #hi-ia1 #if1 #ig1 #abi1 #acb1 #ada1 #adb1 #aeb1 #agb1 #ahj1 #bbb1 #bhe1 #caj1 #cbg1 #cbh1 #cdf1 #cei-cfb1 #cfg1 #djb1 #dcc1 #dhd1 #eaa1 #edd1 #eef1 #eeg1 #efe ,wesley1 ,rev4 ,john1 #a-c1 #i1 #af1 #bj1 #bc1 #be1 #bf1 #bh1 #bi1 #cb1 #cd1 #cf1 #ej1 #eg1 #ei1 #fg1 #hb1 #hd1 #ij1 #ia1 #if1 #abb1 #abi1 #acb-acd1 #acf1 #ada1 #adh1 #aej-aed1 #aeg1 #afi1 #agc-agg1 #ahj-bji1 #bbj1 #bbb1 #bbd1 #bbe1 #bca1 #bcb1 #bcd-bch1 #bda-bdc1 #bef1 #bfc-bff1 #bgj1 #bhj-bhb1 #bhe-bhi1 #bih1 #cjd1 #cjg1 #caj1 #cba1 #cbb1 #cbd-cbi1 #cce1 #ccf1 #cci-cdi1 #cea-ceh1 #cfi1 #cgj1 #cgb1 #cgc1 #chj1 #chd1 #cib1 #cid1 #cie1 #djb1 #djh1 #daj1 #daa1 #dcj1 #dcc1 #dea1 #dfj1 #dfc1 #dfe1 #dgg1 #dhd1 #dhe1 #dig1 #ejb1 #ejh1 #ecb1 #ecc1 #eda-edi1 #eea1 #eeh1 #eff1 #egj1 #egb1 #ege ,west ,bromwich1 #cff ,whatcoat1 ,richard1 #c ,whitefield1 ,rev4 ,george1 #ca1 #fg1 #aad-aaf1 #aai1 #aba1 #acd-acf1 #adh1 #agc1 #agd1 #ahj1 #ahf1 #ahg1 #bjd1 #bfe1 #cde ,whitehead1 ,dr4 ,john1 #bfd1 #bfe ,wilberforce1 ,william1 ,esq41 #adf ,wilcocks1 ,samuel1 #bgd ,wilkes1 ,john1 #bgj-bgc ,wilkes1 ,sarah1 #bgb ,williams1 ,rev4 ,peter1 #adi1 #aej1 #aga1 #agb ,williams1 ,rev4 ,william1 #adh-aej1 #aga1 #agb ,wood1 ,enoch1 #edh ,wroxeter1 #bi ,yates1 ,mr41 #ebc ,yelling1 #cga ,york1 #abj1 #cgj ,york1 ,thomas1 #djc1 #dje1 #dbd1 #dcd1 #dch1 #dda ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,transcriber's ,note ,the footnotes references in the text were erratic1 frequently misaligning with the notes on each page1 or missing altogether4 ,the latter's placement in the text is done here on a best-guess basis4 ,footnotes have been re-sequenced numerically to be unique across the entire text4 ,the third full paragraph on p4 #bdf has a confusion of quotation near its end4 ,it is unclear1 by the context1 where the last nested quotation should end1 and so the confusion remains4 ,a similar confusion appears at the top of p4 #bif4 ,a closing single quote appears at 8we are for ever justified by ,christ alone1'04 ,either it is itself spurious1 or the opening of that nested quotation is missing4 ,near the bottom of p4 #dfg1 an extra space precedes the words #8here given' at the beginning of a line4 ,the lengthy quotation that follows is assumed to be the description referenced1 and the extra space has been removed4 ,in the ,index1 the entries for ,bouverot and ,downes have been placed in their proper alphabetic order4 ,errors deemed most likely to be the printer's have been corrected1 and are noted here4 ,the references are to the page and line in the original4 xiv4#cf 8,driving ,methodism and ,still ,mysticism0 ,added4 #ai4cd ,i endeavoured to conc ea_/eal ,replaced4 #dj4e a distinguished and ancient family4 ,added4 #da4a 8,after my conversation ,added4 #da4ci #8_/8,i am here ,replaced4 #db4i and ask1 #8,where are our hearts now8'0 ,inserted4 #fg4bh 8,he is our ,creator ,added4 #ij4bg the ancient town of ,wenn_/m ,replaced4 #ih4dj 8#8,our life is a dream6 ,added4 #aje4bb ,opposition gradually died4 ,added4 #adi4b ,howell ,davies1 rector of ,prendergast ,inserted4 #aea4aa 8#8,captain of ,thine enlisted host1 ,removed4 #aee4i 8,the ,lord give you patience ,added4 #aeh4ce so publicly pledged ,restored4 #agi4ch under the name of #8,perfection4' ,added4 #aic4bi to the ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,author ,added4 #bja4bb 8,one difficulty remains ,added4 #bbd4f and secondly ,inserted4 #bbe4df and mother ,church'_/0 ,replaced4 #bde4cg so plentifully heaped upon my head8' ,added4 #bdh4bg ,this dreadful sanbenito ,inserted4 #bed4b 8,,appeal ,,to ,,matter ,,of ,,fact ,added4 #bhg4ae quotations from ,mr4 ,wesley's #8,minutes10_/' ,replaced4 #cjg4cc their inamissable title sic #cbj4bc and a ,death ,purgatory10 ,added4 #cbe4h good works ,inserted4 #cdj4bd 8#8,come1 buy my fine powders2 come buy dem of ,removed4 me2 #ced4bj two shillings a week4'0 ,inserted4 #cgg4ai ,his wife1' the church of the first-born1 ,removed4 #chg4ci 8,they met and parted ,added40 #dag4ac is the decent covering ,restored4 #dbc4ch #8_/8,we are all called ,replaced4 #dfd4c 8,,madeley1 ,juu_/ne #bd1 #agha4 ,inverted4 #dfd4cc and affectionate ,son in the ,gospel4_/1 ,replaced4 #dfi4aj and is here given almost without ,removed4 abridgment4 #dgf4bj the tranquillity of my spirit40 ,added4 #dgh4dc concerning ,sister ,bosanquet having #b1jjj40 ,added4 #dhb4g sold for half its value ,added4 #dhd4ce 8,a few weeks ags_/o1 ,i once more read ,replaced4 #dif4ah ,o my ,god6 ,pray for me1 ,o my friends6' ,added4 #ebb4be drink the cup of humility at your feet4 ,added4 #ebe4bc horses uses_/d by smugglers ,replaced4 #edc4h ,i shall not be moved0 ,added4 #ede4cg ,to the _/latter1 he exclaimed ,restored4 #edf4ac ,joseph ,pillmoor1 ,john ,atlay1 and ,william ,inserted4 ,eells #egg4bi ,ba_/urnet1 ,rev4 ,mr41 #aai ,replaced4