can bless by word of mouth, Rev. and dear Sir, your wilwing, though unprofitable Servant in the Gospel,

Madeley, Feb. 6, 1773.

J. F."

On this letter Mr. Wesley remarks as follows: " Providence,' says Mr. Fletcher, visibly appointed me to that office many years ago.' Is it any wonder then, that he should now be in doubt, whether he did right in confining himself to one spot? The more I reflect upon it, the more I am convinced, he had great reason to doubt of this. I can never believe it was the will of God that such a burning and shining light should be hid under a bushel. No: instead of being confined to a country village, it ought to have shone in every corner of our land. He was full as much called to sound an alarm through all the nation as Mr. Whitefield himself; nay, abundantly more so, seeing he was far better qualified for that important work. He had a more striking person, equal good-breeding, an equally winning address; together with a richer flow of fancy, a stronger understanding, a far greater treasure of learning, both in languages, philosophy, philology, and divinity; and, above all, (which I can speak with fuller assurance, because I had a thorough knowledge both of one and the other) a more deep and constant communion with the Father, and with the Son, Jesus Christ.

"And yet let not any one imagine, that I deprecate Mr. Whitefield, or undervalue the grace of God, and the extraordinary gifts, which his great Master vouchsafed unto him. I believe he was highly favoured of God; yea, that he was one of the most eminent ministers, that has appeared in England, or perhaps in the world, during the present century. Yet I must own, I have known many fully equal to Mr. Whitefield, both in holy tempers and holiness of conversation: but one equal herein to Mr. Fletcher, I have not known, no, not in a life of fourscore years."

"However, having chosen," proceeds Mr. Wesley, "at least for the present, this narrow field of action, he was more and more abundant in his ministerial labours, both in public and in private; not contenting himself with preaching, but visiting his flock in every corner of his parish. And this work he attended to, early or late, whether the weather was fair or foul; regarding neither heat nor cold, rain nor snow, whether he was on horseback or on foot. But this farther weakened his constitution: which was still more effectually impaired, by his intense and uninterrupted studies*; in which he frequently continued, almost without any intermission, fourteen, fifteen or sixteen hours a-day. But still he did not allow himself such food as was necessary to sustain nature. He seldom took any regular meals except he had company: otherwise twice or thrice in four and twenty hours, he ate some bread and cheese, or fruit. Instead of this, he sometimes took a draught of milk, and then wrote on again."

The state of his health, however, although he had so lately judged himself much better, soon began to decline, and his disorder to increase to such an alarming degree, that the possibility of his recovery, without a miracle, was universally doubted. But far was he, while in these circumstances, from being daunted or cast down at the apparent approach of the king of terrors. Rather" he looked forward, with increasing desire, to the happy moment

Some of Mr. Fletcher's writings, in the year 1775, attracted the notice of the great ones of the nation. Amongst the rest, the Lord Chancellor presented the work to the King; and his Majesty was so well pleased with it, that a person was immediately commissioned to ask Mr. Fletcher, whether any preferment in the Church would be acceptable; or whether he (the Chancellor) could do him any service. He answered, "I want nothing but more grace." Having drank largely of the water of life, he thirsted not for the honour that cometh from And his daily experience corroborated this divine truth-God giveth grace to the humble.

man.

A. Y

+ Gilpin's Notes

when he should exchange the weapons of war for the crown of glory. Not that he was averse to the duties of his vocation, or wearied with the length of his services; but, being exceedingly athirst for God, as the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panted his soul after the more immediate presence of God. Though he was favoured with the enjoyment of many inestimable blessings by the way, yet he looked with unutterable longings, to the end of his course; knowing that to be at home in the body, is to be absent from the Lord. Though he experienced inexpressible delight in the society of such as worshipped in the outer courts of the Lord's house; still he saw it infinitely more desirable to associate with the spirits of just men made perfect, in the inner places of his visible temple. And though he was, at times, permitted a momentary glimpse of heavenly mysteries, yet he earnestly desired that, mortality being swallowed up of life, he might behold with open face the glory of the Lord.

This desire, which accompanied him through every state, was expressed with a more than ordinary degree of fervour in seasons of weakness and disease. In these solemn intervals, when he appeared to be speedily advancing towards the confines of eternity, he rejoiced as a weary traveller within sight of his home. His immortal prospects became more enlarged and transporting, his conversation was correspondent to the grandeur of his views, and his whole appearance was that of a man, already clothed in the wedding garment, and hastening to sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb. There was something in his deportment, upon these awful occasions, which reminded me of the transfiguration of his Master upon Mount Tabor: While Moses and Elias were conversing with the blessed Jesus on his approaching decease, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became white and glistering: so, while the harbingers of death were apparently completing their work on the ema K

ciated frame of this holy man, his silent meditations have been frequently accompanied with so much visible delight, such an ecstatic glow has diffused itself over his whole countenance, and his eye has been directed upwards with a look of such inexpressible sweetness, that one would almost have supposed him, at such seasons, conversing with angelical spirits on his approaching dissolution, and the glory that should follow.

But, notwithstanding the intimate views he enjoyed of an happy immortality, and the intense desire he expressed to be with Christ; when he considered the importance of his charge, and the probability of his being rendered further serviceable to the church, charity toward his companions in tribulation gave birth to a new desire, and kept him in a state of sweet suspense between the labours of grace and the rewards of glory. It was in such a state that he took an affectionate leave of his people at Madeley, viz. in the autumn of this year, being about to spend a few weeks in travelling with Mr. Wesley." He delivered," says Mr. Gilpin, " a discourse upon that occasion from those pertinent words of St. Paul: What I shall choose, I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better: nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. In the course of this sermon he adverted, in the most pathetic terms, to the painful situation in which he then presented himself to his hearers; so debilitated by disease, that he was unable any longer to discharge. among them the public duties of his ministerial station From his present weakness, he looked back to his past labours, making many affecting reflections upon his own unworthiness, the indubitable testimonies he had received of his people's unfeigned affection, and the unusual success of his ministry among them. Here he enlarged upon the two leading desires of his soul. On the one hand, he made a solemn declaration of the earnest longing, with

which he desired to be absent from the body, that he might be present with the Lord: and on the other, he expressed a more than parental attachment, which excited in him a wish, that he might still be permitted to labour for their furtherance and establishment in the faith of the gospel. But what to choose, he knew not: nor was his present suspense attended with any degree of anxiety, since he foresaw unquestionable blessings awaiting him on either hand. He saw the balance poised by unerring wisdom, and was cheerfully content to wait the issue, with one uninterrupted request,-That, whether he lived, he might live unto the Lord, or whether he died, he might die unto the Lord; that, whether living or dying, he might be the Lord's.

"Such was the sweet suspense which this man of God experienced between a state of labour and a state of rest, which continued for more than two years, and which was at last happily determined in favour of his people, who were permitted the enjoyment of his ministry for a long season after this period, rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord, and abundantly profiting by the labours of his invigorated servant."

FROM HIS LEAVING NEWINGTON, TILL HIS RETURN FROM SWITZERLAND TO MADELEY.

It was in the latter end of April, 1777, that Mr. Fletcher was removed from Newington to Bristol, having continued with Mr. Greenwood upwards of fifteen weeks. "I was desired by Mr. and Mrs. Ireland," says Miss Thornton, "to bear them company to Bristol, which I willingly did. Indeed, I looked upon it as a call from God: nor could I desire a greater honour than to share in the employment of angels, in ministering to a distinguished heir of salvation. At Brislington, near Bristol, he continued in the same holy, earnest course as at Newington, Every