not afraid to face with me the colliers and bargemen of my parish until death part us. "Buried together in our country village, we shall help one another to trim our lamps, and wait, as I trust you do continually, for the coming of the heavenly Bridegroom. Well, for us the heavenly child is born, to us a double son is given, and with him the double kingdom of grace and glory. O my dear friend, let us press into, and meet in both of these kingdoms. Our Surety and Saviour is the way and the door into them; and blessed be free grace, the way is free, as the King's highway, and the door open, like the arms of Jesus crucified." I have a January 1st, 1782, he adds, "I live, blessed be God, to devote myself again to his blessed service in this world, or in the next, and to wish my dear friends all the blessings of a year of Jubilee. Whatever this year bring forth, may it bring us the fullest measures of salvation attainable on earth, and the most complete preparation for heaven. solemn call to gird my loins and keep my lamp burning. Strangely restored to health and strength, considering my years; by the good nursing of my dear partner, I ventured to preach of late as often as I did formerly, and after having read prayers and preached twice on Christmas, day, &c. I did, last Sunday, what I had never done,-I continued doing duty from ten till past four in the afternoon, owing to christenings, churchings, and the sacra ment which I administered to a church full of people; so that I was obliged to go from the communion table, to begin the evening service, and then to visit some sick. This has brought back upon me one of my old, dangerous symptoms, so that I had flattered myself in vain, to do the whole duty of my parish. My dear wife is nursing me with the tenderest care, gives me up to God with the greatest resignation, and helps me to rejoice, that life and death, health and sickness, work all for our good, and are all our's, as blessed instruments to forward us in our jour ney to heaven. We intend to set out for Madeley tomorrow. The prospect of a winter's journey is not sweet; but the prospect of meeting you and your dear sister, and Lady Mary, and all our other companions in tribulation in heaven, is delightful. The Lord prepare and fit us for that glorious meeting! Your most obliged and affectionate servant, J. F." The next day they left Cross-Hall, as they proposed, and set out on their journey to Madeley; on which occasion the friend who gives the above account of their marriage, observes: "Jan. 2, 1772, we had a very solemn parting. But in the midst of all the sorrow which we felt, was a sweet assurance that we should meet again, not only in this world, but "Where death shall all be done away, This brings to my mind a sentence which he wrote to us, JOHN and MARY FLETCHER.” After their arrival at Madeley, he writes to Lady Mary Fitzgerald, as follows:-"I thank you, my Lady, for your kind congratulations on my marriage. The Lord has indeed blessed me with a partner after my own heart,-dead to the world, and wanting, as well as myself, to be filled with all the life of God. She joins me in dutiful thanks to your Ladyship, for your obliging remembrance of her in your kind letter, and will help me to welcome you to the little hermitage we spoke of last year in London, if your Ladyship's health or taste, should call you to retire awhile from the hurry of the town." And about a year after in a letter to Mr. Charles Wesley, his words are: "I thank you for your hint about exemplifying the love of Christ and his Church. I hope we do. I was afraid, at first, to say much of the matter: for new married people do not, at first, know each other; but having now lived fourteen months in my new state, I can tell you, Providence has reserved a prize for me, and that my wife is far better to me, than the Church to Christ; so that if the parallel fail, it will be on my side." "From this period," to use Mr. Gilpin's words, " Mr. Fletcher considered himself as possessed of the last possible addition to his earthly happiness, never mentioning this memorable event, but with expressions of extraordinary gratitude and devotion to the God of all his mercies. And from this time, to the other parts of his character must be added that of an attentive and affectionate husband, which he maintained with a becoming mixture of dignity and sweetness, to the day of his death. By her Christian conversation, her devotional habits, and her spiritual experience, Mrs. Fletcher was peculiarly suited to a state of the most entire and intimate fellowship with this eminent servant of God. She was of equal standing with him in the school of Christ, and of the same uncommon growth in grace; she had drank of the same spirit, was actuated by the same zeal, and prepared in every respect to accompany him in the Christian race. By her discretion and prudence she bore the whole weight of his domestic cares ; while, by the natural activity of her mind, and her deep acquaintance with divine things, she seconded his ministerial labours with astonishing success. Like Zacharias and Elizabeth, these extraordinary persons were both eminently righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. In their separate stations they had long been distinguished as lights in dark places: but, after uniting their rays, they shone with redoubled lustre, putting to silence the ignorance of foolish men, and dissipating the prejudices which many had entertained against the truths of the Gospel. "For the space of almost four years, these Christian yoke-fellors continued to enjoy, without interruption, all the inexpressible felicities of the most complete union; a union which appeared to promote, at once, their own particular happiness, and the interests of the people among whom they jointly laboured. FROM HIS MARRIAGE TILL THE BEGINNING OF HIS LAST ILLNESS. FROM the time of his settling at Madeley with Mrs. Fletcher, he had no return of his consumptive disorder. On the contrary, by the blessing of God on her peculiar care and tenderness, not only his health was confirmed, but his strength restored as in the days of his youth. In the meantime he took care to employ all his returning strength in the work of faith and the labour of love." I have yet strength enough," says he, to Mr. Charles Wesley, Dec. 19, 1782, "to do my parish duty without the help of a curate. O that the Lord would help me to do it acceptably and profitably! The colliers begun to rise in this neighbourhood: happily the cockatrice's egg was crushed before the serpent came out. However, I got many a hearty curse from the colliers, for the plain words I spoke on that occasion. I want to see days of power both within and without: but in the meantime I would follow closely my light in the narrow path. My wife joins me in respectful love to Mrs. Wesley and yourself. J. F." More particularly Mr. Fletcher was diligent in that which he had always found to be one of the most difficult parts of his duty. There were in the parish of Madeley, no less than eighteen public-houses. These were continual nurseries for sin, particularly on Sunday evenings. It had been, for many years, his unwearied endeavour, to put an end to these abuse. Yet, as he very seldom had a churchwarden who was heartily willing to second him therein, his endeavours were almost ineffectual, producing very little fruit. But for two years God was now pleased to favour him with a churchwarden, who was resolved to act according to his oath: he then cheerfully renewed his endeavours, visiting several of these houses every Sunday, (all of them in their turn.) In every one he bore a faithful testimony. And in some it was attended with much good. O that no one of those, who have been at any time within the reach of his voice, may finally inherit that curse, Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish! * For many years he had felt, with the deepest sensibility, the disconsolate condition of poor, uninstructed children: and some years ago he began a School, wherein he taught them himself every day. After pursuing this method for some time, he erected a School in Madeley-Wood. But afterwards his thoughts were much engaged concerning the utility of Sunday Schools; especially after they were recommended to him, by Mrs. Darby, an intelligent and pious person whom he always found ready to promote every good work. He then earnestly set about promoting them in his own parish. Three hundred children were soon gathered together, whom he took every opportunity of instructing, by regular meetings, for some time before the Schools were opened. These meetings he attended with the utmost diligence, till the very Thursday before his illness. In order to encourage the children, his method was to give them little hymn-books, pointing them to some friend or neighbour, who would teach them the hymns, and instruct them to sing. The little creatures were greatly taken with this new employment: insomuch that many of them would scarce allow themselves time to * This excellent woman is a Member and Minister in the Society of Friends. J. K. |