"Dearest Brother,

"This is to let you know, that (praised be the Lord,) I am very well in body, and pretty well in soul: But I have very few friends here. And God has been pleased to take away the chief of those few by a most comfortable death. And lately I heard that my aged father is gone the way of all flesh but the glorious circumstances of his death make me ample amends for the sorrow which I felt. For some years I have written to him with as much freedom as I could have done to a son, though not with so much effect as I wished. But last spring, God visited him with a severe illness, which brought him to a sense of himself. And after a deep repentance, he died about a month ago, in the full assurance of faith. This has put several of my friends on thinking seriously, which affords me great cause of thankfulness. I am your unworthy brother and servant in the Lord,

JOHN FLETCHER."

A discovery of his sentiments on the subject of the ministry, was no sooner made, but many honourable elders in the household of God, who had discernment enough to distinguish the grace that was in him, and how admirably he was fitted for the work of an evangelist, rejoiced over him as a faithful labourer already hired into the vineyard of Christ. They not only ratified his internal call to the holy ministry, by their unanimous approbation, but earnestly solicited him to obey that call without any further delay. Meanwhile the word of the Lord was as fire in his bones, ever struggling for vent, and not unfrequently breaking forth, as occasion offered, in public reproof, exhortation, and prayer.

In this state he continued for about the space of two years, not wholly determined what course he should pursue, but patiently waiting to hear what the Lord God would say concerning him. And during this season, he was much occupied in making a diligent preparation for the

service of the altar, that, if ever he should be called to so honourable an employment, he might go forth thoroughly furnished to every good work. The chief objects of his pursuit were sacred knowledge, and christian purity; in both of which he made an uncommon proficiency, surpassing many who had studied for that knowledge, and struggled for that purity, through the greater part of their life. By his private exercises he was fitted for public labours, and by the holy discipline, to which he submitted himself without any reserve, he was trained to spiritual eminence in the school of Christ. To those who perfectly knew him in this state of retirement, he appeared as a polished shaft, hid indeed for a season in the quiver of his Lord, yet ready for immediate service, and prepared to fly in any appointed direction.

He was not without promises of preferment in the church: but these served rather to retard than to hasten his entrance into it. Having a sacrifice to perform and not a fortune to secure, he was fearful lest his intention should be debased by views of an interested nature. At length, his humble reluctance was overcome, and after the most mature deliberation, he solemnly determined to offer himself a candidate for holy orders. And to this solemn determination he was urged by the increasing force of two powerful motives gratitude and benevolence; gratitude to God impelled him to declare the name of his great Benefactor, and bear public testimony to the word of his grace; while benevolence towards his fellow-creatures incited him to spend and be spent, in promoting their best interests. Constrained by these sacred motives, he publicly dedicated. himself to the work of the holy ministry in the year 1757, when he received deacon's orders on Sunday, March the sixth, and priest's orders on the following Sunday, from the hands of the bishop of Bangor, in the Chapel Royal at St. James's.

The following short extracts from three of his letters to

the Rev. Mr. Charles Wesley, will shew the state of his mind at this period. The first is dated March 22, 1759.. "My dear Sir,

"You left me without permitting me to say, Farewell; but that shall not hinder me from wishing you a good journey, and I flatter myself, that you are in the habit of returning my prayers.

"Since your departure, I have lived more than ever like a hermit. It seems to me, that I am an unprofitable weight upon the earth. I want to hide myself from all. I tremble when the Lord favors me with a sight of myself; I tremble to think of preaching only to dishonor God. To-morrow I preach at West-street with all the feelings of Jonah: O would to God I might be attended with success! If the Lord shall, in any degree sustain my weakness, I shall consider myself as indebted to your prayers.

"A proposal has lately been made to me, to accompany Mr. Nathaniel Gilbert to the West Indies. I have weighed the matter; but on one hand I feel that I have neither sufficient zeal, nor grace, nor talents, to expose myself to the temptations and labours of a mission in the WestIndies; on the other, I believe, that if God call me thither, the time is not yet come. I wish to be certain, that I am converted myself, before I leave my converted brethren to convert heathens. Pray let me know what you think of this business; if you condemn me to put the sea between us, the command would be a hard one; but I might, possibly, prevail on myself to give you that proof of the deference I pay to your judicious advice.

"I have taken possession of my little hired chamber. There I have outward peace, and I wait for that which is within. I was this morning with Lady Huntingdon, who salutes you, and unites with me to say, that we have need of you to make one in our threefold cord, and to beg you will hasten your return, when Providence permits. Our conversation was deep, and full of the energy of faith on the part of the Countess; as to me, I sat like Saul at the feet of Gamaliel. J. FLETCHER.”

The second was written in April following, and in this his words are, "With an heart bowed down with grief, and eyes bathed with tears, occasioned by our late heavy loss, I mean the death of Mr. Walsh,* I take my pen to pray you to intercede for me. What! that sincere, laborious, and zealous servant of God! Was he saved only as by fire, and was not his prayer heard till the twelfth hour was just expiring? O where shall I appear, I who am an unprofitable servant! Would to God my eyes were fountains of water to weep for my sins! Would to God I might pass the rest of my days in crying, Lord have mercy upon me! All is vanity-grace, talents, labours, if we compare them with the mighty stride we have to take from time into eternity! Lord remember me now thou art in thy kingdom!

"I have preached and administered the sacrament at West-street sometimes in the holidays. May God water the poor seed I have sown, and give it fruitfulness, though it be only in one soul!

"I have lately seen so much weakness in my heart, both as a minister and a christian, that I know not which is most to be pitied, the man, the believer, or the preacher. Could I at last, be truly humbled, and continue so always, I should esteem myself happy in making this discovery. I preach merely to keep the chapel open, until God shall send a workman after his own heart. Nos numeri sumus ;† this is almost all I can say of myself. If I did not know myself a little better than I did formerly, I should tell you, that I had ceased altogether from placing any confidence in my repentances, &c. &c. but I see my heart is

Rev. Thomas Walsh, an able minister of the New Covenant, who after severe ministerial labors, accompanied with considerable success -much temptation-and awful desponding sufferings, died in peace, an old man (in appearance) at the age of twenty-eight in Ireland, his native country.

I fill an empty space.

so full of deceit, that I cannot depend on my knowledge of myself.

"The day Mr. Walsh died, the Lord gave our brethren the spirit of prayer and supplication, and many unutterable groans were offered up for him at Spitalfields, where I was. Who shall render us the same kind office? Is not our hour near? O my God, when thou comest, prepare us, and we shall be ready! You owe your children an elegy upon his death, and you cannot employ your talents on a better subject.

J. F."

June 1st, he writes, "The Lord gives me health of body, and from time to time I feel strength in my soul.O when shall the witness (meaning himself) who is dead, arise! When shall the Spirit enter into him, and fill him with wisdom, with power, and with love! Pray for me, and support my weakness as much as you can. I am here Umbra pro copore.* I preach as your substitute: come and fill worthily an office, of which I am unworthy. My pupils return to Cambridge on Monday, and the whole family sets out for Shropshire on the 11th. Shall I not see you before that time? I have rejected the offer of Dr. Taylor, and have no other temptations than those of a bad heart. That is enough, you will say; I grant it; but we must fight before we conquer. Pray that my courage may not fail. Come, and the Lord come with you! I am, &c. J. F."

OF HIS QUALIFICATION'S FOR, AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, AND OF HIS LABOURS AT MADELEY AND ELSEWHERE.

"He who engages himself to fight the battles of the Lord," says the Rev. Mr. Gilpin,† "has need of uncom

A shadow rather than a substance.

†The Rev. Joshua Gilpin, the good rector of Wrockwardine Parish, near Madely, in the county of Salop, (England,) and the excel

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