and sweet liberty in the meetings. No burden with my family, my friend Mary Tooth manages all. My confi. dence is all in thee, thou mighty Lord of all! I feel thee drawing nearer and nearer to my soul. The wound in my breast, occasioned by the lump which had formed, puts me afresh in mind of eternity. But, O how sweetly dost thou support me under it! I am enabled to go through all my meetings, and have but very little pain. Yesterday that verse of the hymn was sweetly applied to my heart,― "Abundant sweetness! While I sing Thy love my ravish'd soul o'erflows; Of glory which no period knows." September 3.-On the 14th of August I felt deep impressions of that most awful event, the death of my dear husband. But the renewed scene, will, I trust, soon end in joyous days. January, 1814.-I have been much disturbed almost all night. My asthma was oppressive, and I had much fever. My head also was confused, but those words came powerfully to my mind, "Sweet is thy voice, my Spouse, to me, I will behold no spot in thee: What mighty wonders love performs, May 7.-For some time the wound in my breast has been better, though it was thought, in January, that I should not live many days; and my breath is now more easy, especially in the night. I leave all in thy dear hand, my adorable Lord, and only long for a deeper plunge into God. May 20.-Reflecting on past mercies I find abundant cause for praise. I am surrounded with loving kindness; but my strength and sight seem to fail. I am waiting for a closer union with my dear Lord. Though so weak in body, I feel a desire to praise thee, my adorable Lord, for thy abundant mercies. O, my gracious Lord, I do feel great cause of praise! How many have I seen of my near relations who have suffered much in illness through want of wisdom, or tender care, in those about them! But I am favoured above all. O the wonderful care Providence hath ever had over me! What snares he hath saved me from? What dangers preserved me in, and what promises have I seen fulfilled! I have every thing I can want. O, my God, give me a watchful spirit, that I may not speak one word amiss! Above all, answer that prayer, "Let no vain thoughts lodge within me! Give me, from this hour, a mind continually fixed on thee, never more to be drawn out of its centre! July 1.-How tenderly the Lord deals with me! I am very weak, and yet am oft five times in a week able to be in my meetings, and I have strength to speak so that all may hear, and the Lord is very present with us. fill my soul with abundant praise! Lord. Sunday, August 15.-Yesterday, the 14th, was а solemn day to me. It is now twenty-nine years since my beloved went to glory. I am led to cry for a closer union with my Saviour. I feel his Spirit working in me; but it is a season of trial. That word is much with me, Pray without ceasing. 22.-Yesterday I had encouragement from the Lord, and lay down in his presence. In the night, while asleep, those words came with power, my heart seemed to speak them, "Him eye to eye I soon shall see, My face like his shall shine! Where saints and angels join!" I see more and more what a fulness there is in the Saviour. O, my God, let me be wholly lost in thee! September 12.-Seventy-five years ago I was born. O, my gracious Saviour, what great grace might I have gained in seventy-five years! I turn me to that blood which makes the sinner whole. I have, of late, had a view now and then as if the door of holiness was open, and the word spoke in my heart, "Believe, and possess to the uttermost." Lord give the power! November 3.-On Saturday I was very ill, and thought death drew near. Since that time I have found a deeper work in my soul. The Lord seems to lay to his hand. O, my Jesus, fill me with thy Spirit! I long to be all thine own. 24. The Lord is very good to me. I have found a clearer sense of his presence, and much answer to prayer. O, I feel as clay before the potter. On the 12th of this month I had a clear remembrance of the solemn scene of the union with my precious husband, and felt it was for eternity. What a favour do I also possess in my friend Tooth! The Lord has made her every thing to me that I need. Dear Mrs. Gilpin's death seems to bring me nearer to eternity. How little did I think she would be called first! Lord, prepare me, and fill me with thyself! I am still able to be out twice on Sunday, though the cold weather has much effect on my breath; yet last night and to-day I am a good deal relieved. 66 December 12.-I have had severe pain for a fortnight, yet mixed with much mercy. I thought I was near death. Yesterday I had an uncommon sense of the presence of God, and those words were much with me, My peace I leave with thee;" and again,-" If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." I felt it good to look into eternity, though in much pain. Monday, January 2, 1815.-The Sabbath yesterday was precious to me. O, I long that the year fifteen may be the best of all my life. Should I live a part of it, may that part bring heaven into my soul. Those words have been sweet to me, "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely.' Looking back on my past life, and seeing so many blunders, I felt a weight when the words above were spoken to my heart. Yes, my precious Saviour, thou dost love me freely. O, that I were more filled with thy love! The wound in my breast is much less, and I am much better; and blessed be my God! I feel nearer to him than last year. O, for a fuller gale from Sion's hill! March 21.-I have had pain last night, but not so violent as it might have been. Toward morning, I got some sleep, and awoke with these words, which came with power, "Give to the winds thy fears, Hope, and be undismay'd; God hears thy cries, and counts thy tears, May 29.-Glory be to God, I am full of mercies! I long for a more full union. I am far better in body also than I could have thought; yet I see myself on the very verge of eternity, and long for a full and perfect oneness with my Saviour. I know he doth bless me, and I cast my whole soul, with every power, on my Lord. O, it is sweet to have my will fully sunk in the will of my God. August 3.-I have had some trials with regard to outward affairs: but I have a full confidence all shall end well. We have had for thirty years a oneness among our people; but now there is a division, by the desire of the minister. It hurts me; yet I believe the Lord will order all. But I here declare, I have been joined to the people united to Mr. Wesley for above threescore years, and I trust to die among them. The life of true religion is with them, and the work increases. If my papers fall into any hands, I entreat these lines may never be left out.* I have always considered myself as a member of *I should have greatly rejoiced if I had been left at the same liberty respecting this painful passage, as the other parts of Mrs. Fletcher's writings. But her mind seems to have been deeply impressed with the occurrence, and hence the injunction is absolute. Being thus obliged to insert the change which was at this time made in the parish of Madeley, (by the curate not choosing to act among the people as his predecessors had done,) a duty seems to lie upon me to elucidate the cause of it in the best manner I am able: and this I hope to do with all the tenderness that truth will allow. Two letters, written by Mrs. Fletcher to the gentleman who succeeded Mr. Horne as curate of Madeley, will, I think, sufficiently explain it. Madeley, March 26, 1792. "REV. SIR,-Your letter to Mr. H. was not seen by me till yesterday, or I should have answered it before. "In order to draw what I have to say into the compass of one sheet of paper, I will divide it into three heads. First, The reason why I address you instead of the vicar;-Secondly, The temporal affairs of the parish ;-and, Thirdly, The state of the people as to religion. "First, I must observe, that after the death of my dear husband, (whose unwearied labours, and unexampled meekness, had left on the minds of the people the keenest conviction of their loss,) the mantle seemed to fall on a young gentleman, named Horne, (at that time one of the preachers on the circuit,) whom my dear husband had before mentioned as the man he wished to be his suecessor. There were great difficulties in the way; he, however, did take his place, and continued with us between five and six years. But the Lord, who holds the stars in his right hand, saw good to call him to Africa. The departure of Mr. and Mrs. Horne was a great loss to me, because in every thing we acted mutually. The orphans of my beloved partner were dear to me, and I to them; and Mr. Horne considered them as consigned to his care by a man whom he esteemed above all others. But the Lord has the Church, and so have the united friends in Madeley In some measure we are now pushed out. O, let not one word of this be left out. What I mean by being pushed out is, the Church minister has repeatedly expressed a been pleased to part us; and, as we love his will, we cheerfully say, Let it in all things be done. When he left us, Mr. Burton, the vicar, a mild, sweet-tempered man, desired the religious part of the parish to please themselves in the choice of a curate. When I informed him the other day, that after having sought after several, we had been disappointed; he replied,' I am sorry for it. I had rather that Mrs. Fletcher would choose one, (though I have many applications,) for she knows the mind of the parish better than I do; and whoever she recommends I will accept.' On that account it is, sir, that I am the person to address you. Secondly, As to the temporal affairs,-Our church is far too small for the inhabitants, and yet so awkwardly built, that it requires a very good voice to be heard in it. It is, however, proposed to erect a larger about a mile off, as this is near falling down. That will be more in the centre of the parish, and more commodious. As to the third head, Those who are religious in the parish, as well as those who attend from more distant places, are a simple quiet people, all of one mind. They know nothing of dispute, nor think of any jarring doctrine. The dovelike spirit of my precious husband rests much on his flock, and they receive, as from heaven, every messenger who comes unto them. As to the service or duty required-you may do what you will here. Every thing good goes down at Madeley, if it has but unction. My dear husband, and Mr. Horne, used to go through the whole service at church morning and afternoon, and then preach at the Dale, or the Wood, the two other ends of the parish, at night. By that means they saw many who did not come to the church; and at church there are Inany who never hear elsewhere. "I think I have now given you as full an answer as I am able; but I must beg an immediate reply, as there are several curates waiting for theirs-and we are quite unsettled. And please to be clear in your answer when you can come. I should rejoice to see a Gospel ministry fixed here before my death. "That the Lord may direct you with clear light, and give both you and your partner to discern your way before you, is the prayer of, "Rev. sir, your friend and servant, "M. FLETCHER." It appears that soon after this gentleman came to the parish, he became uneasy about his situation. Having expressed his dissatisfaction to Mrs. Fletcher, she wrote to him the following let ter: "MY DEAR FRIEND,-Since our conversation the other morning, some thoughts have arisen in my mind which I believe will not be unacceptable to you. You will not reject a word of advice, even from an inferior. |