_THREE QUIET, SUCCESSFUL YEARS._
1762–1765.
IN the autumn of 1762 Methodism in London was in perilous confusion. Two
years before, Wesley had appointed Thomas Maxfield, one of his first
preachers, to meet a select band, who professed to be entirely
sanctified. Some of the members of this band soon had dreams, visions
and impressions, as they thought, from God; and Maxfield, instead of
repressing their whimsies, encouraged them, so that their vagaries were
soon regarded as proofs of the highest state of grace. Some of the
preachers rebuked these visionaries. This excited resentment, and they
refused to hear their rebukers preach. They became the avowed followers
of Maxfield, who told them they were not to be taught by man, and
especially by those who had less grace than themselves. George Bell,
converted in 1758, and sanctified in 1761, joined them, and became
wilder than the wildest of them. The result was, when Wesley returned to
London in October, 1762, he found the Society there in a disgraceful
uproar, and the followers of Maxfield and Bell formed into a sort of
detached connexion.[92] They called themselves “the witnesses.” Wesley
and his brother were in great distress. The latter wrote to Fletcher,
and received the following reply:—
“MADELEY, _September 20, 1762_.
“‘_Crede quod habes, et habes_,’ is not very different from those
words of Christ, ‘_What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe
that ye receive them, and ye shall have them_.’ The humble reason of
the believer, and the irrational presumption of the enthusiast, draw
this doctrine to the right hand or the left; but to split the
hair—here lies the difficulty. I have told you that _I am no party
man_; I am neither for nor against the witness for Christian
perfection _without examination_. I complain of those who deceive
themselves; I honour those who do honour to their profession; and I
wish we could find out the right way of reconciling the most profound
humility with the most lively hopes of grace. I think you insist on
the one and Maxfield on the other; and I believe you both sincere in
your views. God bless you both; and if either of you goes too far, may
the Lord bring him back!”[93]
Footnote 92:
For a fuller account of this unhappy schism, see Tyerman’s “Life and
Times of Wesley,” vol. ii., pp. 432–444.
Footnote 93:
Letters, 1791, p. 121.
“MADELEY, _November 22, 1762_.
“Brother Ley[94] arrived here yesterday, and confirms the melancholy
news of many of our brethren overshooting sober and steady
Christianity in London. I feel a great deal for you and the Church in
these critical circumstances. Oh that I could stand in the gap! Oh
that I could, by sacrificing myself, shut this immense abyss of
enthusiasm which opens its mouth among us!
“The corruption of the best things is always the worst of corruptions.
Going into an extreme of this nature, or only winking at it, will give
an eternal sanction to the vile aspersions cast on all sides on the
purest doctrines of Christianity; and we shall sadly overthrow,
overthrow in the _worst manner_, what we have endeavoured to build for
many years.
“I have a particular regard for Maxfield and Bell—both of them are my
correspondents. I am strongly prejudiced in favour of the witnesses,
and do not willingly receive what is said against them; but allowing
that what is reported is one-half mere exaggeration, the tenth part of
the rest shows that spiritual pride, presumption, arrogance,
stubbornness, party spirit, uncharitableness, prophetic mistakes, in
short, _every sinew_ of enthusiasm is now at work in many of that
body. I do not credit any one’s bare word, but I ground my sentiments
on Bell’s own letters.
“May I presume to lay before you my mite of observation? Would it be
wrong in me calmly to sit down, with some unprejudiced friends and
lovers of both parties, and to fix with them the marks and symptoms of
enthusiasm; and then insist, at first in love, and afterwards, if
necessary, with all the weight of my authority, upon those who _have
them_ or _plead for them_, either to stand to the sober rule of
Christianity, or _openly_ to depart from us?
“Fear not, dear Sir, the Lord will take care of the ark. Have faith in
the Word, and leave the rest to Providence. ‘_The Lord will provide_’
is a comfortable motto for a believer.”[95]
Footnote 94:
One of Wesley’s Itinerant Preachers.
Footnote 95:
Letters, 1791, p. 126.
Thus by proposing to act as mediator between the Wesleys and their
distracted followers in London did Fletcher end the eventful year of
1762. In the middle of the year he told Charles Wesley that he had
“attempted to form a Society,” and hoped to succeed. He drew up rules
for this Society.[96] First of all, he described “the nature of a
Religious Society,” and quoted Malachi iii. 16, Psalm lxvi. 16; Luke
viii. 1–3; Acts i. 15, ii. 42–47; Heb. iii. 12, 13, x. 25; Col. iii. 16;
1 Cor. xiv. 29–31; 1 Thess. v. 11–14; James v. 16; and Jude i. 18–21.
“Encouraged by these texts,” said he, “a few of us design to unite in a
Religious Society to support and animate each other in the ways of
godliness.” He proceeds:—
“In order to be admitted into the Society, one only condition is
previously required, namely, a sincere desire to flee from the wrath
to come, and to seek salvation from the servitude of sin according to
the Gospel, and the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England,
especially the ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth, which
are earnestly recommended to the perusal of every person who would be
a member.
“It is, however, expected that the sincerity of such a desire be
evinced by putting on the form of godliness, which we apprehend to
consist in three things: 1. Doing no harm, Isa. i. 16; Rom. xii. 9. 2.
Doing good, Isa. i. 17; Rom. xii. 9. 3. Using the means of grace, Luke
i. 16, Isa. lv. 6.”
Footnote 96:
He also drew up the following rules of daily self-examination for
himself:—
“1. Did I awake spiritual, and was I watchful in keeping my mind from
wandering this morning when I was rising?
“2. Have I this day got nearer to God in times of prayer, or have I
given way to a lazy, idle spirit?
“3. Has my faith been weakened by unwatchfulness, or quickened by
diligence this day?
“4. Have I this day walked by faith and eyed God in all things?
“5. Have I denied myself in all unkind words and thoughts; have I
delighted in seeing others preferred before me?
“6. Have I made the most of my precious time, as far as I had light,
strength, and opportunity?
“7. Have I kept the issues of my heart in the means of grace, so as to
profit by them?
“8. What have I done this day for the souls and bodies of God’s dear
saints?
“9. Have I laid out anything to please myself when I might have saved
the money for the cause of God?
“10. Have I governed well my tongue this day, remembering that ‘in a
multitude of words there wanteth not sin’?
“11. In how many instances have I denied myself this day?
“12. Do my life and conversation adorn the Gospel of Jesus
Christ?”[97]
Footnote 97:
“Thirteen Original Letters, by the Rev. John Fletcher. Bath: 1791,” p.
38.
Under the first of these rules Fletcher mentions “taking the Lord’s name
in vain, either by profane cursing, swearing, or trivial exclamations;”
sabbath-breaking; uncleanness; drunkenness, or tippling, or going into a
public house, or staying without necessity; fighting; quarrelling;
brawling; railing, uncharitable conversation; filthy talking; jesting;
evil speaking; attendance at balls, plays, races, cock-fightings and
bull-baitings; gaming; song-singing; reading unprofitable books;
softness; needless indulgence; putting on gaudy and costly apparel;
smuggling; taking advantage of a neighbour, etc.
Under the second, he includes doing good to the bodies of men; doing
good to the souls of men; discountenancing profaneness and immorality;
diligence in business; taking up the cross daily, etc.
Under the third, he names, the public worship of God in the church; the
ministry of the Word either read or expounded; the Lord’s Supper; family
prayer; private prayer; Scripture reading; fasting; and singing hymns
and psalms.
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 1743, and which, excepting two or three trivial
alterations, introduced in 1744, are the same now as they were then.
Fletcher, however, attached an “Appendix” to his rules, to the following
effect:—
1. That any one practising the Rules “is to give in his or her name to
the Director of the Society and the major part of the members; and
they shall be joyfully admitted, be they high or low, old or young,
learned or unlearned.”
2. If any member fell into sin, he must be expelled.
3. If the expelled member wished to be re-admitted, he must
acknowledge his error, and if, after a trial of three months, he
appeared to be reformed, his re-admission should take place.
4. The members were to meet together one evening every week between
seven and eight o’clock.
5. They were to watch over each other in love.
6. They were not to be angry with those who spoke against the Society.
The probability is that Fletcher did not print his Rules, as Wesley had
done. Indeed, there was no need for this, as his Societies were few in
number, and existed within a comparatively small area. It was an easy
thing for Fletcher to read the rules to each Society as occasion
required, and, perhaps, they were inscribed in the registers of
attendance. Three years after Fletcher’s death, the Rev. Melville Horne,
his successor at Madeley, printed and published them, and stated, in a
Preface, that Fletcher drew them up soon after his settlement at
Madeley, and revised and corrected them about the year 1777.
In another production, entitled “Heads of Examination for Adult
Christians,” Fletcher set up a higher standard than his “Rules”
contained. The following is an abridgment of the questions he wished his
people to propose to themselves:—
“Do I feel any pride? Am I dead to all desire of praise? If any
despise me, do I like them the worse for it? Or if they love and
approve me, do I love them more on that account? Is Christ the life of
all my affections and designs, as my soul is the life of my body? Have
I always the presence of God? Does no cloud come between God and the
eye of my faith? Am I saved from the fear of man? Do I speak plainly
to all, neither fearing their frowns, nor seeking their favours? Am I
always ready to confess Christ, to suffer with His people, and to die
for His sake? Do I deny myself at all times, and take up my cross? Am
I willing to give up my ease and convenience to oblige others, or do I
expect them to conform to my hours, ways, and customs? Are my bodily
senses and outward things all sanctified to me? Am I poor in spirit?
Have I no false shame in approaching God? Do I not lean to my own
understanding? Do I esteem every one better than myself? Do I never
take that glory to myself which belongs to Christ? Does meekness bear
rule over all my tempers, affections, and desires? Do I possess
resignation, seeing God does, and will do, all for my good? Am I
temperate, using the world, and not abusing it? Am I courteous, not
severe; suiting myself to all with sweetness; striving to give no one
pain, but to gain and win all for their good? Am I vigilant, redeeming
time, and taking every opportunity of doing good? Do I perform the
most servile offices, such as require labour and humiliation, with
cheerfulness? Do I love God with all my heart? Do I constantly present
myself, my time, my substance, talents, and all I have, a living
sacrifice? Is every thought brought into subjection to Christ? Do I
love my neighbour as myself? Do I think no evil, listen to no
groundless surmises, nor judge from appearances? How am I in my sleep?
If Satan presents any evil imagination, does my will immediately
resist or give way to it? Do I bear the infirmities of age or sickness
without seeking to repair the decays of nature by strong liquors? Or
do I make Christ my sole support, casting the burden of a feeble body
into the arms of His mercy?”[98]
Footnote 98:
Letters, 1791, p. 434.
This was the life Fletcher himself strove to live; and this was the life
he urged his Methodists to live.
Fletcher’s Methodist Society at _Madeley_ was formed as early as the
year 1762; and one of its members soon involved him in trouble. Hence
the following, taken from a letter addressed to Charles Wesley:—
“MADELEY, _January 5, 1763_.
“As to my parish, we are just where we were. We look for our
Pentecost, but we do not pray sufficiently to obtain it. We are left
in tolerable quiet by all but the sergeant, who sent a constable to
make enquiry concerning the life of His Majesty’s subjects, upon
information that the cry of murder had been heard in my house on
Christmas Day.
“This report originated in the cries of a young woman, who is of our
Society, and whom Satan has bound for some months. It seems to me as
if that old murderer proposed to ruin the success of my ministry at
Madeley, as he did in London, in the French Church, by means of Miss
A——d.
“The young woman here emaciates her body by fastings; falls into
convulsions, sometimes in the church, and sometimes in our private
assemblies; and is perpetually tempted to suicide. Her constitution is
considerably weakened, as well as her understanding. What to do in
this case I know not; for those who are tempted in this manner pay as
little regard to reason as the miserable people in Bedlam. Prayer and
fasting are our only resources. We propose to represent her case to
the Lord on Tuesday next, and on all the following Tuesdays. Aid the
weakness of our prayers with all the power of yours.”[99]
Footnote 99:
_Ibid._, 1791, p. 127.
This was a greater trial to Fletcher than, at first sight, appears. It
seems to have led him to entertain the thought of resigning his living.
More than six months afterwards, in another letter to Charles Wesley, he
wrote:—
“MADELEY, _July 26, 1763_.
“Everything here is pretty quiet now. Many of our offences die away;
though, not long ago, I had trials in abundance. One of them might
have made me quit Madeley; but the young person I mentioned as being
sorely tempted of the devil, is happily delivered.”[100]
Footnote 100:
_Ibid._, p. 133.
Fletcher’s life at Madeley, during the year 1763, seems to have been a
quiet one. Maxfield’s quarrel with Wesley still continued, and Fletcher
took an interest in it. Wesley’s annoyance was great, and his
forbearance with the London fanatics exposed him to the censure of his
friends. John Downes, in a letter to Joseph Cownley, wrote:—
“I consider the follies and extravagance of the witnesses as the
devices of Satan, to cast a blemish upon a real work of God. The more
I converse with the solid ones, the more I long to experience what
they do. It is a state worthy of a Christian. As to the follies of the
enthusiasts, Mr. Charles hears every week less or more. He threatens,
but cannot find in his heart to put in execution. The consequence is,
the talk of all the town, and entertainment for the newspapers.”
On February 1, 1763, Charles Wesley wrote:—
“Satan has made sad havoc of the flock. Four years ago, I gave warning
of the flood of enthusiasm which has now overflowed us.”
A week later John Wesley remarked:—
“The mask is thrown off. George Bell, John Dixon, etc., have quitted
the Society. I wrote to Thomas Maxfield, but was not favoured with an
answer. This morning I wrote a second time, and received an answer
indeed! The substance is, ‘You take too much upon you.’”[101]
Footnote 101:
Tyerman’s “Life and Times of Wesley,” vol. ii., p. 462.
These brief extracts are given to indicate the great commotion that at
this time existed. The excitement was not confined to London. It was
shared by Mr. Samuel Hatton and Miss Hatton, both of them Fletcher’s
friends and correspondents, and who seem to have resided at the ancient
town of Wem, about twenty miles from Madeley.[102] In a letter to Miss
Hatton, Fletcher expressed his views, as follows:—
“MADELEY, _March 14, 1763_.
“Mr. Maxfield’s reply to Mr. Wesley seems to me just in _some_ points,
and in _others_ too severe. Mr. Wesley is, perhaps, too tenacious of
some expressions, and too prone to credit what he wishes concerning
some mistaken witnesses of the state of fathers in Christ. Mr.
Maxfield, perhaps, esteems too little the inestimable privilege of
being perfected in that love which casts out fear. But, in general, I
conceive that it would be better for babes, or young men in Christ, to
cry for a growth in grace, than to dispute whether fathers in Christ
enjoy such privileges.”[103]
Footnote 102:
Letters, 1791, p. 182.
Footnote 103:
Letters, 1791, p. 130.
A few weeks later, in a letter to Mr. Samuel Hatton, Fletcher wrote:—
“MADELEY, _April 22, 1763_.
“I am quite of your opinion about the mischief that some professors do
in the Church of Christ under the mask of sanctity; but my Master bids
me bear with the tares until the harvest, lest, in rooting them up, I
should promiscuously pull up the wheat also. As to Mr. Wesley’s system
of perfection, it tends rather to promote humility than pride, if I
may credit his description of it in the lines following:—
“‘Now let me gain perfection’s height,
Now let me into _nothing_ fall,
Be _less than nothing_ in Thy sight,
And feel that Christ is _all in all_!’
“More than this I do not desire, and I hope that, short of this,
nothing will satisfy either my dear friend or me.”[104]
Footnote 104:
_Ibid._, p. 132.
The following letter, to Charles Wesley, refers to the same disturbance;
but it also mentions another matter of great interest. Six years ago,
Fletcher had become acquainted with Miss Bosanquet. During the present
year, he had commenced a correspondence, in the highest degree
religious, with Miss Hatton. He was a lone man, living among colliers.
He had lately been with Charles Wesley. Charles was an eminently social
man, and had suggested to Fletcher that he would do well to marry.
Fletcher replied as follows:—
“MADELEY, _September 9, 1763_.
“MY DEAR SIR,—I see that we ought to learn continually to cast our
burdens upon the Lord, who alone can bear them without fatigue and
pain. If Maxfield returns, the Lord may correct his errors, and give
him so to insist on the fruits of faith as to prevent antinomianism. I
believe him sincere; and, though obstinate and suspicious, I am
persuaded he has a true desire to know the will and live the life of
God. I reply in the same words you quoted to me in one of your
letters,—‘Don’t be afraid of a wreck, for Jesus is in the ship.’ After
the most violent storm, the Lord will, perhaps, all at once, bring our
ship into the desired haven.
“You ask me a very singular question with respect to women; I shall,
however, answer it with a smile, as I suppose you asked it. You might
have remarked that, for some days before I set off for Madeley, I
considered matrimony with a different eye to what I had done; and the
person who then presented herself to my imagination was Miss
Bosanquet. Her image pursued me for some hours the last day, and that
so warmly, that I should, perhaps, have lost my peace if a suspicion
of the truth of Juvenal’s proverb, ‘_Veniunt a dote sagittae_,’ had
not made me blush, fight, and fly to Jesus, who delivered me at the
same moment from her image and the idea of marriage. Since that time,
I have been more than ever on my guard against admitting the idea of
matrimony, sometimes by the consideration of the love of Jesus, which
ought to be my whole felicity; and, at others, by the following
reflections.
“It is true that the Scripture says that a good wife is the gift of
the Lord; and it is also true that there may be one in a thousand; but
who would put in a lottery where are nine hundred and ninety-nine
blanks to one prize? And, suppose I could find this Phœnix, this woman
of a thousand, what should I gain by it? A distressing refusal. How
could she choose such a man as I? If, notwithstanding all my
self-love, I am compelled cordially to despise myself, could I be so
wanting in generosity as to expect another to do that for me, which I
cannot do for myself—to engage to love, to esteem, and to honour me?
“I will throw on my paper some reflections which the last paragraphs
of your letter gave rise to, and I beg you will weigh them with me in
the balances of the sanctuary.
“Reasons for and against matrimony.
“1. A tender friendship is, after the love of Christ, the greatest
felicity of life; and a happy marriage is nothing but such a
friendship between two persons of different sexes.
“2. A wife might deliver me from the difficulties of housekeeping,
etc.
“3. Some objections and scandals may be avoided by marriage.
“4. A pious and zealous wife might be as useful as myself; nay, she
might be much more so among my female parishioners, who greatly want
an inspectress.
“1. Death will shortly end all particular friendships. The happier the
state of marriage, the more afflicting is the widowhood; besides, we
may try a friend and reject him after trial; but we cannot know a wife
till it is too late to part with her.
“2. Marriage brings after it a hundred cares and expenses; children, a
family, etc.
“3. If matrimony is not happy, it is the most fertile source of
scandal.
“4. I have a thousand to one to fear that a wife, instead of being a
help, may be indolent, and consequently useless; or humoursome,
haughty, capricious, and consequently a heavy curse.
“Farewell! Yours,
“J. FLETCHER.”[105]
Footnote 105:
Letters, 1791, p. 144.
This is a curious letter. Eighteen years after the time when it was
written, Fletcher married Miss Bosanquet. Probably the “reasons _for_
matrimony” had been, in substance, suggested by Charles Wesley.
Fletcher’s “reasons _against_ matrimony” were undoubtedly sincere, but
they were unintentionally selfish, and were unworthy of him. Experience
taught him wisdom.
Before proceeding further, a remarkable occurrence must be noted. The
church at Madeley is dedicated to St. Michael, whose feast-day is
September 29. On that day, in 1763, Fletcher preached from Dan. iii. 14,
and concluded his discourse in words like these:—
“From the dedication of our church, from days set apart to be kept
holy, Satan takes occasion to enforce the worship of his threefold
image, profit, honour, pleasure. Now remember the duty of God’s
people, and quit yourselves like men. Some petty Nebuchadnezzars have
sent to gather together, not princes, but drunken men; and have set
up, not a golden image, no, nor a golden calf, but a living bull.[106]
O ye that fear God, be not afraid of their terror; be not allured by
their music; confess the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ‘No
other God can deliver after this sort,’ said the heathen; and give me
leave to add, ‘No other God can punish after this sort.’ The burning
furnace of His indignation is heated; and eternity is the duration of
its torments.”[107]
Footnote 106:
The reference obviously is to a bull-baiting.
Footnote 107:
Fletcher’s Works, vol. viii., p. 76.
The way in which Fletcher was led to preach this sermon on “the
Wake-Sunday” was told by himself, and the story, after his death, was
published in a small tract, entitled, “The Furious Butcher Humbled: a
true and remarkable story, as related by the late Rev. Mr. Fletcher,
Vicar of Madeley.” The substance of it was also inserted in the
_Evangelical Magazine_ for the year 1798. From that account, the
following is taken.
“One Sunday,” said Mr. Fletcher, “when I had done reading prayers at
Madeley, I went up into the pulpit, intending to preach a sermon,
which I had prepared for that purpose; but my mind was so confused,
that I could not recollect either my text or any part of my sermon. I
was afraid I should be obliged to come down without saying anything.
But, having recollected myself a little, I thought I would say
something on the First Lesson, which was the third chapter of the book
of Daniel, containing the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
being cast into the fiery furnace. I found, in doing this, such
extraordinary assistance from God, and such a peculiar enlargement of
heart, that I supposed there must be some peculiar cause of it. I
therefore desired, if any of the congregation found anything
particular, they would acquaint me with it in the ensuing week.
“In consequence of this, the Wednesday after, a woman came and gave me
the following account:—
“‘I have been for some time much concerned about my soul. I have
attended the church at all opportunities, and have spent much time in
private prayer. At this, my husband (who is a butcher) has been
exceedingly enraged, and has threatened me severely as to what he
would do to me if I did not leave off going to John Fletcher’s church;
yea, if I dared to go again to any religious meetings whatever. When I
told him I could not in conscience refrain from going, at least, to
the parish church, he became outrageous, and swore dreadfully, and
said, if I went again, he would cut my throat as soon as I came back.
This made me cry to God that He would support me; and, though I did
not feel any great degree of comfort, yet, having a sure confidence in
God, I determined to do my duty, and leave the event to Him. Last
Sunday, after many struggles with the devil and my own heart, I came
downstairs ready for church. My husband said he should not cut my
throat, as he had intended, but he would heat the oven, and throw me
into it, the moment I came home. Notwithstanding this threat, which he
enforced with many bitter oaths, I went to church, praying all the way
that God would strengthen me to suffer whatever might befall me. While
you were speaking of the three children whom Nebuchadnezzar cast into
the burning fiery furnace, I found all you said belonged to _me_. God
applied every word to my heart; and, when the sermon was ended, I
thought, if I had a thousand lives, I could lay them all down for Him.
I felt so filled with His love that I hastened home, fully determined
to give myself to whatsoever God pleased; nothing doubting that He
either would take me to heaven, if He suffered me to be burnt to
death; or that He would in some way deliver me, as He did His three
servants that trusted in Him. When I got to my own door, I saw flames
issuing from the oven, and I expected to be thrown into it
immediately. I felt my heart rejoice, that, if it were so, the will of
the Lord would be done. I opened the door, and, to my utter
astonishment, saw my husband upon his knees, praying for the
forgiveness of his sins. He caught me in his arms; earnestly begged my
pardon; and has continued diligently seeking God ever since.’”
Such was the poor woman’s story. After listening to it, Fletcher cried,
“Now I know why my sermon was taken from me, namely, that God might thus
magnify His mercy.”
Nothing need be added, 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 kind.
Nothing is known of Fletcher’s life during the year 1764. It is a
singular fact, that only three of his letters, belonging to this period,
have been published, and these were all addressed to his friend, at Wem,
Miss Hatton. They are entirely devoid of incident; but are full of
piety. The following are extracts:—
“Madeley, March 5, 1764. Your dulness in private prayer arises from
the want of familiar friendship with Jesus. To obviate it, go to your
closet, as if you were going to meet your dearest friend; cast
yourself at His feet; bemoan your coldness; extol His love to you; and
let your heart break with a desire to love Him. Get _recollection_,—a
dwelling within ourselves,—a being abstracted from the creature, and
turned towards God. For want of such a frame, our times of prayer are
frequently dry and useless; imagination prevails, and the heart
wanders; whereas we pass easily from recollection to delightful
prayer.”[108]
“Madeley, September 3, 1764. With respect to the hindrances your
worldly business lays in your way, the following means, in due
subordination to faith in Jesus, may be of service to you you:—
“1. Get up early and save time, before you go to business, to put on
the _whole armour of God_, by close meditation and earnest prayer.
“2. Consider the temptation that most easily besets you, whether it be
hurry, or vanity, or lightness, or want of recollection to do what you
do as unto God.
“3. When your mind has been drawn aside, do not fret, or let yourself
go down the stream of nature, as if it were vain to attempt to swim
against it; but confess your fault, and calmly resume your former
endeavour, but with more humility and watchfulness.
“4. Steal from business now and then, though for two or three minutes
only, and, in the corner where you can be least observed, pour out
your soul in confession; or utter a short ejaculation for power to
watch, and to believe that Jesus can keep you watching.”[109]
“Madeley, _December, 1764_. I am sensible how I want advice in a
thousand particulars, and how incapable I am to direct anyone; but the
following observations came to my mind on the reading of your letter,
and I venture to send them.
“You cannot expect to attain to such a carriage as will please all you
converse with. The Son of God, the _original_ of all human perfection,
was blamed, sometimes for His silence, and sometimes for His speaking;
and shall the handmaid be above her Master?
“There is no sin in wearing such things as you have by you, if they
are necessary for _your station_, and characterize your _rank_.
“There is no sin in _looking cheerful_. ‘_Rejoice evermore_:’ and, if
it is our duty always to be _filled with joy_, it is our duty to
_appear_ what we are in reality. I hope, however, your friends know
how to distinguish between _cheerfulness_ and _levity_.
“Beware of stiff singularity in things _barely indifferent_: it is
_self_ in disguise; and it is so much the more dangerous when it comes
recommended by a serious, self-denying, religious appearance.
“I hope the short-comings of some about you will not prevent you
eyeing the prize of a glorious conformity to our blessed Head. It is
to be feared that not a few of those who profess to have attained it,
have mistaken the way. They are still _something_; whereas I apprehend
that an important step towards that conformity is to become _nothing_;
or rather, with St. Paul,—to become in our own eyes the _chief of
sinners_, and the _least of saints_.”[110]
Footnote 108:
Letters, 1791, p. 147.
Footnote 109:
_Ibid._, 1791, p. 151.
Footnote 110:
Letters, 1791, p. 153.
These fragmentary extracts are of some importance, because they indicate
the matters respecting which Fletcher was consulted, and also exhibit
his own habitual frame of mind.
Before leaving the year 1764, one incident must be mentioned, far too
interesting to be omitted. So far as there is evidence to show, there
had been no interview, and, indeed, no correspondence, between Fletcher
and Wesley since the year 1760, when Fletcher, contrary to the advice of
Wesley, accepted the living of Madeley. There is not the slightest proof
of any estrangement of affection having taken place; but Fletcher had
been too much occupied to visit Wesley in London; and Wesley,
considering the opposition Fletcher had to encounter, had, hitherto, not
deemed it expedient to visit Fletcher at Madeley. As to epistolary
correspondence, Charles Wesley was Fletcher’s chosen adviser; and that,
for the present, was quite enough. The Madeley persecutions had now
subsided; and, hence, in the month of July, 1764, the _Arch-Methodist_
ventured to invade the parish of the Madeley vicar. He wrote:—
“1764, Saturday, July 21. I rode to Bilbrook, near Wolverhampton, and
preached at between two and three. Thence we went on to Madeley, an
exceedingly pleasant village, encompassed with trees and hills. It was
a great comfort to me to converse once more with a Methodist of the
_old type_, denying himself, taking up his cross, and resolved to
be”.bn 117.png
“Sunday, July 22. At ten, Mr. Fletcher read prayers, and I preached on
those words in the Gospel,”The church would nothing near contain the
congregation; but a window near the pulpit being taken down, those who
could not come in stood in the churchyard, and I believe all could
hear. The congregation, they said, used to be much smaller in the
afternoon than in the morning; but I could not discern the least
difference, either in number or seriousness. I found employment enough
for the intermediate hours in praying with various companies who hung
about the house, insatiably hungering and thirsting after the good
word. Mr. Grimshaw, at his first coming to Haworth, had not such a
prospect as this. There are many adversaries indeed; but yet they
cannot shut the open and effectual door.
“Monday, July 23. The church was pretty well filled even at five, and
many stood in the churchyard. In the evening, I preached at
Shrewsbury, to a large congregation, among whom were several men of
fortune. I trust, though hitherto we seem to have been ploughing on
the sand, there will at last be some fruit.”[111]
Footnote 111:
Wesley’s Journal.
Wesley’s first visit to Madeley was, to himself, eminently satisfactory;
and his report of it shows that, notwithstanding the “many adversaries,”
Fletcher’s labours had been crowned with great success.
Truly might Wesley designate Fletcher “a Methodist of the old type,
_denying himself_, and taking up his cross.” The following letter,
addressed “to Mr. Henry Perronet, at Mr. Wright’s, at the Boot, in Old
Street, St. Luke’s Parish, London,” will partly illustrate Wesley’s
meaning.
“MADELEY, _November 6, 1765_.
“SIR,—I have received both your letter and Mr. Charles Wesley’s, and
shall be exceeding glad of an opportunity to oblige or serve you in
anything in my power.
“As you seem to me a stranger to the situation of the country, I would
have you come down first, and choose for yourself a spot that may suit
your taste. I live here in a little market-town, three or four miles
from the foot of the Wrekin, at the south-east of that hill; 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 abode, if this does not
please you. I live alone in my house, having neither wife, child, nor
servant. I can, therefore, without inconveniency, spare you a room in
the meantime. If you choose to provide your food, you shall have
conveniences for it; if you choose to table with a neighbour, as I do,
you may.
“You seem to be cut out for contemplation and retirement, Sir; I hope
you have made choice of Jesus for the chief subject of your
meditations. May you find much of His presence everywhere!
“If you choose to venture into Shropshire, you may take the Shrewsbury
coach at the Swan, in Lad Lane, somewhere in the city, and in two days
and a half you will be at Shiffnal, eighteen miles short of
Shrewsbury, and three from Madeley. If you send me word when you are
to set out, I will send my mare to meet you at the Red Lion, in
Shiffnal, the day that the coach passes through the town.
“That the Lord may direct and prosper you in all things is the wish
of, Sir, your affectionate servant in Christ,
“J. FLETCHER.”[112]
Footnote 112:
_Wesleyan Methodist Magazine_, 1825, p. 744.
As a farther illustration of Fletcher’s simplicity of living, and of his
habitual piety, an incident may be introduced, belonging to _about_ this
period, and published in a sermon preached on the occasion of the death
of Fletcher’s widow, in 1816, by the Rev. John Hodson. Mr. Hodson says:—
“A few days ago, I was in company with a pious female, who, for many
years, was intimately acquainted with Mr. Fletcher. She said Mr.
Fletcher sometimes visited a boarding-school at Madeley. One morning
he came in just as she and the other girls had sat down to breakfast.
He said but little while the meal lasted, but when it was finished he
spoke to each girl separately, and concluded by saying to the whole,
‘I have waited some time on you this morning, that I might see you eat
your breakfast; and I hope you will visit me to-morrow morning, and
see how I eat mine.’ He told them his breakfast hour was seven
o’clock, and obtained a promise that they would visit him. Next
morning, they went at the time appointed, and seated themselves in the
kitchen. Mr. Fletcher came in, quite rejoiced to see them. On the
table stood a small basin of milk and sops of bread. Mr. Fletcher took
the basin across the kitchen, and sat down on an old bench. He then
took out his watch, laid it before him, and said, ‘My dear girls,
yesterday morning I waited on you a full hour, while you were at
breakfast. I shall take as much time this morning in eating my
breakfast as I usually do, if not rather more. Look at my watch!’ and
he immediately began to eat, and continued in conversation with them.
When he had finished, he asked them how long he had been at breakfast.
They said, ‘Just a minute and a half, Sir.’ ‘Now, my dear girls,’ said
he, ‘we have fifty-eight minutes of the hour left;’ and he then began
to sing,—
‘Our life is a dream!
Our time as a stream
Glides swiftly away,
And the fugitive moment refuses to stay.’
After this, he gave them a lecture on the value of time, and the worth
of the soul. They then all knelt down in prayer, after which he
dismissed them with impressions on the mind the narrator never ceased
to remember.”
At Wesley’s yearly Conference of 1765, Alexander Mather was appointed to
“Salop” circuit, with William Minethorpe as his colleague. Mr. Mather
was now in the thirty-third year of his age. During the last eight
years, he had been an itinerant preacher, and had passed through strange
and painful vicissitudes. In 1760 his circuit had been “Staffordshire;”
in which circuit he had “built a preaching-house at Darlaston, and hired
a large building at Birmingham.” He had extended his labours as far as
Shrewsbury, Coventry, Stroud, and Painswick; and, by Wesley’s
directions, had visited the “Societies” in Wales. At Birmingham, Mather
and the poor Methodists had been repeatedly in danger of being murdered
by persecuting crowds; and at Wolverhampton the mob had pulled down the
newly-built meeting-house; and had threatened to do the same at Dudley,
Darlaston, and Wednesbury. He had also preached at several places in
Shropshire, and now, in 1765, the county was made a Methodist circuit,
in which he was appointed to act as Wesley’s “Assistant.” Fletcher had
already formed two or three Societies, which, without being so
designated, were, _ipso facto_, Methodist Societies. He warmly welcomed
Mather, and was more than willing to be a Methodist co-worker. Hence the
following letter addressed to the brave itinerant:—
“MY DEAR BROTHER,—I thank you for your last favour. If I answered not
your former letter it was because I was in expectation of seeing
you—not from the least disregard. I am glad you enjoy peace at
Wellington; and I hope you will do so at the Trench when you go there.
My reasons for stopping there were not to seize upon the spot _first_,
but to fulfil a promise I made to the people, of visiting them. I
_desire_ you will call there as often as you have opportunity. An
occasional exhortation from you or your companion,[113] at the
Bank,[114] Dale,[115] etc., will be esteemed a favour; and I hope that
my going, as Providence directs, to any of your places (leaving to you
the management of the Societies), will be deemed no encroachment. In
short, we need not make _two parties_; I know but _one_ heaven below,
and that is Jesus’s love. Let us both go and abide in it; and when we
have gathered as many as we can to go with us, too many will still
stay behind.
“I find there are in the ministry, as in the common experience of
Christians, times which may be compared to winter. No great stir is
made in the world of grace beside that of storms and offences, and the
growth of the trees of the Lord are not showy; but when the tender
buds of brotherly and redeeming love begin to fill, spring is at hand.
The Lord give us harvest after seed time! Let us wait for fruit, as
the husbandman; and remember, that he who believes does not make
haste. The love of Christ be with us all. Pray for
“J. FLETCHER.”[116]
Footnote 113:
William Minethorpe, Mather’s colleague.
Footnote 114:
A place about five miles from Madeley, where Fletcher had gathered a
small Society.
Footnote 115:
Coalbrook Dale.
Footnote 116:
Letters, 1791, p. 163.
Thus began Methodism in the county of Salop, which circuit, in 1766,
contained 587 members. It is only right to say, however, that, in the
Minutes of Conference, the name of the circuit was, in that year,
changed to “Staffordshire,”—a name which it retained till 1782, though
it embraced a number of towns and villages in the county where the
Madeley vicar lived and laboured.
In 1765 Fletcher made two evangelistic visits. The first of these was to
Breedon, in Leicestershire. Walter Sellon had been one of the first
masters of Wesley’s Kingswood school, had acted as one of Wesley’s
preachers, and, by the influence of the Countess of Huntingdon, had
received episcopal ordination. At this period, he held two curacies, one
at Smisby and the other at Breedon-on-the-Hill. His churches were
generally crowded, and his ministry was attended with uncommon power. He
lived in the house of Mr. Hall, of Tonge, the leader of Methodist
Society classes at Breedon, Worthington, and Diseworth, and who, after
living all his life in the house where he was born, peacefully fell
asleep in Jesus in the year 1813, at the age of eighty-one.[117] Of
course Fletcher’s reputation was well known by Sellon; and now, in 1765,
for a brief season, they exchanged pulpits. Immense crowds assembled;
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 built, and singing as they went their sweet songs of Zion.
The church was crammed when Fletcher preached; numbers stood outside;
and as many as could clambered to the windows to look at the seraphic
minister to whom they wished to listen.[118] Mr. Benson, in his “Life of
Fletcher,” relates an incident which must not be omitted here. Human
nature is the same all the world over, and throughout all generations.
Footnote 117:
_Methodist Magazine_, 1818, pp. 49–57.
Footnote 118:
_Wesleyan Methodist Magazine_, 1856, pp. 36–38.
We are told the clerk of Breedon church was offended because the crowds
attending it increased his labour in cleaning it. Turning his
worldly-wisdom to practical account, he began to charge persons, from
other parishes, a penny each for admission, and stood at the church door
to collect the money. Whilst he was doing this, Fletcher was prayerfully
ascending the steep hill, and reverentially contemplating the solemn
service upon which he was about to enter. One of the congregation went
to meet him, and told him of the clerk’s worldliness. Fletcher was
shocked at the behaviour of his ecclesiastical subordinate, and
hastening up the steep ascent, exclaimed, “I’ll stop his proceeding.”
The clerk, however, was more nimble than the priest. Before Fletcher
could reach the money-gate the clerk was in his desk, ready to read
responses and perform all the other duties pertaining to his office.
Perhaps he thought he had cleverly escaped detection and reproof, but
the sordid creature was mistaken. Fletcher went through the service, and
then remarked, “For sixteen years I have not been so moved as I have
been to-day. I am told that the clerk beneath me has demanded, and has
actually received, money from strangers before he would suffer them to
enter the church. I desire all who have paid the money to come to me,
and I will return what they have paid; and as to this iniquitous clerk,
his money perish with him!”
This interesting story is not without its use, for it exhibits
Fletcher’s almost stern fidelity, and also the spirit of parish clerks
more than a hundred years ago. It would be unfair, however, to ostracize
the Breedon official as one whose worldly wickedness is without a
parallel; for there is little room to doubt that even at the present day
largess is often levied upon congregations, if not by responding clerks,
by doorkeepers and other officials belonging to the ecclesiastical
edifices of an age which thinks itself greatly in advance of its
predecessors.
Fletcher made another and more important Gospel tour during the year
1765. For the first time, he visited Bath and Bristol. In the former
city, Lady Huntingdon had erected a chapel, and had summoned six
clergymen of the Church of England to assist at the opening; namely,
Whitefield, Romaine, Venn, Madan, Shirley, and Townsend. This took place
on October 6, 1765.[119] Fletcher came after them, and preached to the
aristocratic congregations in her ladyship’s meeting-house with
extraordinary zeal and earnestness. The Countess wrote:—
“Deep and awful are the impressions made on every hand. Dear Mr.
Fletcher’s preaching is truly apostolic. The Divine blessing
accompanies his word in a very remarkable manner. He is ever at his
work, is amazingly followed, and is singularly owned of God.”[120]
Footnote 119:
See “Life of Whitefield,” vol. ii., p. 489.
Footnote 120:
“Life and Times of the Countess of Huntingdon,” vol. i., p. 469.
During his stay at Bath, Fletcher wrote his _first pastoral letter_,
which was addressed, “To those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in or
about Madeley. Peace be multiplied to you from God the Father, and from
our Lord Jesus Christ, through the operations of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
The letter was dated “Bath, October 30, 1765,” and the following is the
substance of it:—
“By the help of Divine Providence, and the assistance of your prayers,
I came safe hither last Saturday se’nnight. 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 souls. This place is the
seat of Satan’s gaudy throne; but the Lord hath nevertheless a few
names here that are not ashamed of Him, both among the poor and among
the rich. There are not many of the latter, but blessed be God for any
one! It is a great miracle if one camel passes through the eye of a
needle; or, in other words, if one rich person enters the kingdom of
God. I thank God that none of you are rich in the things of this
world. You are freed from a dreadful snare, even from Dives’ portion
in this world. May you know the happiness of your state! It is a mercy
to be driven to the throne of grace even by bodily want, and to live
in dependence on Divine mercy even for a morsel of bread.
“I have been sowing the seed, that the Lord hath given, both in Bath
and Bristol; and, though I have not been able to discharge my office
as I would, the Lord has in some measure stood by me, and overruled my
foolishness and helplessness. I am much supported by the thought that
‘you pray for me.’ With regard to the state of my soul, I find,
blessed be God! that as my day is, so is my strength to travel on,
without minding much either good or bad report.
“My absence from you answers two good ends in regard of me. I feel
more my insufficiency, and the need of being daily ordained of Christ
to preach His Gospel; and I shall value the more the worth of my
privilege with you if I return safely to you. I had yesterday a most
advantageous offer made me of going free of cost to my own country, to
see my mother, brothers, and sisters in the flesh, whom I have not
seen for near eighteen years; but I find my relations in the spirit
are nearer and dearer to me than my relations in the flesh. I have
therefore refused the kind offer, that I might return to you, and be
comforted by the mutual faith of you and me.
“I hope, my dear brethren, that you improve much under the ministry of
that faithful servant of God, Mr. Brown,[121] whom Providence blesses
you with. Make haste to gather the honey of knowledge and grace as it
drops from his lips; and may I find the hive of your heart so full of
it at my return, that I may share with you in the heavenly store!
“In order to this, entreat the Lord to stir up your hunger and thirst
after the flesh and blood of Jesus, and to increase your desire for
the sincere milk of the Word. When people are hungry they will find
time to go to their meals; and a good appetite does not think a meal a
day too much. Be not satisfied with knowing the way to heaven, but
walk in it constantly and joyfully. Be thoroughly in earnest. You may
impose upon your brethren by a formal attendance on the means of
grace, but you cannot deceive the Searcher of hearts. Let Him then see
your heart struggling towards Him; and if you fall through heaviness,
sloth, or unbelief, do not make a bad matter worse by continuing
hopeless in the ditch of sin and guilt. Up and away to the blood of
Jesus! It will not only wash away the guilt of past sins, but
strengthen you to trample all iniquity under foot in the time to come.
Never forget that the soul of the diligent shall be made fat; and that
the Lord will spue the lukewarm out of His mouth. Get, therefore, that
love which makes you diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving
the Lord.
“I beg you will not neglect the assembling of yourselves together,
and, when you meet in Society, be neither backward nor forward to
speak. Let every one esteem himself the meanest in the company, and be
glad to sit at the feet of the lowest. If you are tempted against any
one, yield not to the temptation; and pray for much of that love which
hopeth all things, and puts the best constructions even upon the worst
of things. I beg, for Christ’s sake, I may find no division and no
offence among you at my return. ‘If there be any consolation in
Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if
any bowels of mercy, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having
the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done
through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
the others better than himself.’
“I earnestly beg the continuance of your prayers for me, that the Lord
may keep me from hurting His cause in these parts, and that when
Providence shall bring me back among you (which I hope will be this
day fortnight), I may be thoroughly furnished for every good word and
work. That the blessing of God may crown all your hearts and your
meetings, is the earnest prayer of, my very dear brethren,
“Your unworthy servant in the Gospel of our common Lord,
“JOHN FLETCHER.
“P.S.—I had not time to finish this letter yesterday, being called
upon to preach in a market town in the neighbourhood. The dragon
showed some of his spite and venom to little purpose. A gentleman
churchwarden would hinder my getting into the pulpit, and, in order to
this, cursed and swore, and took another gentleman by the collar in
the middle of the church. Notwithstanding his rage, I preached. May
the Lord raise in power what was sown in weakness!”[122]
Footnote 121:
A clergyman whom James Ireland, Esq., of Brislington, near Bristol,
had obtained to supply Fletcher’s pulpit at Madeley. See a subsequent
letter, dated April 27, 1767.
Footnote 122:
“Thirteen Original Letters.” By the Rev. J. Fletcher. Bath: 1791, p.
10.
From this interesting letter, it appears that Fletcher spent four
Sundays at Bath and Bristol. No doubt, he was the guest of the Countess
of Huntingdon; but, at the same time, he formed an acquaintance with the
excellent James Ireland, Esq., of Brislington, with whom he commenced a
correspondence two or three months afterwards, which was continued to
the end of life. There can hardly be a doubt that Mr. Ireland was the
gentleman who offered to take Fletcher to Switzerland, free of cost. At
this time, Mr. Ireland’s daughter was out of health, and for many years
afterwards he was accustomed to go to the south of France for the
benefit of himself and his family.
Eighteen years had elapsed since Fletcher had seen his mother, his
brothers, and his sisters, and of course he wished to visit them; but
there was his work at Madeley, and that was enough to make him forego
what, under other circumstances, must have been an unspeakable pleasure.
Some will accuse him of the want of natural affection, and will say he
owed duties to his distant and long unseen relatives, as well as to his
parishioners. Probably, in answer to such a charge, he would have quoted
the words of his supreme Master: “Who is my mother? and who are my
brethren? Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven,
the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
It is evident, from Fletcher’s pastoral epistle, that his preaching in
the west of England was not confined to Bath and Bristol; but, 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 town, no details of his tour have been preserved. The letters and
journals of Wesley and Whitefield abound with facts and adventures, full
of interest and instruction: the letters of Fletcher were of another
character. They are rich in truth and piety; but not always in materials
for biography. His habitual self-abnegation kept in the shade thousands
of facts which the curiosity of the Christian world would like to know.
The first two years he spent at Madeley were rough and stormy. He worked
with all his might, but with small results. The next three years were
comparatively calm and prosperous. Opposition gradually died. His
labours were attended with success. He formed several Societies of
converted people; and his friend Wesley made the county of Salop a
Methodist circuit. For nearly five years he had confined his
evangelistic efforts to his own immediate neighbourhood; after this, to
a considerable extent, he became an itinerant. Let us follow him.