those of this world, make themselves wings and fly away: The heavenly dove may be grieved, and take its flight to humbler, and more peaceful roofs. I am glad you do not want hard or violent measures: I hope you never will countenance them, no, not against what you dislike. I believe things will turn out very well at the Conference, and I shall be a witness of it, if the Lord of the harvest give me a commission to be a spectator of the order and quietness of those who shall be there; if not, I shall help you by prayer to draw from far the blessing of love upon our friends. In being moderate, humble, and truly desirous to be a Christian, that is, to be the least, the last, and the servant of all, we avoid running ourselves into difficulties, we escape many temptations, and many mortifying disappointments. For my part, as I expect nothing from men, they cannot disappoint me; and as I expect all good things from God, in the time, way, measure, and manner, it pleaseth him to bestow, here I cannot be disappointed, because he does, and will do all things well. I trust you labour for God and souls, not for praise and self. When the latter are our aim, God, in mercy, blesses us with barrenness, that we may give up Barabbas, and release the humble Jesus, whom we crucify afresh by setting the thief on the throne, and the Lord of glory at our footstool: For so do those who preach Christ out of contention, or that they may have the praise of men. That God may bless you, and your labours, is the prayer of your old Brother, J. FLETCHER. LETTER LXXVI. To the Right Hon. Lady Mary Fitzgerald. HON. AND DEAR LADY, MADELEY, July 30, 1785. WE have received your kind letter, and mournfully acquiesced in the will of our heavenly Father, who by various infirmities and providences weans us from our selves and our friends, that we may be his without reserve. It was, perhaps, a peculiar mercy that Providence blocked up your way to this place this summer. A bad putrid fever carries off several people in these parts; Two of our neighbours died of it the last week; and my wife, who had visited them, was taken in so violent a manner, that I was obliged to offer her up in good earnest, as an oblation worthy a son of Abraham. hope the worst is over, but her weakness will long preach to me, as well as my own. Dying people,—we live in the midst of dying people.-O let us live in sight of a dying, rising Saviour, and the prospect of death will become first tolerable and then joyous! Or if we weep, as our Lord, at the grave of our friends, or at the side of their deathbeds, we shall triumph in hope that all will be for the glory of God, and the good of our souls. I am, my dear Lady, &c. J. FLETCHER. LETTER LXXVII. To Mr. George Merryweather. CROSS-HALL, NEAR LEEDS, Aug. 27, 1781. DEAR SIR, 6 I REJOICED in reading your kind and friendly letter. I long to get acquainted with all my brethren, with all the people of God: I rejoice in hope of the time when we shall all meet in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father! Then,' says St. Paul, we shall be ever with the Lord; comfort one another by these words.' I thank you, my unknown friend, for your love and kindly invitation; I cannot (at present) visit my Yorkshire friends, as I could wish. I am obliged at this time to go back to my parish to serve my church, whilst my curate goes to London for priest's orders. I do not despair, however, to have one day the happiness of thanking you at Yarm for your hospitality: Exercise it to the poor saints, till I can go and see how you fare in the body, and how your soul rejoices in God-your Saviour and mine. At present Providence calls me back to my parish; but I trust, that I shall be permitted to visit again my friends in these parts; and then (if God permit) I shall assure you more fully how much I am, dear Sir, your obliged friend and brother, J. FLETCHER. THE PORTRAIT OF ST. PAUL, OR, THE TRUE MODEL FOR Christians and Pastors, TRANSLATED FROM A FRENCH MANUSCRIPT OF THE LATE REV. JOHN WILLIAM DE LA FLECHERE, VICAR OF MADELEY. BY THE REV. JOHN GILPIN, Vicar of Rockwardine, in the County of Salop. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.-1 Cor. xi. L |