unimportant mistakes inadvertently made in the former impression, he has enlarged the narrative still more in the present publication, by inserting several anecdotes, original letters, and other communications, which had not come to hand when his manuscript for the first edition was sent to the press.

"It is

But as to this point of prolixity, the Christian Observers themselves have formed his apology. but fair to observe," say they, 66 as to this volume, that, as it was evidently intended chiefly for the perusal of the followers of Mr. Wesley, who are almost universally great admirers of Mr. Fletcher, the Editor might not think it necessary to pay so much regard, in the construction of his work, to perspicuity of arrangement and elegance of manner, as to the minuteness of his details, and the abundance of his matter." This statement, bating the unmerited insinuation contained in it against the followers of Mr. Wesley, as persons who have less taste than their neighbours for order and elegance in composition, the Editor acknowledges to be pretty near the truth. He owns he did pay, and thought it his duty to pay, much more attention to the matter than to the form and

manner of his work. He paid, however, considerable attention to the latter also; and ventures to say, while it has all the elegance which the fine pens of Messrs. Gilpin, Wesley, and Fletcher could give it, the greatest part of its contents being expressed in their words, it has all the perspicuity and clearness which " an arrangement according to the date of the events" could bestow,-an arrangement which these Observers themselves acknowledge to have been attended to.

As to uniformity, it has what is quite sufficient for a work of the kind; a uniformity, not indeed of language, the simple and laconic style of Mr. Wesley differing very materially from the diffuse and florid manner of Mr. Gilpin, and the copiousness of Mr. Fletcher; but what is infinitely more important,-a uniformity of testimony,

respecting the amiable and excellent subject of the narrative, and that blessed Gospel which he preached, which he lived, and which his most eminent gifts and graces highly adorned. It is also uniform as to its design, and it is hoped that all its parts co-operate to produce the important effect intended, and that is, to induce every reader to follow Mr. Fletcher as he followed Christ.

In short, the Editor believes that he has pursued the best plan which he could have chosen in order to trace, exhibit, and attest, from the mouths of different witnesses, Mr. Fletcher's character and conduct through every period of his life; and to give the reader, at once, a clear and full view of his progressive wisdom, piety, and usefulness; and especially of that heavenly and divine mind, whereby he was prepared for the great and glorious reward awaiting him in the kingdom of his Father.

Referring the reader to the Appendix annexed to this edition, for an answer to some he thinks unkind and illiberal remarks, contained in the forementioned publication, on these two most eminently useful men, the Rev. Messrs. Wesley and Fletcher, and on the Methodists in general;-as a proper contrast to their critique, and a confirmation of the observations just made, the Editor will now take the liberty of laying before the reader the judgment passed upon this work by the conductors of two other periodical publications. Although no followers of Mr. Wesley, but persons of very different sentiments as to some important points of Christian doctrine, nevertheless, they could not close their eyes to the uncommon piety and other excellences of the subject of this narrative.

"Whatever difference of opinion," say the Editors of the Theological and Biblical Magazine, (see their Number for April, 1805,) "may be entertained respecting some important points of doctrine, which the late Mr. Fletcher publicly maintained, we believe that there is

but one opinion as to the exalted piety of this eminent Christian. We have perused these Memoirs with deep interest, and we hope also not without profit. His numility, disinterestedness, affection, zeal, and heavenly. mindedness, have, perhaps, been seldom equalled; and few, we believe, will rise from the perusal of the volume before us, without being ashamed of their own unprofitableness, and adoring the riches of divine grace, which were so extraordinarily manifested to this man of God. While reading this account of Mr. Fletcher, we frequently called to mind the late most amiable Mr. Pearce, of Birmingham, whose life has been written by Mr. Fuller.* There seems, indeed, to have been a very great resemblance in these two characters, both in the ardency of their Christian love, their entire devotedness to God, and the constant communion they held with the Father of Spirits. We have not room for quotations, yet we feel strongly inclined to give a few expressions of his, which indicate great candour towards those who thought differently from him in some less important particulars of doctrine." After producing a passage to this purpose, which the reader will find in page 329, "God forbid," &c., they add, “We, amongst many others, differ widely from Mr. Fletcher in some points of doctrine ; but we cannot withhold our admiration of a character so

truly lovely and exalted. Mr. Benson has performed his part, in collecting the materials for this Life of Mr. Fletcher, in a very respectable manner."

The following sentences are transcribed from the Eclectic Review for June, 1805, in which this work is considered at large :-" There have been some in most ages of Christianity, and in most countries where it is professed, who have emulated its primitive and genuine excellence. Amongst these exalted few, the subject of

In the first four Numbers of the Methodist Magazine for the year 1806, is published a short extract from the Life of Mr. Pearce, here referred to.

the biography before us is unquestionably to be ranked. In whatever period he had lived, to whatever department of Christians he had belonged, he would have shone in the religious hemisphere, as a star of the first magnitude." After giving from the volume a general outline of his history, they add, "We must refer to the narrative of his short illness, given by Mrs. Fletcher, and to an ample character of him previously introduced, for a more adequate idea of this excellent man than we can attempt to impart. It was deemed preferable to give the preceding outline, rather than extracts of the work, as those parts which describe the more striking scenes of Mr. Fletcher's life have formerly been printed. Mr. Benson has very judiciously connected and completed, either from his own knowledge, or authentic documents, the detached accounts which had appeared in various publications." After mentioning a few passages by the omission of which, and by the accession of Mr. Fletcher's character as a tutor and as a writer, the Authors of the Eclectic Review think the volume might be amended, they add, "We can cordially recommend it, in its present state, to serious and candid Christians, of every variety of form and sentiment; and it would greatly surprise us, should any person of this description rise up from the perusal of it, and assert that it had not afforded him pleasure and improvement."

The Editor has only to add, that, besides some corrections, and a considerable enlargement of the work, the paper, type, and form of the volume, in this edition, are so superior to those of the first, that he is persuaded no reader that can afford it will regret to pay the three additional shillings for the book..

THE EDITOR.

THE REV. J. WESLEY'S

PREFACE TO THE READER.

No man in England has had so long an acquaintance with MR. FLETCHER as myself. Our acquaintance began almost as soon as his arrival in London, about the year 1752, before he entered into holy orders, or, I believe, had any such intention; and it continued uninterrupted between thirty and forty years, even till it pleased God to take him to himself. Nor was ours a slight or ordinary acquaintance; but we were of one heart and of one soul. We had no secrets between us for many years: we did not purposely hide anything from each other.

From

time to time he consulted me, and I him, on the most important occasions; and he constantly professed, not only much esteem, but (what I valued far more) much affection. He told me in one of his letters, (I doubt not from his heart,)

Tecum vivere amem; tecum obeam lubens :
"With thee I gladly would both live and die."

I therefore think myself obliged, by the strongest ties, to pay this small tribute to his memory. But you may easily observe, that in doing this, I am little more than a compiler; for I owe a great, if not the greatest, part of the ensuing tract to a few friends, who have been at no small pains in furnishing me with materials; and, above all, to my dear friend (such she has been almost from her childhood) Mrs. Fletcher. I could easily

have altered both hers and their language, while I retained their sentiments. But I was conscious I could not alter it for the better; and I would not alter for altering's sake; but judged it fairest to give you most of their accounts very nearly in their own words.

Amsterdam,

September 12, 1786.