have proceeded in it with so much irresolution and weakness, that, at the conclusion of their course, it has remained a matter of much uncertainty whether they have reached or fallen short of the mark of their high calling. With Mr. Fletcher it was wholly the reverse. The resolution that at first engaged him to enter upon the Christian course appeared, not only without any diminution, but with increasing vigour, through the several stages of his rapid progress. He outran the most zealous of his companions, he overtook many who were steadily persevering in the path of life,' and appeared at the head of those who were pressing after the highest attainable state of sanctity and grace. From the commencement to the conclusion of his pilgrimage, there was never once perceived in him the least imaginable tendency to a loitering or lukewarm disposition if he was not every moment actually upon the stretch after spiritual improvement, he was observed, at least, with 'his loins girded, his shoes on his feet, and his staff in his hand.' The fervour of his spirit was a silent, but sharp, reproof to the negligent and unfaithful; and so perfectly averse was he to every species of trifling, that no man of a light or indolent spirit could possibly associate with him for any length of time.

:

38. "As he approached the end of his course, the graces he had kept in continual exercise, for so long a season, became more illustrious and powerful: his faith was more assured, his hope more lively, his charity more abundant, his humility more profound, and his resignation more complete. Planted,' at an early age, "in the house of the Lord, he flourished in the courts of our God' through all the remaining years of his life, growing up 'like a palm-tree, and spreading abroad like a cedar in Lebanon:' and if the 'fruit' that he 'brought forth in his age' was not more plenteous than that which he had produced in former years, (which was surely impossible,) yet it was more happily matured, and more equally distributed among his luxuriant branches. To those who were intimately conversant with him at this season, he appeared as a scholar of the highest attainments in the school of Christ; or rather, as a regenerate spirit in his latest state of preparation for the kingdom of God: and this extraordinary eminence in grace was

P

discoverable in him, not from any high external professions of sanctity, but from that 'meekness of wisdom,' that purity of conversation, and that 'lowliness of mind,' by which bis whole carriage was uniformly distinguished.

39. "For some years before his decease, he expressed a continual desire, that his labours and his life might be terminated together; and with respect to his resigned prayer, in this matter, the assertion of the Psalmist was strikingly verified, The Lord will fulfil the desire of them that fear him.' His zeal for the glory of God appeared with undiminished fervour, and his diligence in filling up the duties of his vocation continued with unabating vigour, till within a few days of his removal into Abraham's bosom. Instead of outliving his zeal and diligence in the best of causes, it may truly be said, that he fell an honourable martyr to his indefatigable exertions in the service of the church; since it was from the beds of the diseased and the dying that he brought away with him the infectious distemper which put so unexpected a period to his labours. But even after the symptoms of this distemper had appeared sufficiently alarming to awaken the apprehensions of his friends, they were unable either to damp his zeal, or to control his activity: his declining sun was to set, not in obscurity and confusion, but with that mild and steady lustre, which might betoken something of its future glory."

CHAPTER XI.

HIS CHARACTER, BY MRS. FLETCHER AND OTHERS.

1. HAVING, in the preceding chapter, presented the reader with the character of Mr. Fletcher, drawn by the masterly pen of the Rev. Mr. Gilpin, a near neighbour, and intimate friend, who knew him well, I shall now offer to his consideration one equally just and striking, drawn by a person still more intimate with him, and more thoroughly acquainted with his manner of life, and the most secret springs of his whole deportment. "From Mrs. Fletcher," as Mr. Wesley has observed, "he concealed nothing. They had no secrets with regard to each other, but had, indeed, one house, one purse, and one heart. Before her it was his invariable rule to think aloud; always to open the window in his breast. And to this we are indebted for the knowledge of many particulars, which must otherwise have been buried in oblivion."

2. The following are mostly her own words; for where they are clear and expressive, as they generally are, it is not judged right to alter them for altering's sake.

she,

"Whatever he might be with regard to charity," says "he was no less eminent for the spirit of faith. Indeed, he was not so much influenced by impressions, (which many mistake for faith,) as abundance of people have been; but by a steady, firm reliance upon the love, and truth, and faithfulness of God. His ardent desire was, so to believe as to become a partaker of all the great and precious promises; to be a witness of all the mind which was in Christ Jesus. And being conscious that he must be crucified with his Master, or never reign with him, he gave himself up to him, to lie in his hand as the passive clay. He would often say, 'It is my business, in all events, to hang upon the Lord with a sure trust and confidence that he will order all things

for the best, as to time and manner. Indeed, it would be easy to be a believer, nay, in truth, there would be no room for faith, if everything were seen here. But against hope to believe in hope; to have a full confidence in that unseen Power, which so mightily supports us in all our dangers and difficulties, this is the believing which is acceptable to God.' Sometimes when I have expressed some apprehension of an approaching trial, he would answer, 'I do not doubt but the Lord orders all wisely; therefore I leave everything to Him.' In outward dangers, if they were ever so great, he seemed to know no shadow of fear. When I was speaking once concerning a danger to which we were then particularly exposed, he answered, 'I know God always gives his angels charge concerning us: therefore we are equally safe everywhere.'

3. "Not less eminent than his faith, was his humility. -Amidst all his labours for God, and for the good of souls, he ever preserved that special grace, the making no account of his own labours. He held himself and his own abilities in very low esteem; and seemed to have that word continually before his eyes, ‘I am an unprofitable servant.' And this humility was so rooted in him, as to be moved by no affront. I have known many, even of the most provoking kind, offered him; but he received them as his proper portion; being so far from desiring the honour which cometh of men, that he took pleasure in being little and unknown." "Perhaps it might appear," observes Mr. Wesley, "from some passages of his life, that in this he even leaned to an extreme. For genuine humility does not require that any man should desire to be despised. Nay, we are to avoid it, so far as we possibly can, consistently with a good conscience; for that direction, 'Let no man despise thee,' concerns every man as well as Timothy."

"It is rare," proceeds Mrs. Fletcher, "to meet with an eminent person who can bear an equal. But it was his choice and his delight to prefer every one to himself. And this he did in so free and easy a manner, that in him it appeared perfectly natural. He never willingly suffered any unkindness shown to him to be mentioned again; and if it were, he generally answered, 'O let it

And,

drop: we will offer it in silence to the Lord.' indeed, the best way of bearing crosses is, to present them all in silence to God.

4. "From this root of humility sprung such patience, as I wish I could either describe or imitate. It produced in him a mind most ready to embrace every cross with alacrity and pleasure. For the good of his neighbour nothing seemed hard, nothing wearisome. Sometimes

But

I have been grieved to call him out of his study two or three times in an hour, especially when he was engaged in composing some of his most important works. he would answer with his usual sweetness, 'O, my dear, never mind that. It matters not, if we are but ready to meet the will of God. It is conformity to the will of God that alone makes an employment excellent.' He never thought anything too mean but sin: he looked on nothing else as beneath his character. If he overtook

a poor man or woman on the road, with a burden too heavy for them, he did not fail to offer his assistance to bear part of it. And he would not easily take a denial. This proof, indeed, of condescension and kindness he has frequently given.

"In bearing pain, he was most exemplary, and continued to be more and more so to the last. Nor was his descending to the capacities of the ignorant, the least remarkable or least humbling part of his ministry: and he had a most resolute courage in the reproving of sin. To daring sinners it is well known he was a son of thunder; and no worldly considerations were regarded, whenever he believed God had given him a message to deliver to any of them.

66

5. One considerable part of humility is, to know our own place, and stand therein. Every member has its peculiar appointment in the human body, where the wise Creator has placed it: and it is well that each should continue in its place; for every dislocated bone gives pain, and causes disorder, and must continue to do so, till it be replaced in its proper socket. Just so, every dislocated affection or disposition must occasion disorder, and give pain to the soul, till it be restored to its own place; till it be entirely fixed on, or resigned to, God; till a person give his whole self to the disposal of infinite wisdom. This is the proper place of every