By the Rev. John Gilpin, Introduction.
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.
INTRODUCTION.
THE following work was begun and nearly completed in the course of Mr. Fletcher’s last residence at Nyon, where it formed a valuable part of his private labours, during a long and painful confinement from public duty. On his return to England he suffered the manuscript to lie by him in a very loose and disordered state, intending, at his leisure, to translate and prepare it for the press. In the meantime he entered upon the arduous task of revising and enlarging a French poem, which he had lately published at Geneva under the title of “La Louange,” and which was reprinted at London in the year 1785, under the title of “La Grace et la Nature.” The second appearance of this poem was speedily followed by the dissolution of the author. Soon after this melancholy event had taken place, Mrs. Fletcher, in looking over the papers of the deceased, discovered the first part of the Portrait of St. Paul, with the perusal of which she favoured the translator, who finding it a work of no common importance, was readily induced to render it into English. From time to time different parts of the work were discovered, and though the manuscript was so incorrect and confused, as frequently to stagger the resolution of the translator, yet a strong persuasion that the work was calculated to produce the most desirable effects, encouraged him to persevere till he had completed his undertaking.
It is scarcely necessary to inform the intelligent reader that the Portrait of St. Paul was originally intended for publication in the author’s native country, to which its arguments and quotations apply with peculiar propriety. It may be more necessary to observe, that had the life of Mr. Fletcher been prolonged the traits of St. Paul’s moral character would have been rendered abundantly more copious and complete.