30. - To Miss Hatton. 31. - To Miss Hatton.
with a calm consent to accept of the Gospel tidings, and, with the quietness of a child at the breast, to suck the milk of Divine consolation. Inward, loving, believing recollection and resignation is the path into which our dear heavenly Friend wants now to lead you. Be faithful, be bold, to follow where he leads; make no words, no unbelieving words, and all will be well. Farewell in body and soul.
J. FLETCHER.
30. - TO MISS HATTON.
MADELEY, July 28, 1766.
MY DEAR FRIEND, - I hear still a very indifferent account of your health. I stand in doubt as to your bodily life; but it is in the hand of Jesus, and Jesus is wise, Jesus is good, Jesus is almighty; he will, therefore, dispose of you for the best. While you see the scales hovering, and it may be that of life slowly descending toward a quiet grave, calmly look at Jesus; and when the feebleness of your spirits prevents you from crying out, in ecstatic love, “My Lord and my God!” let your devoted, resigned, patient heart still whisper, “Thy will be done!”
Your last letter raised my hopes of your recovery; Mr. Perry, who saw you since, damps them again: but “whether we live, we live to the Lord, or whether we die, we die to the Lord. Not for works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy he saveth us. Glory be to God for his unspeakable gift!” Jesus remembers you in his all - prevailing intercession, and, I might add, I do in my prayers, if the weight of a dancing mote deserved to be mentioned, after that of an immense mountain. I am, with Christian respects to our kind, loving friends at Wem, your poor Madeley friend,
J. FLETCHER.
31. - TO MISS HATTON.
MADELEY, July 30, 1766.
MY DEAR FRIEND, - So you are likely to be at rest first! Well, the Lord’s will be done; I should be glad to have you stay to help us to the kingdom of God; but if God wants to take you there, and house you before a storm, I shall only cry, “One of the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!” and try to make the best of my way after you.
A calm receiving of the Gospel tidings, upon a conviction of your lost estate, with suitable tempers, is a sign that you are in a safe state; but I want you to be altogether in a comfortable one. Your business, I apprehend, is not to turn the dung hill of nature, but to suck the Gospel milk: dwell much, if not altogether, upon “free justification through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” View the sufficiency, fulness, suitableness, freeness of his atonement and righteousness; and hide yourself without delay under both. Look at death only as a door to let you out of manifold infirmities and pains, into the arms of Jesus, your heavenly Bridegroom. Stir up faith, hope, and love; that is trimming your lamp. Since last Monday, I find the burden of your soul upon mine in a very particular manner, and I hope that I shall not cease to pray for you, that you may go not only calmly, but joyfully, the way of all flesh. I have got some praying souls to share with me in that profitable work, and I hope you will meet our spirits at the throne of grace as we do yours. Let me have the comfort of thinking that you are with your Physician, Husband, and all; who will order all things for the best. Pray hard, believe harder, and love hardest. Let the cry of your soul be, “None but Jesus living, none but Jesus dying.” Let Christ be your life, and then death, whether it comes sooner or later, will be your gain.
Mr. Glazebrook waits for these lines, and I conclude by again entreating you to believe. “Only believe,” said Jesus to the ruler - and faith will work by love, and love by a desire to depart and be with Christ. God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless, uphold, and comfort you! Farewell, and forget not to pray for your helpless friend,
J. FLETCHER.
32. - TO MISS HATTON.
MADELEY, Sept. 1766.
MY VERY DEAR FRIEND, - God wonderfully supports your tottering clay, that he may fill up what is lacking in your faith. Concur with the merciful design; arise in spirit, shake off the dust of earthly thoughts, put on your glorious apparel - put on, every moment, the Lord Jesus Christ. Dare to believe; on Christ lay hold: wrestle with Christ in mighty, or even in feeble