36. - To Miss Bryan. 37. - To James Ireland, Esq.

36. - TO MISS BRYAN.

MADELEY, Feb. 1767.

I HOPE my friend Mr. Ireland will not grudge me the room I take in this letter to thank you for your last. It is travelling about, seeking its fortune, as well as the first; who knows but, before it comes home, it will, like a baited hook, bring a fish along with it. I hope you go on and prosper, and do valiantly. I am glad to see the Lord leads you in the exalted way of exulting faith, triumphant hope, and rapturous love: mount higher and higher: there is no fear of your losing yourself, except it be in the boundless tracks of Divine mercy, and on the eternal hills of redeeming love: and to be lost there is to be happily found. I rejoice that you do not lose sight of the depths of human misery and depravity, - out of Jesus. With this ballast, the strongest blasts of spiritual rapture will never overset you. I also thank God that your faith works by love, and that you love not in pen and word only, but in deed and in truth; see that you abound herein more and more. As I trust you love to do well to your neighbours’ bodies, see that you use well that of a neighbour of mine, whose name is Bryan, and put her in remembrance to pray for her affectionate brother and unworthy servant, J. FLETCHER.

37. - TO JAMES IRELAND, ESQ.

MADELEY, March 30, 1767.

MY VERY DEAR FRIEND, - I am glad you keep up your catholic meeting: a dozen of your way of thinking and acting would break the legs of that thief, bigotry, who reviles the crucified members of the crucified Jesus. God, who vouchsafed to meet even Balaam, when he went to curse Israel, will not fail to bless you when you go to bless the scattered Israel of our Christ.

To return to your present; I return you my sincere thanks for it as well as for all your former favours, and for your kind offers of new ones. I have one to ask now, which is, that you would stay your hand, and allow me to consume and wear out the old presents, without overcharging me with new ones. I do not say stay your heart; no, let the oil of prayer flow from the cruise of your soul for me and mine, till our poor vessels are filled with the oil of humble love.

What you say about Miss Ireland’s filling, puts me in mind of that worse disease of my heart, the dropsy of self. God gives me good physic and good food, but, instead of digesting both properly, self retains what it should not. I fill, instead of remaining empty for fresh food; I lose my appetite, I swell, and am good for nothing but another operation. May the Lord so tap us that all our swellings may go down, and return no more! The good Samaritan, who is also a good physician, wants to tap you spiritually, by the bodily tapping of your daughter. To be cut in the fruit of our body is, sometimes, more painful than to be cut in our own body; may both she and you reap the fruit of the successful operation whenever it takes place! I am, with cordial affection, my dear sir, your very much obliged, though very unworthy servant,

J. FLETCHER.

38. - TO JAMES IRELAND, ESQ.

MADELEY, April 27, 1767.

MY VERY DEAR FRIEND, - I have just received your letter, upon my arrival from Wales, with dear Lady Huntingdon, who is, of a truth, a tried stone built upon the corner stone; and such as you have seen her, such I am persuaded you will find her to the last; a soul devoted to Jesus, living by faith; going to Christ himself by the Scriptures, instead of resting in the letter of the Gospel promises, as too many professors do. I have just time to tell you, with regard to the Bristol journey, that I must come first from the north, before I dream of going to the south. God help us to steer incessantly to the grand point of, our salvation, “Jesus the crucified.” To him I recommend myself and you, and my noble guests. Love him, praise him, serve him who hath loved you, bought you, and died for you. I remain, &c,

J. FLETCHER.

39. - TO JAMES IRELAND, ESQ.

MADELEY, Oct. 14, 1768.

MY VERY DEAR FRIEND, - I think I told you at Trevecka that we had no farmers at Madeley who feared God and loved Jesus. This generation among us are buried in the furrows of their ploughs, or under the heaps of