73. - To the Right Hon. Lady Mary Fitzgerald. 74. - To Mr. Henry Brooke.

73. - TO THE RIGHT HON. LADY MARY FITZGERALD.

MADELEY, Feb. 11, 1785.

MERCY, righteousness, peace, and joy be multiplied to dear Lady Mary, and to all who are dear and near unto her, from the Father of mercies, through the Son of his boundless love, and through the Spirit of infinite love, which the Father breathes continually toward the Son, and the Son toward the Father! So prays John Fletcher. And who are we, my lady, that we should not be swallowed up by this holy, loving, living Spirit, which fills heaven and earth? If we could exclude him from our hearts, we might vilely set up self in opposition to him who is all in all. But whether we consider or not, there he is, a true, holy, loving, merciful God. Assent to it, my lady; believe it, rejoice in it. Let him be God all in all; your God in Christ Jesus; your brother, who is flesh of your flesh, bone of your bone; your surety, who payeth all your debt, in whom the Father was reconciling you and us unto himself, and in whom we are accepted. What an ocean of love to swim in - to dive into! Don’t be afraid to venture and to plunge with all yours; especially our dear friends in St. James’ Place, Mrs. G - - - - and Mrs. L - - - - - , &c. I am, &c,

J. FLETCHER.

74. - TO MR. HENRY BROOKE.

MADELEY, Feb. 28,1782

MY DEAR BROTHER, - am now led to be afraid of that in my nature, which would be for pomp, show, and visible glory. I am afraid of falling by such an expectation into what I call a spiritual judaizing; into a looking for Christ’s coming in my own pompous conceit, which might make me reject him, if his wisdom, to crucify mine, chose to come in a meaner way; and if, instead of coming in his Father’s glory, he chose to come meek, riding, not on the cherubim, but on the foal of an ass. Our Saviour said, with respect to his going to the feast, “My time is not yet come.” Whether his time to come and turn the thieves and buyers out of the outward Church is yet come, I know not. I doubt Jerusalem and the holy place are yet given to be trodden under foot by the Gentiles. But my Jerusalem! Why it is not swallowed up of the glory of that which comes down from heaven, is a question, which I wait to be solved by the teaching of that great prophet, who is alone possessed of Urim and Thummim. The mighty power to wrestle with him is all Divine; and I often pray,

That mighty faith on me bestow,

Which cannot ask in vain,

Which holds, and will not let thee go,

Till I my suit obtain:

Till thou into my soul inspire,

That perfect love unknown,

And tell my infinite desire,

“Whatever thou wilt, be done.”

In short, the Lord crucifies my wisdom and my will every way; but I must be crucified as the thieves. “All my bones must be broken;” for there is still in me that impatience of wisdom, which would stir, when the tempter says, “Come down from the cross.” It is not for us to know the times and seasons, the manner and mystical means of God’s working; but only to hunger and thirst, and lie passive before the great Potter. In short, I begin to be content to be a vessel of clay or of wood, so I may be emptied of self; and filled with my God, my all. Do not give up your confident hope: it saves still secretly, and hath a present, and, by and by, will have a great recompense of reward. We are your obliged friends,

J. FLETCHER.

75. - TO MR. MELVILLE HORNE.

MADELEY, May 10, 1785.

DEAR BROTHER, - I am sorry you should have been uneasy about the books: I received them safely after they had lain for some time at Salop. I seldom look into any book but my Bible; not out of contempt, as it I thought they could not teach me what I do not know; but because “Vita brevis, Ars longa:” I may never look into either of them again. Go on improving yourself by reading, but above all by meditation and prayer: and allow our Lord to refine you in the fire of temptation. Where you see a want, at home or abroad, within or without, look upon that want as a warning to avoid the cause of the leanness you perceive, and a call to secure the blessings which are ready to take their flight; for sometimes true riches, like those of this world, make themselves wings and fly away: the heavenly dove may be grieved and take its flight to humbler and more