95. - To the Rev. Mr. Wesley.
the will and the understanding, more than with the passions; with your sublimer, rather than with your inferior powers. I rejoice in you, your aunt, and sister, as of three who will be of a hundred and twenty in Shropshire, called to be all of one heart and one soul, all believing, loving, prophesying. Remember me to them in Christian regard, and permit my spirit to twist itself with the threefold cord, when you pull blessings from heaven upon yourselves and the Church. I thank you for the direction to Mr. Wesley. I shall now forward my letter to him. I am dear Miss Loxdale’s affectionate servant,
J. FLETCHER.
95. - TO THE REV. MR. WESLEY.
MADELEY, June 24, 1781.
REV. AND DEAR SIR, - As to Miss L - - - - - , I believe her to be a simple, holy follower of the Lord. Nothing throws unscriptural mysticism down like holding out the promise of the Father, and the fulness of the Spirit, to be received now, by faith, in the two promisers, the Father and the Son. Ah! what is the penal fire of the mystics, to the burning love of the Spirit, revealing the glorious power of the Father and the Son, according to John 14:26, and filling us with all the fulness of God? Plain Scripture is better than all mystic refinements.
When I was at N - - - - , near Geneva, three ministers received the word, and preached the truth. When persecution arose because of the word, the two pastors were afraid; but the curate of the first pastor, a burgess of the town, stood by me. This Timothy opened his house, when the pastors shut both their pulpits and houses; and I heard him preach a discourse before I came away, worthy of you, sir, upon the heights and depths of holiness. He wrote an apology for me, which he sent to the head of the persecuting clergy, and so stopped the torrent of wrath. He made observations upon the mischief done to Christianity by a bad clergy, such as George Fox, and you, sir, would not disown. When I told him of you and the Methodists, he expressed a great desire to come to England, to hear you, to see the English brethren, and to learn English, that he might read your works, and perhaps translate some of them. He can have no living in his own country, because he will not swear to prosecute all who propagate Arminian tenets; which is more honest than the clergy, many of whom are Arians, Socinians, or Deists, and do not scruple to take the Calvinian oaths! I shall endeavour to wait upon you at Leeds at the time of the conference; in the meantime, I am, Rev. and dear sir, your obedient servant, and affectionate son in the Gospel,
J. FLETCHER.
96. - TO THE REV. MR. PERRONET.
MADELEY, Sept. 4, 1781.
REV. AND DEAR SIR, - Your last favour I received, and rejoice that like a father in Christ, inured to disappointments and losses, you greet your friends in light, and commend, with deep resignation, those who survive, to the mercy of that God, who hath stood by you many years. O! dear sir, he will do better for them and for us than we either can ask or think. We need not then be staggered, when we see a black cloud hanging over our earthly enjoyments; even over the life of our choicest friends. We must hope against hope, that great good - yea, spiritual and eternal good, will come out of the external, transitory evils we fear or feel. We shall know hereafter why the Lord dealt so by us; in the meantime, let us say, like the Jews, “He has done all things well!”
I have been for some weeks in Yorkshire, chiefly at the house of an old friend of mine, Miss Bosanquet’s, whose happy family put me in mind of yours. At my return home, I have found a letter from my brother, who informs me that my dear friend, your son, continues very weak. He is now at Gimel, a fine village between Lausanne and Geneva, where Miss Perronet’s sister is settled. There he rides, and drinks asses’ milk, and breathes the purest air. The Lord give his blessing to those means of health! and if he refuses it, may he give the best of blessings, saving health, and eternal life in Him who died for our sins, and rose again for our justification! Mrs. Perronet is there with her two daughters, and my dear friend, so that if his illness should grow more grievous, he will not want for good attendance, and the most tender nursing.
I design to write soon to him and to Miss Perronet. Support him, dear sir, by your fatherly exhortations; they are balm to his blood, and marrow to his bones. Recommending myself to your prayers and blessing, I am, Rev. and dear sir, your affectionate and dutiful son in the Gospel, J. FLETCHER.