The life of Mrs. Mary Fletcher, consort and relict of the Rev. John Fletcher, vicar of Madely, Salop

Front matter

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Preface

i\ SHORT time after I was appointed to the Birmingham District, the papers of the late Mrs. Fletcher were put into my hands. I was informed at the same time, that the venerable person whose life was recorded \u them, had mentioned me as one that she wished should prepare and publish her papers ; and that an application to that effect would have been made to me before that time, but that the distance of my former appointment had prevented it, Mrs. Fletcher having laid an injunction o:\ her friend, to whom, by will, she had committed them, not to give them absolutely into the hands of any person whatsoever.

I examined those papers with no common interest. They gave an account not only of the writer's own life, but involved, in some respects, that of her admirable husband. I was certain that those records were desired, and would be received, by the most pious in these king-, doms, not as a common religious biography, but as the record of an uncommon work of God : and that they would not be expected to fall short of any account which has come forth in that great revival of scriptural Christianity in our day, concerning which we have so often been constrained to say, What hath God -z rough*. ?

I have often wished to see such a display of that work as would show its genuine nature and fruits, free from

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the colouring of those writers who were not directly concerned in it ; or of those who might be so anxious about its public reputation, as to forget, that the circumcision of the heart, is justified only by those children of the light and of the day who prove Its power, and cry Abba, Father, by the Spirit of adoption; and whose praise is not of men but of God. It is much to be desired also to see such an account made living and powerful by being personified ; — to see an individual thus walking ivorthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

A general History of this work, including all the important circumstances, has been already published, especially in the journals of the Rev. Mr. John Wesley, the father of Methodism, so called. In these we see, us in the Gospel, the grain of mustard seed, increasing and becoming a great tree, to the astonishment of those who witnessed its small beginning, — who i; saw the cloud arise little as a human hand." The display given us in that account, is distinguished by the same simplicity, purity, and classical beauty, which are observable in all the writings of that eminent instrument of God. This large survey is highly satisfactory ; but the aid of living testimony is necessary to bring it home to the hearts of (hose whose inquiry is, What shall I do to be saved? How shall / walk with God ?

Religion is nothing less than the life of God in the soul of man. It is the offspring of God through faith, and is not, and cannot, be attached to churches or religious communities, though they are so highly necessary to its propagation and increase. It never was so attached ; though while the covenant of God was established with

PREFACE.

the nation of the Jews, it had that appearance. But even then, all were not Israel, who were of Israel. TV children of the promise, and not the children of the flesh, were counted for the seed. The Gospel, however, to the stumbling of the greatest part of that people, put an end to that appearance. The national covenant answered the design of Him who gave it. It foretold, typified, and prepared the way, of the only begotten Son of God. But who could abide the day of his coming? Who could stand when he appeared? It is true He was meek and lowly in heart, and his every word and action towards even the greatest transgressors, demonstrated that He came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. But he exposed and resisted all those who walked in the deceivableness of unrighteousness, and who boasted, like their fathers, raying, Tlie temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we! He looked for personal religion ; and all who attached it to names, ordinances, or communities, he answered with— Ye worship ye knoxo not what. He enforced poverty of spirit, mourning., meekness, mercifulness, and purity of heart; showing thus the beginning and progress of religion, as given to guilty, sinful, helpless creatures, in whom dwells no good thin* • and who are thus to be made rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven : and who thus alone can be made new creatures, and meet for the inheritance amono- the saints in light, whose robes are washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.

These pure and high principles of Holy Writ, so agreeable to the exalted character of Jehovah, and to the fallen and wretched condition of man, were sought out and adopted by the band of brothers in the University of Oxford, nearly ninety years ago. One sxeui

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truth involved the whole, as necessary to salvation— Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. They immediately followed after this, making every sacrifice, and ordering their whole life that they might attain it. Some time after the Lord showed them, that His way of conferring holiness was by faith? and that he justifies men, as being ungodly, through the redemption that is in Jesus, before he sanctifies them. They now knew the whole truth, and the Lord thrust them forth from their beloved retirement, to raise a holy people. This was the one design of these chosen instruments, and every thing short of it they counted, to use the language of St. Paul, ~±vood, hay, or stubble.

But did they spend their strength for nought? Were they disappointed of their hope ? Were not a holy people raised up ? Let the Life of Mrs. Fletcher speak. Let the pious reader say, if he be not introduced, in these memoirs, among the excellent of the earth ; — All of whom with one voice would testify,

" Blind we were, but new we see, Deaf, we hearken, Lord ! to Thee : Dumb, for Thee our tongues employ, Lame, and lo ! we leap for joy."

" Some who have separated from other communities," says Mr. Wesley, " laid the foundation of that work, in judging and condemning others : we, on the contrary, in judging and condemning ourselves."

I cannot therefore but greatly rejoice that these memoirs are given to the public, and especially to that community of which the writer was so long a highly honoured and useful member. I cannot but think they will be a great blessing to the people of God of every denomination ; and especially to all who desire to walk

PREFACE. Vll

even as Christ also walked, and who are conscious of an evil nature, opposing that will of God which is their sanctification. In this point of view especially, these memoirs will be considered, I think, as very precious to all who fight this good fight of faith. The reader will find in them no paint, nothing to set the writer off ; no extravagance, but plain life raised and sanctified by constant attention to the duties and sacrifices of the Gospel; and issuing in a constant pleading of the great and precious promises, by which we are made partakers of the Divine Nature : with unremitting efforts to walk by that rule, whether ye eat or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Luther observed, that there never was a work of God in the earth that lasted longer, in any community, than the common life of man ; that is, upon an average, about thirty years. Generally about that period, the vineyard which the Lord planted with his own righxhand, has been let out to husbandmen, who, yielding to iheir natural propensities, and accommodating the work of the Lord to the course of this world, have not been careful to render to Him the required fruit. Hence the visible state of decay, or of death, in those communities which once manifested the Divine hand of Him who formed them. But this work has lasted nearly thrice that time ! There are none alive who witnessed its beginning, and but very few who knew its early days. If any such meet with this work, they will call to mind the very glorious time when it was altogether the work of God; when it was unsupported by any worldly power or wisdom, and had all that is earthly, sensual, and devilish, combined against it. They will see also a consistency in the design, and in the mode of execution, which is

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truly edifying, and not of this world. The instruments employed in this work, and especially that one so eminently called thereto, were not careful for such prosperity as worldly men desire. They knew, like their blessed Master, that all whom their Father gave them would come unto them, and they did not desire to bring the world into his fold. The world is called, and redeemed ; but to add to the family of God all who obeyed that call, was their only ambition, and the object of their incessant labours.

The great superintendent of this work, under God, looked not for what the world calls great talents in his helpers. In this respect also he gladly used those whom the Father gave him ; who were witnesses of the truths which they were called to teach. Men who knew God (in the only way in which he can be truly and powerfully known) as being mercifid to their unrighteousness, and remembering their sins no more. He was careful also to see that the true fruit accompanied their ministry,' — The justification of the ungodly, and the sanctification of the unholy. He used to say, " The best physician is not he who writes the best recipes, but he who makes the most cures." When men of learning united with him in this divine work, he greatly rejoiced, and gladly received them. The late Mr. Fletcher was an eminent instance of that kind. His learning was deep, extensive, clear, and various ; but like his venerable friend, whom he always called Father, he counted even all these estimable advantages as dung and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord. So abased was this great man in his own eyes, and so entirely did he take the divine mould of the Gospel, that there was not one of those helpers in the work whom he did not re-

PREFACE. IX

joice to call his brother in Christ, and whom he did not in honour prefer to himself, even in his own parish.

The private members also were men and women of God ; and among these Miss Bosanquet always held in general estimation the chief place. Her superiority in natural and providential gifts, — her well-known entire devotednesSj — her constancy and perseverance in the divine life, — her doing and suffering the whole will of her Master, all fitted her, as by a general consent, to be the consort of that great man whose praise is in all the churches ; whose admirable writings will live while piety and learning are honoured in the earth ; and which have forced even those who did not know his piety, or affected (o lament that such talents should be so connected, to acknowledge his great superiority.

That the highest principles of the Christian religion should be brought into common life, is the greatest display of the power of divine truth that is possible, and the most glorious victory over the world. It is thus that righteousness shall cover the earth, and bring glory to Him that sitteth upon the throne. How poor, how questionable, are all the refinements of the closet, the study, or the cloister, when compared with the love of God and our neighbour, brought into act, and exhibited on right principles, amidst the common concerns and labours of life, and attended with its usual trials, afflictions, and mortifications ! To persevere thus, is indeed the perseverance of the saints, and realizes that old saying, too often quoted by pride and apathy, — " It is a sight worthy of God, when he looks down from heaven, to see a virtuous mind unswervingly struggling with adversity.'5 Such a sight, I trust, the pious reader will behold in the

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Life of Mrs. Fletcher. Her one support in all her trials was, in substance, that of Job, — He knoweth the way that I take, and when he hath tried me, I shall come forthkcs gold.

What indeed can be so interesting to a mind well informed and disposed, as to behold the daily walk of one, who from a very early age had devoted her whole life to God ? Not living in seclusion, but walking in what Jeremiah calls the highway, — the way of holiness, in which the wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err ? To see our Lord's sermon on the Mount brought into daily and hourly practice, according to the evident design of its Divine Author. To see the house thus built upon the rock, the truth and love of God ; and then to behold the rains descend, and the floods come, and the winds blow and beat upon it I Surely they who contemplate the scene, and behold its stability, will exultingly exclaim, — It falls not; for it is founded upon a rock !

That such a person should be judged by men in the flesh, while living to God in the spirit, will not be surprising to any who learn what religion is by the word and Spirit of God, and who know the real character of man. Mrs. Fletcher was thus judged. The common imputations she outlived, or lived-down. One perhaps may remain. It may still perhaps be said, she was an enthusiast. To many who use this word no answer need be returned. Any thing above the dead form of godliness is with them enthusiasm. A love to him who first loved us, and who gave himself for us, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God,. which would at all equal in its attachment the love that is of earth and sense, is with them all madness, folly, or hypocrisy : wisdom is justified only by her children.

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But more sober minds may object, that she too mach minded impressions, dreams, and those inward feelings, which religious persons are supposed to be particularly exposed to. That such things should be condemned, toto eeriere, is hardly consistent with any true religion, seeing the oracles of God so frequently mention them ; and not as attached to the prophetic or ministerial character, but as given to those who walk with God in the humblest path of life. The wisest and best of men have not only jspoken of such things with respect, but have made them a part of the religion which they have held forth to ages and generations, to communities and kingdoms. Concerning religious feelings and impressions, the liturgy of the Church of England, and her established institutes, feear the fullest and most honourable testimony ; setting the highest value on that mode of divine teaching, and of bestowing encouragement and consolation. We know the worship of our Church is so constituted, as, if possible, to impress the whole nation ; but there are parts of it that can only be considered as describing and edifying the children of God. How striking are those passages in the communion service, where those who spiritually tat the flesh of Christ, and drink his blood, are said, agreeably to the Holy Scriptures, to dwell in Christ, -and Christ in them ; to be one with Christ, and Christ with them ! And in the seventeenth article, where there is the strongest description of those adopted children of God, (so strong indeed in some of the terms, that not a few have mistaken this scriptural account of them, as descriptive of Mr. Calvin's system) "alio by the counsel of God, are delivered from the curse and damnation dice to sin, and brought through Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. ,; Wherefore t'.iev which be endued with so excellent a

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benefit of God, be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season : they through grace obey the calling : they be justified freely : they be made sons of God by adoption : they be made like unto the image of his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ : they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity." And " as this godly consideration of their election in Christ is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort — to such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, so it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation, and fervently kindle their love to God.''''

Now with all this life, union, and holy fellowship, are there no corresponding feelings and enjoyments ? No tasting the powers of the world to come ? No lively impressions of their heavenly inheritance ? No consciousness of His love to them, or their love to Him, in whom they dwell ? JVo peace or joy in believing ?• — If this were indeed so, then I am afraid, the life, the union, of which those feelings and impressions have been considered as the gracious marks, have no real existence ; and the system which boasts of a peace, of which the possessor has no consciousness, a joy which raiseth not " the mind to high and heavenly things," and a hope which is not full of immortality, may triumphantly take its place in the Con~ gregation of the dead !

But it will be asked, did she not lay an undue stress upon these things ? I believe nqt. 1 have not perceived it. On the contrary, I have seen, even when she believed herself led by the Spirit of God to do that good which w-m the settled purpose, of her whole life, she mani-

PREFACE. JUlli

jested the greatest care to walk according to St. John's direction, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God. In obedience to this, she considered and pondered all her ways, and brought every purpose and act to the only sure touchstone, the unerring word of God. The same charge was often brought against Mr. Wesley, and for precisely the same reasons. Answering the most respectable of those who thus laid to his charge things that he knew not ; viz. Dr. Gibson, the venerable Bishop of London, he replies, " In the whole compass of language, there is not a proposition which belongs less to me than this. I have declared again and again, that I make the word of God the rule of all my actions ; and that I no more follow any secret impulse instead thereof, than I follow Mahomet or Confucius."

Let Mrs. Fletcher be weighed in this balance, and 1 believe she will not be found wanting. She, like Mr. Wesley, and her excellent husband, served God in newness of the spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. Hence her life was hid with Christ in God, and she had impressions, and consolations, which are the fruits and evidences of that life. But she well knew that the Spirit of truth never contradicts, never is inconsistent with Himself. His written Oracles, and his lively, and life-giving teaching, agree together. She humbly and earnestly attended to that direction-^-to the law, and to the testimony .; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. A writer of the present day has strangely said, that he knew of no witness, no influence, no teaching, but the written word of God. Perhaps he does not know any other. But there are many who walk with God who do. But if that writer only means, that he

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knows, or acknowledges, no witness, no influence, no teaching, that is contrary to that holy word, or that is inconsistent with its one design, to save us from all sin, into all holiness, every true Christian will applaud the sentiment. Mrs. Fletcher was watchful in this respect being aware of the danger. Hence, though she might err, she never deviated from the path. She might mistake ; but she was always preserved from any departure from her God.

The pious reader will be glad to be assured, that the whole of these memoirs are from Mrs. Fletcher's pen. In compiling her life, I have left out much valuable matter, which was either contained, in substance, in other parts of these memoirs, or were not of sufficient interest to appear in the publication. I have also compressed what I thought was redundant, that the work might not be needlessly swelled. I have also thought it right to press her sentences into more conciseness. She wrote in the fulness of her heart, and with admirable sense ; but her style was rather too copious, and sometimes too diffuse, for Narrative or History. But I have taken care, at the same time, to give the admirable issues of her enlightened mind, with all the force and simplicity with which she recorded them.

Those who have read the lives of those truly pious women, Madame Guion, Chantel, Bourignon, and others of the same class, which so abundantly prove, that even the cloud of Romish superstition does not preclude the rays of the Sun of righteousness, and that involuntary ignorance God still winketh at ; will be glad to see a life in the Protestant Church superior to any of them. Especially, they will see, that all in her may be safely

PREFACE. XV

imitated, being all according to the faith once delivered to the saints. They will see also, not the fair picture only, but how it came to bear the stamp divine. They mav trace its progress, and be encouraged to believe, that the Lord, who is ever the same, will thus work in them to will and to do, notwithstanding opposing corruptions : and they will thus be encouraged to give themselves up to that grace of God, which teaches us to deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

H. .WORK.

Birmingham, April 14, 1817.

THE

PART THE FIRST. — ssS5#Cs*~

Her early Life, and Christian Experience.

L WAS born September the first, O. S. 1739, at Layton-stone, in Essex. From my earliest years, I can remember the Spirit of God striving with me, and offering me salvation ; but I slighted these most gracious calls, and many times resisted the most tender invitations. One day, from a little circumstance which occurred when J was about four years old, I received such a conviction that God heareth prayer, that it often administered much comfort to me in seasons of trial and danger, Of this I had the greater need, being by nature fearful even to a degree of folly. How much this effeminacy of disposition has cost me, in my Christian warfare, and what sufferings, as well as spiritual loss, I have sustained from it, is known only to my Heavenly Father.

When I was five years old, I began to have much concern about my eternal welfare, and frequently inquired of those about me, whether such and such things were sins. On Sabbath evenings, my dear father used to instruct us in the church catechism. At those seasons I can remember asking many questions. I wished to know whether any ever did love God with all their heart, and their neighbour as themselves; and whether it was really the command of God that we should d© so :

THE LIFE OP [PART I.

also if the Bible really meant all it said ? It seemed to me that if it did, I was wrong, and all about me in danger ; for there appeared to be a great difference between the description of a Christian, given in the word of God, and those who walk under that name.

As I was a backward child, and of weaker understanding than the others, I was not well read in the Scriptures at that very early age ; but sentences out of the word of God frequently occurred to my mind, and made a deep impression, such as, Thou shalt love the Lord. thy God with all thy heart. I would answer, but I do not love God at all ; I do not know how to love him ; and with respect to loving my neighbour thus, I am sure I do not ; for though my sister is dearer to me than any body else, I do not love her as well as myself. Again, that word struck me much, St. Paul says, / have fought the good fight ; and when I was baptized, the minister said, I was to be " Christ's faithful soldier and servant, and fight manfully under his banner." This amazed me greatly. 1 thought, I am sure I do not fight, neither do I know what to fight against. But above all, that sentence would follow me, Narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it; and, If ye are not of the world, the world will hate you. I did not feel it a narrow way, aeither did the world hate me ; therefore I questioned •ften whether I was not quite out of the way, yet it wa* not with any terror. I believed if the Lord saw that 1 was wrong, he would make me right, and sometimes I prayed for it. At other times I was very careless ; yet these reflections still dwelt on my mind, and often perplexed me. I frequently asked questions about these subjects, but they were often very lightly treated. Those parts of Scripture were represented as very liable to be mistaken, and that they did not require obedience in all the strictness which I seemed to suppose. This well agreed with my carnal mind, and I thus soon quenched

Part I.] Mrs. Fletcher. 19

those tender convictions ; so easy is it to drown the soft voice of the Spirit by carnal reasonings.

I now drew the following reflections ; If the Bible does not mean all it seems to speak, with regard to the commands of God, certainly the same allowance may be made for its threatenings ; so that I began to believe there was no hell at all, or at least not half so terrible as 1 had been taught to think. This thought raised in me a dislike to the word of God, and great coldness and carelessness throughout all my conduct. But my adorable Lord did not give me up to the hardness of my heart, but still followed me with his drawings. Often I thought, perhaps the Bible does mean what it says, and then, I am not a Christian ; and greatly did I wish to know what was the truth. My sister, who was nearly five years older than me, was also under a concern for her soul ; she wished to know and do the wrill of God.

About this time, there came a servant maid to live with my father, who had heard of, and felt some little of the power of inward religion. It was among the people called Methodists she had received her instructions. Seeing the uneasiness my sister was under, she took some opportunities of conversing with her. I was at this season with my grandmother. On my return home, my rister repeated the substance of these conversations to me. I well remember the very spot we stood on, and the words she spake, which, though we were but a few minutes together, sunk so deeply into my heart, that they were never afterward erased. My reflections were suited to a child not seven years old. I thought if I became a Methodist, I should be sure of salvation ; and determined, if ever I could get to that people, whatever it cost I would be one of them. But after a few conversations, and hearing my sister read some little books which this servant had given to her, I found out, it was not the being joined to any people that wrould save me, but I must be converted, and have faith in Christ j that

20 THE LIFE OP [PART I.

I was to be saved by believing ; and that believing would make me holy, and give me a power to love and serve God.

The servant had now left our family, and we continued like,blind persons, groping our way in the dark ; yet, though we had so far discerned the truth as to express it in the above manner, I could not comprehend it. My heart rose against the idea of being saved by a faith which I could not understand. One day looking over the pictures in the Book of Martyrs, I thought it would be easier to burn than believe, and heartily did I wish that the Papists would come and burn me, and then I thought I should be quite safe. Yet these troubled thoughts, were mixed with a degree of hope. I thought, God does love me, I believe, after all ; and, perhaps, He will show me what it is to believe, and be converted.