The life of the Rev. John W. de la Flechere : compiled from the narrative of Rev. Mr. Wesley : the biographical notes of Rev. Mr. Gilpin, from his own letters : and other authentic documents, many of which were never before published

Preface To Life Of Fletcher

It has long been the desire of many of Mr. Fletcher's friends, to see a more full and complete account of that extraordinary man, than any that had appeared. Mr. Wesley's Narrative of his life was drawn up in great haste, and in the midst of so many important labours and concerns of another kind, that it is not at all surprising it should contain some small mistakes, and in other respects, should be imperfect. Mrs. Fletcher never intended to write his Life, but only to give an account of his death, with a few particulars of his character. The Rev. Mr. Gilpin's Biographical Notes, annexed to his translation of Mr. Fletcher Portrait of Saint Paul, are very excellent, and very accurate, as far as they go. But neither did Mr. Gilpin intend to write his Life, out simply to give some more traits of his character, and add a few anecdotes concerning him, which had been omitted by Mr. Wesley and Mrs. Fletcher. Add to this, that Mr. Gilpin's Notes are scattered through that work without any order : and, however useful, as detached pieces, do not, in any respect, furnish the reader with a regular and connected history of that great and good man. In consideration of these things, it has been judged, by his friends, to be a debt due to his memory, and to the Christian world, to compile from the whole, and from such other documents as might be collected, such an authentic and properly arranged narrative of his life and death, as might be at once clear and sufficiently full, comprising every article of importance. Mrs. Fletcher, knowing that I had been particularly intimate with Mr. Fletcher from the year 1768, till his death, and that we had been in the constant habit of corresponding, earnestly desired I would undertake this work. And our general conference, held at Leeds in the year 1801, having joined with her in the same request, I have, at length, complied, and am not without hope, that the interests of pure and vital Christianity will be promoted by it.

4 PREFACE TO LIFE OF FLETCHER.

This narrative includes the whole of what is material in the forementioned accounts, digested in regular order, together with much new matter, taken chiefly from Mr. Fletcher's own letters to myself, and some other friends, especially to the Rev. Mr. Perronet, late of Shoreham, and some members of his family. I have found it to be peculiarly useful to myself to be employed about this work : and I pray God that every reader may obtain similar, and even greater benefit from it, and be induced to follow him as fully as he followed Christ.

Joseph Benson.

London, October 25, 1804.

PREFACE TO LIFE OF FLETCHER.

Preface To The Second Edition

The editor is aware that he must chiefly ascribe it to ihe high esteem entertained by the public in general, and by the members of the Methodist societies in particular, for the character of the late Rev. Mr. Fletcher, and the great veneration in which his memory is held by them, that the former impression of this work has had so rapid a sale, and that a second edition is so soon called for. He is, however, happy to find, by the testimonies he has received from different quarters, that the manner in which he has been enabled to execute his office of compiler, has been highly satisfactory to Mr. Fletcher's friends, and to the readers of the publication in general.

It is true, the editors of a periodical work, termed the " Christian Observer," have represented it as an imperfection in its mode of compilation, that he did not " weave the whole of his materials into a completely new work." But this, he must observe, was not the task assigned him ; nor would he, if desired, have consented to undertake it, well knowing, both that it would require more time than he could have spared from his other, not less important employments, and that the work would gain nothing thereby in point of real usefulness. For he was well persuaded that he could not express the same things in his own words so well as the Rev. Messrs. Wesley and Gilpin had expressed them, nor clothe the materials furnished by these truly pious and learned writers in more pure, elegant, and forcible language, than they had used. He knew, therefore, that to have pursued the plan the conductors of that miscellany have suggested, would not have rendered the work more interesting, or more instructive to the reader, or in any respect better calculated to answer the great and important ends of religious biography, which are not to gain honour and applause to the writer; but rather to excite and animate the reader to greater zeal and dili

6 PREFACE TO LIFE OF FLETCHER.

gence in pursuit of whatever excellence might be described or exemplified in the subject of it. Add to this, he was sensible it was not the wish of any of the parties by whom he was pressed into this service, that the narratives of Messrs. Wesley and Gilpin should be superseded and lost sight of. He knew it was rather their desire, that these well written, though incomplete accounts should be brought forward afresh into public view, preserved and perpetuated, by being incorporated in one volume, with such other materials as might be collected ; thereby furnishing the public with such a clear and full history of that incomparable man as might be of lasting use to the Church of Christ, and a mean of edification to thousands yet unborn.

But " the natural consequence of this mode of compilation," say they, " is, that the work is defective in clearness and uniformity, and that it is occasionally prolix and redundant.'* As to prolixity and redundance, the editor is under no concern. The persons for whose use chiefly he undertook to compile this volume, have such veneration for the memory of Mr. Fletcher, that any information concerning him that is authentic, and at all instructive, or calculated to cast light upon his character, is peculiarly welcome ; although to readers less apprised of his worth, it might appear unnecessary, or even superfluous. Under a persuasion of this, at the same time that the editor has corrected two or three important mistakes, inadvertently made in the former impression, he has enlarged the narrative still more in the present publication, by inserting several anecdotes, original letters, and other communications which had not come to hand when his manuscript for the first edition was sent to the press.

But as to this point of prolixity, the Christian Observers themselves have formed his apology. " It is but fair to observe, (say they,) as to this volume, that, as it was evidently intended chiefly for the perusal of the followers of Mr. Wesley, who are almost universally great admirers of Mr. Fletcher, the editor might not think it necessary to pay so much regard, in the construction of his work, to perspicuity of arrangement and elegance of manner as to the minuteness of his details, and the abundance of his matter." This statement, bating the unmerited

Preface To Life Of Fletcher. 7

insinuation contained in it against the followers of Mr. Wesley as persons who have less taste than their neighbours for order and elegance in composition, the editor acknowledges to be pretty near the truth. He owns he did pay, and thought it his duty to pay, much more attention to the matter than to the form and manner of his work. He paid, however, considerable attention to the latter also, and ventures to say, while it has all the elegance which the fine pens of Messrs. Gilpin, Wesley, and Fletcher could give it, the greatest part of its contents being expressed in their words, it has all the perspicuity and clearness which " an arrangement according to the date of the events," could bestow — an arrangement which these observers themselves acknowledge to have been attended to.

As to uniformity, it has what is quite sufficient for a work of the kind; a uniformity, not indeed of language, the simple and laconic style of Mr. Wesley differing very materially from the diffuse and florid manner of Mr. Gilpin and the copiousness of Mr. Fletcher ; but, what is infinitely more important, a uniformity of testimony, respecting the amiable and excellent subject of the narrative, and that blessed Gospel which he preached, which he lived, and which his most eminent gifts and graces highly adorned. It is also uniform as to its design, and it is hoped that all its parts co-operate to produce the important effect intended, and that is, to induce every reader to follow Mr. Fletcher as he followed Christ.

In short, the editor believes that he has pursued the best plan which he could have chosen, in order to trace, exhibit, and attest, from the mouths of different witnesses, Mr. Fletcher's character and conduct through every period of his life ; and to give the reader at once a clear and full view of his progressive wisdom, piety, and usefulness, and especially of that heavenly and divine mind whereby he was prepared for the great and glorious reward awaiting him in the kingdom of his Father.

But without entering farther into the examination of what he cannot but think to be the unkind and illiberal remarks, contained in the forementioned publication, on these two most eminently useful men, the Rev. Messrs. Wesley and Fletcher, and on the Methodists in general; as a proper contrast to their critique, and a confirmation

8 PREFACE TO LIFE OF FLETCHER.

of the observations just made, the editor will now take the liberty of laying before the reader the judgment passed upon this work, by the conductors of two other periodical publications. Although no followers of Mr. "Wesley, but persons of very different sentiments, as to some important points of Christian doctrine, nevertheless they could not close their eyes to the uncommon piety and other excellences of the subject of this narrative.

" Whatever difference of opinion," say the editors of the Theological and Biblical Magazine, (see their number for April, 1805,) " may be entertained respecting some important points of doctrine, which the late Mr. Fletcher publicly maintained, we believe that there is but one opinion as to the exalted piety of this eminent Christian. We have perused these memoirs with deep interest, and we hope also not without profit. His humility, disinterestedness, affection, zeal, and heavenly mindedness have, perhaps, been seldom equalled ; and few, we believe, will rise from the perusal of the volume before us, without being ashamed of their own unprofitableness, and adoring the riches of Divine grace, which were so extraordinarily manifested to this man of God. While reading this account of Mr. Fletcher, we frequently called to mind the late most amiable Mr. Pearce, of Birmingham, whose life has been written by Mr. Fuller. There seems, indeed, to have been a very great resemblance in these two characters, both in the ardency of their Christian love, their entire devotedness to God, and the constant communion they held with the Father of spirits. We have not room for quotations, yet we feel strongly inclined to give a few expressions of his, which indicate great candour toward those who thought differently from him in some less important particulars of doctrine." After producing a passage to this purpose, which the reader will find in page 332, " God forbid, &c," they add, "We, among many others, differ widely from Mr. Fletcher in some points of doctrine, but we cannot withhold our admiration of a character so truly lovely and exalted. Mr. Benson has performed his part, in collecting the materials for this Life of Mr. Fletcher in a very respectable manner."

The foil-owing sentences are transcribed from the

Preface To Life Of Fletcher. 9

Eclectic Review for June, 1805, in which this work is considered at large : " There have been some, in most ages of Christianity, and in most countries where it is professed, who have emulated its primitive and genuine excellence. Among these exalted few, the subject of the biography before us is unquestionably to be ranked. In whatever period he had lived, to whatever department of Christians he had belonged, he would have shone in the religious hemisphere, as a star of the first magnitude." After giving, from the volume, a general outline of his history, they add, "We must refer to the narrative of his short illness, given by Mrs. Fletcher, and to an ample character of him previously introduced, for a more adequate idea of this excellent man than we can attempt to impart. It was deemed preferable to give the preceding outline, rather than extracts of the work, as those (parts) which describe the more striking scenes of Mr. Fletcher's life have formerly been printed. Mr. Benson has very judiciously connected and completed, either from his own knowledge, or authenticdocuments, the detached accounts which had appeared in various publications." After mentioning a few passages, by the omission of which, and by the accession of Mr. Fletcher's character, as a tutor and as a writer, the authors of the. Eclectic Review think the volume might be amended, they add, " We can cordially recommend it, in its present state, to serious and candid Christians, of every variety of form and sentiment : and it would greatly -surprise us, should any person of this description rise up from the perusal of it, and assert that it had not afforded him pleasure and improvement."

The Editor.

10 PREFACE tO LIFE OF FLETCHER.

REV. MR. WESLEY'S PREFACE TO THE READER

No man in England has had so long an acquaintance with Mr. Fletcher as myself. Our acquaintance began almost as soon as his arrival in London, about the year 1752, before he entered into holy orders, or (I believe) had any such intention. And it continued uninterrupted between thirty and forty years, even till it pleased God to take him to himself. Nor was ours a slight or ordinary acquaintance ; but we were of one heart and of one soul. We had no secrets between us for many years ; we did not purposely hide any thing from each other. From time to time he consulted me, and I him, on the most important occasions. And he constantly professed, not only much esteem, but (what I valued far more) much affection. He told me, in one of his letters, (I doubt not from his heart,)

" Tecum vivere amen ; tecum obeam lubens : "With thee I gladly would both live and die."

I therefore think myself obliged, by the strongest ties, to pay this small tribute to his memory. But you may easily observe that, in doing this, I am little more than a compiler. For I owe a great, if not the greatest part of the ensuing tract to a few friends, who have been at no small pains in furnishing me with materials : and above all, to my dear friend, (such she has been almosl from her childhood,) Mrs. Fletcher. I could easily havf altered both hers and their language, while I retained their sentiments. But I was conscious I could not altei it for the better : and I would not alter for altering's sake : but judged it fairest to give you most of then accounts very nearly in their own words.

Amsterdam, September 12, 1786.

THE LIFE

OF THE

REV. JOHN WILLIAM DE LA FLECHERE.

CHAPTER I. Of his parentage and youth

John William De La Flechere, (this was properly his name,) was born at Nyon, in Switzerland, {Wesley's Life of Fletcher,) a town about fifteen miles north of Geneva, on September the twelfth, in the year 1729. His father was an officer in the French service, till he left the army in order to marry. But after a time, he returned to the same line of life, and was a colonel in the militia of his own country. Of this gentleman, whose family is one of the most respectable in the canton of Berne, and a branch of an earldom of Savoy, Mr. Fletcher was the youngest son.

2. He passed the early part of his life at Nyon, [Gilpin'' s Notes, subjoined to Fletcher's Portrait of St. Paul,) where he soon discovered an elevated turn of mind, accompanied with an unusual degree of vivacity. After having made a good proficiency in school learning, he was removed with his two brothers to Geneva, where he was distinguished equally by his superior abilities and his uncommon application. The first two prizes for which he stood a candidate he carried away from a number of competitors, several of whom were nearly related to the professors : and on these occasions he was complimented by his superiors in a very flattering manner. During his residence at Geneva, he allowed himself but little time, either for recreation, refreshment, or rest. After confining himself closely to his studies all the day, he would frequently consume the greater part of the night in noting down whatever had occurred, in the course of his reading, worthy of observation. Here he acquired that true classical taste which was so frequently and justly admired by his intimate friends, and which all his studied plainness could never conceal. Here also he laid the foundation of that extensive and accurate knowledge for which he was afterward distinguished, both in philosophical and theological researches. After quitting Geneva, he was sent by his father to Lentzbourg, a small town in the Swiss cantons, where he not only acquired the German language, but diligently prosecuted his other studies, to which he ever discovered a passionate attachment. On his return from this place he continued some time at home, studying the Hebrew language, and perfecting his acquaintance with mathematical learning.

3. His early piety was equally remarkable with his early attainments. From his childhood he was impressed with a deep sense of the majesty of God, and a constant fear of offending him, and manifested great tenderness of conscience, as appears by the following instances. One day having offended his father, who threatened to correct him, he did not dare to come into his presence, but retired into the garden : and when he saw him coming toward him, he ran away with all speed. But he was presently struck with deep remorse, and said to himself, " What ! do I run away from my father? Perhaps I shall live to have a son that will run away from me!" And it was several years before the impression which he then received was worn off.

4. Another instance of his tenderness of conscience occurred when he was about 'seven years of age. He was one day reproved by the nursery maid, saying, " You are a naughty boy. Do you not know that the devil is to take away all naughty children?" He was no sooner in bed, than he began to reflect very deeply upon her words. He thought, "I am a naughty boy. And how do I know but God may let the devil take me away this night." He then got up, fell down upon his knees before God, and praye.d earnestly for a considerable time, till he felt such a sense of the Divine- love as quieted every fear. He then lay down in peace and safety.

5. Mr. Fletcher's early acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures guarded him, on the one hand, from the snares of infidelity, and preserved him, on the other, from many of the vices peculiar to youth. His conversation was modest, and his whole conduct marked with a degree of rectitude not usually to be found in early life. He manifested an extraordinary turn for religious meditation : and those little productions which gained him the greatest applause, at this period, were chiefly of a serious tendency. His filial obedience and brotherly affection were exemplary; nor is it remembered that he ever uttered one unbecoming expression m either of those characters. He was a constant reprover of sin ; and his modest freedom in this respect is said once to .have offended a mother he tenderly loved. While she was, on some occasion, expressing herself in too warm a manner to one of the family, he turned his eye upon her with a gentle reproof. She was displeased with the modest reprehension, and repaid it with some severity, which he received with the utmost submission, making only the following reply: " When I am smitten on one cheek, and especially by a hand I love so well, I am taught to turn the other also." This expression was not employed with an air of bravado, but with a look of so much tender affection that the indignation of his mother was instantly turned into a look of pleasing admiration.

6. Persons who are designed by the Almighty for eminent services in his Church are frequently distinguished in their youth by striking peculiarities, which awaken in those around them an expectation of something extraordinary in their future character. Of this kind was the following circumstance. During Mr. Fletcher's residence at Geneva, his sister, Madame de Botens, who had taken a house in that city for the convenience of her brothers, was visited by a widow lady from Nyon. This lady was accompanied by her three sons, who were not the most happily disposed, and whose improper conduct at this time provoked her to so uncommon a degree as to extort from her a hasty imprecation. Mr. Fletcher, who was present upon this occasion, was so struck with the unnatural carriage of this exasperated mother that, instantly starting from his chair, he addressed her in a very powerful remonstrance. He reasoned with her in an affecting and pointed manner. He observed and lamented the difficulties of her situation ; but entreated her to struggle against them with discretion, and not with impatience. He exhorted her to educate her children in the fear of God, and to second such education by her own pious example. After assuring her that her conduct on the present occasion had filled him with the utmost horror, and that he could not but tremble for the consequences of it, he concluded his address by alarming her fears, lest the imprecation she had uttered should be followed by some unexpected family affliction. That same day the widow, in her return to Nyon, embarked upon the lake, where she was overtaken with a tremendous storm, and brought to the very point of perishing. In the midst of her danger, the words of her young prophet, as she ever afterward termed Mr. Fletcher, were deeply impressed upon her mind. But they shortly returned upon her in a most forcible manner, with the melancholy intelligence, that two of her sons were lost upon the lake, and the third crushed to death at one of the gates of Geneva. At this time Mr. Fletcher was not more than fourteen years of age.

7. While Mr. Fletcher was yet a youth, his life was sundry times in imminent danger, but was mercifully preserved. One day, as he informed Mrs. Fletcher, he and his elder brother, being about to exercise themselves in fencing, had taken real, instead of wooden swords, with buttons fixed upon the points of them. His brother making a hard push at him, the button upon the point of his sword split in two, and the sword entered Mr. Fletcher's side, near his bowels, and gave him so deep a wound that he carried the scar of it to his grave.

At another time, he and hisJbrother went upon the lake of Geneva in a little boat, and rowed forward till, being out of sight of land, they knew not what way they were going, nor whether they were approaching or removing farther from the shore from which they had set out. The evening now came on, and it was beginning to grow dark, and as they were proceeding toward the middle of the lake, in all probability they would have been lost, had it not providentially happened that, in consequence of some news arriving in town, the bells began to ring. They could but just hear them, but were soon convinced that instead of rowing to land, as they had intended, they had been proceeding farther and farther from it. Making now toward the quarter from which they perceived the sound to come, they found they had just strength enough left to reach the shore.

8. To these accounts of his remarkable preservation given by himself to Mrs. Fletcher, I shall add some still more remarkable, which he gave to Mr. Samuel Webb, of

London, then residing at Madeley, as related in the short Narrative of his Life and Death, published by the Rev. Mr. Wesley. " When I was a lad, I had a design to get some fruit out of my father's garden. The door being locked, I could not get in, but by climbing over the wall. This was very high ; but with some difficulty I got to the top of it. As I was walking upon it, my foot slipped, and I fell down to the bottom. But just where I fell, a large quantity of fresh-made mortar was laid. I fell exactly upon it. This broke my fall, or it might have cost me my life."

Again. " Once as I was swimming by myself in a deep water, one end of a strong riband which bound my hair, getting loose, I know not how, and twisting about my leg, tied me as it were neck and heels. I strove with all my strength to disengage myself; but it was to no purpose. No person being within call, I gave myself up for lost. But when I had given over struggling, the riband loosed of itself."

"Another instance of the tender care which God had over me, was as follows : One evening I and four young gentlemen, in high spirits, made a solemn agreement with each other to swim next day to a rocky island, five miles distant from the shore. But this foolish adventure was within a very little of costing us all our lives. I and another indeed did with great difficulty and hazard swim to the island. But when we came thither, the rock Was so steep and smooth, that we could not possibly climb up. After swimming around several times, and making many ineffectual efforts, we thought we must perish there. But at length one of us found a place, where he made a shift to crawl up. He then helped his companion. The others swam about half way, a boat then took them up, when they were just sinking. Another boat which he had ordered to follow us, afterward came and took us home."

9. But the deliverance of which he gave an account in the year 1760, is yet more wonderful. " Some years since I lived at a place very near the river Rhine.' In that part it is broader than the Thames at London bridge, and extremely rapid. But having been long practised in swimming, I made no scruple of going into it at any time. Only I was always careful to keep near the shore, that the stream might not carry me away. Once, however, being less careful than usual, I was unawares drawn into the mid channel. The water there was extremelyrough, and poured along like a galloping horse. I endeavoured to swim against it, but in vain, till I was hurried far from home. When I was almost spent, I reste upon my back, and then looked about for a landing place, finding I must either land or sink. With much difficulty I got near the shore ; but the rocks were so ragged and sharp that I saw, if I attempted to land there, I should be torn in pieces. So I was constrained to turn again to the mid stream : at last, despairing of life, I was cheered by the sight of a fine smooth creek, into which I was swiftly carried by a violent stream. A building stood directly across it, which I did not then know to be a powder mill. The last thing I can remember, was the striking of my breast against one of the piles whereon it stood. I then lost my senses, and knew nothing more, till I rose on .the other side of the mill. When I came to myself I was in a calm safe place, perfectly well, without any soreness or weariness at all. Nothing was amiss but the distance of my clothes, the stream having driven me five miles from the place where I left them. Many persons gladly welcomed me on shore : one gentleman, in particular, who said, ' I looked when you went under the mill, and again when you rose on the other side. And the time of your being immerged among the piles, was exactly twenty minutes.' "

But some will say, "Why this was a miracle!" "Undoubtedly," observes Mr. Wesley, " it was. It was not a natural event ; but a work wrought above the power of nature, probably by the ministry of angels."

10. After Mr. Fletcher had gone through the usual course of study at the university of Geneva, it was the desire of his parents that he should be a clergyman. "And as far as nature can furnish a man," says Mr. Gilpin, " for offices of a sacred kind, perhaps there never was a person better qualified to sustain the character of a minister of Jesus Christ, than Mr. Fletcher. His disposition and habits, his sentiments and studies, his reverential awe of God, his insatiable thirst after truth and his uncommon abhorrence of vice, gave his friends abundant reason to apprehend that he was marked, at an early age, for the service of the Church. Contrary however, to all expectation, and contrary to the first designs of his family, before he had arrived to the age of twenty, he manifested views of a very opposite nature. His theological studies gave place to the systems of Vauban and Cohorn, and he evidently preferred the camp to the Church. All the remonstrances of his friends, on this apparent change in his disposition, were totally ineffectual ; and, had it not been for repeated disappointments, he would have wielded another sword than that of the Spirit. Happily, his projects for the field were constantly baffled and blasted by the appointments of that God who reserved him for a more important scene of action. His choice of the army is, however, to be imputed rather to principle than inclination. On the one hand, he detested the irregularities and vices to which a military life would expose him ; on the other, he dreaded the condemnation he might incur by acquitting himself unfaithfully in the pastoral office. He conceived it abundantly easier to toil for glory in fields of blood than to labour for God, with unwearied perseverance, in the vineyard of the Church. He believed himself qualified rather for military operations than for spiritual employments, and the exalted ideas he entertained of the holy ministry determined him to seek some other profession more adapted to the weakness of humanity, and he preferred being an officer in the army to all others."