“Adieu, dear sir. May the God of all peace and consolation be with you always! Amen, amen.
“I remain,
“Your truly affectionate servant and son in the gospel,
“Martin Madan.”[311]
“Cheltenham, August 6, 1757.
“Dear Sir,—I received the favour of yours, and thank you much for the kind advice it contained, and hope God will give me grace to follow it.
“I have been a month at Cheltenham, to drink the waters, and have preached every Sunday. Some of the company are much offended; others very thankful. The poor people of the place are desirous to hear, and those of all persuasions flock to listen to the word of life. Last time, the quakers and baptists made no inconsiderable part of the congregation; and this confirms me in an opinion I have long had, that, if the truth was preached in the Church, few, if any, would separate from it.
“I propose to be in Bristol about the 17th inst., and about a week after that to be in London, where I hope to meet you in perfect health. My love attends Mrs. Wesley; pray accept the same yourself, etc.
“Martin Madan.”[312]
Alas! poor Martin Madan! He was now a young man of thirty, full of vigour, and, for years afterwards, was of great service to the church of Christ. His brother became successively bishop of Bristol, and Peterborough; but he himself died in 1790, beneath the dark cloud of his chimerical and mischievous “Thelyphthora.”