I have no artistic talent; and if I had, I should not employ it in writing biographies. In such publications I am only desirous to see the man, not the artist’s drapery. I want to know his doings, sayings, and sufferings, rather than to read philosophic discourses concerning them. My aim, therefore, from first to last, has been to let Fletcher speak for himself. His Letters are invaluable; the man who can read them without being profited is greatly to be pitied. The extracts from his sermons show how the first Methodists used to preach. The chapters respecting the Calvinian controversy may, to some readers, be somewhat dry, but they could not be omitted, because that controversy was the great event in Fletcher’s life, and hastened his death. Besides, it was by his publications on this subject that he rendered service to Wesley and the Methodist movement, which neither Wesley himself nor any other of Wesley’s friends could have furnished. I have refrained from discussing the truths which Fletcher’s pen defended; but I have said enough to indicate what the doctrines were which created Methodism, and which alone can perpetuate its spiritual life and power.
The portrait of Fletcher is taken from an exceedingly scarce engraving, in the Methodist Museum, at Centenary Hall, London.
I think I may say, without exposing myself to the charge of arrogance or conceit, that, in this volume, the reader will find all the facts of any importance that are known concerning Fletcher, and that here, more than in any previous publication, is illustrated the intellectual and saintly character of one of the holiest men that ever lived.
L. TYERMAN.
Stanhope House, Clapham Park, S.W.
October 7, 1882.
GENERAL CONTENTS
| INTRODUCTION. | |
| PAGE | |
| Wesley requests Fletcher to be his successor—Others who might have been designated | [1–3] |
| CHAPTER I. | |
| From Fletcher’s Birth to his coming to England in 1752. | |
| Parentage—Birthplace—Early piety—Remarkable deliverances from danger—-Education at Geneva—Removed to Lentzburg—Wishes to be a soldier | [4–9] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| From his coming to England to his Ordination, 1752–1757. | |
| Arrives in London-Admitted to Mr. Burchell’s school—Becomes tutor to sons of Thomas Hill, Esq.—Letter to his brother Henry—Introduced to Methodists—His conversion—A millenarian—A Catechumen—Acquaintance with Mr. Vaughan—Richard Edwards, his class-leader—Letters to Wesley—His ordination | [10–27] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| From His Ordination to his Settlement at Madeley, 1757–1760. | |
| A favourite among the first Methodists—Preaches in Shropshire—Letter to Wesley—Thomas Walsh—Letter to his class-leader—Introduced to Lady Huntingdon—Preaching to French prisoners—Letter to Charles Wesley—Letter to Sarah Ryan—Christian Perfection—Fletcher and his foes—Proposal to go to the West Indies—Death of Thomas Walsh—Letter to Charles Wesley—A Convert—Conversion of Mr. Richard Hill—Temptation—Letters to Charles Wesley—Dorothy Furley—Visits Lady Huntingdon—Her ladyship’s proposal—Fletcher’s first published sermon—Earl Ferrars—Glorious services at Everton—Choosing a benefice—Letters to Lady Huntingdon—Commencement of ministry at Madeley | [28–60] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| First Two Years at Madeley, 1760–1762. | |
| Madeley—Branded a Methodist—Increasing labours—Madeley Wood and Coalbrook Dale—Rev. Mr. Prothero’s sermon—The publicans—Fletcher’s first sermons at Madeley—Mary Matthews—Answers to an objection—“The Rock Church”—Letter to a Papist—Persecutions—Letter to Rev. Mr. Hutton—Testimony of Rev. Mr. Gilpin | [61–83] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| Three Quiet Successful Years. 1762–1765. | |
| Fanaticism among the London Methodists—Rules of Fletcher’s Methodist Societies—A troublesome member—A quiet year—Reasons for and against matrimony—The furious butcher—Letters to Miss Hatton—Wesley’s first visit to Madeley—Simplicity of living—Alexander Mather—Fletcher at Breedon—Fletcher’s first pastoral letter—Fletcher and his relatives | [84–105] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| Two Years More. 1766–1767. | |
| Fletcher depressed—Rejoicing on account of other men’s success—Letters to Miss Hatton and Miss Ireland—Thanks for a present—An excursion to Brighton, etc.—Pastoral letter—Miss Hatton dying—Letter to Whitefield—Lady Huntingdon at Madeley—Captain Scott—Fletcher in Yorkshire—Letter to Lady Huntingdon—Rev. Cradock Glascott—Trevecca College—Fletcher appointed chaplain of the Earl of Buchan—James Glazebrook—“Manifestations of the Son of God” | [106–130] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| Trevecca College: Visit to Switzerland, etc. 1768–1770. | |
| Joseph Easterbrook—Books for Trevecca College—Letter on Conversation—Expulsion of six students at Oxford—Letter to Whitefield—Opening of Trevecca College—Letters to Mr. and Miss Ireland—Rev. John Jones—Mr. John Henderson, B.A.—First anniversary of Trevecca College—Rev. Walter Sellon—Anti-Popery sermon—Joseph Benson—Letter to Mr. Ireland—Visit to Switzerland | [131–163] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| Commencement of the Calvinian Controversy. 1770–1771. | |
| Letter to masters and students of Trevecca College—Fletcher at Trevecca College—Letter to Rev. David Simpson—Wesley’s Doctrinal Minutes—Second anniversary of Trevecca College—Wesley’s sermon on the death of Whitefield—Letter of Lady Glenorchy—Joseph Benson dismissed from Trevecca College—Fletcher’s unpublished letter to Wesley—Fletcher resigns his office at Trevecca—Important unpublished manuscript—The storm brewing—Shirley’s Circular Letter—Fletcher’s “First Check to Antinomianism”—Shirley’s “Narrative”—Fletcher’s Letter to Shirley—Fletcher’s Vindication of Wesley’s “Minutes” | [164–205] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| “Second Check to Antinomianism.” 1771. | |
| Letters in the Gospel Magazine—Unpublished letter to Joseph Benson—Prevalent Antinomianism—Richard Hill’s pamphlet respecting a conversation with a monk | [206–217] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| “Third Check to Antinomianism.” 1772. | |
| Edward Elwall—Unpublished letter to Sellon—Letter to the Dublin Methodists—Richard Hill’s Five Letters—Fletcher’s reply to them—Divine Grace given to all—Good men doing the Devil’s work—Advices to Arminians | [218–233] |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| “Fourth Check to Antinomianism.” 1772. | |
| Richard Hill’s “Review of all the Doctrines taught by the Rev. J. Wesley“—Richard Hill’s “Six Letters” to Fletcher—Rowland Hill’s “Friendly Remarks”—“Logica Genevensis”—Wesley’s “Remarks on Mr. Hill’s Review”—Unpublished letter by John Pawson—Fletcher rebukes Rowland Hill—Absurdities of Calvinism—Free Will—Unpublished letter by Richard Hill to Walter Sellon | [234–253] |
| CHAPTER XII. | |
| “Appeal to Matter of Fact and Common Sense.” 1772. | |
| Manuscript lost—Dedication—Doctrine of Original Sin—Colliers, bargemen, and iron-workers—England’s favourite amusements—Ten inferences | [254–262] |
| CHAPTER XIII. | |
| Wesley’s Designated Successor, etc., etc. 1773. | |
| Wesley requests Fletcher to be his successor—Fletcher’s reply—Wesley respecting Fletcher and Whitefield—Samuel Bradburn visits Fletcher—Correspondence in 1773—The penitent thief—The earthquake—Fletcher’s sermon on it | [263–278] |
| CHAPTER XIV. | |
| “The Finishing Stroke,” etc. 1773. | |
| “The Finishing Stroke”—“The Farrago Double Distilled”—Berridge’s “Christian World Unmasked”—Letters by Berridge—Richard Hill desiring peace—Richard Hill’s “Three Letters” to Fletcher—“Creed for Arminians and Perfectionists” | [279–293] |
| CHAPTER XV. | |
| “Fifth Check to Antinomianism.” 1774. | |
| Toplady’s letter to Ambrose Serle—“Logica Genevensis continued”—Remaining differences—Fletcher answering Berridge—Wesley on Fletcher’s “Checks”—Lady Huntingdon wishes an interview with Fletcher—Fletcher’s reply—Fletcher writing and weary | [294–301] |
| CHAPTER XVI. | |
| Further Publications in 1774. | |
| “Equal Check to Pharisaism and Antinomianism”—Doleful picture—Letter to Lady Huntingdon—Saving Faith—The Athanasian Creed—Letters to J. Benson and C. Wesley | [302–311] |
| CHAPTER XVII. | |
| Publications in the Year 1775. | |
| “Equal Check to Pharisaism and Antinomianism continued”—“Scripture Scales”—“The Fictitious and the Genuine Creed”—The controversy has done Fletcher good—Rev. Thomas Reader visits Fletcher—Christian perfection—Letter to J. Benson—Wesley dangerously ill—Charles Wesley writes to Fletcher—Fletcher’s reply—“Checks to Antinomianism”—Reconciliations—Dr. Coke’s Letter to Fletcher—Letter to C. Wesley | [312–333] |
| CHAPTER XVIII. | |
| Publications in the Year 1776. | |
| Toplady—Fletcher’s “Answer to the Vindication of the Decrees”—Toplady attacks Wesley—Fletcher answers Toplady—Review of six years’ work—Rev. Caleb Evans’ letter on Wesley’s “Calm Address”—Fletcher’s “Vindication of the Calm Address”—Mr. Evans’ “Reply” to Fletcher’s “Vindication”—Fletcher publishes “American Patriotism”—A Public Fast—“The Bible and the Sword”—The Monthly Review on Fletcher—Government desires to reward Fletcher | [334–353] |
| CHAPTER XIX. | |
| Correspondence in 1776. | |
| Fletcher’s labours and abstinence—Again objects to become Wesley’s successor—An excursion with Wesley—Fletcher discouraged—Unpublished letter by J. Benson—Another work for the press—“Driving Methodism and Still Mysticism”[Mysticism”]—Fletcher dangerously ill—C. Wesley’s hymn—Michael Onions—Letters—Fletcher apparently dying—An impromptu hymn—Wesley escorts Fletcher to London—Another excursion with Wesley—Second visit to Berridge—Fletcher and Venn at St. Neots—Charles Greenwood—Fletcher resides with him—Letter “to the parishioners of Madeley” | [354–375] |
| CHAPTER XX. | |
| Publications and Correspondence in 1777. | |
| “The Doctrines of Grace and Justice equally Essential to the Pure Gospel”—Fletcher a millenarian—“Bible Arminianism and Bible Calvinism”—“The Plan of Reconciliation”—Another letter to his parishioners—Letter to W. Wase—Letters to Rev. V. Perronet and his daughter—Fletcher visited by his friends—Fletcher’s letter to his bishop—Charles Perronet dies—Fletcher’s sojourn at Stoke Newington—Removes to Mr. Ireland’s, at Brislington—Meets Henry Venn—Attends Wesley’s Conference—Rev. David Lloyd—James Rogers visits Fletcher—Letter to Rev. V. Perronet—Unpublished letter to Miss Bosanquet—Lady Mary Fitzgerald—Letters to her and to Mrs. Thornton—Preparing to leave England—Farewell letters | [376–408] |
| CHAPTER XXI. | |
| A Long Retirement. 1778–1781. | |
| Journey to the south of France—Unpublished letter to Miss Bosanquet—Sermon concerning the New Birth—Letters to Rev. Mr. Greaves, W. Perronet, the Wesley Brothers, and Dr. Conyers—The Perronet estate in Switzerland—Unpublished letter to Mr. Power—Fletcher among children—Fletcher and his nephew—Messages to Madeley—Preaching at an execution—William Perronet joins Fletcher—A perilous journey—Letter to Mr. Ireland—Letters to Madeley—Other letters—Trials in Switzerland—An attack of rheumatism—Letter to his curate—National distress—Methodist meeting house at Madeley Wood—W. Perronet’s unpublished letter—In a “miserable lodging”—Loss of manuscripts—Religion in Switzerland—Letters to Madeley—House of Fletcher’s nativity—Letters to W. Wase, J. Owen, and M. Onions—Joins Mr. Ireland at Montpelier—Return to England—Thomas Rankin visits Fletcher at Brislington—Unpublished letter to Miss Bosanquet | [409–450] |
| CHAPTER XXII. | |
| Literary Work done in Retirement. | |
| “La Grace et la Nature”—“The Portrait of St. Paul.” | [451–459] |
| CHAPTER XXIII. | |
| The First Three Months after the Return to Madeley. 1781 | |
| Affairs in confusion—Letter to Wesley—Rev. Cornelius Bayley—Correspondence with Miss Loxdale—Letters to Wesley and T. Rankin—Attends Wesley’s Conference at Leeds—Joseph Pescod’s letter—Fletcher the guest of Miss Bosanquet—A remarkable meeting at Leeds—Sanctification—Visits Sheffield | [460–472] |
| CHAPTER XXIV. | |
| Fletcher’s Marriage. 1781. | |
| Letters to Miss Perronet and to Lady Mary Fitzgerald—History of Miss Bosanquet—Her Orphanage at Leyton—Her fortune and her debts—Her removal to Yorkshire—She turns farmer and maltster—Debts and difficulties—Fletcher proposes to marry her—Fletcher on celibacy—Unpublished love-letter—Unpublished letters to Miss Bosanquet’s uncle and her brother—Further correspondence—Settling affairs in Yorkshire—The wedding and letters respecting it | [473–500] |
| CHAPTER XXV. | |
| Two Years of Married Life at Madeley. 1782–1783. | |
| How Fletcher began the year 1782—Husband and wife go to Madeley—Wesley visits them—William Tranter—Dr. Jobson and L. Tyerman at Madeley—Letter to author of “The Fool of Quality”—The Methodists of Dublin invite Fletcher and his wife to visit them—Mrs. Fletcher’s letter to Wesley—Fletcher has an accident which disables him—Letter to Charles Wesley—A new poem—Nathaniel Gilbert and Melville Horne—Letters to Mrs. Thornton and to John Valton—Fletcher and his wife visit the Dublin Methodists—Their successful labours—Unpublished letter, thanking them for their services—Unpublished pamphlet by Fletcher—Fletcher begins Sunday schools at Madeley—Rev. H. Venn visits Fletcher | [501–529] |
| CHAPTER XXVI. | |
| Last Days on Earth. 1784–1785. | |
| Dr. Coke and his friends begin the Methodist Missionary Society—Fletcher one of the first subscribers—Unpublished letter by Dr. Coke—Fletcher’s unpublished letter to Rev. Mr. Bouverot—Dr. Priestley—Fletcher’s “Rational Vindication of the Catholic Faith”—Fletcher’s “Socinianism Unscriptural”—Fletcher’s Millenarianism—Unpublished letters to Mrs. Smyth and to Lady Mary Fitzgerald—Fletcher at Wesley’s Conference at Leeds—Sermons preached—Fletcher a peacemaker—Remarkable scene—Fletcher objected to—Enoch Wood and Fletcher’s discourse on Wesley’s bust—Fletcher in his “Sentry Box”—Letter to his god-son—Rev. Charles Simeon visits Fletcher—Modified millenarianism—Letters to Rev. Peard Dickenson and Rev. Melville Horne—Mrs. Fletcher ill of fever—Letter to Lady Mary Fitzgerald—Fletcher ill of fever—Mrs. Fletcher’s account of him—Last service in Madeley Church—Dying—Death and burial—Mrs. Fletcher’s letter to C. Wesley—Wesley preaches Fletcher’s funeral sermon—Testimonies concerning Fletcher—Inscription on his tombstone—Inscription on the tablet in City Road Chapel | [530–575] |