As you have expressed a wish to be buried in our grave, if you should continue to wish it, I here declare my desire that it should be so. You are to me a faithful helper, and as a gracious gift of providence, I esteem and value you: and my prayer is, that after my death you may meet with the same measure from others, that you have measured unto me.
MARY FLETCHER.
I think this was written in the year 1802 or 3, but not being dated, am not certain. The following, I think was in 1806 or 7, but it also has no date.
My dear and faithful friend,
I wish to give you comfort, when I am taken from you; and to assure you how great a favor I consider your being given to me, in the place of my dear Sally, now in glory. It is often said, God takes nothing from us, but he gives something better in the place; and so it has been, for though she was the most disinterested and tender friend, yet, in many things you are a still further help than she was able to be. Your tender care and attention to me, encourages me to hope, you will never want assistance, nor be left friendless; for the promise is, “what you do unto another, shall be done unto you.” We are joined together in the Lord, and shall therefore be eternally one. My beloved husband and me, my friend Ryan, my Sally, and you, shall be an eternal knot which can never be separated. You know what proofs I have had that my friends in heaven do not forget me; therefore, believe we are waiting for you, yea, and longing to hail you on the shore. I might have been far more useful than I have been; but I cast all my sins on my atoning God. I pray the Spirit may richly be poured on you; and may showers of love and grace descend on the dear people. You are called to labour here, and God will be with you. I do believe the Lord will answer my prayer, by supplying all your wants. I wish I could do more for you, but I commend you to him who hath said, “No manner of thing that is good shall be withheld.”
Grieve not, my dear, for me. You shall soon be with me; and perhaps I shall be oftener with you than you think for; the spirits of the departed are very near to us. “We are come to them,” says the Apostle.
The Lord bless and keep you, and return all your kindness a hundred fold, prays your most faithful
everlasting friend,
M. FLETCHER.
Another of these kind tokens of her love was dated February 11th, 1810, at which time it was thought she would very soon be removed from us, but the gracious Lord had compassion upon his people, and spared her to us for above five years longer: and, O! how was every year fraught with the fruits of righteousness. Well, she laboured, and while she did so, kept her eye upon the Saviour, whose example
“She tracked, the world she disdain’d.
And constantly trampled on pleasure and pain.”
But to return to her kind epistle, written with a view to comfort me in the separation likely to take place:
Feb. 11th, 1810.
My very dear child,
The gracious gift of God to me, how do I feel for you, who I am sensible will feel a great deal in my loss; but I know the Lord will be with you, and count your every hair. Let not Satan tempt you, that you could have done any thing more for me than you have done; for you have been the most tender creature in the world to me, and a great comfort. I wish I could have done more for you in a temporal way, but my gracious father, who hath cared for me, will care for you, I am confident. To his gracious protection, I commit you: we shall be one in spirit, though divided in the flesh. You may perhaps stay a little behind me, to help the dear souls in Madeley, and I trust the Spirit of the Lord will be poured out on all you are called to do in his cause, and then we shall be again re-united to part no more.
Your faithful friend for ever,
MARY FLETCHER.
The last of these loving remembrances was written two years ago, when the wound in her breast was at the worst, and it was supposed she could not survive more than a few days.
January 2d, 1814.
My dearest and best earthly friend,
I have only strength to say, I ask a thousand blessings on you, both soul and body. God will stand by you: He will help you through all. I solemnly commit you into his hands, and He is faithful to keep that we commit unto Him. We shall soon meet above, to part no more. You have been to me the best of friends, and God will reward you.
I ever remain,
One with you in the Lord,
M. FLETCHER.
The last week of her life she wished to have manifested her love again in this way, but writing had long been very fatiguing to her. However she asked me for the paper, but as I knew how difficult it was to her, I said, “What is it you wish to write? let me write for you.” “No, (she replied,) it won’t do for you to write what I would say, but I think I am too weak for writing now: I only wanted to put it down with my own hand, before I am taken from you, how completely satisfied I am with all that you have done, and how thankful I am that my papers are all in your hands, and nothing to be printed but as you approve; and that I am fully persuaded whatever trials you may have to pass through, God will be with you.” She was often telling me how confident she was, that the Lord would make all my way plain before me; and has sometimes said, “In all the painful circumstances you will have to pass through, your language still will be, The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation.”