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 authentic documents, 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.

THE 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 amem; 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 almost from her childhood,) Mrs. Fletcher. I could easily have altered both hers and their language, while I retained their sentiments. But I was conscious I could not alter it for the better: and I would not alter for altering's sake: but judged it fairest to give you most of their 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, (Gil. pin'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 two first 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 Ger. man 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 impress. ed 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 prayed 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 mani