"In the present circumstances it was a great piece of condescension in dear Lady Huntingdon to be willing to see me privately; but for her to permit me to wait upon her openly, denotes such generosity, such courage, and a mind so much superior to the narrowness that clogs the charity of most professors, that it would have amazed me if every thing that is noble and magnanimous were not to be expected from her ladyship. It is well for her that spirits are imprisoned in flesh and blood, or I might by this time (and it is but an hour since I received your letter) have troubled her ten times with my apparition, to wish her joy of being above the dangerous snare of professors-the smiles and frowns of the religious world; and to thank her a thousand times for not being ashamed of her old servant, and for cordially forgiving him all that is past, upon the score of the Lord's love, and of my honest meaning."

A few weeks after he observes farther:-" How kind is my lady to offer to interpose, and to wipe off the aspersions of my London accusers. I had before sent my reply, which was only a plain narrative of two facts, upon which it appeared to me the capital charges were founded, together with some gentle expostulations, which I hope have had the desired effect. Give my duty to my lady, and thank her a thousand times for this new addition to all her former favours, till I have an opportunity of doing it in person.

"I get very slowly out of the mire of my controversy, and yet I hope to get over it, if God spare my life, in two or three pieces more. Since I wrote last, I have added to my Equal Check a piece which I call 'An Essay on Truth, or a Rational Vindication of the Doctrine of Sal. vation by Faith,' which I have taken the liberty to dedicate to Lady Huntingdon, to have an opportunity of clearing her ladyship from the charge of Antinomianism. I have taken this step in the simplicity of my heart, and as due from me, in my circumstances, to the character of her ladyship. Mr. H-t-n called some time after the letter was printed, and said, 'It will not be well taken.' I hope better; but be it as it may, I shall have the satis. faction of having meant well."

37. As Mr. Fletcher's own views of this controversy,

when it appeared to be drawing to a close, and the state of his mind at that period, are certainly very important particulars of his life, and distinguishing traits of his character; and as they will be best learned from the private and confidential letters, which were written at the time to his intimate friends, the reader will not be sorry to see them still farther delineated in extracts from two or three more of his epistles. Those addressed to me I the rather insert, as no part of them has been published before, and I think they all contain observations well worthy of being known and preserved, and which would probably otherwise perish in oblivion. March 20, 1774, he wrote to me as follows:

"MY DEAR BROTHER,-I am two kind letters in your debt; for both which accept the best thanks that grateful brotherly love can muster up in my breast. Your first letter I did not answer through a variety of avocations: the second I answer by our Elijah, (Mr. Wesley.) I do not repent having engaged in the present controversy, for though I think my little publications cannot reclaim those who are given up to believe the lie of the day, yet they may here and there stop one from swallowing it at all, or from swallowing it so deeply as otherwise he might have done. In preaching I do not meddle with the points discussed, unless my text lead me to it, and then I think them important enough not to be ashamed of them before my people.

"I am just finishing an Essay on Truth, which I dedi cate to Lady H- wherein you will see my latest views of that important subject. My apprehensions of things have not changed since I saw you last; save that in one thing I have seen my error, An over-eager attention to the doctrine of the Spirit has made me, in some degree, overlook the medium by which the Spirit works, I mean the Word of Truth, which is the wood by which the heavenly fire warms us. I rather expected lightning than a steady fire by means of fuel. I mention my error to you lest you too should be involved therein. May the Lord help us to steer clear of every rock. My controversy weighs upon my hands: but I must go through with it, which I hope will be done in two or three

pieces more: one of which, 'Scripture Scales to weigh the Gold of Gospel Truth,' may be more useful than the Checks, as being more literally Scriptural. I have exchanged a couple of friendly letters with Lady H

who gives me leave to see her publicly: but I think it best to postpone that honour till I have cleared my mind. Should you see my Essay on Truth, I pray God it may help you to discern the depth of Rom. x, 10. By overlooking the rounds of the mysterious ladder of truth that are within our reach, and fixing our eyes on those that are above us, we are often at a stand, and give ourselves and others needless trouble. I shall be glad to see the productions of your pen. I hope they will add to my little stock of truth and love. Let us believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us love one another, serve our generation, and hopefully wait for the glorious revelation of the Son of God. That your soul may live the most abundant life, is the prayer of your loving brother,

"J. F."

38. The Essay on Truth, referred to by Mr. Fletcher in so many of the letters which he wrote about this time, was viewed by him as peculiarly important, and as containing doctrines particularly suited to the state of the Church of Christ at that time. "I am glad," says he to Mr. Charles Wesley, in the beginning of the next year, "you did not altogether disapprove of my Essay on Truth. The letter, I grant, profiteth little, until the Spirit animate it. I had, some weeks ago, one of those touches which realize, or rather spiritualize the letter; and it convinced me more than ever that what I say in that tract of the spirit, and of faith, is truth. I am also persuaded that the faith and spirit, which belong to perfect Christianity, are at a very low ebb, even among believers. When the Son of man cometh to set up his kingdom, shall he find Christian faith upon the earth? Yes, but I fear as little as he found of Jewish faith when he came in the flesh. I believe you cannot rest with the easy Antinomian, or the busy Pharisee. You and I have nothing to do but to die to all that is of a sinful nature, and to pray for the power of an endless life. God make us faithful to our convictions, and keep us from the snares of outward things!

"I feel the force of what you say in your last, about the danger of so encouraging the inferior dispensations. as to make people rest short of the faith which belongs to perfect Christianity. I have tried to obviate it in some parts of the Equal Check, and hope to do it more effectually in my reply to Mr. Hill's Creed for Perfectionists. I expect a letter from you on the subject: write with openness, and do not fear to discourage me by speaking your disapprobation of what you dislike. My aim is to be found at the feet of all, bearing and forbearing, until truth and love bring better days.'

39. About this time, having used in some small degree the liberty which his humility induced him to give me, and having sent him two or three trivial remarks on some expressions which occurred in the above mentioned essay, I received from him the following letter, which I think important enough to be inserted here, and with which I shall close this chapter :

"MY DEAR BROTHER,-I have had two printers upon my heels beside my common business, and this is enough to make me trespass upon the patience of my friends. I have published the first part of my Scales, which has gone through a second edition in London before I could get the second part printed in Salop, where it will be published in about six weeks. I have also published a Creed for the Arminians, where you will see that if I have not answered your critical remarks upon my Essay on Truth, I have improved by them, yea, publicly recanted the two expressions you mentioned as improper. For any such remarks I shall always be peculiarly thankful to you, and hope you will always find me open to convic. tion. With respect to the sermons you have thoughts of publishing, I say, follow your own conscience and the advice of the judicious friends about you: and put me among your subscribers, as I believe they will be worth a careful perusal, as well as to matter, as method and style. I am so tied up here, both by my parish duty and controversial writings, that I cannot hope to see you unless you come into these parts. In the meantime let us meet at the throne of grace. In Jesus time and distance are lost. He is a universal, eternal life of righteousness,

peace, and joy. I am glad you have some encouragement in Scotland. The Lord grant you more and more. Use yourself, however, to go against wind and tide, as I do, and take care that our wise dogmatical friends in the north do not rob you of your childlike simplicity. Remember that the mysteries of the kingdom are revealed to babes. You may be afraid of being a fool without being afraid of being a babe. You may be childlike without being childish. Simplicity of intention and purity of affection will go through the world, through hell itself. In the meantime let us see that we do not so look at our little publications, or to other people, as to forget that Christ is our object, our sun, our shield. To his inspiration, comfort, and protection, I earnestly recommend your soul; and the labours of your heart, tongue, and pen, to his blessing; entreating you to beg, at the throne of grace, all the wisdom and grace needful for your steady, affectionate friend and brother, J. F."

CHAPTER VI.

Of his declining state of health, the progress of his disorder, and his behaviour under it, with an account of his other polemical writings, and the conclusion of the controversy.

1. THE frequent journeys which Mr. Fletcher took to and from Trevecka while he presided over the college, in all weathers, and at all seasons of the year, greatly impaired the firmness of his constitution. And in some of those journeys he had not only difficulties but dangers likewise to encounter. One day as he was riding over a wooden bridge, just as he got to the middle thereof, it broke in. The mare's fore legs sunk into the river, but her breast and hinder parts were kept up by the bridge. In that position she lay as still as if she had been dead, till he got over her neck and took off his bags, in which' were several manuscripts, the spoiling of which would have occasioned him much trouble. He then endeavoured to raise her up; but she would not stir till he went