Treatise Life And Death Of John Fletcher
| Author | John Wesley |
|---|---|
| Type | treatise |
| Year | None |
| Passage ID | jw-treatise-life-and-death-of-john-fletcher-055 |
| Words | 390 |
His Lordship has not yet thought proper to interfere, although
the thing is no secret. And not only the seriousness, but
also the number, of the congregation increases daily.”
23. In the next year, 1780, Mr. Fletcher fully intended to
return to England. But not long after he wrote as follows,
to one of his parishioners at Madeley:
“I HAVE the more readily complied with the request of
my friends to stay here” (at Nyon) “a little longer, as it was
so earnestly backed by the little society which is gathered in
this place. About three weeks ago they got about me, and
besought me on their knees, with many tears, to stay till they
were a little stronger, and able to stand alone. Nor would
they be persuaded to rise, till they had got me to comply. Happy would it be for us all, if we prayed so earnestly to
Him who can give substantial blessings !*
“Two days ago I went to Geneva, and spoke to a carrier,
to take me back to London; but his coach was full. Yester
day another came, and said he would take us at a fortnight’s
notice. The Lord is always ready to give us a lift to the
kingdom of grace, through which we must pass to the kingdom
of glory. The comfort of this journey is, that we may travel
all together, though our bodies are far asunder. For Christ
the way is everywhere, and faith is (like his word) one and
the same in every age and place. So is holiness; for in all
places we may love God with all our heart, and our neigh
bour as ourselves. I hope you and all your brethren travel
thus; and that you journey like St. Paul, who travelled so
hard, that he was running a race for a prize, a crown of life.”
24. In spring, 1781, he set out for England. But Mr. Perronet was then exceeding ill, having all the symptoms of
an approaching consumption. He could not therefore keep
pace with Mr. Fletcher; who, being on his journey, wrote to
him as follows:
“LYoNs, April 6, 1781. “WE are both weak and both afflicted; but Jesus careth
for us. He is everywhere. He has all power to deliver us;
and perhaps by ways we little think of.