Wesley Corpus

As he set the Lord always before him, so he found his help in every time of need.” 12. The laying the foundation of the Sunday-schools at Madeley was the last public work in which he was employed. But as the liberal man is ever devising liberal things, he had several plans in his mind for preserving a great number of desolate children, brought up only to beg and steal. Such this populous parish (and indeed most others) affords in great abundance. He had likewise proposed writing various little tracts, f for the use of the schools. But He who cannot err saw good to call his servant hence to enjoy, rather than leave him here to do and suffer. * Nay, I would have proclaimed it aloud, giving the glory to God, for the comfort of all that were present. + I do not regret his not living to write those tracts; because I despair of seeing any in the English tongue superior to those extracts from Abbé Fleury and Mr. Poiret, published under the title of “Instructions for Children.” I have never yet seen anything comparable to them, either for depth of sense, or plainness of language. HIS CHARACTEIt. 1. I AM sensible, it is the method of almost all writers, to place the character of a man at the cor-clusion of his life. But there seems to be a particular reason for varying from the usual practice in this place. The death of Mr. Fletcher (hardly to be paralleled in the present century) was so uncommon a display of the power and goodness of God in behalf of his highly-favoured servant, that it is not proper for any thing to come after it. It must needs therefore close the whole account. 2. From even the imperfect account which has been given of this great and good man, any discerning person may with very litele difficulty extract his character. In general, it is. easy to perceive, that a more excellent man has not appeared in the Church for some ages. It is true, in several ages, and in several countries, many me?, have excelled in particular virtues and graces. But who can point out, in any age or nation, one that so highly excelled in all?