o'clock, I got her into the chair,—but she was now weaker than at noon. However I wheeled her to the bed side, and could not but look upon her as dying; and indeed so she considered herself, for when in bed, she said, "My love, this is the last time I shall get into bed; it has been hard work to get in, but it is work I shall do no more. This oppression upon my breath cannot last long; but all is well. The Lord will shower down ten thousand blessings upon thee, my tender nurse, my kind friend." After these and many more kind expressions to the same effect, she desired I would make haste to bed. I entreated her to let me sit up, repeatedly saying, “Do let me watch with you this one night :" but with all the tenderness imaginable, yet with that degree of firmness which made me unwilling to urge the request further, she said, "Go to bed; you have done all for me you can do. You know you can be with me in a moment if I want you; but if you sit up it will make me uncomfortable. I cannot rest without you go to bed." After I had made all the excuses I could for remaining up, and looking upon her dear countenance as long as her kind concern for me would admit, she again urged my going to bed; and I therefore laid me within the bed-clothes, without undressing. She then asked, "Are you in bed, my love?" I answered, “Yes.” She then said, "That's right,—now if I can rest, I will; but let our hearts be united in prayer, and the Lord bless both thee and me!" These were the last words her beloved lips uttered; for some time after this, about one o'clock in the morning of December 9th, the noise her breath had so long made, ceased. I thought, Is she dropped asleep? It immediately came to my mind, "Asleep in Jesus! See a soul escaped to bliss." I went directly to her bed side, where I found the beloved body without the immortal spirit, which had entered the realms of endless day. My feelings are not to be described; I clung to the casket of the saint. I knelt down by the side of it, and cried to Him who had just now called home the spirit of my friend, that some portion of her spirit might rest on me. At length I thought I should injure her dear remains, if I did not call the family up. I therefore went and called my sister and the servant, at half past one; after which I sent for Mrs. Perks, who kindly came over immediately. I never left the chamber, while any thing could be done for her: I had promised to be with her to the last, and the Lord enabled me so to do. Her countenance was as sweet a one as was ever seen in death. There was at the last neither sigh, groan, or struggle ;-and she had all the appearance of a person in the most composed slumber. When I first undrew the curtain, and saw her dear head dropped off the pillow, and looking so sweetly composed, I could not persuade myself the spirit was fled, till I took her in my arms, and found no motion left. I then perceived, the moment she had so much longed for, had arrived,-the happy moment when she should gain the blissful shore, and Well, "See the Lamb in glory stand, "All that height of glorious bliss And all that heaven is ours.' 19 A Review of her Character. It is generally expected, that the memoirs of eminent persons should be accompanied with a view of their character, comprehending the several particulars wherein they differed from the generality of mankind, and so became conspicuous. This may be, in general, edifying, and certainly is not a difficult task; but it seems to me not so easy, when the life of a real Christian (one who was truly such on the Scripture model) is given to the world. We do not find that the inspired writers ever take that way, although they had the greatest characters. on earth to delineate,-even those of whom the world was not worthy. Mr. Wesley took high ground, when at Oxford, (as he informs us) he "determined to devote his whole life to God." Hence the world knew him not, because they knew not Him whom he served. His own works, especially the daily account of that whole life, thus devoted, and which is contained in his Journals, can alone describe the man; and if warranted by Holy Scripture, can alone show if indeed he kept that ground. Men may bring their line and plummet, and take the guage of excellence, or the contrary, as they may be disposed: " He but the principle of action lies beyond their ken. that is spiritual, judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” The same may be said of Mrs. Fletcher. If she were only an eminent person, and even eminent in the church, it would be an easy task to display her character in the several points of view in which human attainments may be exhibited, so as to excite admiration, and stimulate the readers to an imitation of her various excellencies. But I find an awe upon my mind in contemplating the task which may thus be supposed to have fallen upon me; and I recur to what was said in the preface,-The Life of Mrs. Fletcher will not be considered as a common biography, but as an account of a work of the Spirit of God. That she greatly differed from the generality even of those who have been favoured like her, with eminent talents, and rich gifts of Providence, will not be denied by the most cursory reader of these memoirs. But “who made her to differ? And what had she which she had not received?" These questions we know were so received by her as to annihilate all glorying in the flesh. How deeply she felt all this glory swallowed up in shame, need not now be set forth by me. She came to the throne of grace, not with the humility of a creature, (which the holy angels well understand, and deeply feel) but with the humility of a sinner, pleading only, the only true plea,— "Dust and ashes is my name, My all is sin and misery ;— The pious reader has not read these memoirs in vain. There is no danger that such a one will fall into the mistake of Agrippa, who, while he contemplated the great character of St. Paul, shining through his chains, "Almost forgot who and where he was, and cried out, thou persuadest me to be a Christian!" Nor will he need the gentle, but firm correction which the loving apostle gave to that prince," I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds :" thus intimating, that as no man can call Jesus Lord, but by the Holy Ghost," so no man can be a Christian, but by being created anew in Christ Jesus.* Before honour is humility. The humility that belongs to man, as a sinner, we have already noted. It has in it * See Mr. Wesley's admirable note on the passage. Acts xxvi. 29. ઃઃ the sentence of death. A heartfelt acknowledgment, that it is just this sentence should take place, and that in us dwelleth no good thing, is that humility which is alone founded in truth. Blessed are they who are thus "poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," -even righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” These "unsearchable riches of Christ" are made theirs by the "Holy Ghost, who glorifies the Saviour." Mrs. Fletcher's heart was thus, like Lydia's, opened, and "filled with peace and joy in believing." And she never lost the heavenly blessing. She kept her poverty, and she retained her kingdom. Like her admirable husband, Mrs. Fletcher did not rest satisfied with being "plucked as a brand from the burning-she had not so learned Christ. Leaving therefore the principles of the doctrine of Christ, she went on unto perfection." Her eyes seemed ever fixed "the robe washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. The work of the Holy Ghost, sanctifying the believer, body, soul, and spirit," she knew was as necessary to eternal salvation, as the work of the Saviour upon the cross. The Lord put that cry into her heart, "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, on Be to me what Adam lost!" Nor did she forget that "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," that is become the privilege of believers, in consequence of God the Son, and not Adam, being now the Head of the human race. Beholding with unveiled face this glory of the Lord," in the salvation of guilty and sinful man, tr "Her soul broke out in strong desire, The perfect bliss to prove : Her longing heart was all on fire, To be renew'd in love." A good judge of religion, as exhibited in the gracious. recovery of fallen man,* being, many years ago, asked * The Rev. John Owen, some time Mr. Fletcher's curate. A gentleman... afterward well known, and highly respected in India, and in England. |