A Letter to the Loving and Beloved People of the Parish of Madeley, and Its Vicinity, Who Have Lost a Friend to Piety in the Death of Mrs. Fletcher, Widow of the Rev. J. W. Fletcher, (or de la Flechere,) Late Vicar of Madeley, Shropshire.Tooth, Mary
Religion
A Letter to the Loving and Beloved People of the Parish of Madeley, and Its Vicinity, Who Have Lost a Friend to Piety in the Death of Mrs. Fletcher, Widow of the Rev. J. W. Fletcher, (or de la Flechere,) Late Vicar of Madeley, Shropshire.
Tooth, Mary
Fletcher, Mary, 1739-1815; Methodist women -- Biography
The gracious gift of God to me, how do I feel for you, who I am
sensible will feel a great deal in my loss; but I know the Lord will
be with you, and count your every hair. Let not Satan tempt you,
that you could have done any thing more for me than you have done;
for you have been the most tender creature in the world to me, and a
great comfort. I wish I could have done more for you in a temporal
way, but my gracious father, who hath cared for me, will care for
you, I am confident. To his gracious protection, I commit you: we
shall be one in spirit, though divided in the flesh. You may perhaps
stay a little behind me, to help the dear souls in Madeley, and I
trust the Spirit of the Lord will be poured out on all you are called
to do in his cause, and then we shall be again re-united to part no
more.
Your faithful friend for ever,
MARY FLETCHER.
The last of these loving remembrances was written two years ago, when the
wound in her breast was at the worst, and it was supposed she could not
survive more than a few days.
January 2d, 1814.
My dearest and best earthly friend,
I have only strength to say, I ask a thousand blessings on you, both
soul and body. God will stand by you: He will help you through all.
I solemnly commit you into his hands, and He is faithful to keep that
we commit unto Him. We shall soon meet above, to part no more. You
have been to me the _best_ of friends, and God will reward you.
I ever remain,
One with you in the Lord,
M. FLETCHER.
The last week of her life she wished to have manifested her love again in
this way, but writing had long been very fatiguing to her. However she
asked me for the paper, but as I knew how difficult it was to her, I
said, “What is it you wish to write? let me write for you.” “No, (she
replied,) it won’t do for you to write what I would say, but I think I am
too weak for writing now: I only wanted to put it down with my own hand,
before I am taken from you, how completely satisfied I am with all that
you have done, and how thankful I am that my papers are all in your
hands, and nothing to be printed but as you approve; and that I am fully
persuaded whatever trials you may have to pass through, God will be with
you.” She was often telling me how confident she was, that the Lord
would make all my way plain before me; and has sometimes said, “In all
the painful circumstances you will have to pass through, your language
still will be, The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be
the God of my salvation.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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