Produced by Delphine Lettau, Diane Monico, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net FLETCHER OF MADELEY. MEN WORTH REMEMBERING: _Price Half-a-Crown each._ 1. Henry Martyn. By the Rev. Canon C. D. BELL, D.D. 2. William Wilberforce. By the Rev. JOHN STOUGHTON, D.D. 3. Philip Doddridge. By the Rev. CHARLES STANFORD, D.D. 4. Stephen Grellet. By the Rev. WILLIAM GUEST, F.G.S. 5. Robert Hall. By the Rev. E. PAXTON HOOD. 6. Thomas Chalmers, D.D., LL.D. By the Rev. DONALD FRASER, D.D. 7. William Carey. By the Rev. JAMES CULROSS, D.D. 8. Andrew Fuller. By his Son, A. G. FULLER. 9. Alexander Duff, D.D., LL.D. By THOMAS SMITH, D.D. 10. Richard Baxter. By the Very Rev. G. D. BOYLE, M.A., Dean of Salisbury. 11. Samuel Rutherford. By the Rev. ANDREW THOMSON, D.D. 12. John Knox. By WM. M. TAYLOR, LL.D. 13. Fletcher of Madeley. By the Rev. F. W. MACDONALD. LONDON: HODDER AND STOUGHTON, 27, Paternoster Row. FLETCHER OF MADELEY. BY THE REV. FREDERIC W. MACDONALD, _Theological Tutor, Handsworth College, Birmingham._ London: HODDER AND STOUGHTON, 27, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLXXXV. Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London. PREFACE. I have to express my obligations to the Rev. L. Tyerman for the help I have received in writing this little book from his life of Fletcher, published two years ago under the title of "Wesley's Designated Successor." Mr. Tyerman's labours in the sphere of Methodist history and biography are too well known to require any word of commendation from me. It may be enough to say that he has made it impossible for any one to study the history of the great movement with which the names of Wesley, Whitefield, and Fletcher are associated, without having recourse to his volumes. There may be differences of opinion respecting Mr. Tyerman's judgments upon men and things; there can be none whatever as to his patient, laborious research, and perfect honesty in the use of his ample materials. I am also much indebted to my friends the Rev. George Mather, now of Falmouth, and Mr. George Stampe, of Great Grimsby, for the opportunity of examining a considerable number of Fletcher's manuscripts, hitherto unpublished. It was not to be expected that fresh light could be thrown on Fletcher's character, but these papers have enabled me to supply some links, and add a few details to the story of his life. CONTENTS. PAGE CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY 1 CHAPTER II. EARLY LIFE 10 CHAPTER III. SETTLES IN ENGLAND.--HIS CONNEXION WITH WESLEY AND THE METHODISTS 19 CHAPTER IV. SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE 34 CHAPTER V. ENTERS THE MINISTRY 44 CHAPTER VI.