Fletcher of MadeleyMacdonald, Frederic W. (Frederic William)
Religion
Fletcher of Madeley
Macdonald, Frederic W. (Frederic William)
Fletcher, John, 1729-1785
"'I have been for some time much concerned about my soul. I
have attended church at all opportunities, and have spent
much time in private prayer. At this my husband, who is a
butcher, has been exceedingly enraged, and has threatened me
severely as to what he would do to me if I did not leave off
going to John Fletcher's church; yea, if I dared to go again
to any religious meetings whatever. When I told him I could
not in conscience refrain from going, at least to the
parish church, he became outrageous, and swore dreadfully,
and said if I went again he would cut my throat as soon as I
came back. This made me cry to God that He would support me;
and though I did not feel any great degree of comfort, yet,
having a sure confidence in God, I determined to do my duty,
and leave the event to Him. Last Sunday, after many
struggles with the devil and my own heart, I came downstairs
ready for church. My husband said he should not cut my
throat, as he had intended, but he would heat the oven, and
throw me into it the moment I came home. Notwithstanding
this threat, which he enforced with many bitter oaths, I
went to church, praying all the way that God would
strengthen me to suffer whatever might befall me. While you
were speaking of the three children whom Nebuchadnezzar cast
into the burning, fiery furnace, I found all you said
belonged to me. God applied every word to my heart; and when
the sermon was ended I thought if I had a thousand lives I
could lay them all down for Him. I felt so filled with His
love that I hastened home, fully determined to give myself
to whatsoever God pleased, nothing doubting that He either
would take me to heaven, if He suffered me to be burnt to
death, or that He would in some way deliver me, as He did
His three servants that trusted in Him. When I got to my own
door I saw flames issuing from the oven, and I expected to
be thrown into it immediately. I felt my heart rejoice that
if it were so the will of the Lord would be done. I opened
the door, and to my astonishment saw my husband upon his
knees, praying for the forgiveness of his sins. He caught me
in his arms, earnestly begged my pardon, and has continued
diligently seeking God ever since.'"
But there was opposition, as has been said, that weighed more heavily
upon Fletcher's spirit than that of the poor and ignorant, who knew not
what they did. Now it was a "new convert, whom the devil had by fifty
visions set on the pinnacle of the temple. I have had more trouble with
her visions than with her unbelief." Then he writes: "A daughter of one
of my most substantial parishioners, giving place to Satan by pride and
impatience, is driven in her conviction into a kind of madness. Judge
how our adversaries rejoiced!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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