Wesley's Designated Successor: The Life, Letters, and Literary Labours of the Rev. John William Fletcher, Vicar of Madeley, ShropshireTyerman, L. (Luke)
Religion
Wesley's Designated Successor: The Life, Letters, and Literary Labours of the Rev. John William Fletcher, Vicar of Madeley, Shropshire
Tyerman, L. (Luke)
Fletcher, John, 1729-1785
“DEAR SIR,—What an amazing work has God wrought in these kingdoms, in
less than forty years! And it not only continues, but increases,
throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland; nay, it has lately spread
into New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Carolina. But the
wise men of the world say, ‘When Mr. Wesley drops, then all this is at
an end!’ And so it surely will, unless, before God calls him hence,
one is found to stand in his place. For, ουκ αγαθον πολυκοιρανιη. Εις
κοιρανος εστω. I see more and more, unless there be one προεστως, the
work can never be carried on. The body of the preachers are not
united: nor will any part of them submit to the rest; so that either
there must be one to preside over all, or the work will indeed come to
an end.
“But who is sufficient for these things? Qualified to preside both
over the preachers and people? He must be a man of faith and love, and
one that has a single eye to the advancement of the kingdom of God. He
must have a clear understanding; a knowledge of men and things,
particularly of the Methodist doctrine and discipline; a ready
utterance; diligence and activity, with a tolerable share of health.
There must be added to these favour with the people, with the
Methodists in general. For, unless God turns their eyes and their
hearts towards him, he will be quite incapable of the work. He must
likewise have some degree of learning, because there are many
adversaries, learned as well as unlearned, whose mouths must be
stopped. But this cannot be done unless he be able to meet them on
their own ground.
“But has God provided one so qualified? Who is he? Thou art the man!
God has given you a measure of loving faith, and a single eye to His
glory. He has given you some knowledge of men and things, particularly
of the old plan of Methodism. You are blessed with some health,
activity, and diligence, together with a degree of learning. And to
these He has lately added, by a way none could have foreseen, favour
both with the preachers and the whole people. Come out in the name of
God! Come to the help of the Lord against the mighty! Come while I am
alive and capable of labour!
‘_Dum superest Lachesi quod torqueat, et pedibus me
Porto meis, nullo dextram subeunte bacillo._’
Come while I am able, God assisting, to build you up in faith, to
ripen your gifts, and to introduce you to the people. _Nil tanti._
What possible employment can you have, which is of so great
importance?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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