“Some serious people have desired me to answer the book. As I suppose your _Dr. Preese_[255]” (sic) “is one of his stamp, I want to see by your candle as well as my own. Could you send me, by the post, what you have published against him? By cutting the margin close, you might bring it to a tolerable size for a packet; and I should not grudge paying the postage. If you cannot do this, send me, at least, your best answer to the objection taken from John xvii. 3, and to the words ‘_only God_,’ which seem to exclude Jesus Christ. “We must fight the Antinomians while the Calvinists put weapons into their hands against the truth. Mr. Hill has taken Mr. Wesley in hand very roughly. I have been with him. His answer to my ‘Vindication’ is expected every day, and is out, I suppose, in London. God give us wisdom! Set your razor against Mason, for what we mean as keenness (which is allowable) is directly construed as bitterness. “When you send the packet, put upon the direction, ‘_Not by London, but by + Post Bag, Manchester and Salop_,’ or else they will make me pay double. “I preach much, and see little fruit. The Holy Ghost is not given among us. These are hard times. God help us to more gospel and life, but not my lady’s gospel! “I am yours in a hurry, “J. FLETCHER.” Footnote 253: The poor collier whom Fletcher so greatly befriended at Madeley, and who was one of the first students at Trevecca, in 1768. Footnote 254: The words are illegible, but, no doubt, his “Third Check to Antinomianism” is meant. Footnote 255: Probably meant for the celebrated Dr. Price, of whom more will have to be said anon. Not to mention other matters referred to in this letter, there can be no doubt that Fletcher now began to write his Anti-Socinian Treatises; but, as will be seen hereafter, he never finished them. Other things, even more pressing, claimed his attention, and he was obliged to postpone his attack on the citadel of _religious infidelity_. “I long to be out of controversy,” said Fletcher to Joseph Benson, in a letter dated February 1772,[256] and yet he continued it. He could not help himself. To say nothing of the duty he owed to Christ and Gospel truth, it was impossible, at present, to retire from the field of conflict without exposing himself to the taunt of recreant timidity. Besides, though his opponents had been vanquished, they would, in that case, have appeared victorious. No doubt, also, he was encouraged to proceed by his bespattered but beloved friend Wesley. In a letter to Lady Maxwell, Wesley wrote:— “LONDON, _February 8, 1772_.