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
The fourteenth section of Fletcher’s book is employed in answering the
false and pernicious statements contained in Toplady’s “Caveat against
Unsound Doctrine,” and Martin Madan’s “Essay on Galatians v. 17.” In the
two following sections, Fletcher proves that his doctrine of Christian
perfection “cannot be justly reproached as Popish, and Pelagian; and
shows the distinction which exists” between _sins_ and _innocent
infirmities_. Then he concludes his invaluable book with four Addresses:
1. “To perfect Christian Pharisees; 2. To prejudiced Imperfectionists;
3. To imperfect Perfectionists; and 4. To perfect Christians.” These
addresses will always rank among the most powerful productions of
Fletcher’s pen; but, for want of space, only one extract from them can
be given here; and even that is, to a large extent, an extract from
Wesley’s Sermon on “The Scripture Way of Salvation.” It is, however, of
the highest importance, as containing an answer to the question, How are
we to be “sanctified, saved from sin, and perfected in love?” Fletcher
writes:—
“I have already pointed out the close connexion there is between an
act of _faith_ which _fully_ apprehends the sanctifying promise of the
Father, and the power of the Spirit of Christ which makes an end of
moral corruption by forcing the lingering man of sin _instantaneously_
to breathe out his last. Mr. Wesley, in the above quoted sermon,
touches upon this delicate subject in so clear and concise a manner,
that, while his discourse is before me, for the sake of those who have
it not in hand, I shall transcribe the whole passage, and, by this
means, put the seal of that eminent divine to what I have advanced, in
the preceding pages, about sanctifying faith, and the quick
destruction of sin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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