A Letter to the Loving and Beloved People of the Parish of Madeley, and Its Vicinity, Who Have Lost a Friend to Piety in the Death of Mrs. Fletcher, Widow of the Rev. J. W. Fletcher, (or de la Flechere,) Late Vicar of Madeley, Shropshire.

KNOWING that it is your desire to hear something respecting the close of the life of my invaluable friend, Mrs. FLETCHER, now in glory, and being assured that none but myself can undertake the work, as I alone was her constant companion, being separated scarcely a day for more than 15 years, I have endeavoured, (while my mind has been exercised with the most painful feelings of heartfelt sorrow for the loss of the best of friends, the wisest of counsellors, and the tenderest of parents,) to set down a few circumstances relative to the close of a life surpassing in usefulness most of her fellow mortals.

It was upon the 9th of December, 1815, a day never to be forgotten by me, that my Elijah was taken to heaven. O that the mantle might rest on me! She had had many severe attacks from illness in various ways, in former years, and sometimes was restored as by miracle; I therefore continued hoping she would be spared this time also; nor did I give up that hope till two days before her removal from earth to heaven.

Though she would be often saying to me, “My dear child, do not flatter yourself that I shall be long with you, for I feel I am going;”—yet, still willing to hope for what I so much desired, I continued thinking, it may be the Lord will look graciously upon me, and save me from drinking this bitter cup for a while longer: but on December 7th, I found it necessary to render her more assistance than usual while rising in the morning, and conscious that this was a mark of increased weakness, I became greatly affected; and, having done all she at that time needed, I retired to plead with the Lord that she might yet be restored; but, alas! I had no power, and was constrained to leave it to divine wisdom to do what he saw best; and before I rose from my knees, it was strongly impressed on my mind,

“The everlasting doors shall soon the saint receive, Among yon angel pow’rs in glorious bliss to live; Far from a world of grief and sin, With God eternally shut in.”

From that moment I gave up every hope of her longer abiding in the flesh; though once or twice afterwards, my strong desire led me to plead, that he who had raised the ruler’s daughter, the widow’s son, and dead Lazarus, would yet restore her: but all the answer I could obtain was, Divine wisdom cannot err.

For the last month of her life, her breath was more oppressed than usual: it had been much affected for years, upon motion; yet when she sat still, or laid herself down at night, she could breathe quite easy; but the middle of November last her breathing was affected both while she sat still and when she was laid down. She had also a troublesome cough, that disturbed her rest at night; and when this was the case, her strength quickly declined. She had had a wound for two years and 3 quarters in one side of her left breast, which was at first supposed to be a cancer; but her sufferings from this were not to be compared with what she suffered from her breath.

Yet, with all that she went through, how did she labour for the good of souls! Many times she has gone to speak to the people, when she has said, “It is like as if every meeting would take away my life, but I’ll speak to them as long as I can; while I’ve any breath, and power to get out, I’ll not spare myself.” And truly she did not, as will be readily testified by many hundreds who have been in the habit of attending her meetings.

I am inclined to think, that the 24th of last July will not be forgotten by a large proportion of the great numbers who crowded to hear her: she explained the 25th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. It was the last monday night she was able to speak to a listening crowd of attentive hearers, some of whom had come many miles, but did not think much of the pains they took, because of the spiritual good they derived from the opportunity. I remember she spoke in a peculiarly striking manner on the necessity of being born again. When she came to the 13th verse, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh,” and from the following verses respecting the Talents, she enlarged much; powerfully insisting upon the right use of the understanding, will, mind, or memory, with every affection; the right application of time, with every penny of money; and the watching over the tongue, which she observed might enjoy the honor of being God’s advocate, but for want of watchfulness was, as the Apostle expresses it, “set on fire of hell.”

But it is in vain for me to attempt to repeat any part of what at that time was felt in many hearts. She continued to meet her classes occasionally, as she had strength for it, until the middle of October. Her two o’clock sabbath-day meeting she spoke at on the last sabbath of September: this was her last public engagement. Many striking proofs we have had that her labours of love in this way were not in vain; for it is certain many souls were brought to God through her. In one of her noon meetings she read some account of the opening of her room for the preaching of the gospel; and as I believe it will not be unacceptable to you, I will insert it as it was put down by one present at the time of its first being used for the good of souls, and the glory of God.

The first sabbath in July, 1788, the room at the Vicarage in Madeley was opened; it had been for many years a barn, but was now fitted up for divine worship.

The Rev. Melville Horne preached from I Kings, chap. ix, ver. 3. “And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication that thou hast made before me; I have hallowed this house which thou hast built, to put my name there, and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.” He observed how great was our privilege in being so favored with places and opportunities of quietly waiting upon the Lord, and the advantage of sitting under a pure gospel; and how much would be required of them to whom so much was given.

He then sweetly invited us to turn our eye towards the living Temple, in whom we should be always sure to meet the Father’s love: and, in conclusion, read the part following the text, to the 10th verse; pointing out the covenant blessing on obedience, and the certain destruction which would follow the reverse.

As soon as he had ended his sermon, before he had time to pray, he was suddenly called out to a funeral which was waiting, and left Mrs. Fletcher to dismiss the people. She observed the solemnity of the occasion, and the great expectation she felt in her heart that the Lord would pour out his Spirit on the souls before him; and entreated them to look up, and open their hearts to receive it. As an encouragement, she reminded them of the many prayers which for twenty-five years had been night and day offered up in their behalf; the purport of which was, that they might behold a reconciled Father in the face of Christ Jesus: that in the dedication of Solomon’s Temple, the people were called to eat and to drink, and to send portions to those who had none. She also observed, all the glory of Israel, being outward, was but a type of the inward glory of the christian church. Therefore, (said she,) this day God calls you to eat and to drink, yea, to take of the water of life, and that freely. But are some dry and barren? He sends portions to them that have none. She then added, I will speak freely: since I have been preparing this place, these words of our Lord have repeatedly come into my mind, “With desire have I desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer.” This has caused me sometimes to think, does my Lord intend shortly to remove me to himself? Be that as it may, I have a confidence that this place will be continued to your use for some years to come, and that the Lord will bless you therein. And now I have two petitions to ask you, which I think you will not deny me. My dear friends, my first petition is, that you would consider this day as a fresh covenanting with the Lord to be his without reserve, and that we may with one consent unite in a solemn vow never to draw back. My second request is, that when I am laid silent in the grave, (which, be it sooner or later, most of you will probably see,) I ask you, at that time to remember the transaction of this day, and whensoever you pass by this place, grant me a moment’s thought;—the carnal say, the tribute of a tear: not so with me; no, my beloved friends, I rejoice not in your tears, but in your happiness:—grant me then a moment’s thought, I will tell you what it shall be. On the first sabbath, in July, 1788, beneath that roof I covenanted to be the Lord’s; then pause a moment, and say, “Thy vows are upon me, O God; I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot draw back.”

She then concluded this uncommonly solemn meeting with prayer, after singing the following hymn:

Spirit of holiness descend, And consecrate this place; With thine Almighty power defend, And crown it with thy grace.

Let it be stored with heavenly wheat, The harvest of the Lord, With sinners brought to Jesu’s feet, Obedient to his word.

No more design’d for earthly good, Or product of the ground, May it be fill’d with sacred food, And thy high praise resound.

Ye neighbours who surround this place, The message is for you; Despise not then his offer’d grace, Nor slight the heavenly dew.

How many pray’rs in heaven are filed For Madeley favor’d flock; Behold a Father reconciled In Jesus Christ your Rock.

Then let the joys of heaven abound, O’er Sinners brought to God; And many at his feet be found, All wash’d in Jesu’s blood.

That voice which once you loved to hear Invites you from above, And bids you cast off every fear, And trust in Jesu’s love.

Then let us vow to serve the Lord, And choose his holy ways; To walk according to his word, Devoted to his praise.

And when the lips that call you now Are silent in the dust, Remember then our solemn vow, And shew in whom you trust.

For soon the Archangel’s trump shall sound, And summon us on high; The Shepherd with his Flock be found, And all our tears be dry.

Some circumstances occurring last summer, which brought to her recollection afresh the solemn season of the opening of her room, 27 years before, she took the paper I have now been copying, and read it to the people; and there is good reason to believe, that our heavenly Father was pleased to make this also, such a season of refreshing to some then present, that they will ever remember it with gratitude: indeed, all her labours of love were, in a peculiar manner, blest of God. Six years after the opening of her room, the old church was taken down, and the church service was performed in it till the new one was erected.

Amongst the numerous company that will have to ascribe glory to our God for good received through her instrumentality, under that roof, I cannot forbear saying, my hope is, that I shall stand among the ransomed of the Lord, and say, “I was born there.” Yes, my friends, I must say, the good Lord made her the means of the awakening, conversion, and deepening the work of grace in my soul: and while I give all the glory to my God for the grace received, I cannot but feel much love to the channel through which that grace was communicated. Nor are my feelings in this peculiar, they are the feelings of a number of lively souls, who bless God that the sound of her voice ever reached their ears; and in whose affections she will long live, and though dead yet speak.