Wesley Corpus

To the Reader It was a consciousness of my own inability to describe in a manner worthy of the subject such a person as Mr. Fletcher, which was one great reason of my not writing this sooner. I judged only an Apelles was proper to paint an Alexander. But I at length submitted to importunity, and hastily put together some memorials of this great man; intending, if God permit, when I have more leisure and more materials, to write a fuller account of his life. London, Nov. 9, 1785 John Wesley Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: For the end of that man is peace. Psalm 37:37 I. I will, First, inquire who is the person that is here spoken of, "the upright and perfect man." II. In the Second place we will consider the words "the end of this man is peace;" III. The Scripture was gloriously fulfilled in that late eminent servant of God in both his life, and in his triumphant death. IV. The Epitaph of the Reverend Mr. John Fletcher, Vicar of Madeley, Shropshire. In the preceding verses, taken together with this, there is a beautiful contrast between the death of a wicked and that of a good man. "I myself," says the Psalmist, "have seen the ungodly in great power, and flourishing like a green bay tree. I went by and lo, he was gone: I sought him, but his place could nowhere be found." Dost thou desire to be found happy, both in life and in death? Then "keep innocency, and take heed unto the thing that is right; for that shall bring a man peace at the last." The words are rendered in the new translation, with far more force and elegance: "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: For the end of that man is peace." It is not improbable that David, while he uttered these words, had a particular instance before his eyes. Such an instance was that of the great and good man whom God has not long ago taken to himself.