JOHN

See also:

• WILLIAM
• WILLIAM (1143-1214)
• WILLIAM (1227-1256)
• WILLIAM (1J33-1584)
• WILLIAM (A.S. Wilhelm, O. Norse Vilhidlmr; O. H. Ger. Willahelm, Willahalm, M. H. Ger. Willehelm, Willehalm, Mod.Ger. Wilhelm; Du. Willem; O. Fr. Villalme, Mod. Fr. Guillaume; from " will," Goth. vilja, and " helm," Goth. hilms, Old Norse hidlmr, meaning
• WILLIAM (c. 1130-C. 1190)
• WILLIAM, 13TH

WILLIAM

See also:

• FLETCHER, ALICE CUNNINGHAM (1845– )
• FLETCHER, ANDREW
• FLETCHER, GILES (c. 1548-1611)
• FLETCHER, GILES (c. 1584-1623)
• JOHN WILLIAM FLETCHER (1729-1785)
• FLETCHER, PHINEAS (1582-1650)

FLETCHER (1729-1785)  , English divine, was 'born at Nyon in Switzerland on the r2th of September 1729, his original name being DE LA FLECEERE . He was educated at Geneva, but, preferring an army career to a clerical one, went to Lisbon and enlisted . An accident prevented his sailing with his regiment to Brazil, and after a visit to Flanders, where an uncle offered' to secure a commission for him, he went to England, picked up the language, and in 1752 became tutor in a Shropshire family . Here he came under the influence of the new Methodist preachers, and in 1757 took orders, being ordained by the bishop of Bangor . He often preached with John Wesley and for him, and became known as a fervent supporter of the revival . Refusing the wealthy living of Dunham, he accepted the humble one of Madeley, where for twenty-five years (1760-1785) he lived and worked with unique devotion and zeal . Fletcher was one of the few parish clergy who understood Wesley and his work, yet he never wrote or said anything inconsistent with his own Anglican position . In theology he. upheld the Arminian against the Calvinist position, but always with courtesy and fairness; his resignation on doctrinal grounds of the superintendency (1768–1771) of the countess of Hunting-don's college at Trevecca left no unpleasantness . The outstanding feature of his life was a transparent simplicity and saintliness of spirit, and the testimony of his contemporaries to his godliness is unanimous . Wesley preached his funeral sermon from the words " Mark the perfect man." Southey said that " no age ever provided a man of more fervent piety or more perfect charity, and no church ever possessed a more apostolic minister." His fame was not confined to his own country, for it is said that Voltaire, when challenged to produce a character as perfect as that of Christ, at once mentioned Fletcher of Madeley . He died on the 14th of August 1785 . Complete editions of his works were published in 1803 and 1836 .

The

chief of them, written against Calvinism, are Five Checks 'to Antinomianism, Scripture Scales to weigh the Gold of Gospel Truth, and the Portrait o St Paul . See lives by J . Wesley (1786); L . Tyerman (1882); F . W . Macdonald (1885); J . Maratt (1902); also C . J . Ryle, Christian Leaders of the' 8th Century, pp .