Some two years later he prepared for his own use a little manual of devotions, which is perhaps the most _vital_ of all the Fletcher relics still preserved, as revealing more directly than any other his interior life, and the spirit and method of his daily devotions. It is a small, square book, strongly bound in leather, containing about two hundred closely written pages.
More than half of its contents are passages from the Greek Testament, carefully arranged under various headings, _Faith_, _Promises_, _The Heavenly Life_. To these are added selections from Charles Wesley's hymns, then recently published, now, and for a long time past, known and prized by the devout of every communion.
But the most personal and characteristic portions of the book are Fletcher's own meditations, resolutions, and precepts. They are written, for the most part, in Latin and in French. Some specimens of these will be found in the appendix to this volume. Here it must suffice to translate a few of the rules by which he disciplined his daily life.
Under the date January 15th, 1757, is written, in French,--
Eat slowly, and upon my knees, three times a day only, and never more.
Beware of a fire that thou kindlest thyself.
The fire that God kindles is bright, mild, constant, and burns night and day.
Think always of death, and the Cross, the hardness of thy heart and the blood of Christ.
Beware of relaxing, and of impatience; God is faithful, but He owes thee nothing.
Rise in the morning without yielding to sloth.
Write down every evening whether thou hast kept these rules."
Among the Latin meditations is one headed "Deus mihi amandus est quid": "God is to be loved because--" And then follow various grounds for gratitude and love:
"Because He created me, Of sound body and mind, In a middle station of life, and in the bosom of His Church; Preserves me alive and well; Has not given me over to the power of the devil; Gives all things necessary for life; In various ways, and wonderfully, has delivered me from death; Raised up for me good parents, teachers, friends; Gives me food, shelter, books, good health, clothing, friends, and a not dishonourable name; Has mercifully withheld hurtful things when I asked them; Before the foundations of the world determined to give His Son for me, And gave Him in time to flesh, infirmities, scorn, sorrows, poverty, and death; Imparts Him to me in the word, and in the holy supper."