Scripto
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in Sarah Ann Fletcher
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such a strong conviction that it
was from the Lord, that I dared
do no other than accept it. <gap></gap>
In the first year I had many trials
and difficulties, caused in a great
measure by my own inexperience,
but afterwards my work was very
pleasant & light to me. <gap></gap>
The 2nd year after I came to <placename>Fulneck</placename>,
the texts for my birthday struck me
very much, on looking at them some
time before. The daily word was:
"In the Lord shall all the seed of
Israel be justified & shall glory." Is. 45.25
& the doctrinal text was, the second of Acts
& the latter part of the 47th verse: "And the
Lord added to the Church daily such as
should be saved." I felt to hope, that
these texts had a reference to some, that
were very near & dear to me, who were
not added to any Church Christian
church, & over whom my heart had
often yearned. I never thought of
them in <sic>connexion</sic> with myself,
I thought I was added to the Church,
& of the real meaning of the daily word
I had at that time very little knowledge.
O! how possible it is <sic>it is</sic> to deceive ourselves
& others!.<gap></gap> On the morning of my birthday
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I found three verses on my table
which had been drawn & placed
there by a very dear & worthy sister,
as was her custom, the three were
very striking. The text of one was
"Lovest thou me?" To which was added
the verse <gap></gap>
"Lovest thou me ? I hear my Saviour say,
"Would that my heart had power
to answer, yea, <gap></gap>
"Thou knowest all things, Lord in
heaven above <gap></gap>
"And earth beneath, thou knowest
that I love! <gap></gap>
"But 'tis not so, - in word, in deed,
in thought <gap></gap>
"I do not, cannot love thee as I ought;
"Thy love must give that power; thy
love alone!" <gap></gap>
On reading the last line I exclaimed
with clasped hands, Oh my beloved
Saviour, that is the very thing -
Why didst thou not show me that
before. - It is indeed thy love that
must give me power to love thee
in return, there is indeed, "nothing
worthy of thee but thine own" -
O do thou grant that "with the love
wherewith thou loved lovest me, reflected
on thyself I may love thee!" <gap></gap>
My dear Saviour, had that instant