Fletcher on Christian Perfection

John William Fletcher's essay upon what constitutes Christian perfection is as lucid and thought-provoking today as when it was first penned, centuries ago.

Christian perfection in traditional, Calvinist thought presents the concept as a divine gift bestowed upon the virtuous when they die. However this concept follows only when there have been no sins on the part of the blessed - this concept was thought both impractical and incorrect by the Methodists, who divided sin into both 'voluntary' (a willing trangression) and 'involuntary'; a transgression born from either ignorance or an uncontrollable show of temper.

As an early proponent of Methodism, John Fletcher vested his life and heart into his Christian faith. He met his contemporary John Wesley while working as an English tutor in Shropshire, and was captivated by the principles and aims of the fledgling Methodists. The determination of John Wesley, who pioneered the practice of preaching in the open air due to being banned from preaching in churches, was cause for admiration on the part of Fletcher.

A witty and well-read author, John Fletcher's tracts often display a keen knowledge of both historical Christianity and the challenges facing his own denomination in the 18th century. His essay on Christian perfection is no exception; split into three parts, each designed for a different group within the context of Christian perfection, we find here a readable and fluent presentation of thoughts.