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issued forth, not in one direction alone, to irradiate only one point of their circumference, but in all direc tions, equally enlightening every part of their periphery. But two or three of the Preachers, who had acquired some influence with the people, had for some time been dissatisfied with this middle situation; the being no party, but standing in an equal relation to all, as fellow-helpers to the truth. We may observe (says Dr. Whitehead) that this dissatisfaction originated with a few Preachers, and from them spread, like a contagious disease, to the people. This was the case at first, and has always been the case since, wherever the people have desired any alteration in the original constitution of the Methodist societies. The method of proceeding, to effect their purpose, is rather curious, and shews to what means men will sometimes resort, to support a particular cause. For as soon as these Preachers had by various methods, influenced a few persons in any society to desire to receive the Lord's supper from them, they pleaded this circumstance as a reason why the innovation should take place. As a vast majority in these societies were members of the church of England, so the forming of the Methodists into a separate party, was called a separating them from the church; though it evidently implied a change in their relative situation to all denominations of Dissenters, as much as to the church. The clamour, however, for a separation from the church, had been raised so high by a few of the Preachers, that the subject was fully discussed for two or three days together, at this Conference; and Mr. Wesley observes, My brother and I closed the Conference by a solemn declaration of our purpose never to separate from the church,”

66

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Some of the regular clergy, who had embraced the leading doctrines of the Methodists, generally disapproved of Lay-Preachers, and of the plan of itinerancy; fearing with the rest of the clergy, that in the end a large rent would be made from the established church. In September, Mr. Wesley received a letter on this subject, from the reverend and pious Mr. Walker of Truro, pressing him to get the ablest Preachers ordained, and to fix the rest in different societies, not as Preachers but as readers, and thus break up the itinerant plan. Mr. Wesley answered, "I have one point in view, to promote, so far as I am able, vital, practical religion; and by the grace of God, to beget, preserve, and increase, the life of God in the souls of men. On this single principle I have hitherto proceeded, and taken no step but in subserviency to it. With this view, when I found it to be absolutely necessary for the continuance of the work which God had begun in many souls (which their regular pastors generally used all possible means to destroy) I permitted several of their brethren, whom I believed God had called thereto, and qualified for the work, to comfort, exhort, and instruct those who were athirst for God, or who walked in the light of his But as the persons so qualified were few, and those who wanted their assistance very many, it followed that most of them were obliged to travel continually from place to place; and this occasioned several regulations from time to time, which were chiefly made at our Conferences.

countenance.

"So great a blessing has from the beginning attended the labours of these itinerants, that we have been more and more convinced every year, of the more than lawfulness of this proceeding. And the inconveniencies, most of which we foresaw from the

very first, have been both fewer and smaller than we

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expected. But the question is, How may these (Preachers) be settled on such a footing, as one would wish they might be after my death; it is a weighty point, and has taken up many of my thoughts for several years but I know nothing yet. The steps now to take are plain; I see broad light shining upon them; but the other part of the prospect I cannot see: clouds and darkness rest upon it.

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"Your general advice on this head, To follow my own conscience, without any regard to consequences or prudence, so called,' is unquestionably right. And it is a rule which I have closely followed for many years, and hope to follow to my life's end. The first of your particular advices is, To keep in full view the interests of Christ's church in general, and of practical religion; not considering the church of England, or the cause of Methodism, but as subordinate thereto.' This advice I have punctually observed from the beginning, as well as at our late Conference. You advise, 2. To keep in view also, the unlawfulness of a separation form the church of England. To this likewise I agree. It cannot be lawful to separate from it, unless it be unlawful to continue in it. You advise, 3. Fully to declare myself on this head, and to suffer no dispute concerning it.' The very same thing I wrote to my brother from Ireland: and we have declared ourselves without reserve.-Your last advice is, 'That as many of our Preachers as are fit for it, be ordained; and that the others be fixed to certain societies, not as Preachers, but as readers or inspectors.'-But is that which you propose a better way (than our itinerant plan?)

plan) This should be coolly and calmly considered.

"If I mistake not, there are now in the county of Cornwall, about four and thirty of these little societies, part of whom now experience the love of God; part are more or less earnestly seeking it. Four Preachers, Peter Jaco, Thomas Johnson, IV. Crabb, and Will. Atwood, design for the ensuing year, partly to call other sinners to repentance; but chiefly to feed and guide those few feeble sheep : to forward them, as the ability which God giveth, in vital, practical religion. Now suppose we can effect, that P. Jaco, and T. Johnson, be ordained and settled in the curacies of Buryan, and St. Just: and suppose IV. Crabb, and W. Atwood, fix at Launceston or the Dock, as readers and inspectors; will this answer the end which I have in view, so well as travelling through the country?

"It will not answer so well, even with regard to those societies with whom P. Jaco, and T. Johnson, have settled. Be their talents ever so great, they will ere long, grow dead themselves, and so will most of those who hear them. I know, were I myself to preach one whole year in one place, I should preach both myself and most of my congregation asleep. Nor can I believe, it was ever the will of our Lord, that any congregation should have only one teacher. We have found by long and constant experience, that a frequent change of teachers is best. This Preacher has one talent, that another. No one whom I ever yet knew, has all the talents which are needful for beginning, continuing, and perfecting the work of grace in a whole congregation.

66 But suppose this would better answer the end with regard to those two societies, would it answer

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in those where IV. Atwood and W. Crabb, were settled as inspectors or readers? First, who shall feed them with the milk of the word? The ministers of their parishes? Alas, they cannot: they themselves neither know, nor live, nor teach the gospel. These readers? Can then, either they, or 1, or you, always find something to read to our congregations, which will be as exactly adapted to their wants, and as much blessed to them as our preaching? and there is another difficulty still what authority have I to forbid their doing what, I believe, God has called them to do? I apprehend, indeed, that there ought, if possible, to be both an outward and inward call to this work yet if one of the two be supposed wanting, I had rather want the outward than the inward call.

"But waving this, and supposing these four societies to be better provided for than they were before; what becomes of the other thirty? Will they prosper as well when they are left as sheep without a shepherd ? The experiment has been tried again and again; and always with the same event; even the strong in faith grew weak and faint; many of the weak made shipwreck of the faith; the awakened fell asleep; and sinners, changed for a while, returned as a dog to his vomit. And so, by our lack of service, many souls perished for whom Christ died. Now had we willingly withdrawn our service from them, by voluntarily settling in one place, what account of this could we have given to the Great Shepherd of all our souls. I cannot therefore see, how any of those four Preachers, or any others in like circumstances, can ever, while they have health and strength, ordained or unordained, fix in one place without a grievous wound to

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