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supposes public prayer, like the sermons at the university. If it were designed to be instead of the church-service, it would be essentially defective. For, it seldom has the four grand parts of public prayer, deprecation, petition, intercession, and thanksgiving.

"If the people put ours in the room of the church-service, we hurt them that stay with us, and ruin them that leave us. For then they will go no where, but lounge the Sabbath away, without any public worship at all.

Q. 36. "Nay, but is it not our duty, to separate from the church, considering the wickedness both of the clergy and the people?

A. "We conceive not, 1. Because both the priests and the people were full as wicked in the Jewish church. And yet it was not the duty of the holy Israelites to separate from them: 2. Neither did our Lord command his disciples to separate from them: he rather commanded the contrary. 3. Hence it is clear, that could not be the meaning of St. Paul's words, Come out from among them, and be ye sepa

rate.

Q. 37. "But what reasons are there, why we should not separate from the church?

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Among others, those which were printed above twenty years ago, entitled Reasons against a Separation from the Church of England »

"We allow two exceptions. 1. If the parish minister be a notoriously wicked man: 2. If he preach Socinianism, Arianism, or any other essentially false doctrine.

Q. 38. "Do we sufficiently watch over our helpers?

A. We might consider those that are with us as our pupils into whose behaviour and studies we should inquire every day.

"Should we not frequently ask each, Do you walk closely with God? Have you now fellowship with the Father, and the Son? At what hour do you rise? Do you punctually observe the morning and evening hour of retirement? Do you spend the day in the manner which we advise? Do

you

you converse seriously, usefully, and closely? Do you use all the means of grace yourself, and enforce the use of them on all other persons? &c. &c.

Q. 39. "What can be done, in order to a closer union of our helpers with each other?

convinced of the want absolute necessity of it:

A. "1. Let them be deeply there is of it at present, and the 2. Let them pray for a desire of union: 3. Let them speak freely to each other: 4. When they meet, let them never part without prayer: 5. Let them beware how they despise each other's gifts: 6. Let them never speak slightingly of each other in any kind: 7. Let them defend one another's characters in every thing, so far as consists with truth; and 8. Let them labour in honour each to prefer the other before himself.

Q. 40. "How shall we try those who think they are moved by the Holy Ghost to preach?

A. "Inquire, 1. Do they know God as a pardoning God? Have they the love of God abiding in them? Do they desire and seek nothing but God? And, are they holy in all manner of conversation? 2. Have they gifts, (as well Ilave they (in some tolerable

as grace) for the work? degree) a clear, sound understanding? Have they a right judgment in the things of God? Have they a just conception of salvation by faith? And has God given them any degree of utterance? Do they speak justly, readily, clearly? 3. Have they fruit? Are any truly convinced of sin, and converted to God by their preaching?

"As long as these three marks concur in any one, we believe he is called of God to preach. These we receive as sufficient proof, that he is moved thereto by the Holy Ghost.

Q. 41. "What method may we use in receiving a new helper ?

A.

"A proper time, for doing this, is at a Conference after solemn fasting and prayer.

"Every person proposed is then to be present; and each of them may be asked,

to

"Have you faith in Christ? Are you going on to perfection? Do you expect to be perfected in love in this life? Are you groaning after it! Are you resolved to devote yourself wholly to God and to his work? Do you know the Methodist plan? Have you read the plain account? The appeals? Do you know the rules of the society? Of the bands? Do you keep them? Do you take no snuff'? bacco ? drams? Do you constantly attend the church and sacrament? Have you read the Minutes of the Conference ? Are you willing to conform to them? Have you considered the rules of an helper? Especially the first, tenth, and twelfth? Will you keep them for conscience-sake? Are you determined to employ all your time in the work of God? Will you preach every morning and evening: endeavouring hot to speak too long, or too loud? Will you diligently

instruct the children in every place?

Will you visit from

house to house? Will you recommend fasting, both by precept and example?

"Are you in debt? Are you engaged to marry?

"(N. B. A Preacher who marries while on trial, is thereby set aside.)

"We may then receive him as a probationer by giving him the Minutes of the Conference inscribed thus;

To A. B.

"You think it your duty to call sinners to repentance. Make full proof hereof, and we shall rejoice to receive you as a fellow-labourer.

"Let him then read, and carefully weigh what is contained therein, that if he has any doubt, it may be removed.

"Observe! Taking on trial is entirely different from admitting a Preacher. One on trial may be either admitted or rejected, without doing him any wrong. Otherwise it would be no trial at all. Let every assistant explain this to them that are on trial.

"When he has been on trial four years, if recommended by the assistant, he may be received into full connexion, by giving him the minutes inscribed thus: As long as you freely consent to, and earnestly endeavour to walk by these

rules,

rules, we shall rejoice to acknowledge you as a fellow-labourer.' Mean time let none exhort in any of our societies, without a note of permission from the assistant: let every exhorter take care to have this renewed yearly: and let every assistant insist upon it.

Q. 42. "What is the method wherein we usually proceed in our Conferences?

A.

"We inquire,

"1. What Preachers are admitted?

"Who remain on trial?

"Who are admitted on trial?

"Who desist from travelling?

"2. Are there any objections to any of the Preachers? who are named one by one.

"3. How are the Preachers stationed this year?

"4. What numbers are in the society?

"5. What is the Kingswood collection?

66

6. What boys are received this year?

7. What girls are assisted?

8. What is contributed for the contingent expences?

9. How was this expended?

"10. What is contributed towards the fund for superannuated, and supernumerary Preachers?

"11. What demands are there upon it?

12. How many Preachers' wives are to be provided for? By what societies?

"13. Where, and when, may our next Conference begin? Q. 43. "How can we provide for superannuated and supernumerary Preachers?

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A. Those who can preach four or five times a week, are supernumerary Preachers. As for those who cannot, "1. Let every travelling Preacher contribute half a guinea yearly at the Conference.

"2. Let every one when first admitted as a travelling Preacher pay a guinea.

"3. Let this be lodged in the hands of the stewards. "4. Out of this let provision be made first for the worn

out

out Preachers, and then for the widows and children of those that are dead.

"5. Let an exact account of all receipts and disbursements be produced at the Conference.

"6. Let every assistant bring to the Conference, the contribution of every Preacher in his circuit.

Q. 44. "Are not many of the Preachers' wives still straitened for the necessaries of life?

A. "Some certainly have been. To prevent this for the time to come.

"1. Let every circuit either provide each with a lodging, coals, and candles, or allow her fifteen pounds a year.

"2. Let the assistant take this money at the quarterlymeeting, before any thing else be paid out of it. Fail not to do this.

Q. 45. "What can be done, in order to revive the work of God where it is decayed?

A. "Let every Preacher read carefully over the life of David Brainard. Let us be followers of him, as he was of Christ, in absolute self-devotion, in total deadness to the world, and in fervent love to God and man. Let us but secure this point, and the world and the devil must fall under our feet.

"2. Let both Assistants and Preachers be conscientiously exact in the whole Methodist discipline.

"3. See that no circuit be at any time without Preachers. Therefore let no Preacher, who does not attend the Conference, leave the circuit, at that time, on any pretence whatever. This is the most improper time in the whole year. Let every assistant see to this, and require each of these to remain in the circuit, till the new Preachers come.

"Let not all the Preachers in any circuit come to the Conference.

"Let those who do come, set out as late and return as soon as possible.

"4. Wherever you can, appoint prayer-meetings, and particularly on Friday.

"5. Let

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