CHAPTER II.

THE MINISTRY.

SECTION I.

Of the examination of those who think they are moved by the Holy Ghost to preach.

45. In order that we may try those who profess to be moved by the Holy Ghost to preach, let the following questions be asked, namely:

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1. Do they know God as a pardoning God? Have they the love of God abiding in them? Do they desire nothing but God? And are they holy in all manner of conver.

sation?

2. Have they gifts as well as grace for the work? Have they a clear, sound understanding; a right judgment in the things of God; a just conception of salvation by faith? And has God given them an acceptable way of speaking? Do they speak justly, readily, clearly?

3. Have they fruit? Are any truly convinced of sin, and converted to God by their preaching?

46. 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 by the Holy Ghost.

47. With the consent of the Local Preachers' Meeting or of the Quarterly Official Board, the Superintendent of the Circuit may license such persons to exhort. After sufficient proof of their gifts and usefulness they may be further received as Local Preachers on trial, and on expira

tion of three months' trial, should their examination by the Local Preachers' Meeting, or Quarterly Official Board, be satisfactory, they shall receive license as Local Preachers.

SECTION II.

Of Rules of Conduct for a Minister or Probationer for the Ministry.

48. Rule 1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed; never be triflingly employed; never trifle away time, neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary. 49. Rule 2. Be serious. Let your motto be "Holiness to the Lord." Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish

talking.

50. Rule 3. Converse sparingly, and conduct yourselves prudently, with women. (1 Tim. v. 2.)

51. Rule 4. Take no steps towards marriage without first consulting with your brethren.

52. Rule 5. Believe evil of no one without good evidence; unless you see it done, take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction on everything. You know the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner's side.

53. Rule 6. Speak evil of no one; because your word, especially, would eat as doth a canker. Keep your thoughts within your own breast till you come to the person concerned.

54. Rule 7. Tell every one under your care what you think wrong in his conduct and temper, and that lovingly

and plainly, as soon as may be, else it will fester in your heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom.

55. Rule 8. Avoid all affectation.

Gospel is the servant of all.

A preacher of the

56. Rule 9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin.

57. Rule 10. Be punctual.

Do everything exactly at

the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them ; not for wrath, but conscience' sake.

58. Rule 11. You have nothing to do but to save souls, therefore spend and be spent in this work; and go always, not only to those that want you, but to those that want you most.

Observe! it is not only your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that Society, but to save as many as you can; to bring as many sinners as you can to repentance, and, with all your power, to build them up in that holiness without which they cannot see the Lord. And remember! a Methodist preacher is to mind every point, great and small, in the Methodist Discipline! Therefore you will need to exercise all the sense and grace you have.

59. Rule 12. Act in all things, not according to your own will, but as a son in the Gospel. As such, it is your duty to employ your time in the manner which we direct; in preaching and visiting from house to house; in reading, meditation and prayer. Above all, if you labor with us in the Lord's vineyard, it is needful you should do that part of the work which we advise, at those times and places which we judge most for His glory,

60. Smaller advices which might be of use to us are perhaps these: 1. Be sure never to disappoint a congregation. 2. Begin at the time appointed. 3. Let your whole deportment be serious, weighty, and solemn. 4. Always suit your subject to your audience. 5. Choose the plainest text you can. 6. Take care not to ramble, but keep to your text, and make out what you take in hand. 7. Take care of anything awkward or affected, either in your gestures, phrase, or pronunciation. 8. Do not usually pray extempore above eight or ten minutes (at most) without intermission. 9. Frequently read and enlarge upon a portion of Scripture: and let young preachers often exhort without taking a text. 10. Always avail yourself of the great festivals by preach ing on the occasion.

SECTION III.

The duty of Ministers and Probationers-Matter and manner of preaching-Visiting from house to house.

61. The duty of a minister or probationer is,-1. To preach; 2. To meet the Societies and Classes; 3. To visit the sick.

62. A minister or probationer shall be qualified for his charge by walking closely with God, and having His work greatly at heart, and by understanding and loving discipline, ours in particular.

63. A minister or probationer should use all the means of grace himself, and urge the use of them on others, such

as:

1. Prayer-private, family, and public; consisting of deprecation, petition, intercession, and thanksgiving.

2. Searching the Scriptures.

3. The Lord's Supper.

4. Fasting and Abstinence.

5. Christian Conference.

Ministers should manifest an interest in the spiritual welfare of each other, by speaking freely to each other upon the subject of personal religion. They should take great care not to despise each other's gifts, or speak lightly of each other, defending each other's character in everything, as far as is consistent with truth.

64. The best general method of preaching is,-1. To convince; 2. To offer Christ; 3. To invite; 4. To build up: And to do this in some measure in every sermon.

65. The most effectual way of preaching Christ is to preach Him in all His offices; and to declare His law, as well as His Gospel, both to believers and unbelievers. Let us strongly and closely insist upon inward and outward holiness in all its branches.

66. It is by no means advisable for us to preach in as many places as we can without forming any Societies.

We should endeavor to preach most,-1. Where there is the greatest number of quiet and willing hearers; 2. Where there is most fruit.

We ought diligently to observe in what places God is pleased at any time to pour out His Spirit more abundantly, and at that time to send more laborers than usual into that part of the harvest.

67. We can further assist those under our care by instructing them in their own houses.