adherents, number more than two and three quarter millions. Other Methodist Churches, derived from the original root, flourish by its side. Obviously its founders were wise and godly men, fulfilling the purpose of the great Head of the Church. It has always believed that the only infallible proof of the legitimacy of any branch of the Christian Church is in its ability to seek and to save the lost and to disseminate the Pentecostal spirit and life. Its chief stress has ever been laid, not upon forms, but upon the essentials of religion. It holds that true Churches of Christ may differ widely in ceremonies, ministerial orders, and government. Its members are allowed freedom of choice among the debated modes of Baptism. If any member has scruples against receiving the Lord's Supper kneeling, he is permitted to receive it standing or sitting. In ordinary worship its people are invited to unite in extemporary prayer, but for the Administration of the Sacraments, Ordinations, the Solemnization of Matrimony, the Burial of the Dead, and other special services, a Liturgy, much of which has been sanctioned by the universal Church from most ancient times, is appointed. The sole object of the rules, regulations, and usages of the Methodist Episcopal Church is that it may fulfill to the end of time its original divine vocation as a leader in evangelization, in all true reforms, and in the promotion of fraternal relations among all branches of the one Church of Jesus Christ, with whom it is a coworker in the spiritual conquest of the world for the Son of God. 16 : CHAPTER I. ARTICLES OF RELIGION. I. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity. 1. There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. II. Of the Word, or Son of God, who was made very Man. 2. The Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided; whereof is one Christ, very God and very Man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for the actual sins of men. III. Of the Resurrection of Christ. 3. Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day. IV. Of the Holy Ghost. ¶ 4. The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God. V. The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for 5. The Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsover is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scriptures we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church. The names of the canonical books are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, The First Book of Samuel, The Second Book of Samuel, The First Book of Kings, The Second Book of Kings, The First Book of Chronicles, The Second Book of Chronicles, The Book of Ezra, The Book of Nehemiah, The Book of Esther, The Book of Job, The Psalms, The Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or the Preacher, Cantica or Song of Solomon, Four Prophets the greater, Twelve Prophets the less. All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive and account canonical. VI. Of the Old Testament. ¶ 6. The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and |