VI. Deportment at the Conference.

¶ 129. It is desired that all things be considered on these occasions as in the immediate presence of God; that every person speak freely whatever is in his heart.

¶ 130. In order, therefore, that we may best improve our time at the Conferences, 1. While we are conversing let us have an especial care to set God always before us. 2. In the intermediate hours let us redeem all the time we can for private exercises. 3. Therein let us give ourselves to prayer for one another, and for a blessing on our labor.

VII. Where and How to Preach.

131. It is by no means advisable for us to preach in as many places as we can without forming any Societies. We have made the trial in various places, and that for a considerable time. But all that seed has fallen by the wayside. There is scarcely any fruit remaining.

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

¶ 133. 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. ¶ 134. 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.

¶ 135. 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.

VIII. Pastoral Fidelity.

136. We can further assist those under our care by instructing them at their own houses. What unspeakable need is there of this! The world says, "The Methodists are no better than other people." This is not true in the general; but,

§ 1. Personal religion, both toward God and man, is too superficial among us. We can only touch on a few particulars. How little faith is there among us! How little communion with God! How little living in heaven, walking in eternity, deadness to every creature! How much love of the world! Desire of pleasure, of ease, of getting money! How little brotherly love! What continual judging one another! What gossiping, evil-speaking, tale-bearing! What want of moral honesty! To instance only one particular: Who does as he would be done by in buying and selling?

§ 2. Family religion is wanting in many branches. And what avails public preaching alone, though we could preach like angels? We must, yea, every Traveling Preacher must, instruct the people from house to house. Till this be done, and that in good earnest, Methodists will be no better.

§ 3. Our religion is not sufficiently deep, universal, uniform; but superficial, partial, uneven. It will be so till we spend half as much time in this visiting as we now do in talking uselessly. Can we find a better method of doing this than Mr. Baxter's? If not, let

us adopt it without delay. His whole tract, entitled Gildas Salvianus; or, The Reformed Pastor, is well worth a careful perusal. Speaking of this visiting from house to house he says (p. 273), “We shall find many hindrances, both in ourselves and the people." 1. In ourselves there is much dullness and laziness, so that there will be much ado to get us to be faithful in the work. 2. We have a base, man-pieasing temper, so that we let people perish rather than lose their love; we let them go quietly to hell lest we should offend them. 3. Some of us also have a foolish bashfulness. We know not how to begin, and blush to contradict the devil. 4. But the greatest hindrance is weakness of faith. Our whole motion is weak, because the spring of it is weak. 5. Lastly, we are unskillful in the work. How few know how to deal with men, so as to get within them, and suit all our discourse to their several conditions and tempers; to choose the fittest subjects and follow them with a holy mixture of seriousness, terror, love, and meekness!

¶ 137. But undoubtedly this private application is implied in those solemn words of the Apostle: "I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering."

¶ 138. O brethren, if we could but set this work on foot in all our Societies, and prosecute it zealously, what glory would redound to God! If the common lukewarmness were banished, and every shop, and every house, busied in speaking of the words and works of God, surely God would dwell in our habitations, and make us his delight!

¶ 139. And this is absolutely necessary to the welfare of our people, some of whom neither repent nor believe to this day. Look around, and see how many

of them are still in apparent danger of damnation. And how can you walk and talk, and be merry with such people, when you know their case? When you look them in the face, you should break forth into tears, as the prophet did when he looked upon Hazael, and then set upon them with the most vehement exhortations. O, for God's sake, and the sake of poor souls, bestir yourselves, and spare no pains that may conduce to their salvation! What cause have we to mourn before the Lord that we have so long neglected this good work! If we had but engaged in it sooner, how many more might have been brought to Christ! And how much holier and happier might our Societies have been before now! And why might we not have done it sooner? There were many hindrances; and so there always will be. But the greatest hindrance is in ourselves, in our littleness of faith and love.

¶ 140. But it is objected:

§ 1. "This will take up so much time that we shall not have leisure to follow our studies." We answer, 1. Gaining knowledge is a good thing, but saving souls is a better. 2. By this very thing you will gain the most excellent knowledge, that of God and eternity. 3. You will have time for gaining other knowledge, too, only sleep no more than you need, "and never be idle, nor triflingly employed." But, 4. If you can do but one, let your studies alone. We ought to throw by all the libraries in the world, rather than be guilty of the loss of one soul.

§ 2. "The people will not submit to it." If some will not, others will, and the success with them will

repay all your labor. ample of St. Paul!

O let us herein follow the ex、 1. For our general business, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind: 2. Our special work, Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock: 3. Our doctrine, Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ: 4. The place, I have taught you publicly, and from house to house: 5. The object and manner of teaching, I ceased not to warn everyone night and day, with tears: 6. His in-. nocence and self-denial herein, I have coveted no man's silver or gold: 7. His patience, Neither count I my life dear unto myself. And among all other motives let these be ever before our eyes: (1) The Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood: (2) Grievous wolves shall enter in; yea, of yourselves shall men arise, speaking perverse things.

141. Write this upon your hearts, and it will do you more good than twenty years' study. Then you I will have no time to spare: you will have work enough. Then likewise no Preacher will stay with us who is as salt that has lost its savor. For to such this employment would be mere drudgery. And in order to do it, you will have need of all the knowledge you can procure, and grace you can attain.

142. The sum is, Go into every house in course, and teach everyone therein, young and old, to be Christians inwardly and outwardly: make every particular plain to their understandings: fix it in their minds: write it on their hearts. In order to this, there must be precept upon precept, line upon line. What patience, what love, what knowledge is requisite for this! We must needs do this, were it only to avoid idleness. Do we not loiter away many hours