2. In the interval of the Conference, by a Bishop, or the Presiding Elder of the district, until the sitting of the Conference.

But no one shall be received unless he first procure a recommendation from the Quarterly Conference of his circuit or station. We may then, if he give us satisfaction, receive him on trial. And before any such candidate is received into full connexion, or ordained Deacon or Elder, he shall give satisfactory evidence respecting his knowledge of those particular subjects which have been recommended to his consideration.

When a preacher's name is not printed in the Minutes, he must receive a written license from a Bishop, or Presiding Elder.

Observe! taking on trial is entirely dif ferent from admitting a preacher into full connexion. One on trial may be either admitted, or rejected without doing him any wrong:-otherwise it would be no trial at all.

At each Annual Conference, those who are received on trial, or are admitted into full connexion, shall be asked whether they are willing to devote themselves to the missionary work; and a list of the names of all those who are willing to do so shall be taken and reported to the Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Society; and all such shall be considered as ready and willing to be employed as missionaries whenever called for by either of the Bishops.

SECTION VIII.

Of Receiving Travelling Preachers into Full Connexion.

Quest. What method do we use in receiving a preacher at the Conference into full connexion ?

Answ. After solemn fasting and prayer, every person proposed shall then be asked, before the Conference, the following questions, (with any others which may be thought necessary,) namely:-Have you faith in Christ? Are you going on to perfection? Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life? Are you groaning after it? Are you resolved to devote yourself wholly to God and his work? Do you know the rules of society? Do you keep them? Do you constantly attend the sacrament? Have you read the form of Discipline? Are you willing to conform to it? Have you considered the rules of a preacher, (see § 9,) 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 endeavour not 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, or abstinence, both by precept and example? Are you in

debt?

Then if he give us satisfaction, after he has been employed two successive years in

the regular itinerant work on circuits, in stations, or in our institutions of learning, which is to commence from his being received on trial at the Annual Conference, and being approved by the Annual Conference, and examined by the President of the Conference, he may be received into full connexion.

N. B. A Missionary employed on a Foreign Mission may be admitted into full connexion, if recommended by the Superintendent of the Mission where he labours, without being present at the Annual Conference for examination.

SECTION IX.

Of the Rules for a Preacher's Conduct. Quest. 1. What are the directions given to a Preacher ?

Answ. 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.

2. Be serious. Let your motto be Holiness to the Lord. Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking.

3. Converse sparingly, and conduct yourself prudently with women. 1 Tim. v, 2. 4. Take no step toward marriage without first consulting with your brethren.

5. Believe evil of no one without good evidence; unless you see it done, take heed how you credit it. Put the best construc

tion on everything. You know the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner's side.

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.

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. 8. Avoid all affectation. A preacher of the gospel is the servant of all.

9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin.

10. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them; not for wrath, but conscience' sake.

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 your business only 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.

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 in which we direct: in preaching, and visiting from house to house; in reading, meditation, and prayer. Above all, you labour 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. Quest. 2. Are there any smaller advices which might be of use to us?

if

Answ. 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 texts 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 gesture, 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 preaching on the occasion.