306. III. Wherein do you take up your cross daily? Do you cheerfully bear your cross, however grievous to nature as a gift of God, and labour to profit thereby ?

307. IV. Do you endeavour to set God always before you? To see his eye continually fixed upon you? Never can you use these means but a blessing will ensue. And the more you use them, the more you will grow in grace.

SECTION IV.

Of the Necessity of Union among Ourselves.

308. Let us be deeply sensible (from what we have known) of the evil of a division in principle, spirit, or practice, and the dreadful consequences to ourselves and others. If we are united, what can stand before us? If we divide, we shall destroy ourselves, the work of God, and the souls of our people.

309. In order to a closer union with each other,-1. Let us be deeply convinced of the absolute necessity of it. 2. Pray earnestly for and speak freely to each other. 3. When we meet, let us never part without prayer. 4. Take great care not to despise each other's gifts. 5. Never speak lightly of each other. 6. Let us defend each other's character in everything, so far as is consistent with truth. 7. Labour, in honour, each to prefer the other before himself. 8. We recommend a serious perusal of The Causes, Evils, and Cures of Heart and Church Divisions.

SECTION V.

Of Employing Our Time profitably, when not engaged in Public Exercises.

310. As a general method of employing our time we advise you,—1. As often as possible to rise at four. 2. From four to five in the morning, and from five to six in the evening to meditate, pray, and read the Scriptures with notes, and the closely practical parts of what Mr. Wesley has published. 3. From six in the morning till twelve (allowing an hour for breakfast) read, with much prayer, some of our best religious books.

311. Other reasons may concur, but the chief reason that the people under our care are not better is, because we are not more knowing and more holy. And we are not more knowing because we are idle. We forget our first rule, "Be diligent-never be unemployed--never be triflingly employed. Neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary." We fear there is altogether a fault in this matter, and that few of us are clear. Which of us spend as many hours a day in God's work, as we did formerly in man's work? We talk,-talk—or read what next comes to hand. We must, absolutely must, cure this evil or betray the cause of God. But how? 1. Read the most useful books, and that regularly and constantly. 2. Steadily spend all the morning in this employment, or at least five hours in four-and-twenty. "But I have no taste for reading." Contract a taste for it by use, or return to your former employment. "I have no books." Be diligent to spread the books, and you will have the use of them.

SECTION VI.

Of our Deportment at the Conference.

312. 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.

313. In order, therefore, that we may best improve our time at the Conference-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 labour.

SECTION VII.

Of the Matter and Manner of Preaching.

314. 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.

315. 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.

SECTION VIII.

Rules by which we should continue, or desist from Preaching at any Place.

316. 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 the seed has fallen by the way-side. There is scarce any fruit remaining. We should endeavour to preach most,-1. Where there is the greatest number of quiet and willing hearers. 2. Where there

is most fruit.

317. 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 labourers than usual into that part of the harvest.

SECTION IX.

Of Visiting from House to House, and enforcing Practical

Religion.

What unspeakable need "The Methodists are no

318. We can further assist those under our care by instructing them at their own houses. is there for this! The world says, better than other people." This is not true in general, but, 1. Personal religion, either toward God or man, is too superficial among us. We can but just 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-speak ing, tale-bearing! What want of moral honesty! Το instance only one particular: Who does as he would be done by, in buying and selling?

319. Family religion is wanting in many branches. And what avails public preaching alone, though we could preach

like angels? We must, yea, every Minister, and every Probationer must instruct the people from house to house! Till this be done, and that in good earnest, Methodists will be no better.

320. 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. 351), "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, manpleasing temper, so that we let them perish rather than lose their love; we let them go quietly to hell lest we should offend them. 3. Some of us have a foolish bashfulness; we know not how to begin, and blush to contradict the devil. 4. But the great hindrance is weakness of faith. whole motion is weak because the spring of it is weak. 5. Lastly, we are unskilful 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 !

Our

But undoubtedly this private application is implied in those solemn words of the Apostle, "I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his kingdom, preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;