SECTION XII.

Of the duty of Preachers to God, themselves, and one another.

Quest. 1. How shall a preacher be quali fied for his charge?

Answ. By walking closely with God, and having his work greatly at heart and by understanding, and loving discipline, ours in particular.

Quest. 2. Do we sufficiently watch over each other?

Answ. We do not. Should we not frequently ask each other, Do you walk closely with God? Have you now fellowship with the Father and the Son? At what hour do you rise? Do you punctually observe the morning and evening hour of retirement? Do you spend the day in the manner which the Conference advises? Do you converse seriously, usefully, and closely? To be more particular: Do you use all the means of grace yourself, and enforce the use of them on all other persons? They are either instituted or prudential.

I. The instituted are,

1. Prayer private, family, and public; consisting of deprecation, petition, intercession, and thanksgiving. Do you use each of these? Do you forecast daily wherever

you are, to secure time for private devotion? Do you practise it every where? Do you ask every where, Have you family prayer? Do you ask individuals, Do you use private prayer every morning and evening in particular?

2. Searching the Scriptures, by

(1) Reading; constantly, some part of every day regularly, all the Bible in order; carefully, with notes; seriously, with prayer before and after: fruitfully, immediately practising what you learn there?

(2) Meditating: At set times? By rule? (3) Hearing: Every opportunity? With prayer before, at, after? Have you a Bible always about you?

3. The Lord's Supper: Do you use this at every opportunity? With solemn prayer before? With earnest and deliberate self devotion ?

4. Fasting: Do you use as much abstinence and fasting every week, as your health, strength, and labour will permit?

5. Christian conference: Are you convinced how important and how difficult it is to order your conversation aright? Is it always in grace? Seasoned with salt? Meet to minister grace to the hearers? Do you not converse too long at a time? Is not an hour commonly enough? Would it not be

well always to have a determinate end in view? And to pray before and after it?

II. Prudential means we may use either as Christians, as Methodists, or as preachers. 1. As Christians: what particular rules have you in order to grow in grace? What arts of holy living?

2. As Methodists: do you never miss your class or band?

3. As preachers: have you thoroughly considered your duty? And do you make a conscience of executing every part of it? Do you meet every society? Also, the leaders and bands?

These means may be used without fruit. But there are some means which cannot, namely, watching, denying ourselves, taking up our cross, exercise of the presence of God. 1. Do you steadily watch against the world? Yourself? Your besetting sin?

2. Do you deny yourself every useless pleasure of sense? Imagination? Honour? Are you temperate in all things? Instance in food: (1) Do you use only that kind and that degree which is best both for body and soul: Do you see the necessity of this? (2) Do you eat no more at each meal than is necessary? Are you not heavy or drowsy after dinner! (3) Do you use only that kind, and that degree of drink which is best both.

for your body and soul? (4) Do you choose and use water for your common drink? And only take wine medicinally or sacramentally?

3. 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?

4. 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. XIII.

Rules by which we should continue or desist from preaching at any place.

Quest. 1. Is it advisable for us to preach in as many places as we can, without forming any societies?

Answ. By no means: We have made the trial in various places; and that for a considerable time. But all the seed has fallen There is scarce any fruit

by the way side. remaining.

Quest. 2. Where should we endeavour to preach most?

Answ. 1. Where there is the greatest num ber of quiet and willing hearers

2. Where there is most fruit.

Quest. 3. Ought we not diligently to observe in what places God is pleased at any time to pour out his Spirit more abundantly? Answ. We ought: and at that time to send more labourers than usual into that part of the harvest.

SECTION XIV,

Of visiting from house to house, guarding against those things that are so common to Professors, and enforcing practical Religion.

Quest. 1. How can we farther assist those under our care?

Answ. 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, either towards 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