56 Visiting from House to House. Ch. 1.

asts; looking for the end without using the means. To touch only upon two or three instances:-Who of us rises at four, or even at five, when we do not preach? Do we know the obligation and benefit of fasting or abstinence? How often do we practise it? The neglect of this alone is sufficient to account for our feebleness and faintness of spirit. We are continually grieving the Holy Spirit of God by the habitual neglect of a plain duty. Let us amend from this hour.

Quest. 3. How shall we guard against sabbath breaking, evil speaking, unprofitable conversation, lightness, expensiveness or gayety of apparel, and contracting debts without due care to discharge them?

Answ. 1. Let us preach expressly on each of these heads. 2. Read in every_society the sermon on evil speaking. 3. Let the leaders closely examine and exhort every person to put away the accursed thing. 4. Let the preachers warn every society that none who is guilty herein, can remain with us. 5. Extirpate buying or selling goods which have not paid the duty laid upon them by government, out of our church. Let none remain with us who will not totally abstain from this evil in every kind and degree. Extirpate bribery, receiving any thing directly or indirectly, for voting at any election. Show

no respect to persons herein, but expel all that touch the accursed thing. And strongly advise our people to discountenance all treats given by candidates before or at elections, and not to be partakers, in any respect, of such iniquitous practices.

SECTION XV.

Of the Instruction of Children.

Quest. What shall we do for the rising generation?

Answ. 1. Let him who is zealous for God and the souls of men begin now,

2. Where there are ten children, whose parents will allow it, meet them an hour once a week but where this is impracticable, meet them once in two weeks.

3. Procure our instructions or catechisms for them, and let all who can, read and commit them to memory.

4. Explain and impress them upon their hearts.

5. Talk with them every time you see any at home.

6. Pray earnestly for them; and diligently instruct and exhort all parents at their own houses.

7. As far as practicable, it shall be the duty

of every preacher of a circuit or station, to form Sunday schools, to obtain the names of the children belonging to his congregations, to form them into classes, for the purpose of giving them religious instruction, to instruct them regularly himself, as much as his other duties will allow,-to appoint a suitable leader for each class, who shall instruct them in his absence, and to leave his successor a correct account of each class thus formed, with the name of its leader.

8. Preach expressly on education :—“ But I have no gift for this." Pray earnestly for the gift, and use every other means to attain it.

SECTION XVI.

Of employing our time profitably, when we are not travelling, or engaged in public exercises. Quest. 1. What general method of employing our time shall we advise ?

Answ. 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 tracts.

Quest. 2. Why is it that the people under our care are not better?

Answ. Other reasons may concur, but the chief is, because we are not more knowing and more holy.

Quest. 3. But why are we not more knowing?

Answ. 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 alto gether 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 comes next 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 the four and twenty. "But I have no taste for reading." Contract a taste for it by use, or return to your former employment. "But I have no books." Be diligent to spread the books, and you will have the use of them.

SECTION XVII.

Of the necessity of Union among ourselves. 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.

Quest. What can be done in order to a closer union with each other?

Answ. 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 with out 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 every thing, 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.