how few are there that know the nature of repentance, faith, and holiness? Most of them have a sort of confi dence that God will save them, while the world has their hearts. I have found by experience, that one of these has learned more from one hour's close discourse, than from ten years' public preaching.

And 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 dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word, be instant in season, out of season: reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine.”

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 ignorance were banished, and every shop and every house busied in speaking of the word and works of God; surely God would dwell in our habitations, and make us his delight.

And this is absolutely necessary to the welfare of our people, many of whom neither believe nor repent to this day. Look round, 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? Methinks, 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 on them with the most vehement and importunate exhortations. O, for God's sake, and for the sake of your poor souls, bestir yourselves, and spare no pains that may conduce to their salvation.

What cause have we to blush before the Lord this day, that we have so long neglected this good work! If we had but set upon it sooner, how many more might have been

brought to Christ! And how much holier and happier might we have made our Societies 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 was in ourselves, in our littleness of faith and love.

But it is objected, I. This will take up so much time, that we shall not have time to follow our studies.

I 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, if you spend all your mornings therein. Only sleep not more than you need: and never be idle or triflingly employed. But, 4, If you can do but one, let your studies alone. I would throw by all the libraries in the world, rather than be guilty of the loss of one soul.

I allow, in some of the country circuits, where you have only a day to spend in each place, you have not time for this excellent work. But you have, whenever you spend several days together in one town.

It is objected, II. "The people will not submit to it." If some will not, others will. And the success with them will repay all your labour. O let us herein follow the example of St. Paul.

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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 in 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 every one, night and day, with tears: " 6. His innocence and self-denial herein, "I have

98. Next inquire into his state, whether convinced or unconvinced, converted or unconverted?" Tell him, if need be, what conversion is; and then renew and enforce the inquiry.

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19. If unconverted, labour with all your power to bring his heart to a sense of his condition. Set this home with a more earnest voice than you spoke before. Get to the heart, or you do nothing.

10. Conclude all with a strong exhortation, which should enforce 1. The duty of the heart, in order to receive Christ. 2. The avoiding former sins, and constantly using the outward means. And be sure, if you can, to get their promise to forsake sin, change their company, and use the means. And do this solemnly, reminding them of the presence of God, who hears their promises, and expects the performance.. t

11. Before you leave them, engage the head "of each family to call all his family together every Sunday, before they go to bed, and hear what they can repeat, and so continue till they have learned "the Instructions" perfectly. And afterwards, let him take care that they do not forget what they have learned.

Do this in earnest, and you will soon find what a work you take in hand, in undertaking to be a travelling preacher !

Q. 14. How shall we prevent improper persons insinuating into the Society?

A. 1. Give Tickets to none till they are recommended by a Leader, with whom they have met at least two months on trial.

2. Give Notes to none but those who are recommended by one you know, or till they have met three or four times in a Class.

103 Give them, the Rules the first time they meet. See that this be meyer neglected on 10 b9179 70102, „b9ɔniv

odt 991otas bus wacǝt us bas ; 21 0121990107 38# 9d Q. 15. WHEN shall we admit new members?

In large towns, admit them into the bands at the quarterly love-feast, following the Visitatione 6 of 1789d em 1169d9dt of 191) grote dog woy at 10 291189 94001. Q. 16. SHOULD we not insist upon the Band-rules? Particularly with regard to dress? ifti Ils sbuloño of 1ABy all means. This is no time to give any meouragement to superfinity of apparel, Therefore, give no Bands tickets to any, till they have left off superfluous omaments. In order to this, l. Let every Assistant, read the fs Thoughts upon Dress, at least once a year in every largel Sobiety 2. In yisiting the Glasses, be very mild, but (verywstrict 3. Allow no exempt case, not even of a married woman better one suffer than many: Give no Ticket to any that wear galashes, high heads, or enormons bonnetsis of ylimsi

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To 9 encourage meeting in Band, 1. In every large Society, have a love-feast quarterly for the Bands only. Never fail to meet them once a week, 3 Exhort every believer to embrace the advantage. 4. Give a Band-ticket to none till they have met a quarter on trialbos „3291789 ni 2ndt oⱭ iq You give none a Band-ticket, before he meets, but after he has met !

2 19 19 ter se Ilse woH M ( Q. 17. HAVE those in Band left off osnuffriand drams

Samooox 21$ pod+ Hà non of etdi við J A

No Many are still enslaved to one vor the other In order to redress this, 1. Let no preacher touch either on any account, is En Strongly dissuade our people from them. Answer their pretences, (particularly curing the cholic.

Q. 18. Do we observe any evil which has lately prevailed among our Societies?

A. Many of our members have married with unbelievers, yea, with unawakened persons. This has had fatal effects. They had either a cross for life, or turned back to perdition.

Q. 19. WHAT can be done to put a stop to this?

A. 1. Let every preacher publicly enforce the Apostle's caution, "Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers." 2. Let him openly declare, whoever does this will be expelled the Society. 3. When any such is expelled, let a suitable exhortation be subjoined. And, 4. Let all be exhorted, to take no step in so weighty a matter, without advising with the most serious of their brethren.

Q. 20. OUGHT any woman to marry, without the consent of her parents?

A. In general, she ought not. Yet there may be an exception. For if, 1. A woman be under a necessity of marrying: if, 2. Her parents absolutely refuse to let her marry any Christian: then she may, nay, ought to marry without their consent. Yet even then, a Methodist Preacher ought not to marry her.

Q. 21. Do not Sabbath-breaking, dram-drinking, evilspeaking, unprofitable conversation, lightness, expensiveness, or gaiety of apparel, and contracting debts without due care to discharge them, still prevail in several places? How may these evils be remedied?

A. 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 preacher warn