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'■^ .ujJsfefe ^^^^^ f'^WB* ^^^fmmmm ■.;f» [Maiu/ persons in Freth-; icton and Us vicinity /uiving recenfh/ joined the Methodist Socirii/, some of whom mciji be tmacquainted with its peculiar Ihiles and Us/jges, it has in consequence been, thought proper to print as mean/ copies as ivill enable the Superin- tendent to furnish one to each Member ; and it is hoped that they will meet with an attentive and prayerful consideration.] i1 " w- KUl^KS OF Ti^lttli: S€>C1JET¥ OF THE PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTS. 1. In the latter end of the year 1739, eight or ten persons caiue to me in London, who appeared to be deeply convinced of sin, and earnestly groaning for redemption. They desired, (as did two or three more the next day,) that 1 would spend some time with them in prayer, and advise them how to flee frouj the wrath to come, which they saw continually hanging over their heads. That we might have more time for this great work, I appointed a day when they might all come together; whicii, from thenceforward, they did every week, viz. on Thursday, in the evening. To these, and as many more as desired to join with them, (for their number increased daily,) I gave those advices from time to time which I judged most needful for them ; and we always concluded our-meel- ings with prayer suitable to their several necessities. 2. This was the rise of the United Society, first in London^ and then in other places. Such a Society is no other than "a com- pany of men having the form, and seeking the power, of Godliness ; united^ in order to praij together^ to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to work out their sulvatio^'^ 3. That it may the more easily be discerned, whether they are indeed working out their own salvation, each Society is divided into smaller companies, called Classes, according to their respective I' f i I H? L2J places of abode. Tlieie are about twelve persons in every Class : one of whouj is styled, The Leader. It is his business, I. To see each person in his Class, once a week at least, in order To inquire how their souls prosper ; To advise, reprove, comfort, or exhort, as occasion may require ; To receive what they are willing to give, towards the support of the Gospel : II. To meet the Ministers and the Stewards of the Society once a week, in order To inform the Minister of any that are sick, or of any that walk disorderly, and will not be reproved ; To pay to the Stewards what they have received of their several Clusses in the week preceding ; and To show their account of what each person has contributed.* 4. There is one only condition previously required of those who desire admission into these Societies, viz. " a desire to Jlee from the wrath to come^ and be saved from their .sins." But wherever this is really fixed in the soul, it will be shown by its fruits. It is therefore expected of all who continue therein, that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation. First J By doing no harm, by avoiding evil in every kind; espe- cially that which is most generally practised: Such as The taking the name of God in vain : The profaning the Day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary work thereon, or by buying or selling : Drunkenness : buying or selling spirituous liquors, or drinking them, unless in cases of extreme necessity : Fighting, quarrelling, brawling ; brother going to law with • Tlie followinpr are Mr. Wesley's own words relative to this subject. See Minutes of Conference at Loudon, 17^2. Q. 31. Have tie weekly and quarterly contributions been duly made in our Societies ? A. In many it has been sbaiucfully neglected. To remedy this, 1. Let every Assistant (Superintendent) remind every Society that it was our original rule : Every member contributes one penny, weekly, (unless he is in estreme poverty,) and one shilling quarterly. Explain the reasonableness of this. 2. Let every Leader receive the weekly contribution from each person in his Class. 3. Let the Assistant ask every person, at changing his ticket, " C»n you ^ft'ord to observe our ruler'' and receive v.bat he is '\l)le to give. [3] brother ; returning evil for evil, or railing for railing ; the using many words in buying or selling : The 6uying or selling uncustomed goods : The giving or taking things on usury; i. c. unlawful interest : Uncharitable or unprofitable conversation ; particularly speak- ing evil of Magistrates or of Ministers : Doing to others as we would not they should do unto us: Doing what we know i^ not for the glory of God ; as The putting on of gold and costly apparel ; Tiie taking such diversions as cannot bo used in the name of the Lord Jesus ; The singing those songs, or reading those books, which do not tend to the knowledge or love of God : Softness, and needless self-indulgence : Laying up treasure upon earth : Borrowing without a probability of paying ; or taking up goods without a probability of paying for them. 5. It is expected of all who continue in these Societies, that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation, Secondly, By doing good, by being in every kind merciful after their power, as they have opportunity ; doing good of every pos- sible sort, and as far as possible, to all men : To their bodies, of the ability that God giveth, by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by helping or visiting them that are sick, or in prison : To their souls : by instructing, reproving, or exhorting all we have any intercourse with ; trampling under foot that enthusiastic doctrine of devils, that " We are not to do good, unless our hearts be free to it'.'''' By doing good, especially to them that are of the household of faith, or groaning so to be ; employing them preferably to others, buying one of another, helping each other in business ; and so much the more, because the world will love its own, and them only: By all possible diligence and frugality that the Gospel be not blamed: By running with patience the race that is set before them, ileny- ing themselves, and taking up their cross daily ; submitting to bear the reproach of Christ ; to be as the filth and offscouring of the s [4 I world ; and looking that men should my all manner of evil of them falsely^ for the Lord''s sake. C. It is expected of all who desire to continue in these Societies, that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation, Thirdly^ By attending upon all the ordinances of God : such are The public worship of God : The Ministry of the Word, either read or expounded : The Supper of the Lord : Family and private Prayer: Searching the Scriptures : and Fasting or abstinence. 7. These are the General Rules of our Societies : all which we are taught of Gen to observe, even in his written word, the only rule, and the sufficient rule, both of our faith and practice. And all these we know his Spirit writes on every truly awakened heart. If there be any among us who observe them not, who habitually break any of them, let it be made known unto them who watch over that soul, as they that must give ; account. We will admonish him of the error of his ways; we wid bear with him for a season; but then, if he repent not, he hath no more place among us: We have delivered our own souls. John Wesley. ^% 1,1743. Charles Wesley. RULES RELATING TO THE SOCIETY. /. Of Receiving Members into Society. 1. The Lerders' Meeting has a right to declare any person on trial, improper to be received into the Society ; and after such de- claration, the Superintendent shall not admit such person into So- ciety. 2. Neither the Superintendents, nor any other Preachers, shall give Tickets to any, till they are recommended by a Leader, with whom they have met, at least, two months on trial. 3. No Preacher shall give notes (admitting pendens on Trial) to any but those who are recommended by one he knows, or till they have met three or four times in Class. r 5 1 4. He must give them the Rules of the Society ihc first time they meet. 5. As some of our people have in diObrent parts of the kinrrdom been imposed on, in various ways, by Swindlers, who professed hemselve, Members of our S..ciety, let no person be received in- o any Soc.ety, without a certificate, signed by one of the Itinerant l^reachers m the Circuit from whence he professes to have.come. U. Of the Exclusion of Members from the Society. 1 . The far greater number of those that are separated from us exclude themselves by neglecting to meet in Class; and use the other means of grace, and so gradually forsake us. With re-ard to others, ° 2. Our rule is fixed, and our custom expressed in the pre- cedmg Rules of the Society, where it is said, " If there be any among us who observe them not, who habitually break any of them — vve will admonish him of the error of his ways ; we will bear with hmi for a season ; but then, if he repent not, he hath no more place among us." 3. No person must be expelled from the Society for any brearh of our Uules, or even for manifest immorality, till such fact or crime has been proved at a Leaders' Meeting.' ///. Of permitting Strangers to be present at the Society- Meetings and Love-Feasls. 1 . Let every other iMeeting of the Society be for the Members ol the Society only ; and lot no strangers be admitted. At other times some may be permitted to be present : but the same persons not above three times. 2. Let all the Members of the Society show their Tickets ; and if the Stewards and Leaders are not exact, others must be' employed that have more resolution. 3. Let no person attend any Love-Feast, without a Note from the Preacher. 4. Let no Love-Feast be appointed but by the consent of the Superintendent ; nor any Funeral Sermon be preached, without his consent, and for those only who die happy in the Lord. tfl] //'. Of Service in Church- Hours. Tho cases in which it has been agreed to allow service in what arc commonly called Church-Hours, arc, 1. When tho Church-Minister, Rector, Vicar, or Curate, is a notoriously wicked ninn. 2. When ho preaches Arian, Socinian, or any other equally pernicious doctrine. 3. When there are not Churches in the Town or Parish sufTi- cient to contain the people. 4. Where there is no Church within two or three miles. 5. When a majority of the Trustees of any Chapel, on the one hand, and of tho Stewards and Leaders of the Society belonging to that Chapel, on the otiier, allow of and re<(uest it ; and as to places where there is a Society and no Chapel, wherever the ma- jority of the Stewards and Leaders of that Society testify that it is tho wish of the people, and that it will cause no division anjong them. G. Wherever Divine Service is performed in England on the Lord's Day, in Church-hours, the ofliciatiiig Preacher shall read either the Service of tlie Church, our venerable Father's Abridg- ment of it ; or at least, the Lessons appointed by the Calendar. But we recommend either the full Service or the Abridgment. V. Concerning the luhn'misirntion of the Or(lina7ice of Baptism and the LonVs !Supper in our Societies. 1. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper shall not be administered in any Chapel, except a majority of the Trustees of that Chapel, on the one hand, and the majority of the Stewards and Leaders belonging to that Chapel, as that best qualified to give the sense of the people on the other, allow it. Nevertheless, in all cases, the consent of conference shall be first obtained before this Ordinance shall be administered. 2. Where there is a Society, but no Chapel, if the majority of the Stewards and Leaders of that Society testify in writing, to the Conference, that it is the wish of the people, that the Lord's Supper should be administered among them, and that no separation will be made thereby, their desire shall be granted. 3. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper shall not be administered rn - «_Scc,o>, i,. „ ,.;>.„.„ Ho„,c, ,vi,„i., .„, „;„„,, „f , „^,„^^. ^ I. Tho r.or,l's Siippor simll he ad,ni„i„„rr,| bv il,„ ' P'""^" Supcrin.e„' and after Christmas-Day. "'"'""^^'-J^ay; after M.chaelmas-Day; RULES ^^^^o^rnE officers of iHI', SOCIETIES. /. 0/tl.e Jlppoinl,ne,u o.- CkliiTge of SUuard, and Uaders 1 iMo person shall bo appointed a Loader nr «„„■ . o or bo reraoved fron, his ofl ce b„, l„ . Sooiely-Steward, Mee,i„s; .1.0 no,ni„„.io," t: -"J-Con whh a Leaders' probation or disapproha.ion i';: Ll^d^relt"'' ""' '"' ="■ of's.et::::::' ';r::tifL?Tr'r" "''-""'' "-"-«« » Steward ce'ases »: U e „ ' .'^ tlT "^ '"=• "''" "^ is required, to change one St I'; ! 1 J^y^T'T''''' 3. The proper time for changing the Cirrnir ^t^r, a ■ Quarterly Meetin- when ,hn ^.^ . Stewards, is at the feeneial, No person can be received as a Societv Offi same plan. "-Minutes of 1797. '^'^ '' """"?' °" "-^ 5. The Superintendent of every Cireuit shall invite the General St ward of h,s Crcuit ,o be present a. the Annual Meeting oe D,s,nct Commutee, during the settling of every thin, relatll [lOj //. Of the Local Preachers and their Meetlwrs. 1. The Superintendont shall regularly meet the Local Preachers once a quarter; and no person shall receive a plan as a Local Preacher, nor be snilerod to preach among ns as such, without the approbation of that Meeting. Or, if in any Circuit a regular Local Preachers' Meeting cannot he held, they shall be proposed and ap- proved at the General Quarterly Meeting of the Circuit. 1794. 2. All Local Preachers shall meet in Class. No exception shall be made in respect to any who have been Travelling Preachers in former years. 1793. 3. Let no Local Preacher, who will not meet in Class, or who is not regularly planned by the Superintendent of the Circuit where he resides, be jjermitted to preach. 4. Let no Local Preacher be permitted to preach in any other Circuit than his own, without producing a recommendation from the Superintendent of that Circuit in which he lives; nor suffer any invitation to be admitted as a plea, except from men in office who act in conjunction with the Superintendent of that Circuit which he visits.— N. B. The design of this Rule is to prevent any, under the character of Local Preachers, from burdening the people, either by collecting money or living upon them, and to prevent improper persons, who bear no part of the expense, from inviting Local Preachers thus to visit them , but it was never intended to reflect the least disrespect on any of our worthy Brethren, the Local Preachers, whom, as a body, we greatly respect. 5. Let no Local Preacher keep Love-Feasts, without the con- sent of the Superintendent, nor in any wise interfere with his business. Let every one keep in his own place, and attend to the duties of his station. 6. No Preacher who has been suspended, or expelled, shall, on any account, be employed as a Local Preacher, without the autho- rity of Conference, ///. Concerning Trustees. 1. The Trustees, in conjunction with the Superintendent, who shall have one vote only, shall choose their own Stewards; who shall receive and disburse ail Seat-Rents, and such Collections as shall be made for tho mirnnco nf nuvinn intpr^..* rxC ,-->..,».. .J.._ ,._-- the premises, or for reducing the princin-il 'in, , .• wl..oh books sbll be open lb,- i„,„ec, „„ ol L « ■ '""'r'"^ -^^»udae..,b.p_eeo„co[..,::;t.!C^^ t.e proved in .be p,.eso„ce o,' ,he Trustee. JHfult ":^:! (itJU^rent Societies tn enck Circuit. !• All Bills for tile qnm^nrf r.r 'i' n- i-. >ind all other matters for vvliirh il.n n:.. •, '"5 expenses, r,r . . •. ■ >\iJicu the Circuit cannot orovide «;hnll 3. Before any Stiperintendont propose a Preacher to ii,e Ton terenceas proper to be admitted on \nal, snch Preac er nu^t be" approved of at the March Quarterly Meeting. 1 797 \} I Publi.hed, and Presented to the Society, ly J. Siwpsos. yuewii Prialer, Fredeiietou. Way 1, l.-;4:i.