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SECTION XXII.

Of Baptifm.

L ET every adult perfon, and the parents of eve

ry child, to be baptized, have the choice either of immersion, sprinkling, or pouring.

2. We will on no account whatever receive a prefent for adminiftering baptifm, or for burying of the dead.

NOTE S.

1. In respect to the facrament of baptifm, we must refer our reader to our fcripture references on the 16th and 17th articles of religion. We need only obferve here, that we are confcious that

kling, pouring, and immerfing have been practised by different c. urches, in each of which the pure gofpel was preached, and the life of God, more or less, experienced; and that all these modes are, more or less, acceptable to God, when administered with fincerity. At the fame time, we know well, that as much or more may be faid in favour of sprinkling than of immersion, from the account given us in Scripture of the baptism of John bimfelf: and the primitive churches in general, we believe, favoured the practice of Sprinkling. However, we would meet the tender mind, and in matters uneffential condefcend as far as we confcientioufly can, to the feelings and fentiments of all. Rom. xiv. I-5. "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful difputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: an'other, who is weak, cateth herbs. Let not him that eateth, defpife him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not, judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.efteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully perfuaded in his own mind." Rom. xv. 2, 3. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification: for even Chrift pleafed not himself." I Cor. ix. 22, 23. "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means fave fome. And this I do for the gofpel's fake, that I' might be partaker thereof with you.” x. 33. Even as I please all men in all things, not feeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be faved."

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2. As we have before obferved, our aim is to fave fouls, and not to enrich ourfelves: therefore, Mr. Wesley and our general

conference placed our whole economy as far diftant as poffible from that of a lucrative ministry. We are determined not to fell the ordinances of God: in this no man shall make our glorying void. Matt. x. 8. "Freely ye have received," fays our Lord, "freely give." I Cor. ix. II-18. "If we have fown nnto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless, we have not used this power; but fuffer all things, left we should hinder the gospel of Chrift.-I have used. none

of thefe things; neither have I written these things that it fhould be fo done unto me: for it were better for me to die than that

any man should make my glorying void.- -What is my reward then? Verily, that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gofpel of Chrift without charge, that I abufe not my power in the gospel." 2 Cor. xi. 7. "Have I committed an offence, in abafing myself that ye might be exalted, because have preached to you the gofpel of God freely ?" I Pet. v. 2. "Feed the flock of God which is among you,- -not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind." 3 John 7. "For his name's fake they went forth, taking nothing of the gentiles."

Quest. fupper?

SECTION XXIII.

A

Of the Lords's Supper.

RE there any directions to be given concerning the adminiftration of the Lord's

Anf. 1. Let thofe who have fcruples concerning the receiving of it kneeling, be permitted to receive it either standing or fitting.

2. Let no perfon that is not a member of our fociety, be admitted to the communion, without examination, and fome token given by an elder or deacon.

3. No person shall be admitted to the Lord's fupper among us, who is guilty of any practice for which we would exclude a member of our fociety.

NOTE S.

Our readers muft here be referred to the fcripture-references on the 16th, 18th, and 19th articles of religion, and our obfervations on the preceding fection. As the Scripture is filent

about the posture of the communicants, we prefer the moft Lumble, whatever our Saviour might have permitted when he instituted the facred ordinance. Befides, as we always receive the elements in prayer, we for that reafon alfo prefer the kneeling posture. We must alfo obferve, that our elders fhould be very cautious how they admit to the communion perfons who are not in our fociety. It would be highly injurious to our brethren, if we fuffered any to partake of the Lord's fupper with them, whom we would not readily admit into our fociety on application made to tis. Thofe whom we judge unfit to partake of our profitable, prudential means of grace, we fhould moft certainly think improper to be partakers of an ordinance which has been expressly inftituted by Christ himself.

I Cor. v. 11. "Now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with fuch an one, no, not to eat." 2 Theff. iii. 6-15. "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye zvithdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh diforderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us; for we behaved not ourselves diforderly among you. For we hear that there are fome which walk among you diforderly, working not at all, but are bufy-bodies. Now them that are fuch we command and exhort by our Lord Jefus Chrift, that with quietnefs they work, and eat their own bread. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be afhamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." 1 Tim. iv. 8. "Bodily exercife profiteth little but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promife of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.'

Quest.

SECTION XXIV.

W

Of Public Worship.

HAT directions fhall be given for the establishment of uniformity in public worfhip amongst us, on the Lord's-day.

Anfw. 1. Let the morning-fervice confift of finging, prayer, the reading of a chapter out of the Old Tefta ment, and another out of the New, and preaching.

2. Let the afternoon-service confift of finging, prayer, the reading of one chapter out of the bible, and preaching.

3. Let the evening-service confift of finging, prayer, and preaching.

4. But on the days of adminiftering the Lord's fupper, the two chapters in the morning-fervice may be omitted.

5. Let the fociety be met, wherever it is practicable, on the fabbath-day.

NOTE S.

This fection needs little more than fome pointed texts of faered writ for its confirmation to all christian perfons. Our church infifts on the reading of the Scriptures in the congregation, and gives directions accordingly. This is of the utmoft confequence, and we truft will be most facredly observed by all our minifters and preachers. A peculiar bleffing accompanies the public rea ing as well as preaching the word of God to attentive, believing fouls. And in these days of infidelity, nothing should be omitted, which may lead the people to the love of the holy bible.

The meeting of the fociety alfo, wherever practicable, is of confiderable moment. There are various weighty fubjects, peculiarly fuitable to religious focieties, which cannot be fo well en larged upon to a mixed congregation. Brotherly union and fellowship, chriftian difcipline in all its branches, and various other particulars may be enlarged upon and enforced with great propriety and fuccefs on fuch occafions. At these times alfo we may enter more minutely into the different parts of the relative duties, than we can to unawakened fouls, whose whole life is fin, and who are at the best only "like unto whited fepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleannefs."

(1) Exod. xx. 24. In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. Ifai. Ix. 13. And I will make the place of my feet glorious. Mal. i. 11. For from the rifing of the fun, even unto the going down of the fame, my name fhall be great among the gentiles; and in every place incenfe fhall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering. Pfalm xxii. 25. My praise fhall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. XXXV. 18. I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praife thee among

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much people. xl. 9. I have preached righteousness in the great congre gation. lxviii. 26. Blefs ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Ifrael. Matt. xviii. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Luke iv. 16, 17. He [Chrift] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, AS HIS CUSTOM WAS, he went into the fynagogue on the fabbath-day, and flood up FOR TO READ. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Efaias. Acts xiii. 14-16. When they departed from Perga they came to Antioch in Pifidia, and went into the fynagogue on the fabbath-day, and 'at down. And, after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the fynagogue fent unto them, faying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, fay on. Then Paul ftood.

up, &c. Ver. 27. They knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every fabbath-day. I Cor. xi. 20. When ye come together-into one place, &c. See alfo the 14th chapter on public prayer, thanksgiving, and prophecy or preaching. Col. iv. 16. When this epiftle is read among you, cause that it be read alfo in the church of the Laodiceans. I Theff. v. 27. I charge you, by the Lord, that this epiftle be read unto all the holy brethren. Rev. i. 3. Bleffed is he that readeth, and they that bear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written.

therein.

(2) Acts xi. 26. It came to pafs, that a whole year they affembled themfelves with the church, &c. xiv. 27. When they were come, and had gathered the church together, &c.

Quest.

SECTION XXV.

Of the Spirit and Truth of Singing.

OW fhall we guard against formality in finging?

Anfw. 1. By choofing fuch hymns as are proper for the congregation?

2. By not finging too much at once; feldom more than five or fix verses.

3. By fuiting the tune to the words.

4. By often ftopping short, and asking the people, "Now! Do you know what you faid laft? Did you fpeak no more than you felt?"

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