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"How fhall we send labourers into thofe parts where they are most of all wanted? Many are willing to hear, but not to bear the expence. Nor can it as yet be expected of them: Stay till the word of God has touched their hearts, and then they will gladly provide for them that preach it. Does it not lie upon us in the mean’ time to fupply their lack of fervice? To raife a general fund, out of which from time to time, that expence may be defrayed? By this means those who willingly offer themfelves, may travel through every part, whether there be focicties or not, and stay wherever there is a call, without being burdenfome to any. Thus may. the gofpel, in the life and power thereof, be fpread from fea to fea. Which of you will not rejoice to throw in your mite to promote this glorious work?

"Befide this, in carrying on fo large a work through the continent, there are calls for money in various ways and we must frequently be at confiderable expence, or the work must be at a full ftop. Many too are the occa fional diftreffes of our preachers, or their families, which require an immediate fupply.-Otherwife their hands would hang down, if they were not conftrained to depart from the work.

"The money contributed will be brought to the enfuing conference.

"Men and brethren, help! Was there ever a call. like this fince you first heard the gofpel found? Help to relieve your companions in the kingdom of Jesus, who are preffed above measure. Bear ye one another's burdens, and fo fulfil the law of Chrift. Help to fend forth able, willing labourers into your Lord's harvest:: So fhall ye be affiftant in faving fouls from death, and hiding a multitude of fins. Help to propagate the gofpel of your falvation to the remoteft corners of the earth, till the knowledge of our Lord fhall cover the land as the waters cover the fea. So fhall it appear to ourselves and all men, that we are indeed one body, united by one fpirit; fo fhall the baptized heathens be yet again constrained to fay, " See how these christians love one another?"

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NOTE S.

The addrefs to the people given in this fection is itself both an explanation and application of the whole fubject. The following fcriptures alfo will ferve to illuftrate the fubject:

Luke viii. 1-3. He [Chrift] went throughout every city and village, preaching and fhewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God; and the twelve were with him, and certain women,-Mary, called Magdalene,-and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's fteward, and Sufanna, and many others, which miniftered unto him of their fubftance. Cor. ix. 9. It is written in the law of Mofes, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. 2 Tim. i. 16-18. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onefiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not afhamed of my chain. But when he was in Rome, he fought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him, that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephefus thou knoweft very well. See alfo the fcripture-references in the notes on the 9th fection of this chapter.

Quest. 1.

SECTION XXVIII.

Of the Chartered Fund.

W HAT further provifion, fhall be made

for the diftreffed travelling preachers, for the families of travelling preachers, and for fuperannuated and worn-out preachers, and the widows and orphans of preachers?

Anfw. There fhall be a chartered fund, to be fup ported by the voluntary contributions of our friends; the principal flock of which shall be funded under the direction of truftees, and the intereft applied under the direction of the general conference, according to the following regulations, viz.

1. THAT no fum exceeding fixty-four dollars, shall in any one year be applied to the use of an itinerant, fuperannuated, or worn-out fingle preacher.

2. That no fum exceeding one hundred and twen ty-eight dollars in any one year, fhall be applied to the

CHA P. II.

SECTION I.

The Nature, Defign, and general Rules of the United Societies.

IN

N the latter end of the year 1739, eight or ten perfons came to Mr. Wesley in London, who appeared to be deeply convinced of fin, and earneftly groaning for redemption. They defired (as did two or three more the next day) that he would spend some time with them in prayer, and advise them how to flee from the wrath to come; which they faw continually hanging over their heads. That he might have more time for this great work, he appointed a day when they might all come together, which from thence forward they did every week, namely on Thursday in the evening. To these, and as many more as defired to join with them (for their number increased daily) he gave thofe advices from time to time which he judged most. needful for them; and they always concluded their meeting with prayer fuited to their feveral neceffities.

2. This was the rife of the UNITED SOCIETY, firft in Europe and then in America. Such a fociety is no other than " a company of men having the form and feeking the power of godliness, united in order to pray 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 falvation."

3. That it may the more eafily be difcerned, whether they are indeed working out their own falvation, each fociety is divided into fmaller companies, called claffes, according to their refpective places of abode. There are but twelve perfons in every clafs; one of whom is filed The Leader. -It is his duty,

I. To fee each perfon in his clafs once a week at least, in order,

1. To enquire how their fouls profper;

2. To advise, reprove, comfort, or exhort, as occafion may require;

3. To receive what they are willing to give, towards the relief of the preachers, church and poor.*

II. To meet the minifter and the stewards of the fociety once a week; in order,

1. To inform the minifter of any that are sick, or of any that walk disorderly, and will not be reproved. 2. To pay to the ftewards what they have received of their feveral claffes in the week preceding.

3. There is one only condition previously required of those who defire admiffion into these focieties, à defire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be faved from their fins. But wherever this is really fixed in the foul, it will be fhewn by its fruits. It is therefore expected of all who continue therein, that they fhould continue to evidence their defire of falvation,

First, By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind: especially that which is most generally practifed: 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 felling.

Drunke aefs or drinking fpirituous liquors, unless in cafes of neceffity:

The buying or felling of men, women, or children, with an intention to enslave them:

Fighting, quarrelling, brawling, brother going to law with brother; returning evil for evil; or railing for railing the using many words in buying or felling:

The buying or felling goods that have not paid the duty : The giving or taking things on ufury, i. e. unlawful intereft:

M

* This part refers wholly to towns and cities, where the poor are generally numerous, and church-expences confiderable.

Uncharitable or unprofitable converfation: particularly fpeaking evil of magiftrates or of minifters:

Doing to others as we would not they fhould do un

to us:

Doing what we know is not for the glory of God: As

The putting on of gold and coftly apparel:

The taking fuch diverfions as cannot be ufed in the name of the Lord Jefus:

The finging thofe fongs, or reading thofe books, which do not tend to the knowledge or love of God: Softnefs and needlefs felf-indulgence: Laying up treafure upon earth:

Borrowing without a probability of paying; or tak ing up goods without a probability of paying for them. 4. It is expected of all who continue in these focieties, that they fhould continue to evidence their defire of falvation,

Secondly, By doing good, by being in every kind merciful after their power, as they have opportunity, doing good of every poffible fort, and as far as is poffible, to all men :

To their bodies, of the ability which God giveth, by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by vifiting or helping them that are fick or in prison.

To their fouls, by inftructing, reproving, or exhorting all we have any intercourfe with; trampling under foot that enthufiaftic doctrine, that "we are not to do good, unlefs our hearts be free to it."

By doing good, efpecially to them that are of the household of faith, or groaning fo to be; employing them preferably to others, buying one of another, helping each other in bufinefs: and fo much the more, because the world will love its own and them only.

By all poffible diligence and frugality, that the gospel be not blamed.

By running with patience the race which is fet before them, denying themselves, and taking up their crofs daily: fubmitting to bear the reproach of Chrift, to be as the

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