that they also may be one in us: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.' (John xvii, 20, 21, 23.)-(3.) I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ-that he would grant you that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.' (Eph. iii, 14, 16-19.)-(4.) The very God of peace · sanctify you wholly. And I pray God, your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.' (1 Thess. v, 23.)

Q. 8. What commands are there to the same effect?

A. (1.) Be ye perfect as your Father which is in hea ven is perfect. (Matt. v, ult.)-(2.) Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.' (Matt. xxii, 37.) But if the love of God fill all the heart, there can be no sin there.

Q. 9. But how does it appear, that this is to be done before the article of death?

A. FIRST. From the very nature of a command, which is not given to the dead, but to the living. Therefore," Thou shalt love God with all thy heart,' cannot mean, • Thou shalt do this when thou diest," but "while thou livest."

6

SECONDLY. From express texts of Scripture:-(1.) · The grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men ; teaching us, that having renounced (apvnoaμevos) ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world: Looking for the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from ALL iniquity ; and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.' (Tit. ii, 11-14.)-(2.) He hath raised up a horn of salvation for us-to perform the mercy promised to our fathers: the oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

that he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. (Luke i, 69, &c.)

Q. 10. Is there any example in Scripture of persons who had attained to this?

A. Yes; St. John, and all those of whom he says in his First Epistle, (iv, 17,) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world.

Q. 11. Does not the preaching perfection with harshness, tend to bring believers into a kind of bondage, or slavish fear?

A. It does. Therefore we should always place it in the most amiable light, so that it may excite only hope, joy, and desire.

Q. 12. Why may we not continue in the joy of faith even till we are made perfect?

A. Why, indeed? Since holy grief does not quench this joy; since, even while we are under the cross, while we deeply partake of the sufferings of Christ, we may rejoice with joy unspeakable.

Q. 13. Do we not discourage believers from rejoicing evermore?

A. We ought not so to do. Let them, all their life long, rejoice unto God, so it be with reverence. And even if lightness or pride should mix with their joy, let us not strike at the joy itself, (this is the gift of God,) but at that lightness or pride, that the evil may cease and the good remain.

Q. 14. But ought we not to be troubled, on account of the sinful nature which still remains in us?

A. It is good for us to have a deep sense of this, and to be much ashamed before the Lord. But this should only incite us, the more earnestly, to turn unto Christ every moment, and draw light, and life, and strength from him, that we may go on, conquering and to conquer.

CONVERSATION VIII.

Q. 1. In what view may we and our helpers be considered? A. Perhaps as extraordinary messengers, (i. e., out of the ordinary way,) designed,―(1.) To provoke the regular ministers to jealousy.-(2.) To supply their lack of service, towards those who are perishing for lack of knowledge. Q. 2. What is the office of a helper?

A. To feed and guide the flock: In particular,

(1.) To preach, morning and evening.-(2.) To meet the Society and Bands weekly.-(3.) To meet the leaders weekly.

Q. 3. What are the rules of a helper in respect to his ral conduct?

gene

A. Be diligent. Never be unemployed a moment. Never be triflingly employed.

Be serious. Let your motto be, HOLINESS TO THE Lord! Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking.

Believe evil of no one; unless you see it done, take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction on every thing. You know, the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner's side.

Speak evil of no one; else your word, especially, would eat as doth a canker. Keep your thoughts within your own breast, till you come to the person concerned.

Tell every one what you think wrong in him, and that plainly, as soon as may be; else it will fester in your heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom.

Be ashamed of nothing but sin; not of fetching wood, (if time permit,) or drawing water.

Be punctual. Do every thing exactly at the time. And, in general, do not mend our rules, but keep them.

*

YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO, BUT TO SAVE SOULS. There

*This is the special duty, and high privilege, of an Itinerant Preacher among the Methodists. He does not receive support from the Societies because he can

fore, spend and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those that want you, but to those that want you

most.

Observe, it is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that Society; but to save as many souls as you can; to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance; and with all your power to build them up in that holiness, without which they cannot Lord.

see the

CONVERSATION IX.

Q. What general method of employing our time would you advise us to ?

A. 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, partly the Scripture with the notes, partly the closely practical parts of what we have published.—(3.) From six in the morning till twelve, (allowing an hour for breakfast,) to read in order, with much prayer, first, the Christian Library, and the other books which we have published in prose and verse; and then, those which we have recommended.

In the afternoon, follow Mr. Baxter's plan; that is,-Go into every house in course, and teach every one therein, young and old, if they belong to us, to be Christians, inwardly and outwardly.

Make every particular plain to their understanding; fix it in their memory; write it in their heart. In order to this, there must be line upon line, precept upon precept.' What patience, what love, what knowledge is requisite for

this!

preach better than those who are supported by their own labour, but because he is called out from all worldly avocations. Can such a man ever turn to them again, with a pure conscience, excepting only by the visitation of God, rendering it impossible for him to continue in his high calling?

CONVERSATION X.

Q. 1. Who is the Assistant ?*

A. That preacher in each circuit, who is appointed, from time to time, to take charge of the Societies and the other preachers therein.

Q. 2. What is the business of an Assistant?

A. (1.) To see that the other preachers in his circuit behave well, and want nothing.-(2.) To visit the Classes quarterly, regulate the Bands, and deliver tickets.—(3.) To take in, or put out of, the Society or the Bands.—(4.) To keep Watch-nights and Love-feasts.-(5.) To hold Quarterly-meetings, and therein diligently to inquire both into the temporal and spiritual state of each Society.—(6.) To overlook the accounts of all the stewards.

CONVERSATION XI.

Q. 1. Are we not Dissenters?

A. No. Although we call sinners to repentance in all places of God's dominion; and although we frequently use extemporary prayer, and unite together in a religious Society; yet we are not Dissenters in the only sense which our law acknowledges, namely those who renounce the service of the Church. We do not, we dare not separate from it. We are not Seceders, nor do we bear any resemblance to them. We set out upon quite opposite principles. The Seceders laid the very foundation of their work, in judging and condemning others. We laid the foundation of our work, in judging and condemning ourselves. They begin every where with shewing their hearers, How fallen the Church and Ministers are. We begin every where with shewing our hearers how fallen they are themselves.

* By the Assistant was meant the chief preacher in a circuit, who immediately assisted Mr. Wesley in the regulation of the Societies. The preacher who has now the care of the circuit is called, the Superintendant.