binding an both the Preachers and, the People: and, therefore, every Superintendent whe permits, a vote to be taken on, the, execution, qr rejection, of them, shall, on proof at the ensuing Conference, be de Brived of the office of Superintendent ou portar tom no f viteraqu 978 dǝidweslu od grideiugniteib toan£9m How to accomplish such a Digest, so as to meet the views and wishes of the Body, and to make it decisive upon what both Preachers and People acknowledge to be Law, has been a subject of considerable thought, and investigation... From a per ception of the difficulties, attendant upon such a, design, this work has been more than once laid aside. But having no reason to think, that any other person has an intention of publishing, such a work, (though something of the kind was expected, some years ago, from a respectable Preacher in the Connection,) and thinking the present to be a kind of epoch in the Laws of Methodism, the Compiler: has endeavoured to supply, according to the best of his ability, what has often been expressed to be as desirable object, and hopes it will be as kindly accepted by his Christian Brethren, as it is kindly intended by him.olled to ghot 1 de gent esitul art to grybail gerung lot i There are three great epochs.in, Methodistic! Legislation. THE FIRST EPOCH includes the period} during which the venerable Father of Methodism presided at the annual assembly of the Preachers in connexion with him, and directed its consultations/ The results of its deliberations, adapted to the pro gressive stages of the work of God, were from year, to year minuted down, and published as the Rules " by which they were determined to prosecute their design, both as to the Doctrines they should přeach, and the Discipline they should maintain in the Societies which were formed In the progress of years these Rules were greatly accumulated. Some of them which were of more local and temporary importance, became obsolete; and the others, espécially when the increasing magnitude of the Body enforced a closer attention to its more secular arrangements, were so mixed up with other subjects, as to throw an indistinctness around those Rules, which were essential to the promotion of their main object. And as a distinct perception of this object, and the means by which it was to be attained, were acknowledged to be necessary, in order to the maintenance of union among the Preachers during Mr. Wesley's life, and especially after his decease, it became a subject of deep concern in his mind, how to adopt the most effectual method to perpetuate the unity of the Bodyc As early, therefore, as the year 1769, the following question was proposed by him in the Conference "Can any thing be done now, in order to lay a foundation for our future union? Would it not be well, for any that are willing, to sign some articles of agreement before God calls me hence? Suppose something like these early 50 "WE whose names are underwritten, being thoroughly convinced of the necessity of a close union between those whom God is pleased to use as instruments in this glorious work, in order to preserve this union between ourselves, are resolved, God being our helper, Locodone, distage "Ir Tadevote ourselves entirely to God; denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, steadilylaiming at one thing, to save umown souls, and them that hear, ustedsel 66 $ ds "IsTo preach the old Methodist doctrines, and no other, contained in the Minutes of the Conferences, buko ~ 107 8 "III. To observe and enforce the whole Methodist discipline, laid down in the said Mimites." In consequence of this suggestion, the Preachers then desired Mr. Wesley to extract the most material part of the Minutes as the Rules by which they were to walk, Agreeably to which, Mr. Wesley undertook, and ultimately completed, a Digest of all the Minutes of the Conference from the year 1744 to the year 1789, This document, which is denominated "MINUTES OF SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS, BETWEEN THE REV JOHN WESLEY, M. A. AND OTHERS," is held by all the Preachers as the collection of the most important and official Rules by which they are to be governed. It is, therefore, according to this public Instrument, that every Candidate for admission upon trial as a Travelling Preacher is examined? and, after they have passed their four years of probation, receive a copy o it, with the following inscription, signed by the ohio i din comoly eilt mi 209metten 28 1 of III. SUPERINTENDENTS OF CIRCUITS: RULES CON- ............ 150 IV. WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY: LAWS AND Questions, additional to, or explanatory of, ... 184 193 Instructions to the Wesleyan Missionaries 198 GENERAL RULES CONCERNING THE FOREIGN II. RULES RELATING TO THE SOCIETIES............ 266 1. Of receiving Members into the Society 266 II. Of the exclusion of Members from the Society..... 267 ...... III. Of permitting strangers to be present at the Society-Meetings and Love-Feasts. 267 iv. of Service in Church-hours........................... v. Concerning the Administration of the 268 269 VI. On conformity to the world and Sabbath- 271 VII. On Marrying with Unbelievers.......... 273 VIII. Of Bankruptcies.......... 274 IX. Of Loyalty and subjection to the King and Government......... 275 275 III. RULES RELATING TO THE OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETIES..... 1. Of the Appointment or Change of Stew- 275 275 II. Of Local Preachers and their Meetings 277 III. Concerning Trustees 281 ......... IV. Of the Quarterly-Meetings, composed of the Stewards of the different Societies 281 IV. RULES OF THE BAND SOCIETIES Directions given to the Band Societies ...... 284 286 286 297 V. RULES CONCERNING PUBLIC WORSHIP ligion......... 308 |