preserve this, union between ourselves, are resolved, God being our helper, odors del agaf Momma' bloode que om

SI Tadevote ourselves entirely to God; denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, steadilylaiming at one thing, to save umown souls, and them that hear, ustede

"To preach the old Methodist doctrines, and no other, contained in the Minutes of the Conferences, wo 322117

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"III. To observe and enforce the whole Methodist discipline, laid down in the said Mimites."

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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 dénominated "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 of it, with the following inscription, signed by the ohio i dtam coomoly einst mi 2309mmertefu 28

President and Secretary of the Conference: To A. B. You think it your duty to call sinners to repentance. Make fullproof Shencofmannds we shall rejoice to receive you, as a fellow labourer"i: The giving and receiving of this Instrument, is considered as an official act, by which the person who receives it is admitted into full, Connexion las a Travelling Preacher, and entitled to all the prist vileges of an accredited member.muut lautriqs ade

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rly ensaiosenne odi lemys dun hval » Thus we have from under Mr: Wesley's own hand, till within two years of his death, his latest revision and correction of all the Rules which he considered essential to the maintenance of the unity and good government of the Body. But in addition to these Rules for the internal management of its affairs, another consideration of, vást importance was, how to provide for the permanent authority and power of the Conference, after, Mr. Wesley's decease, so to appoint the Preachers to the Chapels, throughout the Connexion from year to year, as that the Trustees might neither be able to interfere with their right, nor alienate the Chapels, from the purpose for which they were built. This, at the suggestion of Dr. Coke, led Mr. Wesley to take advice of an eminent Counsellor, how to define and specify in legal terms, "The Conference of the People called Methodists:" i. e, the persons by name who composed it, together with the mode of succession for its perpetuity / and at the same time to express such regulations, as those by which Mr. Wesley would wish the Conference to be governed after his death.

Agreeably to this design, on February 28, 1784, Mr. Wesley executed the DEED OF DECLARATION, constituting one hundred Preachers, whom he men> tioned by name, "The Conference of the People called Methodists;" which Instrument was enrolled in his Majesty's High Court of Chancery. Thus, by the good Providence of God, the most solid foundation was laid for securing and perpetuating the spiritual interests of the Body, and for defending its legal rights against the encroachments of usur pation, and the intrigues of faction. -

These two public Instruments, "The large Minutes of the Conference," and "The Deed of Declaration," constitute the Jachin and Boaz of the temple of Methodism; and being completed within six years of each other, a period of the utmost im portance to the Body is thus pointed out, (i. e. from its origin in 1739, to its consolidation in 1789;) which may with the utmost propriety be denominated the first great epoch of Methodism.

THE SECOND EPOCH includes the period between the death of Mr. Wesley, and the year 1797; which, though but a short time compared with the preceding, was a season of great hazard and anxiety for the safety of the Body. Bereft as the Preachers were of their patriarchal Head, and by him 'put in trust with the Executive power of the Connexiona power which, whilst Mr. Wesley lived, few were inclined to call in question, or entertained a fear that in his hands it would ever be used to their

prejudice; yet on the part both of the people, and

of the Preachers, mutual fears were excited, lest encroachments should be made on either side to the detriment of the other.

The subject, however, which created most alarm was, respecting that strict adherence to the National Church, which Mr. Wesley so strenuously endeavoured and recommended. Some of the Members who had long been accustomed to receive the Lord's Supper in the Established Church, and to attend its public worship during Mr. Wesley's life, were vehemently opposed to any alteration in the Discipline of Methodism which would interfere with the former practice; whilst others, some of whom had been brought up Dissenters, objected to be under constraint to attend the service of the National Church, and intreated to have such a modification in the Discipline of the Body, as would allow those who were desirous, to enjoy the christian ordinances, by the ministrations of those who were the regular appointed Preachers of the Gospel in their own Connexion.

The urgency with which both parties importuned the Conference, and the inevitable conse quence of separation, unless something decisive had been done to meet the exigence, constrained the Preachers to endeavour to terminate the contest, which had now continued during four years, by drawing up such terms of mutual concession and agreement as might preserve the Body entire, and lay a foundation for lasting peace and unity. This was most happily accomplished by a Plan which

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was matured by the deliberations of a skilful Committee to whom this difficult task was assigned; and which ultimately, with the alteration of a single Article, obtained the unanimous approbation of the Conference, Two or three Articles more were agreed upon under the title of Addenda, in order to give the most complete satisfaction, and to remove every obstacle to unanimity. This important document was drawn up and published in the year 1795, and is entitled, Articles of agreement for General Pacification." dog bon

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Still, however, something was wanting to give entire confidence to the People, that the Executive power which was vested in the Preachers by Mr. Wesley, should not become an instrument of oppression. To meet as far as possible the wishes of the People on this point, such measures were adopted by the Conference of 1797, as satisfied the Connexion, that the Preachers were not desirous of retaining any more authority, than was indispensibly necessary to the existence of the Body. Such a balance of power, however, was still to be maintained, as should sufficiently prevent the People, as well as the Preachers, from becoming arbitrary ; as preponderance on either side might have proved equally perilous to the Connexion. This accordingly was undertaken and accomplished with the utmost deliberation, and in the most solemn manner, at an early part of the Conference, and was thus announced: and ཉ ༑

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