a prospect of saving souls from death. But when more and more asked," What must I do to be saved?" they were desired to meet all together. Twelve came the first Thursday night; forty the next : soon after, a hundred. And they continued to increase, till, three or four and twenty years ago, the London Society amounted to about 2,800.

3. But how should this multitude of people be kept together? And how should it be known, whether they walked worthy of their profession? They were providentially led, when they were thinking on another thing, namely, paying the public debt, to divide all the people into little companies, or classes, according to their places of abode, and appoint one person in each class to see all the rest weekly. By this means it was quickly discovered if any of them lived in any known sin. If they did, they were first admonished: and, when judged incorrigible, excluded from the Society.

4. This division of the people, and exclusion of those that walked disorderly, without any respect of persons, were helps which few other communities had. To these, as the societies increased, was soon added another. The stewards of the societies in each district, were desired to meet the preachers once a quarter in some central place, to give an account of the spiritual and temporal state of their several societies. The use of these quarterly meetings was soon found to be exceedingly great; in consideration of which they were gradually spread to all the societies in the kingdom.

5. In order to increase the union between the preachers, as well as that of the people, they were desired to meet all together in London, and, some time after, a select number of them. Afterwards, for more convenience, they met at London, Bristol, and Leeds, alternately. They spent a few days together in this General Conference in considering, what might most conduce to the general good. The result was immediately signified to all their brethren. And they soon found, that what St. Paul observes of the whole Church, may be, in a measure, applied to every part of it: "The whole body being fitly framed together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, maketh increase of the body, to the edifying of itself in love." Eph. iv. 16.

6. That this may be the more effectually done, they have another excellent help, in the constant change of preachers: it being their rule, that no preacher shall remain in the same circuit more than two years together and few of them more than one year. Some, indeed, have imagined, that this was a hinderance to the work of God. But long experience in every part of the kingdom, proves the contrary. This has always shown, that the people profit less by any one person, than by a variety of preachers: while they

"Use the gifts on each bestow'd,

Temper'd by the art of God."

7. Together with these helps, which are peculiar to their own so

ciety, they have all those which are enjoyed in common by the other members of the Church of England. Indeed they have been long pressed to separate from it, to which they have had temptations of every kind. But they cannot, they dare not, they will not separate from it, while they can remain therein with a clear conscience. It is true, if any sinful terms of communion were imposed upon them, then they would be constrained to separate; but as this is not the case at present, we rejoice to continue therein.

8. What then could God have done more for his vineyard, which he hath not done in it, with regard to spiritual helps? He has hardly dealt so with any other people in the Christian world! If it be said, He could have made them a separate people, like the Moravian brethren: I answer, This would have been a direct contradiction to his whole design in raising them up: namely, to spread scriptural religion throughout the land, among people of every denomination, leaving every one to hold his own opinions, and to follow his own mode of worship. This could only be done effectually, by leaving these things as they were, and endeavouring to leaven the whole nation with that faith that worketh by love.

III. 1. Such are the spiritual helps which God has bestowed on this his vineyard, with no sparing hand. Discipline might be inserted among these; but we may as well speak of it under a separate head. It is certain, that in this respect the Methodists are a highly favoured people. Nothing can be more simple, nothing more rational, than the Methodist discipline: it is entirely founded on common sense, particularly applying the general rules of Scripture. Any person determined to save his soul, may be united (this is the only condition required) with them. But this desire must be evidenced by three marks: avoiding all known sin; doing good after his power; and attending all the ordinances of God. He is then placed in such a class as is convenient for him, where he spends about an hour in a week. And the next quarter, if nothing be objected to him, he is admitted into the society. And therein he may continue, as long as he continues to meet his brethren, and walks according to his profession.

2. Their public service is at five in the morning, and six or seven in the evening, that their temporal business may not be hindered. Only on Sunday it begins between nine and ten, and concludes with the Lord's Supper. On Sunday evening the society meets; but care is taken to dismiss them early, that all the heads of families may have time to instruct their several households. Once a quarter the principal preacher in every circuit examines every member of the societies therein. By this means, if the behaviour of any one is blameable, which is frequently to be expected in so numerous a body of people, it is easily discovered, and either the offence or the offender is removed in time.

3. Whenever it is needful to exclude any disorderly member out of the society, it is done in the most quiet and inoffensive manner; only by not renewing his ticket, at the quarterly visitation. But in

Now

some cases, where the offence is great, and there is danger of public scandal, it is judged necessary to declare, when all the members are present, "A. B. is no longer a member of our society." what can be more rational or more scriptural, than this simple discipline; attended from the beginning to the end with no trouble, expense, or delay?

IV. 1. But was it possible that all these things should be done, without a flood of opposition? The prince of this world was not dead, nor asleep; and would he not fight, that his kingdom might not be delivered up? If the word of the Apostle be found true, in all ages and nations, "All they that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution;" if this be true with regard to every individual Christian, how much more, with regard to bodies of men, visibly united together, with the avowed design, to overthrow his kingdom! And what could withstand the persecution he would not fail 'to stir up, against a poor, defenceless, despised people, without any visible help, without money, without power, without friends?

2. In truth the god of this world was not asleep. Neither was he idle he did fight, and that with all his power, that his kingdom might not be delivered up. He "brought forth all his hosts to war." First, he stirred up the beasts of the people. They roared like lions: they encompassed the little and defenceless on every side. And the storm rose higher and higher, till deliverance came in a way that none expected. God stirred up the heart of our late gracious Sovereign, to give such orders to his Magistrates, as, being put in execution, effectually quelled the madness of the people. It was about the same time that a great man applied personally to his Majesty, begging that he would please to "take a course to stop these runabout preachers." His Majesty, looking sternly upon him, answered without ceremony, like a king, "I tell you, while I sit on the throne, no man shall be persecuted for conscience' sake."

3. But in defiance of this, several who bore his Majesty's commission, have persecuted them from time to time; and that under colour of law, availing themselves of what is called the Conventicle Act: one in particular, in Kent, who some years since took upon him to fine one of the preachers and several of his hearers. But they thought it their duty to appeal to his Majesty's Court of King's Bench. The cause was given for the plaintiffs, who have ever since been permitted to worship God according to their own consciences.

4. I believe this is a thing wholly without precedent: I find no other instance of it, in any age of the Church from the day of Pentecost to this day. Every opinion, right and wrong, has been tolerated, almost in every age and nation. Every mode of worship has been tolerated, however superstitious or absurd. But I do not know that true, vital, scriptural religion was ever tolerated before. For this the people called Methodists have abundant reason to praise God. In their favour, he hath wrought a new thing in the earth: he hath stilled the enemy and the avenger. This then they must ascribe unto Him, the Author of their outward as well as inward peace.

VOL. 7.-U

V. 1. What indeed could God have done more for this his vine. yard, which he hath not done in it? This having been largely shown, we may now proceed to that strong and tender expostulation. After all that I have done, might I not have looked for the most excellent grapes; wherefore, then, brought it forth wild grapes? Might I not have expected a general increase of faith and love, of righteousness and true holiness; yea, and of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, meekness, gentleness, fidelity, goodness, temperance? Was it not reasonable to expect that these fruits would have overspread his whole Church? Truly when I saw what God had done among his people between forty and fifty years ago, when I saw them warm in their first love, magnifying the Lord and rejoicing in God their Saviour, I could expect nothing less than that all these would have lived like angels here below: that they would have walked as continually seeing him that is invisible; having constant communion with the Father and the Son, living in eternity, and walking in eternity. I looked to see "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people," in the whole tenor of their conversation "showing forth his praise, who had called them into his marvellous light."

2. But instead of this it brought forth wild grapes! fruit of a quite contrary nature. It brought forth error in ten thousand shapes, turning many of the simple out of the way! It brought forth enthusiasm, imaginary inspiration, ascribing to the all-wise God, all the wild, absurd, self-inconsistent dreams of a heated imagination! It brought forth pride, robbing the Giver of every good gift of the honour due to his name! It brought forth prejudice, evil-surmising, censoriousness, judging and condemning one another: all totally subversive of that brotherly love, which is the very badge of the Christian profession: without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before God! It brought forth anger, hatred, malice, revenge, and every evil word and work: all direful fruits, not of the Holy Spirit, but of the bottomless pit!

3. It brought forth likewise in many, particularly those that are increased in goods, that grand poison of souls, the love of the world, and that in all its branches: "the desire of the flesh;" that is, the seeking happiness in the pleasures of sense: "the desire of the eyes;" that is, seeking happiness in dress, or any of the pleasures of imagination: and "the pride of life;" that is, seeking happiness in the praise of men; or in that which ministers to all these, laying up treasures on earth. It brought forth self-indulgence of every kind, delicacy, effeminacy, softness: but not softness of the right kind, that melts at human wo. It brought such base grovelling affections, such deep earthly-mindedness, as that of the poor Heathens, which occasioned the lamentation of their own poet over them, O curva in terras animæ et cælestium inanes! O souls bowed down to earth and void of God!

4. O ye that have riches in possession, once more hear the word of the Lord! Ye that are rich in this world, that have food to eat,

and raiment to put on, and something over, are you clear of the curse of loving the world? Are you sensible of your danger?. Do you feel, How hardly will they that have riches enter into the kingdom of heaven? Do you continue unburned in the midst of the fire? Are you untouched with the love of the world? Are you clear from the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride of life? Do you put a knife to your throat, when you sit down to meat, lest your table should be a snare to you? Is not your belly your God? Is not eating, and drinking, or any other pleasure of sense the greatest pleasure you enjoy! Do not you seek happiness in dress, furniture, pictures, gardens, or any thing else that pleases the eye? Do not you grow soft and delicate? Unable to bear cold, heat, the wind or the rain, as you did when you were poor Are you not increasing in goods, laying up treasures on earth; instead of restoring to God in the poor, not so much, or so much, but all that you can spare? Surely "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven!"

What excuse
Have ye not

5. But why will ye still bring forth wild grapes? can ye make? Hath God been wanting on his part? been warned over and over? Have ye not been fed with the sincere milk of the word? Hath not the whole word of God been delivered to you, and without any mixture of error? Were not the fundamental doctrines both of free, full, present justification delivered to you, as well as sanctification, both gradual and instantaneous? Was not every branch both of inward and outward holiness clearly opened and earnestly applied, and that by preachers of every kind, young. and old, learned and unlearned? But it is well if some of you did not despise the helps which God had prepared for you. Perhaps you would hear none but clergymen; or, at least, none but men of learning. Will you not then give God leave to choose his own messengers ? To send by whom he will send? It is well if this bad wisdom was not one cause of your bringing forth wild grapes.

6. Was not another cause of it your despising that excellent help, union with a Christian Society? Have you not read, "How can one be warm alone;" and "Wo be unto him that is alone when he falleth?" "But you have companions enough." Perhaps more than enough; more than are helpful to your soul: but have you enough that are athirst for God, and that labour to make you so! Have you companions enough that watch over your soul, as they that must give account; and that freely and faithfully warn you, if you take any false step, or are in danger of doing so? I fear, you have few of these companions, or else you would bring forth better fruit.

7. If you are a member of the Society, do you make a full use of your privilege? Do you never fail to meet your class; and that not as matter of form, but expecting that when you are met together in his name, your Lord will be in the midst of you? Are you truly thankful for the amazing liberty of conscience which is vouchsafed to you and your brethren: such. as never was enjoyed before, by