to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to work out their salvation."

3. That it may the more easily be discerned, whether they are indeed working out their own salvation, each society is divided into smaller companies, called classes, according to their respective places of abode. There are about twelve persons in every class, one of whom is stiled the leader it is his business,

:

First, To see each person in his class, once a week at least, in order,

To enquire how their souls prosper;

To advise, reprove, comfort, or exhort, as occasion may require;

To receive what they are willing to give, towards the support of the gospel.

Secondly, To meet the minister and the stewards of the society once a week, in order,

To inform the minister of any that are sick, or of any that walk disorderly, and will not be reproved;

To pay to the stewards what they have received of their several classes in the week preceding; and,

To shew their account of what each person has contributed.

4. There is one only condition previously required of those who desire admission into these societies, viz. "a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and be saved from their sins:" but wherever this is really fixed in the soul, it will be shewn by its fruits. It is therefore expected of all who continue therein, that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation;

First, By doing no harm, by avoiding evil in every kind; especially that which is most generally practised. 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 selling.

Drunkenness; buying or selling spirituous liquors; or drinking them, unless in cases of extreme necessity :

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

The buying or selling uncustomed goods:

The giving or taking things on usury, i. e. unlawful in

terest:

Uncharitable or unprofitable conversation; particularly speaking evil of magistrates or of ministers.

Doing to others as we would not they should do unto us: Doing what we know is not for the glory of God; as, The putting on of gold or costly apparel:

The taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of the Lord Jesus:

The singing those songs, or reading those books, that do not tend to the knowledge or love of God: Softness, and needless self-indulgence : Laying up treasure on earth:

Borrowing without a probability of paying; or, taking up goods without a probability of paying for them.

5. It is expected of all, who continue in these societies, that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,

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

To their bodies, of the ability that God giveth, by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by visiting or helping them that are sick or in prison:

To their souls, by instructing, reproving, or exhorting all we have any intercourse with: trampling under foot that enthusiastic doctrine of devils, that, "We are not to do good unless our hearts be free to it: "

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

By all possible diligence and frugality, that the gospel be not blamed :

By running with patience the race that is set before them, denying themselves, and taking up their cross daily; submitting to bear the reproach of Christ; to be as the filth and off-scouring of the world; and looking that men should say all manner of evil of them falsely for the Lord's sake.

6. It is expected of all who desire to continue in these societies, that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation :

Thirdly, By attending on all the ordinances of God: such are,

The public worship of God:

The ministry of the word, either read or expounded:
The Supper of the Lord:

Family and private prayer:

Searching the Scriptures: and,

Fasting or abstinence.

7. These are the general rules of our societies; all which we are taught of God to observe, even in his written word, the only rule, and the sufficient rule both of our faith and practice. And all these we know his Spirit writes on every truly awakened heart. If there be any among us who observe them not, who habitually break any of them, let it be made known unto them, who watch over that soul, as they must give an account. We will admonish him of the error of his ways: we will bear with him for a season. But then, if he repent not, he hath no more place among us. We have delivered our own souls.

May 1, 1743.

J. and C. WESLEY.

MINUTES

OF SOME

LATE CONVERSATIONS

BETWEEN THE

REV. MESSRS. WESLEYS, AND OTHERS.

CONVERSATION THE FIRST.

Monday, June 25, 1744.

THE following persons being met at the Foundery, John Wesley; Charles Wesley; John Hodges, rector of Wenvo; Henry Piers, vicar of Bexley; Samuel Taylor, vicar of Quinton; and John Meriton; after some time spent in prayer, the design of our meeting was proposed, namely, to consider,

1. What to teach;

2. How to teach; and,

3. What to do? i. e. How to regulate our doctrine, discipline, and practice.

We began with considering the doctrine of justification: the questions relating to which, with the substance of the answers given thereto, were as follows:

Q. 1. What is it to be justified?

A. To be pardoned, and received into God's favour, into such a state, that if we continue therein, we shall be finally saved.

Q. 2. Is faith the condition of justification?

A. Yes; for every one who believeth not, is condemned; and every one who believes, is justified.

Q. 3. But must not repentance and works meet for repentance go before this faith?

A. Without doubt: If by repentance you mean conviction of sin; and by works meet for repentance, obeying God as far as we can, forgiving our brother, leaving off evil, doing good, and using God's ordinances according to the power we have received.

Q. 4. What is faith?

A. Faith in general is, a divine, supernatural elenchos of things not seen, i. e. of past, future, or spiritual things: it is a spiritual sight of God and the things of God.

First, a sinner is convinced by the Holy Ghost, "Christ loved me, and gave himself for me." This is that faith by which he is justified or pardoned, the moment he receives it. Immediately the same Spirit bears witness, "Thou art pardoned thou hast redemption in his blood." And this is saving faith, whereby the love of God is shed abroad in his heart.

Q. 5. Have all Christians this faith? May not a man be justified and not know it?

A. That all true Christians have such a faith as implies an assurance of God's love, appears from Rom. viii. 15; Eph. iv. 32; 2 Cor. xiii. 5; Heb. viii. 10; 1 John iv. 10, v. 19. And that no man can be justified and not know it appears farther from the nature of the thing: for faith after repentance is ease after pain, rest after toil, light after darkness. It appears also from the immediate, as well as distant fruits thereof.

Q. 6. But may not a man go to heaven without it?

A. It does not appear from Holy Writ that a man, who hears the gospel, can, Mark xvi. 16, whatever a heathen may do, Rom. ii. 14.

Q. 7. What are the immediate fruits of justifying faith? A. Peace, joy, love, power over all outward sin, and power to keep down inward sin.

Q. 8. Does any one believe, who has not the witness in himself, or any longer than he sees, loves, obeys God? A. We apprehend not; seeing God being the very es