Glimpses of Christian History Presents Pastwords #13: Minutes of Methodist Conversations by John and Charles Wesley et al. ©2007

Minutes of Several Conversations between the Reverend Mr. John and Charles Wesley and Others from the Year 1744 to the Year 1780. London: Printed by J. Paramore at the Foundry. Moorsfield, 1780.

Q. 13. How can we farther assist those under our care?

A.

1. By meeting the married men and women together, the first Sunday after the Visitation; the single men and women apart, on the two following; in all the large Societies:
2. By instructing them at their own houses. What unspeakable need is there of this? The World say, “The Methodists are no better than other people." This is not true. But it is nearer the truth, than we are willing to believe. For
   1. Personal Religion either toward God or man, is amazingly superficial among us. I can but just touch on a few generals. How little Faith is there among us? How little Communion with God? How little living in Heaven, walking in Eternity, Deadness to every Creature? How much Love of the World? Desire of Pleasure, of Ease, of Praise, of getting Money? How little brotherly Love? What continual judging one another? What Gossipping, Evil-speaking, Tale-bearing? What want of moral Honesty? To instance only in one or two particulars: Who does as he would be done by, in buying and selling? Particularly in selling Horses? Write him knave that does not. And the Methodist knave is the worst of all knaves.
   2. Family Religion is shamefully wanting, and almost in every branch. And the Methodists in general will be little the better, till we take quite another course with them. For what avails Public Preaching alone, though we could preach like Angels? We must, yea every travelling Preacher, must instruct them from house to house. Till this is done, and that in good earnest, the Methodists will be little better than other people. Our Religion is not deep, universal, uniform; but superficial, partial, uneven. It will be so, till we spend half as much time in this visiting, as we now do in talking uselessly. Can we find a better method of doing this than Mr. Baxter's! If not let us adopt it without delay. His whole tract, intitled Gildas Salvianus, is well worth a careful perusal. A short Extract from it I will subjoin. Speaking of this visiting from house to house, he says, (p.351.) "We shall find many hindrances, both in ourselves, and in the people.
   1. In ourselves there is much dulness and laziness: so that there will be much ado to get us to be faithful in the work:
   2. We have a base, man-pleasing temper, so that we let men perish, rather than lose their love; we let them go quietly to Hell, lest we should anger them:
   3. Some of us have also a foolish Bashfulness. We know not how to begin, and blush to contradict the Devil.
   4. But the greatest hindrance is, weakness of faith. Our whole motion is weak, because the spring of it is weak.
   5. Lastly, we are unskilful in the work. How few know, how to deal with men, so as to get within them, and suit all our discourse to their several conditions and tempers: to chuse the fittest subjects, and follow them with an holy mixture of Seriousness, and Terror, and Love, and Meekness?
   And we have many difficulties to grapple with in our people.
   1. Too many of them will be unwilling to be taught till we conquer their perverseness, by the force of reason, and the power of love.
   2. And many are so dull, that they will shun being taught for fear of shewing their dulness.

Q. 14. How shall we prevent improper persons from insinuating into the Society?

1. Give Tickets to none till they are recommended by a Leader, with whom they have met at least two months on trial.
2. Give Notes to none but those who are recommended by one you know, or till they have met three or four times in a Class.
3. Give them the Rules the first time they meet.

Q. 15. When shall we admit new members?

A. In large Towns, admit them into the Bands at the quarterly Love-feast following the Visitation: into the Society, on the Sunday following the Visitation. Then also read the names of them that are excluded.

Q. 16. Should we insist on the Band-Rules? Particularly with regard to Dress?

A. By all means. This is no time to give any Encouragement to Superfluity of Apparel. Therefore give no Band-Tickets to any, till they have left off superfluous Ornaments. In order to this; 1. Let every Assistant read the Thoughts upon Dress, at least once a year, in every large Society. 2. In visiting the Classes, be very mild but very strict. 3. Allow no exempt case, not even a married Woman. Better one suffer than many. 4. Give no Ticket to any that wear Calashes, High-Heads, or enormous Bonnets.

To encourage meeting in Band,

1. In every large Society, have a Love-feast quarterly for the Bands only.
2. Never fail to meet them once a week.
3. Exhort every Believer to embrace the advantage.
4. Give a Band-Ticket to none till they have met a quarter on trial. Observe! You give none a Band-Ticket, before he meets, but after he has met!

Q. 17. Have those in Band left off Snuff and Drams?

A. No. Many are still inslaved to one or the other. In order to redress this,

1. Let no Preacher touch either on any account.
2. Strongly dissuade our People from them.
3. Answer their pretences, particularly curing the Cholic.

Q. 18. Do we observe any evil which has lately prevailed among our Societies?

A. Many of our Members have married with Unbelievers, yea, with unawakened persons. This has had fatal effects. They had either a cross for life; or turned back to perdition.

Q. 19. What can de done, to put a stop to this?

A.

1. Let every Preacher publicly inforce the Apostle's caution, Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers.
2. Let him openly declare, whoever does this will be expelled the Society.
3. When any such is expelled, let a suitable exhortation be subjoined. And,
4. Let all be exhorted, to take no step in so weighty a matter without advising with the most serious of their brethren.

Q. 20. Ought any woman to marry, without the consent of her Parents?

A. In general, she ought not. Yet there may be an exception. For if,

1. A woman be under a necessity of marrying: if
2. Her Parents absolutely refuse to let her marry any Christian: then she may, nay, ought to marry without their consent.

Yet even that a Methodist-Preacher ought not to marry her.

Q. 21. Do not Sabbath-breaking, Dram-drinking, Evil-speaking, Unprofitable Conversation, Lightness, Expensiveness or Gaiety of Apparel, and contracting Debts without due care to discharge them, still prevail in several places? How may these Evils be remedied?

A.

1. Let us preach expressly on each of these heads.
2. Read in every Society the Sermon on Evil-speaking.
3. Let the Leaders closely examine and exhort every person to put away the accursed thing.
4. Let the Preacher warn every Society, that none who is guilty herein can remain with us.
5. Extirpate Smuggling, buying or selling uncustomed Goods, out of every Society. Let none remain with us, who will not totally abstain from every kind and degree of it, in every Society near the Coasts. And read to them, and diligently disperse among them, "The Word to a Smuggler."
6. ....
7. Extirpate Bribery, receiving any thing, direct or indirectly, for voting in any ELection. Shew no respect of persons herein, but expel all that touch the accursed thing. Largely shew, both in public and private, the wickedness of thus selling our Country. And every where read “The Word to a Freeholder,” and disperse it with both hands.

Q. 22. What shall we do to prevent Scandal, when any of our Members become bankrupt?

A. Let the Assistant talk with him at large. And if he has not kept fair Accounts, or has been concerned in that base practice, of raising Money by coining Notes. (commonly called the Bill-trade) let him be expelled immediately.

Q. 26. What are the Rules of an Helper?

A.

1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed a moment. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time: neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary.
2. Be serious. Let your motto be, Holiness to the Lord. Avoid all Lightness, Jesting, and foolish Talking.
3. Converse sparingly and cautiously with Women: particularly with young Women.
4. Take no step toward Marriage, without first consulting with your Brethren.
5. 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.
6. Speak evil of no one: else your word especially, would eat as doth a Canker: keep your thoughts within your breast, till you come to the person concerned.
7. 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.
8. Do not affect the Gentleman. You have no more to do with this character, than with that of a Dancing-Master. A Preacher of the Gospel is the servant of all.
9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin: not of fetching wood (if time permit) or drawing water: not of cleaning your own shoes, or your neighbour’s.
10. Be punctual. Do every thing exactly at the time. And in general, do not mend our Rules, but keep them: not for wrath, but for Conscience’ Sake.
11. You have nothing to do, but to save souls. Therefore 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 Repentence, ...