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cised conscientiously and in meekness and love, never fails to promote vital and practical religion. Let me impress upon your minds the vast importance of this discipline. This is an essential part of the deposite committed to your trust. What have been denominated the peculiarities of the Methodist discipline must not be conceded, or be suffered to relax. A Christian society, by means of proper discipline, should be like "a city compact together."

Such, my brethren, is the sacred deposite committed to your trust. Christian doctrines, experimental religion, practical piety, and godly discipline. "Keep that which has been committed to your trust." Retain the doctrines in their purity, and preach them in their primitive simplicity. Beware of refinements, even in phraseology, to suit the taste of speculative persons. Earnestly urge the necessity and importance of lively, vigorous, fervent, and growing piety, and strenuously, but mildly, enforce discipline.

II. In order that you may "keep," &c., let me recommend to you :

1. A serious and deep attention to your own personal religion. “Take heed to thyself.” (1 Tim. iv. 16.) Let your religion be genuine, deep, vigorous, growing. See an example, Phil. iii. 13, &c. Let it be diffusive, extending to every part of your conduct and spirit in public, in private, in your own family, and in all your intercourse with the people among whom you labour. "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (1 Tim. iv. 12.)

2. Pay a due attention to the improvement of your minds, in general knowledge, and more especially in biblical knowledge. A man ought to understand what he undertakes to teach others. If a man, unacquainted with mathematics and the classics, were to undertake to teach them, every body would be struck with the absurdity of his professions. It is so in that Divine science which you undertake to teach, the science of theology.

It has never been held among us to be essentially necessary to usefulness in the Christian ministry, to be what is commonly called learned; though we do allow that the knowledge of languages and the sciences is not only an embellishment, but a means of extensive usefulness, if duly regulated and improved. But it has always been deemed necessary, by a constant course of reading, meditation, and prayer, to endeavour, day by day, to add to the stock of useful knowledge. Mr. Wesley's directions in the Large Minutes deserve your notice. See page 22, &c.

My brethren, there are considerations which ought to have due weight upon your minds on this subject, sufficient to induce you to "study to show yourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed," and that your "profiting may appear unto all."

You have time for improvement, being exempted from worldly business and worldly cares; your proper, every-day work is such as, if done aright, will enable you to learn something new and good every day.

Your means of improvement are great. Books of the most useful kind are within your reach; you have time for reading and study,

ence.

and opportunities of conversing with men of judgment and experiAllow me to say, that one book well read and digested will improve your minds more than twenty hastily glanced at. "Mark, learn, and inwardly digest" what you read. The variety of helps in the study of the holy scriptures, and in the acquisition of general knowledge in subservience to your great work, hold out to you the highest degree of encouragement to diligence.

Intellectual improvement in preachers is becoming more and more necessary. This you will perceive, if you consider the general improvement of society in knowledge; the liberal education of the younger branches of the families in our Connexion; the abundance of able ministers whom God has raised up; and, above all, the importance that all classes of people connected with us may be fed with knowledge and understanding.

I need scarcely say, that every Methodist preacher ought to be well read in the writings of Mr. Wesley and Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Wesley's Sermons may be often read over again with profit, and a portion of his Notes might be read daily with advantage. To an attentive, studious mind, Mr. Wesley's Notes will afford much instruction; though a careless, cursory reader may see nothing great or deep in them.

3. A spirit of habitual diligence and glowing zeal to get and do good should be kept in constant exercise. The mind should always be "still plotting, when and where, and how, the business may be done." Enthusiasm, such as that described 2 Cor. v. 14, 15, and 1 Thess. ii. 8-12, is useful. Our fathers were distinguished by their zeal, earnestness, and unremitting diligence to save souls, and to do all the good possible. To keep alive in your minds the same spirit, let me recommend to your frequent perusal, the Lives of Messrs. Wesley, Fletcher, and Walsh; and the Lives of the first race of Methodist preachers, which you will find in the early volumes of the Magazine; also the Life of Brainerd, and Baxter's Reformed Pastor.

4. In the exercise of your public ministry, always keep in view the end of preaching. To every one whom the Lord Jesus Christ calls to this work, he says, "I send thee to open" men's "eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." (Acts xxvi. 18.) Aim at nothing but doing good, and at doing good now.

Earnestly covet the best gifts, that you may speak unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. In your preparations for the pulpit, study closely, that you may be workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Labour, also, to acquire an agreeable and acceptable address. We may apply to preaching an old proverb, “Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well." The desire to preach well, in a proper sense of the words, is laudable in a young man. Beware, however, lest that laudable desire should degenerate. Your circumstances may expose you to the temptation to seek human applause. "Cease from man," "neither of men seek glory." Honour God, and he will honour you. Be in earnest. Let your hearers see and feel that you believe what

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you say; and that you are not indifferent whether they believe it or not. 'Speak to your hearers as to men that must be awakened here or in hell. Look upon your congregation with seriousness and compassion; and think in what a state of joy or torment they must be for ever, and that surely will make you earnest, and melt your hearts for them."-Baxter's Reformed Pastor, p. 36.

And while you hold forth to sinners a present salvation, let your arguments be clear and perspicuous. Let them see that these things are now ready for them; and let the fervour and unction which accompany your words be calculated to make them feel that there is a reality in these things, and that you speak that you know, and testify what you have seen and felt yourselves.

5. Let me earnestly recommend to you the practice of visiting the sick, and the families of our friends in a pastoral way. You have already pledged yourselves to the performance of these duties by subscribing to the Large Minutes.-See pp. 7-13, to which I refer you. Consider, you are called, not to preach only, but to be always at work, wherever you are; in your private and social visits, as well as in public.

I am aware of the difficulties which attend visiting from house to house in large towns, as well as in extensive country circuits; but as far as in you lies attend to it. By a judicious arrangement of your employments and improvement of time, it would be no difficult thing to visit upon an average at least one family in a day; so as to visit in the course of the year three hundred and sixty-five families.

The benefit of such visits is incalculable, if performed in a serious, spiritual, and affectionate manner. You will find it conduce to your own spiritual prosperity; in your intercourse with the people, you will often be furnished with subjects for your public ministry; you will find greater access to the minds of your hearers while addressing them. Besides, such visits will conciliate the affections of the people, increase your congregations, and prepare the minds of your hearers for a profitable attendance on public ordinances.

"Feed

In your visits to families, do not overlook the children. my lambs," saith our Lord. A word spoken to children and young persons often makes a deep and lasting impression. In every possible way, labour to save souls, by your private as well as public labours.

"O brethren," says Mr. Wesley, "if we could but set this work on foot in all our societies, and prosecute it zealously, what glory would redound to God!"-Large Minutes, p. 9.

6. That you may obtain grace for the discharge of every duty imposed upon you, and to the performance of which your are solemnly pledged before this assembly, imitate the holy company mentioned Acts vi. 4, who said, "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." The most holy, zealous, and useful ministers of Christ in all ages have been much with God in secret. See the Lives of Fletcher, Walsh, and others. Wrestle with God in prayer for yourselves, for daily growth in grace, for an increasing knowledge of the holy scriptures, for subjects for the pul

pit, for life, power, unction, and success. Very many considerations combine to show the necessity, utility, and advantage of prayer.

III. Is it necessary, my brethren, to present to you motives to the performance of the various duties of your station? If not absolutely necessary, it may be useful. Let me, then, suggest a few.

1. Your vows and solemn engagements this day. They are real engagements. We, your brethren in the ministry, are witnesses. This large congregation presents to you a cloud of witnesses. An innumerable company of angels and the spirits of just men made perfect are witnesses, and your great Lord and Master is witness. "The vows of God are upon you." Never forget the solemnities of this day. Often recur to this hour, as a means to prevent indolence, to animate your zeal, and to keep up unceasing activity in your arduous and important work.

2. Your responsibility—to the Conference, to the whole Connexion, to the world, to conscience, and to God, the Judge of all. You have engaged in the presence of your brethren to act in conformity to rule. You have subscribed to the Twelve Rules of a Helper, a practical attention to which will promote your personal religion and your usefulness. And you are to undergo annual examinations. The whole Connexion look for the performance of your solemn engagements. "England expects every man to do his duty." And let me observe to you, my brethren, that such is the religious character of our people, that that man is always most esteemed, who is most zealous and faithful in his Master's work.

You are responsible to God.-Never forget this. The words of the apostle, 1 Cor. iv. 2—4, “It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful," &c., are appropriate in your case. It is well often to realize death, our entrance upon an eternal state, and our appearance before God. So did St. Paul. "We labour," &c. (2 Cor. v. 9—11.)

3. You are warranted to expect Divine aid. My beloved brethren, I doubt not you are sensible of your incompetency for the work in which you are engaged, if left to yourselves. Sometimes, perhaps, you are much discouraged. The work appears to be so great, such an awful responsibility is connected with it, and the consequences of faithfulness or unfaithfulness appear to your minds so momentous, that you say, with much feeling, "Who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Cor. iii. 5.) Remember, you are the servants of Christ, and preach his truth. He is your employer and your helper. "Lo! I am with you always." Believe that Christ will assist you in your work, and make you useful.

4. The certainty of success in a greater or less degree. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Faith comes by hearing the gospel. Preaching the gospel is an ordinance of God, and he honours his own ordinance. Your success does not depend on yourselves, but on the Divine blessing, which you are warranted to expect, while in simplicity and godly sincerity you preach the truth as it is in Jesus. Recollect what has been done amongst us as a people. Our forefathers did not labour in vain. Their fruit remains. Witness our chapels, large societies and congregations, the thousands who are gone to glory, and the multitudes who still

remain, who are brought into a state of salvation, adorn the gospel, and are on their way to heaven. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Pray and preach in faith, not only under a firm persuasion of the truth of what you preach, but also that good will be done. You cannot labour in vain. Expect that good will be done by every sermon, every exhortation, every pastoral visit. Such an expectation will excite your feelings and increase your zeal, and will be accompanied by that influence and power of the Holy Ghost, which will insure success.

5. The glorious reward,-the joy set before you, the prospect, as instruments, of bringing many sons to glory. These shall be the crown of your rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus. How great the glory which shall be revealed when all meet in heaven!-Wesley, Whitefield, Mather, Pawson, Thompson, Hanby, &c., &c.

Although the above manuscript was left unfinished, and never received that revision and polish which my father designed it should undergo, and without which he would not have committed it to the press, the reader will perhaps be of opinion, that the topics it embraces are so important, and the mode of treating them so much in keeping with his usual simplicity, gravity, and sweetness, that it ought not to be withheld.

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My father's term of labour in the Birmingham circuit had now expired. He reviewed the three years he had spent there with feelings of lively gratitude to God. It had been a time of great personal spiritual prosperity. He had by the grace of God succeeded in composing differences which seriously hindered the work of God; almost uninterrupted peace had subsequently prevailed; he had gained in no ordinary degree the confidence, respect, and affections of the people; by the enlargement and erection of chapels, the number of hearers had been increased at least one-half; the finances had improved; the number of members in society had been raised from fifteen hundred and fifty to seventeen hundred and eighty-five; many conversions had taken place, and there had been a general deepening of the work of God in the hearts of the people. The salubrity of the air, also, together with the exemption afforded by that compact circuit from long fatiguing rides and exhausting walks, had, by the blessing of God, so improved his health,

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