"The taking such diversions as cannot be used in name of the Lord Jesus ;
"The singing those songs or reading those hooks which do not leuil lo tlie knowledge or love of God ;
" Softness, and needless self-indulgence;
" Laying up treasure upon earth ;
"Dorr()\yiiej without a probability of paying; or taking up goods without a probaliility <if fiayiiig "for them.
"5. It is exiK'cied of all who couiimu' in these societies, that they should continue to evidence their desire of sal- vation,
"Secondly, by doing good, by being in every kind mer- ciful after their power, as they have opportunity ; doing good of every possible sort, and as far as is possi"ble to all men:
" To their bodies, of the ability that God giveth, by giv- ing food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by helping or visiting them that are sick or in prison ;
"To their souls, hy iiistrncting, 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 lo thein 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 frugalit}-, that the Gospel be not blamed.
"By running with patience the race that is set hefore them,"denyiug themselves, and taking up their cross daily ; submitting to bear the reproach of Christ; to be as the filth and oftscouring of tlic 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 de- sire of salvation,
"Thirdly, by attending upon 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.
"T. These arc the general rules of our societies: all which we are taU'.'ht of God to observe, even iu his writ- ten Wdid I he ,>nlv rule, and the sulhcieiit rule, both of om- r.iiih and practice. And all Iliese we know Ids Spirit \\rites on every truly awakened heart. If there be any among us who observe them tiot, who habitually break any of them, let It be made known unto them who watch over that soid, as they that 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."
The ''societies" thus formed increased .so rajddly that very soon there arose a necessity for additional minis- terial service. As the leaders in this wonderful revival of religion had been led providentially into the jiractice of field-iireaching, and into the formation of religious societies, so they were iiulnced in the same manner to accept the assistance of preachers who had not been ed- ucated for the ministry, nor ordained to that service. This was at that time regarded by many as the most heinous of their offences. The Wesleys themselves at first hesitated at what seemed so monstrous an imiova- tion; and the elder brother, when he lirst heard that a layman had taken a text and jireached a sermon, has- tened to London to put a stop to the irregularity. The man, Thomas Maxtield by name, bad Iteen left in charge of the little (lock during the absence of the ordained ministers, had prayed with them, read to them passages of Scripture, attempted an exposition of a verse or two, and found himself preaching almost before he was aware of it. Happily for the interesi.s of the new sect, and happily, too. for the cause of Christ, Wesley was met by his mother before be had time to censure the young preacher, or publicly to denoiuice this iiuiovation. Mrs.
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Wesley, the widow of a stanch minister of the Establish- ed Church, had been educated in its doctrines, and she revered its prelatical assumptions. But she had heard the young man preach several times. On the arrival of her son, seeing that his countenance was expressive of dissatisfaction, she inquired the cause. "Thomas Maxtield," said he, abruptly, '"has turned preacher, I find." She looked attentively at him, and replied, " John, you know what my sentiments have been. You cannot suspect me of readily favoring anything of this kind; but take care what you do with respect to that young man, for he is as surely called of God to preach "as you are." Her advice was followed, and the result justitied her opinion. Wesley recognised the validity of the young man's call; and thereafter it became a set- tled conviction with him, as it is with his followers to this day, that a warrant to preach the Gospel does not of necessity come only through one channel. In process of time, as instances of this kind increased, it became necessary to devise some criterion by which to test those Mho professed to believe themselves called of God to preach. This was a subject to which John Wesley early turned his attention ; and the question, with his answer, continues to the present day to be incorporated among tlie rules recognised by all Wesleyan IMethodists. We say jrei%aH Methodists because, previous to the preach- ing of ]\Iaxtield, Whitelield had separated himself from his associates, and thenceforward became known as the leader of the Calvinistic division of Methodism. The question and answer were in the following words :