III. 1. About this time, I was informed, that several persons in _Kingswood_, frequently met together at the school, and (when they could spare the time) spent the greater part of the night, in prayer, and praise, and thanksgiving. Some advised me to put an end to this; but upon weighing the thing throughly, and comparing it with the practice of the antient Christians, I could see no cause to forbid it. Rather, I believed, it might be made of more general use. So I sent them word, “I designed to watch with them, on the _Friday_ nearest the full moon, that we might have light thither and back again.” I gave public notice of this, the _Sunday_ before, and withal, that I intended to preach; desiring, they and they only would meet me there, who could do it without prejudice to their business or families. On _Friday_ abundance of people came. I began preaching between _eight_ and _nine_; and we continued till a little beyond the noon of night, singing, praying and praising God.
2. This we have continued to do once a month ever since, in _Bristol_, _London_, and _Newcastle_, as well as _Kingswood_. And exceeding great are the blessings we have found therein: it has generally been an extreamly solemn season; when the word of God sunk deep into the heart, even of those who till then knew him not. If it be said, “this was only owing to the novelty of the thing (the circumstance which still draws such multitudes together at those seasons) or perhaps to the awful silence of the night.” I am not careful to answer in this matter. Be it so: however, the impression then made on many souls, has never since been effaced. Now allowing, that God did make use either of the novelty or any other indifferent circumstance, in order to bring sinners to repentance, yet they are brought. And herein let us rejoice together.
3. Nay, may I ♦not put the case farther yet? If I can probably conjecture, that either by the novelty of this _antient_ custom, or by any other indifferent circumstance, it is in my power to _save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins_: am I clear before God if I do it not? If I do not snatch that brand out of the burning?
♦ Insert “not” per Errata
IV. 1. As the Society increased, I found it required greater care to separate the precious from the vile. In order to this, I determined, at least once in three months, to talk with every member myself, and to inquire at their own mouths, as well as ♦knowledge of their leaders and neighbours, whether they grew in grace and in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ? At these seasons I likewise particularly enquire, Whether there be any misunderstanding or differences among them? That every hindrance of peace and brotherly love, may be taken out of the way.
♦ insert “knowledge” per Errata
2. To each of those, of whose seriousness and good conversation, I found no reason to doubt, I gave a testimony under my own hand, by writing their name on a _ticket_ prepared for that purpose: every ticket implying as strong a recommendation of the person to whom it was given, as if I had wrote at length, “I believe the bearer hereof to be one that fears God and works righteousness.”
3. Those who bore these tickets (these Σύμβολα or _Tesseræ_, as the antients termed them; being of just the same force with the ἐπιστολαί συστατικαί, _commendatory letters_ mentioned by the apostle) wherever they came, were acknowledged by their brethren, and received with all chearfulness. These were likewise of use in other respects. By these it was easily distinguished when the society were to meet a-part, who were members of it and who not. These also supplied us with a quiet and inoffensive method, of removing any disorderly member. He has no new ticket, at the quarterly visitation; (for so often the tickets are changed) and hereby it is immediately known, that he is no longer of the community.
V. The thing which I was greatly afraid of all this time, and which I resolved to use every possible method of preventing was, a narrowness of spirit, a party-zeal, a being streightened in our own bowels; that miserable bigotry, which makes so many so unready to believe, that there is any work of God but among themselves. I thought it might be a help against this, frequently to read, to all who were willing to hear, the accounts I received from time to time, of the work which God is carrying on in the earth, both in our own and other countries, not among us alone, but among those of various opinions and denominations. For this I allotted one evening in every month. And I find no cause to repent my labour. It is generally a time of strong consolation to those who love God, and all mankind for his sake: as well as of breaking down the partition walls, which either the craft of the devil, or the folly of men has built up: and of encouraging every child of God to say, (O when shall it once be?) _Whosoever doth the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother_.