1. After a few loving words spoken to all in the house, to take each person singly into another room, where you may deal closely with them, about their sin and misery and duty. Set these home, or you lose all your labour. At least let none be present but those who are quite familiar with each other.
2. Hear what the children have learned by heart.
3. Choose some of the weightiest points, and try by farther questions how they understand them. As, “do you believe you have sin in you? That you was born in sin? What does sin deserve? What remedy has God provided for guilty, helpless sinners?”
4. Often with the question, suggest the answer. As, “What is repentance?” Sorrow for sin, or a conviction that we are guilty, helpless sinners? “What is faith?” A divine conviction of things not seen?
5. Where you perceive they do not understand the stress of your question, you must lead them into it by other questions. So I have asked some, “How do you think your many and great sins will be pardoned?” They answer, “By repenting and mending my life,” and never mention Christ. I ask farther, “But do you think your amendment will make satisfaction for ♦your past sins?” They will answer, “We hope so, or else we know not what will.” One would think now, these had no knowledge of Christ at all. And indeed, some have not. But others have, and give such answers only because they do not understand the scope of the question. Ask them farther, “Can you be saved without the death of Christ?” They immediately say, “No.” And if you ask, “What has he done or suffered for you?” They will say, “He shed his blood for us,” and profess, “they trust in that for salvation.” But many cannot express even what they have some conception of, nay, can scarce learn, when expressions are put into their mouths. With these you are to deal exceeding tenderly, lest they be discouraged.
♦ “you” replaced with “your”
6. If you perceive them troubled that they cannot answer, step in yourself, and take the burden off them: answering that question yourself; and then do it throughly and plainly, and make a full explication of the whole business to them.
7. Thus, when you have tried their knowledge, proceed to instruct them yourself, according to their several capacities. If a man understand the fundamentals, fall on what you perceive he most needs, either explaining further some doctrine of the gospel, or some duty, or shewing the necessity of something he neglects, as may be most edifying to him. If it be one that is grosly ignorant, give him a short recital of the Christian religion in the plainest words. And if you perceive he understands not, go over it again till he does, and if possible fix it in his memory.
8. Next, inquire into his state, whether convinced, or unconvinced, converted or unconverted. Tell him, if need be, what conversion is. And then renew and inforce the inquiry.
9. If you perceive he is unconverted, your next business is, to labour with all your skill and power, to bring his heart to a sense of his condition. Set this home with a more earnest voice than you spoke before; for if you get not to the heart, you do nothing.
10. Conclude all with a strong exhortation, which should contain two parts; 1. The duty of the heart, in order to receive Christ; 2. The avoiding former sins, and constantly using the outward means. And here be sure, if you can, to get their promise, to forsake sin, change their company, and use means. And do this solemnly; reminding them of the presence of God, that hears their promises, and will expect the performance.
11. Before you leave them, engage the head of each family to call all his family every _Sunday_, before they go to bed, and hear what they can rehearse, and so continue till they have learned the instructions perfectly. And afterwards take care, that they do not forget what they had learned.
12. Speak differently, according to the difference of them you have to deal with, as they are dull and obstinate, or timerous and tender. Be as plain as possible to those of weak capacities, and give them scripture-proof for all you say.
_Q._ 18. How shall we prevent improper persons from insinuating themselves into the society?
_A._ 1. Give tickets to none till they are recommended by a leader, with whom they have met three 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._ 19. How can we add a proper solemnity to the admission of new members?
_A._ 1. In all large towns, admit new members into the bands only at the quarterly love-feast, following the visitation: 2. Read the names of the men to be admitted the week before: 3. Admit into the society, only on the _Sunday_ following the quarterly visitation: 4. Read the names of those to be admitted, on the _Sunday_ evening before: 5. Then also let the names of those be read, who are excluded from the society.