_Q._ 20. Should we insist every where on the band-rules? Particularly, that relating to ruffles?
_A._ By all means. This is no time to give any encouragement to superfluity of apparel. Therefore give no band-tickets to any in _England_, _Scotland_, or _Ireland_, till they _have left them_ off.
In order to this, 1. Read in every society the “thoughts concerning dress.” 2. In visiting the classes, be very mild, but very strict. 3. Allow no exempt cases, not even of a married woman: better one suffer than many.
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 apart from the society, once a week: 3. Exhort all believers to embrace the advantage: 4. Give a band-ticket to none, till they have met a quarter on trial.
_Q._ 21. Have those in band left off snuff and drams?
_A._ No. Many are still enslaved 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 those of curing the cholic, or helping digestion.
_Q._ 22. Do we observe any evil which has lately prevailed among our societies?
_A._ Many of our members have lately married with unbelievers, even such as were wholly unawakened. And this has been attended with fatal consequences. Few of these have gained the unbelieving wife or husband. Generally they have themselves either had an heavy cross for life, or entirely fallen back into the world.
_Q._ 23. What can be done to put a stop to this?
_A._ 1. Let every preacher take occasion publicly to inforce the apostle’s caution, _Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers_.
2. Let it be openly declared in every place, That he who acts contrary to this, will be expelled the society:
3. When any such is expelled, let an exhortation be subjoined, dissuading others from following that bad example:
4. And let all be exhorted, to take no step in so weighty a matter, without first advising with the most serious of his brethren.
_Q._ 24. 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 then a Methodist-preacher ought not to marry her.
_Q._ 25. Do not sabbath-breaking, dram-drinking, evil-speaking, unprofitable conversation, lightness, gaiety or expensiveness of apparel, and contracting debts without sufficient care to discharge them, still prevail in several places? What method can we take to remove these evils?
_A._ 1. Let us preach expresly and strongly on each of these heads: 2. Read the sermon upon evil-speaking, in every society: 3. Let the ♦leaders closely examine, and exhort every person to put away the accursed thing: 4. Let the preacher warn the society in every place, that none who is hereafter guilty can remain with us: 5. In order to give them clearer views of the evil of these things, let every preacher recommend to every society, and that frequently and earnestly, the reading the books we have published, preferable to any other. And when any new book is sent to any place, let him speak of it in the public congregation: 6. Extirpate smuggling, buying or selling uncustomed goods, out of every society: particularly in _Cornwall_, and in all sea-port towns. Let no person remain with us, who will not totally abstain from every kind and degree of it: and after admonishing him, silence every local preacher who speaks in defence of it. Speak tenderly, but earnestly and frequently of it, in every society near the coasts: and read to them and disperse diligently among them “The Word to a Smuggler.” 7. Extirpate bribery, receiving any thing, directly or indirectly, for voting in any election, Shew no respect of persons herein, but expel all who touch the accursed thing. Let this be particularly observed at _Grimsby_ and _St. Ives_. Largely shew in every society the wickedness of thus selling our country. Do the same thing in private conversation. And read every where “The Word to a Freedholder,” and disperse it with both hands: and in public and private inlarge on œconomy, as a branch of religion.
♦ duplicate phrase “let the” removed
_Q._ 26. What shall we do to prevent scandal, when any of our members become bankrupt?
_A._ Let two of the principal members of the society be deputed to examine his accounts. And if he has not kept fair accounts, or has been concerned in that base practise of raising money by _coining_ notes (commonly called _the bill-trade_) let him be immediately expelled ♦from the society.
♦ inserted missing word “from”
_Q._ 27. What is the office of a Christian minister?
_A._ To watch over souls, as he that must give account.
_Q._ 28. In what view may we and our helpers be considered?