_A._ Perhaps as extraordinary messengers, designed by God to provoke others to jealousy.
_Q._ 29. What is the office of an _helper_?
_A._ In the absence of a minister, to feed and guide the flock: in particular,
1. To expound every morning and evening: (But _N. B._ He is never, in any place, to begin later in the evening than seven o’clock, except in harvest-time.)
2. To meet the united society, the bands, the select society, and the penitents, every week:
3. To receive on trial for the society and bands, and to put the disorderly back on trial:
4. To meet the leaders of the bands and classes weekly, and the stewards, and to overlook their accounts.
Let every preacher be particularly exact in the morning preaching, and meeting the leaders.
_Q._ 30. What are the rules of an helper?
_A._ 1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed a moment. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time: neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary.
2. Be serious. Let your motto be, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. Avoid all lightness, jesting and foolish talking.
3. Converse sparingly and cautiously with women: particularly with young women in private.
4. Take no step toward marriage, without first acquainting us with your design.
5. Believe evil of no one: unless you see it done, take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction on every thing. You know the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner’s side.
6. Speak evil of no one: else _your_ word especially would eat as doth a canker. Keep your thoughts within your own breast, till you come to the person concerned.
7. Tell every one what you think wrong in him, and that plainly, and as soon as may be, else it will fester in your heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom.
8. Do not affect the gentleman. You have no more to do with this character, than with that of a dancing-master. A preacher of the gospel is the servant of all.
9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin: not of fetching wood (if time permit) or of drawing water; not of cleaning your own shoes, or your neighbours.
10. Be punctual. Do every thing exactly at the time. And in general, do not mend our rules, but _keep_ them: not for wrath, but for conscience sake.
11. You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those that want you, but to those that want you most.
12. Act in all things, not according to your own will, but as a son in the gospel. As such, it is your part to employ your time in the manner which we direct: partly in preaching and visiting from house to house; partly in reading, meditation and prayer: above all, if you labour with us in our Lord’s vineyard, it is needful that you should do _that part_ of the work which we advise, at _those times_ and _places_, which we judge most for his glory.
* _Q._ 31. What general method of employing our time would you advise us to?
_A._ We advise you, 1. As often as possible to rise at four. 2. From four to five in the morning, and from five to six in the evening, to meditate, pray and read partly the scripture with the notes, partly the closely practical parts of what we have published. 3. From six in the morning to twelve (allowing an hour for breakfast) to read in order, with much prayer, bishop _Pearson_ on the creed, Mr. ♦_Boehm_’s and _Nalson_’s sermons; and the other books which we have published in prose or verse.
♦ “Bocham” replaced with “Boehm” and “Nelson” replaced with “Nalson” per Errata
_Q._ 32. Should our helpers follow trades?
_A._ This is an important question: therefore it will be proper to consider it throughly. The question is not, whether they may occasionally work with their hands, as St. _Paul_ did: but whether it be proper for them to keep shop and follow merchandize. Of those who do so at present it may be observed, they are unquestionably upright men. They are men of considerable gifts. We see the fruit of their labour, and they have a large share in the esteem and love of the people. All this pleads on their side, and cannot but give us a prejudice in their favour. Three of these urge necessity for doing this: One that he may help his aged father; another that he may maintain his wife; a third that he may keep his children; a fourth does not plead any necessity, but a desire of doing more good. One answered _J. O._ “If you cannot help your father without trading, and if the societies either cannot or will not, I will allow him what you allow him now. So this necessity is at an end.” To _Ja. O._ it was answered, “Your wife wants nothing yet. It is not likely she ever will. You have money beforehand. So your necessity is not yet begun.” To _R. R._ “You do not want now. When you do want any thing for your children, you shall have it. So here is no necessity.”