_A._ We are irregular, 1. By calling sinners to repentance, in _all places_ of God’s dominion. 2. By frequently using _extemporary prayer_. Yet we are not _Dissenters_ in the only sense which our law acknowledges: namely, persons who believe it is sinful to attend the service of the church: for we do attend it at all opportunities. We will not, dare not separate from the church, for the reasons given several years ago. We are not _Seceders_, nor do we bear any resemblance to them. We set out upon quite opposite principles. The Seceders laid the very foundation of their work in judging and condemning _others_. We laid the foundation of our work, in judging and condemning ourselves. They begin every where, with shewing their hearers, how fallen _the church_ and _ministers_ are. We begin every where, with shewing our hearers, how fallen they are _themselves_.
And as we are not dissenters from the church now, so we will do nothing, willingly, which tends to a separation from it. Therefore let every assistant immediately so order his circuit, that no preacher may be hindered from attending the church, more than two Sundays in the month. Never make light of going to church, either by word or deed. Remember Mr. _Hook_, a very eminent and zealous _papist_. When I asked him, “Sir, What do you for public worship here, where you have no _Romish_ ♦service?” He answered, “Sir, I am so fully convinced, it is the duty of every man to worship God in public, that I go to church every Sunday. If I cannot have such worship as I would, I will have such worship as I can.”
♦ “sermon” replaced with “service” per Errata
But some may say, “Our own service is public worship.” Yes, _in a sense_: but not such as supercedes the church service. We never designed it should: we have an hundred times professed the contrary. It pre-supposes public prayer, like the sermons at the university. Therefore I have over and over advised, “use no _long prayer_, either before or after sermon.” Therefore I myself frequently use only a collect, and never inlarge in prayer, unless at intercession, or on a watch-night, or on some extraordinary occasion.
If it were designed to be instead of church service it would be essentially defective. For it seldom has the four grand parts of public prayer. Deprecation, petition, intercession and thanksgiving. Neither is it, even on the Lord’s day, concluded with the Lord’s supper.
The hour for it on that day, unless where there is some peculiar reason for a variation, should be five in the morning as well as in the evening. Why should we make God’s day the shortest of the seven?
But if the people put ours in the room of the church service, we _hurt_ them that stay with us, and _ruin_ them that leave us. For then they will go no where but lounge the sabbath away, without any public worship at all.
I advise therefore all the _Methodists_ in _England_ and _Ireland_, who have been brought up in the church, constantly to attend the service of the church, at least every Lord’s day.
_Q._ 43. Are all our preachers merciful to their beasts?
_A._ Perhaps not. Every one ought, not only to ride it moderately, but also to see with his own eyes his horse rubbed, fed and bedded.
* _Q._ 44. Do we sufficiently watch over our helpers?
_A._ We might consider those that are with us as our pupils: into whose behaviour and studies we should therefore make a particular enquiry every day.
Should we not frequently ask each, Do you walk closely with God? Have you now fellowship with the Father and the Son? At what hour do you rise? Do you punctually observe the morning and evening hour of retirement? Do you spend the day in the manner which we advise? Do you read the books we advise, and no other? Do you fast as often as your health will permit? Do you converse seriously, usefully and closely? Do you pray before, and have you a determinate end in every conversation?
To be more particular:
Do you use all the means of grace yourself, and inforce the use of them on all persons?
They are either _instituted_ or _prudential_.
I. The instituted are,
1st, Prayer; private, family, public: consisting of deprecation, petition, intercession, thanksgiving.
Do you use each of these constantly (at set times) and fervently?
Do you use private prayer every morning and evening? If you are your own master, at five in the evening, and the hour before or after morning preaching?
Do you forecast wherever you are, how to secure these hours?
Do you avow it every where?
Are you resolute herein?
Do you call your family together at five?
Do you ask every where, 1. Have _you_ family prayer? 2. Do you retire at five o’clock?
II. Searching the scripture, by,