1. Reading: _constantly_, some part of every day, and at all vacant hours; _regularly_, all the new Testament (at least) and the Lessons for Children in order; _carefully_, with the Notes, _seriously_, _deliberately_, with much prayer preceding, accompanying and following: _fruitfully_, immediately practising what you learn there?
What other books do you read? Is it wise to read any, till you have read our tracts, and the Christian Library?
Do you give the morning to reading, writing and prayer?
2. Meditating: at set times? How? By bishop _Hall_’s, or Mr. _Baxter_’s rule? How long?
3. Hearing: constantly? Every morning?
Humbly? Uncritically, devoutly?
Carefully? With prayer before, at, after?
Fruitfully? Immediately putting in practice?
Have you a new Testament always in your pocket?
(See that the Notes are in every society. Explain them to the congregation.)
III. The Lord’s supper. Do you use this,
At every opportunity? With due preparation?
That is, with solemn prayer? With careful self-examination? With deep repentance suited thereto? With earnest and deliberate self-devotion?
Do you in communicating _discern_ the Lord’s body?
Do you afterward _retire_, not formally, but in earnest?
IV. Fasting: God led us to this at _Oxford_. And he led all of you to it, when you first set out.
How often do you fast now? Every Friday? In what degree?
V. Christian conference.
Are we convinced, how important, and how difficult it is to order our conversation right?
Is it always _in grace_? Seasoned with salt? Meet to minister grace to the hearers?
Do we not converse too long at a time? Is not an hour at a time commonly enough?
Would it not be well to plan our conversation beforehand? To pray before and after it?
II. Prudential means we may use either as _common Christians_, as _Methodists_, as _preachers_, or as _assistants_.
1. As common Christians. What particular rules have _you_, for avoiding evil? Doing good? Growing in grace? What arts of holy living?
2. As Methodists; Do you never miss any meeting of the society? Neither your class, or band?
3. As preachers: Do you meet every society weekly? Also the leaders? And bands, if any?
Do you visit the sick? And the well? Instructing masters and parents? And in all relative duties?
4. As assistants: Do you fill up and regulate the bands wherever you come? Diligently enquire into the state of the books, and do all you can to propagate them? Keep watch-nights once a month? And love-feasts? With one twice a year, for all the society?
Do you visit every society once a quarter, and regulate all things therein?
Do you take a regular catalogue of your societies at least once a year?
Do you write me an account of all the defects of the common preachers, which you cannot yourself cure?
These means may be used without fruit. But there are some means which cannot. Namely, watching, denying ourselves, taking up our cross, exercise of the presence of God.
1. Do we steadily watch against the world, the devil, ourselves? The besetting sin?
2. Do you deny yourselves every useless pleasure of sense? Imagination? Honour? Are you temperate in all things? To take one instance, in food? Do you use only that _kind_ and that _degree_, which is best both for the body and soul? Do you see the necessity of this?
Do you eat no flesh suppers? No late suppers? These naturally tend to destroy bodily health.
Do you eat only three meals a day? If four, are you not an excellent pattern to the flock?
Do you take no more food than is necessary at each meal? You may know if you do, by a load at your stomach: by drowsiness, or heaviness, and in a while, by weak or bad nerves.
Do you use only that _kind_, and that _degree_ of drink which is best both for your body and soul?
Do _you_ drink water? Why not? Did you ever? Why did you leave it off? If not for health, when will you begin again? To day?
How often do you drink wine or ale? Every day? Do you _want_ or _waste_ it?
3. Wherein do you _take up your cross_ daily? Do you chearfully _bear your cross_ (whatever is grievous to nature) as a gift of God, and labour to profit thereby?
4. Do you endeavour to set God always before you? To see his eye continually fixt upon you? Never can you use these means, but a blessing will ensue. And the more you use them, the more will you “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
_Q._ 45. What can be done in order to a closer union of our helpers with each other?
_A._ 1. Let them be deeply convinced of the want there is of it at present, and the absolute necessity of it.
2. Let them pray for an earnest desire of union.
3. Let them speak freely to each other.
4. When they meet, let them never part without prayer.
5. Let them beware how they despise each other’s gifts.
6. Let them never speak slightingly of each other in any kind.
7. Let them defend one another’s characters in every thing, to the utmost of their power: And