_A._ Inquire, 1. Do they know God as a pardoning God? Have they the love of God abiding in them? Do they desire and seek nothing but God? And are they holy in all manner of conversation? 2. Have they _gifts_ (as well as _grace_) for the work? Have they (in some tolerable degree) a clear, sound understanding? Have they a right judgment in the things of God? Have they a just conception of salvation by faith? And has God given them any degree of utterance? Do they speak justly, readily, clearly? 3. Have they _fruit_? Are any truly convinced of sin and converted to God by their preaching?
As long as these three marks concur in any one, we believe he is called of God to preach. These we receive as sufficient proof, that he is moved thereto by the Holy Ghost.
_Q._ 59. But how shall we know, whether they concur or not, in any particular person?
_A._ 1. If he is near us, we will talk with him on the preceding heads and hear him preach.
2. We will desire him to write down or relate the reasons, why he thinks he is called of God thereto.
3. We will examine those who seem to be convinced of sin, or converted to God by his preaching.
4. If he is at a distance, we will desire the assistant to do this: and to inquire, what is the judgment of his brethren concerning him.
_Q._ 60. What method may we use in receiving a new helper;
_A._ A proper time for doing this, is at a conference after solemn fasting and prayer.
Every person to be admitted is then to be present, and each of them may be asked,
* “_A. B._ Have _you_ faith in Christ? Are you _going on to perfection_? Do you expect to be _perfected in love_ in this life? Are you groaning after it? Are you resolved to devote yourself wholly to God and his work? Do you know the _Methodist_-plan? Have you read the _plain account_? The _appeals_? Do you know the rules of the society? Of the bands? Do you keep them? Do you take no snuff? Tobacco? Drams? Do you constantly attend the church and sacrament? Have you read the minutes? Are you willing to conform to them? Have you considered the twelve rules of a helper? Especially the first, tenth, and twelfth? Will you keep them for conscience-sake? Are you determined to employ _all_ your time in the work of God? Will you preach every morning and evening? Endeavouring not to speak too long (an hour in the whole) or too loud? Not lolling with your elbows? Have you read the _rules of action and utterance_? Will you meet the society, the bands, the select society, and the leaders in every place? Will you diligently and earnestly instruct the children, and visit from house to house? Will you recommend fasting, both by precept and example?”
We may then receive him as a probationer, by giving him the minutes of the conference inscribed thus,
To _A. B._
“You think it your duty to call sinners to repentance. Make full proof hereof, and we shall rejoice to receive you as a fellow-labourer.
“_Observe_, You are not to ramble up and down, but to go where the assistant directs, and there only.”
Let him then read and carefully weigh what is contained therein, and see whether he can agree to them, or not.
If he can, let him come to the next conference; where, after examination, fasting and prayer, he may be received into full connection with us, by giving him the minutes inscribed thus:
“So long as you freely consent to, and earnestly endeavour to walk by these rules, we shall rejoice to acknowledge you as a fellow-labourer.”
Mean time, let none exhort in any of our societies without a note of permission from the assistant. Let every exhorter take care to have this renewed yearly. And let every assistant rigorously insist upon it.
_Q._ 61. How can we provide for worn-out preachers?
_A._ Those that can preach a little may be supernumerary preachers where there is most need. As for those who cannot preach at all.
1. Let every travelling preacher contribute _half a guinea_ yearly at the conference.
2. Let every one when first received as a travelling preacher, pay _one guinea_.
3. Let this be lodged in the hands of the stewards approved of by the majority of the preachers.
4. The present stewards are _Joseph Cownly_ and _John Murlin_.
5. Out of this let provision be made, first for the worn-out preachers, then for the widows and children of those that are dead.
6. Every worn-out preacher shall receive at least _ten pounds_ a year.
7. Every widow of a preacher shall receive yearly during her widowhood, (if she wants it) a sum not exceeding _ten pounds_.
8. Every child left by a preacher shall receive once for all, a sum not usually exceeding _ten pounds_.
9. But none is intitled to any thing from this fund, till he has subscribed _two guineas_.
10. Nor any person from the time he ceases (unless worn-out) to be a travelling preacher:
11. Nor any who neglects paying his subscription for four years together.