6. Men and brethren, help! Was there ever a call like _this_, since you first heard the gospel-sound? Help to relieve your companions in the kingdom of Jesus, who are prest above measure. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Help to send forth able, willing labourers into your Lord’s harvest: so shall ye be assistant in saving souls from death, and hiding a multitude of sins. Help to spread the gospel of your salvation into the remotest corners of the kingdom, till “the knowledge of our Lord shall cover the land, as the waters cover the sea.” Help to deliver the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, to procure them the blessings which we enjoy: so shall it appear to ourselves, and all men, that we are indeed one body, united by one spirit: so shall the baptized Heathens be yet again constrained to say, “See how these Christians love one another.”
The money received is to be brought by the assistants to the next conference.
_Q._ 73. But notwithstanding all that has been contributed and paid, we are still _six thousand nine hundred and fifty eight pounds_ in debt. So that we gain no ground. What can be done? How can we prevent the increase of debt?
_A._ By putting an absolute stop to all building for the ensuing year. Let no new house be built, no addition or alteration made in any old one, unless the proposers thereof can and will defray the whole expence of it.
_Q._ 74. What can be done in order to pay the old debt?
_A._ 1. Give a note to each assistant, specifying the debts, toward which the money collected in each circuit next year is to be paid.
2. Let each assistant encourage the people in each place, like those in _Birmingham_, to make a push toward paying off their own debt.
3. Let whatever is contributed in any single place, which is in debt, pay that as far as it will go.
But even this method being found ineffectual, it was agreed at the conference in 1771. To change the yearly subscription into a weekly one.
_Q._ 75. What is the safest way of leaving a legacy for any charitable purpose?
_A._ To leave it absolutely to a person they can confide in.
_Q._ 76. What is the method wherein we usually proceed in our conferences?
_A._ We inquire
1. What preachers are _admitted_?
Who _remain_ on trial?
Who are _admitted_ on trial? And
Who _desist_ from travelling?
2. Who act as _assistants_ this year?
3. Are there any objections to any of the preachers? (who are named one by one.)
4. How are the preachers stationed this year?
5. What numbers are in the society?
6. What is the _Kingswood_ collection?
7. What is contributed towards the debt?
8. How was this expended?
9. What is contributed toward the preachers fund?
10. What demands are there upon it?
11. How many preachers wives are to be provided for?
12. By what societies?
13. Where and when may our next conference begin?
* _Q._ 77. What _power_ is it which _you_ exercise over both preachers and people?
_A._ Count _Zinzendorff_ loved to keep all things _close_. I love to do all things _openly_. I will therefore tell you all I know of the matter, taking it from the very beginning.
1. In _November 1738_, two or three persons, who desired _to flee from the wrath to come_, and then seven or eight more came to me in _London_, and desired me to advise and pray with them. I said, “If you will meet on _Thursday_ night, I will help you as well as I can.” More and more then desired to meet with them, till they were increased to many hundreds. The case was afterwards the same at _Bristol_, _Kingswood_, _Newcastle_, and many other parts of _England_, _Scotland_, and _Ireland_. It may be observed the desire was on _their_ part, not _mine_. My desire was to live and die in retirement. But I did not see that I could refuse them my help, and be guiltless before God.
Here commenced my power, namely, a power to appoint _when_, and _where_, and _how_ they should meet: and to remove those whose lives shewed, that they had no desire to _flee from the wrath to come_. And this power remained the same, whether the people meeting together were twelve, twelve hundred, or twelve thousand.
2. In a few days some of them said, “Sir, we will not _sit under you_ for nothing. We will subscribe quarterly.” I said, “I will have nothing, for I want nothing. My fellowship supplies me with all, and more than I want.” One replied, “Nay, but you want _one hundred and fifteen pounds_ to pay for the lease of the _Foundery_. And likewise a large sum of money will be wanting to put it in repair.” On this consideration I suffered them to subscribe. And when the society met, I asked, “Who will take the trouble of receiving this money, and _paying_ it where it is needful?” One said, “I will do it, and keep the account for you.” So here was the first _steward_. Afterwards I desired one or two more to help me as stewards, and in process of time a greater number.