[4] (5.) Who shall be the District Steward? [4] (7.) Who shall be the estimating Com- EXAMINATIONS AND RENEWAL OF LICENSES. [4] 8. Will you now attend to the examination of character and the renewal of licenses ? RECOMMENDATIONS. 9. Are there any recommendations— (1.) For license to preach? [4] (2.) For admission into the traveling connection? [4] (3.) For election of Local Preachers to Deacon's or Elder's orders ?† MISCELLANEOUS. 10. Is there any other business?énu Gele. (1.) Have the General Rules been read 1 his quarter? (2.) Are the Church Records properly (3.) Where shall the next Quarterly N. B. On circuits the Quarterly Conference determines the place of the Quarterly meeting, and the Presiding Elder fixes the time. *Duties of Estimating Committee, see pp. 253-255. +For recognition of orders ?-EDs, CHAPTER II. THE MINISTRY. SECTION I. The Examination of those who think they are moved by the Holy Ghost to Preach. Quest. How shall we try those who profess to be moved by the Holy Ghost to preach? Answ. 1. Let the following questions be asked, namely: Do they know God as a pardoning God? Have they the love of God abiding in them? Do they desire 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, a right judgment in the things of God, 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 or God to preach. These we receive as sufficient proof that he is moved by the Holy Ghost. SECTION II. Rules for a Preacher's Conduct. Quest. 1. What are the directions given to a Preacher? Answ. 1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed: never be triflingly employed. Never trifle 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 conduct yourself prudently with women. (1 Tim. v, 2.) 4. Take no step toward marriage with out first consulting with your brethren. 5. Believe evil of no one without good evidence; unless you see it done, take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction on everything. You know the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner's side.. 6. Speak evil of no one; because your word, especially, would eat as doth a cank er. Keep your thoughts within your own breast till you come to the person concerned. 7. Tell every one under your care what you think wrong in his conduct and ternper, and that lovingly and plainly as soon as may be: else it will fester in your heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom. 8. Avoid all affectation. A preacher of the Gospel is the servant of all. 9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin. 10. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them; not for wrath, but 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. Observe! it is not your business only to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society, but to save as many as you can; to bring as many sinners as you can to repentance, and with all your power to build them up in that holiness without which they cannot see the Lord. And remember! a Methodist preacher is to mind every point, great and small, in the Meth odist Discipline! Therefore you will need to exercise all the sense and grace you have. 12. Act all things not according to your own will, but as a son in the Gospel. As such, it is your duty to employ your time in the manner in which we direct: in preaching, and visiting from house to house; in reading, meditation, and prayer. Above all, if you labor with us in the Lord's vineyard, it is needful you should do that part of the work which we advise, at those times and places which we judge most for his glory. Quest. 2. Are there any smaller advices which might be of use to us? Answ. Perhaps these: 1. Be sure never to disappoint a congregation. 2. Begin at the time appointed. 3. Let your whole deportment be serious, weighty, and solemn. 4. Always suit your subject to your audience. 5. Choose the plainest text you can. 6. Take care not to ramble, but keep to your text, and make out what you take in hand. 7. Take care of anything awkward or affected, either in your gesture, phrase, or pronunciation. 8. Do not usually pray extempore above eight or ten minutes (at most) without intermission. |