18. Have the General Rules been read this Quarter?

19. Have the Rules respecting the in

struction of children been observed? 20. Are the Church Records properly kept?

21. Where and when shall the next Quarterly Conference be held ?

22. Is there any other business?

T 98. Committees ordered to be appointed by the Quarterly Conference. On Missions.

Tracts.

On Sunday-schools. On

On Education. On Church Extension. On Church Records. On Parsonages and Furniture. On Church Music. On Estimating the Preachers' Salaries. On Estimating the Amount Necessary for Conference Claimants.

PART II.-CHAPTER II.

THE MINISTRY..

The Examination of those who think they are moved by the Holy Ghost to Preach.

99. In order that we may try those who profess to be moved by the Holy Ghost to preach, let the following questions be asked, namely:

§ 1. 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?

100. As long as these three marks

concur in any one, we believe he is calied of God to preach. These we receive as sufficient proof that he is moved by the Holy Ghost.

Rules for a Preacher's Conduct

T101. Rule 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.

Let your

T 102. Rule 2. Be serious motto be, Holiness to the Lord. Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking. T 103. Rule 3. Converse sparingly, and conduct yourself prudently, with women. (1 Tim. v, 2.)

T 104. Rule 4. Take no step toward marriage without first advising with your brethren.

T 105. Rule 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 every thing. You know the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner's side.

¶ 106. Rule 6. Speak evil of no one; because your word, especially, would eat

as doth a canker. Keep your thoughts within your own breast till you come to the person concerned.

T 107. Rule 7. Tell every one under your care what you think wrong in his conduct and temper, 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.

T 108. Rule 8. Avoid all affectation. A preacher of the Gospel is the servant of all.

T 109. Rule 9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin.

T 110. Rule 10. Be punctual. Do every thing exactly at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them; not for wrath, but conscience' sake.

T 111. Rule 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.

¶ 112. 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 a'l 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 Methodist Discipline! Therefore you will need to exercise all the sense and grace you have.

¶ 113. Rule 12. Act in 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.

¶ 114. Smaller advices which might be of use to us, are perhaps these: 1. Be sure never to disappoint a congiegation. 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 any thing awkward or