I. QUALIFICATIONS AND WORK II. MINISTERS AND ANNUAL CONFERENCES III. DEACONS IV. ELDERS V. PASTORS VI. LEAVE OF ABSENCE VII. SUPERNUMERARY MINISTERS VIII. RETIRED MINISTERS IX. DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS X. MISSIONARY BISHOPS XI. BISHOPS XII. RETIRED BISHOPS CHAPTER I QUALIFICATIONS AND WORK I. Call to Preach 114. In order that we may try those persons 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? 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? Has God given them any degree of utterance? Do they speak justly, readily, clearly? § 3. Have any been truly convinced of sin and converted to God, and are believers edified by their preaching? § 4. As long as these marks concur in anyone, we believe he is called of God to preach. These we receive as sufficient proof that he is moved by the Holy Ghost. II. Rules for a Preacher's Conduct 115. 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. 116. Rule 2. Be serious. Let your motto be, "Holiness to the Lord." Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking. 117. Rule 3. Converse sparingly and conduct yourself prudently with women (1 Tim. 5. 2). 118. Rule 4. 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. ¶ 119. Rule 5. 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. ¶ 120. Rule 6. Tell everyone 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. 1121. Rule 7. Avoid all affectation. A Preacher of the Gospel is the servant of all. ¶ 122. Rule 8. Be ashamed of nothing but sin. ¶ 123. Rule 9. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them; not for wrath, but for conscience sake. 124. Rule 10. 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 Methodist Discipline! Therefore you will need to exercise all the sense and grace you have. ¶ 125. Rule 11. 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. ¶ 126. Smaller advices which might be of use to us are 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. 9. Frequently read and enlarge upon a portion of Scripture; and let young Preachers often exhort without taking a text. 10. Always avail yourself of the great festivals by preaching on the occasion. III. Spiritual Qualifications ¶ 127. The duty of the Preacher is: 1. To preach. 2. To meet the Societies and Classes. 3. To visit the sick. ¶ 128. A Preacher shall be qualified for his charge by walking closely with God, and having his work greatly at heart, and by understanding and loving discipline, ours in particular. 1129. We do not sufficiently watch over each other. Should we not frequently ask each other, Do you walk closely with God? Have you now fellowship with the Father and the Son? At what hour do you rise? Do you punctually observe the morning and evening hours of retirement? Do you spend the day in the manner which the Conference advises? Do you con verse seriously, usefully, and closely? To be more particular: Do you use all the means of grace yourself, and enforce the use of them on all other persons? 130. The means of grace are either Instituted or Prudential. 131. The INSTITUTED are: § 1. Prayer: private, family, and public; consisting of deprecation, petition, intercession, and thanksgiving. Do you use each of these? Do you forecast daily, wherever you are, to secure time for private devotion? Do you practice it everywhere? ask everywhere, Have you family prayer? ask individuals, Do you use private prayer every morning and evening in particular? Do you Do you § 2. Searching the Scriptures: 1. Reading: constantly, some part of every day; regularly, all the Bible in order; carefully, with notes; seriously, with prayer before and after; fruitfully, immediately practicing what you learn there. 2. Meditating: at set times; by rule. 3. Hearing: at every opportunity; with prayer before, at, after. Have you a Bible always about you? § 3. The Lord's Supper: Do you use this at every |