CHAPTER III.

MINISTERS AND CHURCH OFFICERS.

SECTION I.

OF THE TRIAL OF THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE MOVED BY THE HOLY GHOST TO PREACH.

59 Ques. How shall we try those who profess to be moved by the Holy Ghost to preach?

Ans. 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 under

standing, a right judgment in the things of God, a just conception of salvation by faith? 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 by the Holy Ghost.

SECTION II.

OF THE ELECTION AND CONSECRATION OF BISHOPS, AND OF THEIR DUTY.

60. Ques. 1. How is a Bishop to

be constituted?

Ans. By the election of the General Conference, and the laying on of the hands of three Bishops, or at least of one Bishop and two elders.

61. Ques. 2. If by death, expul

sion, or otherwise, there be no Bishop remaining in our Church, what shall we do?

Ans. The General Conference shall elect a Bishop; and the elders, or any three of them, who shall be appointed by the General Conference for that purpose, shall ordain him according to our form of ordination.

62. Ques. 3. What are the duties

of a Bishop?

Ans. 1. To preside in the General and Annual Conferences.

Ans. 2. To fix the appointments of the preachers in the Annual Conferences: provided, he shall not allow any preacher to remain in the same circuit or station more than four years successively, except the preachers stationed in Key West, Florida Conference, the Connectional officers, the supernumerary and superannuated preachers, mis

sionaries among the Indians and on foreign stations, chaplains to the stateprisons and military posts, those preachers that may be appointed to labor for the especial benefit of seamen and for the American Bible Society, and the presidents, principals, or teachers of seminaries under our superintendence; and when requested by an Annual Conference, to appoint a preacher for a longer time than four years to any seminary of learning not under our care; also an agent to travel throughout the bounds of such Conference for the purpose of establishing and aiding Sabbath-schools and distributing tracts; and an agent or agents for the benefit of our literary and benevolent institutions, and the editors of Annual Conference organs.

Ans. 3. To choose the Presiding Elders, fix their stations, and change them

when he judges it necessary: provided, that he shall not allow any elder to preside in the same District more than four years successively.

Ans. 4. To change, receive, and suspend preachers in the intervals of the Conferences, as necessity may require, and as the Discipline directs.

Ans. 5. To ordain Bishops, elders, and deacons; and to see that the names of the persons ordained by him be entered on the journals of the Conference.

Ans. 6. To decide all questions of law coming before him in the regular business of an Annual Conference: provided, that such questions be presented in writing, and, with his decisions, be recorded on the journals of the Conference. When the Bishop shall have decided a question of law, the Conference shall have the right to determine how far the law thus decided or inter