work.

It may be observed, however, will shew us in what manner they that Mr. Wesley's design in calling are chosen and designated: Q. the preachers together annually" How shall we try those who was not merely for the regulation think they are moved by the Holy of the circuits, but also for the Ghost to preach?" A. "Inquire, review of their doctrines and 1. Do they know God as a pardiscipline, and for the examina- doning God? Have they the love tion of their moral conduct; that of God abiding in them? Do they those who were to administer desire and seek nothing but God? with him in holy things might be And are they holy in all manner thoroughly furnished for every good of conversation?-2. Have they gifts, as well as grace, for the work? Have they, in some tolerable degree, a clear, sound understanding? Have they a right judgment in the things of God? Have they 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?

The first conference was held in June 1744, at which Mr. Wesley met his brother, two or three other clergymen, and a few of the preachers whom he had appointed to come from various parts, to confer with them on the affairs of the societies.

“Monday, June 25," observes Mr. Wesley," and the five following days, we spent in conference with our preachers, seriously considering by what means we "As long as these three marks might the most effectually save our concur in any one, we believe he own souls, and them that heard is called of God to preach. These us; and the result of our consul-we receive as sufficient proof that tations we set down to be the rule he is moved thereto by the Holy of our future practice." Ghost."

Since that time a conference has been held annually, Mr. Wesley himself having presided at forty-seven. The subjects of their deliberations were proposed in the form of questions, which were amply discussed; and the questions, with the answers agreed upon, were afterwards printed under the title of "Minutes of several Conversations between the Rev. Mr. Wesley and others," commonly called Minutes of Conference.

As to their preachers, the following extract from the abovementioned Minutes of Conference

Q. "What method may we use in receiving a new helper?" A. "A proper time for doing this is at a conference, after solemn fasting and prayer; every person proposed is then to be present, and each of them may be asked,

"Have you faith in Christ? Are you going on to perfection? Do you expect to be perfected in love in this life? Are you groaning after it? Are you resolved to devote yourself wholly to God and to his work? Have you considered the rules of a helper? Will you keep them for conscience sake? Are

you determined to employ all your selected the itinerant preachers, time in the work of God? Will who are first proposed at a quarteryou preach every morning and ly meeting of the stewards and local evening? Will you diligently in- preachers of the circuit; then at a struct the children in every place? meeting of the travelling preachers Will you visit from house to of the district; and, lastly, in the house? Will you recommend fast-conference; and, if accepted, are ing both by precept and exam-nominated for a circuit.-7. Their

ple?

"We may then receive him as a probationer, by giving him the Minutes of the Conference, inscribed thus: To A. B. You think it your duty to call sinners to repentance. Make full proof hereof, and we shall rejoice to receive you as a fellow-labourer.' Let him then read and carefully weigh what is contained therein, that if he has any doubt it may be removed."

characters and conduct are examined annually in the conference; and, if they continue faithful for four years of trial, they are received into full connexion. At these conferences, also, strict inquiry is made into the conduct and success of every preacher, and those who are found deficient in abilities are no longer employed as itinerants; while those whose conduct has not been agreeable to the Gospel are expelled, and thereby deprived of all the privileges even of private members of the society."

"To the above it may be useful to add," says Mr. Benson, "a few remarks on the method pursued in the choice of the itinerant IV. Methodists,new connexion of. preachers, as many have formed Since Mr. Wesley's death, his the most erroneous ideas on the people have been divided; but subject, imagining they are em- this division, it seems, respects ployed with hardly any prior pre-discipline more than sentiment. paration. 1. They are received as private members of the society on trial.-2. After a quarter of a year, if they are found deserving, they are admitted as proper members.-3. When their grace and abilities are sufficiently manifest, they are appointed leaders of classes.-4. If they then discover talents for more important services, they are employed to exhort occasionally in the smaller congregations, when the preachers cannot attend.-5. If approved in this line of duty, they are allowed to preach.-6. Out of these men, who are called local preachers, are

Mr. Wesley professed a strong attachment to the established church of England, and exhorted the societies under his care to attend her service, and receive the Lord's supper from the regular clergy. But in the latter part of his time he thought proper to ordain some bishops and priests for America and Scotland; but as one or two of the bishops have never been out of England since their appointment to the office, it is probable that he intended a regular ordination should take place when the state of the connexion might render it necessary. During his

life, some of the societies peti-This subject produced avariety of tioned to have preaching in their arguments on both sides of the

own chapels in church hours, and question; many of the preachers the Lord's supper administered by and people thought that anannual the travelling preachers. This re- delegation of the general stevards quest he generally refused, and, of the circuits, to sit either it. the where it could be conveniently conference or the district meetdone, sent some of the clergymen ings, in order to assist in the dis. who officiated at the New Chapel bursement of the yearly collecin London to perform these so-tion, the Kingswood School collemn services. At the first con- lection, and the preachers' fund, ference after his death, which was and in making new or revising held at Manchester, the preachers old laws, would be a bond of published a declaration, in which union between the conference and they said that they would "take connexion at large, and do away up the Plan as Mr. Wesley had the very idea of arbitrary power left it." This was by no means among the travelling preachers. satisfactory to many of the preach-In order to facilitate this good ers and people, who thought that work, many societies, in various religious liberty ought to be ex- parts of the kingdom, sent delegates tended to all the societies which to the conference held at Leeds in desired it. In order to favour 1797: they were instructed to rethis cause, so agreeable to the spi- quest, that the people might have rit of Christianity and the rights a voice in the formation of their of Englishmen, several respectable own laws, the choice of their own preachers came forward; and by officers, and the distribution of their the writings which they circulated own property. The preachers prothrough the connexion, paved the ceeded to discuss two motions: way for a plan of pacification; by Shall delegates from the societies. which it was stipulated, that in be admitted into the conference? every society where a threefold Shall circuit stewards be admitted majority of class-leaders, stewards into the district meetings? Both and trustees desired it, the people motions were negatived, and conshould have preaching in church sequently all hopes of accommodahours, and the sacraments of bap- tion between the parties were given tism and the Lord's supper ad-up. Several friends of religious ministered to them. The spirit of liberty proposed a plan for a new enquiry being roused did not itinerancy. In order that it might stop here; for it appeared agree- be carried into immediate effect, able both to reason, and the cus- they formed themselves into a retoms of the primitive church, gular meeting, in Ebenezer Chathat the people should have a pel, Mr. William Thom being voice in the temporal concerns of chosen president, and Mr. Alexthe societies, vote in the election ander Kilham secretary. The of church officers, and give their meeting proceeded to arrange the suffrages in spiritual concerns. plan for supplying the circuits of VOL. II.

R

the Arminians are, but are chiefly under the direction or influence of their ministers or patrons.

the new connexion with preachers; and desired the president and secretary to draw up the rules of church government, in order that It is necessary to observe here, they might be circulated through that there are many congregations the societies for their approba- in London, and elsewhere, who tion. Accordingly, a form of although they are called Methodchurch government, suited to an ists, yet are neither in Mr. Wesitinerant ministry, was printed by ley's, Mr. Whitfield's, nor the new these two brethren, under the ti- connexion. Some of these are tle of "Outlines of a Constitution supplied by a variety of ministers; proposed for the Examination, and others, bordering more upon Amendment, and Acceptance of the congregational plan, have a the Members of the Methodist resident minister. The clergy of new Itinerancy." The plan was ex- the church of England, who streamined by select committees in the nuously preach up her doctrines different circuits of the connexion, and articles, are called Methodand, with a few alterations, was ac- ists. A distinct connexion, upcepted by the conference of preach- on Mr. Whitfield's plan, was ers and delegates. The preachers formed and patronized by the late and people are incorporated in all lady Huntingdon, and which still meetings for business, not by tem- subsists. The term Methodist, alporary concession, but by the es- so, is applied by way of reproach sential principles of their constitu- to almost every one who manifests tion; for the private members more than common concern for chuse the class-leaders; the lead-the interests of religion and the ers' meeting nominates the stew-spiritual good of mankind. ards; and the society confirms or V. Methodists, numbers and sucrejects the nomination. The quar-cess of. Notwithstanding the geterly meetings are composed of neral contempt that has been the general stewards and repre- thrown upon them, and the opposentatives chosen by the different sition they have met with, yet their societies of the circuits, and the numbers are very considerable. fourth quarterly meeting of the From the minutes of the conferyear appoints the preacher and ence of the Wesleyan Methodists delegate of every circuit that shall held at Sheffield, July 29, 1805, attend the general conference. it appears that the number of perFor a farther account of their sons in their societies are as folprinciples and discipline, we must low. In Great Britain 101,915; refer the reader to a pamphlet, en-Ireland 23,321; Gibraltar 40; titled, "General Rules of the America (including 22,650 colourUnited Societies of Methodists ined people and blacks) 124,978.

the new Connexion.”

The Calvanistic Methodists are not incorporated into a body as

Total 250,254. Their labours have extended to Barbadoes, St. Vincent's, Dominica, St. Christo

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METROPOLITAN, a bishop

MILITANT, from militans, fighting; a term applied to the church on earth, as engaged in a warfare with the world, sin, and the devil; in distinction from the church triumphant in heaven.

MILLENARIANS, or CHILIANISTS, a name given to those who believe that the saints will reign on earth with Christ a thousand years. See next article.

pher's, Nevis, Antigua, St. Eusta- Life of Wesley; Macgowan's tia, Tortola, and St. Croix, where Shaver; Wesley's Works; Bengood has been done. Among the son's Vindication and Apology Calvinistic Methodists there are al- for the Methodists; Fletcher's so a considerable number of preach-Works. ers, whose congregations and societies are very extensive: some of of a mother church, or of the chief their chapels in London are the church in the chief city. Ant largest and best attended in the archbishop. See articles BISHOP, world: it is almost incredible to EPISCOPACY. see the numbers of people who flock to these places. As to their success in doing good, it is evident, that though many ignorant enthusiasts have been found among them, yet no people have done more to moralize mankind than they; nor have they rested there; they have not only contributed to render thousands better members of society, but been the instruments of promoting their spiritual and eternal interests. By simplicity of language, fervour of address, patience in opposition, unweariedness in labour, piety of conduct, and dependance on Almighty God, they certainly have been the means of doing as much or more real good than any other denomination whatever. A shrewd writer, therefore, who cannot be suspected of methodism, justly Though there has been no age says, that these people have, in of the church in which the milthe last fifty years, instructed more lennium was not admitted by indiof the lower orders of the people vidual divines of the first emiin the obligations of Christianity,nence, it is yet evident, from the and have called more from gross vice to piety and virtue, than the church has ever done since the reformation; while at the same time they have not cost government one farthing, but have been treated with insult and contempt. See History of Methodism; Gillie's Life of Whitfield, and Works: Coke's

MILLENNIUM, "a thousand years;" generally employed to denote the thousand years, during which, according to an ancient tradition in the church, grounded on some doubtful texts in the Apocalypse and other scriptures, our blessed Saviour shall reign with the faithful upon earth after the first resurrection, before the final completion of beatitude.

writings of Eusebius, Irenæus, Origen, and others, among the ancients, as well as from the histories of Dupin, Mosheim, and all the moderns, that it was never adopted by the whole church, or made an article of the established creed in any nation.

About the middle of the fourth