In this Conference some of the senior preachers were much alarmed, and were somewhat dejected by the reproaches cast upon them by the new party. To wipe off, or balance these, they requested the junior preachers, that is, all who had not travelled more than fourteen years, to meet together by themselves, and draw up and sign a declaration in their favour. They met together accordingly, chose a chairman and secretary, and began to converse; but there was a difficulty in the way: some of these juniors had frequently expressed their dissatisfaction with some parts of the conduct of some of the seniors who took the lead at the Conference. They did not object to the piety of these men, or their general conduct and character, but to some parts of their conduct in the Conferences, in which they thought them occasionally rather dictatorial and overbearing. But as Mr. Kilham and his coadjutors had said at least enough upon this, and all other real and supposed defects of these senior preachers, the convention of the juniors drew up a declaration, which expressed nothing but their excellencies, though without either admitting or denying their imperfections. Whether they were perfectly justifiable in this I shall not now determine. They were not conscious of any real inconsistency or contradiction, and especially as they spoke their whole mind in the meeting at the same time. But many others did not see through the whole of the complicated affair as they themselves did, and the consequence was, that some of them, whose sentiments were no secrets, were reproached as being guilty of inconsistency and flattery. The writer of these sheets being the chairman, shared very largely in this reproach; but he thinks unjustly. If these brethren did act wrong, they have been amply punished; and if they did right, one day will do them

justice. And there I leave them and the whole affair. So far as this measure tended to tranquillize the connection, it gave me pleasure; but I have often reflected upon some of the circumstances with pain. Dr. Coke was the president of this memorable conference, and Mr. Bradburn the secretary. The Doctor had taken a very active part against the publications and measures of Mr. Kilham and his friends, during the two preceding years. The agitations and divisions of the Connexion, however, had risen to such a height, that to meet the prevailing ideas, and stay the plague, the Conference agreed to surrender considerable portions of authority, hitherto exercised by the preachers at their discretion, into the hands of the stewards and leaders. It was right, that the people, the stewards, and leaders, should have all the rights to which the bible entitled them. But it was equally right, the preachers should retain the authority they could scripturally claim, and especially such as was necessary to the due exercise of their office in all places and circumstances. But the writer of these sheets was never yet convinced, that more was not conceded than the bible will sanction; and he has been acquainted with some cases in which very serious consequences have resulted from a practical application of the new rules then made. They look somewhat plausible upon paper; and where they are never acted upon they do no hurt; and where they are acted upon they may not do much harm, provided the leading men of the society be not only very pious, but men of judgment and prudence, and who keep their eye upon the bible, and study to promote peace and unity. But, where circumstances are of a different description; when there are certain men, who, like Diotrephes, love to have the pre-eminence, or where there are parties formed, (No. 11.) $ s

for purposes not calculated to do good, but the contrary, and especially when there may be in a society a considerable degree of corruption and disorder, and where the most complete, firm, and vigorous exercises of pastoral authority are necessary, in order to set matters to rights, and keep them so; the man who attempts so to do, will sometimes find himself bound hand and foot, with the concessions which were then wrung from the Conference. Certain majorities will shew him, that he is so far from having power to bind or loose any thing upon earth, as our Saviour empowered his disciples to do, Mat. xvii. 19.—xviii. 18. that himself has his hands so bound upon his back, that he can do nothing, but lament that he fills an office, some of the functions of which he has not power to execute. If he attempts it, he will be, perhaps, trumpeted abroad as a disturber of Israel, and a tyrant. In relation to such cases as these, we might say to Methodism, or rather to a superintendent, as Jesus Christ said to Peter, "When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird them, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not;" John xxi. 18. How plausible soever it may appear, or however agreeable to the taste of such as acquire additional influence by it, whatever is not founded upon the bible, is neither good in itself, nor will be productive of good consequences. And had the apostles been fettered with the rules of 1797, they could not have purged the churches of sundry sinners, that they sometimes found in them. Mr. Wesley would never have agreed to them; and Methodism existed and prospered without them for nearly sixty years. But I think these rules capable of such modifications, as might make them satisfac

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tory to reasonable christians on all sides. But some may say, the connection has been more peaceable and tranquil since 1797, than it was for some years before. To this I answer, This comparative tranquillity may be easily accounted for in other ways. Prior to that period, the fermentations arose out of the novel circumstances in which Methodism had been placed, by the death of Mr. Wesley, and the struggles of different parties, who differed in judgment and disposition, to accomplish what they thought would be for And these convulsions were neither unaccountable nor unexpected. But they were not expected on account of there being at that time no such rules, but from other causes. And though the Connexion has enjoyed more peace, and as much prosperity, since that period, I do not believe that either the peace or prosperity have been so great, taking the whole body into the account, as would have been the case, had the Methodists, in that respect, gone on upon something nearer the old plan. I am quite confident as to one point, and that is, that no man, or number of men, can improve upon the bible: and that no man, however wise, can mend the institutions of infinite wisdom. They who have set up for such wisdom, have always shewn themselves to be fools.

I had rather see a new testament produced in an assembly of christians and christian ministers, or hear a passage quoted from it, than see their table loaded with human creeds and directories. I promised the reader to say something about church government, and he sees I have not altogether forgotten my engagement. But I assure him, I am no enemy to true liberty, nor a friend to despotism, in any shape, or among any description of people. I am not for placing the

ministers of righteousness and order above all law and controul. I do most cordially disapprove of every attempt to lord it over God's heritage. I believe the overdoing arbitrary conduct of some preachers, contributed to promote that clamour which led to the concessions. I believe the ministers of the gospel are the servants, though not the slaves of the people. They are to serve the people in gospel-labours, but it is no where said they are to be ruled and governed by the people. I believe that few cases would occur in which a minister ought to act contrary to the views of the people, and especially of the more intelligent and principal members. But such cases may occur, and some times do occur; but according to the rules which bind down the preachers to an universal and uniform decision of stewards and leaders, ministerial authority, in such instances, is rendered null and void. And to say the truth at once, when ministers are in all cases to be ruled by the dictates of any part of the people, they cannot be said to be over those people, but rather under them. Bring this idea to the law and to the testimony. Turn to 1 Thes. v. 12. 13. "And we be

seech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." This comprehensive exhortation expresses the office and duties of ministers, as well as what should be the spirit and practice of the people towards them. They ought to labour among them; to govern them, and admonish them.

1. They ought to labour. The ministry is not merely an office, but also a work. He does not say, them who receive tythes from you, or who live in indolence among you; but them who labour. among you.