Wesley Corpus

“ 3. Not to censure any professed members of our Church, who live good lives, for resorting to religious assemblies in private houses, to perform in society acts of divine worship; when the same seems to have been practised by the primitive Christians; and when, alas! there are so many parishes, where a person piously disposed has no opportunity of joining in the public service of our Church more than one hour and half inaweek. ~ ; “4, Not to condemn those who are constant attendants on the communion and service of our Church, if they sometimes use other prayers in private assemblies; since the best divines of our Church have composed and published many prayers that have not the sanction of public authority; which implies a general consent that our Church has not made provision for every private occasion. ** 5. Not to establish the power of working miracles as the great criterion of adivine mission; when Scripture teaches us that the agreement of doctrines with truth, as taught in those Scriptures, is the only infallible rule. “ 6. Not to drive any away from our Church, by opprobriously calling them Dissenters, or treating them as such, so long as they keep to her communion. “7, Not lightly to take up with silly stories that may be propagated, to the discredit of persons of a general good character. “I do not lay down,” says he, “ these negative rules, so much for the sake of any persons whom the unobservance of them would immediately injure; as of our Church and her professed defenders: for churchmen, however well meaning, would lay themselves open to censure, and might do her irretrievable damage, by a behaviour contrary to them.” Friday, August 3.--I met with one who “ did run well,” but Satan had “hindered” her. I was surprised at her ingenuous acknowledgment of the fear of man. O “how hardly shall” even “ they whe have rich” acquaintance, “enter into the kingdom of heaven!” Sun. 5.-- Six persons at the new room were deeply convinced of sin; three of whom ‘vere a little comforted by prayer; but not yet convinced of righteousness.