Wesley Corpus

Minutes of Several Conversations, 1744 to 1789 Source: The Works of John Wesley, Volume 8 (Zondervan) Year: 1789 Author: John Wesley --- IT is desired, that all things be considered as in the imme diate presence of God; that every person speak freely whatever is in his heart. Q. 1. How may we best improve the time of this Conference? A. (1.) While we are conversing, let us have an especial care to set God always before us. (2.) In the intermediate hours, let us redeem all the time we can for private exercises. (3) Therein let us give ourselves to prayer for one another, and for a blessing on this our labour. Q. 2. Have our Conferences been as useful as they might have been.” A. No : We have been continually straitened for time. Hence, scarce anything has been searched to the bottom. To remedy this, let every Conference last nine days, con cluding on Wednesday in the second week. Q. 3. What may we reasonably believe to be God’s design in raising up the Preachers called Methodists? A. Not to form any new sect; but to reform the nation, particularly the Church; and to spread scriptural holiness over the land. * This tract, which is usually denominated, “The Large Minutes,” contains the plan of discipline as practised in the Methodist Connexion during the life of Mr. Wesley. As its title intimates, it underwent several alterations and enlargements from the year 1744 to 1789, when the last revision took place. It is here reprintel from a copy which bears the date of 1791,-the year in which Mr. Wesley died,--colla'ed with the edition of 1789-EDIT. Q. 4. What was the rise of Methodism, so called? A. In 1729, two young men, reading the Bible, saw they could not be saved without holiness, followed after it, and incited others so to do. In 1737 they saw holiness comes by faith. They saw likewise, that men are justified before they are sanctified; but still holiness was their point. God then thrust them out, utterly against their will, to raise a holy people. When Satan could no otherwise hinder this, he threw Calvinism in the way; and then Antinomianism, which strikes directly at the root of all holiness. Q. 5. Is it advisable for us to preach in as many places as we can, without forming any societies? A. By no means.