Wesley Corpus

They turned many out of their work; persuaded others to do so too, and harassed them all manner of ways. The event was, that some were wearied out, and so turned back to their vomit again. And then these good Pastors gloried over them, and endeavoured to shake others by their example. 15. When the Ministers by whom God had helped them before came again to those places, great part of their work was to begin again; (if it could be begun again;) but the relapsers were often so hardened in sin, that no impression could be made upon them. What could they do in a case of so extreme necessity, where many souls lay at stake 2 No Clergyman would assist at all. The expedient that remained was, to find some one among themselves, who was upright of heart, and of sound judgment in the things of God; and to desire him to meet the rest as often as he could, in order to confirm them, as he was able, in the ways of God, either by reading to them, or by prayer, or by exhortation. God immediately gave a blessing hereto. In several places, by means of these plain men, not only those who had already begun to run well were hindered from drawing back to per dition; but other sinners also, from time to time, were con verted from the error of their ways. This plain account of the whole proceeding I take to be the best defence of it. I know no scripture which forbids making use of such help, in a case of such necessity. And I praise God who has given even this help to those poor sheep, when “their own shepherds pitied them not.” “But does not the Scripture say, ‘No man taketh this honour to himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron?’” Nor do these. The honour here mentioned is the Priesthood. But they no more take upon them to be Priests than to be Kings. They take not upon them to administer the sacra ments, -an honour peculiar to the Priests of God. Only, according to their power, they exhort their brethren to con tinue in the grace of God. “But for these laymen to exhort at all is a violation of all order.” What is this order of which you speak?