Wesley Corpus

1. As the society increased, I found it required still greater care to separate the precious from the vile. In order to this, I determined, at least once in three months, to talk with every member myself, and to inquire at their own mouths, 2, as well as of their Leaders and neighbours, whether they grew in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. At these seasons I likewise particularly inquire whether there be any misunderstanding or difference among them; that every hinderance of peace and brotherly love may be taken out of the way. 2. To each of those of whose seriousness and good conversa tion I found no reason to doubt, I gave a testimony under my own hand, by writing their name on a ticket prepared for that purpose; every ticket implying as strong a recommendation of the person *o whom it was given as if I had wrote at length, “I THE PEOPLE CALLED METHODISTs. 257 believe the bearer hereof to be one that fears God and works righteousness.” 3. Those who bore these tickets, (these avu/8oNa or tes serae, as the ancients termed them, being of just the same force with the ervatoxal avatarukat, commendatory letters mentioned by the Apostle,) wherever they came, were acknow ledged by their brethren, and received with all cheerfulness. These were likewise of use in other respects. By these it was easily distinguished, when the society were to meet apart, who were members of it, and who not. These also supplied us with a quiet and inoffensive method of removing any dis orderly member. He has no new ticket at the quarterly visi tation; (for so often the tickets are changed;) and hereby it is immediately known that he is no longer of the community. TV. The thing which I was greatly afraid of all this time, and which I resolved to use every possible method of pre venting, was, a narrowness of spirit, a party zeal, a being straitened in our own bowels; that miserable bigotry which makes many so unready to believe that there is any work of God but among themselves.