Wesley Corpus

Set this home with a more earnest voice than you spoke before. Get to the heart, or you do nothing. (10.) Conclude all with a strong exhortation, which should enforce, (1.) The duty of the heart, in order to receive Christ. (2.) The avoiding former sins, and constantly using the out ward means. And be sure, if you can, to get their promise, to forsake sin, change their company, and use the means. And do this solemnly, reminding them of the presence of God, who hears their promises, and expects the performance. (11.) Before you leave them, engage the head of each family to call all his family together every Sunday before they go to bed, and hear what they can repeat, and so continue, till they have learned the “Instructions” perfectly; and afterwards let him take care that they do not forget what they have learned. Do this in earnest, and you will soon find what a work you take in hand, in undertaking to be a Travelling Preacher! Q. 14. How shall we prevent improper persons from insinuating into the society? A. (1.) Give tickets to none till they are recommended by a Leader, with whom they have met at least two months on trial. (2.) Give notes to none but those who are recommended by one you know, or till they have met three or four times in a class. (3.) Give them the Rules the first time they meet. See that this be never neglected. Q. 15. When shall we admit new members? A. In large towns, admit them into the Bands at the quarterly love-feast following the visitation: Into the society, on the Sunday following the visitation. Then also read the names of them that are excluded. Q. 16. Should we insist on the Band rules, particularly with regard to dress? A. By all means. This is no time to give any encourage ment to superfluity of apparel. Therefore give no Band-tickets to any till they have left off superfluous ornaments. In order to this, (1.) Let every Assistant read the “Thoughts upon Dress” at least once a year, in every large society. (2.) In visiting the classes, be very mild, but very strict. (3.) Allow no exempt case, not even of a married woman. Better one suffer than many. (4) Give no ticket to any that wear calashes, high-heads, or enormous bonnets.