truth of the doctrines which we preach, and to obtain a complete victory over the last enemy. For you and "for the work of Christ" we live.

The confidence which subsists between us and you, designing and selfish men have endeavoured to shake, but in vain. We were taken from among you with your own approbation and consent; our strength and health have been employed in your service; and, next to the favour of God, your responsive affection has been our reward. Our interests are one and indivisible. We claim no authority over you but what Christ has given, in connexion with that work for the fulfilment of which it is necessary; and we assert our investiture with even this authority, no longer than as it stands united with His gifts. Between this declaration, and the deepest self-abasement and shame on our part before the Lord, we see no discrepancy. The spiritual and corrective discipline, which has so long been established in our Connexion, reaches ourselves; and unfaithful Ministers are no less censured and removed, than unfaithful and unrepenting members. It was our mutual relation to each other that created our discipline, and not the discipline our relation; and if at any time its administration should be felt a burden on either side, it would be well for us to examine, rather, whether our own love did not fail, than whether our peculiar law or usage needed an alteration. Where the spirit of the law is paternal, and appeals chiefly to filial confidence, it is better to keep that spirit vital and operative by living and walking in the light of the Holy Ghost, than by imitating civil legislation in its multitude of minor and arbitrary enactments. With you we trust to live and die, and with you to be buried; and our one great work on earth is to promote your edification and salvation, and to add to your fellowship those who shall be drawn by the preaching of the Gospel from the carnal and ungodly mass of mankind.

We

The last has been a year of Connexional peace, and, in many Circuits, of a comforting measure of prosperity. have had to contend, in a greater degree than usual, against the disadvantages presented by extreme commercial distress, the opposition of bigoted brethren, and high political excitement; and we have been led anxiously to long for the coming of the Holy Ghost in his more glorious and awakening manifestations, and that, too, with the painful feeling that this fuller grace was still, through

VOL. IV.-FOURTH SERIES.

the sin of God's people, partially withheld. Yet, after all, the preaching of the truth has been with power; societies long drooping have begun to revive; and many persons "dead in trespasses and sins," have been truly converted and added to the Lord. The causes of hinderance to the work of God, which were mentioned and deplored at the last Conference, have not indeed been so fully, or so early in the year, counteracted, as to enable us to report a net increase of members; especially as emigration abounds more than ever both from Great Britain and Ireland. Our numbers exhibit a total of five hundred and eighteen less than last year; but the large number on trial shows that a gracious work of awakening and conversion has taken place to cheer us under our perhaps too unbelieving anxiety. What need for a work like this to increase and grow, when we reflect upon the state of our own country! the infidel press pouring forth its pollution; the minds of thousands, among the working classes and the ignorant, kept in a continual ferment by political propagandists, who, sympathizing with the revolutionary principles which distract France and the continent of Europe, would fain bring this United Kingdom into like confusion; the great towns and cities increasing the masses of their population in a ratio, which all the efforts of Christian zeal fail to overtake; and the habitual deseeration of the Sabbath, which leads them further and further from God. There is a loud call for a zeal similar to that which animated the venerable Wesley and his successors: there is abundant need that Methodism should decline the temptations of friends, and disregard the threatening of foes, so far as either would interfere to draw it from its one original purpose of spreading holiness throughout the land by evangelical and unwearied labours.

It affords us satisfaction to observe, that, amidst all the changes which are taking place around us, we have no change to moot. From our Rules of Society we have no word to erase, and scarcely would we add one to them; not from a superstitious regard to that document as proceeding from the pen of our Founder, but because the precepts inculcated therein are so obviously and directly taken from the word of God, and refer so entirely to catholic, as distinguished from sectarian, Christianity, that their authority remains unimpaired and unaltered in all the varied progress and perturbation of human society. Whatever

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questions of public interest may be raised and discussed, we, as a people, are unquestionably pledged, by our standing rules, to the avoidance of evils such as the following:-profaning the Lord's day, the indulgence of sinful luxury at the table, especially the sensual use of stimulating liquors, unbecoming costliness or extravagance in dress, angry contention, dishonesty in business, and defrauding the revenue, speaking evil of brethren and of Magistrates, covetousness, reckless borrowing, and conformity to the world. Those rules, also, bind us continually to do good in such ways as are implied in the following courses :-feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, instructing and reproving the spiritually ignorant, sympathizing with and aiding the household of faith, diligence both in the fulfilment of relative obligations and in the spiritual service of God, self-denial, and a constant attendance upon all the public and private means of grace. These are such immutable duties of Christianity, that their omission could never be suffered without compromising Christian integrity, and putting our final salvation in peril; and that they may be continually brought before us, we wish, nay, we affectionately enjoin, that not only a copy of the "Rules" be put into the hands of every new candidate for membership, but that the document itself be frequently and carefully read by each Leader in full class-meeting, selecting, as the best time for that purpose, the first week after each Quarterly Visitation.

We are so far from thinking that Wesleyan Methodism ought to oppose itself to that prevailing desire of mental advancement and social improvement, which now actuates all classes, that we believe its humble but sacred destiny is to contribute towards the sanctification of the whole. But it has a sphere of progress of its own, and we exhort you here to accelerate that progress; not by removing the "ancient land-marks" of a godly discipline which has hitherto so safely hedged us in; not by refining upon doctrines which have had upon them the Holy Spirit's seal and approbation through a century of eventful religious history, and which are powerful in proportion as they are held and taught with unostentatious simplicity; not by indulging in uncertain religious speculations which distract, rather than create, faith; not by forsaking, from views of civil polity, a position in relation to other communions which long experience has shown is the best for carrying out the

design of our original calling: but by yourselves rising on the wings of spiritual affections into closer communion with God; assuming the dignity of " a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people ;" and then, by expanding breadthwise in ardent love to man, and in all labours which give form to, and embody, that love. There is much spiritual land yet to be possessed, as to our individual experience. There is much territory on earth now covered with darkness which yet remains to be won to Christ. Here is our world, and sphere of progress.

During the agitations of the year, and while disloyal and disaffected men have been endeavouring to allure the humbler classes of our fellow-countrymen to take part in their schemes, and have sought to excite them against their rulers, it has given us unspeakable pleasure to behold your spirit and conduct so entirely on the side of order and attachment to the Throne and Constitution. You have responded to the prayers and intercessions which have been offered in public worship for the welfare and peace of our beloved Sovereign, the Queen, for the preservation of her rule, and for the divine blessing upon the counsels of her Government, and its defence against faction and violence. You have offered similar intercessions in your own social and domestic worship; and while you have thus united with the contrite and devout of other churches in approaching the throne of grace, and laying open the sorrows and interests of your country there, prayer has been heard, God has defended this land for his name's sake, and saved us from anarchy and social tumult. We exhort you, beloved brethren, to continuance in this course. doing so, you obey the plainest precepts of Scripture, and follow the example of our Founder. In the troubles and agitations which were consequent upon the first French Revolution, and co-eval with the wars of the Continent, our societies and their Ministers then rendered no small service to the cause of loyalty, good morals, and religion, in "walking by the same rule." To this, at the present period, we believe that by divine Providence we are specially called. We are bound to the British Constitution by many ties of strong attachment. We regard it as a wonder of wisdom, and raised up for more than a secular purpose; combining a very large amount of liberty to the individual, with security to life and property, and the unity and good government of the whole. Still,

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beloved brethren, commend your country to the mercy and direction of the King of kings. In prayer lie our preservation and defence. Confess before God our national transgressions; lament the sins of your country as your own; deprecate deserved wrath; and appeal to the great Intercessor for a continuance of that favour which has been, alas! so justly forfeited. At the same time, in your loyalty to the Sovereign of the British empire, remember you are bound in supreme devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, His regal person, and spiritual kingdom. In all the anxieties of the times, confide in His supreme and remedial sway, knowing that all things are subject to Him, and that "He must reign till He hath put all enemies under his feet; " that he sitteth " upon the flood, yea, the Lord sitteth King for "and that it is characteristic of His administration, "with righteousness" to "judge the poor," and "reprove with equity for the meek of the earth." If you are in sorrow and trouble, you are cast, not only upon our sympathies, who

ever;

are

"bound with you," but upon the compassion of our exalted and sympathizing Intercessor, who, in the ways of His inscrutable providence, will either work out your temporal deliverance, or make affliction itself subsidiary to your sanctification and salvation.

endangered, when a wide and only halftilled field of practical and evangelical labour lies before us; and that, as our middle position between the religious parties of the land, which we have held from the beginning, was not of our own seeking, but of providential appointment, we cannot abandon it without a manifest call. In these sentiments we believe we have your acquiescence, and by these your own conduct is generally determined. In our view Christianity is a system of absolute TRUTH and LAW, as well as of goodness and mercy; and therefore we regard with complacency both the national or legal acknowledgment of its claims, and the private or voluntary extension of its influence. Let us look at our own land, with its unevangelized, ignorant, and Sabbath-breaking millions; let us turn to our Foreign Missions, and every where see our brethren in the work, exposed to the excitement of a determined struggle with the Pagan, Infidel, and Popish Antichrist, looking to be aided by our prayers, advice, and reinforcements; and then inquire if there be not too much cause for anxiety about our own vineyard, to allow of our going out of our direct path to take counsel respecting another. Asserting like the Apostles of our Lord our unquestionable right to religious liberty, and like them maintaining it; with them, likewise, we are content to go on in preaching Christ, leaving other projects to be tested by the results of that doctrine. And with regard to the annoyances which we and our people may receive from High-Church follies and assumptions, while reserving to ourselves the right of bold and indignant appeal against them in the proper quarter, we mainly confide for their counteraction to the influence of the truth itself: "The truth shall be our shield and buckler." We have a deep sympathy with the spiritually-minded and single-hearted of our Nonconformist brethren, notwithstanding the injurious reflections which have been cast upon us in some of their official periodicals; nor is our interest less in those who within the Established Church declare the great doctrines of the evangelical covenant, and enforce them by a consistent and blameless deportment. All who teach and live thus are on our side: the acquisition of them is to us clear gain. manism and infidelity are gathering darkly around our borders; and we have a right to our own allotted vantageground, and would use it by imploring all parties to exercise forbearance and self-restraint in everything but preaching

In exercising your functions as Christian citizens, that is, in maintaining what you believe to be right, and seeking to alter or amend what you believe to be wrong, in the administration of civic and national affairs, we exhort you to yield yourselves rather to the spirit of prayer, and entire deference to the teaching of holy Scripture, than to the bias and theory of any party. Do not needlessly run into the arena of political controversy. Long experience has shown, that in such a sphere few can preserve their purity and peace uninjured. When a fit occasion presents itself, honestly, peaceably, and humbly act your part; and then leave the issue with the wise Disposer of all things, and go back into your own tranquil course of religious duty, that of doing and getting good.

If Christian brethren of some other denominations solicit us as Ministers to join them in their organized opposition to the continued union of the Church of England with the State, our reply to them is this: that our spiritual charge is too absorbing, and at the best too imperfectly fulfilled, to allow of our entering on such a course; that personal peace and spiritual gifts are too precious to be thus

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and teaching Christ, and exhibiting the power of godliness. With this supreme object in our own minds, suffer us further to exhort you to such practical courses as may now be more minutely stated.

Sacredly observe the Lord's day. "To write to you the same things" is to us indeed "not grievous," but, because of the mournful necessity which exists for so doing, "for you it is safe." The spirit of modern legislation has hitherto been adverse to any civil enactment for suppressing the violation of the Sabbath, notwithstanding the intimate connexion of this institution with public order and morals, and though Sabbath trading and labour are generally proved to be unremunerative and fraught with loss. Yet we rejoice in the fact, that a Bill for disallowing the sale of liquors on the forenoon of the Lord's day, has recently passed both Houses of Parliament; thus giving evidence, that the attention of the Legislature is now partially directed to the subject. The people of God are especially called to exhibit a strong and practical testimony to the truth on this very point, in order to maintain a powerful moral influence, and thus supply, as far as possible, the lack of Christian law. Avoid all household labours, the opening of commercial letters, the taking of needless journeys, travelling on railways, and the use of public and private carriages, as far as it can be done, on this sacred day; and, in reference to all doubtful and disputed points of practice, fully imbibe the spirit of the Sabbath,-be with St. John "in the Spirit on the Lord's day," and this will set you right as to the letter. Whatever distracts your mind and lessens your delight in God, to you is sin. The Sunday newspaper and public garden or promenade, among you should not be so much as named. Let the Sabbath be "a delight, and honourable; " let your estimate of it be very influential and striking. With your families "worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness," in the morning as well as in the evening service; and you will not only realize a blessedness which infidelity and carnal delight can never yield, but hold up a solemn monition and lesson to that infidelity and carnality itself.

society, nurseries for the church, and effective in proportion as intelligence and piety are brought to bear upon their management, and as they are made to harmonize in their operation with public worship, and all other paramount and divinely-instituted ordinances. We enjoin upon our younger brethren in the ministry especially to aid you, as far as their time will allow, with their influence; both by personal visits to, or public addresses in, the schools, and by friendly counsel, or communication of evangelical knowledge, to the Teachers, when they require it. We earnestly exhort those of you who have been favoured with a good education, whether male or female, to join in this great and good work. Your position in society will give you influence; and your circumstances may enable you to give effect to those benevolent and hallowed promptings of the heart towards the children of the poor, which are sure to be awakened in such an association. You will endure toil and practise self-denial, it is true; but who can be a Christian without the experience of both? But then you will have the rich reward of the affections of those young persons whom you are the means of comforting, saving, and assisting; you will strengthen the tie between the middle and lower classes of our Christian people,-a tie which wicked men are, alas! too often attempting to sever; you will be benefactors to your country, most efficient auxiliaries to your Pastors, and preparing yourselves for the occupation, in after-life, of the honourable position of fathers and mothers in Israel. In the Church of Rome it has been no unfrequent circumstance for persons of title and exalted rank to devote

themselves to the work of teaching their tenets to the ignorant among the poor; and shall we allow ourselves to be exceeded in zeal and love by those whom we deem to be in fearful and dangerous error? To you chiefly, likewise, we are compelled to look for co-operation in instituting and maintaining those classes, for the special religious awakening of young persons, which are called catechumen-classes; the orderly and regular institution of which was sanctioned at our last Conference. Already they are in partial operation; and yield, where they are well established, very hopeful and pleasing results: and it is desirable, to augment those results, that they should be conducted by persons who have ardent love to the souls of youth, a delight in the study of Scripture, and a facility of communicating what they know and feel