JOURNAL. 133 "On the 22d of May last, I could think of nothing but, He that believeth hath everlasting life.' But I was afraid of deceiving myself, and continually prayed I might not build without a foundation. Yet I had a sweet, settled peace, and for five days this Scripture was always in my thoughts. On the 28th those words of our Lord were as strongly impressed upon me, 'If ye being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Ghost to them that ask him.' At the same time I was incessantly carried out, to ask, that He would give me the witness of his Spirit. On the 29th I had what I asked of him, viz. the λnpopopia wisews, which is, "Requies in sanguine Christi. Firma fiducia in Deum, et persuasio de gratiâ divinâ ; tranquillitas mentis summa, atque serenitas et pax; cum absentiâ omnis desiderii carnalis, et cessatione peccatorum etiam internorum. Verbo, Cor quod antea instar maris turbulenti agitabatur, in summâ fuit requie, instar maris sereni et tranquilli." "Repose in the blood of Christ. A firm confidence in God, and persuasion of his favour : serene peace and steadfast tranquillity of mind, with a deliverance from every fleshly desire, and from 134 REV. J. WESLEY'S same manner. 2. Into eleven classes, according to the houses where they live: and in each class is a helper, an overseer; a monitor, an almoner and a servant. 3. Into about ninety bands, each of which meets twice at least, but most of them three times, a week, to "confess their faults one to another, and pray for one another, that they may be healed." III. The Rulers of the Church; i. e. the Elders, Teachers, Helpers, have a Conference every week; purely concerning the state of souls, and another concerning the institution of youth.. Beside which, they have one every day, concerning outward things relating to the Church. The overseers, the monitors, the almoners, the attenders on the sick, the servants, the school-masters, the young men, and the children, have likewise each a conference once a week, relating to their several offices and duties. Once a week also is a conference for strangers; at which any person may be present, and propose any question or doubt, which: he desires to have resolved. In Herphuth is taught reading, writing, arithmetic, Latin, Greek, service at Bertholdsdorf. At one the eldest gives separate exhortations to all the members of the church, divided into fourteen little classes for that purpose, spending about a quarter of an hour with each class. At four begins the evening service at Bertholdsdorf, closed by a conference in the church. At eight is the usual service; after which the young men, singing praises round the town, conclude the day. On the first Saturday in the month, the Lord's Supper is administered. From ten in the morning till two, the eldest speaks with each communicant in private, concerning the state of his soul, At two they dine; then wash one another's feet, after which they sing and pray. About ten they receive in silence without any ceremony, and continue in silence till they part at twelve. On the second Saturday is the solemn prayer-day for the children; the third is the day of general intercession and thanksgiving; and on the fourth is the great monthly Conference of all the superiors of the church. For the satisfaction of those who desire a more full account, I have added, AN EXTRACT OF THE CONSTitution of thE CHURCH OF THE 136 REV. J. WESLEY'S analogy of faith;-to bury those who have died in the Lord, and to keep that safe which is committed to his charge, even the pure doctrine and apostolical discipline which we have received from our forefathers. 4 "4. We have also another sort of Deacons who take care that nothing be wanting to the orphan-house, the poor, the sick, and the strangers. Others again there are, who are peculiarly to take care of the sick; and others of the poor. And two of these are entrusted with the public stock, and keep accounts of all that is received or expended. "5. There are women who perform each of the above-mentioned offices, among those of their own sex: for none of the men converse with them, beside the eldest, the teacher, and one or two of the deacons. 6. Towards magistrates, whether of a superior or inferior We cheerfully submit to rank, we bear the greatest reverence. their laws; and even when many of us have been spoiled of their goods, driven out of their houses, and every way oppressed by wet they resisted them not; neither opening their mouths, nor appointed; and who, if need require, may freely admonish in the, love of Christ, even the rulers of the church. 19. The church is so divided, that first the husbands, then the wives, then the widows, then the maids, then the young men, then the boys, then the girls, and lastly the little children, are in so many distinct classes; each of which is daily visited, the married men by a married man, the wives by a wife, and so of the rest.* These larger are also (now) divided into near ninety. smaller classes or bands, over each of which one presides who is of the greatest experience. All these leaders meet the senior every week, and lay open to him and to the Lord, whatsoever hinders or furthers the work of God in the souls committed to their charge.. "10. In the year 1727, four and twenty men, and as many women, agreed, That each of them would spend an hour in every day, in praying to God for his blessing on his people: and for this purpose both the men and the women chose a place, where any of their own sex, who were in distress, might be present with them. The same number of unmarried women, of unmarried men, of boys, and of girls, were afterwards, at their desire, added to them; who pour out their souls before God, not only for their own brethren, but also for other churches and persons, that have desired to be |