without the consent of the other.
GATHERING STORMS
a we not also watch and labour, to prevent the mischief which the discarded preachers may occasion ? '
On July 27 John Wesley, who dreaded the effects of idleness, begged his brother to inquire of each preacher, " How do you spend your time from morning to evening?'
After hearing the answer he suggested that Charles Wesley should give him this choice ' Either follow your trade, or resolve before God to spend the same hours in reading, &c., which you used to spend in working.' A little later he wrote, ' If our preachers do not, nor will not, spend all their time in study and saving souls, they must be employed close in other work, or perish.'
This important correspondence ended on August 24, when John Wesley, writing to his brother, said,
'O that you and I may arise and stand upright!
I quite agree with you: let us have but six so we are all one.
I have sent one more home to his work.
We may trust God to send forth more labourers ; only be not unwilling to receive them when there is reasonable proof that He has sent them.'
In order to bring the facts concerning this tour of inspection into one view it is necessary to say that when John and Charles
Wesley talked the matter over together they found they were not in agreement as to the remedies that should be applied to correct the weaknesses in administration that had been revealed.
At last, in November, they agreed to lay the case before Vincent Perronet, and take his opinion on points in dispute.
They went down to Shoreham and consulted him.
About six weeks afterwards they went to Shoreham again, when the following Articles of Agreement were signed by the two brothers, John Wesley adding his signature withreluctance:
With regard to the Preachers, we agree, x. That none shall be permitted to preach in any of our societies, till he be examined, both as to his grace and gifts ; at least, by the Assistant, who sending word to us may by our answer admit him a local Preacher. z. That such Preacher be not immediately taken from his trade, but be exhorted to follow it with all diligence.
3. That no person shall be received as a Travelling Preacher, or be taken from his trade, by either of us alone, but by both of us conjointly, giving him a note under both our hands.
4. That neither of us will re-admit a Travelling Preacher laid aside, without the consent of the other.
2 Whitehead's Life of John Wesley, ii. 266-268,