all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking.
A CRITICAL YEAR
had passed certain alterations had been made in the document.
Its title had been changed, and improvements had been introduced, but substantially the ' Rules' had preserved their identity.
In the revised first volume of the Minutes of Conference, published in 1862, we find in parallel columns the six editions of the Large Minutes published during John Wesley's lifetime.
We are concerned at present with the first column.
Through some hesitation in the mind of the modern editor it is headed 1753 or 1757, but we readily accept Mr. Green's verdict in favour of the first date.
He says that 'as many of the entries in the first edition of the Lavge Minutes are taken from 1753, and none from any subsequent record, the presumption is that the little undated tract was printed in the year just named.'* We may safely conclude that the ' Twelve Rules of a Helper,' which were read to the Leeds Conference and accepted by those who were present, were those which we will quote.
Those who were present in 1753 expressed their determination by the grace of God cheerfully to observe them.
They have been a standard applied to the conduct of Methodist ministers for more than one hundred and seventy years.
In the Leeds Conference of 1753 it was asked, ' What are the rules of a Helper?'
The following answer was given:
1. Be diligent.
Never be unemployed a moment.
Never be triflingly employed.
Never while away time: neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary.
2. Be serious.
Let your motto be, Holiness to the Lord.
Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking.
3. Converse sparingly and cautiously with women: particularly with young women in private.
4. Take no step towards marriage without acquainting us with your design, as soon as you conveniently can.
[''Us" means theWesleys.] 5. Believe evil of no one: unless you see it done, take heed how you credit it.
Put the best construction on everything.
You know the Judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner's side, 6. Speak evil of no one.
Else your word especially would eat as doth a canker.
Keep your thoughts within your own breast, till you come to the person concerned.
7. Tell every one what you think wrong in him, and that plainly, and as soon as maybe, else it will fester in your heart.
Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom.
2See Green's Bibliography, 82.