and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those who
A CRITICAL YEAR
e 8. Do not affect the gentleman.
You have no more to do with this character, than with that of a dancirg-master.
A Preacher of the Gospel is the servant of all.
9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin: not of fetching wood (if time permit), or drawing water; not of cleaning your own shoes, or your neighbour's.
"iA 10. Be punctual.
Do everything exactly at the time.
And in general, do not mend our rules, but keep them; not for wrath, but for conscience sake.
11. You have nothing to do but to save souls.
Therefore, spend and be spent in this work.
And go always, not only to those who want you, but to those who want you most.
12. Act in all things, not according to your own will, but as a son in the Gospel.
As such, it is your part to employ your time in the manner which we direct: partly in preaching, and visiting the flock from house to house.
Above all, if you labour with us in our Lord's vineyard, it is needful you should do that part of the work which we advise, at those times and places which we judge most for His glory.
It will be seen these ' Rules' were intended to guide the preachers in matters which concerned their private conduct, their work, their relation to each other, the people, and the Wesleys.
They remained practically unaltered until 1780, when the following paragraph was added to the eleventh rule :
Observe.
It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that Society; but to save as many souls as you can, to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance, and with all your power to build them up in that holiness without which they cannot see the Lord: And remember! A Methodist Preacher is to mind every point, great and small in the Methodist discipline !
Therefore you will need all the sense you have, and to have all your wits about you.?
Having confirmed the ' Rules of a Helper,' which have done so much to produce that unity of spirit which has for so long characterized the ministers of Methodism, the Conference proceeded to another act of great significance.
The fraternal feeling among the preachers has been strengthened by the fact that in the examination of character, year by year, every man from the President downward has to submit to a scrutiny of his character and of his teaching.
We may confidently appeal 1 Minutes of Conference, i. 492-496, 8vo ed.
For the ' Rules' as they stand to-day see Summary of Methodist Law and Discipline, 271, 272.
Fifth edition.
The paragraph just quoted was removed from the end of the eleventh to the end of the ' Rules' in 1779.