Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ... following Conferences, in the discussion of points of doctrine and experience. These discussions were carried on with the most admirable frankness and openness of mind. Every one was to speak his own judgment freely. The Conference of 1747, three years later, entered upon its records the following minute: --"In our first Conference it was agreed to examine every point from the foundation. Have we not been somewhat fearful in doing this? What were we afraid of? Of overturning our first principles? Whoever was afraid of that, it was a vain fear. For if they are true, they will bear the strictest examination. If they are false, the sooner they are overturned the better. Let us all pray for a willingness to receive light." Where can be found a better statement of the genuinely liberal attitude toward all truth than this declaration of the little company of early Methodists? The conclusions of successive Conferences were not always entirely consistent with each other; but the result of such deliberations in the course of a few years was the progressive elaboration of a body of practical divinity, clearly stated and attested by experience, that might serve as a sufficient creed of Methodism. But the attention of this first Conference was occupied chiefly with questions of discipline and practice, especially with the status and work of the lay preachers. Of these there were now above forty. Wesley, with the approval of the other members of the Conference, drew up a set of twelve rules for their guidance, which, slightly changed in phrase, remained in force all his life. Some of these are excellent maxims for general application; others were framed with special reference to the dangers and temptations to which Wesley knew these humble men would...