Adress to the Travelling Preachers.

ADDRESS TO THE TRAVELLING PREACHERS.

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MY DEAR BRETHREN, August 4, 1769.

1. IT has long been my desire that all those Ministers of our Church who believe and preach salvation by faith might cordially agree between themselves, and not hinder but help one another. After occasionally pressing this in private conversation, wherever I had opportunity, I wrote down my thoughts upon the head, and sent them to each in a letter. Out of fifty or sixty, to whom I wrote, only three vouchsafed me an answer. So I give this up: I can do no more. They are a rope of sand; and such they will continue.

2. But it is otherwise with the Traveling Preachers in our Connection. You are at present one body. You act in concert with each other, and by united counsels, and now is the time to consider what can be done in order to continue this union. Indeed, as long as I live, there will be no great difficulty. I am, under God, a center of union to all our Traveling as well as Local Preachers.

They all know me, and my communication. They all love me for my work’s sake; and, therefore, were it only out of regard to me, they will continue connected with each other. But by what means may this connection be preserved when God removes me from you?

3. I take it for granted, it cannot be preserved, by any means, between those who have not a single eye. Those who aim at anything but the glory of God, and the salvation of men; who desire or seek any earthly thing, whether honor, profit, or ease; will not, cannot, continue in the Connection It will not answer their design. Some of them, perhaps a fourth of the whole number, will secure preferment in the Church. Others will turn Independents, and get separate congregations, like John Edwards and Charles Skelton. Lay your accounts with this, and be not surprised if some you do not suspect be of this number.

4. But what method can be taken to preserve a firm union between those who choose to remain together?

Perhaps you might take some such steps as these: —

On notice of my death, let all the Preachers in England and Ireland repair to London within six weeks. 22

Let them seek God by solemn fasting and prayer.

Let them draw up articles of agreement, to be signed by those who choose to act in concert.

Let those be dismissed who do not choose it in the most friendly manner possible.

Let them choose, by votes, a committee of three, five, or seven, each of whom is to be Moderator in his turn.

Let the Committee do what I do now; propose Preachers to be tried, admitted, or excluded; fix the place of each Preacher for the ensuing year, and the time of the next Conference.

5. Can anything be done now in order to lay n foundation for this future union? Would it not be well, for any that are willing, to sign some articles of agreement before God calls me hence? Suppose something like these: — “WE, whose names are under-written, being thoroughly convinced of the necessity of a close union between those whom God is pleased to use as instruments in this glorious work, in order to preserve this union between ourselves, are resolved, God being our Helper, —

“I. To devote ourselves entirely to God; denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, steadily aiming at one thing, — to save our own souls, and them that hear us.”

“II. To preach the old Methodist doctrines, and no other, contained in the Minutes of the Conferences.”

“III. To observe and enforce the whole Methodist discipline laid down in the said Minutes.”