tions concerning it. The design is threefold: 1. To glorify God; 2. To be quickened and confirmed ourselves; 3. To render us more useful among our neighbours.

I. As a society, we shall be better able to glorify God; for hereby we bear a more evident testimony to the cause of Christ, and make a more avowed confession of him and his words, in these evil days, than we could do when separate.

Every one of you desires that the kingdom of Jesus Christ were more established, and more honourable in the world than it is, and you join your hand, with others, to promote so desirable an end.

Take these cautions for this purpose:

1. Look upon yourself as one associated with others in vindication of your Master's honour.

2. Never be ashamed of him, or his doctrine, or of this society.

3. Demean yourself to every one as his disciple, by walking in humility, meekness, heavenly mindedness, charity, after Christ's example.

4. Keep yourself heedfully from all things which may disgrace your Master and this society; such as, Pride in a conceit of your knowledge or attainments, or that you are a member of this society: Valuing yourself upon any distinction in station or wealth: Sinking into a worldly frame, or declining into sloth and idleness: Practising the least dishonesty, or conniving at the dishonesty of others: Making compliances to avoid shame, or promote worldly interest: Falling into lukewarmness, and forgetting your first love: Slighting public ordinances.

5. Often (especially before and after great trials) reflect that you belong to a religious society for promoting the glory of Christ.

II.--The second design of this society is, to be quickened and confirmed ourselves. For hereby we shall be better able to maintain the war against our enemies (especially the world) and to grow in grace; seeing, by this association, we have the Spirit to bless

our exercises; shall have the benefit of mutual advice and reproof; shall be more hardy to oppose the temptations besetting us in this wicked world; shall walk under a peculiar restraint, as being members of a religious society; and shall be assisted by the prayers, as of one another, so of all good men in the whole Christian church. To this end,

1. Watch over one another in love.

2. Be willing to hear of your faults, and of the fears and suspicions of these your friends concerning

you.

3. Be watchful against any disgust to one another; and if any arise in you, without delay tell the party, and if that avail not, tell the director.

4. Desire the prayers one of another, and pray for one another.

5. Be sure you rest not on your being a member of this society; seeking continually to cast off all selfdependence.

6. Watch the least decay of love to Christ, or zeal for his honour and the good of souls.

7. Confirm continually upon your heart the obligations you lie under as a member of a religious society.

III. The third design of this society is, to render us more useful among our neighbours. Hereby we are more observable. People will not be so easily quiet in their sins. Good examples carry a brighter and more convincing light, confounding the works of darkness. To this end,

1. Be careful to set a Christian example before the world.

2. Think not to gain any by making compliances. 3. Discountenance all such things as you see prejudicial to others, such as taverns, ale-houses, gaming, and many sports which are destructive to souls. 4. Show all love to men's souls and bodies.

* There is a most useful little piece for these purposes, entitled "Regulations and Helps for promoting Religious Conversation among Christians.”

5. Avoid all disputings which proceed from pride, and nurse contention and variance.

6. Do not be angry with those who blame this society, but meekly and silently bear with them. 7. Do not in your heart despise others because they are not members of this society.

8. Nor show any valuing of yourselves because Never speak of yourself as a member, unless with a view of doing good to others.

you are.

MOTIVES.

1. Real disciples do more than nominal professors. 2. The Spirit will strengthen and comfort you. 3. You will have the blessing of a quiet conscience. 4. You are engaged in the most honourable service.

5. You will promote the interest of your Master. 6. He will acknowledge your labours in the day of his appearing. Amen. So be it.

N. B.-Whereas too many people are apt to misrepresent every religious society as a methodistical meeting, it was judged necessary to insert the following extract from the celebrated Mr Dodd's late sermon. "The cry of Methodism is frequently raised by such as are totally ignorant of the nature of the accusation; and many are stigmatized with the name, who are perfectly innocent of the thing. The observations I have made may possibly serve to settle the point in some degree, or at least to stop the tongues of those who very unjustly cast the aspersion, where there is not the least cause; and it deserves, perhaps, to be considered by all serious and sincere Protestants, whether the affixing the charge of Methodism, &c. &c. indiscriminately, upon men of unblamable lives and irreproachable conversation, may not tend greatly to prejudice our holy faith in general, and to bring a reproach upon Christianity itself, through the pretended offence of Methodism: this may be a triumph to the Deist and Papist equally pleasing. And, if

so, can we be too accurate in our distinctions, or too cautious in our imputations? Remembering, that while we confound Christianity and Methodism, we are doing discredit to Christianity in the same proportion as we are giving weight and dignity to Methodism." See Mr Dodd's excellent Sermon, entitled, Unity Recommended, preached before the religious societies in and about London, at their annual meeting in the parish church of St Mary-leBow, on Easter Monday 1759; to which is added an Appendix, giving an account of the original design, general rules, and present state of the religious societies. A farther account of which may be seen in a little piece wrote in Queen Anne's time, by the Rev. Dr Josiah Woodward, entitled "An Account of the Rise and Progress of the Religious Societies in and about London, and of their endeavours for the Reformation of Manners." The sixth edition. In this little tract the most considerable objections against religious societies are fully answered.

HINTS

CONCERNING THE MEANS OF PROMOTING RELIGION IN OURSELVES AND OTHERS.*

I.-BE always cheerful, as well as serious, that you may win men to Christianity. And in every conversation introduce some religious hints, if it can be done with propriety.

II. Avoid all controversies; no good can come from disputing; but contend earnestly for the essentials of Christianity.

III.-Heal all divisions among sects and parties to the utmost of your power. And prevail with those who are most fiery, to read Henry's excellent treatise on Meekness.

* Referred to in Mr Hervey's Life.

IV.—Talk familiarly to children about religion, as a delightful employment. Put easy questions to them, encouraging them occasionally by some little presents, and thus teaching them an amiable, cheerful, generous piety.

V. Make it a constant rule to pray for all who affront or injure you. Christ enjoins us to pray for all who despitefully use us; see Matth. v. 44. Disregard all opprobrious names. Christ himself (as will every one who strives against the corrupt prejudices and vices of mankind) was abused as a winebibber, and even a blasphemer.

VI. Be accustomed to a regular, daily, but moderate course of devout retirement; and recommend intercession for others, both in the family and in private, as likewise frequent attendance on the sacra

ment.

VII. Frequent public worship every day in the week, if your business permit, and if you live in a place where it is performed.

VIII.-Secret ejaculations, too, may be used as you are walking or riding, or in whatever company you may happen to be; and, on some particular hour, remember (as, for instance, at morning, noon, afternoon, or evening, when your town-clock strikes, which will be a loud and never-failing memorandum) to set yourself as in the presence of God for a few minutes.

IX.-Use frequent meditation, than which nothing can be more profitable: Nor can any thing so much awaken and dispose us for that, and for all that is good, as a strong faith in Providence, and a constant cheerfulness+ of spirit.

X.-Entertain the highest regard for the word of God, and furnish yourself with a few of the best

* This method is strongly recommended by the late Dr Butler, Bishop of Durham, in his Charge to the Clergy, 1751.

+ In order to obtain a proper confidence in Providence, and a settled cheerfulness of mind, the reader, especially the gloomy and dispirited, would be much assisted by Bishop Patrick's Advice to a Friend, which is a most inestimable little piece.