202 
ordained by the bishop of Oxford, and 
elected fellow cf Lincoln college. While 
at the university, he became deeply se- 
rious ; this disposition he communicated 
to his brother Charles: they received 
the sacrament weekly, and obtained two 
or three proselytes to this practice, and 
to the regular course of living which 
they observed. The title methodist was 
given to Charles Wesley, in ridicule of 
this regularity, by a fellow of Merton, 
alluding to the Roman school of physi- 
cians, so called from the regimen which 
they always enjoined. The removal of 
John to a curacy, suspended for a while 
the growth of the society ; Charles how- 
ever again renewed it, and John re- 
turning to Oxford in 1729, resumed the 
whole management; no very arduous 
task, for besides himself and his brother, 
it consisted of only two persons. Cer- 
tain pupils of the Wesleys soon requested 
ermission to attend at their meetings. 
In 1732, Clayton, a tutor at Brazen 
Nose, joined them with some of his pu- 
pils also, and by his advice they began 
to observe Wednesday and Friday as 
fasts, after the custom of the ancient 
church. In 1735, George Whitfield of 
Pembroke was added to the number; 
«« at that time they were fourteen or fif- 
teen in number, all collegians, of one 
heart and mind, and must be considered 
as the first methodists;” they formed 
rules for the regulation of their time, 
their studies, reading the scriptures, and 
self examination; they visited ‘the sick 
and the prisoners, and received the 
Lord’s supper every week. 
In 1735, Wesley began the custom of 
extempore preaching in consequence of 
this accident; he went to All Hallows 
church in Lombard-street, to hear Dr. 
Keylin, and the doctor not coming, 
the church-wardens requested him to 
preach: he complied though he had no 
notes: this habit was for several years 
regarded as a very uncommon and won- 
derful thing. This year he embarked 
for Georgia in America, as a missi- 
onary, and there became acquainted 
with the Moravians. 
he could do little; but so many of his 
own countrymen met weekly at his house 
in Savannah, that he considered this as 
the second rise of methodism. Here he 
and his companions, Ingham and Dela- 
motte, agreed, 
«© 1.To advise the more serious among 
them to form themselves into a sort of litle 
society, and mect once or twice a week, in 
order to impreve, instruct, and exhort one 
With the Indians 
THEOLOGY AND ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS. 
another. 2. To select out of these, 4 
smaller number, fora more intimate union 
with each other, which might be forwarded 
by him and his friends, conversing singly 
with each, and altogether at his house. And 
this accordingly they determined to do every 
Sunday in the afternoon. Here we see the 
first rudiments of classes and bands, which 
have had no small influence in promoting 
the success of the methodists, beyond any 
other denomination of christians, not imme- 
diately favoured by the civil power. 
«¢ In the beginning of August 1737, he 
joined with the Germans in one of their 
love-feasts. ‘This I believe was the first time 
he ever saw 2 love-feast. He speaks thus of 
it: ‘It was begun and ended with thanks- 
giving and prayer, and celebrated in so de- 
cent and solemn a manner, as a christian of 
the apostolic age would have allowed to be 
worthy of Christ.’ He afterwards introduc- 
ed loye-feasts into the economy of method- 
ism. At first they were for the Gands only, 
2. e. small companies of true believers. After- 
wards the whole society were permitted to 
partake with them. They are conducted in 
the following manner —t he meeting begins 
with singing and prayer, afier which the 
stewards distribute cake and water. A col- 
lection is then made for the poor ; afterwards 
liberty is given to all present to relate their 
religious experience, which is generally made 
a blessing to all. The meeting continues 
nearly two hours, and is concluded with 
prayer.” 
He returned to England in 1738.— 
Tillnow Wesley had always used a form 
of prayer, but now visiting a condemned 
criminal at Oxford, he prayed with him 
extempore to such good effect, that the 
man rose up and said, now I am ready. 
to die. On May-day, in this year, he 
and some Moravians formed themselves 
into a religious society, which met at 
Fetter-lane; this he called the third pe- 
riod of methodism. 
«© The rules which were agreed on were: 
—1. That they would meet together once a 
week, to confess their faults one to another, 
and to pray one for another that they might 
be healed. 2. That the persons so meeting 
should be divided into several bands, or lit- 
tle companies, none of them consisting of 
fewer than five, or more than ten persons. 
3. That every one in order should speak as 
freely, plainly, and concisely as he could, the 
real state of his heart, with his several temp- 
tations and deliverances, since the last time 
of meeting. 4. That all the bands should 
have a conference at eight every Wednesday 
evening, begun and ended with singing and 
prayer. 5. That any who desired to be ad- 
mitted into this society should be asked, 
What are your reasons for desiring this? 
will you be entirely open, using no kind o 
reserve? have you any objection to any of 
our orders? (which were then read.) 6. 
