books which they have published, as 
those which ought to be read in prefe- 
cetoany other. To read only the 
Bible, is declared to be rank enthusiasm; 
if you read only the Bible, say they, by 
|parity of reason you ought to hear only 
KYA Bible, and if so, preaching becomes 
needless. During the life of the foun- 
der, no preacher was permitted to print 
or reprint any thing, till Wesley had 
corrected it. This inquisitorial office is 
now exercised by a book committee.— 
Whatever is thus published, with their 
authority, becomes the property of the 
conference, the author having, for his 
}own emolument, a tenth of the impres- 
sion ; and it is worthy of remark, as it 
\indicates the number of their impres- 
| sions, that this is expressed by saying, he 
| shall haye a hundred copies out of every 
thousand. A preacher, who may exer- 
cise his Englishman’s privilege of print- 
ing without this popish licence, is not 
permitted to sell his book at the chapels, 
or to advertise it from the pulpits.— 
These are not the only advertisements 
which are issued from the pulpits. God- 
fearing servants, who want places, and 
serious house-keepers who want servants, 
advertise their wants in like manner by 
he preacher. ‘he covers of their offi- 
cial magazines are filled with such 
Notices. The plan of itinerancy was 
admirably devised to cement and conso- 
idate the whole of the system. As no 
fpreacher is permitted to remain more 
than two years in a place, he has not 
}time so to establish himself as to become 
findependent of the conference; and as 
}the members of this conference, or con- 
}elave, or convention, are all itinerants, 
the pleasures and advantages of power 
putbalance the inconveniences of this 
asettled life. In another point of view, 
lis plan is useful, as it renders the go- 
ermors intimately acquainted with those 
vhom they are to manage. 
| The funds of the connection are de- 
rived from the books, and from the 
early subscriptions. ‘The profits of the 
y00ks, for the year preceding the confe- 
rence of 1802, was 1087]. 13s. and this 
twas the smallest annual sum that -they 
had produced since the death of Wesley. 
.|The whole receipts of that year amount- 
ed to 90791. 4s. 2d. It was the original 
frule of the societies, that every member, 
unless he were too poor, should contri- 
bute one penny per week, and one shil- 
ing for the quarterly renewal of his 
jclass or band ticket. 
} Ayn. Rey, Vor. IL 
MYLES’S HISTORY OF THE METHODISTS. 
This probably is. 
209 
to supply the funds of each particular 
society. The main revenue of the state, 
if that phrase may be applied to a parli- 
ament of priests, arises from the year- 
ly subscriptions. All is said to fall 
short of the necessary expences. This 
deficiency, however, does not, and will 
not impede the growth. of the connec- 
tion, nor the increase of the preachers. 
The preachers are not actuated by the 
prospect of immediate and direct emolu- 
ment; their self-interest is less gross 
than that of Henry Huntington, S. 8. 
sinner saved, the quondam coal-heaver, 
who prays for new breeches; and when 
one of his congregation, in consequence, 
sends him a pair, prints and publishes 
the story, with the blasphemous obser- 
vation, that it is no wonder they should 
fit, for his Master knows his measure, 
having miraculously cloathed him for 
seven years. 
Will it then be asked, by what hopes 
of advantage can so great a company of 
preachers have been raised, and by what 
motives are so many induced to engage 
in so laborious a vocation? Undoubt- 
edly they are, for the most part, sincere 
when they begin the work, to which in- 
deed, at present, many of them are re- 
gularly trained in the Kingswood school, 
which is now appropriated for the chil- 
dren of the preachers. To this early 
zeal, it is not uncharitable to add, the 
love of popular applause, as an assistant, 
predominant and permanent motive, for 
by no other possible pursuit could they 
so certainly and so fully gratify this 
passion, how craving soever. ‘{ heir ce- 
lebrity, indeed, is confined within the 
limits of the connection, and is but a life- 
hold property, but the society is their 
sphere, their world; and what this fame 
may want in extent and duration, is am- 
ply made up by its intensity. Dear 
man! sweet man! fine man! blessed 
man,! these are the aspirations that as- 
cend from old women and young women 
to the orator’s ears, while his male au- 
ditors groan, in undersong, and twirl 
their thumbs. At length his portrait 
appears.in the Methodist Magazine, — 
the official gazette which is to make ho-« 
nourable mention of his merits; thus is 
he installed among the worthies; thus 
does he take possession of his shrine in 
the pantheon; this is the consummation 
of his glory; this is his apotheosis, the 
canonization of the living saint. Nor 
is fame only his reward ; a gift of prayer 
leads to. more substantial benefits.— 
