CHAPTER III. 



Our end in leaving our native country is not to gain riches and 

 honor, but singly this: to live wholly to the glory of God. 



(J. Wesley.) 



IN the Isle of Wight the four missionaries adopted, 

 November 3, 1735, the following constitution for 

 the ordering of their affairs in America, viz. : 



In the name of God. A nu n. 



We, whose names are here underwritten — being fully convinced 

 that it is impossible either to promote the work of God among the 

 heathen without an entire union among ourselves, or that such a 

 union should subsist unless each one will give up his single judg- 

 ment to that of the majority — do agree, by the help of God: 



First, That none of us will undertake any thing of importance 

 without proposing first to the other three. 



Second, That whenever our judgments or inclinations differ, any 

 one shall give up his single judgment or inclination to the others. 



TJdrd, That in case of an equality, after begging God's direction, 

 the matter shall be decided by lot. 



John Wesley, 

 Charles Wesley, 

 Bexjamix Ingham, 

 Charles Delamotte. 



The scheme of Christian duty which it was their 

 aim to inculcate was set forth by John Wesley (1733) 

 in the following w r ords, viz. : 



Whoever follows the direction of our excellent Church in the in- 

 terpretation of the holy Scriptures, by keeping close to that sense of 

 them which the Catholic fathers and ancient bishops have delivered 

 to succeeding generations, will easily see that the whole system of 

 Christian duty is reducible to these five heads: 



First, the renouncing of ourselves. " If any man will come aftei 



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