scarcely be conceived, says Mr. Wesley, what advántages have been reaped from this little prudential regulation. Many now experienced that Christian fellowship, of which they had not so much as an idea before. They began to bear one another's burdens, and naturally to care for each other's welfare. and as they had daily a more intimate acquaintance with, so they had a more endeared affection for each other." Mr. Wesley further adds, "Upon reflection, I could not but observe, this is the very thing which was from the beginning of Christianity. In the earliest times, those whom God had sent forth preached the gospel to every creature. And the axgearai, the body of hearers, were mostly either Jews or Heathens. But as soon as any of these were so convinced of the truth, as to forsake sin, and seek the gospel of salvation, they immediately joined them together, took an account of their names, advised them to watch over each other, and met these xaτnxxμrvo, catechumens, as they were then called, apart from the great congregation, that they might instruct, rebuke, exhort, and pray with them, and for them, according to their several necessities."

As the people encreased and societies were multiplied, Mr. Wesley found it necessary to add some further regulations, to ascertain who belonged to the society, and to prevent improper persons from imposing upon him. To every person therefore, of whose seriousness, and good conversation he had no doubt, he gave a ticket, on which was printed a short portion of scripture, and on which he wrote the date and the person's name. He who received a ticket was by that made a member of the society, and immediately appointed to meet in some one of the classes; and this method of admitting members was adopted throughout

the

the whole Methodist connexion. These tickets, therefore, or Tesseræ, as the ancients called them, being of the same force with the επιτολαι συστατικαί, commenda tory letters, mentioned by the Apostle, introduced those who bore them, into fellowship one with another, not only in one place, but in every place where any might happen to come. As they were common to all the members of the societies every where, so a stranger in any place, who held one was immediately received as a brother, and admitted to their private assemblies. But lest any improper person should be suffered to continue in the society, and bring disgrace on the whole body by bad conduct, it was agreed that these tickets should have no force for a longer time than three months. Mr. Wesley determined, that, where he could stay for a few days, he would speak with every member of the society once a quarter, and change the tickets; and that the preachers appointed to act as his assistants, should every where do the same. By this means the tickets were changea four times in a year; and this was called visiting the classes. Mr. Wesley observes, "By these (tickets) it was easily distinguished, when the society were to meet apart, who were members of it, and who not. These also supplied us with a quiet and inoffensive method of removing any disorderly member, he has no new ticket at the next quarterly visitation, and hereby it is immediately known, that he is no longer of the community."

April 9. They had the first watch night in London. "We commonly choose, says Mr. Wesley, for this solemn service, the Friday night nearest the full moon, either before or after, that those of the congregation who live at a distance may have light to their several homes. The service begins at half an hour past eight,

and

and continues till a little after midnight.

We have

often found a peculiar blessing at these seasons. There is generally a deep awe upon the congregation, perhaps in some measure owing to the silence of the night particularly in singing the hymn, with which we commonly conclude:

"Hearken to the solemn voice!

The awful midnight cry,

Waiting souls rejoice, rejoice,

And feel the Bridegroom nigh."

Having received a letter pressing him to go without delay into Leicestershire, he set out. "The next afternoon (says M:. Wesley) I stopt a little at NewportPagnell, and then rode on till I overtook a serious man, with whom I immediately fell into conversation. He presently gave me to know what his opinions were therefore I said nothing to contradict them. But that did not content him he was quite uneasy to know Whether I held the doctrine of the decrees, as he did.' But I told him over and over, we had better keep to practical things, least we should be angry at one another. And so we did for two miles, till he caught me unawares, and dragged me into the dispute before I knew where I was. He then grew warmer and warmer: told me, I was and supposed I was one of John Wesley's followers. I told him, No, I am John Wesley himself. Upon which he appeared,

rotten at heart,

"Improvisum aspris veluti qui sentibus anguem
Pressit-

As one who had unawares trodden on a snake: and would gladly have run away outright. But being the better

mounted

mounted of the two, I kept close to his side, and endeavoured to shew him his heart, till we came into the street of Northampton."

Mr. Wesley had now a call to extend his labours John further North, than he had hitherto done. Nelson, a mason of Birstal, in Yorkshire, had been in London some time, and heard the gospel at the Foundery. His understanding was informed, his conscience awakened, and feeling the whole energy of the truths he heard delivered, he received that peace, which the Apostle speaks of, as the fruit of justifying faith. He received the knowledge of salvation by the remission of his sins. He had full employment and large wages in London, but he found a constant inclination to return to his native place. He did so; and his relations and acquaintance soon began to inquire what he thought of this new faith, which, by means of Mr. Ingham, had occasioned much noise and talk in Yorkshire. John told them point blank, this new faith, as they called it, was the old faith of the gospel: and related to them his own experience. This was soon noised abroad; and more and more came to inquire concerning these strange things. Some put him upon the proof of the great truths such inquiries na turally led him to mention. And thus he was brought unawares to quote, explain, compare, and enforce several parts of scripture. This he did at first, sitting in his house, till the company increased so that the house could not contain them. Then he stood at the door, which he was commonly obliged to do, in the evening, as soon as he came from work. His word was soon made a blessing to the people: many believed his report, and were turned from darkness to light,

and

The Life of this faithful labourer in God's vineyard, may be had of the printer hereof, price 15. 7dh.

and from the power of sin and Satan unto the living God. Mr. Ingham hearing of this came to Birstal, inquired into the facts, talked with John himself in the closest manner, both touching his knowledge and experience. The result was, he encouraged him to proceed, and invited him to come, as often as convenient, to any of those places where he himself had been, and speak to the people as God should enable him. Things being in this state, John Nelson, invited Mr. Wesley to conie down amongst them; and May 26, he arrived at Birstal. Here he found a LayPreacher who, undeniably, had done much good. Many of the greatest profligates in all the country were now changed, Their blasphemies were turned to praise. The whole town wore a new face: such a change did God work by the artless testimony of one plain man! Mr. Wesley was so fully convinced of the great design of a preached gospel, that if sinners were truly converted to God, and a decent order preserved in hearing the word, he thought it a matter of less consequence, whether the instrument of the good done, was a Layman, or regularly ordained. And if a regularly ordained preacher did no good, and a Layman by preaching did; it was easy to julge which was acting most agreeably to the design of the gospel, and most for the benefit of society. It is probable that such reficctions as these had arisen in his mind on the fact before him; and his judgment was confirmed by repeated facts of the same kind which occurred. And thus he was induced to make use of the labours of Laymen, on a more extensive scale than had hitherto been allowed.

After preaching at Birstal, he went forward to Newcastle upon Tyne. Having witnessed the success of the gospel among the Colliers at Kingswood, he

had