Wesleyan Methodism Regarded as the System of a Christian Church (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846 edition. Excerpt: ... circuits would have their church to be respected and efficient for good in its relation to the world, they should raise their pastors above the station of itinerant pedestrians, and forthwith relieve them from this wasting drudgery to which some of them are so improvidently subjected, to the ruin of time, talent, and life. Ascending from the lower, yet legitimate, ground of official character, we come up to a more elevated station, and survey thence our charge. And this is worif various as various as it is extensive. There are societies, each consisting of some, perhaps of several, classes, in connexion with the same place of worship. Over each class is a leader, their familiar friend, and to some extent their guide. The minister must watch over all. His more general engagements render it impracticable for him to confer with each so frequently and so closely as he could wish to do. But, except in some remote and wide or over-crowded circuits, he has means of so far ascertaining the state of each society as to adapt his ministrations to their necessities, to visit the abodes of the afflicted, to track out the wanderers, and carry to them seasonable admonition; to find out the penitent, and encourage them to cast in their lot with the people of God; to exert salutary influence in quarters where heartburnings and strife may have unhappily arisen; and, in short, to watch with paternal care over the most interesting portions of his family, and to draw others within those hallowed circles. He is careful also to see that the leaders be faithful. He observes whether the classes be visited by the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, and whether the members be occupied in works of faith and labours of love, for the eventual benefit of the...