“Answer. In general she ought not. Yet there may be an exception. For
if (1) a woman be under necessity of marrying; if (2) her parents
absolutely refuse to let her marry any Christian: then she may, nay
ought, to marry without their consent. Yet even then a Methodist
preacher ought not to marry her.”[534]
8. “Read the sermon upon evil speaking, in every society. Extirpate
smuggling, buying or selling uncustomed goods, out of every society;
particularly in Cornwall, and in all seaport towns. Let no person
remain with us, who will not totally abstain from every kind and
degree of it. Extirpate bribery; receiving anything, directly or
indirectly, for voting in any election. Show no respect of persons
herein, but expel all who touch the accursed thing. Let this be
particularly observed at Grimsby and St. Ives.”[535]
9. Let every preacher in town “examine carefully what state the sick
is in; and instruct, reprove, or exhort accordingly.”[536]
10. “Rarely spend above an hour at a time in conversing with any one.
Earnestly recommend the five o’clock hour to all.”[537]
11. The preachers were requested to offer constantly and fervently,
at set times, private, family, and public prayer; consisting of
deprecation, petition, intercession, and thanksgiving. They were to
forecast, wherever they were, how to secure the hour at five in the
evening, and the hour before or after morning preaching, for private
devotion. They were constantly to read the Scriptures, Wesley’s
tracts, and the Christian Library. They were to devote their mornings
to reading, writing, prayer, and meditation. They were always to
have a New Testament in their pockets; and were to see that Wesley’s
Notes thereon were in every society, and were to explain them to
the congregations. They were devoutly to use the Lord’s supper at
every opportunity. They were advised to fast every Friday, Wesley
avowing his purpose generally to eat only vegetables on Friday, and
to take only toast and water in the morning. They were to meet every
society weekly; also the leaders, and the bands, if any. They were
diligently to inquire into the state of the books, to do all they
could to propagate them. They were to keep watchnights once a month,
and lovefeasts twice a year for the whole society. They were to visit
every society once a quarter; to take a regular catalogue of the
members, at least, once a year; and to write Wesley an account of all
the defects of “the common preachers,” which they could not themselves
cure. They were steadily to watch against the world, the devil,
themselves, and besetting sins; and to deny themselves every useless
pleasure of sense, imagination, and honour. They were recommended to
use only that kind and that degree of food, which was best both for
the body and the soul; to eat no flesh and no late suppers; and to
take only three meals a day.[538]