To advise, reprove, comfort or exhort, as occasion may require; To receive what they are willing to give, toward the relief of the poor. II. To meet the minister and the stewards of the society, in order To inform the minister of any that are sick, or of any that are disorderly and will not be reproved; To pay to the stewards what they have received of their several classes in the week preceding. 6. At first they visited each person at his own house: but this was soon found not so expedient. And that on many accounts, 1. It took up more time, than most of the leaders had to spare. 2. Many persons lived with masters, mistresses or relations, who would not suffer them to be thus visited. 3. At the houses of those who were not so averse, they often had no opportunity of speaking to them but in company. And this did not at all answer the end proposed, of exhorting, comforting or reproving. 4. It frequently happened, that one affirmed what another denied. And this could not be cleared, without seeing them together. 5. Little misunderstandings and quarrels of various kinds, frequently arose among relations or neighbours; effectually to remove which, it was needful to see them all face to face. Upon all these considerations it was agreed, that those of each class should meet all together. And by this means, a more full enquiry was made, into the behaviour of every person. Those who could not be visited at home, or no otherwise than in company, had the same advantage with others. Advice or reproof was given as need required; quarrels made up, misunderstandings removed. And after an hour or two spent in this labour of love, they concluded with prayer and thanksgiving. 7. It can scarce be conceived, what advantages have been reaped from this little prudential regulation. Many now happily experienced that Christian fellowship, of which they had not so much as an idea before. They began to _bear one anothers burthens_, and _naturally_ to _care for each other_. As they had daily a more intimate acquaintance with, so they had a more endeared affection for each other. And _speaking the truth in love they grew up into him in all things, who is the head, even_ Christ: _from whom the whole body, fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplied, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, increased unto the edifying itself in love_. 8. But notwithstanding all these advantages, many were at first extremely averse to meeting thus. Some, viewing it in a wrong point of light, not as a _priviledge_ (indeed an invaluable one) but rather a _restraint_, disliked it on that account, because they did not love to be restrained in any thing. Some were _ashamed_ to speak before company. Others honestly said, “I don’t know why; but I _don’t like_ it.”