VI. 1. By the blessing of God upon their endeavours to help one another, many found the pearl of great price. Being justified by faith, they had _peace with_ God, _through our_ Lord Jesus Christ. These felt a more tender affection than before, to those who were partakers of like precious faith: and hence arose such a confidence in each other, that they poured out their souls into each other’s bosom. Indeed they had great need so to do: for the war was not over, as they had supposed. But they had still to wrestle both with flesh and blood, and with principalities and powers: so that temptations were on every side: and often temptations of such a kind, as they knew not how to speak in a class: in which persons of every sort, young and old, men and women, met together. 2. These therefore wanted some means of closer union: they wanted to pour out their hearts without reserve, particularly with regard to the sin which did still _easily beset_ them, and the temptations which were most apt to prevail over them. And they were the more desirous of this, when they observed it was the express advice of an inspired writer, _Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed_. 3. In compliance with their desire, I divided them into smaller companies; putting the married or single men, and married or single women together. The chief rules of these _bands_, (_i. e._ little companies: so that old _English_ word signifies) run thus: In order to _confess our faults one to another_, and pray one for another that we may be healed, we intend, “1. To meet once a week, at the least; 2. To come punctually at the hour appointed; 3. To begin with singing or prayer; 4. To speak each of us in order, freely and plainly, the true state of our soul, with the faults we have committed in thought word or deed, and the temptations we have felt, since our last meeting: 5. To desire some person among us (thence called a _Leader_) to speak _his_ own state first, and then to ask the rest in order, as many and as searching questions as may be, concerning their state, sins and temptations.” 4. That their design in meeting might be the more effectually answered, I desired all the men-_bands_ to meet me together every _Wednesday_ evening, and the women on _Sunday_; that they might receive such particular instructions and ♦exhortations, as from time to time might appear to be most needful for them: that such prayers might be offered up to God, as their necessities should require: and praise returned to the Giver of every good gift, for whatever mercies they had received. ♦ delete “such” per Errata