That every point which is proposed, may be examined to the foundation: That every person may speak freely whatever is in his heart: And that every question which may arise, should be throughly debated and settled. Mean time let us all pray for a willingness to receive light, to know of every doctrine, whether it be of God. _Q._ 1. How may the time of this conference be made more eminently a time of watching unto prayer? _A._ 1. While we are conversing, let us have an especial care, to set God always before us: 2. In the intermediate hours, let us visit none but the sick, and spend all the time that remains in retirement: 3. Let us therein give ourselves to prayer for one another, and for a blessing on this our labour. _Q._ 2. How far does each of us agree to submit to the judgment of the majority? _A._ In speculative things each can only submit, so far as his judgment shall be convinced: In every practical point each will submit, so far as he can without wounding his conscience. _Q._ 3. Can a Christian submit any farther than this, to any man, or number of men upon earth? _A._ It is plain he cannot, either to bishop, convocation or general council. And this is that grand principle of private judgment, on which all the reformers proceeded; “Every man must judge for himself; because every man must give an account of himself to God.” * _Q._ 4. What may we reasonably expect to ♦believe God’s design in raising up the preachers called _Methodists_? ♦ “be” replaced with “believe” per Errata _A._ To reform the nation, particularly the church; to spread scriptural holiness over the land. _Q._ 5. What was the rise of _Methodism_, so called? _A._ In 1729, two young men reading the bible, saw they could not be saved without holiness, followed after it, and incited others so to do. In 1737 they saw, holiness comes by faith. They saw likewise, that men are justified before they are sanctified: but still holiness was their point. God then thrust them out, utterly against their will, to raise an holy people. When Satan could no otherwise hinder this, he threw _Calvinism_ in the way; and then _Antinomianism_, which strikes directly at the root of all holiness. Then many of the _Methodists_ growing _rich_, became lovers of the present world. Next they married unawakened or half-awakened _wives_, and conversed with their relations. Hence worldly _prudence_, _maxims_, _customs_, crept back upon them, producing more and more _conformity to the world_. Hence followed gross neglect of _relative duties_, especially _education_ of children. And this is not easily cured by the preachers. Either they have not _light_, or not _weight_ enough. But the want of both may in some measure be supplied, by publicly reading _the sermons_ every where, particularly the fourth volume. _Q._ 6. Is it advisable to preach in as many places as we can, without forming any societies?