tant; at a time when there was none but European preachers on the continent. But why was the name of general assistant ever changed? The Methodists in England and in America, formerly did not call themselves a particular church; but a religious society in connexion with different churches, but mostly with the Episcopal church. After the revolutionary war, the Episcopal clergy became very scarce, and in far the greatest number of our societies, we had no way of re ceiving the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's sup per. It was this that led many of our preachers, to take upon them the administration of the ordinances. Mr. Rankin, who was our first general assistant, after staying the time in this country he came for, returned home. This was at a time when we had no intercourse with England, and Mr. Asbury, the only old preacher that de termined in those perilous times, to give up his parents, country, and all his natural connections, was finally and unanimously chosen by the preachers assembled in conference, our general assistant. He continued such, until the year 1784, when Dr. Coke came over, and not the name only of general assistant was changed to that of superintendent, but we formed ourselves into a separate church. This change was proposed to us by Mr. Wesley, after we had craved his advice on the subject; but it could not take effect till adopted by us: which was done in a deliberate, formal manner, at a conference called for that purpose. After a few years, the name from superintendent was changed to bishop. But from first to last, the business of general assistant, su perintendent, or bishop, has been the same; only since. we have become a distinct church, he has, with the assistance of two or three elders ordained our ministers; he presides in our conferences, and in case of an equal division on a question, he has the casting vote; but in no instance whatever, has he a negative. He has also the stationing of all the travelling preachers, under

certain limitations. Which power as it is given him by the general conference, so it can be lessened, or taken from him at any time conference sees fit. But while he superintends the whole work he cannot interfere with the particular charge of any of the preachers in their stations. To see that the preachers fill their places with propriety, and to understand the state of every station, or circuit, that he may the better make the appointments of the preachers, is no doubt, no small part of his duty; but he has nothing to do with receiving, censuring, or excluding members: this belongs wholly to the stationed preacher and members. His power is great, but it intirely respects the travelling preachers. It never can from the nature of things, be put into the hands of any man, but one in whom the whole have the highest confidence, and that no longer than he faithfully executes his trust. I know of no way the preachers can be as well stationed, as by one that goes through the whole work, and is without his local prejudices in favour of, or against any place: as he seldom stays longer in one place than another. The whole body of preachers in conference cannot station themselves; and a committee chosen by them for that purpose, would find many insurmountable difficulties: as they could have but a very superficial knowledge of the particular gifts of many of the preachers, or the state of many of the circuits. The sacrifice that a preacher makes in giving up his choice, and going wherever he is appointed, is not small. But no one is worthy of the name of a travelling preacher, that does not cheerfully go any where he can, for the general good. If he be so circumstanced, that he cannot go any where, and every where that is thought best, he should say so, when he first offers himself to conference: If it so happen, after he has been travelling, he ought to let it be known as soon as possible; and whenever he cannot be accommodated with a circuit that he can fill, he

ought to be content to stop till he can.

Every station in life has its difficulties. But this cannot be remedied in the present state of things. It is then "our duty to do the best we can, under unavoidable difficulties. Better many individuals suffer, than the work at large should. I would rather be in the more general work; yet if circumstances prevent, let me be content, to act in some humble way."

It must be remarked that the doctrines of the Methodist church are stedfastly adhered to by the preacherswhilst the forms in the administration of the gospel ordinances are generally omitted.-The form of prayer is not used at all, and many of the ministers conduct the service altogether extempore-whilst others sometimes use the form of administering the sacrament and the funeral service. But in the act of receiving the Lord's supper-kneeling is not considered indispensable. Indeed there is a probability that these forms would never have been introduced, if Mr. Wesley and Dr. Coke had not been so partial to the English established Church and the reason for their rejection is obvious, they circumscribe the mind, and destroy the energy of divine worship so much, that the life of religion is lost in "sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal."But as it respects the admission of members, their rejection, their conduct, their characters, &c. the Methodists adhere to the genuine spirit of their discipline. These remarks will rectify any mistake which might be made by those who judge of the Methodist economy from the volume published by the societies as that does not notice any departure from the printed regulations..

CONCLUSION.

IF we contemplate the history of the Christian Church since the period of Constantine's accession to the Romish imperial throne, and the public establishment of Christianity as a national religion, a variety of conflicting passions torture the agonized heart. The corruptions which were introduced, the idolatrous worship which was adopted, the infernal doctrines which were admitted instead of the holy truths of the scriptures, the Egyptian obscurity which overwhelmed all Christendom in tangible darkness, and the abominable impieties, blasphemies, cruelties, and impurities of those who dared to call themselves the ministers and disciples of the Saviour of mankind during several centuries, fill the mind with disgust and horror. The Providence of God however brought to a conclusion the dominion of the "Man of Sin;" Luther imbued with the thunder of Boanerges, with great gifts, great grace, and apostolick zeal and fortitude, undauntedly and fearlessly opposed. the wrath and cruelty of Popery; and proper instruments being raised up to assist, protect and encourage him, the dawnings of that evangelical light appeared, which has since blazed into perfect day, notwithstanding all the efforts of infidelity, Jesuitism, and hypocrisy to oppose it. But the national church in England, choked the growth of "pure and undefiled religion," and by the heaviest and vilest oppressions, almost destroyed vital Christianity. In France, the "Son of Pertion's" agents, the Jesuits, were so successful as to persuade a silly and haughty monarch to root out of his kingdom, the only industrious, loyal people who liv

T t

ed in his dominions-and the genuine temper and spirit of the lowly Jesus was preserved by very few of those who called themselves by his name. But the propheciesmust be fulfilled, the kingdom of God must be extended-three individuals, animated by peculiar talents and grace, possessing much energy and perseverance, have been the instruments of dispersing the gospel throughout Great Britain and America; their example stimulated others; the hand of God co-operated with them; sinners were converted, souls were saved, darkness fled before the sun of righteousness, and idolatry, superstition and infidelity withdraw, as the sweet sounds of redemption approach.

The diffusion of Christianity through the labours of the Messrs. Wesley's and Mr. Whitfield, is almost unprecedented since the primitive ages of the Christian church. Not to mention the additional stimulus which their example gave to all the dissenting churches in Eng land, the two bodies of Christians who boast of these ministers as their spiritual fathers, amount at present to nearly 250,000 professed disciples of Jesus, in the British European dominions; and excepting one doctrinal distinction, are all of one mind, actuated by the same zeal, and striving earnestly to unfold the banner of the gospel of

Christ.

Let us rejoice that we live in that period of the world when God has graciously infused into his people a spirit of faith and prayer-when we already see the idolatrous superstitions of the Papists banishing from the earth-when the throne which supports the delusions of Mohammed must fall, amidst the jarring interests of the conflicting European governments-when the ignorance, stupidity and blindness of the Greek church must vanish-and when the Heathens are beginning to sing the songs of Zion, and to hail the name of Jesus, as "a sovereign balm for every wound."