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some doctrine, and necessary for these times, as doth the former Book of Homilies, which were set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth, and therefore we judge them to be read in churches by the ministers diligently and distinctly, that they may be understanded of the people.

Of the Names of the Homilies.

"1. Of the Right Use of the Church. 2. Against Peril of Idolatry. 3. Of repairing and keeping clean of Churches. 4. Of Good Works: first of Fasting. 5. Against Gluttony and Drunkenness. 6. Against excess of Apparel. 7. Of Prayer. 8. Of the Place and Time of Prayer. 9. That Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministered in a known Tongue. 10. Of the reverent Estimation of God's Word. 11. Of Alms-doing. 12. Of the Nativity of Christ. 13. Of the Passion of Christ. 14. Of the Resurrection of Christ. 15. Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. 16. Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost. 17. For the Rogation-days. 18. Of the State of Matrimony. 19. Of Repentance. 20. Against Idleness. 21. Against Rebellion.

"(XXXVI.) Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers.

"The Book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops, and Ordering of Priests and Deacons, lately set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth, and confirmed at the same time by authority of parliament, doth contain all things necessary to such consecration and ordering: neither hath it any thing that of itself is superstitious and ungodly. And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the rites of that book, since the second year of the forenamed King Edward, unto this time, or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same rites; we decree all such to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully consecrated and ordered.

("XXXVII.) Of the Civil Magistrates.

"The king's majesty hath the chief power in this realm of England, and other his dominions, unto whom the chief government of all estates of this realm, whether they be ecclesiastical or civil, in all causes doth appertain, and is not, nor ought to be, subject to any foreign jurisdiction.

"Where we attribute to the king's majesty the chief government, by which titles we understand the minds of some slanderous folks to be offended; we give not to our princes the ministering either of God's word, or of the sacraments, the which thing the injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth our queen do most plainly testify; but that only prerogative, which we see

to have been given always to all godly princes in Holy Scriptures by God himself; that is, that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God, whether they be ecclesiastical or temporal, and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and evil doers.

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The bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this realm of England.

"The laws of the realm may punish Christian men with death, for heinous and grievous offences.

"It is lawful for Christian men, at the commandment of the magistrate, to wear weapons, and serve in the wars.]*

"XXIII. [XXIV.] (XXXVIII.) of Christian men's Goods, [which are not common.]

"The riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as some do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor according to his ability.

“XXIV. [XXV.] (XXXIX.) Of a Christian Man's Oath.

"As we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ, and James his apostle; so we judge that the Christian reli

* Although Mr. Wesley inserted, in the Liturgy which he prepared for the American Methodists, a prayer for "the supreme rulers of the United States," yet he probably did not think himself sufficiently familiar with the subject to draw up an article respecting "the civil magistrates." Such an article was framed, however, at the Christmas Conference, when the church was organized. It could not be printed with the others, because they had been previously printed in England. It was inserted, however, in the next edition of the Prayer-book, in 1786, (see "Defence of our Fathers,” sec. 8,) and read as follows:

"XXIII. Of the Rulers of the United States of America. "The congress, the general assemblies, the governors, and the councils of state, as the delegates of the people, are the rulers of the United States of America, according to the division of power made to them by the general Act of Confederation, and by the Constitu. tions of their respective states. And the said states ought not to be subject to any foreign jurisdiction."

"certain Anabaptists."-Thirty-nine Articles.

gion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the magistrate requireth, in a cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the prophet's teaching, in justice, judgment, and truth."

The following alterations have been made in the Articles, from time to time. It will be perceived that they are almost all typographical errors, or substitutions of modern forms of expression; but, on account of the importance of the subject, it has been thought best to notice them all.

1786. Article I, 1. 2. For "without body, parts, or passions," read "without body or parts."

Article II, 11. 1, 2, "begotten from everlasting of the Father," omitted.

Article XIII, 1. 2. For " in the which"-" in which." “Article XVI, 1. 15. For "grown partly"-"partly grown."

1789. Article V, 1. 4, "the" omitted.

Article XIV, 1. 2. For "pardons"-" pardon." 1790. Article V, 1. 9. For "Of the names". "The names."

Article XXIII, (in the note,) 1. 1. Before "The Congress," insert "The President."

1791. Article XIX, 1. 4. For "ministered""administered."

1796. Article XVIII, 1. 10. For "the Lord""our Lord."

1804. Article XXIII, (in the note.) For "the general Act of Confederation"-"the Constitution of the United States." After "said states," the following inserted-" are a sovereign and independent nation, and." 1808. Article V, 1. 3. For "or"-" nor."

Article XVIII, 1. 15. For "spiritual"-" scriptural," a misprint which has been continued in every subsequent edition.

1812. Article VI, 1. 10, "to" omitted.

Article X, 1. 7, "is" inserted after "tree."

Article XVIII, l. 1, 2. The words, "of the love,"

omitted-a misprint which was not corrected until

1840.

1816. Article V, 1. 1. For " Holy Scripture con taineth"-" The Holy Scriptures contain."

Article XI, 1. 2. For "they call"-" are called." Article XVI, end. "1 Cor. xi, 29" added. 1820. Article I, 1. 4, "both" omitted. Article XVIII. 1. 16. For "mean"-" means." Article XXIII, end The following note was added: "As far as it respects civil affairs, we believe it the duty of Christians, and especially all Christian ministers, to be subject to the supreme authority of the country where they may reside, and to use all laudable means to enjoin obedience to the powers that be; and therefore it is expected that all our preachers and people, who may be under the British or any other government, will behave themselves as peaceable and orderly subjects."* 1824. Article VI, 1. 8. For "rites"-"rights," a misprint which was continued until 1836.

SECTION III.

Of the General and Annual Conferences.

The section corresponding to this in 1789 was the second, entitled-"On the Method of holding a Conference, and the Business to be done therein." In 1792 it was made the third section, with the title, "Of the General and District Conferences," and in 1796, "District" was changed to " Yearly" and that, in 1816, to "Annual."

*This note was added especially to meet the peculiar case of the brethren in Canada, against whom unfounded suspicions had been created, because the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they were then a part, was regarded as a foreign ecclesiastical authority.

+ To avoid repetition it is here stated, once for all, that throughout the Discipline of 1792 the annual conferences are called "District Conferences," there being then one held for every presiding elder's dis trict. But the term was never afterward thus employed; though it was subsequently (1820-1836) applied to the conferences of local preachers appointed for each presiding elder's district.

The introductory part of this section is found in the first Discipline, (Question 1,) and as it has undergone no material alteration since, it will be sufficient to refer to it.* The remainder of the section was not divided until 1808, but for convenience, the whole will be treated under the heads then adopted, namely," Of the General Conference" and "Of the Annual Conference."

Of the General Conference.

Nothing appears, on this subject, until 1792, when the first General Conference, after the organization of the church, was held. We then find the following:1792. Quest. 2. Who shall compose the General Conference ?

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“Ans. All the travelling preachers who shall be in full connection at the time of holding the conference. Quest. 3. When and where shall the next General Conference be held?

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"Ans. On the first day of November, in the year 1796, in the town of Baltimore."

1796. Question 3, struck out.

1800. An additional qualification for membership was added, namely:-to "have travelled four years.

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1804. It was provided that the "four years" should date "from the time that they were received on trial by an annual conference."

1808. This was the last meeting of a General Conference, composed of all the preachers who had travelled four years. It was then resolved to have, in future, a delegated General Conference, and the following was adopted as its constitution, in lieu of the former.

"Quest. 2. Who shall compose the General Conference, and what are the regulations and powers belonging to it?

“Ans. 1. The General Conference shall be com

*See above, p. 26.

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