this edition, and, as it was published in pamphlet form, it is likely that none is extant. Its loss, however, is the less to be regretted, since by the aid of Lee's History of the Methodists, and the Discipline of 1789, we are enabled to arrive at a pretty accurate knowledge of its contents. We learn, from the former,* that it contained thirty-one sections, embracing sixty-three questions; and that its last, or thirty-first section, corresponded with the thirty-first section of the Discipline of 1789. It is also known that the latter contained four additional sections, embracing six questions; and that two of these were the thirty-first section, (Of the trial of members,) and the thirty-second, (Of the trial of ministers.) It is probable, therefore, that the other two were the thirty-fourth (Of stewards) and the thirty-fifth, (The General Rules):-a conclusion which is further confirmed by the fact, that these four sections embrace precisely six questions. If these inferences be correct, then the Discipline of 1787 was substantially the same as the first thirty-one sections of that of 1789, and all the alterations in those sections which are assigned in this work to the latter year, may have been made in the former, but they are not referred to 1787, because the author is unwilling to rely on any mere presumption, however strong.

It was in the Discipline of 1787 that the superintendents were first called bishops.§

It was the leaving out, in this year, the second question and answer of the former Discipline, that is called, in Methodist history, "leaving Mr. Wesley's name off the Minutes."

In the Annual Minutes for the same year we find several regulations relating to discipline, namely, Quest. 17. (Of the spiritual welfare of the coloured people.)|| Quest. 18. (Of the salaries of married preachers.)¶

*Lee's History of the Methodists, pp. 127, 128.

See Asbury's Journal, vol. ii, pp. 29, 30.

§ Lee's Hist. of the Methodists, p. 128. I See below, book ii, part ii, sec. 10.

+ Ibid., p. 129.

¶ Ibid., sec. 4.

Quest. 19. (Of register books ;)* and Quest. 20. (Of the rising generation.)†

1788. No edition of the Discipline for 1788 has been found. That no material alterations, however, were made in that year, may be reasonably inferred from the silence of contemporary writers, especially of Lee, who says that he "inserted all the Minutes of importance," and who mentions, in his History, alterations in 1787 and 1789, but none in 1788.

1789. In March, 1789, the fifth edition of the Discipline was published. The correspondence between it and the edition of 1787 has already been noticed under the latter date. Two of the new sections (thirty-first and thirty-second) appear to have been prepared by Bishop Asbury nearly a year previously. Under date of April 2, 1788, he writes: "I rested, and compiled two sections, which I shall recommend to be put into our Form of Discipline, in order to remove from society, by regular steps, either preachers or people that are disorderly."

To this Discipline was prefixed an Address, by the bishops, "to the members of the Methodist Societies in the United States." There were also appended the Articles of Religion, and certain Doctrinal Tracts, both printed as distinct parts. The former were entitled, "The Articles of Religion as received and taught in the Methodist Episcopal Church throughout the United States of America. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God,' John vii, 17. 'Prove all things: hold fast that which is good,' 1 Thess. v. 21." The Doctrinal Tracts were severally entitled, "The Scripture Doctrine of Predestination, Election, and Reprobation, by the Rev. John Wesley, &c." Serious Thoughts on the Infallible

* See below, book ii, part ii, sec. 3. † Ibid., part i, chap. i, sec. 16. + Journal, vol. ii, p. 29.

Unconditional Perseverance of all that have once experienced Faith in Christ;" and "A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, as believed and taught by the Rev. John Wesley, from the Year 1725 to the Year 1765." These tracts were inserted in the subsequent editions of the Discipline, (except that of 1796) until 1812, when they were omitted. They may now be found in the volume entitled, "Doctrinal Tracts," and in Wesley's Works, vol. vi, pp. 81, 483.*

1790. In the edition of 1790 the Articles of Re ligion and the Doctrinal Tracts, instead of being pub lished as an appendix to the Discipline, were inserted in the body of it, and a new tract was added, “On the Nature and Subjects of Christian Baptism." These constituted, in the order they have been cited, sections thirty-five to thirty-nine of this edition.

1791. In the Discipline of 1791 was inserted a new section, namely, "§ 9. Of Band Societies."

1792. Another General Conference having been convened in 1792, the Discipline of the church was revised and somewhat altered. The sections were now distributed into three chapters, of which the first, containing twenty-six sections, related to the ministry; the second, containing eight sections, to the membership; and the third, containing ten sections, embraced the temporal economy of the church, the Doctrinal Tracts, and the Forms.

A General Conference having been held regularly, every four years from this time, no alterations were made in the Discipline, except at its successive sessions.

1796. The Discipline of 1796 is distinguished from all others, by containing notes on the respective

* In Dr. Bangs's History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. i, pp. 175-215, the Discipline of 1789 is published entire, excepting the first section, for which see below, book ii, “The Bishops' Address.”

sections, prepared by the bishops. The origin and design of these are thus stated in the " Advertisement to the Reader :”- "The last General Conference desired the bishops to draw up Annotations on the Form of Discipline, and to publish them with the present edition. The bishops have accordingly complied, and have proved or illustrated every thing by quotations from the word of God, agreeably also to the advice of the conference and they sincerely pray that their labour of love may be made a blessing to many. 1797."

In this edition we find, in the first chapter, two new sections; the one, Section 21. "Of the Local Preachers;" the other, Section 28. "Of the Chartered Fund." In the second chapter there are also two additional sections; the one, Section 9. “ Of Slavery;" the other, Section 10. "Of the Sale and Use of Spirituous Liquors.' The Doctrinal Tracts and the Forms are omitted.

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1800. The Discipline of 1800 omits the bishops' Notes, which were ordered to be printed "by themselves, but in such a manner that the Notes may be conveniently bound up with the Form of Discipline.' In this edition the section on "The Plan of Education recommended to all our Seminaries of Learning" is omitted; and the Doctrinal Tracts (except that on baptism) and the Forms are restored.

1804. In 1804 the Discipline was divided into two parts, as now, the second relating to the "temporal economy" of the church. There has been no change in the order of the sections from that time.

1808. In 1808 an important change was made in the constitution of the church, by the establishment of a delegated General Conference. In this year the word "salary" was changed throughout to "allowance."

* See below, book ii, part 2, sec. 8.

1812. Since 1812 the Doctrinal Tracts have been omitted.

1816. In 1816 the Forms, instead of being embraced, as before, in one chapter, (the third,) were divided into two, of which one (the third) contained the order for administering the sacraments, and the forms for solemnizing matrimony and burying the dead; and the other (the fourth) contained the forms of ordination. In this year the word "society" was very generally changed to "church," the latter term having occurred occasionally before.

1832. In 1832 a new section was added to part ii, namely, "Section 6. Of the Support of Missions."

1840. In 1840 a new section was added to part i, chap. 1, namely, "Section 8. Of the reception of Preachers from the Wesleyan Connection, and from other Denominations ;" and the eighth section of chapter 2, "Of the Sale and Use of Spirituous Liquors," was omitted.*

* Some of the first copies of the 24mo. edition of the Discipline of 1840 were imperfect. (See below, book ii, part i, chap. i, sec. 4 and 16.) The correct copies may be known by having pp. 61-4 in smaller type than the others.