Early Teaching of Methodism.
By C. H. Bliss
(Extracts from the Preachers’ Manual; Concluded.) CONCERNING forming friendships, he says:— “1. Beware of forming hasty friendships. They are seldom solid. Confide little in the person who suddenly professes uncommon friendship for you. He may be sincere, but depend upon it, he will not be steady. Remember the proverb, Hot love is soon cold. “2. Never trust to appearances; behold, the drum, with all its noise, is empty within. “3. If you have a friend who takes offense at trifles, break entirely with him, for he is not to be trusted.” Concerning the minister’s behavior while visiting families, he says:— “1. Give the family as little trouble as possible. “2. Never desire anything of them that you can do for yourself. Dr. Adam Clarke was decidedly an advocate of health reform. Of the use of tea, he says, “Shun tea-drinking visits. Thirty-seven years ago I met with Mr. Wesley’s ‘Letter on Tea.’ I read it and resolved from that hour to drink no more of the juice of that herb, till I could answer his arguments and objections. I have seen that tract but once since; yet from that day to this, I have not drank a cup of tea or coffee.” Further on concerning tea-drinking visits he says, “I have often had occasion to observe that tea-drinking visits open the flood gates of various temptations.” Of the manner of eating he says, “Never eat your food too warm, nor drink any kind of hot slops in the morning. These exceedingly relax and weaken the fibers of the stomach, and prevent it from performing its proper functions.” Concerning using medicine for recovery when sick, he says, “Avoid all quack medicine as you would the pestilence because I believe nature, if she get fair play, will require very little medical assistance.” Certainly this is sound “health reform” doctrine, and is all the more valuable in that it comes from one qualified to speak with regard to the nature and effect of medicine. C. H. Bliss.