WHAT THE METHODIST DISCIPLINE SAYS by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 30, 1876

WHAT THE METHODIST DISCIPLINE SAYS.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

I have read the Methodist discipline through several times, and always with much profit, not for the sound doctrine it teaches, but for the good practical advice it gives. No one can read it now without being forcibly impressed with the fact that this once devoted church has now terribly apostatized from its original standard. Take the following upon dress, once strictly enforced in that church:—

“RULES CONCERNING DRESS.

“Ques. Should we insist on the rules concerning dress?”

“Ans. By all means. This is no time to encourage superfluity in dress. Therefore, let all our people be exhorted to conform to the spirit of the apostolic precept, not to adorn themselves with ‘gold, or pearls, or costly array.’ 1 Tim. 2:9.”

Our own people will do well to read and heed this. Here is also some good advice about singing; but popular choirs have about superseded all this. May we never do the same.

“THE SPIRIT AND TRUTH OF SINGING.

“Q. How shall we guard against formality in singing?”

“A. 1. Choose such hymns as are proper for the occasion, and do not sing too much at once; seldom more than four or five verses.

“2. Let the tune be suited to the sentiment, and do not suffer the people to sing too slow.

“3. In every society let due attention be given to the cultivation of sacred music.

“4. Let one or more be chosen in each society to lead the singing.

“5. As singing is a part of divine worship in which all ought to unite, therefore exhort every person in the congregation to sing, not one in ten only.”

Here follows some most excellent advice to ministers. I hope all our own ministers will read it and lay it to heart and carry it out. Our success would be much greater than it is if we would.

“RULES FOR A PREACHER’S CONDUCT.

“Q. 1. What are the directions given to a preacher?”

“A. 1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed; never be triflingly employed. Never trifle away time; neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary.

“2. Be serious. Let your motto be, Holiness to the Lord. Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking.

“3. Converse sparingly, and conduct yourself prudently with women. (1 Tim. 5:2.)

“4. Take no step toward marriage without first consulting with your brethren.

“5. Believe evil of no one without good evidence; unless you see it done, take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction on everything. You know the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner’s side.

“6. Speak evil of no one; because your word, especially, would eat as doth a canker. Keep your thoughts within your own breast till you come to the person concerned.

“7. Tell every one under your care what you think wrong in his conduct and temper, and that lovingly, plainly, and as soon as may be; else it will fester in your heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom.

“8. Avoid all affectation. A preacher of the gospel is the servant of all.

“9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin.

“10. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them; not for wrath, but conscience’ sake.

“11. You have nothing to do but to save souls; therefore, spend and be spent in this work; and go always, not only to those that want you, but to those that want you most.

“Observe! it is not your business simply to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society, but to save as many sinners as you can;—to bring as many sinners as you can to repentance, and with all your power to build them up in that holiness without which they cannot see the Lord. And remember a Methodist preacher is to mind every point, great and small, in the Methodist Discipline. Therefore, you will need to exercise all the sense and grace you have.

“12. Act in all things, not according to your own will, but as a son in the gospel. As such, it is your duty to employ your time in the manner in which we direct: In preaching and visiting from house to house; and in reading, meditation, and prayer. Above all, if you labor with us in the Lord’s vineyard, it is needful you should do that part of the work which we advise, at those times and places which we judge most for his glory.

“Q. 2. Are there any smaller advices that might be of use to us?”

“A. Perhaps these: 1. Be sure never to disappoint a congregation. 2. Begin at the time appointed. 3. Let your whole deportment be serious, weighty, and solemn. 4. Always suit your subject to your audience. 5. Choose the plainest text you can. 6. Take care not to ramble, but keep to your text, and make out what you take in hand. 7. Take care of anything awkward or affected, either in your gesture, phrase, or pronunciation. 8. Do not usually pray extempore above eight or ten minutes (at most) without intermission. 9. Frequently read and enlarge upon a portion of Scripture; and let young preachers often exhort without taking a text. 10. Always avail yourselves of the great festivals, by preaching on the occasion.

“THE DUTY OF PREACHERS TO GOD, THEMSELVES, AND ONE ANOTHER.

“Q. 1. What is the duty of a preacher?”

“A. 1. To preach. 2. To meet the societies and classes. 3. To visit the sick.

“Q. 2. How shall a preacher be qualified for his charge?”

“A. By walking closely with God, and having his work greatly at heart; and by understanding and loving discipline, ours in particular.

“Q. 3. Do we sufficiently watch over each other?”

“A. We do not. Should we not frequently ask each other, Do you walk closely with God? Have you now fellowship with the Father and the Son? At what hour do you rise? Do you punctually observe the morning and evening hours of retirement? Do you spend the day in the manner which the Conference advises? Do you converse seriously, usefully, and closely? To be more particular: Do you use all the means of grace yourself, and enforce the use of them on all other persons? They are either instituted or prudential.

“I. The instituted are,

“1. Prayer: private, family, and public; consisting of deprecation, petition, intercession, and thanksgiving. Do you use each of these? Do you forecast daily, wherever you are, to secure time for private devotion? Do you practice it everywhere? Do you ask everywhere, Have you family prayer? Do you ask individuals, Do you use private prayer, every morning and evening in particular?

“2. Searching the Scriptures, by

“(1.) Reading: constantly, some part of every day; regularly, all the Bible in order; carefully, with notes; seriously, with prayer before and after; fruitfully, immediately practicing what you learn there.

“(2.) Meditating: At set times. By rule.

“(3.) Hearing: Every opportunity. With prayer before, at, after. Have you a Bible always about you?

“3. The Lord’s Supper: Do you use this at every opportunity? With solemn prayer before? With earnest and deliberate self-devotion?

“4. Fasting: Do you use as much abstinence and fasting every week as your health, strength, and labor will permit?

“5. Christian conference: Are you convinced how important and how difficult it is to order your conversation aright? Is it always in grace? Seasoned with salt? Meet to minister grace to the hearers? Do you not converse too long at a time? Is not an hour commonly enough? Would it not be well always to have a determined end in view? And to pray before and after it?

“II. Prudential means we may use either as Christians, as Methodists, or as Preachers.

“1. As Christians: What particular rules have you in order to grow in grace? What acts of holy living?

“2. As Methodists: Do you never miss your class?

“3. As preachers: Have you thoroughly considered your duty? And do you make a conscience of executing every part of it? Do you meet every society and their leaders?

“These means may be used without fruit. But there are some means which cannot: namely, watching, denying ourselves, taking up our cross, exercise of the presence of God.

“1. Do you steadily watch against the world? Yourself? Your besetting sin?

“2. Do you deny yourself every useless pleasure of sense? Imagination? Honor? Are you temperate in all things? Instance in food: (1) Do you use only that kind and that degree which is best both for body and soul? Do you see the necessity of this? (2) Do you eat no more at each meal than is necessary? Are you not heavy or drowsy after dinner? (3) Do you use only that kind, and that degree of drink, which is best both for your body and soul? (4) Do you choose and use water for your common drink? And only take wine medicinally or sacramentally?

“3. Wherein do you take up your cross daily? Do you cheerfully bear your cross, however grievous to nature, as a gift of God, and labor to profit thereby?

“4. Do you endeavor to set God always before you? To see his eye continually fixed upon you?”

“Never can you use these means but a blessing will ensue. And the more you use them, the more you will grow in grace.”

This is just what we all ought to do, and must do, if we prosper in the Lord.

D. M. Canright.