Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

exhorting all we have any intercourse with; trampling under foot that enthusiastic doctrine, that " we are not to do good unless our hearts be

free to it."

By doing good, especially to them that are of the household of faith or groaning so to be; employing them preferably to others; buying one of another; helping each other in business; and so much the more because the world will love its own and them only.

By all possible diligence and frugality, that the Gospel be not blamed.

By running with patience the race which is set before them, denying themselves, and taking up their cross daily; submitting to bear the reproach of Christ, to be as the filth and offscouring of the world; and looking that men should say all manner of evil of them falsely, for the Lord's sake.

¶ 34. It is expected of all who desire to continue in these Societies that they shall continue to evidence their desire of salvation,

Third: By attending upon all the ordinances of God; such are,

The public worship of God;

The ministry of the word, either read or expounded;

The Supper of the Lord;
Family and private prayer;
Searching the Scriptures;
Fasting or abstinence.

T35. These are the General Rules of our Societies; all which we are taught of God to observe, even in his written word, which is the only rule, and the sufficient rule, both of our faith and practice. And all these we know his Spirit writes on truly awakened hearts. If there be any among us who observes them not, who habitually breaks any of them, let it be known unto them who watch over that soul as they who must give an account. We will admonish him of the error of his ways. We will bear with him for a season. But if then he repent not, he hath no more place among us. We have delivered our own souls.

32

RECEIVING AND DISMISSING MEMBERS. T 36, § 3.

PART I.-CHAPTER II.

THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCH.

Receiving and Dismissing Members.

¶ 36. In order to prevent improper persons from gaining admission into the Church, and in order to the exercise of the power of godly admonition and discipline,

§ 1. Let great care be taken in receiving persons on Trial, and let no one be enrolled as a Probationer in the Church unless he give satisfactory evidence of an earnest desire to be saved from his sins, and to enjoy the fellowship of God's people.

§ 2. Let the Preacher in Charge and the Class Leaders see that all persons on Trial be early made acquainted with the Doctrines, Rules, and Regulations of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

§ 3. Let no one be received into Full Membership in the Church until such person has been at least six months on Trial, and has been recommended by the Leaders and Stewards' Meeting, or where no such meeting is held, by the Leader, and has been baptized, and who shall, on examination by the Preacher in Charge before the Church, give satisfactory assurances both of the correctness of

T36, §4. RECEIVING AND DISMISSING MEMBERS.

his faith and of his willingness to observe and keep the rules of_the_Church.* Nevertheless, if a Member in good standing in any other Orthodox Evangelical Church shall desire to unite with us, such applicant may, by giving satisfactory answers to the usual inquiries, be received at once into Full Membership.

§ 4. All acceptable Members of the Church, desiring to remove their Membership from one Circuit or Station to another, are entitled to a Certificate; but until they are received into another Charge, or Church in another place, they shall be answerable for their conduct to the Circuit or Station from which the Certificate was given. After the depositing of such Certificate with another Charge, they shall be responsible for any misconduct of which they may have been guilty, during the time they held such certificate, to the Charge which they shall have joined. But a Member holding a Certificate cannot avoid trial by presenting his Certificate to another Church, after charges have been preferred against him, but shall in such case be amenable to the Church from which he received his Certificate.

§ 5. Certificates of removal must be signed by

*Persons baptized in Infancy must publicly assent, before the Church, to the Baptismal Covenant. Tho rebaptism of persons known to have been previously baptized is inconsistent with the nature and design of Baptism as set forth in the New Testament.

the Preacher in Charge, or if there be no Preacher in Charge, by the Presiding Elder of the District, and shall be in the following form: "This certifies that A. B., the bearer, is an acceptable member of the.... Methodist Episcopal Church in... and is affectionately com

mended to the fellowship of the Methodist Episcopal Church in. or in any other Church, to When ad

which he may present this Certificate. mitted to another Charge, his relation to this Charge will cease.

§ 6. This Certificate of Church Membership shall not be valid for a longer period than one year; but if for any cause it has been impracticable to present the Certificate within one year, it may be renewed by the Preacher in Charge of the Church from which it was received.

§ 7. Let the Preacher in Charge and the Committee on Church Records be careful to see that the names of all persons received into the Church are duly recorded; and the Preacher in Charge shall report at each Quarterly Conference all changes that have occurred in the Membership during the quarter.

The Relation of Baptized Children to the Church.

¶ 37. We hold that all children, by virtue of the unconditional benefits of the atonement, are members of the kingdom of God, and therefore

« AnteriorContinuar »