John Wesley’s Rules for the Band-Societies (drawn up Dec. 25,
1738)
The design of our meeting is, to obey that command of God,
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye
may be healed." To this end, we intend,-
1. To meet once a week, at the least.
2. To come punctually at the hour appointed, without some
extraordinary reason.
3. To begin (those of us who are present) exactly at the hour, with
singing or prayer.
4. To speak each of us in order, freely and plainly, the true state of
our souls, with the faults we have committed in thought, word, or
deed, and the temptations we have felt, since our last meeting.
5. To end every meeting with prayer, suited to the state of each
person present.
6. To desire some person among us; to speak his own state first, and
then to ask the rest, in order, as many and as searching questions as
may be, concerning their state, sins, and temptations.
Some of the questions proposed to every one before he is admitted
among us may be to this effect:-
1. Have you the forgiveness of your sins?
2. Have you peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ?
3. Have you the witness of God's Spirit with your spirit, that you are
a child of God?
4. Is the love of God shed abroad in your heart?
5. Has no sin, inward or outward, dominion over you?
6. Do you desire to be told your faults?
7. Do you desire to be told of all your faults, and that plain and
home?
8. Do you desire that every one of us should tell you, from time to
time, whatsoever is in his heart concerning you?
9. Consider! Do you desire we should tell you whatsoever we think,
whatsoever we fear, whatsoever we hear, concerning you?
10. Do you desire that, in doing this, we should come as close as
possible, that we should cut to the quick, and search your heart to the
bottom?
11. Is it your desire and design to be on this, and all other occasions,
entirely open, so as to speak everything that is in your heart without
exception, without disguise, and without reserve?
*Any of the preceding questions may be asked as often as occasion
offers; the four following at every meeting:-
1. What known sins have you committed since our last meeting?
2. What temptations have you met with?
3. How were you delivered?
4. What have you thought, said, or done, of which you doubt whether
it be sin or not?
Conditions of Membership into Methodist Society:
There is one only condition previously required in those who desire
admission into these societies: a desire "to flee from the wrath to
come, to be saved from their sins:" But, wherever this is really fixed in
the soul, it will be shown by its fruits. It is therefore expected of all
who continue therein, that they should continue to evidence their
desire of salvation. Thus we say to those who unite with us:
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You are supposed to have the faith that "overcometh the world." To
you, therefore, it is not grievous:
I. Carefully to abstain from doing evil; in particular:
1. Neither to buy nor sell anything at all on the Lord's day.
2. To taste no spirituous liquor, no dram of any kind, unless
prescribed by a Physician.
3. To be at a word both in buying and selling.
4. To pawn nothing, no, not to save life.
5. Not to mention the fault of any behind his back, and to stop those
short that do.
6. To wear no needless ornaments, such as rings, earrings,
necklaces, lace, ruffles.
7. To use no needless self-indulgence, such as taking snuff or
tobacco, unless prescribed by a Physician.
II. Zealously to maintain good works; in particular:
1. To give alms of such things as you possess, and that to the
uttermost of your power.
2. To reprove all that sin in your sight, and that in love and
meekness of wisdom.
3. To be patterns of diligence and frugality, of self-denial, and taking
up the cross daily.
III. Constantly to attend on all the ordinances of God; in particular:
1. To be at church and at the Lord's table every week, and at every
public meeting of the Bands.
2. To attend the ministry of the word every morning, unless
distance, business, or sickness prevent.
3. To use private prayer every day; and family prayer, if you are the
head of a family.
4. To read the Scriptures, and meditate therein, at every vacant hour.
And:
5. To observe, as days of fasting or abstinence, all Fridays in the year.
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These are the General Rules of our societies; all which we are taught
of God to observe, even in his written word, the only rule, and the
sufficient rule, both of our faith and practice. And all these, we know,
his Spirit writes on every truly awakened heart. If there be any among
us who observe them not, who habitually break any of them, let it be
made known unto them who watch over that soul as they that must
give an account. We will admonish him of the error of his ways; we
will bear with him for a season: But then if he repent not, he hath no
more place among us. We have delivered our own souls.
Wesley's Works Vol. 8. pgs 270,271,272-274.
Because the Methodist Societies were not controlled by The Church
of England some Priests from the Church opposed them and said they
were divisive. John Wesley pointed out that they were not dividing
Christians but introducing true Christian fellowship and support
where it had not been.
"But it was not long before an objection was made to this, which had
not once entered into my thought: "Is not this making a schism? Is not
the joining these people together, gathering Churches out of
Churches?" It was easily answered, If you mean only gathering people
out of buildings called churches, it is. But if you mean, dividing
Christians from Christians, and so destroying Christian fellowship, it is
not. For,
(1) These were not Christians before they were thus joined. Most of
them were barefaced Heathens.
(2) Neither are they Christians, from whom you suppose them to be
divided. You will not look me in the face and say they are. What!
drunken Christians! cheating Christians! If these are Christians at all,
they are devil Christians, as the poor Malabarians term them.
(3) Neither are they divided any more than they were before, even
from these wretched devil Christians. They are as ready as ever to
assist them, and to perform every office of real kindness towards
them.
(4) If it be said, "But there are some true Christians in the parish, and
you destroy the Christian fellowship between these and them;" I
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answer, That which never existed, cannot be destroyed. But the
fellowship you speak of never existed. Therefore it cannot be
destroyed. Which of these true Christians had any such fellowship
with these? Who watched over them in love? Who marked their
growth in grace? Who advised and exhorted them from time to time?
Who prayed with them and for them, as they had need? This, and this
alone, is Christian fellowship: But alas! where is it to be found? Look
east or west, north or south; name what parish you please: Is this
Christian fellowship there? Rather, are not the bulk of the parishioners
a mere rope of sand? What Christian connection is there between
them? What intercourse in spiritual things? What watching over each
other's souls? What bearing of one another's burdens? What a mere
jest is it then, to talk so gravely of destroying what never was? The real
truth is just the reverse of this: We introduce Christian fellowship
where it was utterly destroyed. And the fruits of it have been peace,
joy, love, and zeal for every good word and work."
Wesley's Works Vol. 8. pgs. 251, 252-
Ok.