2016 Wesleyan Discipline:1. Special Advice to Ministers
From Wesleyan Discipline
1. Special Advice to Ministers
3093. John Wesley’s “Rules of a Helper” have perhaps never been excelled as counsel to ministers, whether young or old. These “Rules” are, in part, as follows:
- (1) Be diligent. Never be unemployed a moment, never be triflingly employed, never while away time; spend no more time at any place than is strictly necessary.
- (2) Be serious. Let your motto be, “Holiness unto the Lord.” Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking.
- (3) 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. The judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner’s side.
- (4) Speak evil of no one, else your word especially would eat as doth a canker. Keep your thoughts within your own breast till you come to the person concerned.
- (5) Tell every one under your care what you think wrong in his conduct and temper, and that lovingly and plainly as soon as may be: else it will fester in your heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom.
- (6) Avoid all affectation. A preacher of the gospel is the servant of all.
- (7) Be ashamed of nothing but sin. Let your industry, as well as your humility, commend itself to all.
- (8) Be punctual: do everything exactly at the time.
- (9) Do not mend the rules, but keep them; not for wrath but for conscience’ sake.
- (10) 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 desire you, but to those who need you most.