Excerpt from An Essay on the Constitution of Wesleyan Methodism, in Which Various Misrepresentations of Some of Its Leading Principles Are Exposed, and Its Present Form Is Vindicated

The views of Methodism, and the arguments in favour of its Constitu tion, contained in this Essay, are exhibited in a controversial form. This resulted from the circumstances which called it forth. A controversy arose, in 1828, respecting the interposition of the District - Committee in the case of the Leeds Organ, which involved the entire question of the Consti tution of Methodism. The Wesleyan Connexion is not to be regarded as a mere association of independent churches, for some general object not affecting their several internal arrangements; but it is such an association of churches or Societies as blends the whole into one body, with an united pastorate, having one and the same system of doctrine, being under the administration of a common discipline, and having common institutions and funds for their support. Such a body, while receiving the laws of Christ as its rule, must necessarily possess a governing power, for the purpose of giving effect to those laws, and of making the prudential arrangements necessary for the due regulation of Connexional affairs; and the controversy of that day mainly hinged upon this point. The principal objections urged by the dissatisfied parties seriously involved the Con nexional principle; for had there been validity in the arguments which they employed against the authority of the Conference and of District Committees, it would have followed, that the Connexion was not actually pervaded by a common principle as one body, nor held together by any real bond of union, - that, in fact, its oneness existed principally in form and appearance, - and, as a consequence, that the body was not calculated to bear the pressure of adverse circumstances, or resist the force of divisive influences in the time of trial. This Essay, therefore, took its peculiar form from the questions which were then mooted. It was written with the view of subjecting the Constitution of Methodism to such an investi gation as would establish the fact, that the Conference is the principal authority in the Connexion, charged with the general management and regulation of its affairs.

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