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work, many societies, in various parts of the kingdom, sent delegates to the conference held at Leeds in 1797: they were instructed to re

life, some of the societies peti- ||This subject produced a variety of tioned to have preaching in their arguments on both sides of the own chapels in church hours, and question; many of the preachers the Lord's supper administered by and people thought that an annual the travelling preachers. This re- delegation of the general stewards quest he generally refused, and, of the circuits, to sit either in the where it could be conveniently conference or the district meetdone, sent some of the clergymen ings, in order to assist in the diswho officiated at the New Chapel bursement of the yearly collecin London to perform these so- tion, the Kingswood School collemn services. At the first con- lection, and the preachers' fund, ference after his death, which was and in making new or revising held at Manchester, the preachers old laws, would be a bond of published a declaration, in which union between the conference and they said that they would "take connexion at large, and do away up the Plan as Mr. Wesley had the very idea of arbitrary power left it." This was by no means among the travelling preachers. satisfactory to many of the preach-In order to facilitate this good ers and people, who thought that religious liberty ought to be extended to all the societies which desired it. In order to favour this cause, so agreeable to the spi-quest, that the people might have rit of Christianity and the rights a voice in the formation of their of Englishmen, several respectable own laws, the choice of their own preachers came forward; and by officers, and the distribution of their the writings which they circulated own property. The preachers prothrough the connexion, paved the ceeded to discuss two motions: way for a plan of pacification; by Shall delegates from the societies which it was stipulated, that in be admitted into the conference? every society where a threefold Shall circuit stewards be admitted majority of class-leaders, stewards into the district meetings? Both and trustees desired it, the people motions were negatived, and conshould have preaching in church sequently all hopes of accommodahours, and the sacraments of bap- tion between the parties were givtism and the Lord's supper ad- en up. Several friends of religious ministered to them. The spirit of liberty proposed a plan for a new enquiry being roused did not itinerancy. In order that it might stop here; for it appeared agree- be carried into immediate effect, able both to reason, and the cus- they formed themselves into a retoms of the primitive church, gular meeting, in Ebenezer Chathat the people should have a pel, Mr. William Thom being voice in the temporal concerns of chosen president, and Mr. Alexthe societies, vote in the election | ander Kilham secretary. The of church officers, and give their meeting proceeded to arrange the suffrages in spiritual concerns. plan for supplying the circuits of

VOL. II.

R

It is necessary to observe here, that there are many congregations in London, and elsewhere, who. although they are called Methodists, yet are neither in Mr. Wesley's, Mr. Whitfield's, nor the new connexion. Some of these are supplied by a variety of ministers; and others, bordering more upon the congregational plan, have a resident minister. The clergy of the church of England, who strenuously preach up her doctrines and articles, are called Method

A distinct connexion, up

the new connexion with preach- || the Arminians are, but are chiefly ers; and desired the president and under the direction or influence of secretary to draw up the rules of their ministers or patrons. church government, in order that they might be circulated through the societies for their approbation. Accordingly, a form of church government, suited to an itinerant ministry, was printed by these two brethren, under the title of "Outlines of a Constitution proposed for the Examination, Amendment, and Acceptance of the Members of the Methodist new Itinerancy." The plan was examined by select committees in the different circuits of the connexion, and, with a few alterations, was ac-ists. cepted by the conference of preach-on Mr. Whitfield's plan, was ers and delegates. The preachers formed and patronized by the late and people are incorporated in all lady Huntingdon, and which still meetings for business, not by tem- subsists. The term Methodist, alporary concession, but by the es- so; is applied by way of reproach sential principles of their constitu- to almost every one who manifests tion; for the private members more than common concern for chuse the class-leaders; the lead- the interests of religion and the ers' meeting nominates the stew-spiritual good of mankind. ards; and the society confirms or V. Methodists, numbers and sucrejects the nomination. The quar-cess of. Notwithstanding the geterly meetings are composed of neral contempt that has been the general stewards and repre- thrown upon them, and the opposentatives chosen by the different sition they have met with, yet their societies of the circuits, and the numbers are very considerable. fourth quarterly meeting of the From the minutes of the conferyear appoints the preacher and ence of the Wesleyan Methodists delegate of every circuit that shall held at Sheffield, July 29, 1805, attend the general conference. it appears that the number of perFor a farther account of their sons in their societies are as folprinciples and discipline, we must low. In Great Britain 101,915; refer the reader to a pamphlet, en-Ireland 23,321; Gibraltar 40; titled, "General Rules of the America (including 22,650 colourUnited Societies of Methodists in the new Connexion."

The Calvinistic Methodists are not incorporated into a body as

ed people and blacks) 124,978. Total 250,254. Their labours have extended to Barbadoes, St. Vincent's, Dominica, St. Christo

METROPOLITAN, a bishop of a mother church, or of the chief church in the chief city. An archbishop. See articles BISHOP, EPISCOPACY.

MILITANT, from militans, fighting; a term applied to the church on earth, as engaged in a warfare with the world, sin, and the devil; in distinction from the church triumphant in heaven.

MILLENARIANS, or CHILIANISTS, a name given to those who believe that the saints will reign on earth with Christ a thousand years. See next article.

pher's, Nevis, Antigua, St. Eusta-Life of Wesley; Macgowan's tia, Tortola, and St. Croix, where Shaver; Wesley's Works; Bengood has been done. Among the son's Vindication and Apology Calvinistic Methodists there are al- for the Methodists; Fletcher's so a considerable number of preach- Works. ers, whose congregations and societies are very extensive: some of their chapels in London are the largest and best attended in the world it is almost incredible to see the numbers of people who flock to these places. As to their success in doing good, it is evident, that though many ignorant enthusiasts have been found among them, yet no people have done more to moralize mankind than they; nor have they rested there; they have not only contributed to render thousands better members of society, but been the instruments of promoting their spiritual and eternal interests. By simplicity of language, fervour of address, patience in opposition, unweariedness in labour, piety of conduct, and dependance on Almighty God, they certainly have been the means of doing as much or more real good than any other denomination whatever. A shrewd writer, therefore, who cannot be suspected of methodism, justly says, that these people have, in the last fifty years, instructed more of the lower orders of the people in the obligations of Christianity, and have called more from gross vice to piety and virtue, than the church has ever done since the reformation; while at the same time they have not cost government one farthing, but have been treated with insult and contempt. See History of Methodism; Gillie's Life of Whitfield, and Works; Coke's

MILLENNIUM, "a thousand years;" generally employed to denote the thousand years, during which, according to an ancient tradition in the church, grounded on some doubtful texts in the Apocalypse and other scriptures, our blessed Saviour shall reign with the faithful upon earth after the first resurrection, before the final completion of beatitude.

Though there has been no age of the church in which the millennium was not admitted by individual divines of the first eminence, it is yet evident, from the writings of Eusebius, Irenæus, Origen, and others, among the ancients, as well as from the histories of Dupin, Mosheim, and all the moderns, that it was never adopted by the whole church, or made an article of the established creed in any nation.

About the middle of the fourth

century the Millenarians held the following tenets:

1st, That the city of Jerusalem should be rebuilt, and that the land of Judea should be the habitation of those who were to reign on the earth a thousand years.

2dly, That the first resurrection was not to be confined to the martyrs, but that, after the fall of Antichrist, all the just were to rise, and all that were on the earth were to continue for that space of time.

3dly, That Christ shall then come down from heaven, and be seen on earth, and reign there with his servants.

4thly, That the saints, during this period, shall enjoy all the delights of a terrestrial paradise.

These opinions were founded upon several passages in scripture, which the Millenarians, among the fathers, understood in no other than a literal sense; but which the moderns, who hold that opinion, consider as partly literal and partly metaphorical. Of these passages, that upon which the greatest stress has been laid we believe to be the following ;"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years should be fulfilled; and, after that, he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones,

|| and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, nor in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." Rev. xx, 1 to 6. This passage all the ancient Millenarians took in a sense grossly literal, and taught, that, during the Millennium, the saints on earth were to enjoy every bodily delight. The moderns, on the other hand, consider the power and pleasures of this kingdom as wholly spiritual; and they represent them as not to commence till after the conflagration of the present earth. But that this last supposition is a mistake, the very next verse but one assures us; for we are there told, that, "when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth;" and we have no reason to believe that he will have such power or such liberty in "the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." We may observe, however, the following things respecting it: 1. That the scriptures afford us ground to believe that the church will arrive to a state of prosperity which it never has yet enjoyed, Rev. xx, 4, 7. Psal. lxxii, 11. Is. ii, 4. Is. xi, 9. Is. xlix, 23. Is

lx. Dan. vii, 27.-2. That this will continue at least a thousand years, or a considerable space of time, in which the work of salvation may be fully accomplished in the utmost extent and glory of it. In this time, in which the world will soon be filled with real Christians, and continue full by constant propagation to supply the place of those who leave the world, there will be many thousands born and live on the earth, to each one that has been born and lived in the preceding six thousand years; so that, if they who shall be born in that thousand years shall be all, or most of them saved (as they will be), there will, on the whole, be many thousands of mankind saved to one that shall be lost.

tripated, or tamed, by the power of man. The inhabitants of every place will rest secure from fear of robbery and murder. War shall be entirely ended. Capital crimes and punishments be heard of no more. Governments placed on fair, just, and humane foundations. The torch of civil discord will be extinguished. Perhaps Pagans, Turks, Deists, and Jews, will be as few in number as Christians are now. Kings, nobles, magistrates, and rulers in churches, shall act with principle, and be forward to promote the best interests of men: tyranny, oppression, persecution, bigotry, and cruelty, shall cease. Business will be attended to without contention, dishonesty, and covetousness. Trades and manu3. This will be a state of great factories will be carried on with a happiness and glory. Some think design to promote the general that Christ will reign personally good of mankind, and not with on earth, and that there will be a selfish interests as now. Merchanliteral resurrection of the saints, dise between distant countries Rev. xx, 4, 7; but I rather sup- will be conducted without fear of pose that this reign of Christ and an enemy; and works of ornaresurrection of saints, alluded to ment and beauty, perhaps, shall in that passage, is only figurative; not be wanting in those days. and that nothing more is meant Learning, which has always flou, than that, before the general judg- rished in proportion as religion ment, the Jews shall be converted, has spread, shall then greatly ingenuine Christianity be diffused crease, and be employed for the through all nations, and that best of purposes. Astronomy, geChrist shall reign, by his spiritual ography, natural history, metapresence, in a glorious manner. physics, and all the useful sciences, It will, however, be a time of will be better understood, and eminent holiness, clear light consecrated to the service of God; and knowledge, love, peace, and and I cannot help thinking that by friendship, agreement in doctrine the improvements which have and worship. Human life, per- been made, and are making, in haps, will rarely be endangered ship-building, navigation, electriciby the poisons of the mineral, ty, medicine, &c., that "the temvegetable, and animal kingdoms.pest will lose half its force, the Beasts of prey, perhaps, will be ex- | lightning lose half its terrors," and

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