Note 224 — Chapter XXV

Articles intended to be proposed, mentioned in the foregoing letter:—

The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. (Isaiah xxxii. 17).

Proposals of peace and union for the most universal spread of the Gospel in the Connexion of the Rev. Mr. Rowlands, Mr. Hogg, and Lady Huntingdon.

I. The Gloucestershire Connexion to deliver up to the Welsh Association all light, power, or influence in Haverfordwest, or elsewhere in Wales, held by them: thus having no preference.

II. That each Connexion take their own private cares and expenses upon themselves; and that those ministers that have been found most faithful to the Lord, and have been owned by him in each Connexion, shall by the other Connexions ever be accounted worthy of double honour, and be universally received by the several Connexions, when applied to for their services.

III. When any minister or ministers are wanted, a letter to be wrote to the immediate Connexion to which they belong, requesting their assistance, and for what time, that the most general help to the whole may be considered, and thus best and most universally served.

IV. No minister or principal in any of the Connexions to interfere in any other than their own, that no divisions may arise, and that, if such are known, it ought to be mutually agreed by all to discard such an one, and that all possible care be taken to prevent perplexities to the people, and that mutual love and unwearied diligence alike be expected, having this one point only in view, viz., the enlargement of our precious Lord’s kingdom, by the call of perishing souls all over England and Wales.

V. In order that this may be best effected, four general meetings in the year will be needful. To each of these a deputation, agreed upon, should be sent of six chosen out of each Connexion, to represent the bodies to which they belong, and to give in such particulars as they may want to communicate, and what mutual help from any quarter they may be best assisted by. These meetings to be at Mr. Rowlands’ Association, the College anniversary, the Gloucestershire Association, and another in London once a year, to have a full account of the last year’s success, and to agree upon the future steps for each Connexion unitedly to follow the ensuing year.

Memorandum.—These hints are given for the benefit of the Gloucester Connexion, upon a supposition they act separately from the Tabernacle and other Connexions; otherwise Lady Huntingdon could not think of appearing to interfere with them, or in the smallest degree to divide friends, having no other meaning than those already mentioned, and to show by this her readiness to serve and comply with the wishes of Mr. Hogg, Mr. Vines, and Mr. Butler, as her own and Mr. Whitefield’s old friends.

If the first article respecting Haverfordwest is not complied with, the whole will drop.