a term of reproach and ridicule on account of their method and strictness in religious duty.

Q. What was the moral state of England at the time when the Wesleys arose? A. The people in general were ignorant of the true nature of religion, and even ministers openly practiced sin.

Q. What distinguishing doctrines were preached by the Wesleys?

A. The guilt and total depravity of man, a present salvation by faith in Christ alone, and the direct witness of the Holy Spirit.

Q. What was the result

of such preaching?

A. A great and glori-
ous revival of relig
ion, the subjects of
which were generally
called Methodists.

Q. Has this revival
ceased?

A. No; its effects and
benefits have come
down to us, and thus

term Methodist

the term

Q. Why is our Church also called Episcopal?

A. On account of its form of government, it being under the superintendence of bishops.

Q. What are some of the characteristics of the Methodist Episcopal Church? A. Its evangelical doctrines, its itinerant ministry, and its peculiar means of grace, namely, love-feasts and class-meetings.

[A MISSIONARY AMONG THE INDIANS. ]

Q. What is meant by the itinerancy?

A. A system of ministerial labor by which, annually, every itinerant minister is designated to labor in some proper field, and every field, as far as possible, furnished with a minister.

Q. Do ministers and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church enjoy as high and as complete spiritual immunities and advantages as any other Church or branch of the Church of Christ?

A. They undoubtedly do.

Q. What is a love-feast?

A. A meeting of Christians, at which bread and water are partaken of in token of brotherly love and in imitation of the early Christians, (Jude 12,) at which also narratives of Christian experience are given.

Q. What is a class-meeting?

A. A weekly meeting of a certain number of the members of the Church, one of whom is called the class-leader, for social worship and mutual religious improvement.

Q. What can you say of the sacraments?

A. A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.

There are two sacraments, baptism and the Lord's supper.

1. BAPTISM.

Q. What can you say of baptism?

A. Water, applied in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is the outward sign in baptism, signifying the inward grace of a death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness.

Baptized persons are admitted to the visible Church of Christ; and their relation to him as the Mediator of the

new covenant, and their title to the spiritual blessings thereto belonging, are, by this sacrament, solemnly confirmed.

ANALYSIS.

Q. What are the principal topics of this section? A. 1. The definition of a sacrament.

2. The outward sign in baptism. 3. The inward grace signified.

4. The advantages secured to baptized persons. 5. The obligations laid upon them.

Explanatory and Practical Questions.

Q. What is meant by an outward and visible sign?

A. Something which may be seen and applied to a purpose and in a meaning which in its own nature it has not.

Q. What is meant by an inward spiritual grace?

A. Some favor given us, whereby the state of our souls is made better.

Q. What is the water used in baptism designed to represent?

A. The blood of Christ, by which he washes us from our sins.

[Rev. i, 5; Heb. xii, 24; 1 Pet. i, 2.

Q. Is any particular mode of administering water in baptism enjoined in
Scripture?

A. There is not; hence it is neither wise nor Scriptural to insist upon any mode as essential to valid baptism.

Q. What mode of baptism does our Church most commonly practice? A. Sprinkling, as that for which we have the greatest number of Scripture examples and analogies.

Q. Is there any Scripture authority for making the sign of the cross in baptism? A. There is not; and its use is only indicative of Romish superstition.

Q. What authority have we for baptizing infant children?

A. The practice of the apostles; and the command of Christ,

wherein he says, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.".

Q. What further authority?

[Mark x, 14.

A. Christ's commands: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." "Go ye, therefore, and teach

FELTER So

JOHN

LONDON

[SAILING OF A MISSIONARY SHIP.]