The shield of the young Methodist, or, "The Methodist armor"

Front matter

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

r

THR 8HIRLD

Preface

It is of the highest importance that the millions of Methodist children be properly indoctrinated. Early indoctrination is the most direct means of making them loyal Methodists and moral Christians. The multitudes of wavering, feeble, and barren members of the Methodist Church are largely caused by the lack of this indoctrination and training. Thousands are brought into the Church through revivals annually; but alas! how many drop out and disappear for lack of intelligent views of Methodism and of being properly drilled. The day has come that in order to hold our youth the Church must give them special lessons on the distinctive doctrines, the distinctive economy, and the peculiar usages of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. "The Shield " meets this felt necessity.

1. The Articles of Faith are so arranged as to make it easy for children to comprehend them and learn the scriptures on which they rest.

2. The General Eules are separated and numbered, with Scripture quotations under each rule, accompanied by such notes as teach the children its practical importance.

6 Preface.

3. The Methodistic doctrines of free grace, justification, regeneration, Christian perfection, falling from grace, baptism, etc., are all clearly and simply set forth.

4. The government of the Church, in all of its Conferences and by its officers, is made plain to the minds of children.

" The Shield " retains all the purely-distinctive features of Methodism found in "The Armor," with a considerable amount of new matter.

Denominational Statistics for 1887 214

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CHAPTER I. Methodist History

LESSON I.

ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF METHODISM.

Question. When and where did Methodism begin its course ?

Answer, The history of Methodism began in the year 1729. It was born in the University of Oxford, England. While at college, John Wesley, Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, and a few others banded themselves together for the purpose of intellectual and spiritual improvement. So systematic were these young men in their habits of religious duty that the gayer students in derision called them "Methodists." So the disciples of Christ were first called "Christians" at Antioch by a deriding world, yet the name was so appropriate that they gloried in it. And since Methodism has wrought out such a glorious history none of her followers are ashamed of her name.

Ques. "When was the first Methodist Society organized?

Ans. In 1739, by Mr. Wesley, in the city of London. It began with about ten persons, and soon swelled up to hundreds. A great revival soon began to spread over the British realm. It was a work of great depth and duration. " It came sweeping along like the winds which God had let loose from his fists, swaying devout souls, breaking down stubborn sinners, overturning hopes built on false foundations, but quenching not the smoking flax nor breaking the bruised reed. It was Heaven's bountiful gift to the silent prayer of the world's sorrow by reason of its great sin." Note.

This great revival was sorely needed just at this time. The English people, under the sleepy ritualism of the Established Church, " had lapsed into heathenism, or a state hardly to be distinguished from it." In the midst of this spiritual darkness God raised up a bishop, a preacher, a poet — three men the equals of whom have probably never been seen in the world at once since the apostolic days.

The bishop was John Wesley, the preacher was George Whitefield, the poet was Charles Wesley. To these three men, and those whom they gathered to their standard, did the Lord commit the precious work of awaking the British kingdom to a sense of God and duty, and by them he wrought a reformation which stands alone as a spiritual revival without admixture of state-craft or patronage of Parliament or King.

The Foundee.

Ques. Who was the founder of the Methodist Church?

Arts. Rev. John Wesley, who was born in England June 14, 1703.

Give a sketch of his character.

John Wesley came of good stock. His father was a preacher before him. He entered college at the age of seventeen, and came out a distinguished graduate of one of the most famous universities of the world. His intellectual training was of the highest order. A happy and thorough conversion marked his religious experience. He says: "I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ alone for salvation. An assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." Before, he knew what religion was theologically; now, he knows what it is experimentally. From this time on he is a new man, full of power and the Holy Ghost. His intellectual faculties kindled up into a luminous condition, and his spiritual vision was clear and comprehensive. The enthusiasm growing out of his experience went with him and caught material everywhere for new flame and fervor. The torch of Mr. Wesley's experience kindled a blaze which has glowed and spread from that day till now. The celestial fire which warmed his heart is the light of the world.

Methodism began with experimental religion in the heart, and by spontaneous energies from within projected itself out into organic forms of life — such as class-meetings, love-feasts, Conferences, the itinerancy, and Church polity. This is the philosophy of the Methodist economy. It is the power of divine life clothing itself with such organic functions as are necessary to perpetuate and spread itself through the world. In ten years the outlines of the coming Church were already prepared. Societies were formed, quarterly meetings held, Annual Conferences assembled, and preachers exchanged, and Methodism began her glorious career.

Ques. When did he die?

Ans. John Wesley died in 1791, exclaiming : " The best of all is — God is with us."

As beautiful as the summer sunset in a cloudless sky was the death of Mr. Wesley. The sun of his long life, beautiful in the morning of youth, radiant at the noon of manhood, after shining almost a century to enlighten and make fruitful the earth, went down in fullorbed glory, gilding the world left behind with the reflected splendor of its departing rays.

Ques. What are the opinions of writers about the greatness of Mr. Wesley?

Ans. "I consider him as the most influential mind of the last century — the man who will have produced the greatest results centuries hence," said Southey. " No man has risen in the Methodist Society equal to their founder, John Wesley," said Dean Stanley. "A greater poet may arise than Homer or Milton, a greater theologian than Calvin, a greater philosopher than Bacon, a greater dramatist than any of ancient or modern fame, a greater revivalist of the Churches than John Wesley — never!" said

Dr. Dobbins, of the Church of England. "As Mount Everest lifts its tall head not only above every other peak of the Himalayas, but above the tallest peak of every other mountain in the wide world, so John Wesley, as a revivalist and reformer, towers not only above the other great men of Methodism, but above the greatest in all other Churches of Christendom," said Dr. J. O. A. Clark. Though not a century and a half have elapsed since he founded the Methodist Church, yet no less than twenty-five millions of persons, including communicants and adherents to his systems, are his followers.

LESSON II.

ORIGIN OF METHODISM IN AMERICA.

Ques. How did Methodism get into America?

Arts. The Methodism which swept through England as a spreading fire over a field of dry stubble soon crossed the Atlantic and began to glow and burn in America.

Ques. When and by whom was the first Methodist Society formed in this country?

Ans. 1766. It was organized by Philip Embury, a local preacher, in the city of New

York. Barbara Heck, a Christian woman, lias the honor of being the prime mover in the work. Embury and Barbara Heck, emigrants from Ireland, were originally of German stock. Robert Strawbridge, from Ireland also, organized a Methodist Society in Maryland about the same time. These two local preachers were greatly assisted in their work by a British officer named Captain Webb. The first Methodist church was built on John Street, New York, in 1768. The Society consisted of but five members. As green forests sleep in the tiny cup of acorns, so grand possibilities slumbered in this mustard-seed of vital religion.

Ques. Who else pioneered Methodism in this country?

Ans. 1769. Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmore, the first itinerant preachers sent out by Mr. Wesley, arrived in America. The former was stationed at John Street Church, New York, and the latter as pastor in Philadelphia.

1771. Francis Asbury and Richard Wright came. The latter soon returned to England, but Mr. Asbury remained, and became the most memorable and influential man in American Methodism.

Ques. When was the first Conference held?

Ans. 1773. The first Annual Conference was held in Philadelphia. Roll of names: Thomas Rankin, R. Boardman, J. Pilmore, Francis Asbury, R. Wright, George Shadf ord, Thomas Webb, John King, A. Whitworth, and Joseph Yearby. Thomas Rankin presided. The business was simple and brief. It consisted mainly in the agreement of the preachers to abide by the doctrines and discipline of Mr. Wesley. There were then but ten traveling preachers, six circuits, and one thousand one hundred and sixty members.

Ques. When and by whom was Methodism introduced into Virginia and North Carolina ?

Ans. 1774. Robert Williams began to form Societies in Virginia.

1776. The first circuit was organized in North Carolina, and called the " Carolina " Circuit. Robert Williams came from England, and landed in America in 1769. To him belongs the honor of introducing Methodism into Virginia and North Carolina. He was a rousing preacher, and was instrumental in the salvation of many souls.

Okganization of the Chukch.

Ques. When were the Societies gathered by the pioneer Methodist preachers organized into a regularly-constituted Church?

Ans. The "Methodist Episcopal Church" was formally organized December 25, 1784, in Baltimore, by a Conference of ministers called together by Dr. Coke, an assistant of Mr. Wesley who was sent over from England for the purpose of consummating such organization.

Ques. What was the result of this organization?

Ans. The Methodists of America were no longer mere societies within the pale of the English Church, but were themselves a properly-constituted gospel Church of God. They are now " a congregation of faithful men in which the pure word of God is preached and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same." It is a Methodist Episcopal Church — not a Congregational nor a Presbyterian Church. It is a Church in which the chief officers are bishops who are elected and ordained to the work of the episcopacy. Mr. Wesley prepared a form of discipline for the use of the Methodists, which contained the Articles of 2

Religion, the General Rules, a Ritual for ordination, and other services of the Church. As already stated, the preachers assembled in General Conference received Dr. Coke in his office as bishop, and elected Francis Asbury to the same office, in accordance with Mr. Wesley's direction. The Conference adopted the Discipline as their ecclesiastical constitution, and thus became a regularly and fully organized Christian Church.

LESSON III.

ORGANIZATION" OF THE METHODIST EPIS- COPAL CHURCH, SOUTH.

Ques. When did the Methodist Episcopal Church separate into two distinct organizations?

Am. 1844. The "Plan of Separation" between the Northern and Southern Methodists was agreed upon. The General Conference met in New York on the 1st of May. The feeling on the slavery question was quite stormy. Bishop Andrew, having become connected with slavery by marriage, was censured by a resolution requiring him to "desist from the exercise of his office so long as this impediment remains," which was passed by a majority of one hundred and ten to sixty-eight. There being no possibility of reconciliation, the "Plan of Separation" was adopted by a large majority.

Ques. When was the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, organized?

Ans. 1845. The Convention, composed of delegates from fourteen Southern Conferences, met in Louisville, Ky., on the 1st of May. It was presided over by Bishops Soule and Andrew. The Convention proceeded to organize the "Methodist Episcopal Church, South," as an independent branch of Christ's Church. The doctrines of Arminianism, the peculiar usages, the Discipline, and the ecclesiastical polity of Methodism remain about the same in both Churches.

Ques. When did the first General Conference of the M. E. Church, South, meet?

Ans. 1846. The first General Conference of the M. E. Church, South, met in Petersburg, Ya., in May. William Capers and Robert Paine were elected bishops. From this time on our General Conference has met quadrennially. The Northern Church refusing to divide the property of the Book Concern in pro rata proportion, a suit was commenced in the

United States Court, which was finally decided in favor of the Church, South. The court decided that the ministers of that Church had vested rights in the profits of the Book Establishment, and by this decision the Church, South, held the printing establishments of Kichmond, Charleston, and Nashville. The debts due from persons residing within the limits of the Southern Conferences and two hundred and seventy thousand dollars in cash were paid to the M. E. Church, South.

Ques. When was the system of lay delegates adopted by our Church?

Ans. 1866. The General Conference adopted a system of lay delegation both in the General and Annual Conferences. The probationary period of members was abolished, and the rule on class-meetings made voluntary instead of being compulsory. The M. E. Church, South, has prosecuted its work vigorousl/ throughout its bounds, and its statistical tables show a rapid and steady increase in all the departments of Church work.

Bishops of the M. E. Church, South.

J. C. Keener, D.D New Orleans, La

A. W. Wilson, D.D Baltimore, Mil

J. C. Granbery, D.D St Louis, Mo.

R. K. Hargrove, D.D Nashville, Term.

W. W. Duncan, D.D •. Spartanburg, S. C.

E. R. Hendrix, D.D Kansas City, Mo.

J. S. Key, D.D Fort Worth, Tex.

Statistics of the M. E. Church, South, 1888.

Traveling preachers 4,530

Local preachers 5,989

Lay members 1,107,450

Sunday-school teachers 77,515

Sunday-school scholars 012,519

Parsonages 2,030

Total value of churches $13,835,140

Raised for Foreign Missions 170,366

Raised for Domestic Missions 80,865

Raised for Conference claimants 94,088

Raised for Church Extension 34,632

Chapter II. Lesson IV

The Church being regularly organized and officered, the Articles of Religion were adopted as her standard of faith. The Twenty-five Articles of Religion were extracted by Mr. Wesley from the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England. We give these Articles with Scripture quotations, and such notes as tend to explain the meaning and importance of them.

Aeticles of Religion.

Repeat Article I. in reference to Faith in the Holy Trinity:

" There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts ; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead, there are three persons of one substance, power, and eternity — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." (22)

Proofs. — " Hear, Israel : The Lord our God is one Lord." (Deut. vi. 4.) " One God and Father of all." (Eph. iv. 6.) "But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God." (Jer. x. 10.) "From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." (Ps. xc. 2.) " God is a Spirit." (John iv. 24.) "The Lord God omnipotent reigneth." (Rev. xix. 6.) " To God only wise, be glory." (Rom. xvi. 27.) " The Lord is good to all : and his tender mercies are over all his works." (Ps. cxlv. 9.) " There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost." (1 John v. 7.)

Ques. Does the Bible attempt to prove the existence of God?

Ans. No. The Bible assumes the existence of God. "The Architect is simply named in the description of the building." It is left to the reader to see the eternal cause in the stupendous effect before him. There can be no effect without an adequate cause. This is a self-evident truth. Common sense leads men to believe that the existence of a house implies a builder, the picture implies a painter, a watch implies a watch-maker. So the existence of the world, the earth, sun, moon, and stars, implies an eternal Creator. This universe could not have built itself; such a supposition is a bold contradiction, because it implies the existence of a thing possessed of creative Dowers before it did exist.

Ques. What are the natural attributes of God? Arts. 1. He is eternal, having neither beginning nor end of years.

2. He is omnipresent, being in all places at the same time.

3. He is omniscient, knowing all things in heaven and earth.

4. He is omnipotent, being able to do whatever he pleases.

5. He is immutable, having a perfect nature that never changes.

6. He is an absolute unity, the essence of whose being is indivisible.

7. He is also a trinity, the persons of whose being are three — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Ques. What are his moral attributes? Ans. 1. God is love, having a fatherly affection toward the world of mankind.

2. He is holy, being perfectly free from all kinds of sin and impurity.

3. He is just, rendering to every man reward or punishment according to his deserts.

4. He is merciful, always inclined to pity the miserable and help them.

5. He is truthful, always representing things exactly as they are. . .

Eepeat Article II. in reference to the Word, or Son of God, who was made very man.

" The Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures — that is to say, the Godhead and manhood — were joined together in one person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God and very man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men."

Proofs. — "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Tim. ii. 5.) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John i. 1.) "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John i. 14.) " Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." (Heb. ii. 14.) "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee." (Luke i. 35.)

Ques. Does the Bible teach that Christ is God?

Ans. Yes. Jesus Christ is God, being the Word, or Logos. " In the beginning was the Word." (John i. 1.) "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Col. ii. 9.) "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him : and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. . . . For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell." (Col. i. 16-19.)

Ques. If Jesus Christ created the world, what follows?

Ans. If Christ created the world, then it follows necessarily that he is older than the world. The builder of the house must be older than the house. His pre-existence is thus established. Christ is greater than the universe. The maker is necessarily grander than the thing made. He is greater in extent, greater in power. His omnipresence stretches out far beyond the outskirts of this almost immeasurable universe. His omnipotence is greater than all the forces of nature. He calmed the winds that sweep in the wild rush of the tornado. He controls the lightning that shivers in splinters the sturdy oak. The earthquake, lifting a continent upon its gigantic shoulders, he wielded to liberate Paul and Silas from imprisonment. He is the owner of all things. Creation gives the most valid title to all things made. "For him all things were created." All temporal things are but as a scaffold used to build up the great temple of salvation among men.

Ques. Is Jesus Christ also man?

Arts. Yes. Jesus Christ is man, possessing all the normal characteristics of humanity.

Proofs. — "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, . . . full of grace and truth." (John i. 14.) "Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call his name Jesus." (Luke i. 31.)

Ques. Are both the divine and human natures united in Christ?

Ans. Yes. Jesus Christ is God-man — being the union of God and man in one person. As man, he slept in the ship; as God, he calmed the raging storm. As man, he hungered; as God, he multiplied the five loaves to feed five thousand people. As man, he wept over the grave of Lazarus; as God, he

28 Hie Shield of the Young Methodist.

raised him from the dead. As man, he suffered and died; as God, he raised his own body from the grave.

Ques. What follows from all this?

Ans. That Jesus Christ is both very God and very man; and therefore Christ is a great mediator between God and man, being the only one in the universe who can comply perfectly with all the required conditions of such mediation.

Repeat Article III., in reference to the Resurrection of Christ.

" Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day."

Proofs. — " Go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead." (Matt, xxviii. 7.) " "But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption." (Acts xiii. 37.) " To this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living; . . . for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ." (Rom. xiv. 9, 10.) " But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept." (1 Cor. xv. 20.)

Ques. What are the proofs of Christ's resurrection?

Ans. The proofs o£ Christ's resurrection are abundant. Five times he showed himself alive on the day of his resurrection : To Mary Magdalene, to another company of women, to Peter, to two disciples on their way to Emmaus, and to the eleven. Afterward he showed himself to St. Thomas in the prayer-meeting; then in Galilee to seven, and to five hundred. They knew him by many infallible proofs. He showed them the marks on his hands and feet, even eating and drinking with his disciples, thus proving the verity of his body. The Holy Spirit confirmed their faith, for while Peter preached the risen Christ "the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word."

Ques. What did his resurrection demonstrate ?

Ans. It demonstrated his divinity. It established the truth of his own prediction: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." " I lay down my life, that I may take it again. ... I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." The resurrection was the infallible proof of his true Messiahship. For either he arose by his own power (and if he did, then he was divine) or he was raised up by the power of the Father;

and if this be so, then God sets his seal to his work, for God would not raise from the dead an impostor.

LESSON V.

Eepeat Article IV., in reference to the Holy Ghost.

" The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory, with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God."

Proofs. — "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matt, xxviii. 19.) " When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth." (John xvi. 13.) " The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." (Rom. viii, 18.) "The eternal Spirit." (Heb. ix. 14.) "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet. i. 21.)

Ques. What do the above Article and scriptures teach?

Ans. That the Holy Ghost is a divine person, distinct from the Father and the Son. He proceeds from the Father and Son, and therefore can be neither, yet he is associated with the Father and Son in the divine work of creating and preserving all things. The personal pronoun "he" is applied to one who is another Comforter. " When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, . . . he shall testify of me."

The Holy Spirit is called God. "Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? . . . Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God? " (Acts v. 3, 4.) He is called eternal (Heb. ix. 14), omnipresent (Ps. cxxxix. 7), omniscient (1 Cor. ii. 10). To him is ascribed wisdom (Eph. i. 17), creation (Job xxxiii. 4), inspiration (1 Pet. i. 10,11.)

Ques. Is the agency of the Holy Spirit taught in the Old Testament scriptures?

Ans. Yes. " Let us make man in our image." "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." The Spirit of God is creative: "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life." He is no less active in providence: " My Spirit shall not always strive with man." He is omnipresent: "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit?"

Repeat Article V., in reference to the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation.

"The Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scriptures, we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testaments, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church."

Repeat the canonical books.

" Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, The First Book of Samuel, The Second Book of Samuel, The First Book of Kings, The Second Book of Kings, The First Book of Chronicles, The Second Book of Chronicles, The Book of Ezra, The Book of Nehemiah, The Book of Esther, The Book of Job, The Psalms, The Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher, Cantica, or Songs of Solomon, Four Prophets the greater, Twelve Prophets the less. All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive and account canonical."

Proofs. — "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul : the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." (Ps. xix. 7.) "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life : and they are they which testify of me." (John v. 39.) "From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are ahle to make thee wise unto salvation." (2 Tim. iii. 15.) "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Tim. iii. 16.) "And receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." (Jas. i. 21.)

Qites. What does the Article teach?

Ans. This Article teaches that the Bible is to be appealed to in the final settlement of all questions of faith and 'practice. It is the rule of faith and practice. " The Bible is the religion of Protestants." But the Catholic Church teaches that " Scripture and tradition, and these explained by the Catholic clergy, is the rule of faith." The bulls of popes filling eight volumes, the Decretals, Acts of Councils, the Acts Sanctum, making ninety volumes, an unlimited mass of unwritten traditions which have been accumulating like drift-wood on a river from the commencement of the Christian era up to the present time — all these cumbrous, human inventions added to the Bible — constitute the Catholic rule of faith. The Council of Trent decreed that these traditions, both written and unwritten, are of equal authority with the Bible, and lie that denies this shall be accursed. But Methodism, in common with all Protestants, teach that " the Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation."

Ques. Who oppose and who recommend the reading of the Bible?

Ans. The Romanists oppose the private reading of the Bible as a sin. But we hold that the truths of the Bible are addressed to all, and are comprehensible by all, and therefore the command, " Search the Scriptures," is equally binding upon all.