TO Th Members and Friends oF t Dear Brethren! Several Perfons having been very induflrious in j>, worthy Brethren, who are Local Preachers, w the occafion. She Conference have undniniovfly M iller, for this proof of their love to God ar perufal of this Letter to all our People every poll , We arc, Dear Brethren, Your affectionate Servant's, THOMAS COKE, Prefident, SAMUEL BRADBURN, Secretary Leeds, Augufl 12, 1797. /ht> (S 'To the Methodift Society in Sheffield: Dear Brethren! I T is with hearts, filled with the tendered concern for your eternal welfare, that we how addtefs you. The events which have recently occurred in the Methodift Connexion, are fo awful, and the confe¬ rences may be fo dreadful, that we are compelled to make this one open appeal; befeeching you, by all the ties of Chriftian fellowfhip—by all the blefled privileges we enjoy— and by all thofe facred feafons of power and love, which we have (pent together^ to weigh folemnly what is hefe fubmitted to your confederation. We afk— Is it not owing to Metho¬ difm, that, under God, you have been awakened to fee and feel your loft condition—have been fnatched from the jaws of Hell—-led to the Saviour of Sinners, and converted unto God : Have not all your prefent fprings of peace, and lively hopes of everlafting falvation, arifen, under God, from this Source ? Has it not been your boaft, that in purity of doc¬ trine, in number of privileges, and in ability of preaching, you have been the highly favoured of the earth ? Have you notj'een figns and wonders wrought; the arm of the Lord made bafe~pehtacoftal vifits of fire defcending, and the place wherein you were afiembled filled with the glory of God ?—- Are thefe things true? If fo; we afk, Have you been robbed bf one of thefe privileges; has the purity of your Dobirine been corrupted, or has God withdrawn hia prefence? You will all anfwer, NO, We afk again, Has the Gofpel be¬ come more expenfive? Are you called upon to contribute triore to its fupport than formerly ? Are you opprcftcd with any new burthens ? or, Are you left at liberty to pay your penny a week or let it alone as you fee moft proper, or feel inoft convenient? Your anfwer is ready; you all confefs that there has been no alteration for the laft fifty years. Dear Brethren! Where are the evils complained of? You have, perhaps, been told that tire money collected is not fufficiently openly accounted for. We anfwer—Apply to the Stewards—examine the Books—read the annual ftatements ptiblifhed by Conference of the Kingfwood and yearly col- Lbtions : judge for yourfelves, ufe your own eyes; do not lifien to the miftaken reprefentations which are fo Unfortunately Dread abroad, nor be led like children in leading firings, ivhen you are able to ufe your own legs. But you are in¬ formed, that the Preachers receive more from the Society than is adequate to their comfortable fubfifience: Oh! Bre¬ thren, lifien not to reports which can only fill your breafts with needlefs jealoufies, and unworthy fufpicions. We can a fibre you, and will prove it to all that call upon us for infor¬ mation, that there are feenes of diftrefs and mifery amongft the Preachers which would make your hearts bleed. 1 he fingle Preachers had 12.1. per Annum thirty years flnee, and they have no more at prefent; And although every article of life is fo confiderably advanced, yet the fum allowed for •victuals amounts to a trifle over two /hillings a week per head. The Servant of a reputable Farmer has a better provifion than a Methodift Preacher. We therefore inhpeat that you will not fujfFer ill-grounded prejudice to creep in be¬ twixt you and your Preachers. They'have yielded a!! their money matters into your hands, they have thrown themfelves on your mercy,* do not tread therb Under your feet. They are your Servants for Chrift's fake, do not wilh to make them yotlr Slaves. Brethren ! Brethren !! we defire your real happinefs, we are Jealous for your true intereft ; we can appeal to an heart- fearch- ingGod, when we afi'ureyou, that if wefaW yob opprefied, we would fly to your relief; if we fa w corruption creeping into the connexion, we Would cry aloud in the front ranks ! !—- -bur, you are in dabger of being mifled—of rulhing into the greateft errors—of pulling down the nobieft fabric which God has erec¬ ted fince the days of the apofiles—of dividing preacher from preacher, brother from brother, fifter from fifter—of ftabbing fierling Methodifm to the heart—and of preventing theeffebls of a revival which might have leavened the whole univerfe !—■ Oh! Stop ! —flop, we charge you, at T.e peril of lofing your never-dying fouls.—Stop /—fhall Hell triumph?—fhall the wicked exult ?—fhail febls and parties cry u down with them— down with them—ha ! ha ! jo Would we have it!If" You would individually tremble at the thought of bringing a father's grey hairs to the grave by your cruelty, or of breaking a mo- i ther's heart by your ingratitudebut what is cruelty or in- ~*-->iUude tr-eartlfiy parents, when compared wirh making a rent Church of God pxpofing precious foUi„ ts die dangp .'erlafiing deftrubfion, and opening a v/ide door for the .. olf of Hell to enter and devour the flock of Chrift !—Oh ! beware of/chif/n—tremble at div'ifion !! Methodi/ls /-—be cautious—be firm.—Rerriember there never -was a divifion from the body of Methodifm that prolpered. Stand ftil] and fee the falvation of God—They that believe fhali not make hafte. If thefe (hould be a party that will feparate ; -wait the event—fee if the ark of the Lord goes with them—if they have more peace, union, love and concord—if they have higher privileges—a cheaper gofpel—nibre powerful preaching, and the glory of the Lord is more evidently revealed -then vou can determine on the prudence, propriety and neceffity of quitting yotir old /hip, and adventuring your all on another bottom. Finally, Brethren} We love you—you knoiv we love you—we have fpent our ftrength and impaired our health in labouring for your happi¬ nefs. Go where you will—leave us—forfake us—think hardly of us—trample upon us—we will fiiil follow you with our tears, our prayers, and our bleffings.—We are ftil! willing to fufter the lofs of all things for }Our lake.—You may break our hearts, but you fhall never tear away our affcbtion ; ftill this cry fhall follow you—a Return ye wanderers—return ye (Iraggiing fheep : u our arms and our hearts fhall be ever open to receive you, and " our laft prdyers fhall be, tfiav Methodifts be one—may one " volume of praife, one cloud of incenfe afcend to our Father " and our God!!—may the whole connexion, which was built " upon the foundation of the prophets and apoftles, be again " fitly joined together, and compacted, by that nourifhment " which every joint fupplieth, grow into an Holy J emple in kC; the Lord, and be filled with all the fulnefs of God." HENRY LONGDEN. EDWARD MILLER." * See the Address-from Conference to the Methodift Societies