Doctrine · Wesleyan Tradition
Wesley's General Rules
The Nature, Design, and General Rules of the United Societies
The strangest of the Methodist doctrinal standards — a binding standard with almost no doctrine in it, a rule of life whose one condition of membership is not a belief but a desire.
In brief — every phrase, the quick answer →
The Preamble
In the latter end of the year 1739, eight or ten persons came to me in London, who appeared to be deeply convinced of sin, and earnestly groaning for redemption… This was the rise of the United Society, first in Europe, and then in America.Such a society is no other than a company of men having the form and seeking the power of godliness, united in order to pray together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may help each other to work out their salvation.That it may the more easily be discerned whether they are indeed working out their own salvation, each society is divided into smaller companies, called classes, according to their respective places of abode. There are about twelve persons in a class, one of whom is styled the leader.The One Condition
There is only one condition previously required of those who desire admission into these societies: a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins.But wherever this is really fixed in the soul, it will be shown by its fruits. It is therefore expected of all who continue therein that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation:The First Rule — Do No Harm
First: By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced, such as:The taking of the name of God in vain. The profaning the day of the Lord… Drunkenness: buying or selling spirituous liquors, or drinking them, unless in cases of extreme necessity… brother going to law with brother… The buying or selling goods that have not paid the duty. The giving or taking things on usury… speaking evil of magistrates or of ministers… The putting on of gold and costly apparel… Laying up treasure upon earth. Borrowing without a probability of paying…Slaveholding; buying or selling slaves.The Second Rule — Do Good
Secondly: By doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men:To their bodies… by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by visiting or helping them that are sick or in prison. To their souls, by instructing, reproving, or exhorting all we have any intercourse with… By doing good, especially to them that are of the household of faith… employing them preferably to others, buying one of another, helping each other in business… By all possible diligence and frugality, that the gospel be not blamed. By running with patience the race that is set before them, denying themselves, and taking up their cross daily.Visual weight reflects how contested the phrase is across the tradition: highly contested moderately contested well-settled