ABSTRACT
The duties of Wesley's Assistants included expounding the scriptures for the classes. One of the oft-told stories of the development of 'expounding' into 'preaching' centres upon the actions of Thomas Maxfield, the Assistant at the London Society. It was probably in 1741 that John Wesley, having to leave London, left Maxfield in charge of the Society. Maxfield took it upon himself not only to expound to the class, but to preach before the whole congregation. Filled with anger, John Wesley hastened back to reprimand Maxfield and correct the malpractice.
