CHAP. XI. The Parson's Courtesie.
The Distinction Between Charity and Courtesy
The parson distinguishes between giving money to the poor and offering hospitality to others, though he also welcomes the poor at his table.
The country parson, who owes a debt of charity to the poor and courtesy to his other parishioners, makes this distinction: he keeps his money for the poor, and his table for those who don't need alms. Not that the poor aren't welcome at his table too: he sometimes deliberately brings them home with him, seats them close beside him, and carves for them, both to humble himself and to comfort them, because such friendliness cheers them greatly. But since he must do both—invite the better-off and relieve the poor—he prefers to give the poor money, which they can put to better use for their own benefit and according to their needs, rather than giving them the same amount in food at dinner.1
Inviting All Parishioners
The parson ensures he invites every parishioner over the course of the year to avoid any perception of hatred.
Having invited some of his parishioners, he schedules times to invite the rest, so that over the course of the year he has them all with him—because country people are very attentive to such things and will not be persuaded that not being invited means anything but being hated. The parson avoids that conviction by every means he can, knowing that where people hold such notions, there is no room for his teaching to enter.
Encouraging Virtue Through Hospitality
The parson especially invites those who are doing well to encourage them and others, drawing an analogy with God's reward of heaven.
Yet he most often invites those he sees conducting themselves best, so that they may be encouraged to persevere, and others spurred on to do well, so that they may enjoy the same courtesy. For though he wants everyone to live well and virtuously, not because of any reward from him but for the sake of virtue itself, they will not do so; therefore, just as God—though we should love him only for his own sake—has nevertheless, out of his infinite pity, offered heaven as a reward to draw people to piety, and is content if at least in that way they become good, so the country parson, who carefully observes and follows God's ways, offers as many encouragements to goodness as he can—through honor, profit, and reputation—so that he may make his parish good, if not by the best way, then by any way.✦
Read the original English
THe Countrey Parson owing a debt of Charity to the poor, and of Courtesie to his other parishioners, he so distinguisheth, that he keeps his money for the poor, and his table for those that are above Alms. Not but that the poor are welcome also to his table, whom he sometimes purposely takes home with him, setting them close by him, and carving for them, both for his own humility, and their comfort, who are much cheered with such friendliness. But since both is to be done, the better sort invited, and meaner relieved, he chooseth rather to give the poor money, which they can better employ to their own advantage, and sutably to their needs, then so much given in meat at dinner. Having then invited some of his Parish, hee taketh his times to do the like to the rest; so that in the compasse of the year, hee hath them all with him, because countrey people are very observant of such things, and will not be perswaded, but being not invited, they are hated. Which perswasion the Parson by all means avoyds, knowing that where there are such conceits, there is no room for his doctrine to enter. Yet doth hee oftenest invite those, whom hee sees take best courses, that so both they may be encouraged to persevere, and others spurred to do well, that they may enjoy the like courtesie. For though he desire, that all should live well, and vertuously, not for any reward of his, but for vertues sake; yet that will not be so: and therefore as God, although we should love him onely for his own sake, yet out of his infinite pity hath set forth heaven for a reward to draw men to Piety, and is content, if at least so, they will become good: So the Countrey Parson, who is a diligent observer, and tracker of Gods wayes, sets up as many encouragements to goodnesse as he can, both in honour, and profit, and fame; that he may, if not the best way, yet any way, make his Parish good.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Matt.6.20;Heb.11.6 — But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. Heb.11.6 — And without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Notes
- 1 ↩Source 'then' is the early modern spelling of comparative 'than'; rendered as 'than'.
A Priest to the Temple, or, The Country Parson companion
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