CHAP. XVI. The Parson a Father.
The Parson as Father
The parson fully embraces his role as a father to his flock, using it to guide his response to sin with pity, patience, and hope for repentance.
The Country Parson isn’t just a father to his flock—he truly takes that view to heart, carrying it with him as completely as if he had fathered the entire parish. And he makes great use of this. For by this means, when anyone sins, he does not hate him as an officer would, but pities him as a father; and even in those wrongs done to his own person, whether in tithing or otherwise, he treats the offender as a child, and forgives, so long as he may have any sign of amendment. So also, when after many admonitions anyone continues to be stubborn, he still does not give him up, but is slow to proceed to disinheriting, or perhaps never goes that far—knowing that some are called at the eleventh hour, and therefore he still waits and hopes, lest he should fix God's hour of coming, which, as he cannot do regarding the last day, so neither can he regarding the intermediate days of conversion.✦12
Read the original English
THe Countrey Parson is not only a father to his flock, but also professeth himselfe throughly of the opinion, carrying it about with him as fully, as if he had begot his whole Parish. And of this he makes great use. For by this means, when any sinns, he hateth him not as an officer, but pityes him as a Father: and even in those wrongs which either in tithing, or otherwise are done to his owne person, hee considers the offender as a child, and forgives, so hee may have any signe of amendment; so also when after many admonitions, any continue to be refractory, yet hee gives him not over, but is long before hee proceede to disinheriting, or perhaps never goes so far; knowing, that some are called at the eleventh houre, and therefore hee still expects, and waits, least hee should determine Gods houre of coming; which as hee cannot, touching the last day, so neither touching the intermediate days of Conversion.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Matt.20.1-Matt.20.16 — For the kingdom of heaven is like a man, a master of a house, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Matt.20.2 — And when he agreed with the workers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Matt.20.3 — And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the marketplace, idle. Matt.20.4 — and to them he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' Matt.20.5 — But he went out again about the sixth and ninth hour, and did the same. Matt.20.6 — And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here all day idle?' Matt.20.7 — They answered him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' Matt.20.8 — And when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last and going to the first.' Matt.20.9 — And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. Matt.20.10 — And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they also received each a denarius. Matt.20.11 — But when they received it, they grumbled against the master of the house. Matt.20.12 — saying, 'These last ones worked one hour, and you made them equal to us, who bore the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' Matt.20.13 — But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?' Matt.20.14 — Take what is yours and go. But I want to give to this last one the same as I give to you. Matt.20.15 — Or is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is mine? Or is your eye evil because I am good? Matt.20.16 — So the last will be first, and the first will be last.
Notes
- 1 ↩"Disinheriting" keeps Herbert's fatherly metaphor for the extreme pastoral step of casting a refractory parishioner off (excommunication or equivalent cutting-off), not a literal legal bequest.
- 2 ↩Early modern "least" is read as "lest" (for fear that); "officer" is an official enforcing duty, set against the father's pity.
A Priest to the Temple, or, The Country Parson companion
A prayer for every moment, already on your phone
Chosen Portion puts a curated historic prayer in front of you each day — so the words are there before the moment arrives.
Chosen Portion is the digital descendant of the carried prayer book: the short daily prayers this collection preserves, delivered one a day to your pocket.
- One short, memorable prayer delivered daily — build your repertoire a card at a time
- Prayers matched to real situations: fear, gratitude, decisions, grief, sleep
- Save favourites into your personal pocket collection you can open anywhere