CHAP. XVII. The Parson in Journey.
Ministry on the Road
The parson carries his ministry with him while traveling, blessing others, fostering edifying conversation, and leading prayer at inns.
The country parson, when a good reason calls him out of his parish (which he considers carefully and strictly, since his parish is all his joy and thought), doesn't leave his ministry behind; he is himself wherever he is. Therefore he blesses out loud those he meets on the way; and with those he overtakes, or who overtake him, he starts good conversation, the kind that may build them up, sometimes adding a few short, honest lighthearted moments that can make his other talk more welcome and less tiresome. And when he comes to his inn, he doesn't refuse to join the company he's in, so that he may increase the glory of God among them: by offering an appropriate blessing to God for their safe arrival, by saying grace at meals, and at bedtime by telling the host that he will have prayers in the hall, asking him to let his guests know so that if anyone wants to take part, they may come there.1 He does the same in the morning, pleasantly using the foreign proverb that prayers and fodder never hinder a journey.2
Household Care Abroad
When staying in another household, the parson assesses its spiritual state and discreetly applies correction to promote piety.
When he comes to any other house where his kin or other relations give him any authority over the family, if he is to stay for a time, he carefully considers the state of that household toward God, and that in two points: First, what disorders there are—whether in dress, or diet, or too free a pantry, or reading vain books, or swearing, or bringing up children to no calling but in idleness, or the like.3 Second, what practices of piety there are: whether daily prayers are used, grace, reading of Scripture and other good books, and how Sundays, holy days, and fast days are observed. And accordingly, when he finds any shortcoming in these, he first considers what kind of remedy best fits the character of the household, and then he faithfully and boldly applies it—yet at the right time and discreetly, by taking aside the lord or lady, or the master and mistress of the house, and making it clear to them that those who wish them well respect them most, and that what prompts him to speak this way is not a desire to meddle in others' affairs, but a sincere desire to do all the good he can.4
Read the original English
THe Countrey Parson, when a just occasion calleth him out of his Parish (which he diligently, and strictly weigheth, his Parish being all his joy, and thought) leaveth not his Ministry behind him; but is himselfe where ever he is. Therefore those he meets on the way he blesseth audibly, and with those he overtakes or that overtake him, hee begins good discourses, such as may edify, interposing sometimes some short, and honest refreshments, which may make his other discourses more welcome, and lesse tedious. And when he comes to his Inn, he refuseth not to joyne, that he may enlarge the glory of God, to the company he is in, by a due blessing of God for their safe arrival, and saying grace at meat and at going to bed by giving the Host notice, that he will have prayers in the hall, wishing him to informe his guests thereof, that if any be willing to partake, they may resort thither. The like he doth in the morning, using pleasantly the outlandish proverb, that Prayers and Provender never hinder journey. When he comes to any other house, where his kindred, or other relations give him any authority over the Family, if hee be to stay for a time, hee considers diligently the state thereof to Godward, and that in two points: First, what disorders there are either in Apparell, or Diet, or too open a Buttery, or reading vain books, or swearing, or breeding up children to no Calling, but in idleness, or the like. Secondly, what means of Piety, whether daily prayers be used, Grace, reading of Scriptures, and other good books, how Sundayes, holy-days, and fasting days are kept. And accordingly, as he finds any defect in these, hee first considerswith himseife, what kind of remedy fits the temper of the house best, and then hee faithfully, and boldly applyeth it; yet seasonably, and discreetly, by taking aside the Lord or Lady, or Master and Mistres of the house, and shewing them cleerly, that they respect them most, who wish them best, and that not a desire to meddle with others affairs, but the earnestnesse to do all the good he can, moves him to say thus and thus.
Notes
- 1 ↩Source punctuation is dense: 'saying grace at meat and at going to bed by giving the Host notice' is read as mealtime grace plus bedtime public prayers arranged through the host, not as 'grace' at bedtime alone.
- 2 ↩'Outlandish' retained as 'foreign' (not 'bizarre'). 'Provender' rendered as 'fodder'—feed for the horse or provisions for travel.
- 3 ↩'Too open a Buttery' rendered as 'too free a pantry'—unrestricted household access to food and drink.
- 4 ↩Normalized obvious source defects: 'considerswith himseife' → 'considers with himself'; 'Mistres' → 'Mistress'.
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