CHAP. XVIII. The Parson in Sentinell.
Keeping God's Watch
The parson exercises constant vigilance in conversation, discerning good and evil, correcting discreetly, and diverting harmful talk with the help of a pleasant disposition.
Wherever he is, the Country Parson keeps God's watch: that is, nothing said or done in the company he's in escapes his testing and judgment. If something is well said or done, he seizes the opportunity to praise it and elaborate on it; if it's bad, he addresses it immediately, so the poison won't creep into some young, unwary spirits and take hold of them before they even realize it.1 But he does this discreetly, with softening, gentle words: "That wasn't as well said as it would have been left unsaid"; "We can't allow this"; or else, if the matter can be given a better interpretation: "You don't mean it that way, but this way"; or, "So far, what you say is true and well put; but this won't hold."2 This is what's called keeping God's watch: when the traps the enemy sets in company are recognized and avoided. This is being on God's side and faithful to his cause.3 Besides, if in company he notices any talk tending toward something harmful—whether due to its wickedness or its quarrelsomeness—he either skillfully redirects it or breaks it off at the right moment with a change of subject. In this a pleasant disposition is a great help, since people will give up the point and passion of their talk more readily for mirth than for anything else—the place human nature, craving refreshment, eagerly turns to, even at the expense of honor.4
Read the original English
THe Countrey Parson, where ever he is, keeps Gods watch; that is, there is nothing spoken, or done in the Company where he is, but comes under his Test and censure: If it be well spoken, or done, he takes occasion to commend, and enlarge it; if ill, he presently lays hold of it, least the poyson steal into some young and unwary spirits, and possesse them even before they themselves heed it. But this he doth discretely, with mollifying, and suppling words; This was not so well said, as it might have been forborn; We cannot allow this: or else if the thing will admit interpretation; Your meaning is not thus, but thus; or, So farr indeed what you say is true, and well said; but this will not stand. This is called keeping Gods watch, when the baits which the enemy lays in company, are discovered and avoyded: This is to be on Gods side, and be true to his party. Besides, if he perceive in company any discourse tending to ill, either by the wickedness or quarrelsomnesse thereof, he either prevents it judiciously, or breaks it off seasonably by some diversion. Wherein a pleasantness of disposition is of great use, men being willing to sell the interest, and ingagement of their discourses for no price sooner, then that of mirth; whither the nature of man, loving refreshment, gladly betakes it selfe, even to the losse of honour.
Notes
- 1 ↩Early modern 'presently' = immediately; 'least' = lest; 'enlarge' = develop/commend further rather than merely magnify in size.
- 2 ↩'discretely' here is discreetly (tactfully), not 'discretely' as separately; 'mollifying, and suppling words' = softening, pliable speech; 'forborn' = left unsaid; sample phrases are the parson's model corrections.
- 3 ↩'the enemy' is the spiritual adversary (Satan); 'party' = side/cause, not a modern political party.
- 4 ↩'interest, and ingagement of their discourses' = the stake/importance and committed heat of their talk; early modern 'then' = than; 'whither' points back to mirth as the resort of human nature.
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