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Chapter 20HerbertParson.1.20

CHAP. XIX. The Parson in reference.

Faithful to Country

The parson is upright in his civic duties, serving his country with integrity and without deceit.

The Country Parson is sincere and upright in all his relationships. And first, he is just to his country: for example, when he's assessed for armor or a horse, he doesn't borrow them just to meet the requirement, nor does he provide flimsy, useless ones, but rather ones that are fully fit to give his country true and praiseworthy service when the occasion demands it.1 Doing otherwise is deceitful, and therefore it does not befit someone who is wholehearted and true in all his ways, as the servant of the One in whom there was no guile.✦ Likewise in any other duty to his country, he considers what the purpose of any command is, and then faithfully shapes what he does according to that purpose.

Honoring the Church

The parson shows respect to church leaders and uses visitations for mutual edification and reform.

Secondly, he conducts himself with great respect toward all the Fathers of the Church, and especially toward his Diocesan, honoring him in both word and behavior, and turning to him in any difficulty, whether in his studies or in his parish.2 He keeps Visitations, and when he is there, he makes proper use of them, as he would clergy councils, for the benefit of the diocese. And therefore, before he comes, having noticed some defects in the ministry, he then, either in a sermon (if he preaches) or at some other time of the day, sets before his fellow clergy what would be fitting to do.

Fellowship with Neighboring Pastors

The parson maintains warm and generous fellowship with neighboring ministers, regardless of their station.

Thirdly, he maintains good relations with all the neighboring pastors around him, performing for them any ministerial office that is not harmful to his own parish. Similarly, he welcomes any minister into his house, no matter how poor or humble, with as joyful a face as if he were hosting some great lord.

Neighborly Charity to All Parishes

The parson extends neighborly love to surrounding parishes, especially in times of calamity, leading his people in generous relief.

Fourth, he fulfills the duty and debt of neighborliness to all the parishes near him.3 For the Apostle's rule in Philippians✦4 4✦5 8—which is admirable and wide-ranging: that we should do whatever is honest, just, pure, lovely, or of good report—if there is any virtue or anything praiseworthy. And since neighborliness has always been considered, even among the heathen, as an obligation to do good to those nearby rather than those farther off, all else being equal, he therefore satisfies this duty as well.✦6 Especially if God has sent any calamity by fire or famine on a neighboring parish, he does not wait for an official appeal; instead, he gathers his parish the next Sunday or holy day, lays before them the uncertainty of human affairs—no one knows whose turn may be next—and after alarming them with this, he explains the obligation of charity and neighborliness. He first gives generously himself, then urges them to give, collecting a sum either to be sent or, even more comforting, for them all to choose a suitable day to carry it themselves and cheer the afflicted.7 So if any neighboring village is overburdened with the poor, and his own is less burdened, he finds some way of relieving it and bringing the manna and bread of charity toward some equality, showing his people that God's blessing on them ought to make them more charitable, not less, lest God cast their neighbors' poverty on them as well.

Read the original English

THe Countrey Parson is sincere and upright in all his relations. And first, he is just to his Countrey; as when he is set at an armour, or horse, he borrowes them not to serve the turne, nor provides slight, and unusefull, but such as are every way fitting to do his Countrey true and laudable service, when occasion requires. To do otherwise, is deceit; and therefore not for him, who is hearty, and true in all his wayes, as being the servant of him, in whom there was no guile. Likewise in any other Countrey-duty, he considers what is the end of any Command, and then he suits things faithfully according to that end. Secondly, he carryes himself very respectively, as to all the Fathers of the Church, so especially to his Diocesan, honouring him both in word, and behaviour, and resorting unto him in any difficulty, either in his studies or in his Parish. He observes Visitations, and being there, makes due use of them, as of Clergy councels, for the benefit of the Diocese. And therefore before he comes, having observed some defects in the Ministry, he then either in Sermon, if he preach, or at some other time of the day, propounds among his Brethren what were fitting to be done. Thirdly, he keeps good Correspondence with all the neighbouring Pastours round about him, performing for them any Ministeriall office, which is not to the prejudice of his own Parish.

Likewise he welcomes to his house any Minister, how poor or mean soever, with as joyfull a countenance, as if he were to entertain some great Lord. Fourthly, he fulfills the duty, and debt of neighbourhood to all the Parishes which are neer him. For the Apostles rule Philip. 4. 8 being admirable, and large, that we should do whatsoever things are honest, or just, or pure, or lovely, or of good report, if there be any vertue, or any praise, and Neighbourhood being ever reputed, even among the Heathen, as an obligation to do good, rather then to those that are further, where things are otherwise equall, therefore he satisfies this duty also. Especily, if God have sent any calamity either by fire, or famine, to any neighbouring Parish, then he expects no Briefe; but taking his Parish together the next Sunday, or holy-day, and exposing to them the uncertainty of humane affairs, none knowing whose turne may be next, and then when he hath affrighted them with this, exposing the obligation of Charity, and Neighbour-hood, he first gives himself liberally, and then incites them to give; making together a summe either to be sent, or, which were more comfortable, all together choosing some fitt day to carry it themselves, and cheere the Afflicted. So, if any neighbouring village be overburdened with poore, and his owne lesse charged, hee findes some way of releeving it, and reducing the Manna, and bread of Charity to some equality, representing to his people, that the Blessing of God to them ought to make them the more charitable, and not the lesse, lest he cast their neighbours poverty on them also.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩John.1.47;1Pet.2.22 — Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, "Look, a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit." 1Pet.2.22 — He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.
  2. ↩Phil.4.8 — Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise—think on these things.
  3. ↩Phil.4.8 — Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise—think on these things.
  4. ↩Phil.4.8 — Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise—think on these things.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩"set at an armour, or horse" is the early-modern levy/assessment duty of furnishing military equipment; rendered as being assessed/required to provide it.
  2. 2 ↩Early modern "respectively" means respectfully/with due regard, not modern "each in turn."
  3. 3 ↩Early modern 'neighbourhood' means the duty of being a good neighbor, not a residential district.
  4. 4 ↩Source reads 'For the Apostles rule Philip.' Most plausible intended sense is the citation lead-in 'For the Apostle's rule, Phil.' (Philippians), broken across s3–s5 as Phil. 4.8.
  5. 5 ↩Bare numeral '4.' is almost certainly the chapter number in the broken citation Phil. 4.8.
  6. 6 ↩Leading '8' is the verse number of Philippians 4:8, severed from the citation in s3–s4. 'rather then to those that are further' is read as rather to nearer neighbors than to farther ones when other things are equal.
  7. 7 ↩'Brief' (Briefe): an official letter authorizing a public collection for disaster relief. 'expects no Briefe' means he does not wait for such authorization before acting.

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