CHAP. XXIX. The Parson with his Church-Wardens.
The Honor of the Churchwarden's Office
The parson teaches his churchwardens about the great charge and dignity of their office, urging the best to serve.
The Country Parson often instructs his churchwardens, both publicly and privately, about what a great charge rests on them, and that the whole order and discipline of the parish is indeed put into their hands. If he himself reforms anything, it is out of the overflow of his conscience, whereas they are to do it by command and by oath. Nor does the office get its dignity from the ecclesiastical laws alone, since even under the common statute law they are treated as a kind of corporation, being persons empowered under that name to receive movable goods or chattels, and to sue and be sued at law concerning such goods for the use and benefit of their parish; and by the same law they are to levy penalties for negligence in attending church, or for disorderly behavior during divine service.1 Therefore the Parson does not allow the office to be belittled or debased by being cast on people of lower rank; instead he invites and urges the best to take it, showing that they do not lose by it, or sink lower, but gain—for the greatest honor in this world is to serve God and his chosen people; or, as David says, even to be a doorkeeper in the house of God.2
Faithful Presentment and Moral Courage
The parson instructs the wardens to know the canons and to present wrongdoers without fear, concluding with the exhortation to do right regardless of worldly consequences.
Now, the canons being the churchwardens' rule, the Parson advises them to read the canons often—or hear them read—and also the visitation articles, which are grounded on the canons, so that they may know their duty and keep their oath better; and in that regard, considering the great importance of their office, and still more of their oath, he wants them by no means to spare anyone, however great that person may be; but if, after gentle and neighborly warnings, people still persist in wrongdoing, to present them—yes, even if they are the wardens' tenants, or otherwise bound to the offender—for their obligation to God, and to their own soul, is above any temporal tie.3 Do well and right, and let the world sink.
Read the original English
THe Countrey Parson doth often, both publickly, and privately instruct his Church-Wardens, what a great Charge lyes upon them, and that indeed the whole order and discipline of the Parish is put into their hands. If himselfe reforme any thing, it is out of the overflowing of his Conscience, whereas they are to do it by Command, and by Oath. Neither hath the place its dignity from the Ecclesiasticall Laws only, since even by the Common Statute-Law they are taken for a kinde of Corporation, as being persons enabled by that Name to take moveable goods, or chattels, and to sue, and to be sued at the Law concerning such goods for the use and profit of their Parish: and by the same Law they are to levy penalties for negligence in resorting to church, or for disorderly carriage in time of divine service. Wherefore the Parson suffers not the place to be vilified or debased, by being cast on the lower ranke of people; but invites and urges the best unto it, shewing that they do not loose, or go lesse, but gaine by it; it being the greatest honor of this world, to do God and his chosen service; or as David says, to be even a door-keeper in the house of God. Now the Canons being the Church-wardens rule, the Parson adviseth them to read, or hear them read often, as also the visitation Articles, which are grounded upon the Canons, that so they may know their duty, and keep their oath the better; in which regard, considering the great Consequence of their place, and more of their oath, he wisheth them by no means to spare any, though never so great; but if after gentle, and neighbourly admonitions they still persist in ill, to present them; yea though they be tenants, or otherwise ingaged to the delinquent: for their obligation to God, and their own soul, is above any temporall tye. Do well, and right, and let the world sinke.
Notes
- 1 ↩"place" rendered as "office" (the churchwardens' standing), not a physical location; "profit" as "benefit" of the parish.
- 2 ↩Source "loose" modernized as "lose" (standard Early Modern spelling for lose).
- 3 ↩"present them" keeps the technical churchwarden sense: formally present offenders at visitation/ecclesiastical process, not merely scold them.
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