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Chapter 36HerbertParson.1.36

CHAP. XXXV. The Parson's Condescending.

Embracing Good Customs

The parson cherishes harmless old customs, especially the Rogation procession, to win hearts, preserve boundaries, foster charity, and reconcile differences, knowing that presence and friendliness preach love.

The country parson loves old customs, if they're good and harmless—and even more so because country people are so attached to them that favoring them in this wins their hearts, while opposing them discourages them. If there's any harm in the custom that can be cut away from the good, he pares the apple and hands them the clean part to eat. In particular, he loves the Procession and keeps it up, because it has four clear advantages.1 First, a blessing from God for the fruits of the field; second, justice in preserving the boundary lines; third, charity in walking together in love and neighborly companionship, and reconciling any differences that may exist at that time; fourth, mercy in relieving the poor through a generous distribution and open-handedness, which is—or should be—practiced then. So he requires everyone to be present at the perambulation, and those who withdraw and cut themselves off from it he dislikes and rebukes as uncharitable and unneighborly; and if they won't reform, he presents them.2 Indeed, he is so far from condemning such gatherings that he actually arranges for them often, knowing that absence breeds distance, but presence love. Now love is his business and aim; so he is glad when his parishioners invite one another into their houses on good occasions, and he urges them to do so. And sometimes, when he knows there has been or still is a little quarrel, he takes one of the parties and goes with him to the other, and they all dine or have supper together. There is much preaching in this friendliness.

The Light of Heaven

The parson upholds the old custom of blessing the light, teaching that small acts of piety are not superstitious but opportunities for gratitude and mortification, and that shame in small things leads to shame in greater.

There's another old custom of saying, when light is brought in, "God send us the light of heaven"; and the Parson likes this very well. He isn't afraid of praising or praying to God at all times, but is rather glad to catch opportunities to do both. Light is a great blessing, and as great as food, for which we give thanks; and those who think this superstitious know neither superstition nor themselves. As for those who are ashamed to use this form because it is old and obsolete and not the fashion, he reforms them and teaches them that at Baptism they professed not to be ashamed of Christ's Cross, or for any shame to abandon what is good.✦ Anyone who is ashamed in small things will extend that small-mindedness to greater ones.3 Rather, a Christian soldier should take such occasions to harden himself and to further his exercises of mortification.4

Read the original English

THe Countrey Parson is a Lover of old Customes, if they be good, and harmlesse; and the rather, because Countrey people are much addicted to them, so that to favour them therein is to win their hearts, and to oppose them therin is to deject them. If there be any ill in the custome, that may be severed from the good, he pares the apple, and gives them the clean to feed on. Particularly, he loves Procession, and maintains it, because there are contained therein 4 manifest advantages. First, a blessing of God for the fruits of the field: Secondly, justice in the Preservation of bounds: Thirdly, Charity in loving walking, and neighbourly accompanying one another, with reconciling of differences at that time, if there be any: Fourthly, Mercy in releeving the poor by a liberall distribution and largesse, which at that time is, or ought to be used. Wherefore he exacts of all to bee present at the perambulation, and those that withdraw, and sever themselves from it, he mislikes, and reproves as uncharitable, and unneighbourly; and if they will not reforme, presents them. Nay, he is so farre from condemning such assemblies, that he rather procures them to be often, as knowing that absence breedes strangeness, but presence love. Now Love is his business, and aime; wherefore he likes well, that his Parish at good times invite one another to their houses, and he urgeth them to it: and somtimes, where he knowes there hath been or is a little difference, hee takes one of the parties, and goes with him to the other, and all dine or sup together. There is much preaching in this friendliness.

Another old Custome there is of saying, when light is brought in, God send us the light of heaven; And the Parson likes this very well; neither is he affraid of praising, or praying to God at all times, but is rather glad of catching opportunities to do them. Light is a great Blessing, and as great as food, for which we give thanks: and those that thinke this superstitious, neither know superstition, nor themselves. As for those that are ashamed to use this forme, as being old, and obsolete, and not the fashion, he reformes, and teaches them, that at Baptisme they professed not to be ashamed of Christs Cross, or for any shame to leave that which is good. He that is ashamed in small things, will extend his pusillanimity to is greater. Rather should a Christian Souldier take such occasions to harden himseife, and to further his exercises of Mortification.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Mark.8.38;Rom.1.16;Gal.6.14 — For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of that person when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Rom.1.16 — For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Gal.6.14 — But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩Procession here is the traditional parish Rogationtide walking of the bounds (perambulation), not a generic parade.
  2. 2 ↩“Presents them” is the technical act of reporting offenders to the ecclesiastical court (presentment), not giving gifts.
  3. 3 ↩Source reads "to is greater"; translated as the intended "to his greater [things]." "Pusillanimity" rendered as "small-mindedness" to keep Herbert's moral force without archaic diction.
  4. 4 ↩Source "himseife" treated as "himself."

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