yet out of his infinite pity hath set forth heaven for a reward to draw men to piety, and is content if, at least so, they will become good: so the country parson, who is a diligent observer and tracker of God's ways, sets up as many encouragements to goodness as he can, both in honour, and profit, and fame; that he may, if not the best way, yet any way, make his parish good.

CHAP. XII.

The parson's charity.

THE country parson is full of charity; it is his predominant element. For many and wonderful things are spoken of thee, thou great virtue. To charity is given the covering of sins, 1 Peter iv. 8. and the forgiveness of sins, Matthew vi. 14. Luke vii. 47. the fulfilling of the law, Romans xiii. 10. the life of faith, James ii. 26. the blessings of this life, Proverbs xxii. 9. Psalm xli. 2. and the reward of the next, Matthew xxv. 35. In brief, it is the body of religion, John xiii. 35. and the top of Christian virtues, 1 Cor. xiii. Wherefore all his works relish of charity. When he riseth in the morning, he bethinketh himself what good deeds he can do that day, and presently doth them; counting that day lost, wherein he hath not exercised his charity. He first considers his own parish, and takes care that there be not a beggar or idle person in his parish, but that all be in a competent way of getting their living. This he effects either by bounty or persuasion, or by authority, making use of that excellent statute, which binds all parishes to maintain their own. If his parish be rich, he exacts this of them; if poor, and he able, he easeth them therein. But he gives no set pension to any; for this in time will lose the name and effect of charity with the poor people, though not with God; for then they will reckon upon it, as on a debt; and if it be taken away, though justly, they will murmur, and repine as much as he that is disseized of his own inheritance. But the parson having a double aim, and making a hook of his charity, causeth them still to depend on him; and so by continual and fresh bounties, unexpected to them, but resolved to himself, he wins them to praise God more, to live more religiously, and to take more pains in their vocation, as not knowing when they shall be relieved; which otherwise

they would reckon upon, and turn to idleness. Besides this general provision, he hath other times of opening his hand; as at great festivals and communions; not suffering any, that day that he receives, to want a good meal suiting to the joy of the occasion. But specially, at hard times, and dearths, he even parts his living and life among them, giving some corn outright, and selling other at under rates; and, when his own stock serves not, working those that are able to the same charity, still pressing it in the pulpit, and out of the pulpit, and never leaving them, till he obtain his desire. Yet in all his charity he distinguisheth, giving them most, who live best, and take most pains, and are most charged; so is his charity in effect a sermon. After the consideration of his own parish, he enlargeth himself, if he be able, to the neighbourhood; for that also is some kind of obligation; so doth he also to those at his door, whom God puts in his way, and makes his neighbours. But these he helps not without some testimony, except the evidence of the misery bring testimony with it. For though these testimonies also may be falsified, yet considering that the law allows these in case they be true, but allows by no means to give without testimony, as he obeys authority in the one, so that being once satisfied, he allows his charity some blindness in the other; especially, since, of the two commands, we are more enjoined to be charitable than wise. But evident miseries have a natural privilege, and exemption from all law. Whenever he gives any thing, and sees them labour in thanking of him, he exacts of them to let him alone, and say rather, God be praised, God be glorified; that so the thanks may go the right way, and thither only, where they are only due. So doth he also before giving make them say their prayers first, or the Creed, and Ten Commandments, and as he finds them perfect, rewards them the more. other givings are lay and secular, but this is to give like a priest.

For

CHAP. XIII.

The parson's church.

THE country parson hath a special care of his church, that all things there be decent, and befitting his name by which it is called. Therefore, first he takes order, that all

things be in good repair; as walls plaistered, windows glazed, floor paved, seats whole, firm, and uniform; especially that the pulpit and desk, and communion table and font, be as they ought, for those great duties that are performed in them. Secondly, that the church be swept and kept clean, without dust or cobwebs, and at great festivals strewed and stuck with boughs, and perfumed with incense. Thirdly, that there be fit and proper texts of scripture every where painted, and that all the painting be grave and reverend, not with light colours or foolish antics. Fourthly, that all the books appointed by authority be there, and those not torn or fouled, but whole and clean, and well bound: and that there be a fitting and sightly communion cloth " of fine linen, with an handsome "and seemly carpet of good and costly stuff or cloth, and "all kept sweet and clean, in a strong and decent chest, "with a chalice and cover, and a stoop or flagon; and a "bason for alms and offerings; besides which, he hath a poor man's box conveniently seated to receive the cha"rity of well-minded people, and to lay up treasure for "the sick and needy." And all this he doth, not as out of necessity, or as putting a holiness in the things, but as desiring to keep the middle way between superstition and slovenliness, and as following the apostle's two great and admirable rules in things of this nature: the first whereof is, Let all things be done decently, and in order: the second, Let all things be done to edification, 1 Cor. xiv. For these two rules comprise and include the double object of our duty, God and our neighbour; the first being for the honour of God, the second for the benefit of our neighbour. So that they excellently score out the way, and fully and exactly contain, even in external and indifferent things, what course is to be taken; and put them to great shame, who deny the scripture to be perfect.

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CHAP. XIV.

The parson in circuit.

THE country parson upon the afternoons in the weekdays takes occasion sometimes to visit in person, now one quarter of his parish, now another. For there he shall find his flock most naturally as they are, wallowing in the midst of their affairs: whereas on Sunday it is easy for

them to compose themselves to order, which they put on as their holyday clothes, and come to church in frame, but commonly the next day put off both. When he comes

to any house, first he blesseth it, and then as he finds the persons of the house employed, so he forms his discourse. Those that he finds religiously employed, he both commends them much, and furthers them, when he is gone, in their employment; as if he finds them reading, he furnisheth them with good books; if curing poor people, he supplies them with receipts, and instructs them further in that skill, shewing them how acceptable such works are to God, and wishing them ever to do the cures with their own hands, and not to put them over to servants. Those that he finds busy in the works of their calling, he commendeth them also: for it is a good and just thing for every one to do their own business. But then he admonisheth them of two things; first that they dive not too deep into worldly affairs, plunging themselves over head and ears into carking and caring; but that they so labour, as neither to labour anxiously, nor distrustfully, nor profanely. Then they labour anxiously, when they overdo it, to the loss of their quiet and health: then distrustfully, when they doubt God's providence, thinking that their own labour is the cause of their thriving, as if it were in their own hands to thrive, or not to thrive. "Then they “labour profanely, when they set themselves to work like "brute beasts, never raising their thoughts to God, nor "sanctifying their labour with daily prayer; when on the "Lord's day they do unnecessary servile work, or in time "of divine service on other holydays, except in the cases " of extreme poverty, and in the seasons of seed-time and "harvest." Secondly, he adviseth them so to labour for wealth and maintenance, as that they make not that the end of their labour, but that they may have wherewithal to serve God the better, and do good deeds. After these discourses, if they be poor and needy, whom he thus finds labouring, he gives them somewhat; and opens not only his mouth, but his purse to their relief, that so they go on more cheerfully in their vocation, and himself be ever the more welcome to them. Those that the parson finds idle, or ill employed, he chides not at first, for that were neither civil nor profitable; but always in the close before he departs from them: yet in this he distinguisheth; for if he be a plain countryman, he reproves him plainly; for they are not sensible of fineness: if they be of higher quality, they commonly are quick, and sensible, and very

tender of reproof; and therefore he lays his discourse so, that he comes to the point very leisurely, and oftentimes as Nathan did, in the person of another, making them to reprove themselves. However, one way or other, he ever reproves them, that he may keep himself pure, and not be entangled in others' sins. Neither in this doth he forbear, though there be company by: for as when the offence is particular, and against me, I am to follow our Saviour's rule, and to take my brother aside, and reprove him; so when the offence is public, and against God, I am then to follow the apostle's rule, 1 Timothy v. 20, and to rebuke openly that which is done openly. Besides these occasional discourses, the parson questions what order is kept in the house, as about prayers morning and evening on their knees, reading of scripture, catechising, singing of psalms at their work, and on holydays; who can read, who not and sometimes he hears the children read himself, and blesseth them, encouraging also the servants to learn to read, and offering to have them taught on holydays by his servants. If the parson were ashamed of particularizing in these things, he were not fit to be a parson; but he holds the rule, that nothing is little in God's service: if it once have the honour of that name, it grows great instantly. Wherefore neither disdaineth he to enter into the poorest cottage, though he even creep into it, and though it smell never so loathsomely. For both God is there also, and those for whom God died: and so much the rather doth he so, as his access to the poor is more comfortable than to the rich; and in regard of himself, it is more humiliation. These are the parson's general aims in his circuit; but with these he mingles other discourses for conversation sake, and to make his higher purposes slip the more easily.

CHAP. XV.

The parson comforting.

THE country parson, when any of his cure is sick, or afflicted with loss of friend or estate, or any ways distressed, fails not to afford his best comforts, and rather goes to them, than sends for the afflicted, though they can, and otherwise ought to come to him. To this end he hath throughly digested all the points of consolation, as having