THe Countrey Parson knows well, that both for the generall ignominy which is cast upon the profession, and much more for those rules, which out of his choysest judgment hee hath resolved to observe, and which are described in this Book, he must be despised; because this hath been the portion of God his Master, and of Gods Saints his Brethren, and this is foretold, that it shall be so still, until things be no more. Neverthelesse, according to the Apostles rule, he endeavours that none shall despise him; especially in his own Parish he suffers it not to his utmost power; for that, where contempt is, there is no room for instruction. This he procures, first by his holy and unblameable life; which carries a reverence with it, even above contempt. Secondly, by a courteous carriage, & winning behaviour: he that wil be respected, must respect; doing kindnesses, but receiving none; at least of those, who are apt to despise: for this argues a height and eminency of mind, which is not easily despised, except it degenerate to pride. Thirdly, by a bold and impartial reproof, even of the best in the Parish, when occasion requires: for this may produce hatred in those that are reproved, but never contempt either in them, or others. Lastly, if the contempt shall proceed so far as to do any thing punishable by law, as contempt is apt to do, if it be not thwarted, the Parson having a due respect both to the person, and to the cause, referreth the whole matter to the examination, and punishment of those which are in Authority, that so the sentence lighting upon one, the example may reach to all. But if the Contempt be not punishable by Law, or being so, the Parson think it in his discretion either unfit, or bootelesse to contend, then when any despises him, he takes it either in an humble way, saying nothing at all; or else in a slighting way, shewing that reproaches touch him no more, then a stone thrown against heaven, where he is, and lives; or in a sad way, grieved at his own, and others sins, which continually breake Gods Laws, and dishonour him with those mouths, which he continually fils, and feeds: or else in a doctrinall way, saying to the contemner, Alas, why do you thus? you hurt your selfe, not me; he that throws a stone at another, hits himseife; and so between gentle reasoning, and pitying, he overcomes the evill: or lastly, in a Triumphant way, being glad, and Joyfull, that he is made conformable to his Master; and being in the world as he was, hath this undoubted pledge of his salvation. These are the five shields, wherewith the Godly receive the darts of the wicked; leaving anger, and retorting, and revenge to the children of the world, whom anothers ill mastereth, and leadeth captive without any resistance, even in resistance, to the same destruction. For while they resist the person that reviles, they resist not the evill which takes hold of them, and is farr the worse enemy.

One of the things that caught me off guard when I was fresh out of seminary was when I discovered some people did not like me simply because I was a minister. I could understand someone not liking something I had done or being annoyed at my personality or the way I do things, but I discovered that some people seem to hold the parson in contempt simply for being a minister. I thought about the lousy things ministers and churches do and know that there are plenty of good reasons hurt people might dislike pastors. I also discovered that some people are angry at God, some are under conviction and lash out at anything that has to do with God — as painful as this can be, it really is a blessing to be the object of anger when it is because you are, as Herbert would say, a deputy of Christ.

Herbert reminds us that some contempt and bad feelings towards us is unavoidable and simply part of the Christian life. However, we are to do what we can to make sure we don’t deserve bad feelings by being genuine (hypocrisy among the clergy has always been a major stumbling block) and impartial and respectful of others. The closing remarks of this chapter I take as a reminder that while a minister should be humble and realize that we will at time be the object of someone’s anger, we are still have self-respect, and more importantly respect for the office we hold, to stand up to unjust acts and words. I know in my own ministry, strong confrontation has won me the respect needed to be heard and has been a tool God has used in conversion.