Author Archives: scott

The Country Parson: CHAP. XI. The Parson’s Courtesie.

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THe Countrey Parson owing a debt of Charity to the poor, and of Courtesie to his other parishioners, he so distinguisheth, that he keeps his money for the poor, and his table for those that are above Alms. Not but that the poor are welcome also to his table, whom he sometimes purposely takes home with him, setting them close by him, and carving for them, both for his own humility, and their comfort, who are much cheered with such friendliness. But since both is to be done, the better sort invited, and meaner relieved, he chooseth rather to give the poor money, which they can better employ to their own advantage, and sutably to their needs, then so much given in meat at dinner. Having then invited some of his Parish, hee taketh his times to do the like to the rest; so that in the compasse of the year, hee hath them all with him, because countrey people are very observant of such things, and will not be perswaded, but being not invited, they are hated. Which perswasion the Parson by all means avoyds, knowing that where there are such conceits, there is no room for his doctrine to enter. Yet doth hee oftenest invite those, whom hee sees take best courses, that so both they may be encouraged to persevere, and others spurred to do well, that they may enjoy the like courtesie. For though he desire, that all should live well, and vertuously, not for any reward of his, but for vertues sake; yet that will not be so: and therefore as God, although we should love him onely for his own sake, 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 Countrey Parson, who is a diligent observer, and tracker of Gods wayes, sets up as many encouragements to goodnesse 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.

Here Herbert discusses ‘courtesie’, for us in the south he’s discussing hospitality. He says that a distinction is made between the poorer folks in the parish and those with more means, and the poorer should be given cash. (Notice for Herbert this was money from the Parson’s pocket.) While they are certainly to be invited for meals, he makes the point that they should be given money which they can use for what they most need.

The mention of charity is briefly mentioned as he deals with the main point of this chapter, that is hospitality to parishioners. He suggests having every family as guests for a meal during the time of the year. The parson should take care not to slight anyone, otherwise they won’t listen to his teachings.

The other thing I thought interesting was that he suggests inviting folks as a reward for when they have ‘take best courses’ or have lived a particularly virtuous life. Notice that this has more to do with timing than having someone as a guest or not since he has just said everyone should be welcomed through the course of a year. But this made me wonder in what ways I encourage parishioners to piety and charity.

Lot’s of provoking questions from Herbert today: How personally invested in charity are we? How often do we offer hospitality to parishioners, especially the poor? Do we show favoritism?

(Image is Billimun by intimaj)

John Smeaton “What’s the score? I’ve got to get this sorted”

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My friend Allan in Glasgow sent me an update on the Glasgow Airport attack. John Smeaton is a baggage handler at the airport who was taking a smoke break when the terrorists drove into the terminal, he (and some others) rushed in to help the police detain the attackers. He exemplifies Glasgae spirit:

Check out the site in his honor, and the song written for him.

Cheers!

Country Parson CHAP. X. The Parson in his house. (Pt. III.)

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The Parson in his house oserves fasting dayes; and particularly, as Sunday is his day of joy, so Friday his day of Humiliation, which he celebrates only with abstinence of diet, but also of company, recreation, and all outward contentments; and besides, with confession of sins, and all acts of Mortification. Now fasting dayes containe a treble obligation; first, of eating lesse that day, then on other dayes; secondly, of eating no pleasing, or over-nourishing things, as the Israelites did eate sowre herbs: Thirdly, of eating no flesh, which is but the determination of the second rule by Authority to this particular. The two former obligations are much more essentiall to a true fast, then the third and last; and fasting dayes were fully performed by keeping of the two former, had not Authority interposed: so that to eat little, and that unpleasant, is the naturall rule of fasting, although it be flesh. For since fasting in Scripture language is an afflicting of our souls, if a peece of dry flesh at my table be more unpleasant to me, then some fish there, certainly to eat the flesh, and not the fish, is to keep the fasting day naturally. And it is observable, that the prohibiting of flesh came from hot Countreys, where both flesh alone, and much more with wine, is apt to nourish more then in cold regions, and where flesh may be much better spared, and with more safety then elsewhere, where both the people and the drink being cold and flegmatick, the eating of flesh is an antidote to both. For it is certaine, that a weak stomack being prepossessed with flesh, shall much better brooke and bear a draught of beer, then if it had taken before either fish, or rootes, or such things; which will discover it selfe by spitting, and rheume, or flegme. To conclude, the Parson, if he be in full health, keeps the three obligations, eating fish, or roots, and that for quantity little, for quality unpleasant. If his body be weak and obstructed, as most Students are, he cannot keep the last obligation, nor suffer others in his house that are so, to keep it; but only the two former, which also in diseases of exinanition (as consumptions) must be broken: For meat was made for man, not man for meat. To all this may be added, not for emboldening the unruly, but for the comfort of the weak, that not onely sicknesse breaks these obligations of fasting, but sicklinesse also. For it is as unnatural to do any thing, that leads me to a sicknesse, to which I am inclined, as not to get out of that sicknesse, when I am in it, by any diet. One thing is evident, that an English body, and a Students body, are two great obstructed vessels, and there is nothing that is food, and not phisick, which doth lesse obstruct, then flesh moderately taken; as being immoderately taken, it is exceeding obstructive. And obstructions are the cause of most diseases.

First I have to say I love the quote “One thing is evident, that an English body, and a Students body, are two great obstructed vessels”.

I don’t understand a lot of what Herbert is saying about “spitting, and rheume, or flegme” but what catches my attention is how much attention he pays to appropriate food and health, he does so elsewhere as well. Talk about holistic! While we have different medical understandings of things Herbert is very concerned with physical wellbeing as well as spiritual health. Here he is talking about this in the context of fasting, but he shows a strong knowledge of medicine at the time and shows us an example of paying attention to our health.

As for fasting, the main point I take is that it should fit the context. It is not simply following set rules of how much and what to eat or not eat but applying a principal of self-discipline with food, entertainment and company to your own situation and environment. I wonder if the deprivations of Friday helped Herbert endure the intensity of his proposed Sabbath.

Image is Bronzeage Bread by Hans S

Random 8

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I have been tagged by seekingservant for this Random 8 thing:

a) I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
b) Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
c) People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
d) At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
e) Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they are tagged and to visit your blog.

1. I grew up on a Boy’s Ranch a home for ‘neglected, needy or abused’ children. My parents were house-parents at the ranch, so I grew up way out in the country on a large commune-like campus with about 75 other boys.

2. I play guitar and had a band in college – Homade Sin. My friend Wayne sang. We played classic rock and roll and had a great time. We rotated through Bass players and drummers. For a while we had some guy playing Bass who had no clue how to play bass, in fact didn’t even have one…but his mom was a really good cook!

Homade Sin

3. Speaking of college, I managed to change my major nearly every semester I was there. I started out as a Criminal Justice Major because I had to put something down to start with. I changed from that to Art then English. The English classes were in the building furthest from my Dorm and I got tired of the walk. The closest building was math and physics – I knew that wouldn’t work for me, but when I found out Political Science was housed in the top of the math building for some reason I declared that my major. I still scheduled classes around the Andy Griffith show, but I didn’t have to walk so far. As graduation became a possibility I had to figure out what the Political Science degree would be good for so I decided I would take the pre-Law track. I was preparing for the LSAT (law school admissions test) when I surrendered to the call to ministry.

4. On the subject of school in general I am working on a PhD through the University of Glasgow, Scotland. My research is in Church History, I’m studying the early eighteenth-century controversies over presbyterian ministerial candidates being required to subscribe the Westminster Confession of Faith in Britain, Ireland and America.

5. The first cassette album I purchased was the Miami Vice Soundtrack.

6. I once got my car stuck on a stump at a funeral. I arrived late at the church and the parking lot was full, I pulled off into the grass and accidentally over a stump that raised my tires up enough that they couldn’t get traction. I didn’t notice but went on into the service. I was trying to avoid someone there so after the graveside I was going to discreetly slip away. No good. I had to get the pall bearers to lift me off the stump…it was anything but discrete.

7. I love the movie Napoleon Dynamite but people look at me weird when I try to explain the deep symbolism I see.

8. Since I have trouble staying with one book for long I’ve developed an overly complicated method of ordering my reading so that I can stay with a book and finish it. It’s something else that get’s weird looks when I explain it but essentially I rotate about three books at a time so I can start something new pretty often. Otherwise I tend to start a book and never finish because I want to start something else.

Well that’s my Random 8, I will tag John, Wayne, Aaron, Jeff, Zac, Daniel at Christ and Covenant and for the sake of Randomness I’ll just press the ‘Next’ button and hit the next two that pop up.