THe Country Parson, as soon as he awakes on Sunday morning, presently falls to work. and seems to himselfe so as a Market-man is, when the Market day comes, or a shopkeeper, when customers use to come in. His thoughts are full of making the best of the day, and contriving it to his best gaines. To this end, besides his ordinary prayers, he makes a peculiar one for a blessing on the exercises of the day, That nothing befall him unworthy of that Majesty before which he is to present himself, but that all may be done with reverence to his glory, and with edification to his flock, humbly beseeching his Master, that how or whenever he punish him, it be not in his Ministry: then he turnes to request for his people, that the Lord would be pleased to sanctifie them all, that they may come with holy hearts, and awfull mindes into the Congregation, and that the good God would pardon all those, who come with lesse prepared hearts then they ought. This done, he sets himself to the Consideration of the duties of the day, and if there be any extraordinary addition to the customary exercises, either from the time of the year, or from the State, or from God by a child born, or dead, or any other accident, he contrives how and in what manner to induce it to the best advantage. Afterwards when the hour calls, with his family attending him, he goes to Church, at his first entrance humbly adoring, and worshipping the invisible majesty, and presence of Almighty God, and blessing the people either openly, or to himselfe. Then having read divine Service twice fully, and preached in the morning, and catechized in the afternoone, he thinks he hath in some measure, according to poor, and fraile man, discharged the publick duties of the Congregation. The rest of the day he spends either in reconciling neighbours that are at variance, or in visiting the sick, or in exhortations to some of his flock by themselves, whom his Sermons cannot, or doe not reach. And every one is more awaked, when we come, and say, Thou art the man. This way he findes exceeding usefull, and winning; and these exhortations he cals his privy purse, even as Princes have theirs, besides their publick disbursments. At night he thinks it a very fit time, both sutable to the joy of the day, and without hinderance to publick duties, either to entertaine some of his neighbours, or to be entertained of them, where he takes occasion to discourse of such things as are both profitable, and pleasant, and to raise up their mindes to apprehend Gods good blessing to our Church, and State; that order is kept in the one, and peace in the other, without is disturbance, or interruption of publick divine offices. As he opened the day with prayer, so he closeth it, humbly beseeching the Almighty to pardon and accept our poor services, and to improve them, that we may grow therein, and that our feet may be like hindes feet ever climbing up higher, and higher unto him.

In this chapter, Herbert lays out a blueprint of an ideal Sunday for a minister. He likens the sabbath to a merchant on market day. Although I don’t care for the connotation of a minister being like a merchant, I see his point. He’s thinking of the times when a community would have a market day, so a merchant had to do all of his business on the day the people came to the market, unlike our modern 24-7 convenient stores. A minister, like this merchant has to make the best out of the Lord’s Day, and Herbert’s intense schedule would certainly do that.

First, the parson is to wake and have his regular prayers, additionally he should offer additional prayers that his people will be prepared for the service and that God will bless the work of the minister.

Second, he should think over the special needs of the day. I think Herbert makes a point especially relevant for rural churches here. Think about events in the community and the time of year and how best to address these. I find this especially appropriate for a country church as the important events in their lives are not going to be noticed by newspapers and TV, it’s good for the community to have some public acknowledgment of events important to a community’s life.

Third, the minister should go to the church for a time of personal (or family) worship before beginning the day. This would imply getting to the church early enough to be there before others arrive. Herbert recognizes that in leading worship our attention is often drawn to the work of directing the service and preaching rather than focused on worshiping God, by going to the church early the minister is able to have a time of worship that also prepares him for leading others.

What I find particularly interesting is that while I consider Sunday for worship and teaching only, Herbert says that the rest of the time should be taken up with pastoral work such as visiting, counseling and spiritual direction. This on top of leading morning service, preaching, afternoon catechises, and evening prayer!

Herbert then suggests, not that the minister should collapse and rest but entertain guests at the parsonage.

These suggestions makes me wonder if Herbert realizes something about the power of the Lord’s Day. Would people be more receptive to a personal visit or word of encouragement from their pastor on a Sunday? While I think it is important to visit people in their weekday world, I wonder if people’s thoughts are on God more on a Sunday in a way that would make pastoral ministry more effective.

Herbert’s final work for the day, before going to bed, is to offer prayers that the work of the day would be blessed.

I can remember my first week serving as a minister here. I preached on Sunday and there were plenty of events to fill the day, but I went to the church office Monday morning, sat down at the desk and though ‘Now What?’. I had been taught how to exegete texts, counsel those in crisis and lead public prayer…but I didn’t have a clue how to schedule my work week. Events came quickly enough and trial and error along with conversations with veteran ministers helped me develop my own schedule. (Of course I soon realized there is no typical week of ministry and plans and schedules change quickly.)

I would be curious to hear from other ministers how they schedule their Sunday (do you make visits? etc…) as well as the rest of the week (when is the best rest day for you?).