1632 By George Herbert  

CHAP. II.
Their Diversities.

OF Pastors (intending mine own Nation only, and also
therein setting aside the Reverend Prelates of the
Church, to whom this discourse ariseth not) some live in the
Universities, some in Noble houses, some in Parishes resid-
ing on their Cures. Of those that live in the Universities,
some live there in office, whose rule is that of the Apostle;
Rom. 12.6. Having gifts differing, according to the grace that
is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophecy according to the
proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministring, or
he that teacheth, on teaching, &c. he that ruleth, let him do it with
diligence, &c
. Some in a preparatory way, whose aim and
labour must be not only to get knowledg, but to subdue and
mortifie all lusts and affections: and not to think, that when
they have read the Fathers, or Schoolmen, a Minister is
made, and the thing done. The greatest and hardest pre-
paration is within: For, Unto the ungodly, saith God, Why dost
thou preach my Laws, and takest my Covenant in thy mouth?
Psal. 50.16
. Those that live in Noble Houses are called
Chaplains, whose duty and obligation being the same to the
Houses they live in, as a Parsons to his Parish, in describing
the one (which is indeed the bent of my Discourse) the other
will be manifest. Let not Chaplains think themselves so free,
as many of them do, and because they have different Names,
think their Office different. Doubtlesse they are Parsons of
the families they live in, and are entertained to that end, either
by an open, or implicite Covenant. Before they are in Orders,
they may be received for Companions, or discoursers; but
after a man is once Minister, he cannot agree to come into
any house, where he shall not exercise what he is, unlesse he
forsake his plough, and look back.1 Wherfore they are not to
be over-submissive, and base, but to keep up with the Lord
and Lady of the house, and to preserve a boldness with them
and all, even so farre as reproofe to their very face, when
occasion cals, but seasonably and discreetly. They who do
not thus, while they remember their earthly Lord, do much
forget their heavenly; they wrong the Priesthood, neglect
their duty, and shall be so farre from that which they seek
with their over-submissivenesse, and cringings, that they
shall ever be despised. They who for the hope of promotion
neglect any necessary admonition, or reproofe, Sell (with
Judas) their Lord and Master.



1 Reference to 1 Kings 19:19-21

19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.  The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769. [Return]

Editor's Note: Why should this not apply to ministers and priests in all countries and all religious professionals? In a M*A*S*H episode, the  supervising chaplain, who reprimanded 4077's chaplain, Father Mulcahy, was Army more than Christian. See The Ordination for Deacons, Priests, Bishops and Archbishops from the Book of Common Prayer 1552..All priests ascent to the same vows to Christ and the Church.



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