A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE: OR, The Country Parson; HIS CHARACTER, AND RULE OF HOLY LIFE. THE AUTHOR, MR. GEORGE HERBERT. THE AUTHOR TO THE READER. BEING desirous, through the mercy of God, to please him, for whom I am and live, and who giveth me my desires and performances; and considering with myself, that the way to please him is to feed my flock diligently and faithfully, since our Saviour hath made that the argument of a pastor's love; I have resolved to set down the form and character of a true pastor, that I may have a mark to aim at: which also I will set as high as I can, since he shoots higher that threatens the moon, than he that aims at a tree. Not that I think, if a man do not all which is here expressed, he presently sins, and displeases God; but that it is a good strife to go as far as we can in pleasing of him, who hath done so much for us. The Lord prosper the intention to myself, and others, who may not despise my poor labors, but add to those points which I have observed, until the book grow to a complete pastoral. 1632. GEORGE HERBERT. Priest to the Temple: OR, THE COUNTRY PARSON. CHAPTER I. Of a Pastor. A PASTOR is the deputy of Christ, for the reducing of man to the obedience of God. This definition is evident, and contains the direct steps of pastoral duty and authority. For, first, man fell from God by disobedience. Secondly, Christ is the glorious instrument of God for the revoking of man. Thirdly, Christ being not to continue on earth, but, after he had fulfilled the work of reconciliation, to be received up into heaven, he constituted deputies in his place; and these are priests. And therefore St. Paul, in the beginning of his epistles, professeth this: and, in the first to the Colossians, plainly avoucheth that he fills up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in his flesh, for his body's sake, which is the church. Wherein is contained the complete definition of a minister. Out of this charter of the priesthood may be plainly gathered both the dignity thereof, and the duty. The |