be falsified, yet-considering that the law allows these in case they be true, but allows by no means to give without testimony-as he obeys authority in the one, so, that being once satisfied, he allows his charity some blindness in the other; especially since, of the two commands, we are more enjoined to be charitable than wise. But evident miseries have a natural privilege and exemption from all law. Whenever he gives any thing, and sees them labor in thanking of him, he exacts of them to let him alone, and say rather, "God be praised! God be glorified!" that so the thanks may go the right way, and thither only, where they are only due. So doth he also, before giving, make them say their prayers first, or the creed, and ten commandments; and, as he finds them perfect, rewards them the more. For other givings are lay and secular; but this is to give like a priest.

CHAPTER XIII.

The Parson's Church.

THE Country Parson hath a special care of his church, that all things there be decent, and befitting His name by which it is called. Therefore, First, he takes order, that all things be in good repair; as walls plastered, windows glazed, floor paved, seats whole, firm, and uniform, especially that the pulpit, and desk, and communion table, and font be as they ought, for those great duties that are performed in them. Secondly, that the church be swept, and kept clean, without dust or cobwebs; and, at great festivals, strewed and stuck

with boughs, and perfumed with incense. Thirdly, that there be fit and proper texts of scripture every where painted; and that all the paintings be grave and reverend, not with light colors or foolish antics. Fourthly, that all the books appointed by authority be there; and those not torn or fouled, but whole and clean, and well bound: and that there be a fitting and sightly communion cloth of fine linen, with a handsome and seemly carpet of good and costly stuff or cloth, and all kept sweet and clean in a strong and decent chest ; with a chalice and cover, and a stoop or flagon; and a bason for alms and offerings: besides which, he hath a poor man's box conveniently seated, to receive the charity of well-minded people, and to lay up treasure for the sick and needy.

And all this he doth, not as out of necessity, or as putting a holiness in the things, but as desirous to keep the middle way between superstition and slovenliness; and as following the apostle's two great and admirable rules in things of this nature; the first whereof is, Let all things be done decently and in order: the second, Let all things be done to edification (1 Cor. xiv.). For these two rules comprise and include the double object of our duty, God and our neighbor; the first being for the honor of God, the second for the benefit of our neighbor. So that they excellently score out the way, and full and exactly contain, even in external and indifferent things, what course is to be taken; and put them to great shame, who deny the scripture to be perfect.

CHAPTER XIV.

The Parson in Circuit.

THE Country Parson, upon the afternoons in the week-days, takes occasion sometimes to visit in person, now one quarter of his parish, now another. For there he shall find his flock most naturally as they are, wallowing in the midst of their affairs; whereas on Sundays it is easy for them to compose themselves to order, which they put on as their holiday clothes, and come to church in frame, but commonly the next day put off both.

When he comes to any house, first he blesseth it; and then, as he finds the persons of the house employed, so he forms his discourse.-Those that he finds religiously employed, he both commends them much, and furthers them, when he is gone, in their employment: as, if he finds them reading, he furnisheth them with good books; if curing poor people, he supplies them with receipts, and instructs them further in that skill, shewing them how acceptable such works are to God, and wishing them ever to do the cures with their own hands, and not to put them over to servants.

Those that he finds busy in the works of their calling, he commendeth them also: for if is a good and just thing for every one to do their own business. But then he admonisheth them of two things-First, that they dive not too deep into worldly affairs, plunging themselves over head and ears into carking and caring; but that they so labor, as neither to labor anxiously, nor distrustfully, nor profanely. (Then they labor anxiously, when they overdo it, to the loss of their quiet

and health. Then distrustfully, when they doubt God's providence, thinking that their own labor is the cause of their thriving, as if it were in their own hands to thrive or not to thrive. Then they labor profanely, when they set themselves to work like brute beasts, never raising their thoughts to God, nor sanctifying their labor with daily prayer: when on the Lord's day they do unnecessary servile work, or in time of divine service on other holy days; except in the cases of extreme poverty, and in the seasons of seed time and harvest.) Secondly, he adviseth them so to labor for wealth and maintenance, as that they make not that the end of their labor; but that they may have wherewithal to serve God the better, and do good deeds. After these discourses, if they be poor and needy whom he thus finds laboring, he gives them somewhat; and opens not only his mouth, but his purse to their relief, that so they go on more cheerfully in their vocation, and himself be ever the more welcome to them.

Those that the parson finds idle or ill employed, he chides not at first, for that were neither civil nor profitable; but always in the close, before he departs from them. Yet in this he distinguisheth. For if he be a plain countryman, he reproves him plainly; for they are not sensible of fineness. If they be of higher quality, they commonly are quick, and sensible, and very tender of reproof; and therefore he lays his discourse so, that he comes to the point very leisurely; and oftentimes, as Nathan did, in the person of another making them to reprove themselves. However, one way or other, he ever reproves them, that he may keep himself pure, and not be entangled in others' sins. Neither in this doth he forbear, though there be company by. For as, when the offence is particular, and

against me, I am to follow our Saviour's rule, and to take my brother aside and reprove him; so, when the offence is public, and against God, I am then to follow the apostle's rule (1 Tim. v. 20), and to rebuke openly that which is done openly.

Besides these occasional discourses, the parson questions what order is kept in the house; as about prayers morning and evening on their knees, reading of scripture, catechising, singing of psalms at their work and on holidays,-who can read, who not: and sometimes he hears the children read himself, and blesseth them; encouraging also the servants to learn to read, and offering to have them taught on holidays by his servants. If the parson were ashamed of particularizing in these things, he were not fit to be a parson. But he holds the rule, that nothing is little in God's service: if it once have the honor of THAT NAME, it grows great instantly. Wherefore, neither disdaineth he to enter into the poorest cottage, though he even creep into it, and though it smell never so loathsomely. For both God is there also, and those for whom God died. And so much the rather doth he so, as his access to the poor is more comfortable, than to the rich; and, in regard of himself, it is more humiliation.

These are the parson's general aims in his circuit; but with these he mingles other discourses for conversation sake, and to make his higher purposes slip the more easily.

Y