The Apostle Peter tells us to practice hospitality without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9). Or as the New Living Translation has it, “Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.” Which rather implies that it can be a tiresome business, but that we need to get over that for the sake of the gospel.

For Herbert, having people round to the pastor’s home can also be a great aid to ministry. It helps people to hear one’s doctrine better. So much so, that ideally, the pastor ought to have every member of the parish round over the course of the year. How many of us have tried that? How many of us aspire to have congregations of the sort of size where this would be possible, rather than having a church so large that we could happily hide away in our study and never have to venture out to meet people!

Look out especially for the theological reasoning behind Herbert’s choice of dinner guests. And his ultimate aim: to make his parish good.

CHAPTER 11
The Parson’s Courtesy

The country parson, owing a debt of charity to the poor, and of courtesy to his other parishioners, he so distinguishes, 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 chooses rather to give the poor money, which they can better employ to their own advantage, and suitably to their needs, than so much given in meat at dinner.

Having then invited some of his parish, he takes his time to do the like to the rest; so that in the compass of the year, he has them all with him, because country people are very observant of such things, and will not be persuaded, but being not invited, they are hated. Which persuasion the parson by all means avoids, knowing that where there are such conceits, there is no room for his doctrine to enter.

Yet does he most often invite those whom he 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 courtesy. For though he desire, that all should live well, and virtuously, not for any reward of his, but for virtue’s sake; yet that will not be so: and therefore as God, although we should love him only for his own sake, yet out of his infinite pity has set forth heaven for a reward to draw men to piety, and is content, if at least so, they will become good. So the country parson, who is a diligent observer, and tracker of God’s ways, sets up as many encouragements to goodness 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.