George Herbert on the pastor’s attitude in discipline and restoration

Times have changed, and pastors don’t generally “call in Authority” to “present” or “punish” people in their congregations anymore. And certainly Herbert is not talking about vicars imposing corporal punishment on their errant congregations, or something like that. But there may have been legal proceedings in Herbert’s day when people committed some indictable offence (being drunk and disorderly for example), or failed to pay their tithes (which were obligatory by law). One might also be fined or imprisoned for failing to attend church, under Elizabethan Recusancy laws which attempted to root out Roman Catholics and Anabaptists. Such fines were increased after the Gunpowder Plot.

If a pastor had to be involved in calling in the authorities, which might well be for the person’s spiritual good in Herbert’s opinion, they should also try to help with that person’s restoration afterwards. He realised that might be difficult sometimes, and so hopes that he would not avoid the punished person or look down on them, but go out of his way to welcome them back somehow. The important thing being the spiritual advantage of the offender as part of God’s family. Of course, we might add, the pastor ought always to be concerned for those who may have been affected by any offences too. I don’t think Herbert would disagree with that in general, but he probably has in mind those kinds of offences where he himself might be the “victim” (i.e. when tithes are not paid).

CHAPTER 25
The Parson punishing

Whensoever the country parson proceeds so far as to call in Authority, and to do such things of legal opposition either in the presenting, or punishing of any, as the vulgar ever construes for signs of ill will; he forbears not in any wise to use the delinquent as before, in his behaviour and carriage towards him, not avoiding his company, or doing anything of averseness, save in the very act of punishment.

Neither does he esteem him for an enemy, but as a brother still, except some small and temporary estranging may corroborate the punishment to a better subduing, and humbling of the delinquent; which, if it happily take effect, he then comes on the faster, and makes so much the more of him, as before he alienated himself — doubling his regards, and showing by all means that the delinquent’s return is to his advantage.