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THe Countrey Parson is ex∣ceeding exact in his Life, being holy, just, pru∣dent, temperate, bold, grave in all his wayes. And because the two highest points of Life, wherein a Christian is most seen, are Pati∣ence, and Mortification; Patience in regard of afflictions, Mortificati∣on in regard of lusts and affecti∣ons, and the stupifying and deading of all the clamarous powers of the soul, therefore he hath throughly
studied these, that he may be an ab∣solute Master and commander of himself, for all the purposes which God hath ordained him. Yet in these points he labours most in those things which are most apt to scandalize his Parish. And first, because Countrey people live hardly, and therefore as feeling their own sweat, and consequently knowing the price of mony, are offended much with any, who by hard usage increase their travell, the Countrey Parson is very circum∣spect in avoiding all coveteousnesse, neither being greedy to get, nor ni∣gardly to keep, nor troubled to lose any wordly wealth; but in all his words and actions slighting, and disesteeming it, even to a wondring, that the world should so much va∣lue wealth, which in the day of wrath hath not one dramme of comfort for us. Secondly because Luxury is a very visible sinne, the Parson
is very carefull to avoid all the kinds thereof, but especially that of drin∣king, because it is the most popular vice; into which if he come, he pro∣stitutes himself both to shame, and sin, and by having fellowship, with the unfruitfull works of darknesse, he dis∣ableth himself of authority to reprove them: For sins make all equall, whom they finde together; and then they are worst, who ought to be best. Neither is it for the ser∣vant of Christ to haunt Innes, or Tavernes, or Ale-houses, to the disho∣nour of his person and office. The Parson doth not so, but orders his Life in such a fashion, that when death takes him, as the Jewes and Iudas did Christ, he may say as He did, I sate daily with you teaching in the Temple. Thirdly, because Countrey people (as indeed all ho∣nest men) do much esteem their word, it being the Life of buying, and selling, and dealing in the world;
therfore the Parson is very strict in keeping his word, though it be to his own hinderance, as knowing, that if he be not so, he wil quickly be disco∣vered, and disregarded: neither will they beleeve him in the pulpit, whom they cannot trust in his Conversati∣on. As for oaths, and apparrell, the disorders thereof are also very mani∣fest. The Parsons yea is yea, and nay nay; and his apparrell plaine, but reverend, and clean, without spots, or dust, or smell; the purity of his mind breaking out, and di∣lating it selfe even to his body, cloaths, and habitation.