George Herbert on the pastor as father

Jesus said, “And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9 NIV). Yet George Herbert today encourages pastors to be enthusiastic fathers to their flock.

As Joseph was to Pharaoh (Genesis 45:8) and Job was to the poor (Job 29:16), and Eliakim was to Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:20-21), and Elijah was to Elisha (2 Kings 2:12), and Paul was to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:2) and the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 2:11) and Corinthians (1 Corinthians 4:14-15), so is the pastor to the people.

Herbert doesn’t say that people should call their pastors ‘father.’ But he does urge pastors to think of themselves in a fatherly way towards the people. so that even if their sins are directly against him (such as in not paying him what he is due, via the legally-mandated tithe system of the 17th century), he is not to enforce the law, but forgive like a father, and be patient.

CHAPTER 16
The Parson a Father

The country parson is not only a father to his flock, but also professes himself throughly of the opinion, carrying it about with him as fully as if he had begot his whole parish.

And of this he makes great use. For by this means, when any sins, he hates him not as an officer, but pities him as a father. And even in those wrongs which either in tithing or otherwise are done to his own person, he considers the offender as a child, and forgives, so he may have any sign of amendment.

So also when after many admonitions, any continue to be refractory, yet he gives him not over, but is long before he proceed to disinheriting, or perhaps never goes so far; knowing that some are called at the eleventh hour, and therefore he still expects and waits, least he should determine God’s hour of coming; which as he cannot, touching the last day, so neither touching the intermediate days of conversion.