Now! Then! On Easter Monday Francis Pemberton, Vicar of Bradford, sits all day in a Haworth pub, collecting his Easter dues, while Oliver Heywood preaches for next to nothing

28 March 1692: On Easter Monday Francis Pemberton, Vicar of Bradford, sits all day in a Haworth pub, collecting his Easter dues, while Oliver Heywood preaches for next to nothing

Oliver Heywood. 1883. The Rev. Oliver Heywood, B.A., 1630-1702, Vol. 3/4. Ed. J. Horsfall Turner. Bingley: T. Harrison. Get it:

Excerpt

I rode upon a call to preach at John Rhode’s house in Haworth town. God greatly helped my heart in weeping, wrestling with God for the conversion of sinners, and in preaching on Isaiah 55:7. There was a great crowd of people and they were very attentive. Who knows what good may be done. The same day (being Easter Monday) the Vicar of Bradford sat all day in an alehouse, gathering his dues in Haworth parish. There’s wont always to be a sermon in the church that day, but Mr [Francis] Pemberton hath laid it aside. Many flocked to him to pay him Easter reckonings, which come to about £10, and many of them came to hear me, but I had nothing for my pains but yet four or five thrust me 6d a piece into my hand. I rid 14 miles forward and backward, was greatly comforted in my days work, thought it was far better then his: though my worldly gain were short, yet may I but gain one soul to Christ by my hard labour, I have the better of him. My soul rejoiceth in the god of my mercy: that hath set me upon the high employment of moving sinners for Christ, made me faithful, in some measure successful, gives me opportunity and an heart to be laying out myself for good: made me to choose the laborious, painful part of the ministry with persecution, rather then the honourable, easy, gainful part.

Easter Monday is on 21 April 2025.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

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Original

The same day (being Easter Monday) the vicar of Bradford sat all day in an alehouse, gathering his dues in Haworth parish. There’s wont always to be a sermon in the church that day, but Mr [Francis] Pemberton hath laid it aside. Many flocked to him to pay him Easter reckonings, which come to about £10, and many of them came to hear me, but I had nothing for my pains but yet four or five thrust me 6d a piece into my hand. I rid 14 miles forward and backward, was greatly comforted in my days work, thought it was far better then his: though my worldly gain were short, yet may I but gain one soul to Christ by my hard labour, I have the better of him. My soul rejoiceth in the god of my mercy: that hath set me upon the high employment of moving sinners for Christ, made me faithful, in some measure successful, gives me opportunity and an heart to be laying out myself for good: made me to choose the laborious, painful part of the ministry with persecution, rather then the honourable, easy, gainful part.

249 words.