Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
Parson
A little round, fat, oily man of God.
Thomson.—The Castle of Indolence, Canto I. Stanza 69.
A man he was to all the country dear,
And passing rich with forty pounds a-year.
Goldsmith.—The Deserted Village, Line 141.
At church with meek and unaffected grace,
His looks adorn’d the venerable place;
Truth from his lips prevail’d with double sway,
And fools who came to scoff remain’d to pray.
Goldsmith.—Deserted Village, Line 177.
In duty prompt at every call,
He watch’d and wept, and pray’d and felt for all.
Goldsmith.—Deserted Village, Line 165.
And (strange to tell) he practised what he preached.
Armstrong.—Art of Preserving Health, Book IV. Line 305.
Refin’d himself to soul to curb the sense,
And made almost a sin of abstinence.
Yet had his aspect nothing of severe,
But such a face as promis’d him sincere;
Nothing reserv’d or sullen was to see,
But sweet regards and pleasing sanctity.
Dryden.—Character of a Good Parson.
Daniel will tell you, it is not the shepherd, but the sheep with the bell, which the flock follows.
Swift.—The Tatler, No. 66. (Referring to Daniel Burgess, a preacher celebrated for his vehemence.)
With four parochial children, full of catechism and bread and butter.
Sidney Smith.—Wit and Wisdom, 3rd Edition, Page 162. (Longmans.)