Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IV/Commodianus/The Instructions of Commodianus/Chapter 69

LXIX.&#8212;To God&#8217;s Shepherds.

A shepherd, if he shall have confessed, has doubled his conflict.&#160; Moreover, the apostle bids that such should be teachers.&#160; Let him be a patient ruler; let him know when he may relax the reins; let him terrify at first, and then anoint with honey; and let him first observe to do himself what he says.&#160; The shepherd who minds worldly things is esteemed in fault, against whose countenance thou mightest dare to say anything.&#160; Gehenna itself bubbles up in hell with rumours.&#160; Woe to the wretched people which wavers with doubtful brow! if such a shepherd shall be present to it, it is almost ruined.&#160; But a devout man restrains it, governing rightly.&#160; The swarms are rejoiced under suitable kings; in such there is hope, and the entire Church lives.