Ethiopic Didascalia

Ethiopic Didascalia — Platt English translation page 41

and wicked shepherd of the sheep, the wolf shall swallow him up before his face. And therefore we must keep far from evil and destructive shepherds, who spare not, nor save their flocks. For the people love a good shepherd, and fear him, as a father, and a lord, and a priest, and a chief of the priests of the Lord ; for he reproveth them, and guideth them unto godliness. For he that obeyeth him, obeyeth Christ ; and he that heareth his voice, heareth the voice of Christ. And he that obeyeth Christ, obeyeth God the Father. And moreover he saith. He that heareth you, heareth me ; and he that refuseth you, refuseth me ; and he that refuseth me, refuseth Him that sent me. And thus it becomes the Bishop to love the people as his children, for they are his sons ; and let him nourish them with love and instruction, as a bird which broodeth over her eggs, and cherisheth her young ones until they fly. So let him teach the people the word of the Lord ; and feed them with spiritual doctrine, and give their desire unto all who wish to receive of him. And let him not be harsh upon them; but reprove them by the word of wisdom, and put them in fear, that they turn not unto sin ; but let him rather exhort them to walk in the right way and keep the faith, and let him feed the people in peace. And moreover let him raise the fallen, o 41