Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Ver. 2. Feed the flock] Being both learned and loving. The Greek word for a shepherd (ποιμην, as if οιμην, from οις, sheep and μαω) signifieth one that earnestly desireth after his sheep.
Feed the flock] That is, rule them, say the pope's janizaries. True it is the word signifieth sometimes to govern; usually to feed; but they catch at government, led go feeding.
Not by constraint, but willingly] It is with the pastors of Germany for the most part, saith Melancthon, as with him in Plautus, that said, Ego non servio libenter: herus meus me, non habet, libenter tamen utitur me ut lippis oculis. I serve of no good will, my master also hath as little good will to use my service; and yet he makes such use of me as he doth of some eyes, which we must have or none.
Not for filthy lucre] As your church choppers and money changers, that take up the ministry only as a trade to pick a living out of it. We preach the gospel among us, saith a Popish writer, tantum ut nos pascat et vestiat, merely for food and raiment. Christ's faithful undershepherds, though as men they have natural necessities and relations, and as labourers in the word and doctrine they have need of "communicating with others by way of giving and receiving" of this world's good, yet they have higher aims, which of ready mind they duly prosecute, &c. There is a worm called clerus, that destroyeth honeycombs; so doth the Popish clergy the Lord's inheritance. But Clerus Angliae was wont to be stupor mundi, the world's wonder for height of holiness and depth of learning.