NOTE: — 76 —

...[shall be] of the word of God." Dost thou see how he accounted such [persons] alien to the Church of God and to the Apostolic preaching? For this very reason and unto this same purpose he commandeth the leaders: not to hold leadership on grounds of covetousness, nor for the sake of the belly and appetite to go about among the people in greed, but with readiness and with compassion to maintain the oversight of the flock as a steward of God. "Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock; so that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive," saith he, "the unfading crown of glory." In saying this, he maketh a distinction between the spiritual overseers and the carnal authority: ye, saith he, who are spiritual, do not demean yourselves toward the people like carnal lords, for this is heathen and ungodly—to proceed with carnal authority in spiritual administration. Wherefore also our Lord condemned those who, through love of primacy and covetousness, contended with one another: "Ye know," saith He, "that they who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Not so [shall it be] among you; but whosoever will be great among you shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Now Petros also, the God-bearer, even as he was taught, said: "Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage"—that is to say: make not the grace of God an occasion unto yourselves for love of primacy and haughtiness, but for humility and an exceeding meekness; for that rank also, by God-given laws, requireth these things of you, so that in such a manner ye may be an example of good things unto the flock. And that which is said is this: just as a man, wheresoever he may be, is recognized by his appearance that he is a man—and especially when standing in the midst of irrational [creatures], each of the onlookers discerneth that this one is a rational man, intelligent, capable of mind and intellect, and the others are beasts and brute [creatures]—in like manner also the priest, standing in the midst of the people, is recognized by his upright demeanor that he is a priest, and truly a disciple of Christ, and an example of good things unto all the people. For it is right and fitting that the priest be distinguished from all the people, as in outward form, so also in good order—in sitting down, in rising up, in standing, in walking, in speaking, in hearing, in eating, in drinking, in praying, in resting, and in all other divi[ne]...