Let the bishop love the laity as his children, fostering and cherishing them with affectionate diligence; as eggs, in order to the hatching of young ones; or as young ones, taking them in his arms, to the rearing them into birds: admonishing all men; reproving all who stand in need of reproof; reproving, that is, but not striking; beating them down to make them ashamed, but not overthrowing them; warning them in order to their conversion: chiding them in order to their reformation and better course of life; watching the strong, that is, keeping him firm in the faith who is already strong; feeding the people peaceably; strengthening the weak, that is, confirming with exhortation those who are tempted; healing those who are sick, that is, curing by instruction those who are weak in the faith through doubtfulness of mind; binding up those who are broken, that is, binding up by comfortable admonitions those who are gone astray, or wounded, bruised, or broken by their sins…Seek for those who are lost, that is, do not suffer those who despair of their salvation, by reason of the multitude of their offences, utterly to perish. For we know that God is very merciful to those who have offended, and has promised repentance with an oath. But you, like a compassionate shepherd, and a diligent feeder of the flock, search out, and keep an account of your flock. And as you are a physician of the Lord’s church, provide remedies suitable to every patient’s case. Cure them, heal them by all means possible; restore them sound to the church. Feed the flock, “not with insolence and contempt, as lording it over them,” but as a gentle shepherd, “gathering the lambs into your bosom, and gently leading those who are with young.”
Constitutions of the Holy Apostles
Book II, Chapter XX
