f the Gospel; and I
fear that since St. Peter's times there has been no Pope that has
preached the Gospel. There has certainly been none who has written
and left anything behind him in which the Gospel was contained. Saint
Gregory, the Pope, was certainly a holy man, but his sermons are not
worth a farthing; so that it would seem that the See of Rome has been
under the special curse of God. It is very possible that some Popes
may have endured martyrdom for the Gospel's sake; but nothing has
been written of them to show that it was the Gospel. And yet they go
on and preach that they must feed the flock; and yet they do nothing
but bind and destroy the conscience, by laws of their own, while they
preach not a word of Christ.

It is probable, indeed, that among all Christians many might be
found, both men and women, as able to preach as those who are thus
employed. But certainly among all these multitudes there are many
people who have not this ability. And therefore some one must be
selected to strengthen them, so that the wolves shall not come and
tear the sheep. For a preacher must not only feed the sheep, so as to
instruct them how they are to be good Christians, but, besides this,
must guard against the wolves, lest they attack the sheep and lead
them astray with false doctrine, and introduce error such as the
devil would not find fault with. But there are many people to be
found at the present day, quite ready to tolerate our preaching of
the Gospel, if we would not cry out against the wolves and preach
against the prelates.

But though I were to preach the simple truth, and feed the sheep and
give them good instruction, still it is not enough unless the sheep
be guarded and protected, so that the wolves do not come and carry
them off. For what is it that is built, if I throw out one stone and
see another thrown into its place? The wolf can very readily endure
to have the sheep well fed; he had rather have it so, that they may
be fat. But this he cannot endure, the hostile bark of the dogs.
Therefore is it a most important matter, if well considered, that we
should truly feed the flock, as God has commanded it.

_The flock_, he says, _which is among you_,--that is, which is with
you, not that they are to lie at your feet. And _oversee them not by
constraint, but willingly, not out of love for vile gain._ There he
has expressed, in a single word, what the prophet Ezekiel writes,
chap. xxxiv., of shepherds or bis