o affectionately and readily was he obeyed
by them, because he never spoke a word with anger or impatience. Moses
was chosen by God to be the leader and legislator of his people, because
he was the meekest of men: and with what astonishing patience did he
bear the murmurs and rebellions of an ungrateful and stiff-necked
people! David's meekness towards Saul and others purchased him the
crown, and was one of the principal virtues by which he was rendered a
king according to God's own heart. Those who command with imperious
authority show they are puffed up with the empty wind of pride, which
makes them feel an inordinate pleasure in the exercise of power, the
seed of tyranny, and the bane of virtue in their souls. Anger and
impatience, which are more dangerous, because usually canonized under
the name of zeal, demonstrate persons to be very ill-qualified for
governing others, who are not masters of themselves or their own
passions. How few are so crucified to themselves, and so perfectly
grounded in humility, {580} patience, meekness, and charity, that power
and authority infect not their souls with the deadly poison of secret
pride, or in whom no hurry, importunity, or perverseness can extinguish
the spirit of meekness, in which, in all occurrences, they preserve the
same evenness of mind, and the same angelical sweetness of countenance.
Yet with this they are sons of thunder in resisting evil, and in
watching against all the artifices of the most subtle and flattering
passions of sinners, and are firm and inflexible in opposing every step
towards any dangerous relaxation. St. Gregory, by his whole conduct,
sets us an example of this perfect humility and meekness, which he
requires as an essential qualification in every pastor, and in all who
are placed over others.[54] He no less excelled in learning, with which,
he says, that humility must be accompanied, lest the pastor should lead
others astray. But above all other qualities for the pastoral charge, he
requires an eminent gift of prayer and contemplation. Prae caeteris
contemplatione suspensus. Pastor. Cura, part 2, c. 5.

Footnotes:
1. See Annot. at the end of his life, p. 580 {original footnote has
incorrect page reference} infra.
2. Dial. l. 3, c. 33.
3. Hist. b. 2, c. 1.
4. Bede adds, that he again asked, what was the name of that nation,
and was answered, that they were called Angli or Angles. "Right,"
said he, "for they have angelical faces,