entitled to all the threatenings, and to nothing else! For, however men may deceive themselves with vain words; adulterers, thieves, liars, slanderers, covetous persons, and such like, have no inheritance in the promised land; because "for these things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience." ( Notes , 1 Cor . 6:9-11. Gal . 5:19-21. Eph . 5:5–7. Jam . 2:19-24.)-Wherever such men seek shelter, "evil pursueth" them; and they will assuredly perish because of all their abominations.
But however unexceptionable the conduct, and however scriptural the doctrine of that "man of God" who constantly affirms such truths; he will be sure to be persecuted, at least with the scourge of the tongue: and it is generally well for faithful ministers, that they do not hear the contemptuous, malicious, and hard speeches, which ungodly men use of them, behind their backs; for it would tend to exasperate or to discourage them.
Such persons, however, should remember, that the Lord notes down all the words, which they speak "by the walls or the doors of their houses;" and considers them to be effusions of their contempt and enmity against him. ( Jude 14,15.) And their malice and scorn are aggravated by hypocrisy, when they come among God's people, to sit and hear his word, on purpose to quarrel with it or ridicule it; as Satan came CHAP. XXXIV. V. 2-6. At the time when among the sons of God to obtain permission this prophecy was delivered, Jerusalem wus to do Job mischief.
But indeed various cor- destroyed, the land desolated, and the Lord's rupt motives induce men to frequent the pla-flock scattered or destroyed; and the wicked ces, where the word of God is most faithfully shepherds were about to be called to account,
NOTES.
preached. Many, who seem to come with alac- as the principal criminals who had occasioned rity, and to hear with attention, are brought so great an evil. "The shepherds of Israel" by direct enmity, that they may find some- signify their rulers and teachers; their kings what to object to or oppose; and they even and princes, priests and prophets, scribes and persuade others to accompany them, that they elders. ( Marg . Ref . a. Notes, Is . 56:9-12. may join in the same profane opposition. Far Jer. 2:8,9. 23:1-4. John 10:1-5.) The duty more come out of curiosity.
Some to exhibit of the shepherd is to feed the flock, and to themselves, to form connexions, to please their make that his principal object; but they were friends, or to establish a reputation. Others only careful to feed themselves. They had eatmake up their religion. wholly of hearing; and en the fat, or milk, of the flock; clothed themsuppose themselves excellent Christians, be-selves with the wool; and killed the fattest of
cause they attend on faithful preachers, commend their sermons, and "with their mouth snew much love" to the men and their messages: while they will not practise what they hear, but their hearts are wholly turned unto
the sheep, without regarding what became of the rest. They made every advantage which they could from their offices: they exacted their trioutes and taxes, their tithes and perquisites, with great earnestness: and they op 7
Therefore, " ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
8 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd; neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock:
9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
10 Thus saith the Lord GoD; Behold, 'I am against the shepherds; $ and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; " for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
[Practical Observations.]
11 For thus saith the Lord Gon: Behold I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
20. Heb. 13:17.
t Jer. 39:6. 52:9-11,24-27.
u 22. Ps. 23:5. 72:12-14. 102: 19,20.
x 5:8. 6:3. Gen. 6:17. Lev. 26: 28. Deut. 32:39. Is. 45:12. 48: 15. 51:12. Hos. 5:14.
y Ps. 23:1-3. 80:1. Is. 40:10, 11 56:8. Jer. 23:3. 31:8. Matt. 13:11,12. Luke 19.10. John
$ 3:18,20. 33:6-8. Jer. 13:18- 10:16.
12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock, in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep and will deliver them out of all places, where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries and will bring them to their own land, band feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: d there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shali they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
16 I will seek that which was lost, and
* Heb. According to the shep- herd's seeking of , &c. 1 Sam. 17:34,35. Luke 15:4-6.1 John 10:11,12.
z 30:3. Jer. 13:16. Joel 2:1,2. Am. 5:18-20. Zeph. 1:15. Acts 2:19-21.
a 11:17. 20:41. 28:25,26, 36:24. 37:21,22. 38:8. 39:27. Ps. 105: 47. Is. 11:11--16. 66:19,20. Jer. 23:3,8. 30:3,18. 31:8. 3:2: 37. Am. 9:14. Zeph. 3:19,20.
b 36:18--25. Mic. 7:14,15. c 27. Ps. 23:1. 34:8-10. Is. 25:6. 30:23,24. Jer. 31:12- 14,25. John 10:9. Rev. 7:16,17. d Jer. 33:12,13.
e Ps. 23:2. Cant. 1:7,8. Is. 11: 6,7. 27:10. 65:9,10. Hos. 2:18. Zeph. 3:13.
f 4,11. Is. 40:11. 61:1-3. Mic. 4:6,7. Matt. 15:24. 18:11. Mark 2:17. Luke 5:31,32. 15. 4-7. 19:10.
they made of their authority, they were at length given up to be a prey to the Assyrians and Chaldeans, and other nations, to be destroyed or carried into captivity: so that in the event, the land was utterly desolated; and the Lord's flock, his visible church, was left to wander on the dark mountains of the heathen, and was scattered over the face of the earth. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . i-m.- Notes , 7-10. 1 Kings 22:17. Jer . 13:15-21. 23:1,2. 50:4—6. Zech . 13:7.) - This was at least equally applicable to the rulers, priests, and scribes in the days of Christ, and to the subsequent doom and condition of the Jewish nation.
pressed and even destroyed the people, to enrich themselves: but they bestowed no pains to provide for the welfare of the state, or of the souls of those intrusted to them. They resembled those shepherds, who utterly neglect the weak and sick of the flock, and leave them to die without attempting their recovery; who, if any have their bones broken or are wounded, do not bind them up; and if any are driven away by robbers or wild beasts, or wander from the fold, never seek to bring them back; but treat the sheep with great cruelty, and are more like ravening wolves, than careful, tender shepherds. Thus the rulers of Israel had neglected to rescue the oppressed, to relieve the destitute, to remedy grievances, to provide properly for the public safety, to redeem those who had been driven into captivity, or to encourage the return of such as had taken refuge among idolaters. ( Marg . Ref . band which had been ruined by their fault. He
-h.- Notes , 7-10.19:2-9. 22:25-28. Jer . 5: 26-31.22:13-20. Mic . 3:1—4,8-12. Zeph . 3:1 -4 . Zech . 11 :4—9,15–17.) Their teachers also were equally negligent of their souls; they neither encouraged the weak and wavering; nor attempted to remove their error, ignorance, or wickedness, by wholesome instructions, counsels, and examples; nor reclaimed those who were turned aside to idolatry: but they employed their power in exacting upon
V. 7--10. For the crimes before charged on the shepherds of Israel, and here again repeated, the Lord declared himself to be "against them;" and he threatened "to require of them the flock," which he had committed to them, would also turn them with disgrace out of their office, and deprive them of all the emoluments of it; and, as they would not feed the flock, so they should not be allowed to devour it. ( Marg . Ref .-- Notes , 17-22. 3:17--19. 33:2-9. Is . 66:19––23, v . 21. Jer . 13:18--21. Zech . 11 : 15 17. Mal . 2:1--3. Matt . 21:40--44, v. 41.)--The descendants of David were from this time excluded from the temporal kingdom; the family of Aaron and the tribe of Levi were at
the people, and made their sacred office a pre-length laid aside from their sacred functions;
tence for the most cruel oppressions and persecutions. ( Marg . Ref . f, g.- Notes , 11—16. Matt. 9:36-38. 10:5,6. 18:12,13. Luke 15:3-7. John 10:10-18. 21:15-17. Acts 20:28. 1 Pet . 5: 1-4.) By these means the people were scattered from the temple, abhorring the sacrifices of the Lord; and from Jerusalem and Judah, to escape the tyranny tyranny of their rulers; and so became "as sheep without a shepherd." shepherd." And by the impolicy, impiety, and wickedness of their leaders, and the fatal effects of the abuse which
and numbers, both of magistrates and teachers, were entirely deprived of power to oppress the people and enrich themselves.--'I will require 'a severe account of their kings and princes, 'their priests and prophets, of the damage my 'people have sustained through their ill man'agement; and I will deprive them of that hon'or and pre-eminence which they have made 'such ill use of; as I have already displaced 'Zedekiah, and the princes, priests, princes, priests, and others 'that were in authority under him. Lowth
V. 11--16. The Lord, Lord, having denounced sentence on the shepherds of Israel, next intimated his merciful intentions towards the scattered flock. These he would search and find out, wherever they were. As the shepherd, when his flock has been scattered by wild beasts, gathers them together as soon as he can; and, having numbered them to see how many are still wanting, he spends the day in seeking for them and bringing them back: so the Lord would seek out his sheep, which had been dispersed by the Chaldeans, in that dark and cloudy day when they besieged and took Jerusalem. ( Marg . Ref. z.) He would gather them from all countries, whither they had been driven as exiles and captives; he would bring them to their own land, and there perform towards them every part of the Shep
sheep from the goats." ( Note , Matt . 25:3133.)--The rams and he-goats, or the fat and strong, denoted the rich and powerful, the proud and self-sufficient, the wise and learned of this world. These had got possession of the best estates, and lived in magnificence, luxury, and sensuality: and, not contented with this, they would not suffer the poor to use their leavings in comfort; but continually harassed them with usurious exactions and impositions, with suits and prosecutions, and by every means reduced them to the most abject penury and misery: as if strong and fat cattle, the rams and he-goats, having eaten up the best of the pasture and drunk the deep waters; should wantonly tread down and spoil the residue of the pasture, and render the water turbid and muddy; that the other cattle might starve, or
herd's office. (Marg. Ref . a--f.-- Note , 2-6. be forced to feed on disrelishing and unwhole
Jer. 23:3,4.) But at the same time, he would punish their proud oppressors, and feed them with judgment, distinguishing between them according to their characters, as it is afterwards declared. ( Marg .
Ref . g, h.-- Note , 17-22.)-Doubtless this primarily referred to the restoration of the Jews from captivity, and their reestablishment and prosperity in their own land: and it was typical of the good Shepherd's tender care of the souls of his people and kindness to his church, in every age, even to the end of the world.--'But it seems still to look further, 'even to the general restoration of the whole 'nation, which most of the prophets foretel 'shall come to pass in the latter days. (11:17. 20:41. 28:25. 36:24. 37:21. 38:8. 39:27.)' Lowth . -The express promises here given, that JEHOVAH himself will feed his flock in the predicted times, compared with the language of the New Testament concerning Christ, our "good" and "great" and "chief Shepherd;" contains an unanswerable argument in proof of his Deity, as one with the Father. ( Marg.and Marg.
Ref . y.-- Notes , 23--31. Ps . 23:1-3. 80: 1. Is . 40:9--11, v . 11. Mic . 5:3,4, v . 4. 7:11--13. John 10:14--18. Heb . 13:19,20. 1 Pet . 5:1--4, v. 4.)
V. 17--22. The whole nation seemed to be the Lord's flock; yet they were of very different characters: but he knew how to distinguish
some food. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . i-m.-- Notes , 22:27. 45:9. Jer . 5:26--29. Am . 4:1--3. 6: 3--8. Mic . 2:1-3. 3:1-4,8-12. 7:1--4. Zeph . 3: 1-4) This may also be applied to the corrupting of the fountains of religious instruction by the scribes and priests, who "rendered the word of God of none effect, through their traditions;" or those false glosses which they hired the false teachers to put upon it. ( Notes , 22:25,26. Jer . 5:30,31. 6:13-15. 23:7-12. Mal . 2: 4--9. Matt . 15:3--9.) But the Lord intended to plead the cause of the poor, the fatherless, and the widow, against their rich and proud oppressors; that the fat cattle might be led to the slaughter, and the lean possess the pasture. The former had used all their superior power to annoy and distress the latter; so the Lord would save them from their hands, and judge between them. ( Marg . Ref . n--p.Notes, Zech . 11 : 1--11 .)
Seemeth it , &c.] ( Marg . Ref . k.) 'This re'proof may fitly be applied to those great per'sons, who take no care that the poor may en'joy the benefit of their superfluities; but rather let them be thrown away and perish, than 'they will be at the trouble of seeing them dis'posed of for the good of those that want. Lowth .--'By good pasture and deep waters is 'meant the pure word of God, and the admin'istration of justice, which they did not dis[577
between them, "as the shepherd divideth the 'tribute to the poor till they had corrupted it.' VOL. IV.
24 And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a Prince among them: I the LORD have spoken it .
25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, * and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
26 And I will make them and the places round about a my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.
27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall dknow that I am the Lord, * when I have broken the bands of their $ 30,31. 36:28. 37:23,27. 39:22. y 28. Ps. 4:3. Jer. 23:6. 33:16.
Ex. 29:45,46. Jer. 31:1,33. 32: 38. Zech. 13:9. Rev. 21:3.
t 37:22. Josh. 5:13-15. Ps. 51:6. Is. 9:6,7. Jer. 23:5,6. 33:15-17. Mic. 5.2. Matt. 28:18. Luke 1:31-33. Acts 5:31. 1 Cor. 15:25. Eph. 1: 21,22. Phil. 2:9-11. Heb. 2: 9,10. Rev. 19:13-16.
u 37:26. Is. 55:3. Jer. 31:3133. Zech. 6:13. Heb. 13:20. x Lev. 26:6. Job 5:22. Is. 11: 6-9.35:9. Hos. 2:18-23.
z Gen. 12:2. Is. 19:24. Zech. 8:13,23.
a 20:10. Ps. 2:6. 68:16, 132:14 -16. 13. 2:2-4. 56:7. Mic. 4:1,2.
b Deut. 28:12. Ps. 68:9. Is. 32: 15,20. 44:3. Mal. 3:10.
c 47:12. Lev. 26:4. Ps. 35:12. 92:12-14. Is. 4:2. 35:1,2. 61: 3. John 15:5-8. d 33:29. 39:28.
e 10. Lev. 26:13. Is. 9:4. 10:27. 14:2,3. 52:2,3. Jer. 2:20. 30:8.
V. 23-31. These verses are evidently a prophecy of Christ, and of the most glorious times of his church on earth. The Lord saved his ancient flock from oppressors and false teachers, and at length raised up among them, and set over them and his church, that one "good Shepherd, whom he had promised from the beginning." He was called DAVID, because he was descended from that favored king of Israel, and typified by him; and because he was a Ruler and Teacher of his people after God's own heart. ( Marg . Ref . q, r.Notes, 2 Sam . 7:8-11.
Ps. 78:70-72.) The word David signifies Beloved ; and Christ is the well beloved Son of the Father, "in whom he is well pleased." "The Messias is elsewhere 'styled David, as being the person in whom all 'the promises made to David were fulfilled. (Is. 55:3. Jer. 30:9. Hos . 3:5.) The expression 'may likewise allude to David's first employ'ment, which was that of a shepherd.' Lowth . In him the Lord is indeed the God and Portion of his chosen flock: and this his Servant and Son is "a Prince among them," being "Head over all things to his church." ( Marg .
Ref.s , t.) "Through the blood of his cross," the covenant of peace is made with all his willing subjects, who are "the sheep of his pasture;" and it is established on better promises, thau that made with the nation of Israel.
It would conduce very greatly to the security of a flock of sheep, to have all ravenous beasts extirpated from the land thus the Lord engaged effectually to defend his church, in the days of this promised Shepherd, from all their enemies, who resemble lions, tigers, wolves, or subtle foxes: so that his sheep might dwell safely and rest comfortably, even in the most perilous places. ( Marg . Ref . u-y.-Notes, Is. 11:6-9. 35:8-10. Hos .
yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.
28 And & they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beasts of the land devour them: but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.
29 And I will raise up for them a Plant * of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, k neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.
30 Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God.
31 And m ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, " and I am your God, saith the Lord God.
der this "good Shepherd," the church, and all those favored spots where there are spiritual folds of his sheep, would be made a blessing to the places round about: their pastures would be regularly watered with the rain of heavenly grace; "showers of blessings" would descend upon their souls, while attending on divine ordinances; the numbers of believers would rapidly increase, and the grace and peace of the whole company of them would abound. ( Marg . Ref . z-b.- Notes , Jer. 32:39-41.
Acts 2:41-47. 4:32-35. 5:12-16. 9:31.) This would especially be the case, when the Lord had broken the yoke of their oppressors, who had enslaved them for their own mercenary purposes: then the heathen would no more be suffered to prey upon them, nor persecutors to devour them; but they would dwell without danger or terror. (Marg.
Ref . c-h.) The Lord also promised to raise up to them "a Plant of Renown." This also means Christ; who, though infinitely excellent in himself, and adored by holy angels, was "as a tender plant out of a dry ground," in his incarnation, humiliation, and death; but, springing up in his resurrection, ascension, and heavenly glory, he became greatly renowned on earth, by the spread of the gospel through the nations. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . i, k.- Notes , 17:22-24. Is . 4:2. 11:1. 53:2,3. Žech . 3:8. 6:12,13.
Rev. 22: 2-5.) And, being indeed "the Tree of Life," bearing all the fruits of salvation, he yields spiritual food to the souls of his people, on which they 'feed in their hearts by faith with 'thanksgiving.' So that the true Israel shall not be destroyed by famine, or made ashamed among the heathen; as the nation of Israel has been. ( Notes , 36:13-15,36-38.) This could have no more than a typical accomplishment
2:18-20.) For, though the powers of dark- in the return of the Jews from captivity, under ness, persecutors, and seducers have harassed Zerubbabel, and in their subsequent prosperithe church hitherto; yet they have not prevail-ty. Even the success of the gospel in the primed against it, nor against any true believer: itive times, and the preservation of the church and ere long Satan shall be chained up, and hitherto, form only partial completions of it. all persecution and antichristian corruptions But the destruction of antichrist, the calling of shall be terminated. ( Note Rev. 20:4-6.) Un-the Gentiles, the restoration of the Jews into
the church and to their own land, and the con-ff their hands; the Lord will be against them, as sequent peace and prosperity of the church and they are evidently enemies to him; they will at of the world, fully answer to the energetic length be driven from their office with conlanguage of these predictions. (Notes, 36:25-tempt and detestation,
30. 37:20-28. 39:23-29. Jer. 23:3-8. 30:22. Hos. 3:4,5. Zech. 8:20-23. Rom. 11:11-15,25 -32. Rev. 11:15—18.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1--10.
honors and emoluments; and their flocks will detestation, and stripped of all their be delivered from such devourers. V. 11-22.
"The Lord our Shepherd" will take care, that none of his true sheep shall finally wander or be lost, through the misconduct of those, who are "idol shepherds and greedy dogs." ( Note and P. O. Is . 56: 9-12 .- Note , Zech . 11: 15-17, v .
No rank or office in the church or in society, can exempt men from the reproofs of God's word, when they neglect their duty and abuse the trusted theind the will either raise up for them hep- "shepherds after his own heart;" or he will herds of Israel," of the Lord's own appoint-supply the want of them by his own care; and ment, feed themselves and not the flock, woe will both seek and find every one of them, and be unto them! Indeed too many rulers, even convey them to his fold rejoicing.
Thus the in Christian countries, seem entirely to have incarnate Son of God came into this dreary entirely forgotten the end of their appointment; and wilderness, "to seek and save that which was act, as s if if they they had been advanced to authority, lost:" personally, in the days of his flesh, he to gratify their own ambition, cruelty, avarice, went about seeking "the lost sheep of the luxury, or lust, at the expense of those, whose house of Israel;" and by his apostles and his welfare they ought to have sought in every ministers ever since, he has also gone to search action, as their great object, in connexion with them out all over the Gentile world.
Wherthe glory of God and the salvation of their own ever his elect people are scattered, in the days souls. So that, while they have utterly neg- of their darkness and ignorance, he finds them lected to protect the poor and industrious, out and brings them into his fold.
He also from the oppressions of the rich; to redress comes to their relief in the dark and cloudy public grievances, to provide for the destitute, days of persecution and temptation; he heals and to guard the peace and prosperity of the their backslidings, leads them forth in the community; they have awed men into submis- paths of righteousness, feeds them in the rich sion by force and cruelty, and thus for a time pastures of his ordinances, folds them under silenced every murmur against their tyranni- his omnipotent protection, and causes them to cal measures, their oppressive taxes, and bloody rest and repose their souls upon his love and executions.
Thus they have indulged the faithfulness. He seeks those that wander, and mean ambition of growing rich by impoverish- brings back that which was driven away; he ing their subjects, and of governing over a binds up the broken-hearted and heals the discompany of abject slaves with uncontrolled eased. And ought not his ministers then to authority. Such attempts depopulate flourish- do the same?
Surely none but hirelings will ing kingdoms, and either scatter their inhab- value the emolument or reputation of the minitants, by driving them for refuge to other na- istry, more than this good and useful work: tions; or cause them to be cut off, by exciting and the true pastor will be ready to endure insurrections, encouraging invasions, or mak- bardship, to bear reproach and persecution; ing way for destructive wars.
Though there and to spend and lay down his life for the same should be no man able or willing to remedy ends, for which the chief Shepherd shed his these evils; yet the Lord will shew himself precious blood. But, alas! how few in comagainst such shepherds: he will soon deprive parison have there been hitherto, who have them of their abused authority, and call them labored and suffered in this disinterested, selfto account for all the mischief which their denying, humble, patient, and zealous mancrimes have occasioned; and deliver the people ner!
How few are there, who thus "keep from their mouth, that they may not be meat themselves pure from the blood of all men!" for them.
But when this negligence, avarice, ( Note , Acts 20:25-27.) Of how many will the and wickedness are found in the pastors and souls of multitudes be required by the chief rulers of the church; when they feed them- Shepherd at his appearance, when his faithful selves, but through sloth and ignorance take servants "will receive a crown of glory that no care to feed the flock; when they are only fadeth not away!" Even in this respect, intent upon obtaining and multiplying rich "broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, benefices, that they may eat the fat and riot in and many there be that go in at it:" and still it luxury; when they never attempt to instruct may be said, "All seek their own, and not the the ignorant, to reclaim the erroneous, to things that are Jesus Christ's."-But there is alarm the careless, to encourage the broken as much difference in character among profess
hearted, the distressed, and tempted, to reformed Christians, as among those who bear the
the profligate or restore the backslider, or in any way to bring men to repentance, to faith in Christ, to established peace and holiness of life: when they on the contrary domineer over men's consciences with force and cruelty, as if they were "lords over God's heritage" and fleece and butcher the flock, "which he hath purchased with his own blood;" when they waste the church by fierce persecutions, or infect it with damnable heresies; when the sheep are scattered, because there is no shepherd, put a wolf instead of one, and so fall into divisions and errors, forsake the word and ordinances of God, and are seduced into impiety or infidelity:-in this case the guilt of the shepherd is, and his punishment will be, most aggravated. All the souls, that perish through the default of such men, will be required at
name and wear the garb of ministers. It seldom happens that the fat and the strong, the rich and prosperous, are the most flourishing part of Christian congregations: and the proud and self-sufficient are always, either secretly or openly, the enemies of the true Gospel, and of true believers. Such men are "the rams and the he-goats" of the flock: they are ambitious of domineering in the church, as well as in the world: and whilst they think no possession or indulgence too great for themselves, and no subsistence too mean and scanty for their poor brethren; the word of God also must be preached, and his ordinances administered, as best suits their convenience and interest, or soothes their conscience, and gratifies their humor! Thus, through their undue influence, the pasture is trodden down, and the waters