And I will give you shepherds according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
And what are we saying, brothers? Aren’t there any good shepherds? Doesn’t it say in another passage of the Scriptures, “I will set up for them shepherds after my own heart, and they shall feed them with instruction.” So how can he fail to give the sheep he takes from the bad shepherds to good ones, and say, as though there were absolutely no good ones left anywhere at all, “I will feed them”? He said to Peter, “Feed my sheep.” So what are we to make of it? When the sheep are entrusted to Peter, the Lord does not say on that occasion, “I will feed my sheep, don’t you do it,” but, “Peter, do you love me? Feed my sheep.” - "Sermon 87.4"
We should consider our pastor happy in his death because he has laid aside his life at an age rich with years and has gone to his rest with the greatest honors from the Lord. Concerning all else we have this to recommend, that you should cast off all depression, regain self-control and rise to the necessary duty of caring for the church, so that the holy God may give heed to his own flock and provide for you a shepherd according to his will, one who will govern you wisely. - "Letter 62"
Brethren and especially priests, if God rebukes whom he loves, and rebukes him for the very purpose of amending him, do not hate, but love those whom you rebuke, that you may amend them. God also before predicted by Jeremiah and pointed to our times, when he said, “And I will give you shepherds according to my heart, and they shall feed you with the food of discipline.” But if in Holy Scripture discipline is frequently and everywhere prescribed, and the whole foundation of religion and of faith proceeds from obedience and fear, what is more fitting for us urgently to desire? What is there more to wish for and to hold fast than to stand with roots strongly fixed and with our houses based with solid mass on the rock, which is unshaken by the storms and whirlwinds of the world, so that we may come by the divine precepts to the rewards of God? - "The Dress of Virgins 1–2"
God, who gave the word to those who preach the gospel with great power for the perfection of the gospel, may he himself hold me by my right hand, and guide me with his counsel and receive me with glory. He is a shepherd to shepherds and a guide to guides that we may feed his flock with knowledge, not with the instruments of a foolish shepherd, according to the blessing, and not according to the curse pronounced against the people of former days. May he give strength and power to his people, and himself present them to himself. - "In Defense of His Flight to Pontus, Oration 2.117"
