Archbishop Leighton, the bright ornament of Scottish Episcopacy, has forcibly stated the nature and obligations of the Christian ministry, in commenting upon that most instructive passage in the First general Epistle of St. Peter, “Feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” {199} “The duty enjoined,” writes the Archbishop, “is, _Feed the flock of God_. Every step of the way of our salvation hath on it the print of infinite majesty, wisdom, and goodness; and this among the rest, that men, sinful, weak men, are made subservient in that great work of bringing Christ and souls to meet; that by the foolishness of preaching (or what appears so to carnal wisdom), the chosen of God are called, and come unto Jesus, and are made _wise unto salvation_; and that the life which is conveyed to them by the _word of life_, in the hands of poor men, is by the same means preserved and advanced. And this is the standing work of the ministry, and this the thing here bound upon them that are employed in it, _to feed the flock of God that is among them_. Jesus Christ descended to purchase a Church, and ascended to provide and furnish it, to send down his Spirit: _He ascended_, _and gave gifts_, particularly _for the work of the ministry_, and the great use of them is, _to feed the flock of God_.”