It is true that the Lord Jesus himself is the Prince of the pastors; yea, properly, he is only pastor, he is the herd, and, therefore, he claims this style to him, John x. 1. For why? the flock is his, and not the minister's, therefore he says, "Feed my lambs;" then ye are his flock, and he is your pastor properly. Again, it is his food that the flock is fed with; all the store of the fodder of grace is out of his barn. If a minister minister to you the smallest portion of food which is not taken out of the barn-yard of Jesus, it is poison he gives you. Knaves have deceived the world long; the Pope and his shavelings have propined poison to the people, and have made many thousands go to hell; give Christ's flock Christ's food. But, notwithstanding that Christ properly is the only true pastor, yet lovingly he communicates this his style to them whom he employs in his service of the ministry. Thou that art a minister, he calls thee a pastor; but thou art but as a servant laid under the chief shepherd. They are not lords of the flock,—no, not the best of them, no, not lords, but dispensators; so they are not properly pastors. Seeing, then, such is the mercy of the Lord, that he so honours them, that he communicates his style to the ministers, therefore, they should strive to show themselves worthy of that style, by the faithful discharge of their calling in feeding of the flock.
—Robert Rollock, Of the Resurrection of Christ. The Fiftieth Lecture.
