Disputation II: On the State of the Bishop

This is the more sublime state of the Church; therefore Bishops are compared to the Dominations by the Seraphic Doctor, inasmuch as they truly rule themselves and others; therefore the perfection toward which others aspire by laboring, they inspire in others by calmly presiding. For otherwise, says the Saintly Doctor, part. 2. de eccl. Hierar. cap. 1., can the rulers of men be truly esteemed who are the slaves of vices; wherefore at the beginning of the world it was said, Genes. 3., thou shalt have appetite under thee, and thou shalt rule over him; likewise from the beginning of the Church it was said by Peter, Not as ruling the clergy, but, etc. Significantly and aptly he says: not as ruling, doubtless because, although they are lords, they must exhibit not the lord's power, but the Father's tenderness toward their subjects, as toward sons; wherefore of the Bishop Zechariah foretold, cap. 6., He shall sit, and rule, and shall be a priest on his throne, and counsel of peace shall be between them both, and crowns shall be memorial in the temple of the Lord, thus notes S. Bonaventure, loco cit., whose luminous testimonies concerning this state of perfection I shall relate in order.