Tertullian · a new plain-English translation from the original language
Every servant of God, however lowly his place, must think and act this way, so that he may rise higher still, should he climb any rung on the ladder of endurance under persecution. But when the very leaders—the deacons, the presbyters, and the bishops themselves—flee, how is a layman to understand on what principle it was said, "Flee from city to city"? And so, when the generals flee, who among the rank and file will hold his ground and be persuaded to keep his post in the battle line? Surely the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, as Moses—though the Lord Christ had not yet been revealed, and was already prefigured in him—said: "If you destroy this people, destroy me together with them." But since Christ confirms these figures of himself, the bad shepherd is the one who, seeing the wolf, flees and leaves the flock to be torn apart; such a shepherd will be thrown off the estate, his wages for his service will be withheld as compensation, and indeed the loss to his master will be exacted even out of his former earnings—for "to him who has, more will be given, but from him who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away." So Zechariah thunders: "Rise up, sword, against the shepherds, and pluck out the sheep, and I will turn my hand against the shepherds." Against these same men Ezekiel and Jeremiah level the identical threats, because such shepherds not only feed shamelessly on the flock, pasturing themselves rather than it, but also scatter the flock and leave it as prey to every beast of the field, for lack of a shepherd. And this never happens more than when, in persecution, the church is abandoned by its clergy. And if anyone will listen to the Spirit, he will hear it singling out the runaways for rebuke. Furthermore, if it is not fitting—indeed not even lawful—for those set over the flock to flee when wolves attack (for the one who called such a shepherd wicked has thereby condemned him; and whatever is condemned is beyond doubt made unlawful), then it follows that the leaders of the church must not flee in persecution. And besides, if the flock itself ought to flee, then the flock's leaders ought not to stand their ground, since they would then be standing guard, pointlessly, over a flock that—by the very license granted for flight—does not even want their protection.
XII.