Quod boni regis sit et virga districtionis, et manna dulcedinis
The Rod and the Staff
God's patient judgment teaches the ruler to hold both severity and sweetness together in a balanced heart.
And yet the Lord, who waits a long time for sinners to be converted, condemns those who are not converted more harshly, and — as it is written — "your rod and your staff, they themselves have comforted me" (Psalm 22:4).✦ The rod strikes, and with the staff it upholds, teaching that in the heart of a good ruler there should be the rod of severity and the manna of sweetness: there should be the severity of the rod that strikes, and the consolation of the staff that upholds; there should be love, but not softening; strength, but not provoking; zeal, but not raging immoderately; mercy, but not sparing more than is fitting.
Moses as Example
Moses models the ruler who tenderly loves his people yet rages with holy severity when they sin.
Following the example of Moses (Exodus 32: he should love tenderly and rage with severity. For when the Israelite people had almost incurred an unforgivable offense before the eyes of God, he set himself on behalf of that same people.
Apostolic Severity Toward the Unrepentant
Peter, Paul, and others demonstrate that good rulers must spare the repentant but condemn the incorrigible.
Coming to the same people indeed, he extinguished the lives of a few with the sword, who sought the lives of all even at the cost of his own death, giving to discerning rulers the example that they should spare those who acknowledge and truly confess and repent, and condemn the incorrigible and those who persist in sin, as Peter did Ananias and Sapphira, and Simon Magus (Acts✦ who perished by having his legs broken, as it is read in the history of Hegesippus, and Paul handed over a public sinner to Satan (1 Corinthians✦ and he struck Elymas with blindness (Acts✦
Transition
A brief transitional marker closing the chapter.
13.
Read the original Latin
Caeterum Dominus, qui peccantes diu ut convertantur exspectat, et non conversos durius damnat, et pia mater Ecclesia, juxta quod scriptum est: Virga tua et baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt (Psal. XXII, 4), virga percutit, et baculo sustentat, docens ut in boni rectoris pectore sit virga districtionis, sit et manna dulcedinis: sit districtio virgae quae feriat, sit et consolatio baculi quae sustentet; sit amor, sed non emolliens; sit vigor, sed non exasperans; sit zelus, sed non immoderate saeviens; sit pietas, sed non plus quam expediat parcens. Ad exemplum Moysi (Exod. XXXII), et amet pie, et saeviat districte. Nam cum Israeliticus populus ante Dei oculos pene inveniabilem contraxisset offensam, pro eodem populo se opposuit. Ad eumdem vero populum veniens, paucorum vitam gladio exstinxit, qui vitam omnium etiam cum sua morte petiit: dans rectoribus discretis exemplum, ut recognoscentibus et vere confitentibus ac poenitentibus parcant, et incorrigibiles atque in peccato perseverantes damnent, sicut Petrus Ananiam et Saphiram, et Simonem Magum (Act. V), qui crurifragio periit, sicut in Hegesippi historia legitur, et Paulus publice peccantem tradidit Satanae (I Cor. V), et Helimam caecitate percussit (Act.
XIII).
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ps.22.4 — But you are holy, enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
- ↩Acts.5.1-Acts.5.11;Acts.8.9-Acts.8.24 — But a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. Acts.5.2 — And he kept back some of the proceeds, with his wife also knowing it. And he brought a portion and laid it at the apostles' feet. Acts.5.3 — But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?' Acts.5.4 — While it remained unsold, wasn't it yours? And after it was sold, wasn't it under your own control? Why did you set this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. Acts.5.5 — But when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard these things. Acts.5.6 — Then the younger men rose, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him. Acts.5.7 — Now about three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Acts.5.8 — But Peter said to her, 'Tell me whether you sold the land for this amount.' And she said, 'Yes, for that amount.' Acts.5.9 — But Peter said to her, "Why has it been agreed among you to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Acts.5.10 — And immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Acts.5.11 — And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard these things. Acts.8.9 — Now there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced sorcery in the city, astonishing the nation of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. Acts.8.10 — They all paid close attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called Great." Acts.8.11 — And they were paying close attention to him, for a considerable time his acts of sorcery had astonished them. Acts.8.12 — But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Acts.8.13 — And Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles taking place, he was amazed. Acts.8.14 — Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. Acts.8.15 — who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Acts.8.16 — for it had not yet fallen on any of them; they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts.8.17 — Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts.8.18 — Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, Acts.8.19 — saying, 'Give me also this authority, so that on whomever I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.' Acts.8.20 — But Peter said to him, "May your money go with you to destruction, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God by means of money." Acts.8.21 — You have no part or share in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Acts.8.22 — Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that perhaps the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. Acts.8.23 — For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of unrighteousness. Acts.8.24 — But Simon answered and said, 'Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.'
- ↩1Cor.5.5 — Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
- ↩Acts.13.11 — And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a time. And immediately a mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.
On the Person and Ministry of the King (De regis persona et regio ministerio) companion
Keep the examination going after day 7
Chosen Portion delivers a short historic devotional reading and prayer to your phone every morning — free.
The same counsel Hincmar prepared for a reigning king arrives as short daily portions in Chosen Portion, so leaders can pray through the whole treatise a few minutes at a time.
- A 5-minute reading and prayer each morning, drawn from 1,000 years of royal devotional texts
- Continue Hincmar's leadership examination with daily portions from the full 34-chapter treatise
- Set one reminder once; a fresh portion is ready every day at the time you choose