And so it seemed a natural move for early Christian writers to use this existing pastoral form when they wanted to speak on subject of priests or ministers or affairs of the church.

于是用现存的田园诗来谈论,关于牧师或教堂事务的话题,成了早期基督派作家非常自然的转变。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选